Progress? or PROGRESS!

Today we have a weeping, wailing, pinching, hitting, name-calling, screaming, tantruming, gnashing of teeth sort of day. I was hanging in there cheerfully until about 11 and then my spirits started getting plum worn out from Truman & Liza being so grouchy. All morning weekend I told the littles when they needed a love:At 11, I started telling myself that… along with this:It seems sometimes that we often take 1 step forward… and 2 steps back. Mop the floor… while a mess is being made upstairs by Tru & another downstairs by Eliza. There really is no keeping up with the messes in the trenches. But I’ve decided I’ve got to acknowledge the slight progress we do occasionally make.

Yesterday I felt encouraged. It was busy but we got so much accomplished in the morning. Piano lessons went well. I had one-on-one talks with Hannah and Abe that were good… hard… but good. Our family was totally squished on our bench… though we didn’t need to be since there was more space. It was really funny that the kids were actually getting along. Hannah and Abe weren’t reverent but they were being friends. Liza, Tru, and Maxwell wanted to sit by mom. Jimmy took Tru & Liza out at separate times. It turned out to be an exhausting day… but I felt encouraged.

Today… weeping, wailing, as I mentioned. But there is progress, there has got to be. We accomplished more work than if we hadn’t tried. Hopefully in the long run we take more steps forward than backwards. This life sure is a test. I’m grateful for moments of encouragement! Gradual Betterment… see, it’s not instant betterment. Love that.