Time Out for Mommy...

This week for Mom Tried It's Try and Tell I'm daring you to spend a little time alone. Grab a coffee and savor the taste while it's still hot. Get lost in a conversation with a friend over the phone. Grab your Bible and spend some uninterrupted time reading. Go for a walk alone. I do not take time for myself often enough. I get so caught up in raising a family and keeping a house, that I forget how beautiful and refreshing a quiet afternoon can be. Make sure your littles are safe and supervised and take a time out for yourself- whether it's a just a moment, a few minutes, or a couple of hours. Just sit and be still and spend a few minutes with yourself.

This morning when I heard the boys awake around 0730, I didn't get out of bed. I nudged David awake, kissed his cheek, and rolled back over. I heard him in the kitchen making the boys breakfast and then I fell back asleep. Austin came in the room a few times, but his Daddy quietly ushered him back out.
It was a few minutes after 11 when I woke again.
I climbed out of bed, and planted myself on the couch, as two little boys giggled and played at my feet.
We had lunch together as a family, and as Cade napped, I got dressed. I gathered some magazines, a list of errands, and the car keys... Kissed my husband and Bubba, and walked out the front door. by. my. self.
I found myself at the coffee shop on post ordering a ridiculously expensive Vanilla Latte, that was ridiculously good. I sat in the empty room in a red chair and flipped through my magazine. Cover to cover, without little fingers ripping the pages from my hands. I even had time to dog ear pages I wanted to look at again. It was all I could do to make myself sit and not hurry to get my errands finished to get home.
I left from there and found myself walking around the thrift store... And yes, there are more frog plate sets. And yes, they're still overpriced; as was the shelf I was tempted to buy.
I bought a few shirts from the PX, without little ones begging to get out of the cart. I stopped to look at make up and I wandered aimlessly around, not worried about naptime or hungry little toddlers.
I made my way to the commissary and filled the cart. All the while, trying to focus without the boys asking for bananas, or cookies, or juice, or this or that. I checked without having to put magazines back on the rack and I made my way to the car with groceries without having to buckle car seats first.

I spent most of my day lost, un-focused, and aimlessly wandering. I missed my boys.
But it was wonderful to be lost in my own thoughts for a few hours.
We had a quick dinner (corn dogs, and french fries) and spent the evening playing with one of Ausitn's birthday presents- Elefun!  We had a blast gathering the butterflies, and being silly together.
I was able to focus on their laughter and truly relax into playing with them after my afternoon away.

It was a beautiful day.