mother's day + giving up control

This was my favorite Mother's Day yet! We had some plans change at the last minute, so we had the chance to go camping after lots of Sunday fun. :D

I woke up to my little cuties bringing me these from some special hidden place outside:

It was the sweetest thing they have ever done. I was so excited. Noah told me later they were free from Atwoods {a local farm and ranch store}, where they even had the kids color a free card to go with them. How cool is that? Atwoods just scored some major brownie points with this mama! And thank you husband for shopping there! :D

We went to an early lunch on Sunday before we headed out. We went to a steak house {no, I still don't eat meat :P}, and while we waited tried to grab a pic. This was the best shot by far. 

Two and a half people looking at the camera is success in my book. That's half!

And we even ate a small piece of bread...

So what exactly do vegans eat at a steakhouse? {the waitress wasn't even sure}...

the veggie plate, no butter. {and I didn't ask what they rolled the potatoes in...some things are just better left unknown}

And I had a chance on Sunday to go and pick up a book at Barnes and Noble with a 20% off coupon:

And then we were ready to camp...

I had been really tired after the last couple of weeks of running, and we decided it would be fun to get out of town and enjoy the fresh air- no work, no internet, no house projects. We just both needed a break.

{don't let the ruffly pink shirt and gold sandals fool you... I can camp on my air mattress in the concrete shelter with electricity and nearby hot showers. We were roughing it. ;)

My husband treats all of his girls like princesses. He brought the Barbie Jeep along for his little girls:

Okay, so I gave him a really hard time for overpacking just a bit, but as soon as the girls hopped in their Jeep and drove it away squealing, "Daddy, this is so fun!" I knew his love language was caring for his own. :)

And this boy is turning out just like him, which I couldn't be more proud of.

He's such a trooper- a little man. He's only 8 1/2, but he's so grown up already.

We had lots of fun that night, and just relaxed and set up our little camp. We made a fire from the last person's embers. We team nested an old hot coal we found underneath the fire pit and took turns blowing on it until it became fire. It was so very Bear Grylls.

The next morning I woke up with the most dreadful nausea. {My first thought every time I wake up sick like that is inevitably, "oh my gosh, am I pregnant??" which is followed by a burst of adrenaline, then I start calculating days and such to see if it's possible before I make it to the bathroom. Four pregnancies made me so weird! ha!}

I walked the walk of death across the trail and up the hill to the bathroom. God answered my prayers, and gave me the hottest shower I could ever ask for at a campsite. Oh, after a night of not sleeping, my body was aching like crazy.

The kids found me {of course}, and I found out my little trooper had been sick too, and he hadn't even told his dad until he threw up the second time. He is such a little man.

We packed up and headed home. I've never been so grateful for a bed and Sprite, and a bathroom 10 feet away.

It's so funny how something so very small like a virus can make you so very sick.

I had all these plans for Monday- goals, menu plans, projects, teaching classes. I was supposed to be running again :), instead God had other plans for me. I slept for more than 16 hours yesterday, and I'm still tired today.

I'm so much better, but still feeling like I'm walking through quicksand.

It's so weird how I can think I'm in control of anything, and something so small can take me out just like that.

I'm such a weak little human- I can't control a single bit of my life. 

I can make plans, I can have ideas of what's going to happen, but it's not ever in my hands. 

Which could be such a scary thought if I weren't trusting that my God is good, and He loves me.

It so reminded me of this verse, Proverbs 16:9:

A man's heart plans his way: but the LORD directs his steps.

And this: 

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. Proverbs 27:1

At one point yesterday, I almost blacked completely out and when I was on the floor by the bathroom and my heart started beating so strangely, I laid there thinking I actually might die right now. It was so surreal.

We don't know when we will breathe our last. We just don't.

yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. James 4:14

What should we ask for then, if we have such limited time?

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12

“O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! Psalm 39:4

What is man, that he is mindful of us? {psalm 8:4}

He loves us, and directs our paths. 

He made the entire world. He even controls that tiny little stomach virus. And our Mondays. And Tuesdays.

He loves us, and He is sovereign.

Every part of Him is good, even when our own plans fail {as they are destined to do!}. He changes our steps, and knows every part of our lives. He is control of every single thing. 

We are so, so blessed to be alive and moving and breathing today, aren't we?  :)

Did you ever have a time when God changed your plans like that?