Ash Wednesday, 2011.

Today was much like past Ash Wednesdays, complete with the challenges that come when a person takes steps to remove the obstacles that come between time and right-relationship with God.

An indecisive mother (that's me).

Who woke up after only 2 hours 45 minutes of sleep (why am I up at 11 then posting this you wonder?)

Takes kids to special early morning drop off.

Back home to try and rest for a time before making the final call on previous indecisiveness while the toddler happily sits in front of Micky Mouse Club House and eats chicken and ketchup.

Out of bed after 1 hour. No time to wash hair. Ponytail.

Make the call about where to go for ashes.

Drive to Trinity Lutheran.

Sneak in 15 minutes late. Sit for 5 minutes before toddler is too hard to restrain.

Go out into the mall area of church when toddler screams "I don't yike it! It's too wowd!"

Wander around. Had a good talk with the music minister.

Decide to leave when toddler starts throwing all the pamphlets on the floor.

Get to car. Change wet diaper (not mine).

Decide to try again and go wait for the ashes.

Wait. Get toddler off stairs. Wait. Get toddler off stairs. Wait.

Finally sneak in line for communion, ashes and blessing. Leave.

Head to Kroger for a few things to make beans edible and goldfish crackers.

Get sleepy toddler into the car and home.

Hand baby popsicle while I put together beans in the crockpot.

Eat a few bites of raw cookie dough made with almond flour and no sugar.

Grab toddler and put him back into the car to go and pick up our real car from the shop.

He falls asleep.

Exchange cars. Move all my stuff to my car, including sleeping 28 lb. toddler in a 10 lb. chair.

Accept message from God: Live in the present moment, receive My gifts.

Drive home in car. Put him in bed. He won't go back to sleep so its outside and into the hammock for swinging.

Take a few phone calls from dear friends.

Stand and hula hoop in the grass.

Greet big kids after school.

Take daughter to music lesson.

Have son pray over dinner, a simple bowl of rice and beans.

Read Psalm 85 from The Voice Bible.

Receive deep messages from the hearts of my children.

Bedtime rituals.

Creativity. Thankfulness.

Waiting for husband to come home so I can tell him how amazing today was.

One. Step. After. Another. Never letting go of the lifeline.