Rest

I just read this post  on one of my favorite adoption related blogs, No Hands But Ours.  It made me think a lot about our first year home.  At the time it didn't seem too hard.  We had been taught by our social worker, fellow adoptive families and our agency to focus solely on attachment with our new child.  We did and as we watched Olivia fit seamlessly into our family it seemed all things were sailing well.  However, in hindsight I see that to focus solely on your new child is not healthy.  Family suffers, marriage suffers, friends suffer and YOU suffer.  Everyone needs REST.

For the first time in 8 years I do not have a baby or toddler in my home and I am not pregnant, nursing or paper chasing.  I am finding REST.

I set out in the beginning of this year with a personal challenge.  I am not sure where this came from as I have always loved working out but, I have never had the desire to run a race.  I signed up to run a 10K.  I found those long training runs to be RESTFUL.  No I wasn't sitting or sleeping or really doing anything restful at all.  But, I was doing something for ME and spending time with ME in my own thoughts.  I prayed a lot on those runs.  Most days my prayers get interrupted by the little voices of my children so praying in solitude feels luxurious.  

REST comes in all forms.  I encourage you tired and weary mamas to find your way to REST.  You deserve it.  Your children deserve it.  Your husbands deserve it.  Your friends deserve it.