Time out for mom

Well this has been one of those days...you know the ones when you just can't seem to get anything done, the house is a mess, you still have to go grocery shopping and the kids are bouncing off the walls (literally!) All I wanted to do was lay down on the couch and take a nap- out of the question of course! Well as the day progressed, I got alot done, only by God's grace...I have learned instead of getting stressed out (which I have a serious problem with) to just pray about it and God will handle it. He ALWAYS answers my prayers no matter how big or small! I just ask for energy, patience, determination, or whatever, and at the end of the day I'm like "wow, I was supermom today!!!" Anyway I decided that when I got dinner finished, cleaned up the kitchen, all 3 boys got their baths, and Ryan was done w/ homework I was going to take a nice relaxing bubble bath!!! I haven't done that since I don't know when. I kept thinkin' about it and when all my motherly duties were finished- I locked the bathroom door, lit a candle and started running the water- only to discover that since the 2 older boys had taken forever in the shower and Ethan had his bubble bath, there was barely any hot water left...So I settled for lukewarm. It was okay, I was lying there with my eyes shut when all of a sudden I heard footsteps running up the stairs- then a few seconds later Ryan was banging on the bathroom door. It went a little something like this: "Mommy!!! Scotty won't leave me alone! I'm trying to play my video game and he keeps blocking the TV!" Then the other 2 chimed in and were fighting over a toy...So my 10 minutes of mommy time was over. At first I was upset, wondering why can't they just leave me alone for a few minutes. Then I heard a little voice that said- be glad your children can RUN up the stairs, be glad they can TALK to you, be glad that they come to you 1st...Alot of times I get so burned out during the day. It seems like by the time they are done eating breakfast and I get it all cleaned up, it's already time to fix them lunch! I feel like a short order cook most of the time, but I remind myself to be thankful that all I have to do is place the food in front of them and (usually) they eat it! I mean I lay their clothes out and they dress themeselves, I start the shower and they bathe themselves! It's really not that bad, it could be SO much harder. I guess what I'm trying to say is I have a tendancy to feel sorry for myself or think how hard my life is sometimes, but when I don't give in to the negative lies and just thank God for what I DO have, it brings a smile to my face...all my needs are met- they always have been, I have wonderful healthy children and an amazing loving husband. Life is good and I thank God for that everyday.