Where is the "pause" button?

If only they existed. For now I will dream. If I could put life on pause today, right now, I would....

• empty the dishwasher and then load it with the dirty dishes in the sink
• vacuum the living room floor
• clean out Zane's highchair (ew, smooshed food everywhere)
• fold the laundry in the dryer, finish the load in the wash and then empty everyone's laundry basket and get that done too.
• sign Alaina up for swim lessons
• plan an incredible Valentines meal for my family
• call the pediatrician and ask them why my bill is higher than I expeted
• send get well cards to a preschool teacher from our church. Yep, kids made them two weeks ago but I need stamps!
• make a meal plan for the week
• go to Target for baby food, valentines stuff and other staples
• exercise! Wait, whats that?
• Make my bed
• Take a shower
• Go to Micheals to pick up felt for a school project
• Go to the rug place to pick out replacement carpet for the stairs
• Empty the diaper genie
• Change the sheets on the beds (won't even get close to admitting how long it has been)

All that in addition to that small detail of the house going on the market in 17 days, oh and that little 18 pound chunk of love that has had a cold for over a week and is so full of snot that it is hard to eat so he is super super fussy, and don't forget the five year old who needs daily work on sight words and reading because it is challenging, and yes, the nine year old that needs daily guidance in organization and responsibility. And yes, the forty year old man that works all day at a job he doesn't like and then comes home to my chaos, jumping right into help and has to listen to my barking and whining many days. And the most important thing in the entire world....more important than me, Keith, Conner, Alaina, Zane. More important than a clean house and healthy lunches.

GOD

"Forgive me Lord as I have sinned" is all that comes to mind right now. *sigh*

The good news (literally and figuratively) is that he has mercy greater than we can imagine or fathom. He can bend time in our favor, calm a racing mind, change a grumpy attitude, improve a tone, I just have to not let --all of the above-- distract me to the point it has lately where God is the after thought, not the first thought. I read an encouraging blog post from a friend the other day and she taped the following prayer up in her shower (yes, laminated it and posted it right there in the shower) so every morning, even if there is "not time", she has a moment to be quiet before God. 

O Lord,
grant that I may meet the coming day in peace.
Help me in all things
to rely upon Thy Holy Will.
In every hour of the day,
reveal Thy will to me.
Bless my dealings with all who surround me.
Teach me to treat all that comes to me
throughout the day with peace of soul,
and with the firm conviction that Thy will governs all.
In all my deeds and words,
guide my thoughts and feelings.
In unforeseen events, let me not forget
that all are sent by Thee.
Teach me to act firmly and wisely,
without embittering and embarrassing others.
Give me the strength to bear the fatigue
of the coming day with all that it shall bring.
Direct my will.
Teach me to pray.
Pray Thou Thyself in me.

What a great idea! Seeing that 99% of the time, the only alone, quiet moments that Mom's have are in the bathroom, why not have the most important messages posted there? 

Now I just need to find the time to take a shower. : )