Unexpected Spring Break

,There is a verse in the Bible where Jesus is speaking; he says, "In this world there will be trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world."

The "trouble" in our lives lately hasn't been dramatic. It's taken the form of long hours at a new job, illness (like the stomach flu and colds and ear infections), weird medication side-effects, a little boy with hip pain, no sleep, and confusion over health insurance, COBRA bills we don't owe (but are a pain), and a few shingles that blew off our roof. For the most part its normal life stuff just the hassles of making due. But we were getting tired, okay exhausted, and the kids were missing their dad.

This week we landed in an unexpected pocket of grace. Here's a list:
-Monday I went out to see a movie with friends.
-Baby slept through the night several nights in a row (a bit of grace you cannot fully appreciate unless you are outstandingly sleep deprived, like we were).
-Evening activities were canceled 2 nights this week, and we got to spend time together as a family.
-Thursday night I was having "issues" with making dinner, and hubby decided to rescue us all and take us out to eat. Just FYI Thursdays are kids night at CB & Potts. We got a yummy dinner and the kids got a personalized magic show and balloons shaped like a light saber (for the boys) and a teddy bear for M.
-Friday our weekend plans were cancelled. Saturday we decided to do something fun as a family. The kids decided we should take a drive into the mountains. All the kids were waiting in in Hubby's truck when I impulsively decided we should go to Estes Park overnight. Hubby agreed to my nutty plan. I spent 5 minutes throwing extra formula, and toothbrushes into a grocery bag and off we went. We got a cabin at the YMCA of the Rockies. We played games, did jig saw puzzles, made crafts (at the craft store), and went roller-skating. We had so much fun as a family. The kids thought it was fun to wear the same clothes 2 days in a row. And packing was a sinch.

Today, we start school again. Hubby is back to work, but we feel refreshed after our "pocket of grace".