Different view

It's a busy day today. The kids are all going camping with their youth group this weekend, so trying to get them organized and packed is an adventure in negotiation, debate and darn right just pulling out the mommy card and putting it into play.



This is my kid's ideal list of things to take:

sleeping bag, pillow, themselves.

Here is my list:

sleeping bag, pillow, extra micro fleece blanket, warm pajamas or clothes to sleep in, 2 pairs shorts, 2 pairs pants, 3 tshirts, underwear, extra socks, bathing suit, little mittens, hats, sunscreen, bug spray, meds with a complete list of instructions for each med, sunglasses, hand towel, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, anitbacterial wipes. x3.

UPDATE: See I knew I'd think of even more. How could I have forgotton hoodies, warm coat or rain coat and runners and sandals or a spare pair of shoes, you just in case they "fall" in the lake and need dry shoes.



See the difference? When I pack, I use the boy scout motto: Be prepared. Which for some reason makes the rest of my family, inculding hubby at times, roll their eyeballs with a heavy sigh or "Oh mom" thrown in for good measure.


I think it's all to make myself feel better and not worry about them. Like if they have everything but the kitchen sink, that will ensure that nothing will happen where they will need the item that they did not bring. But when the rubber meets the road I cannot control events by my worry. In fact, God calls that a sin. My worrying is not going change any little thing about them being away from me or their weekend. So what is a mom to do? The answer as always is in God's word. In 1 Peter 5:7 in the Amplified Bible it says:

"Casting the whole of your care--
all your anxieties, all your worries, all your
concerns, once and for all--
on Him;
for He cares for you affectionately, and cares for
you watchfully."

He cares for me watchfully and affectionately. He cares about my concerns. But I need to give Him those concerns once and for all. That means no running up to Him and grabbing it back, people. You leave it there with God. When you cast something, the dictionary says you throw or fling it or shed it off. God asks me to throw all my cares onto Him. That means they are away, far away from me. He will handle them. He is the same God who tell us that we are written in the palm of His hand. *Isaiah 49:16* And if my children are written in God's hand then there is no better place than they can be.