Swallowing My Toads

      Yesterday, I spent a lot of time swallowing toads.  My dad used to tell me that any time you had to do something you really didn't feel like doing, it was "swallowing a toad."  Not sure why.  He would say, "Every day you have to swallow some toads, and it is better to get it over with."  Still makes me laugh, and I now realize what sage advice this really is.  I like having fun.  I mean, really, who doesn't?  But I really like it and being an adult has meant that I have to pick real life over fun more often than I would like.
      Case in point: yesterday.  I made myself just do the stuff that I needed to do instead of the stuff I really wanted to do.



Toad Swallowing: Paper Work.  Being an adult requires far too much paperwork - even with most of our bills paid online.  I was behind, and in fact, this toad still needs to get down the rest of my throat, because I have not quite finished with this mess I left in John's office.



Toad Swallowing: Really Cleaning My House.  Our house is pretty large, which is such a blessing.  Until it is time to clean, that is.  And we have people coming, so it needed a real cleaning.  Which it got yesterday.




Bella is Learning to Swallow Toads Too.  Okay, I wish I could teach her that teething is just a part of her life that she should learn to deal with.  Unfortunately, she cries like a baby about it, and I have to remind myself that she is a baby, and I am the one who just has to deal with it.  And love on her.  An extra lot right now.  Poor girl.



Toad Swallowing: Doing the Dishes.  As you can clearly see, nothing on this list is that hard or should be outside the norm.  I do the dishes regularly, but I certainly don't always feel like doing them.



Toad Swallowing: Laundry.  There is always more of it.  And where is that other pink shoe/sock?  In my purse?  In the diaper bag?  Stuffed into a bird house in my living room?  I still don't know.



This is what I wanted to be doing.  Working on a crafty project with these buttons that I just got in the mail from eBay.  They were just sitting there, mocking me.  Have you noticed how buttons are all over Pinterest?  Because I have, and I want them for myself.  But yesterday was not meant for button fun.  It was meant for swallowing toads.
      I had a lot of time to think during all my menial tasks, and it was an exercise in finding joy in all things.  Just because I may not love catching up on paperwork and housework, I am glad to be able to serve my family in this way.  I am privileged that my toads are really quite small and mundane right now - they go down pretty easily, and I know that in doing these things well, I bring glory to the Lord, who sees my heart.  And, it feels pretty good to be caught up.  (sort of.  for now.  not for long.)