Encouragement - To play in the Rain

Today was a great day to play in the rain and after a few minutes of the girls asking we headed outside. The girls had a blast playing in the puddles, with there umbrella and doing sidewalk chalk. There smiles and excitement were the best and even more fun than playing outside on a sunny day.
I have thought about taking the girls out in the rain may times but usually try to get them going on something inside. After seeing pictures on facebook of another Mom playing in the rain with her kids I was encouraged to do it myself. This Mom has no clue that she put the thought in my mind or encouraged me to do so, but she did.
I love that as Mom's we can encourage each other in the simple and big things.
Simple things like playing in the rain can be fun memories for our kids and ourselves. Thanks to a friend on facebook we had a great time playing in the rain!

Picking up my Cross Today

Luke 9:23 If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
With my to do list in hand I notice they are all things I need to get done.
* laundry
* clean up the kitchen
* put laundry away
But what would God have on my to do list today. If I focused on this verse today and picked up my cross how might my day look different?
As I look at the list and know that all of these and more need to be done today, how would I find the time to do anything else. Not that I cant do laundry for the kingdom but I think you know what I mean. When I looked at the notes in my Bible it compared picking up our cross to putting away selfish desires.
Lord, As I sit here with hours of house work to do
I think how can I have or make time for anything else.
I pray that you would open my eyes and
heart to you plans for my day. I give you my day and ask you to
help me use my time effectively and for your glory.
I love you Lord and love that you give
me a chance daily to pick up my cross.
Help me today carry my cross and
put down my own selfish desires.
In His name