Retreat Day Today

I am on a retreat day today. Melissa gave me this "day off" for Christmas and I'm just now getting around to taking it. Today is actually the first Saturday that (a) we don't have anything else going on, and (b) the weather is nice. So how am I enjoying this great weather? I'm sitting in a coffee shop with my computer on my lap. So how is that any different from every other day? Well, I'm not working. (again you may ask, "so how is that different from every other day...?")

This is not a cheap gift. In my absence and without any help, Melissa will have to:

1. Get the kids up
2. Clothe them
3. Feed them
4. Clean up after them
5. Entertain them
6. Feed them again
7. Entertain them some more
8. Keep them from killing each other
9. Keep them from killing our dog and the one we're "sitting" for the weekend
10. Put them down for naps
11. Get them up again
12. Re-clothe them
13. Feed them yet again
14. Entertain them some more
    
15. Bathe them, and
16. Put them to bed (a long sub-list)

In the midst of all of this, I'm sure she'll find time to clean something, paint something or get something else done around the house that falls in the category of "productive." I've been really impressed lately that I am married to a Proverbs 31 woman. One day, I'm certain that her children will arise and call her blessed, but right now they just call her, "Mama!!!"

So, I do have an agenda for my retreat day; a set of goals I guess:

1. Read (Scripture and A Long Obedience in the Same Direction)
   
2. Write (intro for my new blog and About Me section)
3. Listen (at least one hour of silence for which I'll have to find a quieter location because the coffee shop has grown crowded)

I even brought my guitar along in case I feel impressed to write a song, something I haven't done in about 7 or 8 years. Maybe I should blog about that.

Well, I better go and get to the rest of my agenda.

TB