Friday thoughts.

I love Friday afternoons. This is for many and various reasons. Firstly, and massively marvelous in my book, is no packed lunches to prepare for the children for tomorrow. It's a job that doesn't really take long but somehow manages to hang over me like a big, black cloud, taunting me. "What healthy delights will you give your children tomorrow," I am taunted. "What will you put in their lunch boxes that you know full well you will throw in the bin when they come home tomorrow," is the voice in my head.To be honest I don't know why I don't make their lunches, cut out the middle man and just chuck it away. It would save me a job.

I do try with these wretched lunches. I endeavour to make them attractive, healthy and appetising. There are only so many shapes you can cut a Vegemite sandwich in to though. Deep sigh...

I did have one very bleak day in my packed lunch making career I have to confess. I bought some very healthy (let the reader understand....for healthy read hideous) cereal bars. Nobody liked them. They were flung to the back of the cupboard and forgotten about.

Several months later my son decided to help me with the dreaded packed lunches and put one in his lunch box and one each in all the girl's boxes. My little girls came home with them tied up in a carrier bag and a large handwritten note on the bag saying, "Live maggots...out of date 6 months ago." A little humiliating I think you will agree. But to my credit I have only done it the once!!

Friday evenings are great for other reasons too. I love getting all the children home, eating a meal all together and chilling out with no pressure...mind you they all still fight and there is a huge pile of washing up to be done. BUT it all feels different and it feels good.

I have for a long time now really admired those of the Jewish faith who still hold to the keeping of the Sabbath in a much deeper way than most of us Christians do. There is something so marvelous about joining together and stopping in the frantic busyness of life to be together and thank God for His faithfulness and continued presence in our lives. Surprise, surprise, God knew what He was doing when He told us to keep the Sabbath day holy and set apart.

Well, I guess as I have written about being together I'd better go and put it into practise and be with the family God has given me. Feel an Uno challenge coming on!!!

Love,

Rachel.