Tic Tacs and other thoughts

I know, it's been a while since I've written anything. I must confess that the creative juices have just not been flowing recently. I hate when I go through dry spells like that. But one humorous thing did happen not too long ago. I took my girls to the bank with me. Now, I live in a very SMALL town, and so when I go to the bank, if there are no other cars there, I will just let the pickup run and go and be out in like two minutes. Before I went into the bank I gave Alaina and Larissa each some tic tacs to eat while I ran in. I come back out, put the truck in gear and am leaving when I notice Larissa is crying. I ask her what's wrong and she says her nose hurts. I think she's been picking it, so I tell her to just leave her nose alone. I look back, and that is when I notice it.....a white thing sticking out of her nose! Yes, she stuck a tic tac up her nose! I was thinking to myself, where is the video camera? Kids win $10,000 all the time on America's Funniest Home Videos for stuff like this. I calmly told her to pull out the tic tac and to never jam anything up her nose. I was trying to so hard not to laugh because she was truly upset and hurting. Oh, kids, you gotta love it!
But I have been pondering lately how lots of people say raising kids in the toddler years can be tough to be able to do anything else....namely spiritual growth. Don't I know it! It seems like if I get up early to read my Bible or to pray, someone else decides it's time to get up early. My day is then spent taking care of kids, house, garden, anything.....and then it's evening, put the kids in bed, and I am ready to crash! I've heard people say that your spiritual growth just has to get put on hold. I don't agree with that. At least, I don't want to agree with that. Sometimes I find myself thinking that way. But I want more.
There was a time when the Lord consumed my thoughts, was the first thought in the morning and last in the night. I had dreams, He talked with me, told me things. I could feel His Holy Spirit with me, guiding me. And then I got caught up in life. Today, I obviously have more responsibility. But I have started getting up even earlier. Hello 5:30 a.m., but it's worth it. I get to have my coffee on the porch, read my bible, reflect on the Lord, and watch the sun rise. And it's just an awesome reminder of God's faithfulnesss, even when I am not. I don't want to just put my spiritual growth on hold. We are to live each day as if He is returning. I need that fire, that passion in my life. When I am passionate about the Lord, then that spills over into other areas of my life, namely my husband and children. I see the little things, the teachable moments.
I just want to encourage those other moms out there that feel the same way I do at times. We all go through the desert at some point in our walks with the Lord. Just don't stay there. Keep asking, keep begging for more, and He will give it to you. Sometimes so much so you'll be thinking, okay Lord that's enough!!!! But keep walking, keep your eyes on the prize. There is so much more He wants to give each of us. More then we can comprehend or imagine.