Its too early and I can't sleep!

Why must I succumb to the quirks of aging? Where did all my youthful energy go? It seems that my thinker wants to work overtime in the wee hours of the morning when my body is awakened by other calls of nature. I used to be able to sleep through those calls without difficulty. I used to be able to turn the mind on and off at will. I used to be able to let things go easier. Now, it seems, all of these issues are a challenge. I know I shall regret having given in to such folly. I should have forced myself to stay in bed and at least snuggle next to my husband. But he is snoring...a good sign that he is breathing and resting. But not a good way for me to return to sleeping.

I could have gone into the spare room. (Sounds like an adventure to Narnia or something!) Ha! I could have worked on my novel. (Too engaging, in case I want to return to the bed...) I could be reading...(ditto)...only things to get the mind swirling again and not things to bring slumber to my eyes.

WE plan to go to the zoo today. Not the one that is close to the house, but the one on the other side of town. They have elephants and bears and lions. The other does not, although they have a new aquarium we have yet to see. And then Saturday, Handsome and Jomo, and possibly TDH and Hunky, and my son and myself will be out on a fishing adventure at 6:00 AM. Promises must be kept!

I sometimes think I am getting too old for this traipsing around town with a minimum of two children in tow...sometimes as many as five...or six. Walking the zoo will be challenging with the bone spur on my heel. And I will be very tired, I predict. But we will see lions and tigers and bears...and elephants. And Baby Girl will be very tired as well. And the boys will have a good time, which is the main idea.

Sometimes I miss the "good old days" when I went to a specific place day in and day out to do a routine job with a twist of surprises, given I was working with people. I had days off and vacation time. I had lunch breaks! I could blame things on other staff once in a while! I felt professional. I felt challenged and yet comfortable in my knowledge and experience. I should have known that teaching children again would exceed any challenge I felt a need to have. And caring for children, even with lots of experience, creates its own twists of surprises and challenges. There are no two children alike. Even though "the apple does not fall far from the tree", as the saying goes, each child is unique and special, with their own set of needs and personalities. Having reared one of their parents does not make them easier to figure out! And that is the delight and joy of it all. Discovering the future in each of them on a daily basis.

Give me a sharper mind, O Lord, so at least, I can stay one step ahead of them...even with a bone spur...