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I've been very conscious the last few days of how short my temper has been, how easily little things become huge things instantly and how my patience level has seemed to drop into the red zone, especially pertaining to the small inhabitants of my home. This evening I was feeling quite proud of myself. I found it quite doable (with prayer) to breathe deeply and pause before reacting and choosing to make better responses.

As a result of my new found forbearance I decided to try putting my younger two to bed at their usual time and let Lydia stay up a little longer for some special time with Mommy. (Daddy had a softball game tonight and we stayed home for fear of rain showers!). I was amazed how easily Bethany and Havilah went down, with very little protest about Lydia staying up. Lydia and Bethany share a twin bed and this is the only night I can remember where they have not gone down at the same time.

Lydia had a nice evening together. We washed her hair and put it up in socks to make it curly. Finally it was time for her to go to bed as well. As we entered the room I smelled something funny. I just couldn't quite place it. I was also very surprised to find Bethany wide awake. And I mean WIDE awake! We had entered the room in the dark (trying not to wake up Havi) and I was a little confused at what Bethany was saying.

In a very excited and somewhat nervous sounding voice, she kept saying " I drawed those pictures for you Lydia! I drawed those pictures for you.". I didn't pay too much attention at first until I started to make out some vague shadows on the wall. I turned on the light to find this...

Yes, that is permanent marker (hence the smell). Yes, she has learned that she will never do that again. And yes, I really did stay quite calm through it all! Thankfully we have not done one thing to that room since we've moved there and a can of paint should remedy much of the fiasco. I'm amazed as well at how much I am thankful for the sanity of a four year old! Not much mischief happens under Lydia's watchful eye! I guess we've still got a ways to go with the two year old!