Proverbs 31:25 (New International Version)

She is clothed with strength and dignity;she can laugh at the days to come.

Proverbs 17:22 (New International Version)
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Taken in the light of conventional wisdom; this has not been a week to find too much humor in.

Sunday, my sweetheart left for a weeks' travel, leaving me to deal with church and the end of a chock-full o' soccer weekend (one tournament times three children equals NINE games; all at different times on different fields). Did I mention that we were keeping an extra child that weekend (the goalie for my son's team) and that my eldest dd's team was getting consistently stomped despite some awesome playing on her part?

Fast forward to Monday. The baby decided to end the day by projectile vomiting all over his high chair...and me.

Tuesday, the body fluid fest continued. We went through an entire pack of diapers and three loads of laundry. My sister sent a pizza (via the web) for the older kids. It inadvertently was delivered to the church (20 min away in evening traffic) because forgot to modify my order history.

Wednesday was a blur of coddling a recovering baby and juggling the midweek rush.

Thursday, we'll just say was not my older son's most stellar day in the realm of academics; the baby refused to nap, and Princess Piggy spent the night rotating between my bed and the bathroom. (I have never been so delighted that a child could make it to the toilet by herself to throw up!). It was a long night.

My friend took one look at my undereye circles this morning and handed me a Starbuck's card. I drove through (two kids in tow) and ordered coffee for myself, her and her assistant, plus juice for the princess. I handed the the cashier the card. My total...over eleven dollars! The card she had given me had covered exactly $0.33 of my bill.

I had so many occasions this week to cry; to pout; to stomp my feet at the "unfairness" of my situation.

But God is so faithful.

True to his promise to allow me to find balance this year, he filled my mouth with laughter, and my lips with praise. This was most assuredly the Holy Spirit and not my own temperament...just ask anyone who knows me well. My beloved Abba calmed the storms long enough to meet me each morning and wrap me in the warm embrace of His promises.

How many blessings have I been able to see as people stepped forward to help with the multitude of logistical detail that my brood 's week required? How much more joyfully will I welcome my beloved home tonight against the backdrop of turbulence softened by humor?

The weekend ahead offers no respite from the chaos of life. We have a full schedule, three extra children to keep, and the ever present threat of the stomach flu striking our home again.

Bring it on...for like Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice, I too, "dearly love to laugh".

It is well with my soul.