Celebrating the Sabbath

I've recently been convicted about celebrating the Sabbath. You know, a day of rest, on the 7th day of the week, Saturday. At first it was just a nice idea, then a good excuse to not do housework :) But as my conviction is strengthened in research I'm really trying to put it into practice now. Last week I concentrated on what NOT to do. I actually used my dishwasher, rather than washing dishes by hand. I didn't catch-up on cleaning I didn't finish during the week, I didn't spend the day goign through and purging baby clothes. So this week I've been thinking about what I SHOULD be doing. My first thought was "if I'm not cleanign, I'll have time to sew those diaper covers that dd needs!!" but it only took a second to realize that was actually work too. Of course I plan on spending some of that time with the Lord, doing Bible studies of things I never have time to research, things like that. And then it dawned on me, I need to spend that time with my children! Yes I'm with my kids all day everyday, but how much of my time do they really get? Little snippets here and there (which is somethign I've also been working on this week). So tomorrow, when we go outside, I will push them in the swings, and chase them around and play tag, and dig in the sandbox, instead of sitting in my chair on the porch. In the afternoon, instead of reading my own book or working on my cross-stitch, we will read ALL the books we borrowed from the library. When they take a bath, I will play in the water, instead of flipping through a magazine. It will be a day for my children and I to enjoy each other. For future Saturdays I have plans for the park (I hate the park), a trip to the lake, and any other fun thing I can think of. Maybe crafts, and baking. I will make Saturday about my children, and serve the Lord while doing so.