I remember our first beach vacation with the kids. My son was 3 and my daughter was 18 months. I assumed it would be a great getaway – but to my horror it was more work than being home. We stayed in a condo where I was cooking breakfast and lunch and our dinners out were stressful managing the kids.
On the beach, I was not able to sit down for a moment to relax, I was chasing my 18 month old as she cheerfully ran up the beach, stuck her head in the sand or ran into the ocean. I had brought a book to read but never cracked it open. Then a rainy day came and everyone looked at me to entertain them! I was like Mary Poppins all day trying to pull tricks out of my bag to keep the kids busy. I was exhausted at the end of vacation. 
I remember standing at the washing machine in the condo folding clothes and feeling completely filled with disappointment. I told my husband, I wanted just one hour alone on the beach. So while the kids napped, I went to the ocean and just sat there and cried. I cried and talked to Jesus and told him how I felt – and then I sat there in peace enjoying the peaceful breeze and sound of the roaring waves. Releasing those tears in prayer and pausing to take in the moment helped my inner wars to quiet down and be at peace.
4 years later I wish I could talk to that sad girl on the beach and give her hope. I wish I could have hugged her and said – what you are feeling is normal. You are learning selflessness – you are experiencing growing pains. It’s going to be okay and some day you are going to laugh at the memories of this vacation. You are doing the right things. Don’t give up and don’t be discouraged. God sees you, he hears you and he loves you.
Here is How I have learned to handle disappointments:
2. Change your expectations. Now that you see that reality does not match up to fairy tales accept this truth. Turn from critical and negative thoughts and open your eyes wide to see the blessings that are in your life. Count your blessings one by one – literally get out a piece of paper and do this! I Thessalonians 5:16-18 says “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
3. Allow your family trials and daily struggles to mature you. James 1:3,4 says “Consider it pure joy, my brothers whenever you face trails of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance MUST finish its work so that you may be mature and complete.”
4. Have hope – this isn’t the end of your story. Step back and look at the big picture. What is God teaching you right now through your trials that will help you in the next season of life. Colossians 2:2 “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
And take heart that you are not alone – you have sisters in Christ who are in the trenches with you. Be strong – “do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
Walk with the King! 
The Place is not inviting. The curse is remembered “Cursed is the ground because of you; (Adam) through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food.” Gen. 3:17-19
They work in the hot sun preparing the soil. An hour later perseverance and exhaustion battle. Exhaustion leads to irritability. Children waver…mommy chooses the route of encouragement and praise. It works – Perseverance wins!
The stones are removed for we are reminded of the parable of the sower. “Some seed fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly…but when the sun came up, the plants were scorched.” Matt. 13:5.
The seeds are measured and dropped into their nests and teacher mommy reminds the children, God says: “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” 2 Cor. 9:6
And so the pilgrims sow and sow and sow, for they desire an abundant harvest.
Hope is born in children’s hearts. Lessons are taught as dirty hands dig and sweaty brows drip. Teacher mommy quotes one of her favorite verses: “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” John 12:24 Children are reminded how they are like the seeds, someday they will produce many more seeds if they are willing to be used by God.
Life is a garden. We plan, we toil, we sow, we die to self and we wait on God for the increase. 
