attitude adjustment

When you were a grumpy kid being sassy and pouty, did your mom tell say "You need an attitude adjustment" ? My mom used to say that all the time.  In fact we weren't allowed to watch Beverly Hills Teens (which was like Jem + Archie in an 80's cartoon) cause the kids were too sassy.

Mom hasn't told me I need an attitude adjustment in years, but I need one.

I get so overwhelmed trying to impress David's family. I just want them to like me and I never feel like I've made it into the fold. I over compensate by over planning and trying to make Christmas "special" because I know it is Gill's favorite holiday. I plan elaborate meals, outings, devotionals, activities - anything to get positive attention. In the end I become grumpy and pouty because I'm worn out and didn't enjoy the holiday because I'm too worried about the Special Factor.

Yesterday David informed me that his cousins are coming to Houston for a couple days.
I freaked out. How are we going to adjust our plans and where will everyone go and how will we feed them and I don't have any activities planned for kids and and and.

I emailed my mom venting how I don't know how I am going to deal with added complexity of more people. 
She responded:
"His cousins are so good to make the effort to come down."

Mommy, in the nicest way possible, told me I need an attitude adjustment. Of course I didn't see it that way. Here I am using a holiday to try and earn brownie points with in-laws when I'm missing the whole point. I'm Martha.

³⁸ As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:38-42


But it is so easy to defend Martha.
Martha is a doer, she knows that if she isn't in the kitchen dinner isn't going to get cooked. I guess I still haven't fully grasped the "what is really important" lesson.

Even typing this, knowing that I've totally messed up and need to change my perspective I'm still sweating (literally) cause the pie isn't done and it is too rainy to pull of the birthday party I planned for Andy and after days of Dp sanding the bathroom door still won't close...