A few weeks ago, I compiled a list of 'The Good Stuff' in my life simply by revisiting some old journal entries and here is my top 10 list (in no order)...
1. Matt walking in the door at the end of the day and heading right towards me, arms open wide, with a hug and a smile that makes me quickly forget about the messy house and the boiling spaghetti noodles.
2. Going around the table at a meal and hearing the kids or Matt say that the best part of their day is that moment.
3. Hearing my children pray for one another.
4. Snuggling in bed with all 3 kids at once (but not while I'm trying to sleep).
5. Getting a phone call from a friend who needs to talk and knowing that I can do the same when I'm having a crappy day.
6. Showing up at my Mom and Dad's for dinner on Sunday and seeing that they've put together a treat bag for the kids to take home (this could be because they feel sorry for them because I don't buy that junk).
7. Looking at my full refrigerator and pantry and knowing that we can provide our family with the food and nourishment they need (I stole this one from an article I just read...but it's still good).
8. Watching Matt brush Adrianna's hair after a bath.
9. Being surrounded by an incredible church family and community that always lifts up and supports us.
10. Being able to be a stay at home mom and witness all of the 'good stuff' as well as all of the chaos!
All of that sounds just blissful and sugarcoated, I'm sure, but I do have some pretty crappy days, too! I'm just keeping it real. Some days, I feel like locking my kids in a closet and going back to bed (I hope I don't get a call from child protective services for saying that...by the way, I'd never do it). Some days, I say 'NO' more than any other word and and witness more fights between my kids than a hockey referee. Some days, we don't get anything done around here except cleaning up spilled juice, peeling stickers off the furniture, and wiping snotty noses. I countlessly tell Adrianna not to whine and tell all 3 of them continuously to talk to each other (and me) with respect. There isn't a number for the times that our days have been so hectic that I actually feel like someone is going to knock on the door and say, "Surprise! You're on a hidden camera show!" Wouldn't that be nice? It's days like this that make me want to set the timer and have a countdown to bedtime. And although I have a great network of friends, some days I feel alone and like I'm the only one doing what I'm doing.
But, all of that's okay...its worth it in the end. Hey, I've got some great stories to read to the chickadees some day :) And, there's no better justification than seeing my kids at the end of the day, sleeping in their warm beds, belly's full, in rooms filled with toys and a plethora of books, confident that Mom and Dad are right down the hall, that all of that chaos is worth it!
In the end, I guess that even the chaos that my life can sometimes be, is also 'good stuff.'
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