hmmm... can't imagine why.
somedays i'm ok with craziness and kids running through the kitchen dripping wet from sprinklers and water gun fights.
but other days i fear the mess of my house will bury us all.
and i know, i know... there's a season for cleaning, a season for home cooked meals served on pristine platters, a season for sleeping, a season for responding to emails and returning phone calls, a season for blogging....
many wonderful, encouraging women have told me, "don't worry about your house. just soak up the time with your kids."
i agree.
but...
people. when i lament the disaster of my home, its not anxiousness about alphabetizing the spice rack or organizing sock drawers. i'm worried about the possibility of mold growing on my kitchen counters.
for real.
alas, last week was my birthday. and there is something freeing about birthdays. while i don't want any wild party or extravagant gifts (unless of course you wanna buy me a housekeeper) i thoroughly enjoy a day to be completely guilt free.
what dishes?
laundry? ha.
homeschool prep for next year? not today.
calories? as if!
responsibilities do not exist.
i even did something wild and crazy.
i learned to surf.
(dont be fooled. i am not cool. me = poser)
(however, my good friend on the right is. for real. but she's gracious enough to still be my friend anyway.)
so kat (cool friend) and her equally cool husband taught me to surf. and while you will not see me in any competitions (or another skin tight wetsuit) in the near future, i might just mention that i did indeed catch my very first wave on my very first try.
all due to chet. and his cheering wife. kat.
i love my friends.
(and i didn't even get eaten by sharks. my biggest fear.)
kat also called me today just to say, "how can i pray for you?"
she does this often. and i know she really does pray. and it means the world to me.
my answer is often the same.
joy. contentment. patience.
in reality, i don't wish that my life to be any different than it is. (i mean, i would like to be skinny... but what woman who has birthed 4 children wouldn't?!? come on...)
i just want joy in the chaos. contentment in the overwhelmingness. and patience through the frustrating and long afternoons.
(oh, and to really be that cool friend who encourages others half as much as kat does me)
"... for a happy heart, life is a continual feast." proverbs 15:15
6 comments:
Stephanie, it's so good to hear from (read about) you again! You have seriously been on my mind and in my prayers for a while. Where you are I have been (although I did not have the added stress of homeschooling). I absolutely 100% guarantee you that the day will come when you will look back on the chaos and miss it. At least for a few minutes! You have a beautiful family. You're a terrific mom. Hang in there and enjoy these fleeting moments!
Surfing, really? You ROCK! And you are so NOT a poser.
How blessed you are to have such a wonderful friend to love and support you AND teach you how to surf...that's a gift straight from Heaven, and I'm sure you would agree.
Your babies are adorable! I'm bummed that you don't blog more often, as I miss your witty posts that never fail to make me laugh, but I do understand that those four lovelies take priority. Oh, that and the mold on the counter...couldn't you consider that a homeschool science experiment?
those are little movie stars!
i love you Steph.
Hey Steph! Happy belated birthday. Sounds like it was really fun. Having a birthday in the desert will just never measure up to being able to learn to surf on your birthday! And boy do I hear you on this whole 4 kids and trying to keep it together thing...I don't know how you're homeschooling right now too. Its insanity! I will pray these things for you if you'll pray them for me too! :)
Just came over from the HSBA post to and had to say, "Awesome!" I learned to surf when I turned 40 and although I'm no Bethany Hamilton, I love it. Love. It.
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