Memoirs from a dull life

As you can see from the picture, I don't experience many dull moment around here. Here are a few of the latest snapshots in time:

*Pouring rainstorm loading 4 kids (my three plus a friend) into a van when I notice Anna's diaper. She tends to hold her poo for days, so of course a tropical rain storm is a perfect time to go. After changing her diaper as fast as I could, I tried to close the van door. It would not shut. I tried and tried to no avail, just so happens Anna's poo has rolled out of the diaper and is preventing the van sensor from allowing the van door to close. Lovely!

*Last week... After putting Kate down for a nap upstairs, I walk into the kitchen only to find Anna has cracked 12 eggs on the kitchen floor. (Good thing I already used the other 6)

*Today...Again after putting Kate down for her nap, as I walked down the stairs I noticed the distinct smell of maple syrup emanating from the kitchen. Anna had decided her breakfast, the kitchen table, chairs and floor, could use a little syrup. There she is covered in maple syrup from head to toe. (That should have been my clue to hide under the covers, little did I know that would be the first of many messes to clean.) Pete was having such a fun day that he forgot to stop to go to the potty twice and wet the bed during his nap. Yes, all this in one day.

Some may assume that mothers of toddlers have messier houses. However, I'm beginning to think we have cleaner houses, because we have more opportunities to clean those cracks and crevices.

I guess that's what I get for having three children 4 and under. Yes, these are the days full of quotes and stories that I will cherish even more when the kids are older and I have no messes to clean except my own. I thank God for these days!

A Check in the Box

I am a box checker to a royal degree. I love making my list and checking it twice, checking off all the things that I think I should do or things I think others think I should do. The problem is, sometimes I spend an entire day checking off boxes that aren't on God's list for me to do.

It's easy to check off the list of errands, and dishes and projects around the house. They are obvious. It's easy to be raise your hand at the squadron coffee and say you'll bring the next batch of cookies to family day, or bring the meal to the family with the new baby, or work in the two year old nursery for a Sunday.

When the world is watching I have no problem saying yes. What I have a problem with, when the world is watching, is saying yes to God by saying no to the world. It's harder to leave a box empty and instead check off the one nobody sees that says be quiet ... be still ... and leave some room for me.