Got my hair cut yesterday. I enjoyed getting to know a few new ladies in town and listening to their chatter while the deed was done. A group of young moms were talking about Christmas shopping, eating out, and how busy they were with one and two children. One woman remarked how she couldn’t possibly imagine those people who have more than 3 kids. I smiled and listened – taking in the adult conversation. Then they turned to me, “How many children do you have?”
You can imagine the silence of the salon after I whipped out the photo of my 4 blessings! 😉
There are times that I wonder how I possibly do life with “so many” children. It has been a big transition. How can one more little person add so much to the laundry pile? Unbelievable.
Between school lessons, cooking, laundry, and instructing the hearts of my children – I often feel like I don’t have enough to go around. There always seems to be a child who didn’t get their book read, a nose I didn’t wipe, a sticky spot that lingers, and – guilt upon guilt – a teachable moment that I miss.
More than anything I want to succeed at being a mom and supportive wife – but in the chaos of day to day life, I don’t always feel like….well, like the superwoman it would take to get the laundry monster conquered.
Not by coincidence, this week I read the following statement by Sally Clarkson in her book The Mission of Motherhood. “My children don’t need me to be on top of all my chores or even to be perfect in taking care of all of their needs. What they need is for me to be content and patient with life. They need me as a mature Christian, to walk by faith that God is in control, allowing his Spirit to give me peace and joy in the midst of life’s inevitable ups and downs.”
I am letting the truth of those words soak in deep and taking a “chill pill” as Roo would say. They really don’t care if I make spaghetti again rather than some cool new meal I got off pinterest. They do care if mom is stressed out trying to be perfect.
So, yes, my new friends at the hair salon…..I know exactly how I do it….by the grace of God.
The photo at the top….one of the many imperfect shots I got while trying to take a picture for our Christmas cards (which might be mailed out in January if I am lucky.) Roo stubbornly trying to strike a pose for the camera, Little Man climbing all over the place, Soccer Dude telling everyone what to do, and Little Monkey getting her feelings hurt. Can you hear the dog barking? Because he is. Just saying! By God’s grace we got a smiling photo with no one picking their nose. Grace. God’s Grace. But if sometime in the future I send out a photo with a child who has a finger up their nose….just know that I am putting into practice what I wrote tonight.
Casting A Stone 
our christmas pictures 3 years ago was beautiful – except for james’ nose picking. it was a perfect example of our life, so it was included!