Sacred

On any given day, I find myself in the struggle against housework versus time/attention given to 3 boys. Finding time beyond meeting their physical needs is no simple task. Any day that I actually catch up on housework is a day when I let them watch too much tv or play unsupervised for too long, or eat poptarts for breakfast...and lunch. On the days when I'm Supermom, you can bet the house is in shambles. Then you add in trying to find time for my wonderfully large family, and my love for (read: addiction to) photography, and there just isn't enough of me to go around. I keep trying to look from the long term... How will my actions affect the boys years from now? What will I regret? I think I'd regret a dirty house the least, yet it overwhelms me when the messes pile up.

Enter, this song:

this house is a good mess
it’s the proof of life
no way would I trade jobs
but it don’t pay overtime

I’ll get to the laundry
I don’t know when
I’m saying a prayer tonight
cause tomorrow it starts again

could it be that everything is sacred?
and all this time
everything I’ve dreamed of
has been right before my eyes

the children are sleeping
but they’re running through my mind
the sun makes them happy
and the music makes them unwind

my cup runneth over
and I worry about the stain
teach me to run to You
like they run to me for every little thing

when I forget to drink from you
I can feel the banks harden
Lord, make me like a stream
to feed the garden

wake up, little sleeper
the Lord, God Almighty
made your Mama keeper
so rise and shine
rise and shine cause

everything is sacred
and all this time
everything I’ve dreamed of
has been right before my eyes

I've adopted it as my theme song. It's called "Sacred" on the newest Caedmon's Call album (Overdressed). Check it out on itunes if you like it. I love it, it helps me remember what's most important, and hopefully start keeping my priorities straight.

So if you ever witness my house (or as you see it in the videos/ photos), just know it's my good mess, proof that I'm attempting to do what's best. I'm such a Martha, and I really need to be a Mary.

How about you? What do you struggle to keep in check?

Katie's here!

A big congratulations to my friends, Sarah and Daron! They had their first baby, sweet Katie, on Sunday. She was a whooping 9 lbs 4 oz and 20.5 inches long. And after getting to see her beautiful self today, I can confirm, she is a tall one, and sooo gorgeous. Take a look...

She has a FULL head of hair. Lucky girl. :)


And is there anything more fun than seeing new parents with their baby?!


Seriously, it's such a sacred thing.

They were a couple, and now Katie makes them a family. Congratulations, guys!

The Backyard in all its Glory

Here's the adventure we've been on for the last 6 months...
My dream-come-true for the boys...


This was the backyard back in '05 when we bought the property.

Just imagine a bunch of tall weeds and you'll see what it looked like (untouched) until February '08.



Then our friend Mitch brought his bob cat over and worked some magic, leveling things out, clearing Cedars.
And Chuck built that beautiful playscape just in time before Chandler was born.


Then, in June, Mitch came back to help us finish the project. We (Mitch) set up a parameter and put in pebbles under the playscape.


Chance tested out the pebbles for us.


Then he added another parameter for a crushed-granite trail around it.
Charlie calls it "the race track."


And last week we got the grass finished!
Well, sorta - we did the checkerboard pattern, it'll take awhile to grow in...

So here it is: the before.


the after.


We are so blessed.

18 minutes 46 seconds

That's how long the phone call lasted with my insurance agent. It was one of those, ya know, "need to concentrate, don't interrupt me" kinda calls.... I asked Charlie and Chance ahead of time to let Mommy talk on the phone. So here's what happened:

Charlie poured out syrup on a plate, then proceeds to cover his hands in it, and I caught him just as he was about to fingerpaint himself.

Charlie and Chance fought over whose turn it was for a toy (and wanted me to referee).

Chance turns on my point and shoot camera, sticking his greasy little fingers all over the lens. I take it away, so he starts screaming as loud as he can. I go into the bedroom and shut the door, so he grabs his toy and starts hitting the door.

Chandler cries because he's tired of standing in his saucer.


Basicially there wasn't a single second that wasn't filled with a kid screaming or crying - for the entire 18 minutes and 46 seconds. And this, my friends, is why I hate the telephone...or anything that requires my undivided attention.

Someday I'll laugh about this. As everyone says "Don't blink or you'll miss the joy of when your kids were little..." Well, for 18 minutes and 46 seconds today, I couldn't stop blinking... ;)

Video Blog

Chandler has decided anything we can drink, he can drink too.

Thirsty Boy



The boys found my high heels.

High Heeled Boys



I caught Chance practicing his whining - and then you can see why I really don't enjoy the baby food stage. Blech!

Practicing his whine


Check out Charlie's musical prowess (or lack thereof):

A Harley Davidson Ballad