Confession time

I am tired- I am richly blessed but I am tired. Today as I look around my downstairs I realize that it has been less than a week since I picked everything up (again) and yet you could never tell if you walked in my front door. As a matter of fact if you walked in you would probably think... wow what happened in here?! So I am confessing now that my house does not stay picked up and I am tired of picking up day after day after day. I have been home now not working outside the home since the middle of August. During that time I have cleaned out toys, cabinets, and countless tubs of stuff. I have weeded out many clothes as I went through load after load of laundry and yet there is still soooo much here! I know I am soooo blessed but I am at a moment of overwhelming frustration. I have to get this out of my head and out of my system so that I can see through to go at it again. I know I am not the only one in the world with a disorganized chaotic home, but I feel like it. I have been in 3 homes in the last 2 weeks and I wonder- do people actually live in these homes during the day- where is the clutter? Where are the clothes? Where are the toys? Where are the piles of paper work- the hot spots if you will? I know that I am lazy sometimes but really how do you all get it all done? How is it possible that you run from place to place with your kids- music class, the grocery store, play groups, ladies Bible class, and still have time to make things and create things and volunteer at school etc... and still make the house work like it should- I don't get it. As I type this I have heard 2 of the 4 ask for a snack for the 3 time since the school bus got home 3 people have knocked on the door to ask if they can come in and play or if we can come out and play. I am praying for strength. I am praying for wisdom. I am praying for peace in the home. I am praying that some of you out there have homes that look like mine more often than not and that you will tell me and make me feel better : ) My friend Ben Baily is the guest blogger on his wife's blog and the other day he got a letter from his khaki pants. Ok so here is a letter from my house:

Dear Mrs. Babcock,

You have too many children, too many clothes, too many toys, too many cats, too many dishes, too much in your pantry, and I am tired of holding it all in - would you consider please moving? I would be soo much happier - I feel fuller than a stuffed turkey at a big Thanksgiving feast! Oh yeah and while you are at it- will you fix the wall in the master bath that has been messed up for the last 8 of the 10 years you have been here.

Thanks,

Your house

Ok now I will get up from my computer and continue on... in my head I am thinking of the song that Wayne Watson did several years ago called Watercolor Ponies:

"There are water color ponies on my refrigerator door

and the shape of something I don't really recognize

Drawn with careful little fingers

and put proudly on display

a reminder to us all of how time flies.

Seems an endless mound of laundry

and a stair way laced with toys

gives a blow by blow reminder of the war,

that we fight for their well- being

for their greater understanding

to impart a holy reverence for the Lord.

But (Baby) what will we do,

when it comes back to me and you

they look a little less like little boys every day

Oh, the pleasure of watching

the children growing

is mixed with a bitter cup

of knowing the watercolour ponies

will one day ride away

And the vision can get so narrow

as you view through your tiny world

and little victories can go by

with no applause

But in the greater evaluation

as they fly from you nest of love

may they mount up with wings

as eagles for His cause

still I wonder

Baby, what will we do

when it comes back to me and you

they look a little less like little boys every day

oh the pleasure of watching

the children growing

is mixed with a bitter cup

of knowing the watercolour ponies

will one day ride away.

And now I will go pop some popcorn and go outside and eat a snack, play with my children and ignore the fact that my house is not straight- because these 3 little boys and 1 little girl will ride away before I know it!!

PS If I knew how I would have downloaded the song for you guys to listen to but I am challenged... if you type the song into your search engine- you will find it easily and can take a listen