Good Morning Girls!  My son woke up earlier than normal this morning, which was fine because my husband was snoring like a grizzly bear and I could hardly sleep.  He worked an 18 hour day yesterday so I excuse him the snoring, as his body probably does need a mini period of hibernation.  As I made my way to the kitchen to start the coffee, I almost tripped over all of the toys and clothes that were in the living room.  I decided to sit in my chair and have a moment with the Lord….however my 85 pound yellow lab who has ears like no other, must have heard me sit down and came running upstairs with his towel, wanting me to play tug of war.  “It’s 7 am Max…..not going to happen you big baby”.  My time in the Word was better than no time at all….but definitely not one of those moments to be remembered if you know what I mean.  I finally decided to sit down and write.  However, I had to spend a couple minutes clearing all the junk off my kitchen table just to make room for my laptop.   A game, a purse, a book, 2 cups, one sock?  Why is there one sock on my kitchen table?  It better not be a dirty sock.  I sniff it….gross!  It is dirty.  I live with a bunch of wild animals I tell you!  Of course, I did not put the junk away….I simply relocated it to the center island where it is staring at me now as I type.  “I am living the dream right now I tell you” - Is the one thing keeps running through my head.

There are days when it seems impossible that I will ever be more than the mom who walks around picking up and sniffing socks to determine whether they are dirty or clean.  “Will my wardrobe ever consist of more than 6 pair of sweatpants….and a couple church outfits?” I think to myself as I get out of the shower and put on a “fresh” pair of sweats.  Will my house ever be clean…the way I like it?  Will I ever have time with the Lord that is not interrupted by a dog that wants me to play, or kids that want me to read, or a husband that at the last minute wants to wear a certain shirt that he can’t find?  Will there be a day when I put on grown up clothes and go somewhere other than the library, grocery store, school, post office, and kids birthday parties?  Will there be a day when I actually accomplish the things I set out to do each day?

The answer is yes.  And chances are, when that day comes, I will look back on days like today with longing and think “I wish I was in a pair of sweats right now….sipping my coffee,  sitting on the floor with two kids and an 85 pound dog on my lap.”

 I remember when the kids were even younger and I would be out in public with them.  I would be exhausted from them and feel like if I closed my eyes for a second I would literally fall asleep standing up.  It always seemed like at those times some stupid woman would smile at me and say: “Treasure this time with them….they grow up so fast”.  I had to use all my restraint at times not to kick them in the shin and say “Here….take them…..if you miss it so bad!”  I always vowed I would never, ever say to another mom “Treasure this time.  This time where your hair is always whacked out, your clothes don’t quite fit, but you don’t have time to go shopping for yourself.  This time where you are lugging around a mini suitcase filled with wipes, diapers, cheerios, goldfish, and leaky juice boxes.  This time when complete thoughts are few and far between.  This time when you feel like if one more person touches you, you will scream like no other.  This time when your needs are the last needs to be met.  Yes….treasure all of this….as it is precious.”  Yes.  I vowed I would never say that to anyone.  But then again I vowed I would never get married…..I vowed I would never have kids……so what’s one more broken vow at this point?

And so with my shins guarded I say to those of you who, like me, are surrounded by toys, clothes, and socks that may or may not be dirty: Treasure this time.  Not because it is the best time of your life, but because it is your life.  It is your life right now.  Today.  And any dirty sock day with the Lord is better than a clean house day without.  If you feel overwhelmed by it all, quit looking around…..and start looking up.  I believe then you will see that we are in fact living the dream. 

Psalm 84:10 A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else!  I would rather be a gatekeeper (and dirty sock sniffer) in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.

Love, peace, clean socks, and dreams to you all-

Jen