The new normal

I now blog from my phone which should tell you something about my inability to keep up with things. Below are pictures that I felt provided a small sample of my life and wouldn't you know it - they are blurred, upside down, sideways, bad quality, and disjointed. Hmmm....metaphor for my life?

A sideways view of my office - AFTER Lane systematically destroyed it while I was checking FB - happens on a weekly if not daily basis

If you turn upside down to see this picture - it's all my kids in all their glory - a typical car ride from here on out!

The gorgeous destructor herself - most everyone who meets her says that she is the MOST busy out of all my children (and that is saying something) and she is definitely the MOST destructive (but dang, isn't she cute??)

My new full figure. I need to lose about 10-15 lbs. But I haven't yet and so I'm super voluptuous

If I want to clean anything - I have two "HELPERS" who don't really help at all but get in my way most of the time

Every family meal is LOUD, CRAZY, CHATTY, ANIMATED, AND FULL OF CONVERSATION. Great if you're into this type of thing - a headache if you're not.

So welcome FRIENDS and FAMILY!

I'm back - I just couldn't stay away. You may have noticed that last year I fell off the blogging bandwagon a bit before summer began. That was when my baby girl started RUNNING and then I was in full fledged mother of four kids mode. I kept telling myself that things would return to normal in a few months - I would have my house under control, I would lose the 10 remaining baby pounds - Lane would get "easier" - I could have a more controlled chaos.

But guess what?

It never did return to normal. It only got more complicated, more crazy, more loud, and more chubby (me). So I did some introspective thinking and I've come to this conclusion.

This life - my life - this...is the new normal.

I finally got it through my thick skull - life is not going to return to what I knew. Why should it? I now have four children. I'm thicker into this motherhood and homemaker thing than I ever was before. Here is another revelation - one I had been fighting for quite some time.

I like my life. I like being a mom. I like being a homemaker. No, scratch that. I really like being a homemaker.

I always operated under the assumption that I would have a career separate from being a mom because that is what women of my generation do. They have a career and they have a family. Don't get me wrong - I LOVE that we have this option. But I decided a few years back when we decided to add two more kids to the bunch that I would be a mom - as a career. I would be a kick-ass homemaker. And so far - I really am kicking ass as a homemaker. I find it to be really exciting and allows me to be very creative.

No, cleaning toilets and doing dishes is not creative. But figuring out where to take the little kids on a their morning outings is. And designing and creating new clothing for Lane is very fulfilling. And dont' get me started on my organic garden - I mean, I love that entity that occupies my entire yard. My garden expresses who I am and what I love and value.

I remember reading years and years ago that you can't take a U-Haul with you to heaven. But you take your loved ones and you leave the legacy. I may not have a strong career in counseling and child development like I thought I would and my house and car are not very glamorous. But oh - the legacy we have going here in these walls is great. I have passionate and purpose in my life.

And for here on out on this little blog of mine - I'm going to share it with you.

Welcome to my new normal.