Priorities. Why Is It So Hard to Keep the Right Ones?

Some days I'm intimidated by all everyone seems to accomplish in life. I feel like all I do is clean, work, pay bills, and prepare lessons for church (I teach a Marriage and Family Relations class.) Most of the time I feel like the movie "Ground Hog Day" where I live the same day over and over again.

Other days I'm so inspired...especially by my children's blogs...good pictures, wonderful sentiments, great challenges, and fun ideas.

So this week, I looked around my house and saw how many things I have made over the years. I realized that if I keep plodding away, over time, I do have many things that result. I've made quilts, many books (book binding), woven blankets on looms, have many hand made baskets, smocked dresses, etc. I realize I shouldn't measure productivity with tangible things in my home. You can't see hours of service given to family, friends, neighbors or hold in your hand the time you've spend gaining knowledge and learning. What about all the time spent keeping physically and spiritually fit? You can't see these accomplishments either and yet they are so important.

So, I'm trying not to be intimidated by all the tangible things I see you out there accomplishing. (I also realize that they are a compilation of many people and I tend link you all together as one.) I'm trying to keep my life balanced and full of important and good things.

I realize that the most important thing I've accomplished though is the raising of our children with my husband. I can't tell you how many times in my life I have had to remind myself to stop what I am doing and pay attention to my family. As much as I have an internal need to create, decorate, and cross things off my "to do" list, I've had to keep this poem in mind to try and keep my priorites straight. I received the poem hand calligraphied on a piece of baby wrapping paper at my baby shower just before Candice was born.

Those of you out there who are in the midst of raising your children, cherish the moments...they are so fleeting. Take the time to make memories... not just things. You will never reqret it.

Here is the poem:
"Cleaning and scrubbing can wait for tomorrow,
For babies grow up we've learned to our sorrow.
So, quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my babies and babies don't keep."

I love you Candice, Stephanie, Marissa, and Eli!