I determined I would have just one clean corner of the house to sit in. Never mind that I don’t have the time for prolonged coffee-drinking and reading right now (maybe later). Here is my newly arranged quiet corner with my Bible and pen, the photo album Joanna gave me, some fiestaware, some old workbasket magazines (that were my Great Grandma’s), and the little bird that Colleen gave me.
(I read a poem once that was “for all the moms” and this is my own version of it):
This is for all the moms who keep getting interrupted by loud little voices.
This is for all the moms who have the inspiration but not the time.
This is for all the moms who find mischief everytime they turn around.
This is for all the moms who are homeschooling today.
This is for all the moms who just want to have a quiet cup of coffee, but find it impossible.
This is for all the moms who have a little boy sneaking frosting in the kitchen.
This is for all the moms who leave their kids for 1 minute outside-just to get the camera-and find a naked 4 year old dancing in the mud when they return.
This is for all the moms who felt a little jealous of the 4 year old.
This is for all the moms who have an ugly toy next to their computer. (from McDonalds)
This is for all the moms who left coffee in their mug and their 19 month old drank the rest– (their breath always gives them away).
This is for all the moms who picked up the playdoh last night after the kids went to bed, just because she couldn’t bear the thought of letting them stay up long enough to clean it themselves.
This is for all the moms who have 3 loads of laundry to fold on the couch. And another load in the dryer.
This is for all the moms who are so tired at the end of the day that they can’t stay awake to read a book.
This is for all the moms who have a front porch that looks more like a giant toybox than a spread in a home decorating magazine.
This is for all those moms who are frustrated because they have a list of things to do a mile long.
This is for all the moms who know it won’t last forever and find the idea a little sad.
This is for all the moms who wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Good to be Home 
Very sweet. Made me tear up a bit. Thanks.
yep………..I want a quiet, pretty space!!
and I have one to add: for the moms who can’t do anything BUT read in the evening and dont’ appreciate it because they’d love to be able to sit the baby down without baby crying and waking the rest of the kids up!”
sweet….. I think that we all need a quiet corner.
Yes, Shanda, it is kind of sad, but the blessing is that you understand NOW and are appreciating the time you have with them while they are still home. This time of their lives and yours goes so very quickly and then they are out and gone ~ your memory-making times are so precious. A lovely post.
What a beautiful poem!!!! And a great reminder of how quickly things change and should be enjoyed instead of stressed over!!! **hugs** ❤ Jami
Shanda, this was beautiful, and a heart warming reminder of what matters most! 😉 thanks! P.S. I love the shot of your little caleb reflectd in the fiesta ware! Awesome!
What a great post! Love your cozy, little *spot*. =)
Wonderful!!!!I totally argree with fwren… appreciate it now it does go by soooooo fast. My oldest will be 15 next week…. WOW….I’m so thankful to the Lord for allowing my husband a good job so I’ve had the luxury of staying home with my children. No, I wouldn’t trade it for anything!!!!
BTW: I absolutly LOVE the pic with Caleb’s reflection in the fiesta ware. GREAT!
I am so honored that my little bird made the quiet spot! I have to find a quiet spot here…I am just waiting to get out my hammock again this year. I hope you eventually get to sit and enjoy your little haven of rest Too funny about Davey… Meghan ended up changing pants 4-times yesterday because of all the mud and playing outside. But it is so much fun to be outdoors! Thanks for the wonderful poem! Love You…
GREAT poem!!! Thanks for sharing it today! =)
I like that! I’m not a mommy yet but I like that anyway. And I know the things my own mommy has been through.
Great poem!!! I can Sooooo relate to this one!
I just told Rich that I desparately need to get out of the house and enjoy a change of scenery. I haven’t gone anywhere in nearly two weeks! The kids have been sick and I’ve been under the weather, so what I normally find to be a challenging career is feeling overwhelming and a bit on the mundane side of things right now. A drive in the country with my camera……even if the kids are sick, may be just the ticket.:):)
Have a great day!
Jana
Awww, I got tears reading that one. Thanks! And, I see your son in the orange Fiestaware. Have a great day!
Speaking as someone who is on the other end of the “mommying” I can only say IT’S ALL WORTH IT!” I really think that one of the best things I ever did was raise two great kids who love and honor God with their lives. Through many a sticky surface, chicken pox, laundry piles, mud pies, pet hamsters, ear infections, and the rocky road of adolescence, I am still glad I did it. Motherhood is a high calling. Bless you! I love it that you enjoy your children so much and see the joy even in the midst of the noise and the mess!
thanks for dropping. the poem truly moved my heart, it was shared by a family friend during the funeral. 🙂 great photos! yeah, I also see your son reflected on the orange fiestaware. 🙂
Shanda, love the poem. How about “This is for all the moms who had to clean poop out of the tub this morning and re-wash the kids!” lol Your spot looks so cozy and bright. Happy reading. Tara
🙂 Love it!
Thanks for sharing! I need a quiet clean spot in my house…
and for “all the grandma’s” too, I dare say :o) I am now on the other end of “mommying” too…..and all those mommy-years are the best years of my life; my best memories, without a doubt. Grandma’s get to do lots of the same things while they give new mommies a break…….and it is just as wonderful. Not long ago I had already-chewed graham crackers smeared all over me after being surprised by a “from behind hug” by 22 month old Nate………and cleaned sand out of 3 year old Kade’s eyes and hair when he forgot the “don’t throw sand in the air” rule……….and rocked 3 grandsons to sleep all at the same time when big 5 year old Blake found me rocking the 2 little ones to sleep and said “Gramma, are you strong enough for 3?” Yes, I was strong enough for 3…….but after they all fell alseep I couldn’t get up so I had to sit there until mama came to pick them up :o) What a precious time that was!!! I loved every minute of it. I remember when my second son was born and my mom came to help out for a few days………and he fell asleep in my arms. I told my mom “I don’t want to put him in his crib. I just want to hold him.” She said, “Hold him. Hold him all you want. The time is coming when he won’t want to be held anymore.” Of course we all need a break sometimes……….but thank God for all the mommies like you who cherish the moments while you have them :o)
Gwen
Love the poem. The mental image of D. playing naked in the mud made me laugh. It made me think of he and A. stripping in your backyard last summer. 🙂
it’s so hard to repond to your posts… your word images and photography say it all.I could relate to all your thoughts, and now that I have the time to do all the things you mentioned, I miss my sweet little blue eyed girl that gave the best hugs ever.Your still-real-life pictures are so lovely..especially the reflection
I love the poem…..the pictures fit so well. I can hardly wait to be home and make my own quiet corner. I think all of us moms can add our own lines into the poem with all what our own children have done and what we have done for our children…..thank you for sharing!!
take care and God Bless You!!
Your pictures and your words are so encouraging everytime I stop by. Thank you for such a lovely place to visit.
Beautiful! Blessings
GREAT post, thanks for the reminder!
May the Lord give you many quiet moments to enjoy in your quiet corner and may He meet with you there in a special way! ~Colleen~
Praise God for Moms! Thank you for sharing this with me. We really don’t have to wait until Mother’s day to do this. Thanks again.
What a beautiful poem! That could definitely be my life right now- I know I’m not doing everything perfectly by any means, but I know that no one else can do exactly what I’m doing for these kids right now and I know I’m doing what God would have me do, even though this profession isn’t always appreciated by the rest of the world. Thanks again!~ Laurel
OOOHHH I am so grateful for your dropping by to visit my site, so that I could drop by yours. This is absolutely wonderful. Your pictures were superb and you know from reading my heart that I loved the poem. I am going to let my daughter know about you. She and thee would love each other. Blessings
That was a nice interlude. :DYou mentioned you were getting hungry for theology. I am doing a Bibliology course by a wonderful teacher name Arnold Fruchtenbaum, a messianic Jew, if you have not heard of him. He is one of the best teachers of scripture today. I get tapes of this lectures, workbooks, study notes, lists of books to read, etc. The courses are not super expensive. You might enjoy going through them. He has many courses.The specific name of this one is Ariel’s Correspondence Course of Systematic Theology. I am on Bibliology: The Doctrine of the Scriptures.If you are interested in checking it out, go to http://www.ariel.org~Valerie 🙂
Shanda, thank you so much for the encouraging post! My spirits are lifted today!!! I appreciate it so much. My list is a mile long, and a trip to the grocery store with 2 kids in one cart is in my future. I do wish we lived closer!
I love this poem!!! And of course the pictures!
Once I found my son finger painting in my bed room when he was supposed to be taking a nap, I even got a photo of it and scrapbooked it! It is a little sad, mine are 9 and 11 now, soon to be 10 and 12. Where does the time go?
By the way I looked down at your daughter and the yarn for the nests, what a great idea!!!!
RYC: I thought you and “Stepping Heavenward” would be good friends, she seemed like you. Have a great day!
Just stopped by. What a sweet reminder! Thank you for the poem.
Kcaarin
I love the pictures. Come to my site and play, “What’s your identity?”
Oh dear friend, I say that verse over and over in my mind, and it is taking root. He has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. THANK YOU for reminding me of that. Love,Beverly
Awesome post. 🙂
i love it!!! and the pic of the reflection!!!
What a blessing to read this today! Thank you for sharing!
Beautiful post my friend. I too find it sad that these things will come to an end but then…………I think “LOTS of grandchildren” .
So true! I can so relate, but it’s correct I wouldn’t trade it for the world!!
Such a sweet poem…….it makes one laugh and cry all at the same time!! Thanks for sharing it!!
I LOVE this post!!!! I can TOTALLY relate! Your posts are just great!!!!
Thank you, it’s lovely, I am in that season of stayathomehomeschoolbusinessathome mom and crave those minutes and places, but would not trade it for all of the potterybarns or restoration hardware homes in the world. My rest and peace is in the Lord! (psalm 23) Thanks again for sharing such exquisite images and thoughts, God Bless your day and always. (I’m a friend of broncomom)
That is me today!! I am typing this with a 2 and a half week old on my lap, little ones in bed and older children still awake. The house is a mess but we danced and ate some new peas together today. We read 3 stories and hung out………I guess it was one of the better days………thanyou for this post!