I wake up every single morning with a full day ahead…..
I am still raising children, homeschooling, running a busy home, and feeding a table full of hungry people three times a day!
There is so much I could share about living this “same” season of life going on 40 years now – but I think the thing that sets any Mom or homemaker up for success is their attitude.
How do you have a good attitude – and attitude of gratitude?
It comes more naturally for some than others, but it takes intention either way!
THIS is why the first thing I do every morning (since I was a very young wife and mother!) is spend time in God’s Word, prayer and journaling.
This is why I take a long walk outside every morning seven months of the year.
This is why I go to Pilates and work on strength training with my trainer.
This is why I drink water, take supplements, and eat the best I can each day.
This is why I work hard on my thought life, memorizing scripture, and putting only the best things before my eyes and into my ears.
This is why I go to bed at the same time each evening with few exceptions and get a good night sleep.
That all sounds intentional, doesn’t it?
It is! It can feel like work at first!
But then it becomes second nature.
And the benefits of those intentions are SO WORTH IT!
When you take care of yourself in these ways, it is so much easier to tackle a day, because your mind and body are healthier.
Do I still walk into the laundry room, see the heaping mess, and want to sigh and grumble??
Yes. But I very quickly say outloud to myself, “Be thankful that you have this beautiful family in your life and you GET to do their laundry.”
Do I then walk into the garage to head out on my walk and trip over alllllll the shoes and want to complain?
YES! But I say outloud to myself, “I am SO thankful that You, Lord, have allowed my hubby to provide for us that we can afford every pair of shoes that we need.”
Usually by the time I have talked to myself the second time, my heart is turned back to gratitude!!
Some days I don’t have to give myself a talking to at all!
Some days I have to do it all day long!
Ok, I will get off my soap box now, and share how we “do this day.”
A local girlfriend and I text each other often in the early mornings and we spur each other on to “just do today.”
Most of my days when we are home start in the kitchen.
Our “away from home” activities are in the afternoons most often.
Feeding my crew, especially with our food sensitivities, takes first priority most days because there is not another option.
I LOVE running our kitchen, and I never have to talk to myself about that!!
I also spend time during my days here at home directing the children.
They are VERY good at knowing their tasks for each day, though, and doing their day too!
Sometimes our days have appointments.
Some appointments are NOT fun, so I stop at a fun library on the way to help calm both my and Eliza’s nervous system.
Not always a day we would rather “do!”
Thankfully everything went so well and recovery did too!!
Some days have very fun things to do!
Like the morning Eliza’s new chicks arrived.
Blake was so kind to be late to work to help us get them settled!
Eliza loves animals and her hens are no exception!
They are SO CUTE at this stage!!
Some days don’t lack emotion!
We cheered Lane on as he took a new full time job, that is a literal “God is so cool” thing, but is keeping him away from home ten plus hours a day.
I miss that guy!!
But we are so thankful for the path he is on!!
Nothing better than having front row seats to your children growing in to adulthood!!
My summer days are filled with purging, organizing, and deep cleaning projects that just don’t happen when I am teaching school through the winter months.
One project kept me in the basement for an entire morning as I did all those things in our storage room.
It is amazing what you find and didn’t even know you had until you rip everything apart!!
These photos were my reminder on my phone to get another grey tote like the one here for all of Blake’s cleaning things that float around on the top of our extra fridge.
I also scrubbed out that fridge!!
Many days in May I did have to talk to myself about the weather.
Goodness it was crazy cold!!
My walks in the morning had me bundled up in winter clothes – but we do live in Wisconsin after all!!
We had frost several mornings too.
All of Tate’s precious garden plants lived in our basement greenhouse for a long time.
There are so many opportunities to choose gratitude as I live out this beautiful calling the Lord has allowed for my life!
Did you know I was voted “most like Mom” my senior year of High School?
I don’t think it was meant as a compliment, ha, ha!!
But it truly was (and is!) my dream!!
I am living my dream come true.
Now that is something I should start telling myself everyday!!
Here’s to another “just do today” as I tackle all that is before me on this day.
Go get ’em, mamas!!
We have got this!!!
