A Reminder

"The mess is just a still-frame of the goodness that resided within our walls today.  Life, well lived. We are blessed."  Mary Ostyn, Owlhaven

This amazing mama has ten kids from three countries.  This post of hers hit me in such a sweet way.  I've only been home with our sweet girl for four months, but already I struggle with feeling like a failure if my house is messy, which seems to always be no matter what I do.  I know too that as the years go on, it's only going to get worse.

Thursday night, after we put the baby down, I mentioned to my hubby that I would like to spend 15 or so minutes cleaning together downstairs.  I told him I just feel better going to bed knowing that our whole downstairs is clean and tidy.  It makes the day feel fresh and new when you get up in morning, instead of having to deal with yesterday's leftovers.  That, and I hate dirty dishes left in the sink.  I don't want to smell last night's dinner in the morning.  Gross.

Anyway, my sweet hubby came up with the idea to clean out the ashy fireplace, for which I was thankful.  The baby started fussing, so I went upstairs to cuddle her.  I heard quite a few goings-on downstairs; clomping up and down the stairs, doors opening and closing, the whir of the shop-vac, the sound of the faucet...and I could tell things weren't great.  The clomping was getting more hurried.  It was turning to stomping.

I put the baby down and came downstairs to a literal cloud of soot and ashes.  My hubby had turned on the shop vac and instead of sucking in, it blew out.  Everywhere.

Two days later, we still have a thin film of soot all over the down stairs of our house.  Gross.  Stressful.  But you know what?  It's also a dusting of the love in our home; the leftovers of cozy fires, the attempt of my sweet guy to serve and care for us and our home. 

At least that's what I'm telling myself!  :)

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