Perspective

Being a stay at home mom is an adventure.

Although some days (most days) are filled with the mundane

laundry. breakfast. dishes. coloring. park. lunch. diapers. playing. cleaning. dinner. dishes. repeat.

 there is always a sense of excitement

because no matter how well you plan your day you never know what will actually happen.

The other day my morning started off trying to figure out the best (or least worse) way of rescuing Easter eggs out of a toilet. filled with poo.

Every day I have to wipe down the table and sweep the floor but often I am cleaning crayon/marker off of something or someone.

 Or I'm cleaning something much worse than crayon or marker (feel free to use your imagination here or read this or this for some examples).

Yesterday Maddie got her head stuck in between the bars of our stair banister

She also discovered the joy of sliding down the banister as a slide (thanks to her big brother).

ER here we come.

Some days you open the washer and find that somehow a diaper (hopefully not a poopy one) snuck it's way in there. Always after you have already ran the wash. Count your blessings if this has never happened to you.

Some days your kids get bored with the traditional uses of play dough and start sticking it in their ears.

You get the idea.

Life as a mom is never boring.

And although the examples above are more of the challenging things that keep my day exciting there are also unexpected blessings amidst even the hardest of days.
The other day Wesley jumped into my arms, gave me a big hug and told me that he loved me SO much and that I was the best Mommy in the whole wide world.
Every morning as the kids wake up they make their way into our bed and we get to enjoy some morning cuddles.

The other day nap time was not happening (with the big kids) so we spent the afternoon playing in the sunshine instead.

And then there are those precious moments when your kids say something that reveals they have actually heard and understood an important truth you have been trying to teach them.
Or when they choose to obey. Right behind "I love you" I think the words "Yes, Mom" are some of the most beautiful words my kids can say to me (in this season of life at least).

Anyways...the other day it dawned on me.
Each day is an adventure.
Filled with the unknown.
There will be moments of good and moments of bad.
And some of the time (probably close to 50% of the time) I can't control what is going to happen but I can always control how I am going to react to whatever happens.
I can freak out and let it ruin my day and/or attitude or I can embrace the surprises of life with grace, find joy in the midst and carry on.
I want to choose the latter.
Even in the midst of fishing poopy eggs out the toilet or cleaning Vaseline off the walls.
With the Lord's help of course.

^{Galatians 5:22-23
22} But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control.