Life Through Mama's Lens

Growing up, our family typically spent the weekend following Thanksgiving preparing the house for Christmas.  We would pull all of the decorations and ornaments out of storage - and place them exactly where Mom instructed. This is a tradition that I always looked forward to and have incorporated into my own home as an adult. In fact, the day (or two) after Thanksgiving has come to be probably one of my favorite days of the entire year. It is a day that I spend getting tote after tote out of the attic, pulling all of the treasures out and spreading them across the living room floor to see what is all there. Wall by wall, shelf by shelf, snowmen, reindeer and signs reflecting on the holiday season slowly find their homes for the next six weeks or so.  By the end of the weekend, serenaded by Trans-Siberian Orchestra, our home has been transformed into a cozy Christmas haven. This year has been a challenge for so many - and as I saw others begin preparing for the holidays even earlier than

This morning I woke up with the intention of going for a walk.  As the morning went on, though, I decided there wasn't going to be time. I had to pick up my daughter from her grandparent's, the house needed cleaned, laundry washed, and then there's the constant cycle of feeding>changing>napping that comes with an infant. As a stay-at-home/full-time working mom, there seems to be a never-ending list of things to do, people to take care of, and appointments to be at. I think a lot of moms would agree that any time you deviat from taking care of everyone else, that it is easy for that mom guilt to creep in.  But how are you supposed to take care of your family if you can't take care of yourself? On my way to pick up my daughter I drove past the lake, along the route I had planned to walk. There was no missing the beautiful canvas of reds, oranges and yellows above the road and spilling onto the ground. I noticed all of the people out enjoying the beautiful day and ju

This afternoon, our President announced that the federal guidelines for social distancing are being extended through the end of April.  With a baby on the way, due at the end of May but with the expectation that he is probably going to be ready a little bit early, it is becoming more and more likely that we will be bringing him into this world amid the craziness that is our reality right now.  Although it's something I've been thinking about for the last several weeks, today it seems to have really hit me. In our state, we were issued a "Stay at Home" order last week that is currently in effect until April 8th, but after today's presidential briefing I won't be surprised if that gets extended.  I am fortunate that I mostly work from home anyways, and can continue to do so full time for the time being.  But we have had questions of whether or not our crews can continue to work out in the field.  If they can no longer work, will there continue to be wor

Morning musing: Lately, life feels a lot like my 4 year old's bedroom tends to look.  Things scattered all over the place, parts missing, pieces likely broken underneath some of the piles.  There is some semblance of a pathway down the middle (in her case to reach the bed without injury).  But in real life, it's a little harder to create that path. And even harder to actually collect those broken pieces, and pick up all the items that remain - hopefully more or less intact.  I've promised to try, to give my all to trying to overcome the brokenness, to working towards being whole and happy with my little corner of life. I'm just not sure where to begin ... maybe I will find the answer in cleaning my daughter's room yet again.