I’ll do these things someday, when my children are older, or grown, even. If God allows me to live on this earth after they are grown, I will have time for these pursuits. If not, I believe by caring for my children, I have spent the time wisely. They will be grown before I can say “Jack Spratt”, and I’ll have a box of cards staring at me, as if saying “Well, you finally have time to get to me now!” I’ll probably want to sit in the floor next to the box and cry. I’ll be remembering pudgy hands holding mine, bright blue eyes filled with joy and excited voices telling me of a new exploit. I’ll only have some photos (if I print them out), scribbled drawings and misspelled birthday cards to remind me that, yes, they actually were that small once. My house will have less clutter. The floors will be cleaner. I may have days when I can do all the laundry in one or two loads! My homeschool books will be collecting dust and the school room will be eerily quiet.

Someday.

Today, the house is wild with activity! I have a curly headed three year old singing a silly song to me and laughing merrily. I have a 10 and 7 year old discussing plans for a new club house in the back yard. My five year old can’t wait to start kindergarten – her eager anticipation is contagious and her sweet smile brightens my days. I have a tiny babe kicking inside me, as if to say, “I can’t wait to join you guys!” I’m tired. The laundry is piling up, and the floors are not that clean. I need to dust. School books sit, ready to be used in a few weeks, as we begin another year, that will likely fly by. We might lose someone’s dress shoes today. Milk will be spilled at the table. (On the newly mopped floor, no doubt!) Bickering will occur once (or twice!) more. They will tear their clothes, step in mud, or drop a dish and break it. It will be chaotic – and then it will be peaceful – right before the chaos returns.

Today.

And I plan to enjoy every minute of it.