Choices

Today as I stood in my messy kitchen cooking dinner, mind rushing from task to task - things to check off, lessons to prepare, housework to be done -  I saw my sweet boy playing on the rug, rolling silly putty into a looong snake, and my baby girl swinging in her swing, eyes big and taking in her world around her. I decided that these two little people were much more important than any dish I could wash or table I could set or piano student I could prep for. I hurriedly plopped the potatoes into the boiling water and picked up my girl. We had a nice cuddle. I visited with my three-year-old. We listened to music and sang along. We quickly cleared an end on our cluttered table, and served up our chicken and potatoes in bowls (nothing fancy tonight). We talked about things that make us happy. We ate all our dinner without a hint of whining. I sat on the bedroom floor with my two little pajamaed buddies and played two rounds of "Hi Ho Cherry-O" (I lost both times). Room cleaned, prayer said, book read, baby fed, both kids quiet in their beds. I tiptoed back down the stairs. I smiled at the mess, grateful that I let it be so I could spend a perfect evening with my children.