As ready as I'll ever be.

It has been a crazy week or so. We have had accidents that probably should have involved stitches, nights with extra toddlers, lots of baking and visiting, and trying to prepare the house for the 20 people that will fill these walls come Christmas Eve. WHEW!

I have come to the realization that my house will have to be just what it is when my company arrives. Oh, how I have longed to scrub every floor, clean up every little pile of random papers that accumulates faster than I can sort it into the recycling bin, dust every surface, and finish little decorating projects and ideas to fill my bare walls. BUT, luckily, I know that my family loves me even in all my imperfections and dusty book shelves.

I will at least make sure they have clean toilets to sit on, clean sheets to sleep on, and clean dishes to eat off of. They will be happy, and my 30-week pregnant self will be grateful.

Cold mornings...

call for warm fun!

Warm peppermint tea,
fleece blankets,
lots of books,
and snuggling.

Success.

Book Review

I just finished this book a few days ago, and I thought it was wonderful! I had seen the movie based off of this memoir about a year ago and enjoyed it, but the book itself is really worth the extra time.

I loved reading about such a humble, patient, hopeful, and resourceful mother of 10. I love knowing that this was, indeed, a real woman! And I love that her daughter valued her example enough to write an entire memoir about her.

So, all you mommies out there, if you are looking for a new book to start--this is a good one!

The Rainy Day

The Rainy Day
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The day is cold, and dark, and dreary
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
The vine still clings to the mouldering wall,
But at every gust the dead leaves fall,
And the day is dark and dreary.

My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
My thoughts still cling to the mouldering Past,
But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast,
And the days are dark and dreary.

Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.