Sometimes I read posts that try to encourage young mothers by contrasting the long-term influence, joy, and blessing of motherhood with the current state of walking around as a sleepless, friendless, spit-up crusted, hardly ever attractive-or-cordial-with-one’s-husband zombie.
Women are encouraged to take heart and embrace the mess of motherhood knowing that one day they will miss these precious years.
I often wonder if those reading who have not yet had children are terrified. “I won’t shower for days? I’ll have to walk around with {fill in the blank} disgusting baby substance all over my clothes? I will growl at my husband every day when he walks in the door? My toddlers will scream uncontrollably while I try to remember these are actually the best years of my life?” Where is the exception clause?
So I felt it incumbent upon myself to tell whoever might be reading that it is not always that way.
I personally don’t think I’ve ever gone an entire day without taking a shower. Sure sometimes I would have rather it been right when I woke up and it ended up being right before I went to bed. Yes, there were things that totally fell apart after I had my first baby -namely doing dishes, making meals, and keeping laundry clean. But I wasn’t that great at those things to begin with. And little by little after the initial “black hole” post-pregnancy time, things started to come back together.
*I call about the first six weeks after delivery the “black hole.” Simply because though life still clicks along and happens, I can never remember anything about it. You look back and wonder how anything got done, but know that somehow you did eat and sleep and bathe.
I know a lot of moms, young and old, who’s lives did not completely fall apart when they had a baby.
Will there be days that are hard? Yes.
Will there be disgusting things to clean up? Yes.
Will you be able to keep every up every personal and domestic habit you enjoyed before children? Probably not.
But will your days be characterized by less-than-human conditions? Probably not.
Now are there people who have a really tough time regaining a “new normal” after having kids? Who do feel like they can’t struggle to the top of messes and sleep-deprivation and schedule changes and sickness? Of course. And if that is what one finds themselves enduring, that person needs hope. And if posts like the above-mentioned help, then I am sincerely all for that.
But if you’re out there, about to have a baby… take heart. Don’t be freaked out by drama and “realism.” Yes, you’re about to face a challenging time of life. But it’s doable. It will look different for every person and family; every child produces unique joys and challenges. Chances are, sometime during the first few months, you will figure out how to venture out of the house with a new little one in tow. Perhaps there will even be a grocery trip or a meal made. You will discover with great joy that you’re little sweetie can lay happily in a crib while you get a shower. Or maybe they’ll be cool enough to sit in a bouncy seat in the bathroom while you sing your favorite tunes and scrub away. Maybe not, but you will figure it out eventually. (in most cases, people do!)
Motherhood is a privilege, a great adventure, and above all a gift. God gives grace and new mercy every day.
So from one very average, imperfect, “real” momma to another, you can do it; and if you haven’t “done” it yet –it’s not so bad. I highly recommend it. ; )
It was the middle of December when Paul looked at me with blurry eyes and said, “Baby, if we can just make it through February 15.”
I’m here to tell you that February 15 has come and gone and we made it! By the way, I am so proud of my husband and how much he gives to those he works with and for.
On my end, February was filled spilled-over busyness from Paul’s responsibilities and unexpected challenges. There have been some bizarre and annoying pregnancy symptoms that have just majorly slowed me down. I was just reading through my February list of things to focus on and thinking, “Yeah, I was sleeping when I would have been doing that.” Have you ever realized your kids had five minutes left to finish breakfast and been like, “Sweet! I’m going to lay down on the couch because I cannot hold my head up any longer.” (and not because of staying up too late) = ) That makes you feel real optimistic about your day from 9:30 on.
However, if I had to summarize the month… I’m really proud of all we did. The girls (especially the big ones) were amazing with everything else going on. Paul put on an amazing middle school conference and finished the work for one of his seminary classes. Woohoo! Three more credits down, baby! And I have lived to see the light of March. = )
Here are my comments and thoughts from my February goals; next will be general thoughts from my original New Year’s goals, priorities, plans, and resolutions; and last will be specific ideas for March.
****
Going to bed and waking up earlier? Improvement, even if it’s just a tiny bit. Might write a post soon about finishing well at the end of the day. Spoiler! I don’t normally.
Exercise? Average of twice a week. I’m really starting to enjoy it and want to do it more.
Reading? Pretty good. Need to do a little better to finish What Jesus Demands from the World and Robert Frost’s Poems by the end of March.
Biography for Hopey? She picked one on Louis Braille and we read a little, but are nowhere near done. a la February. (anyone recommend a way to learn how to pronounce French fast?)
Bible memory and reading? picked Ephesians 4 to memorize and did not finish the minor prophets (possible post coming about a different method to memorize)
Training in the morning for the little girls? Helped a lot, plan to continue
Organize our bedroom? small chuckle… clearing of the throat… well… our closet has been organized. Lots of stuff thrown out or put in a better place. There’s still a lot of work to do. However, the March room to organize can probably be done in about a day, so there should be time to finish our room. I just have to stay motivated and determined. I love the results!
Menu planning and grocery shopping? Eh? I will say that I have insured that there are ingredients to make pasta with homemade alfredo sauce on hand at all times. We’ve eaten that, oh, about five times this month. Then I had this idea to make creamy chicken enchiladas, so I did; and quickly realized it was a very similar dish. Just keepin’ the lady makin’ the baby happy. = )
Morning responsibilities for the girls? We (Paul and I) had a fun conversation about expectations and what we need to see from the girls. More on this in the March list. However, I do think the girls did pretty good with taking care of their stuff in the mornings.
Toys? Tubs bought? Check. Toys sorted and put away. The girls actually helped with this and I thought that was really good. We also put away a huge amount of stuffed animals to be brought out for parties or school or special things. This has made a huge improvement in the neatness of their rooms and the amount of time it takes for them to make their beds.
****
Goals
To be more organized and prepared… I feel again some small measure of success here. Thinking ahead a little bit more… one small example: I am normally frustrated on someone’s birthday around here because no matter how much I think or prepare, it always seems like I come up short. Especially because I never remember to clean the house or have it neat and orderly for that day, I realize on the actual day that everything is a mess and we don’t have a “blank canvas” on which to celebrate. That being said, two days before Sophia’s birthday I remembered this! and vacuumed! and cleaned stuff up! and on the morning of her birthday the house was not perfect, but it was good enough. And while it probably didn’t make any difference to her, it certainly did to me. That being said, pregnancy brain is in full effect, so all efforts and successes are subject to change. = )
I did not do well with playing the piano this month. As already mentioned, I was probably sleeping.
It’s funny when you realize you did “better” praying because that really means you were struggling a lot. When you’re forced to rest, the house becomes messy, the meals become stressful, the little kids start to push the limits, and the “crafts” that the older ones occupy themselves with in the afternoon overflow to every last imaginable space in the house. This can make for one frustrated mommy. Prayer doesn’t feel so much like a spiritual response, but a desperate reach for the help and grace you now realize you need. I can give thanks for any circumstance that opens my eyes in this way.
Plans
Laundry. It piled up again, and sometimes didn’t get done. Last month’s victories don’t guarantee future successes.
Homeschooling. Oh dear, what a month for homeschooling. First I have to say that I am so thankful for Hope. Her sweet and patient nature are such a gift. Her cursive writing is starting to look beautiful and she is catching on well to more concepts in math. We lost several days of school through the first weeks of February, but the third week we fought through and conquered and the fourth week was back to normal with an extra day made up! That felt even better than a whole month of perfectly executed lesson plans.
We did play outside a lot in spite of the cold. I think being outside helps me as much as it does them.
Priorities
This would have been a good month to fall back on those priorities and remind myself of them constantly. That didn’t happen, but hopefully it will the next time some challenging weeks roll around. (because I’m sure they will)
****
I’m out of breath! But just one more list to go and I can go to bed! Because I know if I don’t do this now I won’t maybe for the rest of the year.
So here we go: specific plans for March!
(wait, one more thing. I have this policy about lists; I try not to let things roll over. Of course everything doesn’t get done, but just putting it on the next list seems to mean it won’t get done. If an item is that important, it will bug me until I get it done, list or not. All that to say, there will be things missing from March’s list that I will still be working on.)
*Get chalkboard ready for the next day during the afternoon
*Read at night
*Try to go to the park every week with the girls
*Make extra effort to be early for church, just to see Paul before everything starts
*Choose to use even the five minutes it takes to check email, facebook, or the weather in the morning to pray (weather could be checked the night before) ; ) for that matter, let’s be ambitious: have clothes ready the night before
*make list of things we might need for the new baby
*Exercise three times a week
*Organize Mckayla’s room
*Make spring cleaning plan
*Fold all current laundry, then fold as it comes out of the dryer and do not do more until the previous load is folded and put away. Get.caught.up.
*Homeschooling: more science, go to church library, find a time to do piano lessons
*Make list of expectations for the girls. Include personal responsibilities, chores, manners, attitudes, and possible rewards or consequences
*Remember the priorities!
*Evaluate weekly activities; eliminate those that might bring more stress than benefit.
*Consistently work on Awana verses with the girls. Try to be ready every week!
*Possibly purchase some organizing stuff for our room/papers/stuff.
*For profitable fun, dream up an entryway project from Pinterest, craigslist, Target, etc. Include storage, place to sit, and things to make it pretty.
What a lovely way to end a list. I think I’m just trying to encourage myself for the work ahead.
And if you read this… go eat a Snickers or some other rewarding treat. I can only imagine it is as laborious to read as it is to write. This is so helpful for me, though; thanks for bearing with me. I referred to the list many times in February.
What else should I be thinking about in March?
Happy Almost Spring! (I like winter enough that I’m cool with it for another twenty days or so)
It’s only normal for people to wonder. And it’s only normal for us to wonder how they can’t see how much we love our all-girl life.
“How’s your husband do with that?” every last talkative stranger has asked.
“Actually, he loves it.” I reply. “He is king of the hill around our house. Those girls adore him.”
But when you know there’s another baby in your belly, and you don’t know what it is it yet, your mind does begin to wonder what it would be like.
Thoughts of ease, of keeping things how they are, of a new adventure, something totally new, of insecurity, of really dirty bathrooms… all run through your head.
But after five months of waiting, the time is finally here. Lord-willing, this morning we will find out if our newest little baby is a boy or a girl.
And this is how I feel about it:
First, I will just be happy to hear that sweet heartbeat and see that tiny baby moving around in there. We are not owed anything, and should we discover some bad news, it would be our place to give thanks for the joy this child has already brought and receive with trust and joy whatever plans God has for the future.
Second, if it was a girl… I would be so excited. I can’t say it enough, we love our all-girl life. Each one is so uniquely wonderful and adds so much to our family. Their love for their dad and for each other is enough to fill my heart to overflowing. I can’t even imagine the fun another one would add.
Third, if it was a boy… I would be so excited. And scared. And then excited again. What would I do with it? How would I talk to it? I have no idea!! It would be so much fun to figure out! I have a name that I really love that we would get to name it. We would get to welcome a whole new set of toys into our home… trucks and dinosaurs and army men. We would have to figure out a whole new family dynamic.
So which one do we want? I’ll admit there have been times where I strongly wanted another girl and other times where I really wanted a boy; but right now… I really don’t care.
Every time I try to imagine either one, it’s just really exciting.
New little baby,
I can’t wait to find out what you are. But I want you to know that I couldn’t love you more if you were different in any other way. Your sisters are already crazy about you. And Hope, Sophia, and Mckayla will love you so much even if you are a girl. Just look at how much the older ones love Mckayla. And Gracie, bless her heart, if you are a boy… she will learn that not all boys are dirty and stinky and mean, she will love you very much.
Stay safe in there, okay? Your sisters all pray for you and your Daddy and I, too. We love you so much and can’t wait to see you.
Love,
Mommy
P.S. Enjoy the calm while you can, because once you are on this side you will be in for the adventure of your life! xoxo
It’s only been about a year now since I’ve realized a very encouraging principle for a very discouraging reality.
We all know that certain jobs will never be done. Laundry, cooking, cleaning, etc. have to be done over and over. However, I used to get very discouraged when I would tackle a certain problem area to organize it or fix it or decorate it, only to notice a few weeks later that it’s condition was once again deteriorating.
But at some point it clicked, a lesson from some science class somewhere.
“Everything in the universe tends to disorder.”
More correctly stated:
And a definition for the all-important word “entropy:”
And there you have it.
Though it feels so good to step back from a project or job and admire the order I see, at some little place in my head I need to remember that this space, too, is subject to the laws of the universe. It will become disorderly again without work and effort.
Sometimes I just walk through my house putting in back in order or cleaning something I had just cleaned the day before and think to myself, “Houses just take constant maintenance.” And not just the laundry, cooking and cleaning -all of it. It’s no longer a reason for discouragement. Hopefully it’s an incentive to dive in and thoughtfully strive to bring order to this little place under my dominion.
Perhaps I’ve been thinking about this more because with being pregnant I have really seen how quickly things lose order when extra rest or downtime is needed.
Some of my New Year’s goals are aimed at organization and consistent maintenance of our little dwelling place. I am certainly not the best housekeeper in the world, but his is an area where I want to grow.
What about you?
I’ve read about every organization post I can find. = ) Now what I’m working on is taking all those ideas and making them work around here. Little by little, step by step.
Here they are! The lovely pictures of our sweet girls playing in the snow.
Sophia ran around like a crazy person doing everything you could imagine and more to play in the snow. Hope loved it and was quite a sport as well. They actually made lists that morning of all the things they wanted to do in the snow. = ) Gracie enjoyed it for about ten minutes; and Mckayla enjoyed it for about ten seconds. And those were the ten seconds it took for me to carry her down the stairs and set her down in the snow.
All in all, these are fantastic memories for us. When we came inside we gave the girls “coffee” which consisted of about one-tenth coffee, two-tenths sugar, and seven-tenths milk. They huddled around and drank it feeling very important. Paul’s great-grandmother used to make him coffee like that when he was little so it was a little sentimental for us as well.
A few days after that initial play, we went out again. Some very sweet neighbor boys gave the girls rides in their tub and snowboard down the hill. How fun! And we built the smallest snowman known to mankind.
Enjoy!
Sweetest DaddyThis snow “castle” was about all that could be built with that powdery snow.
I can’t blame Mckayla for wanting to go inside. It was 24 degrees – brrrr!!
So proud of their castle. Sophia wanted to make a flag for it.“Sophia, stop eating the snow!”
A few days later. It’s amazing how warm 35 can feel.
Olympics 2026, here we come! = )Making their first snowman with whatever they could find. No comments on his figure.
Greatly objecting to the snowman picture. She was cold and ready to go inside!All done!
There are so many pictures I’ve been wanting to post, but I have not been able to transfer them from my camera. Life has been rather unpredictable and busy around here lately. But as I was sitting here bemoaning this to myself -that, and my complete lack of inspiration to post anything this week- I realized that I do have a few pictures that are ready to share. And I know how much the dear Grandma’s, Grammie’s, Nana’s and Aunt’s love to see pictures, so why hold back? Besides, it will do my own little mommy heart good to look at them.
These are just a few, completely un-chronological, and random. Enjoy. = )
The girls got an idea after I finished folding some laundry (yay!) to get in the basket with all their bears and have their picture taken. What could be better on a Saturday afternoon?
This is the only currently available shot of Mckayla’s first haircut. What???!!! P.S. She looks so cute!
Every now and then Mommy has one of those days where there’s not much choice but to primarily rest on the couch. I’m so thankful for a huge tub of dress-up stuff that keeps the girls entertained for hours. This particular outfit of Mckayla’s was just too much.
And her happy compadre.
The girls often ask me to take pictures of their beds in the morning.
And our view out the window for a few days this week.
****
This is our life. Small moments, stuffed animals and snow.
Today I’m going to talk about I guess what’s called a “homemaking hack”? What is that anyway? Well, I’m going to call it an apartment improv because I like how that sounds better. This will certainly not apply to everybody, but maybe it can be helpful to someone.
We love our apartment! When we moved in here, it felt like a mansion. However, there are some space challenges that you have to work with. I wish I was better at figuring it all out, but it’s a fun process.
One thing that has worked well for me is dividing the coat closet by the front door into a half closet, half pantry.
Disclaimer: these pictures are grainy. = \ I’m trying to shoot only in manual with my point-and-shoot; I thought these turned out pretty good as I’m also playing around with exposure and iso (whatever those are), but alas, on here they are just grainy. Good news, though! I found the manual this week and can maybe learn more in all my spare time. = )
Use your coat closet for a pantry as well.
Our kitchen is right across from this, and while there is plenty of space to keep dishes and such, there is no space for… food!
Keep food staples on a small wire shelf underneath coats in closet.
I have no idea where I got this little wire shelf, but it occurred to me one day that it would fit perfectly in our little coat closet.
Over-the-door hanging organizer, bought at Bed, Bath, and Beyond
Several months after that idea, I was gifted with a Bed, Bath and Beyond gift card and I knew just what to do with it. This hanging door organizer gives me even more storage! Granted, these are expensive for what you’re actually getting. But for what they do for you, I think it’s worth it. I was so excited after putting it up that I entertained the idea of getting one for every door in the house. = )
So there you have it. Our half closet, half pantry wonder space. That’s a little dramatic, I know.
The basket on top holds placemats and cloth napkins for when I feel like using them.
The middle keeps our coats, Awana vests, and tablecloths orderly. (I think the tablecloths wish they could go out as often as the coats.)
The bottom holds typical pantry staples and random wonderful boxes of chocolate.
And the door holds every last thing it can. Not always neatly.
I didn’t care a thing about last night’s Super Bowl. I cared about people I knew who cared about it, but that was about all. Maybe they should just have the Super Bowl without the football some year. I wonder if anyone would care. Or let the best high school teams in the nation play their championship on that stage or something.
Why am I even talking about that.
I have got to start exercising. I realize that being this tired and energy-less has a lot to do with pregnancy and life, but if exercising could help even a little…? So, what am I going to do about that today? (actually tomorrow, while I’m writing this) Exercise in the morning? the afternoon with the girls? go for a walk? night is just not an option. What will I do? exercise ball? medicine ball? workout video online? I just found out from the doctor that I have that separated stomach muscle thing, whatever-it’s-called. Am I supposed to exercise differently because of that? Why didn’t I remember to ask the doctor that last week?
I have a fun post coming on Wednesday about finding a “pantry” in our apartment. My photography skills should not even be titled as such. Which by the way, I need a sd card to ipad cord so that I can put up pictures more quickly. Such things tend to overwhelm me. I am not a technology guru.
Do you have a spot in your house that is consistently hard to maintain as far as neatness goes? And not like that one closet that everything gets thrown in but nobody really ever sees. Like a really important space that should be a priority, but it just always seems to get trashed. I’ve thought of doing a “How it looked insert day of the week here” post where you have to take a picture of it once a week -or even once a day- to keep yourself accountable to keep it nice. It sounds like a great idea, but I think I’d be too embarrassed at this point.
In Sunday school today, (sixth grade girls), the teacher went over how God revealed to Abram that his descendants would be captive for four hundred years in a strange land, then be brought out and given great possessions. I had never thought about it, but what a comfort that must have been to the audience of Genesis. Genesis was given to Moses for the children of Israel at Mount Sinai explaining to them who this God was who had just delivered them from the Egyptians. To find out that their father Abraham had known all this would happen; that it had been God’s design, and that He had done exactly as He said: what an amazing comfort to those who just lived through the amazing and terrifying drama!
January was the best laundry month in a long time. Sadly, for the first time all year, I just took one load out of the dryer and placed it on top of another load in a basket. Oh well, there has been too much improvement to be sad; and potty training was the honest culprit in this case.
I love my husband. He is one of God’s greatest gifts to me. Not only does his friendship and love bring sweetness and comfort and fun to this life on earth, but God also uses our relationship to sanctify me, to show me myself, and to make me more aware of my need for Christ. We’re sitting next to each other right now, typing away. Sometimes I think about doing seminary wife posts, but it’s just a rather nebulous idea in my head right now.
Well, dear friends, it’s time for me to say good-bye. Prioritizing sleep and all, you know.
Much love to all our family and friends. May you have a week where you see God’s beauty revealed in your ordinary days.
One Saturday afternoon our family was enjoying lunch together. Well, trying to enjoy it in spite of Mckayla’s whining. I looked at her and said, “Mckayla, if you don’t stop whining, I’m going to take you straight to naptime.” Her whining continued and I whisked her off to her bed. As I walked past Paul’s chair I heard him say, “Don’t mess with Momma the first week of January.”
What a laugh!
The sad thing is it’s true.
Already this month I’ve seen the progression: Motivated and disciplined; tired and inconsistent; frustrated and overwhelmed; humbled and seeking help; motivated and disciplined…
By the way, I don’t think this cycle will ever be eliminated. I guess my goal is to just spend more days in the motivated and discplined spot.
Thinking about my New Year’s goals and the questions I asked my kids has helped these last few days to get back on track. Especially helpful has been trying to think through the last month. What worked? What didn’t? What can be tweaked?
I won’t rehash all of my goals, plans, priorities and resolutions; but I’ll just list certain ones which are comment-worthy. Then I will probably jot down a few specific things for February.
****
Overall goals
I think, conservatively speaking, that goals 1-5 were “small step” successes. I felt a little more prepared, in general; was more productive in the evenings, but not in the mornings; played the piano a few times and almost caught up on thank-you notes; tried to read at night before working or relaxing with the iPad; chose to spend time with the girlies “just because” which is so rewarding. Now, if it was November, I might feel really good about those things. But most of it should just be attributed to January momentum. Now I have to really work and watch to keep improving.
Number 6 is hard to judge. What I can say is that pregnancy is a fairly difficult time to lavish your husband with love and affection. I can remember specific times this month when he was on his way home and I was in no mood to be unselfish, when God answered a simple prayer like, “Please help me to bless him, and do good to him…” with grace beyond my abilities. Looking forward for more grace to grow in this every day.
With regards, to having an attitude of prayer throughout the day, I do not believe there was any growth. Positively, I can say that the burden and necessity of prayer for me as a believer and wife and mom are growing inside me.
****
Plans
Again, this may be rather scattered. Definitely some things will be left out.
The two big specific successes of the month were finishing The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer and organizing my kitchen and pantry. Whoo! Those both felt really good.
Exercise. This is what I have to say: I think I did some kind of something three times this month which is three more times than I did last month. Enough said.
Homeschooling has been rather a challenge this month. Not the actual school part, but it felt like so many times there were other busy things planned in the day that made us have to juggle our schedule. I would like for this month to be more routine. Also, while I did really good at my weekly planning, I need to do better at night making sure the room and chalkboard are ready to go for the morning.
We did play outside a good amount, but I think we can do even more. It helps so much with Mckayla taking naps – which helps with every other last area of life! = )
Priorities
There was significant improvement in the area of laundry. I’m taking it slow and trying to just develop steady habits that will keep clean clothes in our drawers. Other than that, the other priorities need some more prioritizing. Seriously, if you’ve never made a list like this and referred back to it often, you should try it. I find it so helpful.
Resolutions
In the area of prioritizing nighttime sleep, I get an F+. Because… overall, I think I went to bed a tiny bit earlier, but there were a few nights that would just blow that average out of the water in the bad direction.
****
A few things to focus on in February.
-Going to bed and getting up earlier. Just go ahead and plan on reading that one every single month.
-Exercise twice a week. Plan these!
-For books, I’m planning to use February and March to finish What Jesus Demands from the World and Robert Frost’s Poems. I know the Piper book will be a great aid to the resolution of “rejoicing in the character of God.”
-At our last library visit I picked out four biographies that I thought would be interesting for Hopey. Probably on Monday, I will let her choose one and we will read that together in the month of February.
-I need to pick out my first passage to memorize from the Bible this year, and I would like to finish reading the minor prophets this month. I started with them since it had been so long since I’d read them.
-Training for the younger girls most mornings a week. I had been using this time to do little ABC’s or numbers or books, but right now, they need to grow in obedience more than any of those other things.
-Organize our bedroom. Call in the Cavalry! We’re going to need it.
-Keep up with weekly menu planning and grocery shopping.
-Currently I’m working with the girls on their morning responsibilities; we all fold and put away their laundry together once or twice a week; and I’m having Hope and Sophia clear the lunch table while I put the little girls down for naps. These might seem small, but they are a big help to me. Instead of adding more responsibilities at this point, I’m going to stick with these and try to solidify them as habits for us all. (It’s hard work to make sure your kids do their work!) As the month goes, I might add a few more things.
-Toys. I’m planning on buying two tubs. One for toys to put away for awhile (things that are no longer age-appropriate, things the girls seem bored with, or things that are consistently not where they’re intended to be) and one for toys that I see certain of our children chewing on! The idea is if I see any toy, piece of jewelry, anything in a mouth that’s not supposed to be there…. it goes in the tub and they can’t have it back… until they disinfect it or something? I have a feeling this one will evolve. All I know is that a two and four-year-old using regular toys as chew toys has got to stop! Sorry to end on a negative note.
****
Well, my, my, my; I do hope this wasn’t so boring that you wanted to poke your eyes out. Or that if it was, you stopped reading a long time ago.
I already said it, but it’s true. It’s so helpful to revisit and re-evaluate your goals!
small steps, big picture 