I woke up at 4:15 this morning.

For those of you with a teething baby who doesn’t sleep through the night, you know what an accomplishment this is.  No snooze button.  No alarm for that matter.  Just.  Feeling rested somehow at 4:15 AM.

I then realized I was warm and wet.  Three year old Zay had peed in the bed, the inevitable result of having ice cream too late.  Yes, I cosleep.  A lot still.  And sugar affects him.

I got out of bed, checked the time and cleaned the bathroom.  Then I showered.  And I did the dishes.  Loaded the dishwasher, scrubbed pots and pans.  Wiped down counters.  Left only the floor to be done.

I did my grocery shopping with two children.  Three stores.  Finished by 11:30AM.  Did more laundry.

Later, my husband, Saint James, got home from a long work day.

He wanted to shave and cut his hair.  The washer flooded, leaving bleach water all over my clean kitchen.  I threw clean towels on the mess.  The bathroom has hair everywhere.  Isaiah, who woke up at 7:30 to a warm shower, “shaved” too, and needed another shower.

Bathroom ruined.  Progress in laundry ruined.  Kitchen ruined.

I sopped up bleach water with some lemon Pine-Sol.  Cleaned the floor on my hands and knees.  Started more laundry.  And cleaned the bathroom again.

Mommas.  This is what we do.

There’s this beautiful form of art where people do these intricate drawings in the sand.

People marvel at the beauty of it.  Why would they do such a thing?  How patient these artists must be.  How flexible to work with open hands, knowing the results won’t last long.  Aren’t they wonderful?

Mommas.  This.  Is what we do.

Tides of laundry come just as we finish.  Waves of dishes, at times we know are coming.  Sizes are outgrown, toys need to be rotated.  Always in flux, always in motion.

Do you marvel at the beauty of it?  Do you wonder at the wonderful person you’re becoming?

Of course, things are always in flux.  This is life.  Change is the only constant.  The pains and the details, the broad brush strokes and the joys, the irritation, the triumphs.  All of it.  It is beautiful.