Mothers Who Know Do Less

Ok, it's about this time of year that I totally wish I lived somewhere warm! This freezing, frigid tundra is insane! The last couple of weeks I feel like I've tried to hibernate as much as possible...and I'm trying to be ok with it:) I am by nature an "on-the-go" person and have always been happier when I am busier and out doing things. My Grandma Lowe was like that and I think I got that from her. It's really a challenge for me to stay home alot and be content. I get easily restless and antsy to get out. Well, I have really been trying these last few frigid weeks to just embrace the idea of staying home and enjoy being with my kids. It has been a good opportunity to do all those things that I want to do with my kids but never seem to get around to. We have been reading LOTS of books, including the 16 book scripture series I've been wanting to read them. We've played all their new games from Christmas...Connect Four, Twister, Perfection, Memory, Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, Don't Spill the Beans, the list goes on... We've built cities with Lincoln Logs, made creatures out of playdough, practiced our cutting, drawing, and gluing skills a ton:) I've laid on the carpet and played "airplane" with the babies and just let them crawl on me and tickled them til they laugh so hard. We've played reading and word games, and the boys practiced writing letters to relatives. Below is a picture of the fort we made this week. They loved making it and then getting it all set up like a bed inside and then we cuddled up and read stories in it. At one moment we were reading in the fort, and the thought came to me that this is really what life is all about...there is nothing better than cuddling with two four year olds who think you're the best...and they are hanging on every word of the scripture stories being read. It has been one of my new years resolutions to focus on the important things in life and let go of the unimportant things (like keeping the house clean all the time, etc.) One of my favorite talks is by Julie Beck "Mothers Who Know, Do Less" and I have really found that to be true this week. So often I get caught up in all the things going on and places to go that I get sidetracked from the important things in life and the best things about Motherhood...my four kiddos! I love them so much and am so grateful that I am their mom!