A Note on Doing the Bare Minimum

 


This month has been really hard. Actually, this season has been very hard. We had an illness-free six months from May through November last year. It was amazing! It helped make having our third baby the smoothest transition yet, and it helped Daddy complete his first BIG PROJECT. (If you know, you know!) However, after the project was completed, Daddy pledged to take two weeks off of work, and he did.... but we spent every day on the couch. December 20th to January 2nd was a fever dream... literally. Everyone took a nap every day; everyone woke up throughout the night with high fevers; no one felt like opening presents on Christmas. But what hurt the most was not getting any family pictures in front of our freshly painted fireplace with new stockings and a huge tree we cut off the mountain. It especially hurt that I don't have any pictures of Baby Girl #3's first Christmas. But, just when I thought we couldn't take it any more, we pulled through! 





I was determined to make up for lost time. We had a super fun Valentine's party with the neighbor kids. (That party definitely pushed our back yard to its limits!) Then, I planned on ways to make Easter extra special. I started by moving Easter up a week, so we don't have to share the holiday with General Conference. I made an adorable countdown bunting to go on our fireplace. I planned extra baking and outings. I bought new books... Everything you could imagine! Then, two weeks before Easter, we fell ill... Luckily, it was just a cold this time and not a full-blown flu, but my oh my! This thing is still hanging around! 


I tell you all of this to say, life is hard. The Devil likes to kick you when you are down. 


BUT


The Lord will send his angels to bear you up. I have felt it many, many times. Create peace in your home by doing the bare minimum. I learned this from the lovely Joy Cherrick's YouTube channel. She says that all you really have to do is keep food on the table and clean clothes in the closets. That's it! Let all the other chores and duties fall by the wayside, so you can focus on snuggling those sick kiddos! In fact, the laundry element of this was too overwhelming over Christmas, so I didn't even do that! Everyone only wanted to wear pajamas anyway, so I did ONE load with about two sets of everyone's comfiest clothes and that was it! So, whatever it is that is getting you down. Let is slow you down, so you can strengthen your foundation of love in your home. That will make your family unshakable. 


XOXO,


Mama




"Lord, Thy Will Be Done" by Philip Hermogenes Calderon 


I have certainly had some nights (and even days) like these. 

Call on His angels. They will come.

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