Finding Time to Paint!

It was one of those days - between answering emails, a phone conference, finalizing a mailing that will go out tomorrow, signing and numbering prints, laundry and supper (yes, we still call it supper on the farm ;) I didn't actually sit down to paint until about 5:30 pm.  My stress level calibrated high by 7:30 pm when I heard the boys getting in from the barn from chores and I desperately needed more painting time.I reluctantly put my brushes down and headed downstairs for 'family time'. 

Growing boys are hungry - A L L  T H E  T I M E - so first order of business was a second round of supper.  Next I sat down to help Zach with his 6th grade math - one way or another, I was determined I would help him figure it out, seriously, when did math get so hard. I think I was trying to prove more to myself than him that I could still do it! Next enters husband John, he looks even more tired and stressed out than I do - so there was not much hope of comfort from him!  At the same time he entered the room, the buzzer went off signaling the dryer load was complete. 

As I folded the clothes, the warm heat comforted my cold hands (our high temp today was 24 degrees).  Soon Kate came in to help me, and it didn't take long before we were making fun of someone's stretched out undies and the supersized drum of laundry soap we couldn't figure out how to even open.  We laughed and laughed, and then we laughed some more - nothing was really that funny - but our souls needed it!  Everyone is tucked in bed now, prayers said, and at the end of a day I am happy to count my blessings.  A warm bed and wonderful family are a lot to be thankful for - and tomorrow brings new hope with more time to paint! 

Seeing the good in the chaos is one way I find rhythm and balance in it all!