An Ordinary Sunday: Embracing the Chaos
7/5/20262 min read
Today was an ordinary, busy Sunday. We went to church as a family, and it was a good way to start the day.
Yesterday was the Fourth of July, and it was a lot of fun. Fireworks were going off all around our neighborhood, and the view from my driveway was incredible. Sometimes you don't have to go anywhere to make great memories.
After we got home today, I checked my Amazon sales for my book. It was disappointing to see only one sale so far this month. I know books don't sell themselves, but it's discouraging. I need to figure out how to promote it better, book more speaking engagements, and get my story in front of more people. I believe in what I wrote—I just have to find the people who need to read it.
Right now I'm sitting at my kitchen table while the kids are running around, yelling, laughing, and playing. Around me is a mental checklist that never seems to end: laundry, dishes, mowing the lawn, and a dozen other things. Sometimes I get so overwhelmed that I just freeze. Instead of starting one task, I end up sitting still, thinking about everything that needs to be done.
So I decided to write instead.
This happens almost every day.
I also made another questionable coffee decision. I bought a chocolate mocha cold brew, even though I know I should have just gotten black coffee. The sweet drinks always upset my stomach, but sometimes they sound too good to pass up.
Money is constantly on my mind. I'm still searching for a remote job that fits my situation, but it hasn't been easy. With six kids, they have to come first. When they're with me, they need my full attention. My three- and five-year-olds can get into just about anything if I look away for a minute.
People often tell me the older kids should help more around the house. I wish it worked that way. They don't always help with cleaning, but everyone has different strengths. My son may not enjoy cleaning, but he loves to cook. When he's with me, he makes dinner almost every night. Meanwhile, my cooking skills don't go much further than pasta with frozen meatballs or something I can throw in the microwave. That's the truth.
These are my everyday struggles. They aren't glamorous, and they certainly aren't easy.
But as overwhelming as life can be, I'm grateful for every bit of it. The noise, the mess, the endless laundry, and the chaos all mean one thing:
I'm surrounded by my children.
And after everything I've been through, I'll take a house full of noise over an empty house any day.