Blast from the Past!

So I had this brilliant idea. In my mind, March marks my painting anniversary. Sorta. I’ve told you all before, I don’t really know when this business started. BUT I do consider it to be the time that I painted my first canvas – Hudson’s {the incredibly ghetto one.} I don’t really know the exact date, but it was definitely in March because he was born at the end of April. I was that mom stressing that the nursery would be completely finished {and perfect} when he got here. Because, you know, he would really care that it was finished. And his feelings would be incredibly hurt if it wasn’t. {And 4 kids later, . . . . Em was lucky to have a room if truth be told!}

Soooo, for this anniversary, I wanted to post pictures of my art over the past several years that were created in the month of March – only to show you where practice can take you. AND I do still plan to do that – so please don’t cheat and go through the Marches and look at the art! But while I going through the Marches, I found a post that I needed today. I wanted to share it with you guys again, because it really sums it up. I get so many emails asking “How I do it.” So, to answer the question . . . .

from the archives – March 17, 2008

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Deeply Committed – Often Flawed – Mother of Four . . . .

That is the title of the editor’s note in our local “Rutherford Parent” magazine. It’s just a free magazine that is in every doctor’s office across the county and I always pick one up because of all the “stuff” you find in them. When I was reading Mrs. Susan Day Swindell’s “note” it really hit me.

Before kids, I was a slight perfectionist and I was really bad about expecting things to go “my way.” Now, I knew that once kids came into the picture, “my picture,” that would all change. And I was completely okay with that. I still didn’t know if I wanted to be a “stay-at-home” kinda mom – that might explain why I couldn’t tell my boss that I wasn’t coming back to work {Hudson was 13 months old before I told him!} ha – God, bless his soul, but I think he knew before I did that I wasn’t coming back. But as I read this article, it really explained so much of my feelings as a mother. At the end, she said-

Raising kids is sloppy. It is one, fast, bumpy ride in a messy car. It’s a life filled with spills, drills, miscommunication, tummy aches and activities that never seem to end. It is time away from YOU. But it IS you.

For too long I have wrestled with how to manage everything without losing my wits and with grace and fortitude. I’ve tried to be a straight line when life, in fact, is a scrawl. And because I’m in it for the long run, and because I love my family, I suppose I just have to accept that love is in fact, one huge, gigantic imperfection . . . called life.

For all those who ask me “how I do it” – that’s it, I accept it for what it is. That’s why I’m happy {most of the time} and satisfied with all the craziness in my life, because it is my life. I was never guaranteed a perfect life, but I wasn’t promised a bad one either!!

By the way – this time next week – I will be a mother of four! Six days and some hours to go before this egg hatches!! Whoohoo!!

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Obviously, that was just days before I had Em. And life has changed considerably since then. But I can tell you that it still holds true – that post. If it wasn’t for “motherhood,” I would not have picked up that paintbrush. And we all know what that would have meant – you definitely wouldn’t be reading this blog because ’small words’ would still be a gift and stationery store. So as much as the crazies drive me crazy, I’m so thankful for all the craziness.

And because I can’t blog without a picture – this is the best picture for you to get the feel of it. And Hudson’s face rocks in the top two {He was feeling it!!}