How DO you do it?

The common question statement I have heard quite a bit of lately is, "How do you do it?" or "I don't know how you do it!" Apparently my life, or the organization of it, is baffling to others. Well, to be honest, it is to me too! *smirks* I wanted to take a few minutes to clear the air with "How I do it".

I first need to know what "it" is? Are people asking how I manage to raise 3 little girls all within 20 months apart? How I keep a loving marriage going strong? How my house, car, laundry, etc. all stays clean and tidy? Exactly how I'm able to get up at 4:30 every morning to be out the door with tired kids and a sluggish husband by 6:45? How do I work all day with 14 year olds? How do you manage to get your family to church almost every Sunday and on time? How do you still make time to be active with friends and family? Are these "it"? If so, the answer to the "How do you do it?" is, I DON'T! *laughing* If anyone seriously thinks that all of these objectives are accomplished on a regular basis, they are crazy. I certainly wish!

The truth is, I have had to develop a "whatever" mentality. I used to be the most anal person I knew...still might be, but I'm definitely better. *winks* With the birth of Audrey, I realized that I had no time to dwell and to start letting go of everything getting on my nerves or annoying me. I started just saying "whatever" (not in a smart a** way, just a matter of fact way) whenever I really wanted to pull my hair out. Yes, I have three gorgeous daughters (3 months, 22 months, and 3) that keep my busy, but I am not the perfect mom...I do have flaws. Baths don't always happen every other day as I plan, hair may not always look up to par when walking out of the house, the tv has made a good sitter at times...you get the idea. I just do what I can to keep them educated, happy, safe, and loved. Robert and I do appreciate that we have a marriage that...well, works. How? Not totally sure! *laughs* I know the good Lord has the most to do with it. You must realize that we argue on a regular basis...usually about silly stuff that typically stems from frustration dealing with something outside of eachother. Our lives are always busy, always full of something that needs done. However, we always have those moments when we'd really like to scream or hit something, but we just look at eachother and laugh at the wonderful environment we've created...even if it's a chaotic one 20/7. *smiling* Has anyone stepped in my house? It's definitely not clean! I am great at hiding the big messes. Let me just say that if you are ever missing snow, you can turn on a ceiling fan and enjoy a few minutes of lovely gray "snow" (otherwise known as dust!). You can usually draw pictures in the dust on tables. My laundry is always behind by at least 5 loads. Yesterday's breakfast dishes may be in today's dinner sink. The toilet bowl sometimes looks like it may be the start of a teriffic science experiment. Are you getting my drift? It's a normal household of 5 people just trying to coexist. I'm sleep deprived. No, I'm just used to running on very little steam. I like the saying, "You can sleep when you die"...mostly because I have no choice but to believe that's the case...I'm not sleeping much while on Earth. It's tough getting everyone around in the mornings, but with a little cold water, cattle prods, and threats, we manage it! My students are my learning experience...I see how my own will be in about 10 years! The students are great kids...loud, obnoxious, and lazy at times, but truly great kids! Really! You don't believe me? 14 year olds going through hormone changes and figuring out who they are...of course! *trying to convince you here* Church is a must in our household. Don't think for one second that you are ever too busy for God. Point blank. Going to church each Sunday just makes my week that much better. I don't know how it works, so don't ask...it just does. My friends and family are important to me and I want my girls to see how strong relationships are built. This is why we make it a priority to see family and friends often. To do this, many loads of laundry and dishes go unwashed. *winks*

You see...I manage to keep going, but I'm not doing "it". I don't kill over because of all that goes on...I just adapt and keep going, knowing that one day there will be an abundance of free time in which I'll know not what to do with. For now, I'm so happy living the rat race. You'll rarely hear me say "I don't have time for ...". I get frustrated when I hear others saying it. The fact is, you always have more time. Sleep less! So, "How do you do it?" you ask, I don't..."it" leads me!