Dust if you Must!

I love spring! This morning a bird was chirping outside my window (though I do have to say that I didn't enjoy it waking me up so early!), the sun is shining, the daffodils are blooming, and we enjoyed a gorgeous day in the 70's yesterday! Today's a bit colder, but I know the warm weather is coming to stay soon! I can't wait to get out and enjoy it all!

One day, years ago, I was outside digging in the dirt, planting flowers to beautify the landscape of our newly purchased house. As a multi-tasker, I was also watching my little ones run around outside and talking to my best friend on the phone. She asked me what I was doing.

"Planting flowers."
"HOW do you have time to be outside gardening?!?" she asked, sounding surprised.
"Why? What are you doing?" I asked back.
"Cleaning my house! I'm always cleaning my house! I would never have time to do any gardening. You are amazing! How do you have time?"
Ha! I was giggling at that thought of what she would think of my house at that moment . . . ."Oh . . . my house isn't clean at all. It's a wreck!" I replied.
"And yet you are outside gardening?" It sounded as if she couldn't believe someone could do anything else before cleaning up the house. :)
"Yep! I would rather spend my time doing something that will create beauty tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day, than to spend my day cleaning up something that I will just have to clean up again tomorrow, and the next day, etc!"

To me - cleaning your house while you still have kids running around in it all day long, is like trying to shovel snow while it is still snowing! It's useless. You will spend ALL day at that task . . . and at the end of the day you will be frustrated because there has been no progress. Why NOT spend the day gardening, or scrapbooking, or making lasting memories with your kids? You can clean when they are gone! :) OK, ok . . . I know we do have to clean some before then . . . but what I'm saying is that it's all about priorities - something I know I have struggled with (and still do) for many, many years. I started scrapbooking 12 years ago . . .and I probably have 12 pages done. :) Why? Because I was waiting till I was done with my chores to be able to play! It's not working.

In MOPS one year we had a speaker talk about friendship. I will never forget what she would say to her friends . . . "If you want to come over to see ME . . . stop by any time! If you are coming over to see my house . . . make an appointment!" :) AMEN sister! My house is never fully clean! There are piles of papers to go through, toys under the tables and couches, dust on most (ok . . . ALL) surfaces, and probably a few cheerios and fruit snacks crushed into the carpet from time to time. And to tell you the truth . . . I don't mind going to my friend's houses that are the same! It's refreshing! I feel so intimidated at people's houses that are spotless and always put together like a showcase house. :) I will never attain that without either spending all my days "shoveling snow" or hiring a live-in housekeeper (oh to be like Carol Brady of the Brady Bunch!)! And since we can't afford number two, and I don't want to do number one . . . . you'll just have to come over to see ME (and not my house)! :) And we can have some FUN together!

My mother in law sent me a wonderful email shortly after that conversation with my friend years ago, and I have had it posted on a slip of paper attached to my computer ever since . . . to remind me of just what is important in life.

I don't know who wrote it, but - Enjoy!

Dust if you Must

Dust if you must but wouldn't it be better
To paint a picture or write a letter,
Bake a cake or plant a seed,
Ponder the difference between want and need.

Dust if you must but there's not much time,
With rivers to swim and mountains to climb!
Music to hear and books to read,
Friends to cherish and life to lead.

Dust if you must but the world's out there
With the sun in your eyes, the wind in your hair,
A flutter of snow, a shower of rain.
This day will not come around again.

Dust if you must but bear in mind,
Old age will come and it's not kind.
And when you go and go you must,
You, yourself, will make more dust.

Remember, a house becomes a home when you can write "I love you" on the furniture!