The Painting that I will do tomorrow.

I am grateful for my life. I am circled on all sides by so many wonderful people who need me. It is such a blessing to be needed. I have opportunities every minute to uplift, speak kindly, and comfort. I may actually have too many. Right now, there may always be more people to help than I will be able to get to. But I love how these opportunities give me a chance to become better. Perhaps one day I will actually be as kind, charitable, and plain wonderful as my own mother.

Last summer, or maybe spring, I was invited to be part of an art exhibit with many of my old friends from college. I haven't done a show in 6 years, so, this is pretty exciting stuff. But here they are, the reasons, 8 or 9 months later, why I have yet to start this painting. The reasons that actually make my life as wonderful as it is.

In August I got to visit my brother in Oregon, for 5 days. 5 days of eating the best of Portland, hiking beachside trails, soaking up time with my parents and brother. I missed my littles, but being pregnant and might I add horridly uncomfortably pregnant, this trip was a pretty welcome shot of rejuvination.

 

And then, well, in summertime, all anyone around here wants to do is be outside, and since they are still pretty little, that means most of my summer was spent outside - talking with other moms while our kids biked, played in ponds, ate way too many popsicles, and really, hopefully, helped the kids have a great summer.

  
 And then that painting I was going to do turned into everyone's dream Halloween Costumes. No painting would have made it worth missing seeing my son finally getting me to solve the dolphin costume, or my two year old dragon roaring.

  

 And then my super super fabulous husband designed a new set of Christmas Stockings, including designs for our two year old and the new baby. And the excitement of trying to get these beauties done with all their hand embroidery postponed that painting again. But, no painting can replace how happy my kids were to see their new stockings, hours of careful detail and embellishment making them totally beautiful. And my husband seeing his designs executed? Pretty priceless as well.

And perhaps the best reason of all, the reason that 'that painting' may forever be done 'tomorrow' - adjusting to life with 5 (!) children who very, very much need me to be putting my 150% into attempting creating a good childhood. (Scary how being as lost in this role as I am, it's arguable as to if I am doing a good job!)

But that painting must actually be done. I am committed. Painting may take place between midnight and three in the morning, but it will get done. And I will probably love doing it. But even more importantly, there will be art lessons to teach in my sons classroom, costumes to make for my daughters musical production, and a four-year-old and two-year-old to keep from smothering their new baby sister with too much love.

Seriously, any ideas at all my friends who are mothers and amazing artists? You seem to manage! Secrets ladies, share you secrets!!