To-Do List

Dear Karin,
You woke up this morning and created a long list of things you’d hoped to accomplish today. I write this note for the sole purpose of reminding you of the things that did get done today, regardless of the very few “checks” on that to-do list. Although you slept in later than you’d hoped because Anna had a rough night and consequently didn’t get that morning workout in, you were there to greet her as her sleepy eyelids batted a good morning hello in the early sunlight. Before taking Anna to her 10:00 check-up, you fed kids breakfast, cleaned up several spilled milks as well as Kix from all over the floor (seconds too late for a few which Anna discovered float nicely in the milk left in the gallon jug) made 2 loaves of banana bread, brushed through and put bows in little girls hair and managed to get in a shower for yourself and Anna. After comforting Anna through 2 shots and measuring and weighing her to find out she is 23 pounds and 32 1/2inches, you snatched a few extra stickers from the Doctor’s office and exchanged them for James and Elizabeth who were at their friend’s house (thanks again, Kim!). Anna reminded you the entire 2 minute drive home that she was ready for a nap and Elizabeth then requested lunch. You fed the two big kids and cleaned up a sink full of morning dishes, all the while answering dinosaur questions, explaining what asteroids and comets are, how they might have killed dinosaurs, and going along with Elizabeth’s conversation of “what does love mean?... what does care about mean? Mommy, I care about you!” You gelled up James' hair, wiped lunch off his face and found shorts to match his yellow shirt he chose to coordinate with today's color of the day and kissed him off to a great day of school. Just as you were thinking to look outside to see if you could spot Jim in the sky, you heard his jet roaring overhead and made it outside just in time for you and Elizabeth to watch him fly directly over the house, only about 800 feet up and offered a prayer for a safe, successful flight. That was incredible (even if it did wake up Anna from her much needed nap)! Then onto lunch round 2, this time for Anna, including a snack for Sissy and making a “fruit drink” for yourself, with leftovers enough for Jimmy’s after-work snack. The three of you then gathered snacks and made tuna sandwiches for the evening picnic and spent a great deal of time searching for James’ red soccer shirt and Anna’s wrap. This search lead to demonstrating to Elizabeth the power of prayer, even for something as trivial as a wrap to carry Anna in for our hike, and ultimately lend to our new baby niece. Elizabeth was quite pleased to have been part of that experience and immediately joined you in a prayer of thanks. On to a game with Sissy, sorting through grown out clothes, monitoring the girls bike out front while cleaning up the garage a bit, and reconfirming plans with a sitter for this weekend. Then it was gathering jackets and preparing 5 people for an evening up in the mountains, welcoming James home from his 8th day of Kindergarten, and loading up the van full of people, food, activities, and extra clothing to meet Daddy at work promptly at 4:30. You spent 5 hours of family fun hiking 2 miles which was filled with grand accomplishments in and of itself, including getting out the first-aid kit to care for a bleeding finger, climbing a tree and carrying each child (the oldest only for a brief moment, just to ensure he did not feel left out). The drive home was a success, as you and Jim were able to carry the sleeping children to their unmade beds without any arguments as to which light stays on, nor excuses of needing another drink, or teeth that didn’t get brushed. You've just completed sorting through nearly a week's worth of piled up laundry (where did the past several days go???) and now it is off to bed to read the scriptures and pray with Jim. So, when you wake up (in 7 ½ hours to start a new day, not in three hours to lay beside Anna as she struggles to fall back asleep, or with Elizabeth when she has a bad dream, or to help James find his way back to his own bed, after going potty) and look around at a home that is less-than-tidy, don’t wonder what you did yesterday, just get out that checklist and get to it again…
With Love,
Your Practical Half

p.s. I’d like to think I am not the only one out there who has days where I feel like I accomplished nothing. If you happen to relate in any way, I suggest reviewing your day, either in your mind or on paper and you will see just how much you did do, regardless of the number of items crossed off that silly to-do list.