Under-used shoes

These are my running shoes:

You may notice that they are the same as my every-day shoes (except for color).  If you look closely you might be able to tell that they are on a treadmill track.  Saucony makes wonderful running shoes.  My friends wear them for marathons.  I wear them for every-day because they are comfortable, and seem to hit my non-existant arches in the right places.  Last time I needed new shoes I bought two pair, one for every-day and one for my treadmill (so they stay clean and lovely and won't hurt my track).  Would you like to guess which ones will wear out first?

FAVORITE shoes

These shoes belong to a dear friend.  She is one of the major contributors to my sanity.  She owns a cleaning business, and comes to my house once a week.  A home with so many children running in and out of it does not stay clean.  Especially the bathroom that the little cherubs frequent.  Often it is all I can do to pick up the toys and keep the dishes and laundry clean.  (Laundry clean, not folded--I'm working on that.)  Often I walk past the bathroom and just shut the door.  I don't want to see (or smell!) in there.  It causes panic attacks.  Just when I think the mess is going to swallow me whole, my savior waltzes in with her yellow gloves.  Two hours later the house smells fresh, my toilets gleam, and I no longer stick to the kitchen floor.
Bless you, bless you, dear, dear friend.

[PS. Anticipating questioning readers, yes, she truly is my friend.  I have known her many more years than she has known the shameful state of my lavatories.  Also, "savior" is not too strong a word.  'Savior' is one who delivers or rescues from peril.  Her weekly visits definitely deliver me from emotional--and possibly physical--peril.]

Another Miracle

I believe we experience small miracles on a daily basis.  Little things that can reassure us that we are not alone.

Robert D. Hales has said,

Generally, those miracles will not be physical demonstrations of God’s power—parting of the Red Sea, raising of the dead, breaking down prison walls, or the appearance of heavenly messengers. By design, most miracles are spiritual demonstrations of God’s power—tender mercies gently bestowed through impressions, ideas, feelings of assurance, solutions to problems, strength to meet challenges, and comfort to bear disappointments and sorrow.

 I think it is often easy to overlook these minor miracles.  So often we take for granted the good things in our lives, and only sit up and pay attention when something bad happens.  If you are looking for the good in life, you will surely find it.
Today's minor miracle--5 children napping [or convincingly pretending to] at once.  That means I have a silent house.  At least for the moment.  Did I say "minor"?  I meant amazingly awesome! :)

Today's Minor Miracle

Despite having four children under the age of two at my house today--plus two 3-year olds, and a 4-year old to make things interesting--I finished all my leftover dishes from Thanksgiving.  Even the pie pans!  Before lunch!

Of course, to balance things out, we had to have a minor mishap.  My 3-year old dumped a bag of pecans out on the kitchen floor.  This made me more angry than a spill normally would.  My floor was not clean enough to keep them, and pecans are expensive!

This picture is deceptive, there were at least 3 cups worth. Pth. :-P