“Yesterday I was in one of those ‘woe is me’ moods because despite my most valiant efforts to teach them differently, my sweet children think dirty socks go on the floor in the kitchen. And they think the place for their discarded drawings and papers is strewn across the counter. And they are dramatic. And I didn’t have the one ingredient I needed for dinner I thought I had so our schedule got all messed up, and I was late to take the girls to gymnastics again and I had to wait on hold with the health insurance forever and got disconnected twice which makes me mad.
But then I came across this picture:
And that’s all it took to realize once again: I’m the luckiest girl in the world.
I get to be a mother.
Their mother.
Yes, sometimes the moments that fill up a mother’s day don’t seem to be so sweet. But if we step back and not take it all quite so seriously we realize that life is good. So very good. And that brings the sweetness into the memories of the craziness.
I love this quote:
INTERRUPTIONS
When you are exasperated by interruptions, try to remember that their very
frequency may indicate the value of your life. Only people who are full
of help and strength are burdened by other persons’ needs. The
interruptions which we chafe at are the credentials of our
indispensability. The greatest condemnation that anybody could incur –
and it is a danger to guard against – is to be so independent, so
unhelpful, that nobody ever interrupts us, and we are left comfortably alone.
-Anonymous
from The Anglican Digest
Each moment of motherhood, whether they be exhausting and mundane… or magically rewarding, all work together to make up the beautiful tapestry of motherhood we are weaving day by day, crazy minute by crazy minute.
In my mind there is nothing quite so good as to be a Mother (except for being a wife, but that’s another post for another day). The one who is interrupted the most. And I must cherish those moments of interruptions while they last. Because before I know it these children will grow up and leave off to create their own stories, and I’ll be left with just the memories of all those life-enriching interruptions echoing through my house.
with love from Shawni from 71toes.“
Beautiful post! Thanks for sharing your positive thoughts on motherhood!
Saskia
That quote on interruptions is so wonderful! I'm bookmarking it right now :) Thanks for sharing this, it's such a lovely post!
http://www.ciderwithrosiebee.blogspot.com
lovely post!
Cute pictures and great post to read! :)
http://kadddii.blogspot.com/
this was beautiful.. that photograph of all your babies is wonderful.. makes it all seem worth while
Thank you so much for your positive words!
Love it!
this is written so beautifully. i loved reading it :) xx
Love this! It is so very true and something I need to tell myself more often. You have a beautiful family!
such a great post. thank you for sharing.
Wow, that is one amazing quote. I love it. It's such a good reminder to cherish the "interruptions" and life's little messes. Your kids are beautiful! Thanks for sharing your story.
this is beautiful. and you have beautiful kids.
As always, so beautiful Shawni! Thanks for sharing your sweet words of wisdom and your BEAUTIFUL photographs!
ah, such a beautiful post and perfect for me to read today. :)
Love! <3 Such a great post… Beautiful! Thank you for sharing! <3
What a beautiful family!
such sweet words! what a beautiful family!
i absolutely loved this post.
Beautiful words!
I'm yet to experience motherhood (I'm actually undecided about having children but that's another, long story!) but I love reading all the tales of joy on this blog.
Thanks for continuing to share the love while the happy family are bonding with new baby.
Becky at life.style.flash. x
So honest/true/sweet :)
Absolutely loved this post. Thank you Shawni for sharing your words, and that beautiful quote! You seem to have plenty of interruptions to deal with daily…and still choose to see the beauty in them. That's my life long goal: to see the beauty in the everyday and to soak up the various stages of my children's lives.
PS – both of those photos, your gorgeous children and the one of you & your daughter, are SO precious :)
Loved this post~and that quote is going on my fridge! We did Joy School with all 8 of our children and are really grateful for the positive start it gave each of them. You have an amazing family who do so much good in helping other families.
Really, really loved reading this! Thank you! Will be linking a friend who needs to hear this today too.
precious. what an amazing reminder! thanks for sharing. :)
ohhh that interruptions quote is perfection!
"I'll be left with just the memories of all those life-enriching interruptions echoing through my house." I love that thought! Your children are beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
What an adorable post! The kids are so cute!!! Love the quote!
-Nurse Frugal
http://ladiesgofirst.wordpress.com
I love Shawni's blog! She inspires me to be the best wife and mother I can be. This post today is just what I needed to hear. Thanks
I love Shawni's blog! She inspires me to be the best wife and mother I can be. This post today is just what I needed to hear. Thanks
I love Shawni's blog! She is so sweet and a great Mom. She was in my parents ward when I was a teen. I love that her blog has gained popularity, because it's about such a poignant topic; motherhood!
i always love your motherhood guest posts. they are so, so precious to me. i'm not a mother yet, but i'm definitely filing them away for future reference ; )
Dammit, every morning I have been crying a little reading these posts! Just lovely.
Lovely post. That quote is going in my journal asap :)
this post is written so well! I love it!
http://www.eatblogpray.blogspot.com
xo
I am going to revisit that quote often. What a wonderful post. Thank you. :-)
Loved this post! It makes me think of my own mother. Thanks for sharing this! :)
So good post, so inspiring! Thank you – you made my day ;)))
this was beautiful, you are an excellent writer. thank you for sharing!
Shawni and Naomi, you are both inspiring mothers. There are some poems about motherhood here:
http://www.5for50project.blogspot.com
Great photos :)
Awesome post! Perfect timing for a busy mom and busy summer.
Thanks!
I really needed to read that quote this week. Thanks!
11shakes.blogspot.com
beautiful post from a beautiful mother! It made me teary eyed to read it!
so beautifully written…and so true.
http://www.lucyintheskywithdiamonds-jsl.blogspot.com
well said
mandvlifesofar.blogspot.com
I absolutely needed to read this today, had a very rough morning with 2 year old little girl and then a magical evening listening to the oldies ands making father's day cards. This quote needs to be posted in my kitchen.
What a lovely post! I checked out "71 Toes" and it's a great blog! Can't wait to read more.
missmelandmissheather.blogspot.com
Great post, I love following your blog.
Congrats on your new family member, must feel so great having another little adorable baby in your arms when the other is growing up…
I have a girl the same age as you and I have started to feel the urge for another baby… Must feel so great?
Please have a look at my blog and let me know if you ever are interested in a motherhood guest blog-post all the way from Copenhagen, Denmark.
Have a nice day – thanks for sharing on your blog. Love following.
This comment has been removed by the author.
i'm so glad to come to know of Shawni's blog for the first time. Another cute family on my list that I adore ;) Thanks Naomi for this wonderful Guest on board!
<3 God bless u all!
I love the Interruptions quote! Thank you so much; it really helps put my job of being a mother into perspective. Thanks!
Thank you, thank you, for this post. As a stay-at- home mom of two little active boys, I often feel "woe is me." This entire post is a keeper.
I was just wandering around the blog world! And I found your cute blog! What fun it is!
-Erin @ erinestellacall.blogspot.com
I loved reading this post and now I am going to be an avid follower of Shawni's blog. Her story about her daughter and the reasoning behind the name "71 Toes" has touched me deeply.
Here is my blog:
http://mommymelissa123.blogspot.com/
Love this and your blog <3
Love this and your blog <3
This post almost made me cry…beautifully written, and the children in the pic look so nice:)
http://whoateallthestrawberries.blogspot.hu/
That is quite possibly one of the best things I have ever read. THANK YOU. I needed this day and what a good wake up call. :)
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