What We All Need

It's been one helluva day.  Can I say that?
Sigh.  It was rough.  So rough that I had to cancel plans with dear friends because, well, it was going to get even uglier if I didn't.

I guess I should have seen this coming.  When I think about it, we haven't done more than sleep at home since Thursday morning.  And, not even a lot of that, I guess.  I didn't see the signs.

Now that we've stopped moving, I can see my home and my children need tending.  Oh, and while I'm at it, I guess I could probably use it, too.  The kids have spread out and unwound.  I've cleaned my kitchen, done some laundry, and made some nourishing food.  Caught up with myself and caught my house up with us.

After eating, Sela and Linus scampered off to play, and I stayed at our little table -- enjoying some space, quiet, and rest.  I noticed this poster was speckled with... food, paint, and ???.

I love this poster.  It reminds me of my first career job.  It was the best job I ever had.  I grew into who I am there.  It was a wonderful place.  This poster is old.  It was old then.  It probably used to have a little color to it.  It's faded from exposure.  The poster is old, but the message is not.  When I left that job, I took it with me.  I had the sense those coming after me would see it as "old" -- as in "too ugly."  I saved it, and I hung in our playroom when Sela was born.  I hung it in our kitchen when we moved.

Today, because we all needed tending, I gently, mindfully washed away its' speckles and resecured it to the wall.  Today, when taking care of my children was so challenging, this was a good way to end the day.