Time...

Last night when I went to bed, I asked myself what I had accomplished that day. Where had the time gone? Laundry was washed, but not folded. Dinner was eaten, but dishes left in the sink. Toys were put away, but the floor not vacuumed. How had I managed to burn up an entire day without completing any of the tasks I began? I felt like a failure.

So today, as I sorted through pictures, I looked for proof that my days aren't a waste of time. And this is what I discovered.

As TIME passes:

Little girls fall in love with dogs. (This is Walter.)




































They win coloring contests, which earn them a dining experience with gigantic and terrifying mascots at restaurants.
















Babies sprout teeth, learn to roll over, sit up, and eat solids. They don't care that these new talents break Mommy's heart and make it burst with pride.

Little girls become big girls who give presentations, watch mesmerized as larvae turn into ladybugs, and practice cartwheels and handstands by the hour.

These beautiful events don't get written down in an appointment book or appear on any "to do" list. They take place in spite of dirty dishes, unfinished laundry, and sticky floors. And sadly, they happen whether they are witnessed or not. My photos reminded me today that I AM watching. I'm not missing any of it (even if it is 1 pm and I haven't showered yet.)

I'll never win a beauty pageant or a Pulitzer prize. I'll never be an ambassador to a foreign country or run an orphanage in a third world country. I'll never receive an award for the hours I spend every day caring for my sweet kiddos, but their smiles and laughter have to mean I'm doing something right.

So, maybe I've accomplished something important after all......