Artwork currently displayed in our library (a.k.a. bathroom)

If I had to describe our house to you, in one word, and focusing on the positive, rather than ALL of the other annoying stuff that accumulates, when blessed, as a homeowner <----- that last part was for my husband, Garth (not his real name) -----> who sometimes needs help looking past all that other annoying stuff, bless his hardworking and very squishy heart.

Sooooo, what were we talking about?

[blows bangs out of eyes, stares at yet another big old water stain, on the ceiling above the dryer, don't ask]

Oh yeah.  Focusing on the positive.  Right.  So, I would most likely agree with what other folks have described as some sort of super power for creating:  cozy.

[glances at laundry, closes eyes]

Clutter, on the other hand, is my kryptonite.

I was raised in an even smaller house:  6 rooms (including the bathroom) so, we learned to be very creative when hiding stuff; especially, whenever friends and family would come over for a visit.

Of course, unlike me or my children, my mother was MUCH better at remembering where she put stuff.  So, after 20 years of raising 4 kids and killer dust bunnies, spring cleaning has become quite the adventure.

Every year, I find stuff like:

• Family photos dating back to about 20 years -- you know, the ones I've been meaning to put into that scrapbook I started, 20 years ago.
• School pictures I meant to mail out to family -- so THAT'S where they went!
• A couple of years worth of report cards -- before our schools went paperless (cue choir of angels, singing)!
• OH LOOK!!!  One of my husband's Christmas presents -- shhhhhh, I put it away for Father's Day (SCORE!!!) don't tell him, okay?!?
• Pairless shoes, socks and a couple of bras -- don't ask!
• Petrified, sometimes unidentifiable, food -- see previous bullet.
• Stuff that looks like it may or may not have been alive, at one time.
• What the?!?  Never mind.  I don't EVEN want to know.

It's at this point, I begin to feel weak and imagine myself as an unwilling participant in some sort of twisted scavenger hunt.

[pausing to allow those with younger kids and/or childless individuals to click away...QUICKLY...while you can]

WAIT!!!  All is not lost.  There are times when I happen upon a real gem -- like a poem, gifted to me by my teenage son:

No matter what happens you are always there,
You make us dinner,
You clean our clothes,
You help us with homework,
You are always there,
No matter what happens we can trust you to help,
When you try and cover up pain we see it,
You do not realize how much you mean to us,
Please know that we will love you forever,
You are an amazing Mother
And you will always be there.

I hung it in our bathroom...I mean, our library...because, I sometimes also need help looking past all that other annoying stuff that accumulates, when blessed, as a parent.

Aaaaand, it happens to hide the hair dye...I mistakenly splashed ALL over the wall...really, really well...too. 

Because, I am multi-functional like that.

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