Parenting the Imperfect

No, this is not a new pattern, I won't be starting every blog post off with a comic. Well, not unless I keep finding apropos comics...

Our poor house is a mess. We thought we'd have 3 days before the Christmas break to get everything clean, everything ready. Snow days have dashed that plan. There are snow clothes all over the kitchen, the front hallway, and the porch.

The cancellations have disrupted other things as well. Stewart was supposed to be wrestling tonight, and Emma was excited to finally see him in action. But with school cancelled, the meet is off! So that's sad, but now we can go carolling as a family tonight instead. We were going to try and cram it in tomorrow evening, which was the only night that we'd all be home.

This past weekend, we were signed up to help usher Max's concerts Saturday and Sunday night, but they got cancelled too. The Maryland State Boychoir held a single concert Monday night instead, and hoped that the combined crowds from the two cancellations wouldn't be too overwhelming. It was beautiful, of course.

Here are a few videos from Max's concert of the Changed Voice Choir singing Franz Biebl's Ave Maria. I know LDS teaching emphasizes not worshipping Mary, but I wonder sometimes if we shy too much from reverent appreciation on Mary's sacrifice and goodness. The adoration and affection that flows from this piece of music moves me nearly to tears every time I hear it.

Don't watch the videos for the visual quality, it's terrible. Just close your eyes and listen to the music.







Today will be a clean-up day. Our favorite baby is coming for an afternoon of overstimulation. The boys are dreading my repeated sorties into their room to battle the mountain of laundry. The pile of winter clothes is going to be banished to a closet. Perhaps I will just post some "after" pictures once it is clean