We had the kind of weekend these past few days that leaves you trying to catch your breath on Monday.  Sitting here for ten minutes writing a blog post actually makes me feel guilty because of the long list of things that I should be getting done to recoup from the weekend.  I was in bed last night, barely able to keep my eyes open at 8:30 pm and that was the first time that I think I sat down for more than five minutes.  On the busy list of things that went on between Friday and Sunday night was shooting a wedding all day Saturday, two full photo sessions, three mini sessions, a 5K walk in honor of Heather Boyum, a church meeting for James and a birthday party for a friend.  We went, went, went, went–and I was running on sheer adrenaline, not realizing how exhausted I was.  Or how stressed out I was until I was at the birthday party for dear friends that I promised I would take pictures at since they have done so many wonderful things for us–and five minutes in (while James was still at his church meeting), was trying to get my kids situated, catch my bearings and tend to Sawyer, and I realized I completely forgot my camera.  It didn’t take long for me to be outside in a near full blown meltdown–sort of unlike me–but finally the stress was too much to bear.  And I snapped.  And I cried.  And James was there for me, like the wonderful husband that he is.  Though I apologized to my friend, and she forgave me, it still leaves a pit in my stomach.  It was important to her, and because of the craziness, I let someone down.  Three hours later, I was at a local park, meeting a cute little family of three for the first time for their first professional family session, and everything in my mind takes a back seat.  I focus on the task at hand.  I can compartmentalize in the moment.  And that’s a good quality.  For the next hour, I forget about exhaustion.  I forget about stress.  I focus on my job, and of finding the love and emotion within this little family that I just met.  And I smile and laugh.  And it makes my heart fill with joy.  Stress is every present in almost everyone’s lives–it’s being able to push it aside when it matters that’s important.

I don’t have it all together, that’s for sure.  Many people have asked me “How do you do it all? . . . stay home with your kids, run a business, blog, keep up with everything?”  Well, the answer is that I don’t do it all.  I may have one thing together at a time.  But something else suffers in the meantime.  My house is dirty and I’m all caught up with editing.  Or my editing is behind and my house is clean.  My boys’ room is a mess but the kitchen is straightened.  Or the other way around.  Our pool is still not closed, and tomorrow is October.  I forgot that I was supposed to take pictures for my friend’s daughter’s party.  The list could go on.  My life seems like a disorganized chaotic mess, but my husband loves me, our marriage is stable, our kids are adaptable and go with the flow.  And at the end of the day, as long as we can bring it all back together and do a little team cheer prepping for the next day, we’re good to go.  Because like I said last week, around here, we just take it one minute, one minute, one minute, one minute at a time.

And thankfully, winter brings s l o w e r  days 🙂