It was high time for a party - what with spring on the way.

When we moved last December, there was so much work to do in so little time that my world very nearly spun out of control - everything got neglected. Not only did I still have 10+ hours of painting to do, I had to sift through and pack eighteen years of belongings for six people, clean a newly renovated house, and scrub down the former apartment. All this in about two weeks' time. I hardly ate and I hardly slept, and those extra two or three kilos that had been hanging on to my behind melted away (I am definitely not complaining about that).

Every morning I wondered how I would get things done plus cook for and tend to four kids, not to mention hold a job; I could have been a case study in stress management. I felt alone, and a little hopeless since I knew there was no way in * that I was going to get it all done. And then...

...every day or so

...a phone call.

"I have a few hours to give you on Monday, is there something you need done?"

And another, and another. Every day there were strong, efficient lady-hands to help me along the way. I couldn't believe it, truth be told, and wondered why they would bother helping me when they had plenty of things to do themselves. I was moved; but also exhausted so I always said yes. Yes, please come. That became my mantra, and all I had to give back was simple gratitude, which at that time seemed vastly inadequate.

My 84 year old mother-in-law came to clean the old kitchen. I politely urged her to reconsider, inwardly acknowledging that as housekeepers go, she cleans for two. I knew I needed her, but urged her to stay home and rest at her age. She shook her head and shooed my words away with her hand, "I'm perfectly healthy and strong. If I get to the point where I need meds to continue, I promise I'll slow down." There are so many things wrong with this picture!

But in the end the truth is very simple: women know how to get the job done, and they do not rest until it is.

So all day Sunday I baked. And early Monday morning, as the freezing air crept up the windows and a fire crackled in the fireplace to chase it away, I prepared the morning feast. And then they came!

My deepest gratitude.

p.s. the artist asks, "why am I not invited to the party?"  

Did you help me paint? Pack? Clean? Could you help me move boxes with your pianist arms?? 

"Yes, yes! I helped you, darling! I helped your morale with all my happy messages!" 

And so he did. :)