Hello friends! Happy Monday. I hope you all had such a sweet and wonderful Easter. The quiet week offline was good for my soul, but I am just as happy to be back.

A few weeks ago we discovered a birds nest with teeny tiny blue birds eggs in one of our ferns. Over the last few weeks those little eggs have hatched into birds. Teeny tiny, constantly hungry, messy, adorable, demanding little birds.

Sound familiar to anyone in your house?

The birds nest is right outside our window and at least 8 times a day I hear those little birds all start chirping loudly and incessantly for food. Their mom always returns with something to feed them. Then, right when she finishes, she takes off again to find more food and the process starts all over again.

This past week, hearing those little birds chirping and thinking of that tired momma just trying to keep them alive has done a lot of good for my heart. I am not the only person overwhelmed by feeding little mouths all. day. long.

If you are feeling weary, you’re in good company.

Secondly, something I just realized yesterday when I went to take a picture of them all hatched and adorable and fuzzy: their nest is completely grosse! What was once this adorable delicate little nest is now completely covered in poop. Their mom worked for weeks and weeks to set up the perfect little home for them and they are, quite literally, crapping all over it! If you are likewise feeling like your home is one step away from being condemned, with a kitchen that wouldn’t pass the most lenient of health inspectors, you are in good company.

This week’s Monday Mantra is for all the tired parents out there: take a lesson from the birds.

Sometimes it’s just plain exhausting and monotonous and your nest is covered in poop, but we press on. You are keeping tiny (or teenage) humans alive! It is a hard and noble work. And you’re in good company ❤️