Sophia’s science fair project has a title something along the lines of: “Chill Out, Mom! The Kitchen is Clean Enough!” It is based on two ways of cleaning the counter and floor—the “old way” (409 for the counter and regular mopping for the floor) and the “new way” I have adopted since Ella was born (Clorox wipes and Swiffer WetJet). Sophie’s hypothesis was that the new ways are fine and I can stop feeling guilty about the easy/quick way I’m cleaning lately. But then there’s that pesky ol’ scientific method that is CLEARLY proving her hypothesis to be false. Yes, yes. It’s true. We have MANY colonies of bacteria thriving…

Of course there are serious, nation-wide and worldwide concerns that this simple poster from WWII surely addresses in this day and age. But I also had a more intimate connection to its words simply as a mother and wife and church member: Oh! How sweeter and calmer (and far more productive!) so many things would be if those of us who are prone to paralysis by our fretting would simply keep calm and carry on.   (HT: Challies for posting this great video of the story behind this poster …)