So a little update on our life the past month. We had a week of stomach flu, that then had a case of strep added and topped it off with pneumonia that kept my 14 year old out of school for almost 4 weeks. (She went back today hoping she can make it without having to come home.) With 8 people in a house (and a child in every level of school) once something hits it truly runs it course for awhile no matter how much you clean and spray everything with Lysol. ;) - Oh and add my college daughter's car that she bought a month before thru a rod and is no longer usable.
I felt the worse for my 14 year old daughter that was knocked down and so weak. And we had many friends offer to help in anyway, but to be honest it is just life.Very kind of all of them, and I appreciated every one of the offers, but I kept thinking, "You have your own life to worry about, we are good."
Then Sunday night, just as we thought we were getting over things and headed into the sunshine of the Summer, our 2 year old jumped off a pile of blankets with her brothers and landed on the wood floor and broke her right arm. Now it is just a slight fracture, but it still broken. (Side note, the kids were playing in a room they were told not be in, and doing something they were told multiple times not to do. Oh and yes the 7 and 11 year old brothers are grounded this week because they chose to ignore those rules and the little one got hurt. Oh I can assure you there was raised voices before the calm and teaching moments that followed. Keeping it real folks.) - side note thank you to the friend that showed up with chocolate last evening - it was needed.
She is doing good, but then I woke up this morning with some tummy troubles. "Seriously!?!", was the first thing that went thru my head. Then I just laughed and figured "why not?"
I mean we were never told that life was going to be sunshine and roses. Never told that we would sail thru this life without periods that seem there is one thing after another that we are dealing with. I have decided that the trick is to keep a good attitude and have perspective on the whole situation you are in. Now are we sick of being sick in the house? ABSOLUTELY!!!!! But all we have to do is literally open up FB and see post of people asking for prayers for a child fighting for their life, or a friend that has lost the fight and is no longer suffering. Perspective!
We have all heard the saying "count your blessings" - and let's be honest it is really hard to do that in the middle of an emotional breaking point when life has thrown a lot at you. But if we can try and take the time to step back and see how many more blessings we have than problems, I think the world be a much better place.
So, we may still be having issues health wise, and my laundry may or may not be spilling out of the laundry room, and cold cereal may possibly even be on the menu tonight -- but so what? I have a roof over my head, a husband that has a stable job, food in my pantry (even if I may not cook it tonight), amazing friends, I am able to stay at home with my kids, the list can go on and on - I have a blessed life.
Dancing thru these little rainstorms is what makes life interesting. And having amazing friends and family to be there to join in that dance makes life worth it all. Oh and remember that after the storms is when the sunshine and sometimes even rainbows appear.
dance
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Taking A Mental Break
So I am taking a mental break and writing for a minute. The past two weeks have been busy and interesting and at times kind of blah.
So last week I went to Utah to help my Mom while she was having surgery. I was able to stay for 3 days to help. It was so wonderful to be able to help her when she needed it. Living far away is so hard sometimes. I wish I could do more for her, but those three days were so nice to be able serve a little and visit a lot. This was only possible because Kirk took 3 days off to support this effort. So blessed he was willing to do this.
After getting home I was able to see Parker in the HS production of Three Musketeers. It was so good! He helped choreograph most of the sword fights in the show, plus was the lead. In the middle of that he also took the ACT for the first time and received a 29. So proud of him.
The family over the last week and a half had stomach flu and colds and now strep. CJ just had strep about 4 weeks ago, has the stomach flu for 2 days and a day later has strep. Sick and tired of having kids sick and tired. Kirk even got sick for 2 days and probably could have stayed home another day, but if you know him you know him actually taking time off and staying home even a day or two is a miracle.
So yesterday I had a whole list of things I had planned to get done and catch up from being gone and having sick kids. I was to go into work to help get things ready for the one day the store is open (which is today), catch up on Spring Cleaning, laundry, and some errands.
My day started off with my 7 year old yelling as he ran to catch the bus that I needed to come to his class play at 9 am. I assured him I would be there at the 1 pm show and then that night. That was not good enough. He wanted me there for all three, because he needed someone in the audience for him each time. (Yes this kid with the huge eyes knows the exact thing to guilt me into almost anything.) So I hurry and finish some work on the computer I needed to do, threw on some clothes and make up and get the little one ready and headed over to the school by 9 am. Go home just before 10 am and started the homeschooling part of the day. Did a load of laundry and then got a text from the 14 year old (as of next week) that she got sick at school. She had been home sick for two days already and we thought she was well enough to go back. So I tell her I will come get her as soon as I drop off the 11 yr old to school after his homeschooling time is done. Then about 15 minutes later the 11 yr old is now saying his stomach is hurting when he eats like it did 4 weeks ago when he had strep. GREAT!! So, I get the dr. called and get an appointment for 2 pm. I go grab the 14 yr old, get her home. Make lunch for the those that are well enough to eat. Get the 2 yr old asleep and down for a nap, just in time to get back over to the 1 pm class play. Watch the play, go home and grab the 11 yr old get to the dr's at 2 and are there until almost 4 pm. Go pick up the college aged daughter since she is done with classes, go the grocery store for medicine. Stop by the bank on the way home to cash a check for the 14 yr old because in her words, "I keep forgetting to have you cash this, please do it today so it is not another 3 weeks." Call my almost 17 yr old on the way home because he has been at school since 7:30 am, has about 30 minutes before he has to get ready for a shift at work that goes from 5 - midnight. Check in with him and his day and suggest he goes and tries to close his eyes for 30 minutes. Luckily I did get dinner in the crock pot that morning so he can eat before he leaves in less than an hour. Get home take care of sick ones, get dinner ready for everyone else just in time to then head back over to school for the last performance that started at 6. Get home and college aged daughter heads off to rehearsal. Husband has to teach a class that night so he is not home until closer to 8 pm. He offers to take me for a drive, I suggest laying on the bed and finish watching Castle on Hulu with me because I have lived in the car today. ;) The night continues and at some point I am down at the theatre at the end of rehearsals for Seussical to grab my car since my daughter can get a ride home late tonight from a friend.
So all that leads up to this moment last night -
I am driving home, alone, in the dark. I have the classical station on the radio kind of like background noise. I live about 5 miles out West of the town. So it is a fairly peaceful drive home. My mind starts wondering from one house and those that live there to the next. Then washes from my day to my life. And in that moment I realize that even that day was kind of a blah day. And I have been running and stressed and felt like my house is falling apart and not enough time to get it organized and cleaned like I would want - my life is good. Actually, my life is pretty amazing! I have a loving husband that is my best friend. I have great kids (even if they do drive me crazy some days). I have a loving home to come home to. A car that runs, food on the table, get to stay home with my kids so I CAN drop my to do list and be there for them, and the list just goes on. So in that moment what was different?
What changed was my heart and mind. I was so overwhelmed by everything that day that I was just trying to keep up on my list from one change to the other and take care of everything and everyone. Which is my job. But in my heart I was upset and feeling like a loser because I felt like I was dropping the ball on so many things I was supposed to have done by that night. In the car on that dark road in the stillness of being alone, my mind was able to shift to what I did get done, what I did have and my heart in the same moment was able to see things differently. A peace came over me and I was able to walk thru my front door feeling that peace instead of the stress and tension I had felt all day coming and going.
What a blessing!!! My heart had found a way to "dance" thru the storm of my stress and awaken my mind to what really mattered. I hope I can remember that feeling in the car, when the next day (and I know there will be many) of plans having to be changed and laundry not getting done, so I can hold onto that peaceful feeling and let the tension and stress go.
(Okay mental break over - back to the piles of laundry that need to be folded, and maybe I should actually get cleaned up and presentable now that it after 1 pm. And forgive the typos if there are any because time is short and proof reading is not on my list at this moment in time.)
So last week I went to Utah to help my Mom while she was having surgery. I was able to stay for 3 days to help. It was so wonderful to be able to help her when she needed it. Living far away is so hard sometimes. I wish I could do more for her, but those three days were so nice to be able serve a little and visit a lot. This was only possible because Kirk took 3 days off to support this effort. So blessed he was willing to do this.
After getting home I was able to see Parker in the HS production of Three Musketeers. It was so good! He helped choreograph most of the sword fights in the show, plus was the lead. In the middle of that he also took the ACT for the first time and received a 29. So proud of him.
The family over the last week and a half had stomach flu and colds and now strep. CJ just had strep about 4 weeks ago, has the stomach flu for 2 days and a day later has strep. Sick and tired of having kids sick and tired. Kirk even got sick for 2 days and probably could have stayed home another day, but if you know him you know him actually taking time off and staying home even a day or two is a miracle.
So yesterday I had a whole list of things I had planned to get done and catch up from being gone and having sick kids. I was to go into work to help get things ready for the one day the store is open (which is today), catch up on Spring Cleaning, laundry, and some errands.
My day started off with my 7 year old yelling as he ran to catch the bus that I needed to come to his class play at 9 am. I assured him I would be there at the 1 pm show and then that night. That was not good enough. He wanted me there for all three, because he needed someone in the audience for him each time. (Yes this kid with the huge eyes knows the exact thing to guilt me into almost anything.) So I hurry and finish some work on the computer I needed to do, threw on some clothes and make up and get the little one ready and headed over to the school by 9 am. Go home just before 10 am and started the homeschooling part of the day. Did a load of laundry and then got a text from the 14 year old (as of next week) that she got sick at school. She had been home sick for two days already and we thought she was well enough to go back. So I tell her I will come get her as soon as I drop off the 11 yr old to school after his homeschooling time is done. Then about 15 minutes later the 11 yr old is now saying his stomach is hurting when he eats like it did 4 weeks ago when he had strep. GREAT!! So, I get the dr. called and get an appointment for 2 pm. I go grab the 14 yr old, get her home. Make lunch for the those that are well enough to eat. Get the 2 yr old asleep and down for a nap, just in time to get back over to the 1 pm class play. Watch the play, go home and grab the 11 yr old get to the dr's at 2 and are there until almost 4 pm. Go pick up the college aged daughter since she is done with classes, go the grocery store for medicine. Stop by the bank on the way home to cash a check for the 14 yr old because in her words, "I keep forgetting to have you cash this, please do it today so it is not another 3 weeks." Call my almost 17 yr old on the way home because he has been at school since 7:30 am, has about 30 minutes before he has to get ready for a shift at work that goes from 5 - midnight. Check in with him and his day and suggest he goes and tries to close his eyes for 30 minutes. Luckily I did get dinner in the crock pot that morning so he can eat before he leaves in less than an hour. Get home take care of sick ones, get dinner ready for everyone else just in time to then head back over to school for the last performance that started at 6. Get home and college aged daughter heads off to rehearsal. Husband has to teach a class that night so he is not home until closer to 8 pm. He offers to take me for a drive, I suggest laying on the bed and finish watching Castle on Hulu with me because I have lived in the car today. ;) The night continues and at some point I am down at the theatre at the end of rehearsals for Seussical to grab my car since my daughter can get a ride home late tonight from a friend.
So all that leads up to this moment last night -
I am driving home, alone, in the dark. I have the classical station on the radio kind of like background noise. I live about 5 miles out West of the town. So it is a fairly peaceful drive home. My mind starts wondering from one house and those that live there to the next. Then washes from my day to my life. And in that moment I realize that even that day was kind of a blah day. And I have been running and stressed and felt like my house is falling apart and not enough time to get it organized and cleaned like I would want - my life is good. Actually, my life is pretty amazing! I have a loving husband that is my best friend. I have great kids (even if they do drive me crazy some days). I have a loving home to come home to. A car that runs, food on the table, get to stay home with my kids so I CAN drop my to do list and be there for them, and the list just goes on. So in that moment what was different?
What changed was my heart and mind. I was so overwhelmed by everything that day that I was just trying to keep up on my list from one change to the other and take care of everything and everyone. Which is my job. But in my heart I was upset and feeling like a loser because I felt like I was dropping the ball on so many things I was supposed to have done by that night. In the car on that dark road in the stillness of being alone, my mind was able to shift to what I did get done, what I did have and my heart in the same moment was able to see things differently. A peace came over me and I was able to walk thru my front door feeling that peace instead of the stress and tension I had felt all day coming and going.
What a blessing!!! My heart had found a way to "dance" thru the storm of my stress and awaken my mind to what really mattered. I hope I can remember that feeling in the car, when the next day (and I know there will be many) of plans having to be changed and laundry not getting done, so I can hold onto that peaceful feeling and let the tension and stress go.
(Okay mental break over - back to the piles of laundry that need to be folded, and maybe I should actually get cleaned up and presentable now that it after 1 pm. And forgive the typos if there are any because time is short and proof reading is not on my list at this moment in time.)
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