Keeping it Real - But Keeping a Good Attitude

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.