That's the way it is sometimes....

So today was one of those days. You know the kind. It was raining and cold all day, I didn't want to wake up in the morning, didn't feel like doing much at work, felt lonely and a little "down" but really no reason for it, didn't want to cook dinner so cheated on my diet by eating fast food then felt guilty about it, found out someone I thought was a friend is really not a friend, disappointment looming on a dreary day!! So I was looking forward to the kids going to bed so that I could have some adult time with hubby and maybe play scrabble or do something fun.....and no sooner are the kids in bed and my DH is snoring. Ugh. 

I am reminded that gloomy days pass by and a new day is dawning. Tomorrow will be better and God's mercy is new everyday! I am so thankful that who we are is not defined by our emotions, what we accomplish OR by other people. Aren't you? 

What do you do when you have days like that? What is your outlet? Crafting? GNO?  How do you 'pick yourself up? 

Haven't been here in quite some time

With the busyness life can throw at you, one off and married, two in college, and two now in high school (and no one really reading this blog yet...) I fell away from it. Today I stumbled across the log in information and thought I would take a look. I laughed at the posts and thought to myself "If no one ever reads this I will go back one day and enjoy reading each post!" So, here I am!

A little catch up- our Foster daughter (who lived with us for a year and a half) is out on her own, in college and with a boyfriend. She has not come around or called much over the past two years but we have told her we are here if she needs anything. I was back to being a mother of 4 when she left the house. Our oldest daughter (29) is married to with a sweet sweet baby girl. Our 21 year old daughter is a junior in college- wow time flies! She is enjoying life and volleyball (coaching and playing!) Our 17 year old son is a junior and enjoys playing baseball and basketball.Our 16 year old daughter is a sophomore in highschool enjoying playing volleyball  I can hardly believe that much time has gone by!

My husband and I are happy as ever and busier as ever too!! You know the way...work all day and then go to sporting events, cook dinner at 8pm finish in the kitchen by 10pm and then see if laundry needs to be done and in bed by midnight to start it all again. The joy is not always in each day....let's face it, some days good, some are ok, some are tough, and some are really tough!! It is in each week, month or year as we remember the days and the times before it that joy wells up in my heart. I LOVE watching my children grow up. They are each beautiful and wonderful individuals. Our family events are amazing and it is those that I live for. Having all of my children (and granddaughter) under one roof-- there is no better time- no better feeling.

I do try to do a project every once in a while to make myself feel productive and find some personal enjoyment. (I have always loved DIYs- I just don't have much time to do too many  anymore.) I will post some of my DIYs over the past two years soon, just to share. I wonder what other mom's do to feel productive and find enjoyment.....SHARE!


 

humor in the little things...

With three teenagers in the house, one in college, and one married with a toddler, life conversations can get pretty interesting! Tonight was one of those nights. After a full day of work while in the process of making dinner, I went from talking about Prom accessories with one of my very excited daughters to diagnosing jock itch for our very busy athletic son who doesn't know 'what in the world' could be the matter with him! ROFL. God bless him for having to come to me with his ailment. I am sure he wishes his Dad had been home from work. During this conversation my smartphone rang, it was a business call and I picked up the phone not realizing that with the touch screen I had actually answered it- just as I said, "We will get medicine specific to jock itch tomorrow, try Desitin on it for tonight." Then I heard one of my employees say, "Excuse me? I was calling about a system issue we are having." I had to laugh out loud before I solved that problem.

Then the family piled in the Yukon and rushed off to a chorus presentation for our middleschooler. The minute I left the chorus presentation (which, by the way, was wonderful!) I received two more business calls and solved two more problems! Then after homework checks and lunch packing I received a call from our college daughter, who will be off to India in 10 days, to discuss how we can  make her iPhone 4s global so that she can call 'home' (and the boyfriend of course!) while she is out of the country. Oh the life of the working mom! No mention of dishes or laundry yet...after all it is only 11:20pm....

Did I mention that a cold front moved through and the weather outside is glorious? I hope that you had an interesting night as well! We must find the humor in this busy life and learn to enjoy the little things. My heart is full. Count your blessings tonight.

Balancing Act

I work. I am a wife. I am a mom. I have a house. How do you do it???

Maintaining a career, a happy marriage, kids that are well taken care of, and a home that is clean and inviting is not easy. In fact it is a balancing act that we don’t always get right. But the fun is in the striving. We must share ideas and encouragement to help each other out in this journey. So let’s talk! None of us has time to go meet somewhere. What we need is to grab a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and sit in our dining rooms (where we can still manage the household) and BLOG! It is the new coffee meeting. It is the new GNO. (Girls Night Out).

Let’s discuss ideas for date night. Let’s discuss ideas to take care of ourselves!! Let’s discuss teenagers and chores!!! Let’s discuss products that work and work well. Let’s discuss how we feed our family healthy meals working under time constraints and within a budget!! Let’s discuss DIY ideas to make our homes beautiful! Let’s discuss menus and recipes. Let’s discuss challenges and how we meet them. Let’s discuss whatever comes to your mind!! Let’s help each other and encourage each other!

Let’s discuss real life. Grab your coffee if it is morning and your glass of wine if it is evening….and join in.