Life happens

Every day is a gift. Each morning we open our eyes our gift awaits us. Sometimes our gift is packaged in shiny paper with beautiful bows and handmade gift tags. Some days our gift is wrapped in yesterday's newspaper. In the same respect, what is inside our gift is sometimes better than others. Life hands us all kinds of situations. The good, the bad, the up, the down--it all blends together to write our story.



Lately we've been handed some -- tougher times. I pause because nothing we've been handed is anything that we can't overcome.

For the last two weeks it seemed we were getting bad news on top of other bad news. B's trucking company where he works has been bought out so big changes are brewing. It was disheartening to hear that 11+ years of dedication to his job earned him no security. He was still required to apply for his own job as if he was new, right off the street.

I won't bore you with all the sordid details but for a moment all we could do was sit back, let it all sink in and cry. All the limbo was totally weighing us down. And our house was full of sickness, too.



But just as the Lord always does, He gave us just what we needed. The snow came. It came hard and fast. I was called home because of road conditions and a sick baby crying for the only thing that even remotely provided any comfort--mama. B was snowed in and couldn't get to work. And we all sat. And hugged. And snuggled. And took the quiet to refuel and make a game plan and focus on all that we have.



The next morning we woke up to a snow covered scene draped beautifully across the lawn with the sun shining bright. The light made the snow sparkle like diamonds were hidden among the soft powdery scene.



We didn't do much that day. We huddled in beneath warm, fuzzy blankets while the bitter temps hovered around 10 degrees all day. The pets didn't want out. No one wanted out. The cat cozy'd up next to the warm air vents and the dog found comfort in warm sunny spots where sunlight flooded through the windows. It seems we all welcomed the respite that day.





We watched a lot of Dora and Diego. We played with blocks. We read stories. We pulled out the "happy socks". Because nothing warms feet like a good pair of "happy socks".



I took a nap with the littles since they were all out for school. As I lay next to Little Britches I caught myself just totally wrapped up in being there, at that moment, with him. I vaguely remember my other two being little but now seeing just how those memories fade, I lay there just looking at him. Feeling his raspy, feverish breath hit my face, memorizing his curled little plump lips, rosy red cheeks, long eyelashes, gold-streaked fluff tangled on top of his head. I didn't want to forget one minute of it. Because, although no mommy wants to see their baby sick, every mommy knows that those are the times that wild little souls slow down and give their mommies a chance to curl them up to our chests and kiss those fevers away. It's when I feel my most triumphant. Like I made a difference in his life that day.

B has his own definition of triumphant. Triumphant is building a 1260 piece Lego castle and no one losing an arm! The boys worked on this day and night. Some little hands were more helpful than others but they all wanted to "do their part."





I started thinking about how life is so much like the Lego castle. Made up of so many tiny parts. Some pieces are essential to the entire construction. And if missing or misplaced, the castle will fall. Some pieces are nothing more than cosmetic. They make the castle pretty and appealing but are not a critical component of it's sturdiness. Many hands contribute to the castle being built and everyone's help is required. There are jobs for everyone. Someone is needed to sort colors. Someone is needed to interpret directions. Someone is needed to organize and lead the building efforts. Someone is needed to do the actual work or placing all the right pieces in just the right spots. Everyone has their specialty and all are appreciated.





On any given day life brings messes, both literally and figuratively. Some days we are content to let those messes sit, unattended to, while we step back and survey the damage. It makes cleaning up those messes seem like an attainable goal.



Plus, we have God on our side. We may not know what lies ahead down the road for us but we have comfort that God knows what is up ahead. He has always been mindful of us and we know that as long as we trust in Him, wholly, he will continue to be mindful of us. For now, we pray for understanding, wisdom and peace and have faith that He will provide.

Have you ever?

Have you ever taken more pictures in the snow than you can ever remember that is makes you want to Google "Average snow amounts" to see if you've had more this year than in the past ten years? I'm such a nerd. Yeah, I tried that. Couldn't find the answer. Still, I feel I have uploaded more snow pics than all my other pics for the year combined. Last Monday called for more snow pics as we joined our friends and neighbors for a little neighborhood sledding and snowball fighting.

Have you ever taken photos of melting snow? I hadn't until yesterday. I noticed water streaming from my (full and rusted) gutters. The last of the snow was fading and forming puddles in driveways and on picnic tables. Only the snow seeking refuge in shady spots of trees and fences remained. Today it is all gone.

Still my laundry room looks like this. Have you ever procrastinated putting away snow gear because you are just that tired? Yeah, me neither. ;) The only snow gear that has made it's way out of the laundry room are a set of snow boots that Little Britches demands to wear all over the house, all of the time. He wears Jag's everywhere and doesn't even care that they are 5 sizes too big and aren't even on the correct feet.

Have you ever been over the top elated to get a new appliance? So elated that, in fact, you've created reasons to use it over and over? My former washer and dryer went ka-put. The dryer had been having issues for about two months now and the washer followed suit by refusing to turn about a month later. Of course, at the time, I was less than thrilled about having to replace not one, but TWO major appliances. However, I'm in love. I barely hear these running. And if you're a mom of three boys you know that silence is golden. As a result, I've washed every stitch of clothing we own. And then moved on to every bed sheet set we own. And when that was done I headed straight for comforters and quilts! Sad, but true.

Have you ever let appliance boxes sit in the living room of your house because your littles were using them as their very own playhouse? Have you ever been tempted to climb in there with them because the box was so cool and reminded you of (many) years ago when you were a kid? They are taking up about half of my living room but I'm strangely and unusually unbothered by them.

Have you ever walked in to find your smallest little playing in your makeup only to realize that he has emptied not one but two bottles of expensive eye powder? Have you ever left the mess of said eye powder heaped in piles at the bottom of the makeup bag and used eye brushes to apply straight from the bottom of the bag just because you don't want to waste any by throwing it out and cleaning the bag? Yeah, didn't think so. I so totally didn't do that either. ;)

Have you ever received a package in the mail and sat like a kid at Christmas ravaging the box to find what goodies hid inside? I received a package yesterday from one of the greatest sisters in the world. She hit up the Victoria's Secret sale and sent me all kinds of unmentionables. As I folded and put everything away I realized that I had not bought or received anything so pretty in that department since I got married 11 years ago! But I'll say this: I sure felt pretty inside this morning even though I was the only one that knew why. I've decided after yesterday and today that women (yes, even us frumpy, middle-aged mommies) need pretty undergarments. It truly does something to self perception.

And speaking of self perception, have you ever resigned to loosing weight and holding yourself accountable by blogging about it? Well, I'm about to start. You see, my brother will be getting married in June and I want to look good! So, I'm posting this starting picture. I'll NEVER divulge numbers (oh the HORROR!!) however, I will say that I'm setting a goal of 30 lbs. I truly want to lose more than that, but I feel that I'd better start off with an attainable goal. I'll be working out daily and attempting to change eating habits. I'm starting with a Jillian Michaels 30 day shred program. I've done this workout a few times and I tell ya! Sista don't play! She's hardcore! I plan on blogging about progress once a week. Hopefully the pictures will show progress themselves. Fingers crossed. All y'all reading: hold me accountable!

Have you ever watched your heart beat outside your chest? Mine does every time I look at these guys. I'm so thankful I was chosen to be their mom.

Happy Monday everyone! Wishing you all a blessed week.

Magic

If there was one word to adequately describe our Christmas break, without a doubt, it would be "magic". And if there were one photo to precisely depict the joy we encountered, my pick would be this one:



I love the expressions on each face. Pure joy in each set of eyes. Unbridled exhilaration sweeping down that snow covered embankment. Being kids. Enjoying life. Letting go.





I'm in a bit of a funk tonight. Nothing terrible, just a bad day, generally. So, I turn to my computer, my photos, my babbling words. I need to feel the happiness that reflection brings. I need reminders of beautiful moments and photos that shout at me to snap out of it.





I reflect on how grateful I am to have been able to have an entire two weeks off of work over the Christmas break to spend with my babies and travel. Holidays are anything but relaxing and I'm sure that many would agree that 99 times out of 100 you return to work needing a vacation worse than you did before. Still, it's all so totally worth it in the end. It has been magical.



This holiday season we checked off our list all the requirements for a magical Christmas. We baked cookies, we wrapped presents, we wrote letters to Santa, we exchanged gifts, we sprinkled reindeer food, we snuggled in by warm fires, we traveled. Travel proved to be a bit more difficult than usual due to weather. But oh, the beauty of it all. The entire trip to KY was so picturesque around every bend. I could feel B's frustration level rise at times as I would beg him to slow down a bit so I could snap a picture.













Although the weather did make for interesting travel (we ended up stranded in a hotel on Christmas night with only Doritos and a few slices of Angel Food cake B's mom had sent with us for supper!) the weather also made for backdrops straight from a painting scene. The snowy scene called for sleds. So we obliged. And when I say we, I do not mean just the littles. I mean even the thirty-somethings that forgot they weren't 50 pounds lighter and 20 years younger. We all took turns and forgot just for a while that we were adults. It was...magic.








Snow pictures are always a favorite of mine. Everything sparkles and appears so clean, like the snow is there to cleanse the earth of all the dirt and grime. Kids are all smiles while playing in the snow and it's almost impossible to get a bad shot. I ended up with somewhere around 400 pictures over the Christmas break and I dare say half of them were made while playing in the snow!








About a fourth of my pictures were Christmas Eve and Christmas celebrations. We celebrated Christmas Eve with B's family. It's always a celebrated success when we can get everyone gathered for one picture. And the fact that everyone's eyes are actually open is just the cherry on top.






*This is what Christmas chaos looks like!*

Santa visited KY with a few small gifts and left a note explaining that the rest of the presents were waiting on the boys at home. That made leaving a bit more bearable. We returned home and went straight in to the next round of family gatherings with my brother, new sis and nephew arriving. We partied for a week straight. Everyone was sick off of junk food. We had a party for Tennessee's big Music City Bowl game and all dressed in orange and white. Any excuse to have a party and eat junk food and wear orange! We suffered another heartbreaking loss but we have high hopes for next year! Go Vols!




My brother and his crew stayed through New Year's and partied with us like it was 1999--er, as much as a bunch of old, worn out folks can! Jason and Paige and kids came in for New Year's also. Enter more junk food and party spreads. But we can't help ourselves. We LOVE New Year's. We love our annual group photo. :) And we love adding newbies to it! We go all out, complete with party hats, glasses, party blowers, confetti and sparkling juice. :) Magic.















When the partying is over and everyone has returned home you can't help but collapse on the sofa with a half-hearted smile. You're semi-broken inside from the loneliness that overwhelms you when your loved ones part but you're also partly glad to get back to normal routines and more low-keyed days and nights. But you're 100% sure that if you had the choice you'd do it all again. After all, who can resist the magic?