The breaks

Today I had plans.

Plans to get a lot done on my designs so I can be more present in my life. AND because my feature month starts June 1st! I've got to get this line done.

But right from the get go, someone else had other plans.

I stayed up late last night to get a job start on my usual Monday duties. And by late I mean early. And by early I mean 3:00am.  Which also meant that I did not get up with the kids. However, we have this great chart, or so I thought, and my nagging is no longer necessary.

Turns out the kids completely forgot that the chart is law even if mom is not there to remind them of this little fact.  By the time I was woken up, albeit to kids playing silly with each other, at 8:05am they were FAR from being where they should have been having been up for over an hour. Some of them had still not eaten breakfast. WHAT?!?!?!?!

Sigh.
 
Sanders slept in until about 8:20. That was wonderful. Although it did put him quite a bit behind and by the time he finished all of his stuff, playgroup had been going for almost 45 mins and he really just wanted to stay home.

So, I let him. I thought, I'll just turn on a show and I know I've lost 45 mins of design time, but spending that time with Sanders was important and he will be perfectly happy to sit and watch his show.

And that's true, he did. But then PYP stuff went up in smoke and I ran around putting fires out during the time he was absorbed in his stuff.

Soon it was time for Tennyson to come home. Wonderful! I thought I'll feed them lunch and then Sanders can finish his show with Tennyson and then they can play together while I get some design stuff done.

However, Tennyson's homework today, while usually something he can do on his own, felt extra challenging to him today and he needed his mom. Which I was happy to do. THEN the garage door man came because our garage wouldn't shut this morning. Although when he asked what was the problem and I told him and then pushed the button it went down just fine. Of course! Still, the garage door was hanging crooked so he fixed it for us. The best news is the whole thing only cost $80! Best news of the day!

Meanwhile, Sanders and Tennyson were having battle of the siblings, while Tennyson was still trying to finish homework and then get to eating his lunch.

After all of that, I had time for one file before PYP stuff needed attention again. Then more moments with the boys. They were good, they were just unplanned. Which is great, but it means less time for the things I thought I was supposed to be doing today.

By the time that was all over, Karaia and Beckham came home. We talked school stuff and Beckham talked about being nervous for his baseball game tonight. They were playing the most challenging team in the league.

My friend Nicki's computer was throwing a fit and she asked if she could come use mine for a bit. I LOVE that! So nice to have friends that feel comfortable in your home. It was nice to chat with her for a while.

While all of this was going on, I learned that the printer at Modern Yardage was also throwing a fit today and not a whole lot of anything was happening down there either.

That's when I paused.

What was I supposed to be learning/doing today instead of what I had planned? Clearly, the Lord was throwing every possible road block in my path to get me to stop or slow down. Or was this a trial to see how I would chose to take the day or because really good things will happen when this get done and someone doesn't like when good things happen? Either way, someone was trying to put on the breaks and slow things down. It felt a lot more like gentle reminders than thwarting.

Thankfully, I felt stressed, but calm most of the day. If that makes any sense? I knew I had stuff that needed to get done, but even if my end was done the warehouse wouldn't have been able to do anything with it today anyway. So there was no point in really stressing over it. I just did my best.

Beckham lost his baseball game. He even struck out twice and was the last out twice. He was doing a pretty good job handling it. I wasn't able to go and he said,

 "I'm glad you didn't come. The PAIN! The HORROR! I'm glad you didn't see that."

I made sure he knew I can't possibly love him less because he strikes out...ever.

On the way home Kevin and Beckham saw a rainbow that looked like it ended right at the top of our street. Kevin said, "Look! That rainbow ends at the top of the road. Let's go find the pot of gold."

"Ok! Yes, let's go find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!!!"

"There isn't really a pot of gold at the end."

"Way to crush my dreams, Dad."

That kid is so funny!

Here it is almost 10pm and I have still only completed about 6 out of 50 files that need to be done. I feel, though, that everything is happening in the time frame it needs to. I have faith that while I don't think there is enough time to get things done Someone else can see more of the picture than me.

So I will pay heed to the breaks and enjoy the slower pace

Did you know?

Hello?

Anyone still here?

I'm lame with the blog writing this year. I think about it every day, but I don't even sweep my kitchen floor everyday (don't judge) let alone keep up with journaling my life. It should be a priority however.

Right now I am struggling defining the proper priorities. OBVIOUSLY.

What? You're not surprised?

I have a revelation the other day in the shower. That is seriously the only alone thinking time I get. Or at 1:00 am...hence the post. I feel the reason I haven't been posting as much is because I am such an open person. Hang with me. It will all make sense in a second. See, there are a LOT of really, really exciting things happening in my life. But many of them I can't talk about here because they are business related and therefore should not be broadcast publicly until they actually come to fruition. That makes blogging really, really, REALLY hard for me!

Of course I hear your objections, "Just blog without mentioning all the business-y stuff!"

The answer? That's hard! It effects so much. And I hate...HATE doing teaser blogs about some mysterious thing happening because I want to document the day it actually happened but I can't really spill the beans because nothing has actually happened yet. WHEW! I've done it before and I just don't like it. I'll share it with you in person...I just can't on the ol' blog.

But then there are the things that I do with my cute kids. Did you know that we took three family trips in a 6 week period recently. No? Well we did. And we had amazing times in D.C., Colorado, and Disneyland.

Did you know that if you ask Sanders if he loves you he will say, "Yeah...a lil' bit."

No? Well he does and it's darling.

Did you know that when Tennyson plays soccer he extends his arms to the side and flaps them up and down like a bird...completely forgetting he should be chasing a ball? OR on the rare occasion that he remembers he has an actual goal he will take those extended arms and extend them to the back to give him an extra boost of speed like a super hero cape?

No? Well it's hilarious and frustrating all wrapped up in one.

Did you know that out of the blue an amazing company contacted Kevin and offered him an amazing job?  It's true. It happened. Still feels like a dream.

Did you know that Beckham played a piece in his piano recital that his piano teacher confided in me was more challenging than her older students can play and that people would be shocked to learn he is only 7? There were many tears learning that piece, but come performance time he ROCKED it! I swear that was the most nerve wracking 4 and a half minutes of my life!!!

Did you that Karaia told me that lime green finger nail polish was a perfectly acceptable color for a mother to wear on her fingers nails? I took her advice and sported some killer nails to church :)She's very honest so I know I can trust her. She pointed out that I have a bit of bump on the bridge of my nose yesterday. I told her thanks for letting me know and that that was a very impolite observation so try and keep such comments to only me. I can take it :) she may be a bit too honest *wink*

See, it's all those things and more that I am missing out on documenting because I feel like I can't share my WHOLE life. That's messed up right there is what that is!

Missing out on your own life. Isn't that the saddest thing you've ever heard?

Something inside me has to change. Maybe it already has....

Bad Gas-leage

Beckham told me today that his friend's dad had to get a new car because his old one had, "bad gas-leage and was costing him too much money." I assume he meant bad gas mileage, but I was laughing too hard to find out.

Tennyson's hand accidentally whacked my forehead as he was turning to look at something. He said, "Sorry I went whabam. That's my pavorite (favorite) word...(pause)....WHABAM!"

Sanders would live outside, in the sand coincidentally, if I let him. He also really enjoys smashing ants with his index finger....such a boy.

Karaia may as well be a tween. She's already practicing on her mood swings. Super helpful one minute; very entertaining and fun to be around. Super attitude the next.

Tonight Karaia, Beckham, and Kevin are sleeping in the backyard in a tent. Beckham literally climbed up my body to give me a hug when he found out.

My life is pretty wonderful.

Never would guess

To look at him now, you never would guess that Beckham had skewered his eye lid, resulting in surgical removal, only two weeks ago today.



The other thing you never would have guessed is that the balloons that the sweet Francoms put in Beckham's room to cheer him up would still be floating......



two weeks later!


We are so loved and so blessed.

Sometimes thank you is all that can be said.....

We got this note in the mail today. It included a VERY, VERY generous gift among it's humble folds.

The senders?

Anonymous.


Why are we so loved? I'm not sure I have the answer.

But to whomever you are that started this note on it's journey, we feel extremely loved.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!

How does one repay such kindness sufficiently. I don't have the answer for that either.

I can only pray that the Lord sees fit to repay it for us in blessings unlimited for the ones who have greatly brightened our home with their generosity. And that we too may be in tune enough with His will that we can pass on this feeling to others in our own small way.

Thank you. Thank you.

Blessings

We were blessed with this tonight:

In addition to the kind words, a generous gift was also included in the envelope. Our name was typed on the outside of the envelope to ensure the identity of our angels remains a curiosity.

We don't know who you are, but our hearts are bursting and we long for you to feel of our gratitude.
Thank you. Thank you.

We feel very loved and watched over and blessed.

Thank you whoever you are. May your kindness be returned in ways beyond measure!