LOVE IN MY HEART

I've been thinking a lot lately about life, the big decisions, the big picture, and it occurs to me that I appear to be basing my overall wellbeing on my poor choices. We're all familiar with the saying "you're only as strong as your weakest link" well I'm feeling only as productive as my least-productive days, only as smart as my poorest decisions. While I can see the logic in the weakest-link analogy, I need a more positive perspective. I need to be strong despite my weakest link, strong enough to fix my weak links. (Seems I can't blog properly from behind this Navy firewall, I'll edit later to add the image I wanted to put here.)

All my good intentions about staying up super late Saturday or getting up extra early on Sunday to finish my homework were ill-conceived in the first place, and therefore went unexecuted. So I awoke with the desire to spend more family time, slighly dampered by the nagging requirement to do homework. All of which became OBE when JR said he thought Phoebe might need stitches, so I played with Christopher while JR & Phoebe went to urgent care. After more than a two hour wait, however, the urgent care place sent them to the ER in case she needed stitches, because apparently they are unable to stitch faces.



So he brought her home for a quick bite to eat, and I took her to the ER, where she was seen after an incredulous five minute wait (we had been quoted 1½hrs), and her chin was butterfly-stitched (which could have been done at the urgent care place, probably much cheaper).



So we got a late start to NB's, enjoyed a "cooked in the yard" dinner, then enjoyed some family Jenga! AJ lasted but one round, then needed to be put to bed due to unsportsman-like conduct. Grandma & Grandpa & Uncle Dre & Phoebe enjoyed several more fun-filled rounds before NB sent us home so I could finish my homework.



I was completely unsatisfied with my paper, but I submitted it at midnight when it was due.

Note to self: do not schedule anything during the last week of school.

Grandma & Grandpa arrived Friday, so we met after work at NB's for a spaghetti dinner and a brief chit-chat/catch-up, then disbursed so our out-of-state travelers could rest. Phoebe & Christopher both fell asleep in the car (standard), and both managed to stay mostly asleep through the transition from car to bed (a first!).



By early Saturday Phoebe was ready to head STRAIGHT to Grandma & Grandpa's hotel for some pool time! I let her pack her swim stuff, but insisted we go to NB's so the plan of the day could come together with the inputs of all involved. :) AJ had a rough day and wasn't up to pool play, so we chatted the day away, enjoyed a Pizza Hut dinner, and then snuck off to the pool without AJ. When I asked Christopher if he wanted to swim he said no, so I stayed dressed, but took him and his swim trunks with us to the pool to watch Phoebe & Grandma play. I think I heard Phoebe say "Grandma, watch me!" about a million times. :) Then Christopher got interested, so I got him changed and deposited him into the water with Grandma. I'm glad I didn't get in too, because Christopher clung to his Grandma with hugs and smiles and play like never before. They both seemed to really enjoy it.



Then as the pool closed and I attempted to wrangle up the wet munchkins, Phoebe banged her chin on the edge of the pool. :( It didn't bleed much, and she didn't cry at all, but I know chin injuries hurt. Grandpa put a band-aid on it and we headed home. Christopher again stayed asleep through the transition, but Phoebe got her chin re-bandaged by Daddy and stayed up to watch the Kid's Choice Awards (KCAs). She has already suggested that we might have to move to California when the time comes so she can attend "Hollywood Arts" (the high school where fictitious Victoria Justice and her friends to go school).

I am most thankful this year that my son is talking! But I'm not to keen on having to pick and choose between which Thanksgivings to attend - my neighbor Janet's noon Thanksgiving is a huge big fun deal, then my sister's Thanksgiving is the first in her own home - don't want to miss that, and JR's sister is having a huge Thanksgiving at his Mom's too - and I know how much it means for his Mom to see the kids. I guess I'm thankful that I don't have to put together a big deal meal at my house! :) Most likely the best thing will be for us to share in the early one at Janet's, then JR & Phoebe head to Richmond, and Christopher & I head to Dianne's. Being apart isn't ideal, but neither of us really mind, which is in itself rather unfortunate.

Some time ago, I stumbled upon an artist whose work sometimes brings me to tears. I've never purchased anything of hers, but do read her infrequent blog posts and follow her Etsy shop. The story of why she sculpts child angels always touches me, and I noticed when reading it today that she hopes the story is widely shared. http://themidnightorange.blogspot.com/2010/04/why-i-sculpt-child-angels.html



She sculpted the "Harvest" below for Christopher's mother commemorating his angelversary. :) Many other heartfelt and beautiful pieces at http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheMidnightOrange.

I headed to work this morning in stinky shoes, a skirt that was too snug, and a top that was too hot. I stopped at Target to get cash to take to Phoebe at school so she could purchase a school yearbook, and got lured into the women's clothing section to explore the possibility of a more comfortable skirt. I immediately found a delightful little $24.99 summer dress, which - low and behold - fit perfectly, which never happens when I am actually clothes shopping. That little victory sent me into the shoe dept where I found an equally delightful little pair of strappy black patent sandals for $19.99 that I couldn't resist. I paid for my purchase, changed in the Target restroom, and headed to work feeling pretty and very summery. :)

In an effort to reduce my Mocha intake, I didn't commit to actually drinking more water, instead I commited to just make it readily available at my desk. Low and behold... it's working! It used to be that I would consume one 16-20oz coffee for the drive in, another 20oz Mocha for my morning workload, and then maybe another large Mocha for the ride home! Now I skip the home coffee, treat myself to one Mocha for the ride in, make it last halfway through my morning workload, then switch to water. And the warmer weather is naturally making me skip the afternoon Mocha in favor of something icy-cold instead. These changes, combined with my recent bout of nausea, have already taken the tension in my snug waistband down a notch.