Letting the Joy In

Lately, I've been feeling -- hmmm...what's the word....maybe just plain old "blah".

I want to feel joy -- and peace -- and calm -- and content. But I just haven't been able to. I have moments...fleeting, little moments...but that's about it.

Too much to do -- too many worries -- too much stress. I suppose I bring it on myself. And I'm the only one who can fix it. I have to figure out how to rise above. But it has been a chore to do that lately.

Sometimes I wonder if it's the time of year. Or perhaps because we've all been sick at my house pretty much continously for a while now on some level -- one after the other and it just makes things seem sluggish. I don't know.

I struggle with finding balance BIG time -- am I the only one? Balancing focused time with my kids with the many things that have to get done -- the places we have to go -- the plans we need to make -- the sports, the scouts, the projects for school, the usual day to day stuff -- all the while with time just FLYING by at light speed. It really is. March already? Are you kidding me??

I find joy in little things. I need to remember that. The world feels like it's falling down around us some days -- but I want to focus on my little world -- my faith, my family, my dear, dear friends (I just love you all!) -- and protect and embrace the joy and surround myself in the happiness that comes from those things.

I am TOTALLY babbling today -- venting really. And believe it or not, today I am actually feeling pretty good -- a bit more light-hearted than I have been -- so don't take my rambling as complaining or moaning and groaning. I'm just thinking out loud -- letting some of the pent up blahs spill out I guess.

Okay -- enough of that. If you have any magical formula for finding balance and not worrying and feeling stress when you're a wife and mother -- please share it with me. I am always hopeful that SOMEDAY I'll get a grip! :)

Have a great weekend!!!

There are bricks in my chest....

at least that is what it feels like. I think I am getting sick and it really does feel like I swallowed a large brick and it is lodged in my chest or something. I am also ridiculously tired, but part of that is having children who won't sleep through the night lately.

Anyway -- I have been a horrible blogger and blog visitor and I am attempting to remedy that situation. Not tonight though. I just can't muster the energy.

I miss all of you in blogland. Darn Facebook has ruined me, but I really do need to get back to blogging. It's something I enjoy usually and it seems for the past several months I have just let the things I enjoy fall to the wayside -- scrapbooking, blogging and a few other things.

As I leave you -- I was wondering if you could do me a favor. If you are the praying type, please say a prayer or two for a family I heard about today. My husband coaches my two older kids in basketball through a church program here. We heard this morning that one of the other coaches had a three-year old who got pneumonia and he or she passed away. Just three years old! It breaks my heart. I don't even know them -- but I'm sure they could use some prayers.

Love to my bloggy friends -- catch up with you soon!

Four Years to Build a Snowman

I know what you're thinking....it took you four years to build this little snowman? And how in the world does someone spend four years building a snowman?? Let me explain.

This week marks the four-year anniversary of the kids and I living in Tennessee. (My husband moved a few months before us.) In four years, we have never had enough snow to build an actual snowman. That all changed yesterday.

The kids were dismissed from school early and in fact, they have a snow day today. (Which initially I was excited about, but as the day progresses, I'm wondering if I'm really excited...they have had some moments, let me tell you! LOL). Anyway -- we played in the snow for a long time yesterday and it was a blast!

I remember our first or second winter here and a local friend of mine called one day to see if the kids had "played in the snow". I was puzzled because we had just had the slightest dusting of snow and when I looked out my window I saw a little snow and a whole lot of mud! I'm from northern Illinois -- I could not imagine playing in the snow unless we had several inches on the ground. After several winters here, I have come to realize that this is the South and playing in the snow means doing your best with whatever falls from the sky -- even if it's 1/4 of an inch!

Still, my northern-minded self has never really taken the kids out to play in less than an inch of snow. So yesterday, my youngest son at age 4 had his first real experience with a snowman and snowballs. My other kids have no real memories of playing in the snow either -- even my oldest son, who has seen pictures of himself in the snow, but can't really remember being in it.

I have to admit -- I think I had just as much fun as the kids!

I know some of you are sick of the white stuff and I understand. When we lived in Illinois it often felt like we had eight months of winter. But when you don't have snow often -- it sure can be fun!

Hope you're having a good week -- Happy Tuesday!