March 25

This past week was a doozy.  I was busy every night with committee meetings and RS dinner celebrations and book clubs.  Aaron was busy as well, which meant that the kids came with me everywhere I went..  Friday I buckled down and cleaned the house because I knew my in-laws were on their way...

But then the weekend came with basketball games and tennis matches and more meetings.  Sunday morning I left my home at 9:30 am and didn't come back until almost 7:00 pm.  A fine days work.  I cannot imagine doing that every day like Aaron does.  When I arrived home dinner was on the table, but the house looked as though 5 kids ran wild for hours, which I am sure they did.  I went to bed with dishes still on the table and the crockpot still cooking.  I was that tired.

This morning I woke up early and exercised with a friend.  I felt energetic and ready to take on the day, but then I walked into my house and all of my energy was sapped out of me.  it was truly a disaster.  The kids and I had a pow-wow of what needed to get done first and THEN if it was all clean we could put up birthday decor for their Grandmother who turns 61 tomorrow.  I knew there was no way we could get it all done in just a few short hours.

So instead of crying (which is exactly what I wanted to do) I called for reinforcements.  I sent out an SOS to some of my friends explaining that my inlaws were coming in town and my house needed help.  Literally within minutes, I had women knocking at my door.  My bathroom and kitchen were scrubbed.  My stairs were vacuumed.  Dishes were washed and put away.  I had help putting a book together for my mother in law.  I had time to make a birthday cake and fold laundry.  Another friend showed up after the house was clean with a bunch of birthday decor.  Balloons and banners and crepe paper and streamers.  We popped chicken nuggets in the oven for the kids and blasted music and had such a great time.  In three short hours, my house went from completely unacceptable to party central.  One friend (who already has so much on her plate right now) knocked on my door with a mop in hand.  I told her she was the last person I expected to mop my floor.  She got my message and arranged with her husband to come over after their busy morning. When her husband asked what was wrong, she explained, "Janet and I are so much a like.  We won't ask for help unless we really need it."  It's true.  I was in a bind and it felt so good to admit that I needed help!  I left this sweet friend mopping my floor (and watching my kids) while I ran out to grab a few last minute grocery items.

The inlaws (Stan Brandy and sister Cody) arrived just as I was getting back from the store.  Perfect timing.  The kids hid behind the couch and screamed "Happy Birthday" when I opened the front door. Brandy came bearing Easter baskets for the boys.  She got them each a shirt that says something about how awesome they are..  she knows them so well.  We packed up in the big van and met Aaron for dinner at Jason's Deli.  Delish food and free ice cream, what more could you ask for?

We returned home to open presents and eat cake.  The boys each wrote silly jokes on slips of paper and we stuffed those inside balloons and then wrapped the balloons up in a big box.  They had such a blast popping each balloon and laughing at the jokes.  (Brandy and the boys email silly jokes to each other all the time, so this was kind of their thing.)  After 20 or so balloons were popped, her homemade book was wrapped at the bottom of the box.  Each of the kids wrote a letter to Brandy about their favorite memory with her and then drew a picture of them together.  Aaron and I each wrote letters and Simon and Roma had pages with their footprints It was very homemade and very perfect for any Grandparent.  So thankful I have friends with laminators and book binding machines!  This was a last minute project and it turned out fabulous.

We stayed up late laughing and talking and eating carrot cake.  Recently, Stan, Aaron's 63 year old father, was jumping on the tramp and fell off (if you knew him, this would make perfect sense.)  Brandy saw him later and asked why he had leaves in his hair and dirt on his shirt.  He said, "I kinda fell of the trampoline."  A few days later, he wanted to show her the bruise on his knee (it's a crazy purple scary mess).  He started to unzip his pants while saying, "Do you want to see something cool?"  Oh, man.  That had us laughing.  They are so much fun and so young at heart.  Cody is amazing too and just the best.  I truly feel lucky to have married into such a sweet and loving family.

Thirteen years ago, my husband proposed to me over Taco Bell at a park.  I didn't know what our future held, but I knew that I wanted to spend it with him.  This last decade+ has been difficult in many ways, but it's always been filled with blessings too.  Some weeks are harder than others.  Sometimes I have everything under control but most of the time, I am a complete mess.  Nothing has ever been perfect, but it always seems to come together.. which is truly beautiful and miraculous.

March 25 is a day to celebrate.



(happy birthday to my older brother, Scottie and his son Sammy.  how special for them to share this day together..)