be yourself

in ,

be yourself. above all, let who you are, what you are what you believe, shine through every sentence you write, every piece you finish.- john jakes

etsy makes me happy. actually, i'm rather obsessed with etsy at the moment. Â and i might just go broke. Â aye! Â but seriously...

i had to blog about etsy because i recently discovered that one of my friends had never heard of etsy. Â everyone should know about etsy. Â if you haven't heard of etsy, it's the most wonderful place to find anything and everything handmade. Â and i tell ya, there is some amazing stuff on there.

my recent addiction is stationery products. i really love stationery as i so appreciate a handwritten note. Â with the ease of email today, to receive a handwritten note is pretty darn special (at least in my book). but i've also bought some jewelry and artwork on etsy too.

two of my newfound stationery favs: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=536393 http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6146270

i'm even toying with the idea of selling some prints and photo greeting cards on etsy.  maybe in the new year. we'll see.

and i love what a friend of mine did on her blog, when she asked... have a favorite etsy shop or two? leave me a link in a comment. i'd love to take a look because my etsy addiction has only just begun. and really, who needs to go christmas shopping in a store, when you have etsy ;-)

and a shot from today. a happy day cupcake.

 

i voted

in

in times of stress and strain, people will vote. - author unknown.

did you? let's hope so.

i don't care who you voted for; i just care that you voted. Â as americans, it's our duty...and a privilege. here in san diego, polling places are everywhere. Â just get out there...and vote!Â

do the best at this moment

in ,

doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment. - oprah winfrey

i'm posting to hopefully psych myself up, in a positive direction, about my week ahead. Â i think it's those little unanticipated things that squeeze into my week that push me to that stressful edge. it's...

the hearing aid that is not functioning properly and requires a last minute audiology appointment that happens to interfere with my picking up skyler from school.

that make up gymnastics class and sky's evaluation, which of course are on different days, making gymnastics every day this week.

the creation of a book with kiele, for her english class, that has to be bound and turned in on friday (and she's just as much of a perfectionist as i).

and i had the nerve to sign up for a military spouse's club get-together one evening this week. Â am i kidding myself? Â there is no way in hell i'm going to be making that.

it's these things, that when added to the everyday things that make me stress. so while my stomach is sick and my mind is in a fury trying to figure out how i'm going to get everything done, i will try and heed oprah's advice and do my best at this moment because really, that's all i can do. that and...take a deep breath and chill because in the end, i know i'll get it all done and be just fine. :-)

Â

Â

adjusting my sails

in ,

i can't change the direction of the wind, but i can adjust my sails to always read my destination. - jimmy dean

first, happy belated halloween. Â the kids had such a great evening trick or treating with friends. and if you haven't noticed the photo below, my angelic child...well, she was none other than the grim reaper. Â four months ago, we made an agreement that she would be a 50s girl. at the end of 5th grade, the kids put on a musical and i told kiele that if i bought her all the bits and pieces pieces for her 50s costume ($100+), she was going to have to be a 50s girl for halloween. she agreed. fast forward to about a month ago and she was telling me that she didn't want to be a dumb 50s girl and begging me to let her to be a ghoul.

really? why?Â

i don't know. i just want to.

and so, the night before halloween, we ventured out and bought the last grim reaper costume (it just happened to her size, at target.  in the end, kiele said, next year, i think i'll be a princess. i just found the whole thing funny. and ryder...he woke up in the middle of the night last night, to go pee. and then stood by my bed, telling me he couldn't go back into bed because there was a biting baby in there. i think halloween got the best of him. i did finally get him back into bed, but it took a while (he was convinced the biting baby was there).

now on to today. so...it wasn't the best of days.  and i don't just mean busy.  i had reached my max, at least for a temporary period, this morning.  my max in multi-tasking (and i consider myself a pretty darn good multi-tasker).  and my max for toleration.  i had a shoot to get ready for, a bear chair to transfer to the buyer, a birthday party to get the kids ready for and then my kids wouldn't stop whining, crying and fussing. i still hadn't showered and my client called, to let me know they were 15 minutes away. all of a sudden, it hit me like a train. a train going full speed. WHAM. i had a little outburst and my kids were quickly quieted. they, too, then realized i was at my max. i got over it but it took a while to shake.  for a bit, i was on the verge of tears. it was just one of those days.

but it is during these days that i continue to remind myself how lucky i am. we all have bad days. today just happened to be one of mine. especially during a day like today, i remind myself over and over again of all the things i have to be grateful for. i guess it's my little way of adjusting my sails and setting myself in the right direction, to get through the rough seas.

ETA:

i'm embarrassed. i'm embarrassed that i let things get to me. that i lost it. i received an email from my client today, right after posting this blog entry. part of her email is as follows:

Thank you so much for today. On a hard day for you and a hard day for us, I'm so grateful we were just able to make it work. On days like today I feel like a shell of who I am. I seriously just want to lay down in a fetal position at the end of today and put up the white flag.  Jill fell asleep all the way as we drove away and stayed asleep 'til we got to Doug's grandma's. But we stayed too long and she ended up screaming. We went to get in the car (as she's crying) and Doug realizes that he forgot to hook Mike up to IV hydration and back on to feeds. So he starts working on them while I get her BACK out of the car screaming and just walk her up and down the street. Then I hear Chris from the back seat "MOMMY... my tummy really hurts". I look at him and, sure enough, his face is completely pale which always means he is going to vomit. His pink little lips go all the way white! So Doug grabbed him out of the car just in time to vomit everywhere.  Jill is screaming in my arms so I can't help. Then Mike gets out of the car and vomits as well. All the while Mike's pumps are beeping in the back of the car. HOLY CRAP!!!Â

after reading the above client's email, i should have blogged about what a glorious day i had today. really, <whacking myself on the back of the head> i should have known better. Â what do i have to have a meltdown about? seriously...not a damn thing. Â my life is glorious. Â thanks S for helping me get my sails set right.

* names in the above were changed, to protect their identities.

use your imagination

in ,

limitations live only in our minds...if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become endless. - jamie paolinetti

taken today. drawn today. looks just like me, right?!

today was a better day...well at least a productive day. Â that makes it better, right? i think so.

my day started out with my breaking my damn toe, when i jammed it against the leg of my office chair. then...i dropped off kids at school. did laundry. did a mail run. met a local framer, who wants to display my work (yay!) unloaded suitcases, from the weekend. did more laundry. grocery shopped. picked up ryder. cleaned the bedrooms and kitchen. yet, more laundry. dropped off business paperwork to book keeper. picked up sky. made dinner. cancelled dentist appointments for the three kids because of kiele's conflicting audiology appointment, only to find out today that the audiologist needs a referral, so she can't see kiele tomorrow (aye!). cooked a big dinner (which no one liked or ate).  did even more laundry (will it ever end). helped with homework for two. read books. gave baths. wondered where my husband is and why we haven't heard from him. and now...finally, i sit at my computer and am getting ready to edit photos and work on client orders.  all in a day.  and yes, besides the broken toe part, today was a better day. looking forward to tomorrow.

++++++

i've now really come to look forward to my runs every monday, wednesday and friday. i never thought i'd say that. never. i'm up to four miles (about a 9:30 - 9:50 pace) and feeling pretty good. nope, not that good. Â not good enough to add on more mileage quite yet. i've also excitedly said that i would commit to participating in the hood to coast relay: the mother of all relays (if our group is one of the ones chosen via lottery).

i keep sharing about my running ventures because i never thought i could do it. and i am. you can too. start out slow. do it right. if you haven't worked out in forever (like i hadn't), don't go out and try to run three miles right away; let your body get used to working out again. and i wholeheartedly believe that it's so good for you. not only your body, but also your mind and soul. it's a time for decompression, for cleansing. if you can't run, walk. or do any form of exercise you enjoy. do it for you. do it for your family. you need that you time.

oh yea, that damn broken toe. Â tomorrow should be interesting.

++++++

no new news on steve. i haven't heard from him. i'm assuming that he went somewhere and is away from his regular room, but i really  have no idea.Â

our days (see above) are so busy that they go by really quick. right now isn't too hard, as i think the pre-deployment work-up time away kind of prepared us for the ultimate separation. i know...some days will be tougher than others, but for now, i can honestly say that we're all doing okay. i'm grateful for each and every day, as it is another day closer to us being a complete family again.Â

Â

suck up and be nice

in ,

maybe you don't like your job, maybe you didn't get enough sleep. well nobody likes their job, nobody gets enough sleep. maybe you just had the worst day of your life, but you know...there's no escape, there's no excuse. so just suck up and be nice. - ani difranco

that's how i felt today. Â episode after episode and there was no escaping my bad day. Â i would like to say that at least i was nice, but kiele's audiologist's receptionist would probably say that i was lying (sorry for being so grumpy dianna). so let's just settle with the fact that today was one of those days--one of those days, where i had to joke and laugh about, or i might just cry. Â

i was going to vent and share the every detail of my hellacious day, but instead, i will just share this glimpse...

i arrive at ryder's preschool, to pick him up as i do every day, and i see his teacher outside the classroom, in full decon mode. Â bright yellow gloves, past her elbows. Â sweating. Â carrying out, at full arm's length, two loaded garbage bags. Â having just finished a four mile run, i was still on my runner's high, and floated in

what happened? did someone puke?

ryder's teacher looks at me, wide-eyed, apologizing to me for her profuse sweating (while i knew that what she really wanted to do, was just strangle me), and in her kindest voice, she says

has he been sick?

oh my gosh. Â she is in decon mode because of my son. Â

completely embarrassed, i ask if ryder threw up. nope, he just had diarrhea all over the playground area.

OH MY GOSH, i am now silently screaming.

wearing someone else's too big undies and shorts (i forgot to restock his spare preschool clothes, after he spilled orange juice on himself a couple weeks ago), one sock and no shoes, ryder runs to me, hops up and clings on for dear life, with his head on my shoulder. i share with ryder's teacher, that sky had the squirts this morning but i thought it was because of something she ate. humiliated, both ryder and i  head to the car.  back home, i then had to deal with the dreaded crap bag. ryder's teacher had already warned me that it had gotten in his shoes and everything. of course, i did as any mom, with a really shitty day, would contemplate doing--i took one peak inside and tossed the whole damn thing in the outside trash can. of course, i justified it all, with the fact that i thought ryder was growing out of those shoes anyways. the mini boden shorts...i just had to chalk those up to a loss.

ryder didn't end up having any more diarrhea today, but he did end up getting diagnosed with a sinus infection.

and that, my friends, was only the beginning of what my day had in store for me.

++++++

the wedding this past weekend was wonderful. Â it is always so awesome to see momma carmen and daddy jim (as kiele still refers to them). however, i missed steve terribly. driving six hours one way, with three kids is not an easy task. carrying luggage for three, camera equipment, a cooler, etc. to a hotel room on the second floor was not exactly fun either. and being at a wedding without your spouse, well...need i say more.

but...

thank goodness for kiele. thank goodness for kiele. thank goodness for kiele. Â i seriously cannot even begin to express my appreciation for what a wonderful, caring child she is. Â she is so amazingly helpful each and every day. i don't know what i would do without her.

++++++

we haven't talked to steve in a while and i hate that. i hate not being able to pick up the phone, when i want to share. when i'm having a bad day. when i just want to chat. it's completely out of my control. i leave the computer on, wondering if tonight is going to be the night...the night when he skypes in and we try to sum up  multiple days into one 20 minute conversation, shared between four. and then another night comes and goes with nothing. but, whether we like it or not, this is something that we, military spouses, with deployed husbands/wives, must come to terms with; it's a reality of this whole deployment business.

i close with a photo from this weekend. Â kiele as a flower girl and the little ones adoring their sister (they really do!).

and here's to tomorrow being a less shitty day, sucking up and being nice :-)

thankful for those people

in

there are people in my life, who give me comfort when the going gets tough, as it invariably does.  i can count on them for a shoulder to cry on. they will lift me up when i fall.  they will hold me in their arms, when i cry, and tell me everything is going to be okay.  i am so thankful for those people; they are priceless. - author unknown

the jamison family. they are one of those people, as described in the above quote. beyond priceless actually. carmen watched kiele, from age six weeks old through age four. i went through some tough times, when i lived in tucson, and they were always there for me. soon, carmen and jim became momma carmen and daddy jim. they became family to kiele and i.Â

carmen and jim had one child, melissa. melissa was 11, when i met her. Â such a wonderful child. now 22, melissa has grown into a wonderful and beautiful adult. Â this saturday, kiele (age 11) will be a flower girl in melissa's wedding. it's hard to believe that the little girl i remember is now an adult--getting married.

i'm so excited to see the jamison family. Â it's been over a year, since we last saw them. Â i don't know if i can ever thank them enough for all they did for me. Â for their kindness. for their goodness. but i will continue to try, each and every time i talk to or see them.

i'm happy to say that i'm not shooting melissa's wedding; i'm just attending (although i do hope to come back with some photos). Â i'd do anything for the jamison's but shooting a wedding, with three kids by my side, is near impossible and...have i mentioned that i'm just not wired right to shoot weddings. Â i've shot a couple weddings in the past and have sworn never to do another ;-).

and since a post just isn't right without a photo. Â here's a shot, from the last wedding i shot.

Â

put yourself on the line

in

people spend too much time finding other people to blame, too much energy finding excuses for not being what they are capable of being, and not enough energy putting themselves on the line, growing out of the past and getting on with their lives. - j. michael straczynski

i love the above quote. i'm not one to live in or for my past. Â i don't blame my past for anything, or at least i try my hardest not to. sure it has played a large part in the molding of the person i am today (how could it not), but i'm not going to blame my today on my yesterday, of long ago. Â my life has moved on and will continue to move on, in the direction that i choose...not the direction my past caused it to go. Â we make our own choices for today. Â it's not worth it to spend your time or your energy dwelling on or blaming your past. Â acknowledge and embrace your past for what it was...and get on with making your life the life you want it to be. Â

++++++

we got to talk to steve today, on the computer, via skype. Â he's doing well. Â staying very busy. Â he also registered for a (local / san diego) phone number via skype, so that we can talk on the phone. Â he talks through his computer and i can now talk either via my computer, home phone or cell phone (depending on which he calls). Â i swear...technology is so amazing. Â i just can't imagine the deployed days of the past, where one was waiting and longing for a letter in the mail. Â we are so blessed.Â

better when we're together

in ,

love is the answer, at least for most of the questions in my heart. Â why are we here and where do we go. and how come it's so hard. it's not always easy and sometimes life can be deceiving. but i'll tell you one thing. it's always better when we're together. - jack johnson

trying to figure out how i'm going to do and get through the week. Â we're leaving early friday morning for a wedding in tucson (six hour drive). i have photos to edit, prints to order, packages to ship. Â i have miles to run. i have clothes and shoes to buy for the wedding (kiele is in the wedding). Â but when? Â when will i find the time to do all that i have to do this week?Â

i pick up ryder at noon. sky at 2 PM. kiele is home at 4:30 PM. there's gymnastics, speech therapy and fencing. there's homework. there's early bed times. plus the rest of everyday life (laundry, cooking, cleaning, etc.).

i don't know how i am going to do it. but i do know that i will. Â some things might have to end up waiting and i will have to prioritize which of those can wait. Â i'll figure it out. Â i will.

things sure are better (and easier) when we're together.

Â

Â

goodbyes are sad

in ,

goodbyes are sad yet they should also be cherished because it is this word that causes all the memories to come flooding back as if they had happened yesterday. - author unknown

it's yesterday, 8 PM. skyler is in bed and i'm trying to get ryder in bed and getting ready to help kiele with her homework. Â

<RING. RING.>

it's not your typical ring...of the phone.  i run to the computer.  it's steve.  i holler for the kids. they come running and stand by my side, as we talk to steve.

hi daddy. Â we miss you. Â when are you coming home.

we see him. Â we hear him. Â he sees and hears us. Â my heat aches, yet it's absolutely amazing that this technology exists and we can do this. Â i am beyond grateful for this connection that we can maintain, while he is so far away.

actually, i am grateful for so much. truly. Â i'm sad that steve is gone, but i don't dwell in the sadness of him being gone; that would do me no good. i am strong while he is gone and thankful. thankful that it's only seven months (and not 15-18 months, like the army guys that steve's unit is replacing). Â i'm thankful that we're all healthy. Â and safe. Â things could be so much worse and i'm thankful for each and every blessing in my life.

so, here is a screen capture, from us saying hi to steve. Â us in california. Â him in iraq.Â

198 days to go.

did i really do that?

in

the sky is blue and it's a comfortable 68 degrees. surfers dot the ocean, all along the boardwalk, waiting for that perfect wave.  parents with children.  sports fans on their way to the local pub.  runners.  walkers. the boardwalk is moving.  people parked at their favorite breakfast beach restaurant.  others stopped to view the spectacle, a pod of dolphins just off the shore.  an absolutely beautiful morning. i set out at 9 AM, determined to have a good run.  i had an inkling it might be tough because it was just me and my ipod.  no pacific beach babes to cheer me on.  to encourage me to keep going when the going gets tough(er).  i found a rock star parking spot and began walking.  about three minutes in, the run began.  i felt good.  really good.  i kept thinking,Â

my feet are light. Â i am strong. Â i am healthy. Â i am doing it. Â 10 minutes in, i check my pace: pace 9 minute 30 seconds, my nike ipod tells me. Â

wow. Â really? Â i am doing it. Â i just have to keep going.

i pass an obese man walking and want to cheer him on. Â i want to tell him what a great job he's doing. Â i didn't but i should have. Â maybe next time i'll have the courage to do so. Â a female runner passes me. Â

it's okay. Â someday i, too, will be that fast. Â

then i hit 30 minutes / over three miles.  i see PB pier.  but it seems so far in the distance.  it's a mile away. it's my target.  and my legs that once felt like the legs of a gazelle have now become more elephant-like.  i briefly think about stopping...but i can't.  my goal is four miles, not three.  i can do this.  and i keep going. a man smiles as i pass by and i think he's cheering me on.  he's not but shoot, i might as well think he is. anything to keep me motivated at this point.  i hit my nike ipod and i only have .25 miles to go.  i'm now at a 9 minute 39 second pace. Â

maybe i should walk the last quarter mile. Â no...keep going. Â you're so close. Â you can do this. Â you can finish it all. Â you can run four miles. Â

i'm by myself. Â no one to encourage me but myself...and i do. Â i think. Â i talk (to myself). Â i keep myself going. Â and i end feeling so great. Â so proud of myself. Â that i really did it. Â two months ago, i was completely out of shape. Â today, i ran four miles. Â i share this because if there's anyone out there, who's been like me, wanting to get back in shape but always too busy, able to always find the perfect excuse, etc.-- you can do it. and you will never feel better.

two years ago, i told steve that i wanted to get back into running. Â the kids were painting and while outside with the family, i painted 'I CAN DO IT!' on the cement. Â i never did it though..until now. Â that day, two years ago, i went out and ran 1 1/2 miles and hurt my knee. Â i didn't run again after that, until a little over a month ago. Â

the other day, i took a polaroid of what i wrote two years ago--and not only can i do it, i am doing it.Â

Â

it would be so easy to quit

in

keep your dreams alive. understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. remember all things are possible for those who believe.- gail devers

meet the pacific beach babes (shawn, jodi, me and adrienne).

no, we didn't name ourselves, just tagged onto an existing group, in our area. :-) we meet every monday, wednesday and friday morning, to run together. we started out as four out of shape women, determined to run and get healthy. i hadn't run or really done any type of exercise since 2002. Â

six weeks ago, we, as the pacific beach babes (www.seemommyrun.com running group), began our journey at a 4 minute run / 5 minute walk pace, for two to three miles. Â today, we ran 20 minutes, walked 5 minutes and ran another 10 minutes (running at a 9 1/2 - 10 minute pace). we started out slow. we did it right. we let our bodies get used to running. Â and next week, we're planning to run three miles. and then add minutes / miles on from there. we're pretty damn excited. we're pretty damn proud.

with my crazy schedule (and no husband around), it would be so easy to find an excuse (or many excuses) not to run, but i've never felt so good. i figure out a way to get in my runs now, instead of the other way around. Â it's not only good for my health, it's good for my soul. i'm excited. i'm determined. i believe i can do it. Â my goal is to do a half marathon, but shoot, who knows...maybe i'll end up running a full marathon.

and i'm so grateful for my new friendships. love ya girls. thanks for being so supportive and encouraging. i wouldn't be where i am today without you.

++++++

steve made it safe and sound to iraq today. Â sky said to me this morning, before school,

mom.

yes, sky.

i miss daddy.

i know sky. Â i miss him too. Â we'll hopefully talk to daddy on the computer soon and then he'll be home when it's summer time.

but all in all, we're doing well. Â between school, gymnastics, fencing and homework, we've been staying really busy. Â tomorrow, we will drive an hour to a pumpkin patch, which the kids are super excited about. Â oh, but tomorrow is also dreaded lawn mowing day. Â ugh. Â but, i'm determined to do it myself, so i will suck it up and mow on.

kindness revisted

in

i was going to blog about something totally different today, but then i got two of the most wonderful emails that i had to share (below). Â if you haven't read my previous blog post, a story of kindness and hope, it might help to start there. Â today, while leaving the grocery store, with the little ones, this man approached me, asking if i had any money that i could spare. Â he was obviously homeless. Â i told him that i was sorry; i didn't have any money. i got in my car, looked at my groceries and yelled to him,

but i do have some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Â

he came to my door and i gave him two frozen PBJ sandwiches. Â his face lit up and he thanked me and went on. Â we drove off and the kids and i talked about what happened, the whole way home. Â it felt good. Â it felt so good to help, even if it was only two PBJ sandwiches.

++++++

the first email:

I know I don't even know you (in person, I guess) but I've been thinking of you these last few days and sending hope and prayers your way.  I hope that you are doing well considering what's going on.

I just wanted to share a little story with you about something that happened to me today and it has to do with your chain reaction.  We made an impromptu stop at the grocery store on the way home from school because C (my oldest) got a coupon for a free pumpkin.  I didn't really want to stop, today not being one of my best days and I hadn't even showered yet.  My mood was blue.  But I didn't want that to take away from my little ones, so we ran in, grabbed a gallon of milk and a big pumpkin.
After our purchase we got everyone loaded up in the car (I have two sons and a daughter) and as I turned my car on a woman approached me. Â She had on a bright pink coat and neon orange boots and was pulling a suitcase and carrying a purple candle and some trinket Santa bags. Â I rolled my window down and she told me that she is out of work and is trying to sell some things to try to help her get along and would I buy anything from her. Â She told me that she had food stamps and uses them but they didn't pay for women's needs and right now she was trying to get enough to buy some shampoo. Â I knew I didn't have any cash except for a few coins which she said she would take. Â I think I gave her about 80 cents. Â When I did she handed me one of her bags. Â I refused. Â I know how much those little bags cost and while they are inexpensive (less than $2) what I gave her didn't pay for one. Â She insisted. Â I took the bag and pulled away.
C asked me why she was asking for money and I got all choked up as I responded that a lot of people are in need these days. Â As I explained that to him I had to stop. Â 80 cents just wasn't enough. Â I know things are pretty tight for us financially right now, but goodness gracious I have plenty of shampoo! Â I reparked my car and the four us went back into the grocery store. Â I quickly ran over to the hair products and grabbed a bottle of shampoo and a little lotion for her. Â We paid and I gave C the bag and asked him to give it to her and to tell her to have a nice day.
She was talking to another driver so while C took her her shampoo I quickly buckled up Hanna and Thomas. I kind of felt like I was doorbell ditching goodies or something. Â C made it back to our car and I hopped in, but not before she came running towards my car and yelled, "THANK YOU! Â YOU'RE A HONEY! Â YOU BE GOOD!"
My earlier heaviness melted away as I drove through the parking lot feeling like a honey. Â Isn't it something that doing for someone else always gives the giver more than the receiver. Â I needed that today.
So I just wanted to let you know how your chain reaction is going and say thank you to YOU for being a honey too. Â Thanks for your inspiration and for the goodness you spread around the world.
the second email:
Life has been full of more downs than ups for us at the moment, so I've stepped away from my usual blog readings lately.Â
 As I quickly logged on my computer yesterday, your blog came to mind, so I skimmed over all the posts I had missed. And I just have to tell you that your "story of kindness and hope" moved me in SO many ways. Thank you.  Here I am feeling sorry for myself for all that we're going through. Then I realized that the way I feel can change with my actions. That by a simple act of kindness towards someone else, I can bring happiness to myself. Â
WOW, i am so thankful for the emails i receive. emails like the ones above. i am thankful for the people, who take the time out of their day to write me. reading things like this pushes me to keep believing...to keep sharing.

++++++
but now...now, i am exhausted. Â just another day but i am drained. Â i basically didn't stop the entire day--exercise (ran 3 miles), dropped off the volvo for service, ran back to my house (another mile), picked up sky, picked up ryder, grocery shopped, home for 30 minutes, gymnastics, dinner, laundry, baths, read to the little ones, homework with sky, homework with kiele, cleaned up kitchen, more laundry--and it's now 10:50 PM. Â yes, just another day, a day that i am grateful for--a day that brings us one day closer ;-) Â and since i can barely think anymore, or type, i will close here and say good-night.
i close with remembering--remembering hawaii. Â it was such a special time for steve and i. Â i cherish the memories so.