Aloha

A few days ago I got a text from a friend who was in Hawaii on business (tough gig, right?).  Her text said "I'm in heaven" and was accompanied by a picture of her lying on the beach. 

While she had been lying on the beach, I had been driving an hour to trade in the loaner minivan for my newly fixed Acadia.  I had had an hour of silence, and had another awaiting me on my return trip home.  I was in heaven!  Being alone in my car, or alone in my house or even alone in the bathroom, is a rare treat for me.  And besides the lack of noise, my favorite part about silence is that I get to hear myself think.

When it's quiet, I usually start off thinking about how much I love the quiet.  How nice it is to have a break.  To get away.  But then my thoughts turn to who I'm "getting away" from.  And that leads me to thinking about my kids.  Sophie, who is eternally happy and eager to please.  Max, who is funny in a smart way and smart in an even smarter way.  And Lily, who, at the grocery store earlier that day said "Thank you, mama," for every item I put in the cart.  Including the spinach.

That got me to thinking about my husband and the home we have made for our family.  I thought about my house, and how much I love living here.  In this house with this yard, but also in this neighborhood with our friends.  I love that we know our neighbors.  And we like them!   And we have so many other wonderful friends from college, church, work and many other parts of our lives.  We are so blessed.

I texted my friend back with a picture of me, alone in my car, with the words, "Me, too."  I'm sure she didn't understand what I was saying.  But it just so happened that as I got her message, surrounded by silence but rushing back to the loving chaos of my life, I felt like I was in heaven, too. 

Caught Up

My kids are still sleeping.  This makes me so happy I want to run around the house screaming, but that would wake them up, so I decided to sit down and write. 

I haven't written in a while.  I haven't felt that I had anything to say.  You've heard it all before...all the other times I stopped writing.  And then started again.  My neighbor said I need to start a new challenge.  She's right.  I'm shooting for 3 posts a week through the end of the year.  Challenge on!

So, here's what you've missed:
We got a new roof.
We're getting new siding.
Lily learned to say the word "butt."
Sophie loves school.
Max hates school.
I am taking over the bookfair.
I became a Norwex consultant.
I started teaching Sunday School
I am organizing Sophie's second grade fall party (not allowed to say Halloween, not sure why).
I haven't been sleeping well.
I have been losing my mind a little bit each day.
My husband and I celebrated 10 years of mostly wedded bliss.
I am secretly looking forward to the first snowfall so I can use my fireplace.
Once it snows I plan to complain constantly until it has melted (next July).
My cat has gone deaf.
My dog puked up her dinner on my new carpet last night.
The kids started skating lessons.
I've been driving a minivan for the past week and I kind of like it.

There.  I think that's everything.  And my kids are totally still sleeping!

Things I've Learned in the Last Decade

 1.)  I feel too young to have been married for ten years.
2.)  If you wait long enough, your husband will change the baby's poopy diaper.
3.)  My husband stops snoring when I elbow him in the side...this has taken me years to perfect.
4.)  My husband thinks I'm sexy...even in sweatpants.
5.)  The best reason to get flowers is for no reason at all.
6.)  If I could be married to anyone, the vast majority of the time I would choose my husband.
7.)  Watching my husband play with our kids is the sexiest thing in the world.  
8.)  I'm not always that easy to live with.
9.)  In the center of our marriage is our love for God.  And for Chipotle. 
10.)  10 years goes by really, really fast.

Happy Anniversary, Wade!