I am a pretty optimistic person. I always try to look on the bright side and be happy. At the same time, I am an anxious person and that gets in the way. I am forever reading inspirational books and looking at my thinking and and my feelings and trying to get better at dealing with stress. This winter has been filled with transitions for everyone in my family, both immediate and extended. I won't go into detail, because it is all pretty private, but adjustments to school, learning, life stages, medical issues, personal issues, relationships, work, etc, etc. have all impacted our daily functioning and balance. I am in the center of it all, trying to roll the rock up the mountain. Sometimes, it slips out of my grasp, only to roll down to the bottom again, but I stubbornly pick it up and start rolling. My husband helps me often, but he has to come and go, due to his own rock that he rolls at work. So I have lots of time with my rock. I notice my rock as it rolls up the mountain. It is gathering bits along the way. Some smaller rocks, some plants, an animal or two (or three or more), some really shiny gems that are awesome and beautiful. My rock is constantly growing and changing. Once in a while, the mountain evens out and the rolling is smooth and easy. Sometimes I even feel I am running to catch up with my rock when it rolls ahead of me. And sometimes, like I said, it slips backward. But always we catch it and start again with the right attitude; the faith that while we may never actually reach the top, our rock is our rock, and our mountain is our mountain and we are strong enough to keep rolling.
 |
| My Black and White Team and Constant Companions |
 |
| Going to the Nutcracker Ballet |
 |
| Mary Alice made the cats and dog each holiday bowties |
 |
| Megan volunteering at soccer with her friend. |
 |
| Visting the Butterfly Garden |
 |
| Christmas morning |
 |
| Always room for a new doll. Why doesn't their hair stay that way??! |
 |
| My boy turned 19!! How did that happen??! |
 |
| Celebrating the January Birthdays |
 |
| The never ending homework. They are such hard workers. |
 |
| Another of Megan's funny notes.... only if I buy them bunk beds tomorrow..... written on her Kindle drawing app. |
 |
| Our new gerbils, who were adorable and snuggly together for many weeks, then right after this was taken one decided to attack the other and now they have separate cages! |
 |
| Re-organizing the family room into a learning center, to support the high distractibility of me and the girls. |
 |
| The core of the family. Celebrating Eric's birthday. Love you so much, honey!! |
