Manic Monday

I was reminded by a sweet friend that all too often we only post/share/see 'the good' in pictures on social media. 

I agree. 

Yet... I don't want to. 

With every good comes a bad, either way before the good occurs or shortly there after. 

And bad doesn't have to mean disaster or despair... it can or it could just simply mean, not good.

Without the overflowing of dishes and stinky smell of garbage needing to be taken out, there wouldn't have been the fun night before with neighbors gathered around my kitchen table laughing and joking with one another. And without the giant mound of dishes still sitting there the next day I wouldn't have enjoyed the clean counter that next morning after the boys and I cleaned, loaded dishes, and straightened up the kitchen together.

With bad comes the good.

With the good there may be some bad....

But if you don't take them both in, you can't feel the joy that comes after the pain or grow from the struggle that leads to ultimate happiness.

Deep thoughts... brought on by dishes and a sweet friend's words.

That's me in a nutshell on a Manic Monday Morning!!

Long Time... No Post ;(

So, it's been so long since I typed on this page that it literally took me 10 minutes to find my blog online. I am shaking my own head in disappointment and yet laughing at my absenteeism! Where did I go? What in the hell's bells have I been doing...?
It's better to just ask, what HAVEN'T I been doing??
Teaching group fitness, raising boys, loving my hubs, teaching littles to stretch-stretch-and-grooooooow, health coaching, hanging with my fam, soccer team shuffling, drinking beer with neighbors, decorating and redecorating our house, texting my bestie in the StL, reading, journaling, diving into daily devotionals, making new friends yet cherishing the old true-blue ones, running, watching SYTYCD and the Voice, shopping at Aldi, trying to eat right and cook more at home, starting up my own direct sales faith based home decor and bakeware company thru Mary&Martha...
Does that sound like enough? I could go on for about 3 more paragraphs, ha!

Needless to say, I am living true to my self appointed 'That Girl' title. I love it and loathe it all in the same breathe... It's funny to me that as I pulled up my blog {after reading 5 others that I found before my own} these were the 2 posts that popped up:
My Lately and 37 years of Being 'That Girl'.
Funny the tiny reminders God smacks you with you when you go snooping...

I miss blogging and really want to get back at it. Will it happen? Who knows! But I am slowly carving more time out for my writing and posting. I have missed it dearly!
Until next time... here's glimpse of me and us since my last post...

Love this crazy life that I'm blessed with.

My Lately

Lately things have found a peaceful rhythm. The days have opened their arms to new routines and we are all settling into the pace of life with a 4th grader and Kindergardener. I like the changes that come from season to season and the schedule shift it brings to our lives. We don't all jump for joy over it immediately but once we do find our way, I love the nuggets of time that assure me we are going to be just fine in this new chapter of our lives. I can be an acutely aware person who overly plans her days {I have 3 written calendars and one on my phone... plan much?!} Yet honestly, I can admit the constant laying out and listing of my day to day and week to week does take it's toll on me!!! Most of the time it brings calm awareness but it also adds more pressure to myself at times. So in setting the lists aside I am focusing on what I can see around me, not what's listed on my calendar. Here lately I have seen more moments of stillness than moments of movement. Lately I have found gaps of quiet nothing and times of unexpected freeness in our days. It pays to set aside my list of things I need to get done, it allows my eyes to focus on what's real and what's important...

Lately I have been soaking in the boy's crazy infectious spirits. We have taken bike rides, sat on porches with neighbors and kicked our feet up on the couch with the windows open and no where to be more times than I can count! My lately has been peaceful. I know that it will all get done, and if it doesn't it wasn't meant to be. The shift from day to day has been easy and calming. The days are still full and the boy's are still wild and crazy... But lately my mind hasn't followed suit. We are learning and loving through the stressful times, and allowing ourselves the opportunity to say... 'Oh, I'm sorry that was my bad. Let me make it up to you.' Lately the boys are keeping the peace but also testing their brotherly boundaries. They are dipping their toes into being 'big boys' rather than little kids. They push our buttons and try our patience but also remind us that ultimately we are all still imperfectly making progress. Parenting is a full time job but lately the pay off is way more fulfilling than any career I could imagine!

As the days roll on and hours continue to tick away, I know it won't always be as easy to cuddle up at home and have no plans to run after. But for now, my lately is just what I need it to be, full of the people I love and time given at a pace I can handle.