 A bit of shopping time with the girls... impromptu visits and outings are always the best! It has been said that the busiest of times is the happiest of times. I don't know that I've always believed this, but I'm pretty sure now I do indeed believe that busy times are happy times. I guess it all depends on what you're busy with, but I think a lot of this line of thinking relates to the fact that, when you're busy, you don't have time to complain about all that is not perfect in life. Of course, you may be busy trying to improve your life so it's hard to not think of the bad when you're in improvement mode but, hey, at least you're trying to do something about it, right? You might be busy serving others, if you're a mom, or the child of an elderly or sick relative, or called to some mission greater than yourself. And you just might be busy just trying to keep your head above water, if you know what I mean. I personally think that's where most of us find ourselves in daily living! I recall a brief period in my life when my kids were gone (as in married or off to college), at the time I wasn't working and it was "pre-grandchildren," and I experienced a rough patch. I don't think I realized it at the time, but I had lost the only purpose I had ever known, and that was to be a mother. Now, if you know me, you know I believe that parenting is the highest of all callings. Not everyone is called to motherhood but if you, like me, have always felt that being a mother has been your greatest work, then you know what I'm talking about. Of course, once a mother always a mother, and I don't care if you're 90 and your child is 70, they're always going to be your baby and you never step out of the mothering mentality, not one minute. But there are definitely periods of motherhood where you're not as needed and, relating to this period in my life, I now realize I needed more in my world than just mothering. I needed something that I could put my hand to and draw satisfaction for myself alone that would make me feel productive and worthy -- something that would make me feel growth as an individual. But as they say, hindsight is 20/20. I've tried to pass that wisdom on to my daughter who is now a mother of two little girls, did you know that, haha? I've always sensed in her that, as important to her as motherhood is, work also brings her a great deal of gratification. Of course, she worked hard to get her nursing degree and she is very good at what she does, so to me her going back to work part-time was a no-brainer. And she is a happier mother for it, so everyone benefits (me as well, because I get to keep the kiddos!). The renovation is purring along. Some days feel like we're making tremendous progress and, in the words of the hubs, "Some days we have to fight for all we get!" There are times it feels like the smallest of chores takes 100 times as long as it should, and things that should be easy mysteriously morph into problems. Then some days at the end of the day, we look back and see that we've accomplished quite a bit (those are my favorite days). We have made significant progress on the kitchen design and the master bath add-on and these two areas are almost complete! The sheetrock is almost finished (one of those things that's taken one million times longer than it should've), and the floors are coming along. I am beginning to see some of my dreams for this house that I've been sitting on becoming a reality recently, and I'm really loving what I'm seeing. It's during these times that I am so grateful to be able to do what I do. Today, in my sixties, I am literally busier than I have ever been in my life! Between children and grandchildren, doing things for my elderly father, renovating houses, and being in a marriage where there's never a dull moment, I am maxed out to the limit. And it is a very good life, I must say. But today on this Good Friday 2018 leading into Easter weekend, I'm taking a moment to slow down, embrace thankfulness for this life God has given me, and count my many blessings. I don't know how I'm gonna do that because my blessings truly are too many to count. I'm looking forward to actually cooking my family a meal on Easter Sunday, and I'm dreaming about upcoming wedding plans for our youngest. Houston-bound soon! I'm hoping to have many more pictures to share soon of the renovation. My life is far from perfect, but I don't have time to think about that! Wishing you the hope of that first Easter so very long ago...
"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style. "
- Maya Angelou
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