Story of My Life Lately

Rob has been a real godsend since my surgery. He has waited on me hand and foot, won't let me lift a finger to do housework and has driven me all over town to help me run my errands. I could not ask for a better husband during this time. That being said, I think we're both ready for me to be released back to freedom. He's tired of being "Mr. Mom" and running all over the place. I am tired of being housebound and not being able to get what I want when I want. Here's an example....

I am not necessarily OCD but I am a control freak...and I will be the first to tell you that. I'm also a "yesterday girl" and want things done NOW. I couldn't wait to get our tree this year. Rob drove me to 3 different places to find the perfect tree. When we got it home, he and P immediately got it in the house and set up in the stand. I started the slow, painstaking process of putting up the lights. After putting up one (yes one!) strand, I realized the next strand was too short. I grabbed a different strand to find that it had blown and had to be thrown away. When I went to put the small strand on, it too blew a fuse and had to be thrown away. At this point, I was near tears. I was exhausted, in discomfort and was beyond frustrated that I just couldn't enjoy our tree.

So I placed a Target pick up order for yesterday after church and added more strands of lights. But they apparently only had one (yes one!) strand of lights in stock and it was only a 35 light strand. I added it to the single strand that was already on the tree and you could barely tell I had added them. Rob graciously offered to go find some lights but I knew he just wanted to relax. So I placed a grocery order for today and included the largest strand of lights in the Walmart order.

Story of my life.....They didn't have the strand I ordered so they put 2 smaller strands in my order. When Rob got home with the Walmart order, I took the lights out and couldn't wait to finish the tree. But, as luck would have it, the lights are bright white instead of the dim "off white" color of the other lights. And now one strand keeps cutting out. Plus, there's still not enough to reach the top of the tree but at this point, I'm over it. So, now my tree is done and, instead of the control freak in me kicking in, my OCD is now off the charts. I HATE not being able to do what I want, when I want!! I just want my tree to look normal. But I will look back at this year's tree as one for the books, the one that taught me that not everything has to be perfect to be enjoyed.

One strand up....

After the Target order...with one small strand added.

The wrong lights...and yet again not enough. But it is what it it.

Magic of Christmas

 I don't miss the boys being young. I like them at this age. But one thing I do miss about the younger years is the magic of Christmas for them. I love breakfasts with Santa, looking at lights, Christmas parades, the Polar Express, decorating gingerbread houses and Christmas crafts. I love seeing Christmas through the eyes of young children. The one thing that has held its magic for the past 10 years in our household is our elf, Shooby. He comes every year on Thanksgiving night and stays through Christmas Eve. Every morning E runs to find him and reports on his crazy antics, often smiling or laughing when telling us about Shooby's shenanigans. We have gotten a lot of enjoyment out of him every year and this year has been no exception. Here are some of the things we've caught him doing so far:

Last Week of Thankfulness

 I know, I know, it's December 3rd (Happy Birthday, Dad!!! You make 75 look like the new 50!) and I haven't even finished out my month of thankful posts. So here you go. In rapid fire succession...

Day 26- Today I’m thankful for Rob and the boys’ help in making it look less like Fall and more like Christmas around here. (And I’m thankful for the long nap I’m about to take because who knew putting up a 4’ fake tree could wear you out so much?? )

Day 27- Today I’m thankful for Christmas movies and the laughter they bring to our family. I usually love Hallmark movies this time of year. But the boys and I watched "Elf" at my brothers' house when we were visiting and that may be my new favorite Christmas movie. I still love me some cheesy Hallmark, but you can't beat Christmas comedies like "Christmas Vacation" and "Elf".

Day 28- Today I am thankful for books, authors, netgalley, and Pangobooks.com, all of which help ease boredom and escape reality. I really thought I'd read a few books while recovering. However, I started reading "Where the Crawdads Sing" and it's consuming all my time. It's not my typical genre of choice so I don't sit for hours, reading it. When I do finish it within the next day or so, I will be watching the movie to see which one I like better. And after I finish it, I am so thankful for the millions of books out there still yet to read.

Day 29- Today I’m thankful for kind/generous people. The only thing that I’ve craved since my surgery is Chick Fil A shakes. Rob went to get one for me yesterday and told me this morning that he wasn’t charged for it because the person in front of him had paid it forward. Love how generous people are this time of year!

Day 30- Today is bittersweet because I always enjoy posting things I’m thankful for and sad to end it. But today I am thankful for so much more than I could write. Here are a few things:

1. The storm last night didn’t get close to us as predicted.

2. Medical/dental staff that we have encountered since moving here. I keep saying that MS is America’s best kept secret and now I’m going to add medical care as one more reason why MS is so great.

3. Two crazy dogs who bring so much laughter, joy and sometimes frustration to our lives.

4. In-laws who want to help, even when I’m not good at asking for help.

5. Friends who send me texts that keep me laughing.

6. The land and neighbors that surround our beautiful house. Both are a godsend.

7. Christmas decorations that have taken a whole lot longer to put up this year but will be enjoyed even more than usual.

8. A care package that a friend sent last week that touched me more than she’ll ever know.

9. Students, co-workers and parents who have told me they are praying for me and check in to see how I’m doing.

10. My husband who has driven me crazy this past week, but who has had my best interest in mind with every restriction he puts on me. I am used to being independent and doing everything without help. But he has stepped in and stepped up to do EVERYTHING regarding the boys, housework, laundry, etc so I don’t lift a finger. He’s the best of the best and I’m so glad he’s mine!

***Bonus: I am thankful for the BEST sub!! I have been able to focus on my recovery because I know my students are in the best hands possible. She and I text regularly and I know all is well in the classroom with her in charge.***

I always write these "Days of Thankfulness" purely for myself. Sometimes when I get in a funk, I go back to look at my posts for November just to realize I have so much to be thankful for. But, over the years, I have had several people tell me how much my posts have meant to them. A few have told me that they were down in the dumps about something going on in their life and my posts made them realize they had so much to be thankful for. Some have told me that it opens their eyes to all that they have to be thankful for, things that they didn't even consider being thankful for. So, although these posts are purely for selfish reasons, if you get anything out of them or it makes you realize that you have so much to be thankful for then that's a bonus.