Come and Gone

Look at me... I'm blogging.

Our Christmas houseguests have headed home.

The bedding has been stripped and washed.

Many towels have been washed and folded.

The fridge has been cleaned out (with the exception of the enormous pan of homemade mac-n-cheese).

The hardwood floors have been cleaned, but all it takes is for one person to walk through with their shoes on and it's all for naught.

Neither the microwave nor the garage door are working properly. Sigh

But I have to say, the nine days with James and Lynette (and their four kids) were better than I expected. They put up with my emotional state (caused by my physical state). They put up with the bitter cold and the icky smog. And they helped make our first-ever Christmas away from home special.

With their departure, is life-back-to-normal? Just temporarily. It's count-down to baby.

After our dentist appointments, OBGYN appointment, stake mutual activity, and mutual New Year's Eve party - THERE IS NO NORMAL.

It's Been a Rough Year?

A very kind person mentioned that they saw my profile picture on FB. He/she innocently commented on how much younger I looked.

That picture was taken in April. As in: 2009.

On My Best Behavior (Sort Of)

Have you ever 'pocket-dialed' anyone?

I've made fun of pocket-dialers for years. Who is careless enough to accidentally call some random person in his/her contact list?

Years ago I had a co-worker who unknowingly pocket-dialed the girl he was currently dating, all the while talking about a former girlfriend. Girl-on-the-phone heard enough to know she never wanted to see him again.

David pocket-dialed a co-worker a couple of weeks ago while we were driving. We're pretty sure her voice mail got an earful.

I thought I was above this, as I am Miss Caution.

Not so much. Thursday afternoon I 'purse-dialed' my brother. When he called back later to bring this to my attention, I had a moment of panic - did he hear me yell at the kids while on our way to the orthodontist? No, we were just chatting. And who better to pocket dial than my brother - someone who loves me unconditionally AND is one of my best friends.

As I've thought about this (sort of) close-call, I've tried to be more aware of the things I say and do. I've tried to carry on each conversation with more patience and kindness, as if there were another in the room, listening and watching.

Because as we all know: there is.

While Visions of Sugarplums Dance in Their Heads

I hate those nights when - 5 minutes after the kids are asleep - I am filled with regret. I wish that I had hugged a little tighter. Listened a little closer... and had been WAY more patient.

The Resistance

A round of applause please as I take my bow. Minutes ago, right here in my home, I held the bowl of chocolate, complete with M&Ms, Whoppers and more - I stared in to that bowl full of yumminess - but took nothing out. I placed that dish of temptation back on the highest shelf of my pantry and walked away.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

No encore today.

Organize Yourselves

Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing, and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God.

This is running through my mind... over and over again.

Right now I do not have a house of order. I have a house of transition, a house of purging: a lot of old going out - and A LOT of new coming in.

These last couple of days I've finally had David's help to put one foot in front of the other to organize ourselves. My house might someday be returned to order.

Do I dare list what it is going to take to accomplish this goal? No. But I am confidant that if we continue to be a house of prayer, and a house of faith that we will again be a house of order.

(and then I won't cringe with embarassment everytime the doorbell rings)

Don't Give Up On Me

I'm working on my commitment issues. For some reason I'm having trouble getting beyond one or two sentences that I can quickly pound out on FB. I'm working on it. I've committed to Just Jess therapy. We'll see if we can get some results.