It's all about balance

Balance.

Ups and downs.

Good and bad.

I could fill a page with the common metaphors. A recent dinner conversation with the kids touched on this very subject. 'Without the bad we couldn't recognize, let alone appreciate, the good.'

We pray that the down times aren't devastating but know that with God's help we'll get through even those. We celebrate the joyous times and float along with the day-in-day-out 'normal' times. If we're lucky, the 'normal' times are pretty good by themselves. Mine are, and for that I know I am blessed.

Last Saturday I sat down to write about the wonderful day we had. It was very simple. Nothing special in many ways. Yet it was idyllic to me. I couldn't get it down in writing quite right so it never got posted. I'm sure I was trying to complicate it too much. I tend to forget the KIS philosophy of simplicity.

Last Saturday was a beautiful, cool, early spring day. Ken and the kids built a secure area for our cat, Mischief, to have her kittens. I baked bread for the first time in a long while - a true simple pleasure. Favorite tunes playing, singing along, enjoying the time in my kitchen. Conversation with my oldest son - just a 'feel-good' day. Later we went out for some general errands. Silly for such a simple day to stand out that way, but it did.

Sunday was Easter. Joyous, introspective, contemplative. Later an unexpected invitation to dinner at my mother-in-law's home with my brother-in-law and his family, and later, Rob, Elisa, and Zach arrived home, safe, from a week's vacation.

Balance...

Monday brought unexpected pain and turmoil to our oldest daughter, and in turn, to us. Parenting doesn't stop when one's child reaches 18, moves out, marries, etc. There is no 'off' button to those feelings, those habits.

The week continued with less drama but with the see-saw balance clearly evident. Tuesday a trip to the theater with Abbey and her friend, Sylvia, to see the new Hannah Montana movie and a bit of shopping with oldest son afterward. Wednesday brought a midday answer-to-prayer when my grandson, Matthew, arrived. He lives in Texas and we haven't seen him in months and it was the first time all 3 of my grandchildren were together. Thursdayevening our neighbor alerted us to where Mischief was keeping her 4 kittens and we were able to bring them home. Friday was a back-and-forth battle over where Mischief would keep the kittens (she's finally comfortable with the area we built and seems content there now - as long as we keep our garage door closed).

And so it goes...an unexpected bill in the mail, a phone call sharing good news. A worrisome situation with a loved one, a better-than-expected medical report. Doing well on Weight Watchers, making positive changes in one area and not-so-positive in others. Prayer and praise. Joy and pain. Balance.

As a side note...or then again, maybe a relevant note...
As I'm writing this we are traveling on I-85 to Charlotte, NC for an outing with our daughter and her family. In a case of mistaken-white-minivan, we were pulled over. Fortunately Ken was given a warning and not a ticket for speeding. He was also given a warning when pulled over a few months ago (that time for cause). Me, well, I didn't get a warning - I got a ticket. Needless to say this is a teasing issue in our family. So, let's just say I'm very glad Kenneth got a warning just now and not a ticket that he would have to fight but hey, this is getting old

Wishing you a well-balanced week.

Spring Break

We're in the second week of April and 'spring break' talk is everywhere. I guess the weather took note (and took a break from spring) because the temperature was in the high 20's this morning. Yes, twenty-something! I guess it's winter's last hurrah since now, at lunch time, the temperature has risen to 53. The low tomorrow is 40 - back to spring-time normal.

The area we live in straddles two counties; Greenville and Spartanburg. Spartanburg K-12 schools were on spring break last week, and Greenville kids are out this week. Our son's college break was a few weeks ago. Activities such as scouting, AWANA, speech classes, and even babysitting Zach are affected by spring break so we have a bit of a lull this week. Our daughter, Elisa, enjoyed spring break so much as a teen that she's continued the tradition into adulthood and is in Florida this week. (Hey, Elisa - send G'ma some Zach pictures, please.)

Let's see...

• I had a birthday last week. It was a great few days (I'm pretty good at dragging these things out) and actually ends with a birthday dinner tonight. I was the recipient of a pedicure, purse, money, headphones, books, ice-cream maker, clay creations from Abbey and artwork from Christopher. I was also treated to lunch at a local Japanese Restaurant and dinner at my favorite little Italian restaurant, Mythos.
• Christopher and Ken went on their 2nd Boy Scout camping trip last weekend. All went well. I'm really excited about this as a mom. Christopher is learning some really wonderful skills and having time with his dad, Uncle and Cousin.
• I signed up with Weight Watchers. So far, so good - I've felt good about being on the program and it's been fairly easy. It's been two weeks but hey, every journey has to start somewhere.
• We also joined our local 'Y.' I haven't been yet (sheepish grin) but will start working that in within the next couple of days.
• Out of the mouths of babes... I recently commended Abbey (8) on her 'can-do' spirit. She was very quick to agree with me and then added 'I make things happen.'
• Oldest son registered for fall classes this morning. I can't believe he'll be a junior already. Of course it's also time for me to consider curriculum for our two youngest. Even after all these years the process still makes my head spin. I'm in a never-ending-quest for 'the best' curriculum and it just ain't out there. The 'best' is, of course, a relative term and that which is best for me or my kids may be worlds apart from what is best for another family. I know this because I've purchased about everything that others have said is 'the best.'

On a final note...

Last week I asked my son to please work on getting the screen protector off of my touch-screen phone. Before long he showed me where the upper left corner of my screen was coming off. Well, it turned out that I didn't have a screen protector on the phone after all and all his hard work went to removing the upper corner of the touch-screen! I sure am glad it was still under warranty and we have a terrific phone guy!