Baby Steps To Reach Our Goals

During my rough years with rheumatoid arthritis, I learned many great life lessons.  One of those lessons was that just because I couldn't complete a goal at 100% satisfaction didn't mean it wasn't worth tackling.  Baby steps towards my goals were perfectly acceptable.

For years now I have wanted to have my own garden.  For various reasons I put it off every year.  This year I decided to apply the baby step concept I used with my rheumatoid arthritis to my garden.  I reminded myself that I didn't have to have a huge garden full of various plants.  What was important was that I take one small step towards my goal.

Here is 2012's Baby Step Garden.  Yes, it is very small, but I am proud of it.  I am successfully growing jalapeno peppers, strawberries, and three different herbs.  I felt so proud several evenings ago when I announced that my homemade guacamole included a pepper I had grown myself.

Just as when I was coming out of a two year flare I learned that I had to give my body a chance to meet my physical and emotional goals, the same is true with my garden.  By taking this small step towards the garden I have always wanted, I didn't feel disappointment in myself for going another year without attempting my goal.   In fact, this baby step garden gives me confidence in adding to it next year.  And most importantly, it meets the energy level I have to give right now - another great lesson learned from rheumatoid arthritis.  I know that by trying to do more than my body can handle only ends in disappointment.

Who knows?  Maybe in a year or two, I will have the full garden I see in my head.  But for now, I am completely satisfied caring for my little accomplishment.

What baby step accomplishments have you made lately?

Sneaking in Happiness

I bought these flowers for myself on Tuesday.  I was feeling down and needed a visual reminder that life is beautiful.  Tuesday marked the one year anniversary of my dad dying and it hit me harder than I imagined it would.  In addition, my mom had knee replacement surgery and my husband hasn't been feeling well which worries me.  Plus, I have over-scheduled myself by A LOT.  I know this schedule will eventually be reduced, but for now I don't feel like myself.  I feel like I am living in a cloud that is waiting to be free to live a more simple life once again.

While the flowers were intended to be a reminder of the simple beauty in life, they have actually proved to be a reminder of so much more.  As I have watched the petals slowly open up these last few days, they have been a reminder to slow down and enjoy the present moment.  I have found that by simply walking past this vase of flowers, I am reminded to take a deep breath and let it out.  The flowers have somehow reminded me to smile and focus on what is really important to me in my life - my family.

On Tuesday evening when I returned home late from a day of teaching and tutoring, I danced in the kitchen with Sophia.  Last night I laid in bed talking to her until my eyes could no longer stay open.  Spending time with her reminds me to laugh and talking with her reminds me of lessons I sometimes forget.  My almost 14 year old daughter is very wise in her understanding of relationships and reminded me last night that we always need to look beyond what we initially see in a person because a lot more is going on in the background.  Yesterday afternoon I had a great conversation with Alexander which took my mind to another place besides commitments.  Each night when I get home from work he asks me how work went that evening.  I love that he cares and is interested.  I also love sharing little tidbits of my life away from home with him.  And my sweet husband, who I don't see near enough of, spent some time at work the other day instant messaging with me when he knew I was sad.  He was able to sum up how I am feeling exactly.  I love that he knows me so well and I am glad that I put my phone away before bed and laid in his arms several nights ago rather than once again checking my emails.

My life right now is chaotic and overall I feel worn down and stressed which is not a feeling that wears well on me.  Sneaking in a little happiness though, makes a huge difference.  It lets me focus on what is still most important to me and gives me the energy to complete the responsibilities I have committed to.

The Future

The best way to predict the future is to invent it.

Alan Kay

23 Years

The other day Alexander and I were talking about expectations of others vs. following your heart.  I shared how when I was 20 and his dad was 21, we got married.  Many people felt we were too young and weren't afraid to share the expectations that we should date longer, we should have more experiences, and we should finish college first.  Getting married and being together felt completely right for us.  It didn't prevent us from having new experiences, we just had those new ones together.  And it didn't prevent us from graduating from college.  I told Alexander it was the right choice for us, even though when I look at 20 and 21 years old adults now they seem so young.  I told Alexander that I know it was right for us because after 23 years of married life, I still feel excited when my husband walks through the door at night.  I still feel like I am married to my best friend.  After 23 years together, I am still married to the love of my life.

Steve told me once that when people ask him what it is like to be married to the same person for this long he says, "it is like being married to ten different people."  I laughed because it is so true.  Although our core being is probably very similar to who we were when we got married, we have both grown and changed so much in 23 years.  Our secret seems to be that we have been able to grow and change together.  It hasn't always been easy and I am often reminded of a card we received at our wedding from an older couple that has been married for over 50 years now, "marriage is work".  It is true.  At times it takes a lot of work remembering not to take each other for granted, remembering the other one has different feelings and thoughts than you do, and remembering that everything isn't just about you.  The fun part is that if you continue to share and learn about each other, you learn to know what to expect in the other one and then all of the sudden they surprise you and you learn something new about that person.  It is fun. 

So as we celebrate our 23rd anniversary today with seven teenagers (two of our own and five who are coming for Sophia's birthday party), I am glad that after all these years and "being ten different people" that my husband still loves me and enjoys being with me.  I am truly a lucky to be me!

Gifts from Two of the Men in My Life

I have heard it said that we choose husbands that are similar to our dads. Although my husband of 23 years (as of June 11), is different than my dad in many ways, they have a few very important things in common. First, they have both loved me for who I am no matter what decisions I have made in life and second, they have both taught me to listen to my heart and follow what feels right for me.    

Growing up, my dad was always my "go to" person when I was sad or had difficult decisions to make in life.  When I shared secrets with him, he never made me feel guilty for the choices I made.  He would often just hold me and let me cry it out or lead me through some questions that made me think rather than giving me advice on what I should do.  He always reminded me that only I knew the answer that was right for me.  This has been a very important lesson for me throughout my life and one I hope I am transferring over to my own kids. 

My husband Steve has seen me through my best and worst days.  Through our 23 years together, we have experienced more "ups" than "downs" I think.  But, during the "down" times, he has shown me a strength and love that has made me love him more than I could have ever imagined.  Really, he is the stronger one of the two of us.  His heart is kinder than mine and I continue to learn a lot from him each and every day.

One of the greatest gifts my husband has given me is the gift of listening to my heart when it comes to our children. When I was pregnant I read a ton of books on pregnancy and childbirth.  Then I moved on to books about raising your kids.  Plus, I had lots of advice from family and friends.  I thought I had it all figured out. 

When Alexander was born, I tried listening to what the books and people said about sleeping arrangements with a baby.  I tried putting him in the cradle next to our bed and I tried waking up in the middle of the night to nurse him in a rocking chair.  It never felt right.  I liked having his body close to mine as frequently as possible.    One night when I was in a foul mood and woke up to nurse Alexander, Steve said, "Why don't you just sleep with him? When he is in bed with you, both of you sleep."

I remember vividly the first night all three of us went to bed together.  I briefly woke to latch Alexander on for nursing several times throughout the night but then fell right back to sleep.  There were no more nights of sleeping in a rocking chair as I tried to get him back to sleep.  There were no more nights of my heart feeling empty because he wasn't close to me.  The best thing, we all woke up next to each other and the two of us spent time cooing over our little guy.  What a great way to start a day!  I knew that first night that this was the direction my heart was pulling me.  This was the right decision for my family and I was so thankful to my husband for leading me down this road.

We continued to practice attachment parenting, following our hearts and raising kids that are out of this world wonderful!  Sometimes it has been hard for Steve I think because the kids have often come first.  I devote a lot of time to them which means he doesn't always get a lot of attention.  He has always understood that yet, he also is good at letting me know when the time has come that he needs some attention too.  I am glad for that because I would never want to lose the connection we have.

My kids are my contribution to this world.  The love that I can pour into them now is the love that they will pour back out into this world.  What I love about my husband is that he supports each and every parenting decision that I make and he keeps me grounded when I feel confused.  He guides me to make good decisions that make my masterpieces, my children, that much more wonderful! He encourages me to follow my heart and be the person that I am meant to be. 

I know I am a lucky woman to have had two amazing men in my life that love me for who I am not matter what.  I am lucky that the man I married is similar to my dad in that they have both loved me unconditionally.  The only thing either one has asked of me is to love them back.  So, I am glad that I chose a man to spend my life with that has the core similarities as my dad.  Thank you Dad for giving me a high standard to look for in life. Thank you Steve for being my source of strength and love.

Getting Away for An Afternoon

Sometimes getting away from the normal day to day activities and spending time in nature can do wonders for your soul. Yesterday morning Sophia's babysitting job for the day was cancelled and we took advantage of the extra time by heading out to Matthiessen State Park for the afternoon.

I think we must feel drawn to nature because of the many gifts it gives back to us by just spending a little time with it. Below are some gifts we received yesterday from an afternoon spent with nature.

It allowed us to stop and breathe in the beauty of our surroundings.  It also allowed the kids time to question so much about nature.  The day was full of questions of "why?" and "how?"  I wish I was full of all the answers as they ask them because they are never as much fun to go research later.

It brought out a physical, kid like, behavior in all of us.


Our border collie Izzy challenged me to a run down these stairs.

Mmm.....a mud bath.

Sophia and her love of tree trunks.

Sophia has always needed to go just a little further, never wanting to miss anything. 



Izzy thought we should explore each and every path.  How could I resist?

Is there anything more fun than jumping from rock to rock?



Exploring.....the ultimate fun of being a kid or even letting yourself be a kid again.

At first you try to keep those shoes dry, but finally the water is just too hard to resist.

Using muscles and flexibility for no other reason than it is fun!

And it gives us quiet time to talk and share with our family. 

One thing we didn't expect yesterday was the mosquitoes. We actually left a little earlier than planned because we were so uncomfortable. But, I guess that is nature too, right?

Date Night

For the first time in 14 years, Steve and I planned an overnight trip alone without kids.   We didn't go far, just thirty miles away to a hotel located in downtown Chicago, but it felt like we were far away from home and all responsibilities.  I hope to have many more date nights like this with my husband.

Steve made reservations at a steakhouse a couple of blocks from the hotel, but with the windchill around -15, I  couldn't handle the cold, especially in a dress and heels.  Instead, we stopped at the Italian restaurant right outside of the hotel that just happened to have a gluten free menu.  Less fancy, but still incredibly enjoyable.

Here we are in the hotel.  I am wearing one of the dresses that Steve bought for me last month.  He saw me when I tried it on at the store but surprised me once again by being in total awe of how I looked in the dress.  I honestly have the sweetest guy ever.  I want to wear dresses all the time now!  Also, I am carrying a purse given to me by my grandma.  When I was a little girl, I would ask her if we could go visit the purses in her basement.  She would always satisfy my need to see them.  Together we would walk down the stairs.  I knew exactly where they were located, but never walked ahead of her.  I always respected that it was her job to get the box of purses down and share them with me.  Inside the box were about five purses she used during her younger days when she and my grandpa went out partying.  Several years before she died she told me she had something special for me.  She wanted me to have her purses.  This has always been a gift that I have treasured like no other.  I still get them down from my closet occasionally and just starting using them in December when we attended holiday parties.  I am guessing they are around 60-70 years old and still absolutely beautiful.   

Grandma's Ring

My grandma on my dad's side has always held a very special place in my heart.  I remember her and my grandpa turning off the tv when we arrived so they could spend time with us.  My grandma always took us girls to her backroom so we could see the projects she was working on.  Every year she made all the gifts for the six of us kids and later for our spouses and kids.  She always made me feel special.

Before my grandma died she gave me a ring that was given to her on her very first Mother's Day by my grandpa.  I love this ring.  Some days when I am putting my jewelry on for work or going out, this ring calls to me and I wear it.   I don't know if the ring gives me strength, a feeling of specialness that I always got from grandma or a need to feel connected to her.  Whatever the reason, I always wear it when it calls to me.  Today was one of those days. 

My mom is having a heart cath today.  She is in right now.  She went in knowing that there is a chance that she will also need open heart surgery.  Like my grandma, my mom is very special to me.  She is a role model for me.  She is strong woman.  She inspires me to keep going and achieve all that I can.  She loves me lots. Any healing thoughts you have for her today would be greatly appreciated.    

Holiday Office Party

A week ago Saturday was Steve’s office party. It was fun. As he introduced me to his colleagues, I felt like each person was a character in a book because I hear so many stories about each of them. Seeing their faces is like going to a movie and being a little surprised that they don’t look as you imagined.

Whenever we eat anywhere except home I worry about consuming foods I have eliminated. I was in luck with this party. Everything was served “family style” so I skipped the pasta and breaded chicken and stuck with the salad, salmon and steak. Yummy.

We ended up not staying for the dance. We have been getting up around 5am to work out and we are both beat by 10pm. But we had fun dressing up, eating good food, drinking free wine, and socializing with Steve’s co-workers. 

When we got home from the party, Sophia asked how it went. Steve replied, “Cathy was the prettiest one there.” Seriously, this man makes me feel like the most beautiful woman alive. In our many years together, it has always been that way.

*Yes, that is me in heels!  I was totally surprised that I could wear them all evening.  I have never been a "heel wearing gal", even pre-RA, so this was a step outside my comfort zone.  Since feeling better, I am trying to move out of my comfort zone more often.  It is fun.

Living Simply Brings Happiness

One morning early last week I was walking Izzy when I realized that with each step I took, there was a little hop.  I felt almost like I was as light as a feather hoping along our walking path with a great big smile that came from nowhere.  The next day it was the same.  The day after the same again.  This wonderful  feeling stayed with me all day as I traveled to work, to the grocery store, as I cooked, as I cleaned the house, to homeschool group, and back to work. Even at the end of the day I realized I was still smiling.  What I was experiencing  was a feeling of complete happiness.

My schedule has been busier the last month than ever before.  When I get home at night, I can't wait to jump into bed and fall asleep.  Yet, I feel happier than I can ever remember.  Why?  My guess is that even though  my hands are extremely full right now, I have simplified my life to include the things that really mean the very most to me. 

• Work:  I am working a lot of hours (for me anyhow).  But I love my two jobs!  Both jobs are as adjunct faculty teaching adult English as a Second Language and although I get paid for my job, I leave each class feeling like I have given something to my students and they have given something to me.  They each leave class saying, "Thank you Teacher."  One day we had about ten minutes left of class time so I stood at the door and asked each one of them a different question as they left.  The next day they wanted it again.  Teaching makes me feel creative and dramatic.  Getting up in front of a classroom of limited English speakers requires me to come outside of my usual quiet personality into a personality of drama and fun.  I love being this other person!    
• Food:  I am eating very simply.  I am purchasing my meat (beef, chicken, pork, lamb, and eggs) from a farmer that has been providing for us for eight years now.  We have seen his family go through some ups and downs, but they have always been there for us.  I like having this relationship with the people that provide the foods I eat.  We are eating veggies that are organic (and local if possible).    That's about it. We add some good fats to our foods and the kids eat some fruits. Very simple, yet delicious.  My body is responding well to these foods.  It doesn't overeat because without the grains (even gluten free) my body knows when it is full and it listens.  
• Sleep: I am not getting as much sleep as I have in the past, but I make it a priority to get to bed as early as I can.  My body likes that I am caring for it this way.  Sleep is so important in healing.
• Responsibilities:  I took a close look at the list of things I am responsible for and got rid of the ones that weren't nourishing my family and me anymore.  I am so proud of myself!  People have taken over and done such an amazing job!  It is nice to think we have to do it all ourselves, but really, we don't.  We just have to give up the control and realize things will go in the direction they were meant to go.  I am also saying "no" to things that add stress to my life, even if it means disappointing people.
• Exercise:  I am exercising more than I have in years.  Each morning I get up with Steve and we work out together.  This time is probably the one thing that has made a huge difference in how I feel.  I love having time together in the morning to see each other grow stronger, to laugh, and to give little hugs during breaks. When schedules get busy it is very easy for couples to slip into conversations that focus only on the necessary day to day things.  I am glad we have carved this time out together.  Afterwards, I take Izzy for a walk where I get to experience the gifts that nature gives each day: cold, rain, wind, and heat.  It sets the stage for the rest of the day physically and mentally.
• Family:  Even though my schedule has been really busy, I have found new pockets of time to spend individually with each member of my family that wasn't planned.  With me being away from home more, they each need that one on one time with me to reconnect.  I need it too.
• Friends:  I have been connecting with a few friends that I have known for many years on a whole new level.  I like knowing more about them and that I get to share me with them.   
• Rheumatoid arthritis:  RA is taking a backseat in my life right now.  It sneaks in every week with a new nodule in the wrist, swollen wrist and fingers, or a limp caused by swelling in the knee.  But, overall, it is allowing me this time to experience true happiness.  Thanks RA! 

There have been times when life brings events that get me down and at my worst with rheumatoid arthritis I have felt some depression, but overall I am usually happy.  What I am experiencing now is a whole new level of happiness. I feel it radiating from me. I have focused on the simplest things that give us nourishment and energy: food, sleep, exercise and family/community.  I have llet the other things go to the sidelines. I have been searching for many years for new "alternative" types of medicine, but what makes me feel the happiest and most content is just the very simple things in life. 

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.  I am so thankful that you read my thoughts here on my blog and that many of you share comments with me.  I love reading them.    

Calm and Relaxed

My sister Stacey left on Sunday morning. It was difficult for me to motivate myself to get out and walk Izzy by myself after 11 days of having a human walking partner. Her visit was wonderful and exactly what I needed in a vacation at home. We talked about my rheumatoid arthritis, but it wasn't the main topic of conversation as it often is when we get together on the telephone or in person. Why? One reason is overall I feel better. Second reason and most importantly to me is that after six and a half years of feeling uneasy about having rheumatoid arthritis and especially about the treatments available, I feel calm. I feel like I have explored a lot of different avenues and although there are tons more to explore, I have worked hard and now it is time to relax and not worry so much. Having finally come to this point with RA I didn't feel the need to talk nonstop about my feelings, fears, or next brilliant idea of calming my body. I feel calm and comfortable.

Highlights of our visit together:

I am absolutely in love with my two nephews.

Levi, 9, wearing the duct tape hat Alexander made for his birthday. Levi loved the idea of duct tape art and made purses for Stacey, Sophia and I, pen holders for Steve and David and a wizard hat for Alexander. I love how excited kids get about learning new things.

Leo, almost 7, at Legoland. Stacey and family did this one on their own.

After my appointment with the rheumatologist, Steve and I met Stacey, David, Leo, Levi, Alexander and Sophia in Chicago. They spent the day at John Hancock and The Cheesecake Factory with my nephew Joe.


Together we all took a sunset boat tour. It has been years since we have taken this ride and it was gorgeous.



The boys spent lots of time laughing and bonding while playing XBOX.


We went to the Taste of Lincoln Park since the beaches were closed after heavy rainfall.


We visited Starved Rock State Park for the first time.

Of course we had to take Izzy. She had a great time! She came home and was ready to play ball. She doesn't tire easily.

Also, thanks to my mom who sent the olive green fondue pot we grew up with (full of chocolate!) to enjoy after a long day. So many happy memories were enjoyed around it growing up and were shared at my home last week.

Hidden Surprises in Camping Trip

Saturday night our unschooling group hosted a "Not Back To School" camping trip at a nearby forest preserve. I woke up early on Saturday morning and for a moment considered cancelling due to being awake most of the night with an achy knee. But, that moment quickly disappeared when I considered all the fun we would miss out on. My joints would just have to deal with it.

We decided to take Izzy with us and see how she handled camping. We knew we were close enough I could run her home if things got bad and Steve could go home with her after his gig rather than joining us. The only problem was the forest preserve closed their gates at 8:05 PM at which time we became prisoners of the campground. This also meant Steve could not drive back after his gig and join us which I was bummed about. Izzy did great and seemed to adjust well to camping! That is until dark came and all the kids brought out their flashlights. In hindsight I should have thought about the flashlights, but just never did. Like many border collies, Izzy is a little OCD, especially with flashlights. They drive her absolutely nuts and we rarely use them at our house for just that reason. I ended up taking her back to our campsite and sitting alone for the remainder of the night. (Except when my sweet Alexander came to check up on me. I tell you, I don't know how I got so lucky with this guy.) Izzy was calmer at our campsite where the flashlights weren't in her face but still became anxious when anyone walked by with a flashlight. Finally, I decided to lay down for the night and realized that not only were the air and ground wet and cold but my air mattress was losing air. I knew I couldn't make it through the night sleeping in my tent. Instead I set up camp in the back of our car for Izzy and myself. It was actually a comfy situation and as soon as we were in the car, Izzy snuggled up next to me and was fine. I even woke once during the night and thought, "This is kind of cool. I like the feeling of camping out with my dog and having her snuggled up next to me." The kids said they peeked in on us when they returned late from playing with friends and said we looked quite comfy.

The best part of my solo evening was talking to Steve on the phone. As I lay snuggled up next to Izzy in the car, I talked with Steve late into the evening. I felt like a teenager up late talking to her boyfriend. It was fun. In the morning, my "boyfriend" arrived early with a hot cup of tea from Starbucks for me. It was just what I needed. (How did I get so lucky with this guy too?)

After walking Izzy we headed over to the main meeting area where Izzy stole food from a couple of unsuspecting children but overall did well. My knee however wasn't. Each time she pulled away from me I feared the tears would stream. The kids and I are always the caregivers/disciplinarians for Izzy and Steve is her playmate. But that day he took her leash so that I could have a break. He just always knows what to do for me.

During the daylight hours I had a great time hanging out with my friends and during the evening I had a great time hanging out with my puppy and on the phone with my hubby. Looking at this photo will always remind me that life turns out just fine and might even have a few hidden surprises for us.

Mom, A Role Model of Strength and Determination

My mom has fibromyalgia. She has had it for years. Like rheumatoid arthritis, many mornings are difficult for her to get out of bed. Like rheumatoid arthritis, she fights pain throughout much of the day. Like rheumatoid arthritis, it drains every bit of the energy she has.

What is remarkable about my mom is that even though she fights fibromyalgia on a daily basis, she doesn't let it stop her from living her dreams. After working as a RN, a director and parish nurse for over 40 years for a hospital in Kansas, my mom was laid off. For many, this would have been detrimental. Not so for my mom. She ignored the age issue and the physical limitations and followed her strong belief in the work of parish nurses to create Kansas Parish Nurse Ministry where among many things, she puts in tons of hours organizing an annual conference for parish nurses.

Instead of letting fibromyalgia get in the way of life, my mom had a beautiful house built for herself, she volunteers many hours of her time a week, and in the last year she has spent her time and energy with an elderly friend during his last days.

My mom has had a dream of traveling ever since she was a little girl. Rather than feel sorry for herself or worry that she may not be able to keep up with everyone at all times, she has gone on several trips abroad. Right now she is on a pilgrimage to Turkey and Greece.

My mom is a remarkable woman. She has spent her adult life caring for six children, patients in hospitals, and many friends. She has a heart of gold that keeps giving. She also has determination. Many days are a challenge for her physically and mentally. Like rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia can rob you of your self esteem and worth. There are many times my mom can visualize her body doing more than it already is. Yet, she doesn't let that stop her from living life to its fullest.

I don't know if it is the caring nature of my mom or that because of her fibromyalgia she understands very well the ups and downs of my rheumatoid arthritis, but I often get emails or phone messages from her just letting me know that she is thinking about me and that she loves me. She checks in on me often and has been supportive of all the choices I have made along this journey with rheumatoid arthritis and life in general. I feel lucky to not only have her continued support but to have her continued determination to see life as beautiful with endless possibilities as my guide in life.

Reflection on Friendship

Last week I posted about a lost friendship. I shared that you know you have a good thing when you are a 41 year old woman who still calls your mom to help you through a crisis with a friend. When I posted it, it felt right. Later in the day though, I felt like maybe I wasn't ready to share that my friendship with someone I really admire was lost and deleted the post. However, after reflecting on it a little more, I have decided that this little blog space is my place to share a part of me and a big part of me has felt a real loss over this.

Throughout this unexpected turn of events, my mom has encouraged me with words that I needed to hear. She has reminded me that we each have a role to play in our friendships and that even though we don't always want a friendship to end, we sometimes have to let it go when it is quite obvious it is over. We have to pray that our friend is on the path he/she was meant to travel and most importantly, "be thankful for the good times you had together and let the rest go." I can't even begin to tell you how much easier it has made this by following her words. Sometimes in a difficult situation we forget about the good times together and the things we admired about that person, but when I heard my moms words to "be thankful for the times together", it made everything easier.

A friend of mine always says, "People come into our life for a reason." My lost friend was in my life for a reason and I in hers for a reason. Maybe we have completed the reason for being together.....I don't know. However, I feel ready to "let the rest go" and focus on how I have grown as a person because of the time I spent with her.

Thanks Mom for having the right words for me. I love you a lot!

A Good Thing

You know you have a good thing when you leave the house in the morning and come home to a clean house. Yesterday morning I joined a few other homeschooling moms for an hour drive north to hear author Resa Brown speak. I left a note for the kids with a few chores to do while I was gone and everything on the list was complete. Not only that but Alexander completed the list on his own while Sophia, who is sick, slept. She said she woke up and everything was finished. Isn't he the greatest???!!! My mom would have said "angels" came while I was gone. My kids are definitely my little angels.

Sophia was sick with a fever, sore throat and headache. When she is sick, she just wants her momma by her side. So, when I got home yesterday afternoon until this morning, she has pretty much been laying in my arms. I like that she can tell me she needs me like this. She told me once that even though she doesn't like for her or me to be sick, she does enjoy these days because we lay together talking, reading, and watching TV all day. I enjoy it too! What a good thing to share with my daughter.