friday virtual coffee...

You know when you have only a little to say about several things? A coffee chat is the way to go, and virtual? Well, what isn't virtual these days? Half of me longs for real-in-person-life, and the other half of me is pretty content with the isolation. On this Friday, which somehow feels like a Monday, I took out my Dolly mug and filled her up with some strong hot chocolate....because the coffee is already long gone {and now that I have said all of that, I hope I can recall what else is on my mind!}

My day started at the computer... trying to get a vaccine appointment for Bob. I do not know the trick to actually acquiring an appointment, and it's ticking me off {this has turned my rare cynical side on overdrive!} People get through, the appointments disappear. I feel like I am doing something wrong. But my Mom texts me that she loves me, and my heart softens enough to return to myself. I guess it's just not our turn. And... if all these people got appointments today, they shouldn't be on trying next time. I just want him safe. Even though I missed my walk in the chilly air this morning, I did get in over 5k steps at the computer. Check!

Yesterday I did get my walk in, although the chill had not quite arrived. The air seemed light and fluffy, wispy clouds blowing by, and catching sight of the beautiful lemon moon called me to walk a new way. I followed along beside, while she bobbed along the tree line. It's good to start the day with a smile!

And as today winds down to the weekend {thank you, God} I long to be in the sunshine and feel the breeze on my face. What does the weekend have in store? Maybe a morning of strawberries, definitely a little wine, a few rounds of the game with my parents, and rest... all enjoyed with the love of my life, who keeps me going. 

{the long lost} virtual coffee...

Oh dear friends, how lovely it would be to sit together and visit. Today there is actually tea in this cup. If we were sitting right here, together, I know we'd be talking and laughing for hours, about everything, and nothing, and all of the moments in between.

I want you to know... I had really great intentions for this break from the busy. I updated the blog template, and intended to write! and I didn't. It wasn't that I didn't have anything to say, because I feel as though my whole heart has stored up a thousand words. I suppose I was feeling motivated from many points and couldn't accomplish them all. The things that did get checked off my list? Painting baseboards, almost all of our living areas, and the front door. I have also checked off several little projects that resided in the someday portion of my head.  At this point I'm just hoping that I might be able to find some of those words again, buried in deep.

I'd tell you that while the thought of working from home sounds nice, I didn't think it was something I could be disciplined to do... but I was wrong. It's coming up on almost two months, and while I wish I had a better chair, I am doing just fine. I miss my people, especially my car pool buddy and my office-mate and our marketing "department"... and I'm thankful for the texts and laughs that fly all day long, and into the evening, too.

I might tell you that my husband has been reassigned to the 911 office and is missing his elementary school kiddos. He sometimes records a story for them and sends it off into the portal, and he's shown them his new desk where he answers all the phone calls. Once in a while he'll drive over to his school and see some of the kids out in the neighborhood, and it's probably hard to tell who is more excited to spot the other. Well, probably they are more excited to see the police car... we see it in the driveway every day. Our own kids are doing fine, too. Cam working, Laura not... but both okay.

And when I stop to take a breath, and realize that this has all been about me, I would stop and look you in the eyes, and ask... how are you? Are you okay? Is there anything I can do to make your load a little easier to carry?

My prayer list is long, and you are on it. The list of blessings, also long. And perhaps the one that crosses my mind the most is that I am not having to teach my kids while I juggle all the rest of life. My heart aches for the parents that are struggling to find a routine for this monumental task.

Until we can meet, know you are on my heart, and I miss you.

a quiet luxury...

One more cup of coffee this morning is a quiet luxury.
I've already checked a few things off my list. Workout {check}, breakfast within an hour of waking up {check}, a whole lot of water sipped {check}... and now that I'm back from dropping Laura at work, I have a few more minutes to decided what to do with this beautiful day that lays before me.

I'm not usually so motivated in January. I feel like I typically am not quite ready for fresh and new, and I'd rather drag my December feet until Valentine's Day. Or, the night before Valentine's Day! That is when I would always swing into high gear, crafting up some fun and fabulous cards with my kids for school... the next day. But these days, there are no kid crafts to create, and the only school projects that come my way are at the request of my favorite school deputy. If I'm really honest, I would say that I thought I would miss those days desperately... but I don't. I loved the journey of Laura and Camden growing up, and of course, just like "they" said, it went way too quickly. But on the other side, there is a whole lot of wonderful.

It is a very nice feeling to sit and contemplate, watching the palms sway in the breeze, and have a breath of contentment wrap around you.

virtual coffee (or tea!)

Amy at Lucky Number 13 has invited us for coffee again...
If we were really going to meet for coffee today, I'd ask you to swing on by... the sun is glinting through the trees in the backyard and the sight always brings me joy. The breeze is kicking up, and even though it hit 90 degrees today, I think the humidity is down 1/2 a percent... kind of like the promise of fall.

Today, it is tea for me. I have scrounged the cabinets for something to satisfy the hunger created by this prescription of steroids (really swollen sinuses) and after the stale oreos, tea sounded sweet and delicious. And it is... especially out of this mug I picked up in the Amsterdam airport. Oh, I fell in love with the tulips and the blue delft in the first few minutes of the ten hours we were there!

If we were meeting up today, I'd tell you how I started on Laura's homecoming dress... and it is looking beautiful! I am almost done, and I hope to finish it before Saturday... you know, when the dance is. I am hoping against hope that the fiasco of a football field will be approved for Friday night's game... it has been a strange marching band season so far... but I never tire of hearing that cadence and watching them take the field. And most of all, I am looking forward to sitting with my Mom in the stands... because I am missing her like crazy.

Today I'd tell you that I watched Dancing with the Stars last night with the lowest of expectations... and I ended up loving it, texting back & forth with a friend... laughing the whole time. Perhaps this season will be better than the last... but truly it is more about the fun of sharing notes with a far-away-friend than the dancing. Thank goodness for Tivo... that cute little guy helps me keep up on my tv obsessions.

If we were really meeting for coffee today... I might remind you to really live in every moment with your kiddos... the time is flying right on by and I am noticing that my baby is almost as tall as I am. I wonder if I even have til our December birthdays before I'll be looking up at him. I am so thankful he is still willing to hug me everyday...

Till next week, friends... thanks Amy, for inviting us for coffee (or tea!) and sharing this real life together.

coffee talk

Tuesday afternoons I’ve been peeking in at Amy’s for coffee.
Well, not real coffee… virtual coffee.
And today?
I thought I’d stop in… instead of just peeking through her window.

So, if we were really meeting for coffee today, I’d just have to tell you…
I finished my Africa scrapbook this weekend. For the last three weeks I have put my heart and soul into it.  When I was down to the last few pages, tears caught me by surprise, even though I had been warned. And then, when the album was finally done, I vacuumed the floor. It seriously needed it. Seriously. 

I’d also have to tell you that instead of a traditional Labor Day BBQ, we went out for pizza. With friends. There were eight of us, four kids, four adults… and we let the kids all ride in one car and the adults were in the other. It was… surreal. I’ve known Char for 13 years… and to see she & Laura hop into a car on their own, then add in a brother each, was mind-boggling. That this much time had passed, that I am getting… old. But at the same time, it was really cool.

Before I let you chat on and on, I might just ask you for a prayer… for friends. A husband who leaves for Afganistan on Monday, and his family who will most certainly be missing them. Thanks…