Last Shred of Sanity

So... sometimes I'm not cool as a cucumber. Sometimes I wonder how I will actually end the day at the same level of sanity as when I started it. Well, yesterday I found myself sitting in my Suburban. It was parked in my garage. The windows were up... it was a bit warm. What was I doing? Hiding from my children. (Did I mention how needy and greedy they are?) I continued to hide for five minutes while I ate licorice. Five minutes not so long, you say? Oh my friend, you highly underestimate the speed and rate of consumption during ANGER EATING. It is quite staggering. Nobody found me! I polished off the licorice before anyone was even calling me! (Okay... truth be told... the windows were up despite of the heat. They may have been calling, but I never heard them.) As I was sitting there, I did happen to notice how nicely my husband has organized the garage. But of course it is organized... he gets to work without kids at his beck and call. "Go ask your mother," is his usual reply! Still, I did admire his work as I overheated in the stifling suburban. Did I mention I reclined the seat? Lo and behold, I hung on tightly to my last bit of sanity for yet another day. Life is good.

True Love

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.

~Mignon McLaughlin

Family Vacation

I just got back from a family vacation. I was in charge of planning the vacation for the entire gang; we had 40 people in one place. The clincher? It was my husband's side of the family. Yes, I, the IN-LAW, was in charge of planning every one's fun-filled, once a year vacation. Pressure? YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT!!!!! I knew it would be great, and a ton of fun, but I knew that they didn't know that! You see, I grew up cramming a bunch of aunts, uncles, and cousins into a tiny cabin for an entire week, every summer! We had a blast! Most of my favorite childhood memories involve those summer vacations. My husband's family, on the other hand, had never done anything like that!! Well, the place I found for our vacation, had 6 bedrooms, multiple futons and hide-a-beds, 5 bathrooms, a pool table, ping-pong table, play-set, volleyball... the works. What a castle! Much more than what I grew up with. Still, I was a nervous wreck wondering what everyone thought of the place, and the whole idea of putting the entire crew in one spot for five days.

I am happy, thrilled, and relieved to report that we all had a great time! Everyone got along very well. Like most vacations, the time went way too fast!! We had fun on sea-do's, four-wheelers, playing in the water, on the boat, and telling jokes around the kitchen island. I know my mother-in-law worked way too hard making sure everyone was fed, but the rest of us enjoyed time of leisure.

I absolutely adore my husband's family... they are generous, loving, and a lot of fun! If there is one thing I learned from this experience, it would be this: I will gladly plan the next reunion! I won't be nervous this time, since they all have experienced what I knew all along.... being together in one spot for a few days is a precious gift.

I have sand and shells from the lake we stayed at, in a jar. I placed it on my windowsill above my kitchen sink... I get to relive precious memories every day. My heart smiles.