Friends who know me (and still like me). I had a hard, hard night with my kids a couple of nights ago. My patience had been wearing thinner and thinner over the course of several days, and on this particular evening, I lost it. My kids paid the price and so did I. The next morning, I did what I often do when I'm struggling with my mommy duties and I contacted a friend who always knows what to do in these situations. This is a friend who has talked me down from more ledges than I can even begin to count over the last few years. I am so very grateful for people in my life who know me and understand me (or who at least try to pretend to understand me) and who are always thoughtful enough to say the things that will help ME at that particular moment, rather than throwing the usual cliches at me. "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade, " or "When you're at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on," or "What doesn't kill you will make you stronger." All lovely sentiments, I suppose, but hearing these things from a friend doesn't exactly make me feel like he/she is in tune with my specific struggles in those specific moments. The friends who "get" me because they've TAKEN THE TIME to "get" me are the ones who save my life on a daily basis. This makes me think of a song I like a lot. I'm going to risk being labeled a cheeseball and post the lyrics here:
Sometimes I swear, I don't know if I'm comin' or goin'
But you always say something without even knowin'
That I'm hangin' on to your words with all of my might and it's all right
Yeah, I'm all right...for one more night-
Every day...
You save my life
I'm a better person for all that you've taught me and my family is blessed every day for my knowing you. I'm forever grateful for your love and friendship in my life.
The beginning of the end. I work for a major university. Yesterday was graduation day. Graduation day is so fan-flippin-tastic. As I left campus after work, I couldn't help but smile as I looked around. I saw proud parents walking along sidewalks with their cap-and-gown-adorned sons and daughters. I saw the droves of graduates lining up outside campus to have their parents snap their pictures in front of the big signs at the entrance of the university before they made their way to graduation ceremonies. The face of accomplishment truly is beautiful. There's something about seeing someone work hard to achieve a goal--or a dream--then being there to see them cross the finish line and do their victory dance in the end zone. Ok, that was a reference to two completely unrelated sports, but you see where I'm going with this. Graduation day just makes me happy. I'm not a professor, but I do work in student outreach, so in some ways, I feel like my little babies have grown up and conquered the world. Go get 'em, my little lambkins.
Mom. My mom moved here about a month or so ago. We are all so glad she finally decided to make her way out of the desert and into the promised land (sorry, couldn't resist). I have no doubt that she probably feels pulled in a thousand different directions because now that she's here...well...FREE BABYSITTING! For all of us! She watched my kids for me today so I could go into work and I just want her to know that I appreciate her. Whenever she's been here, my kids always come home, look around the house, and say, "Oh, Nanna's been here." She washes and folds clothes, vacuums, cleans the kitchen, and generally straightens up around the house. She doesn't have to, but I'm grateful to her for her efforts to make my day a little easier when she visits. Thanks, mom. We love you!
1 comment:
Good friends are hard to come by! You must hold tight to this one. And, aren't you lucky to have such a wonderful mom! I happen to "own" one of these too, and I thank my lucky stars every day.
P.S. Try Joe Banditos in Springville for Mexican food. Love, Love, Love their chips and salsa. Their chips have a little lime salt on them; and you get your own little salsa bowl, so double-dipping is always legal!
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