Happy November

I’m preparing to leave and there is so much to think about and do before I go…

Right now the living room is in disarray because the kids did little “shows” for me last night and moved the coffee table around and we did not have time to clean up, while watching the Astros win the World Series for the very first time. I let the boys stay up (even though they were half asleep) while their sister snoozed in her bed, as the last out was made and the guys in orange piled all over each other. I was on the phone with my man, who has been a big fan since he was a kid and he was in disbelief. It was fun to hear the excitement in his voice.

There is a jigsaw puzzle, only about 20% complete, spread across the dining room table. I have done as much as I can so far, with little time left in my days. There are books piled up on my nightstand to read. SO. MANY. BOOKS. But every time I get there (near my bed!) I glance and them and think “someday,” because each night I am tired. There are books to read with K too. And I want to read to her and with her. We do, some nights. But rarely lately.

The laundry tumbles around in the dryer, as I wait for it to be just dry enough to go into my weekender bag. It is always kind of hard to decide what to wear while away. I hate limiting my choices. And shoes, oh man which shoes? I need to finish the dishes and run the dishwasher, take out the trash. Make sure the dog is taken care of too. It rained and rained yesterday, so everything outside is soaked. That means he comes in with wet hair and paws from doing his doggie business.

Kids still need baths or showers and I make sure their clothes are ready for school. It is constant, this hustle and bustle. They have to be somewhere with the right things all the time, and so do I. Sometimes I just want to shut my brain off. Not have to think about it all. Most of the time I am on auto-pilot. My subconscious accomplishes more than I realize.

Oh, and I better get rid of those jack-o-lanterns before I leave, or there will be a mushy, pumpkin mess for me when I return from my long weekend. There is a still a Target plastic ball half-full of candy that I need to bring to work, so the kids and I do not eat it ourselves. That will have to wait until Monday.

Before I jump in bed, I pick up a little. Happy the Astros won; a team from Texas. Happy my kids are tucked into their beds asleep. My bags are at the end of the bed, mostly ready to go. This little break, at the beach with my friends will be nice. But it will go by too fast, just like it always does. And I will miss the kids and Brandon. I will miss his kids. They are part of me now too, all three of them.

I will return in a few days and life will resume as normal. The next week will present with more grocery shopping, dishes and laundry and appointments and floors to pick up of the things we litter them with in this life. And I will hug my people tightly and know that every day with them is a blessing. Every day the sun rises is one to be thankful for.

Happy November.