Family Routine

I started thinking tonight about my family routine and the way we live. I see a ton of commercials lately on sitting down as a family at the dinner table. I grew up this way. My husband grew up this way. But when he became a single parent to two very young girls, his dinner routine changed. He began to allow them to all have dinner watching T.V. I can understand in some ways it's probably the only way he could get them to sit for a bit so he could get a moment to rest after a long day at work.
I have tried a few times to get us to have dinner as a family at the table. This has not worked due to 1) we are creatures of habit and it is hard to change 2) our dining room table just sucks and we really need to find a new one, but haven't gotten around to it.
We do sit at the table together when we have company over for dinner.
But with all this not "proper" family routine of pulling out our TV tables and eating in the living room watching T.V. I find comfort in it. We do often still talk during our dinner, and no one amazingly mindlessly eats. I am proud to say I feel comfortable with my family and know a good amount of what is going on in there lives. My girls are preteen and teen, so I would be crazy to think they told me EVERYTHING. But they are good kids. I see it in the daily choices they make. They can be aunory (I am sorry but I just can't think of anywhere near the right spelling of that word toinght), and I am still dealing with my youngest and her acting up every year at this time of year (will she EVER grow out of it?). And my oldest is more into her phone and music than her school work. But both are polite, don't fight with me, and share a great deal with me. They could both do better with their grades, but they are not bad and when pushed to work a little harder on a certain subject they do it.
In other words I am feeling warm and fuzzy about my family and the normalcy of our life even if it is not what is ideal for raising kids these days.

Peace

Today I have felt a major peace about me. Life has been very stressful for a few months now. And I know there will be plenty more of those, but today I feel good!

I know a lot of it has to do with the finding of my aunt. We are not able to have complete closure until (and there is huge hope that is to be an until and not an if) the person who took her from us is caught. But with the finding of her and saying goodbye, we do have some relief.

I also am back to being happier at work. Since she was found and I had to go into sudden planning for taking off from work for the service, there has been a lot of stress. And more on top when the date for the service changed. This time of year is CRAZY in a pharmacy, so my boss was stressed. But now that it is over and I am back, I could feel her relaxation again. I am still majorly learning things, so I don't think I'm a super strong tech yet. But I guess I am stronger than I thought for her to be so stressed at my being gone.

I also am enjoying time more dearly with my family again. And I am trying to make time for things I want to do. Such as creative things again. I have yet to get into much except reading a little here and there, but still it's a step.

With all this I just feel happy and had to share.

And since it's been so long since I've posted a picture, here is one of my and Larry on the way home after my aunt's service. You can tell there was relief from it all.

Since

The day after my last post my aunt was found. But it was only her shell. Her spirit is with our Lord. I have just returned from a 3 day (2 days of driving to and from) trip to Mississippi to celebrate her life. She was an absolutely wonderful woman and will GREATLY be missed. I am thankful we no longer have to sit in worry or wonder for where she is, but I do wish we still had time with her here on earth. She was taken from us too soon. We love you, Wenda. And we are so thankful that we were allowed to have you in our lives as our family!

For no good reason

I have been UBBER crabby lately. And my poor sweet husband has been the one to receive the crummy end of it all. I have picked super ridiculous arguments just for the sack of hearing my own gripy voice. I tell ya, that man must really love me cause he can wake up the next morning rushing off to work but making sure to stop back in the bedroom to tell me goodbye and love you. He then thinks of me at work and brings home surprises he finds that he knows will get me all excited.
I know what has me crabby is still no routine worked out and feeling overwhelmed with house work, work, and studying. Still happy to be working, but just got to bare down and figure a few things out.
Also we have been having illnesses running through the house. I had a stomach bug last week, and Larry has a nasty cold (at least hope it's just a cold). And neither one of us is getting much sleep.
Also another thing going on that I really should have stopped in sooner to mention, is my dad's sister is missing. She has not been heard from or seen at all since the start of 2010. We honestly don't know what could have happened to her or why. She is 70 year old woman who has very little to her name. We have heard various stories as to where she might be, but they all turned out false. I really don't want to get deep into the minimal details the police are willing to give us. I just ask for your prayers for my family and my aunt, Wenda Holling from Kiln, Mississippi. It is a small world due to internet, so please feel free to run a search for her to find all articles and news reports on her and help spread the word. We still have hope we may find her.

Goodbyes are hard...

even in blog land. One of my absolute favorite blogs to read Crazy Mom Quilts has decided it is time to say goodbye. I can completely understand and respect the choice, but I am sad to see her go. She does wonderful work and is so generous in sharing and even teaching her readers. I still have yet to make my first quilt that she has inspired me to do. I bought everything I need for it on my 29th birthday, but just haven't sat down and gotten to work. Maybe with this goodbye it will be the inspiration I need to make the time for it too.
AJ you will be missed, but I respect and admire your decision. Wishing you the best in all you do, and looking forward to visiting your flicker sight to see what you have been up to. Thank you for all you have taught all of your readers!

Determined in 2010

Had to make sure and get at least one post for December.
I am determined to get a routine down in 2010 with working and getting back to all the things I want to do. That includes blogging again and reading blogs. That make take a while especially with a work schedule that constantly changes, but I know I can do it.
I have finally gotten rid of the Thanksgiving background. A good first step back!
Well I am going to keep this one short and spend the rest of the year with my family.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Seriously, HOW DO YOU DO IT?

For those who are moms who work, how do you do all of it? Just over two weeks and I just can't get it all done! Like now I need to be cleaning and baking for everyone to come over tomorrow. Most days I come home exhausted! I can barely get a load of laundry in. Forget folding! The family has really stepped up to help me, but there is so much I need to do on my own. I just feel like I am not getting there. Chores need to be done, I really need to be studying to catch up with all the people who have been in the pharmacy for years and with those who have gone to school for it. So many, including my boss, think it's better to learn from working. But no one prepares you for how much there truly is to know. Not for a lack of trying. It's just once you've been there for a while it's all second nature.
And you can forget me time! I have a book over due I want to finish reading before I return it since there is a huge wait list for it. It would be forever before I got it again. It would be a fast read if I could just get the time with it. I also fear my newly learned knitting skills are running away due to no practice. And there is so much I want to sew.
I know it would all be easier if I had a steady routine worked out, but m y job is one that has a different schedule almost daily. And being part time and putting down you would work any time just to get the job makes it even more likely to have an unsteady schedule.
I just need to plan it all out as best as I can, but how do I do that?!
The other thing I hate is I don't feel as involved in my kids lives anymore. I still stay on top of grades and work to find out what they are doing in class, but it just doesn't feel the same. I will keep an eye on things. Maybe the more independence will be good for them, but they know if it makes it worse I will quit and there will be no happy campers here!
Ok, time to get to it and try to get all the cleaning done and hopefully some baking too. Hopefully I can schedule in blog reading/writing in too!