It wasn’t so bad.

In fact, it was pretty good.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  Luke 2:10

My wonderful mom and my step-dad came into town to spend Christmas with me.  We stayed so busy which kept my mind off of other things, and we had so much fun.  I spent a lot of time getting the house just right… clean, decorated, gifts wrapped and under the tree.  The lights were on outside, and everything was just about perfect when they arrived.

We purchased lots of baby things for a charity so we could provide a wonderful donation to families in need during this winter season.  We went to church on Christmas Eve and then onto a fantastic steak restaurant for dinner.  Food was so good; we drank wine; we laughed a lot.

Christmas morning, my kids called, and we were able to connect on FaceTime.  I was able to watch them open their stockings and their Santa gifts (which my ex-husband and I purchased jointly).  They were so excited and so cute.  After opening each gift, they ran to the phone to show it to me.  It made the morning so much better that I got to participate a little bit in their Christmas.  I think they liked that too.

Then, we opened our gifts.  My parents were too generous with me and I think they liked their gifts as well.  Later that day, we drove out to a resort which is known for its amazing Christmas decorations.  We walked around, drank hot chocolate, and laughed a little more.

Then it snowed!

I don’t generally like snow, but on Christmas day, I think it is magical!  We came home to make dinner.  We had an amazing dinner planned: beef tenderloin, pork tenderloin, squash casserole, beer bread, green salad, and mashed potatoes.  As we opened the oven door to put the casserole in, it shattered.  The front glass of the oven door shattered into a million pieces, scattered all over the kitchen, and into the squash casserole.

Of course, the oven shattered BEFORE we had cooked any of the dinner!!  We had to throw away the squash casserole, and then slice the tenderloins and fry them on the stove!  Still tasted good, but just not the same!

The table looked amazing though, and we had a fun dinner with good wine!  Good wine helped a lot!

I hope you and your families, whatever they look like this year, had a wonderful Christmas.  Find your blessings and count them.  My kids come home tomorrow, and I cannot wait to celebrate Christmas with them on Saturday morning!

Welcome to my next chapter!

Sarah

 

 

Vacation… Well, it’s About Time!

My step father’s birthday is today. My mom hosted a birthday party for him in his hometown in Massachusetts. it was a great party. Lots of clam chowder and lobster. It was amazing!

I have spent the better part of this weekend bingeing on seafood, most of which has been either dredged in butter or smothered in cream. Oh, I am bloated, but it sure is tasty!

The kids did not join me on this trip. They stayed home with the first ever, non-family overnight babysitter. I was pretty nervous about it. But, it went off without a hitch, and kids and babysitter had a great time!

It’s been nice to get away from home. I desperately needed a break, from everything! Haven’t thought too much about work, just under the constant stress that is ever present these days as a result if my job.

I’ve thought about the children ALOT, and miss them so much.

But, the break from it all has been so nice, and the trip has been lots if fun. Fun times with my family… Laughing, storytelling, eating, and catching up!

I just left my mom and family, and am sitting in a train, headed to see my half sister and brother before I head home tomorrow. I’m seeing more clam chowder in my future!!

Lots of laughter, lots of love, lots if support this weekend.

Welcome to my journey!
Sarah

Things are looking up!

Things are looking up!  So thankful!  I am feeling so much better about everything. 

Last week, may daughter turned 6 years old.  Almost impossible to believe –  I am sure I will be saying that each year for fhe rest of my life on each of my children’s birthdays!  We had an amazing week!  I love birthdays, and I love to celebrate.  The night before her birthday, I put up a few decorations so the house was festive.  She got a small room redo so I had that all set up for her when she woke up.  Then, I took the day off , and we spent all day together, just the two of us.  We did some back to school shopping, and then lunch and more shopping at American Girl.  We had such a fun day!  We had her birthday party with friends on Saturday.  A delightful day painting with her friends.  She was so appreciative and thankful for all of her birthday surprises, celebrations and fun!  I just love that child.

Yesterday, the kids and I went to church for the first time in a really long time; it was much needed for all of us.  We got to church… late, as usual.  But, we made it.  During the children’s’ service, they allow the children to participate.  My daughter was way up front, and I took Baby Boy to the front and I held him.  He was fascinated and all smiles!  After the children said a prayer, and said “amen” all together, the church was silent. Baby Boy yelled out “AMEN!” at the top of his lungs.  It was priceless and joyful!  He has never said “amen” before. Lots of smiles and laughter and happiness.

After church, I dragged the kids all over town to run errands; we had breakfast; we shopped for sheets; we bought a new computer; and we went to the grocery store.  The kids were amazing.  No whining, no complaining, no asking me to buy extra crap we don’t need.  They played with each other, and listened and cooperated and helped.  We had a blast.  Lots of laughing throughout the day.

Ex husband has been generous enough to allow me to borrow his computer for the last month or so.  My desktop fried and I cannot use it anymore!  I bought a new laptop yesterday, and it is so nice to have my own computer again.  I can blog, and do anything I want without sharing!  Computers become such a personal space, and I’m glad I have my own!  I  probably need to change all of my passwords before I give his computer back to him!

Things are feeling normal again. 

I have actually enjoyed this last week.  Not forcing my way through it and grinning on the outside as I have to do sometimes.  I mean really enjoyed the week.  Such a nice place to be.

I even caught up on some boring paperwork today and filed a bunch of other boring stuff!

Welcome to my journey!

Sarah

P.S.  Big Girl is with her dad this week.  Baby is in bed.  Why is “Team UmiZoomi” on?

Maybe this means I am coming out of the darkness.  I really hope so.  I’m ready to be happy and enjoy life.

Friendship and Laughter.

I had a fun week this week with some of my best girlfriends!  Thursday night, I had dinner with three dear friends.  I worked with two of them at a prior job, and one is a friend of theirs (now also, a friend of mine).  We have not all gotten together in years… and when I say years, I mean like 10 years!!  We’ve gotten together individually, just not all together.  It was so nice to get out of the house, get dressed up, and be social with adult conversation and everything!  I’m trying to build in more social opportunities for myself to keep me sane!  It’s weird how it is feast or famine.  I won’t have plans for weeks, and then tons of things going on!

Today, I went shopping with one of my dearest friends!  We spent 4 hours together, shopping and doing her baby registries!  It was so much fun.  We don’t get to spend time together nearly as frequently or for as long as we would like.  And, we are always interrupted on the phone by one of our kids!  It was so nice to let down, be myself, share WAY too much, and laugh and giggle.  I was relaxed for the first time in a long time, and it was fantastic.

Laughter and friendship are good for the soul. 

I need more laughter in my life.  I am blessed with the most amazing friends, but don’t get to see them as much as I would like.  Work and home and children are priorities and make getting together difficult.  I laugh with my kids all of the time.  I need some time to laugh with adults too – some balance and joy in a different way.

My new goal is to try to make some neighborhood friends.  I have some acquaintances, but I haven’t yet turned them in to friends… people that I spend time with.  I like to text; I am naturally shy, and I use it as a crutch.  Today, I decided to pick up the phone to call a mom in our neighborhood.  I was inviting her son over for dinner, but thought that I would call, chat, and continue to build the relationship with her, rather than just with our kids.  I could have texted, but we wouldn’t have chatted, and wouldn’t be one small step closer to being friends.

Taking small steps and trying to have a fun time.

Welcome to my journey.

Sarah