Happy days are here again.....

You may have already figured out by the title of my blog that I have children. I have three of my own and two stepsons. Ages 15, 13, 5, 3 and 5 months. I used to write about my adventures as a young single woman. Now, almost ten years later, my adventures are probably not as exciting or as glamorous as they once were. (And really, they weren't that exciting or glamorous then anyway.) But I wanted to start writing again mostly for me and my family. To make an account of the stories the kids won't believe when they are older, and so when I am gone they will be able to have a little of me with them, and that they will know how crazy this life is, and how it's all about the small moments. I don't know if anyone else cares much about my little life, but in the words of Billy Joel and Bon Jovi, "it's my life." Three days a week, I watch my friend's little boys. They are sweet little guys. Cute little toe-head blondes running around. One of them is just starting to talk and does it in the third person. The other is a little one year old vacuum cleaner and eats more than two of mine put together. I love them. But right about 3:30 my 5 year old gets home, and that means I have 5 kids under 5 in my house. Eating. Laughing. Talking. Yelling. Fighting. Crying. Snotting. Pooping. And today I took a big step backwards and gave in to an old vice. Diet Coke. Yep. It's bad for the liver but good for the soul. I hadn't had a Diet Coke in about 8 months and convinced myself that I don't need it anymore. Boy, was I wrong. I sat here at the homework table and sipped on my soda, and for about 5 minutes, there was no noise. No mess. No homework. No stink. Just me and my D.C. So goodbye, smaller waistline. Goodbye, clearer skin. Goodbye, no caffeine dependency. Hellooooo happy days.

the music of the night...

Sunday night at home. Kids are finally asleep and I am listening to music with my hubby. Tired, but not ready to sleep. Funny how Sunday is supposed to be the day of rest. I find myself running out of breath all day. Running from closet to closet, piano to piano, and kid to kid all day. Sunday nights leave me exhausted and swimming in my thoughts. What I did, what I didn't, what I should have, what I forgot, what I need to do tomorrow. . . sometimes my thoughts leave me feeling discouraged, but tonight, no. Maybe it's the music that my husband plays. He plays the songs that I love. Right now, it's "My Kindness Shall Not Depart from Thee" sung by Dallyn Vail Bayles. If you ever need a little lift, listen to this beautiful song. It always helps me catch my breath. I love that my hubby is the kind of man to choose these beautiful songs. We are both lovers of music. And he picks the songs that speak to my heart. Some nights, it's "I Love This Bar" or "Wannabe." But tonight, he picks the ones that lift me up. And I know he feels it too. So, with tomorrow coming in mere hours, I am not so worried about the dishes in the sink, or the pile of laundry, but instead I'm feeling blessed that it's quiet except for this music. I have my husband here with me. And that, though we don't always see eye to eye, he, for the most part, gets me. I am many things. But right now, I feel a little more me than I have lately.