TRUTH

"I get the invitation every morning when I wake up to actually live a life of complete engagement, a life of whimsy, a life where love does. It doesn't come in an envelope. It's ushered in by a sunrise, the sound of a bird, or the smell of coffee drifting lazily from the kitchen. It's the invitation to actually live, to fully participate in this amazing life for one more day. Nobody turns down an invitation to the White House, but I've seen plenty of people turn down an invitation to fully live.
 
Turning down this invitation comes in lots of flavors. It looks like numbing yourself or distracting yourself or seeing something really beautiful as just normal. It can also look like refusing to forgive or not being grateful or getting wrapped around the axle with fear or envy. I think every day God sends us an invitation to live and sometimes we forget to show up or get head-faked into thinking we haven't really been invited. But you see, we have been invited - every day, all over again."
 
Bob Goff

...

Remember that one time that I wrote posts consistently and didn't just think, "That would make a fun blog post!" in the middle of life but never wrote about it? Right, about that...

Life in the sticks has been lived at break neck speeds when it's fun and slow as slugs on the hard days. I'm sure everyone can relate.

Today is President's Day. I'm thinking I should maybe google what "President's Day" actually is because at this point all it means is an extra day off school for the kids. Either way, they've certainly been making the most of it:

Floating around in kiddie pools in the flooded front yard? Yes, please.

 I thought for about 3 seconds that I might do all my grocery shopping and town errands today but then looked outside at the pouring rain and decided the kids would have much more fun just getting to play inside (and out!) on their day off. {Poor Fischer still has to do Costco tomorrow with Mama.}

Natalie and Carter are still playing basketball each Saturday. Their teams are amazing (as in they have won by a landslide almost every.single.game) and they're really fun to watch.

I've only gone for one run in the past 2 weeks this is NOT good because of the weather and I'm simultaneously dreading and looking forward to a run with Maria this week. Workout DVDs have still happened, but sometimes there's just nothing like a nice 8 mile run or a heart attack as might be the case for me this week. ;)

Jeff leaves on Wednesday for PA lucky Pennsylvania gets my husband for a week...jerks. Natalie told him last night that him being gone for three days was her max and she doesn't want him gone longer than that. This melted my heart and made Jeff so sad. Poor guy.

Fischer is, as per usual, being irresistibly adorable and picking up on things crazy fast (except potty training - womp womp). He loves sitting on the potty but I'm starting to think it's only because it gives him easy access to his man parts. He has peed in the potty twice, which is awesome, but he's peed on the floor over twice that many times so you know, there's also that.

I was just going to say that I hope everyone has a great weekend but then remembered that it's Monday today.

Seriously?

Blerg.

Anyway, have a great week...

...

Ironically, as I'm trying to open my "Chamomile Calming Tea" this morning I get frustrated and end up calling the tea bag some choice words.

I might need something stronger than tea today.

Like alcohol.

{Ahem.}