All Today

If I were asked to make a list of the things I accomplished today (which I used to do, as a positive journaling habit), I'd have lots of good stuff on it!

My List

- Got the kids to school ON TIME, with minimal voice-raising, and without having to chase down the bus

- Walked with friends in the morning, and got 14,500 steps + 90 active minutes on my fitbit over the course of the day

- Met with a friend to discuss a new service opportunity that has me feeling excited and nervous to try something new

- Showered and fit into some pants I haven't worn in awhile

- Folded and put away three loads of laundry, washed another two that I'll work on tomorrow

- Made a quick, fun "self care" trip to Sephora to get new facial products

- Had some good talks with Ker and Am that I needed today, via Marco Polo

- Texted with my mom to make a plan to see her and my dad this weekend, briefly

- Helped my MIL harvest our 50+ pumpkins since it's going to freeze tonight (Nat and Millie helped, too)

- Talked to Spencer more openly about his diagnoses for the first time; it went well.

- Walked in the woods with my boy for some one-on-one time after his dr. appt where we sorted out some medication needs.
- Had a quick talk with Brian, which is good, considering how busy he's been lately. He even agreed to take Nat to gymnastics, since it was at the same time as Spencer's Dr appt.

- Hugged Natalie after her gymnastics class and asked about the details

- Helped Samantha make a quick batch of cupcakes for a YW activity (that they didn't end up using so of course my kids thought they were a great after-dinner snack, #momisgreat!)

- Got quick dinner for everyone (quesadillas and tomato soup)

- Got Samantha and Spence to YW and Scout activities on time

- Practiced music and choreo for choir rehearsal tomorrow

- Started working on pass-along invitations for our awesome choir concert coming up in Dec.

- Finished a depressing English film that was a disappointment (The Bookshop, if anyone wonders -- slow, anti-climactic, and totally English in the sense that its message seemed to be, tough break, life is not fair, and losing everything is just some people's lot)

- Helped Spencer do dishes, even though it was actually his punishment for hitting Natalie extra hard

- Got all three younger kids to shower or bathe before bed

- Played piano to relieve some stress for a few minutes

- Scriptures and prayers and a peaceful bedtime, even though it was 40 mins late

- Helped my MIL send an email, since their internet seems to be down tonight

Productive day, yes? Just writing it has had its effect... positive journaling success. I actually feel pretty good, reading about all I did today. Yay! The truth is, I've had a rather down day today. I've felt overwhelmed with all the kids' scheduling and the "to dos" of every day this week, and extremely exhausted from start to finish. I dropped the ball and forgot to go to the birthday lunch at the kids' school and  bring Millie some cough drops (she had a little cough this morning). (The b-day lunch turned out ok, because another lady also signed up, but I had said I'd go show her how its done, and well... whoops.) I had a little cry and a little nap before lunch. I ate half a pack of saltines and three pieces of toast because I'm trying to stay away from starchy foods and my subconscious totally rebelled! I had another little cry on the way home from my retail therapy trip. I yelled at Spencer and called him a bully for using his size to hit Natalie, even though it sounds like she hit him, too. At one point, while I was crying in the car, I contemplated talking to Spencer's dr to see if maybe I need medication?? I'm not depressed, but I know what it's like to feel stuck in a hole. That was my whole "aura" today. I honestly didn't want to leave my bed today, and longed to get back in it all. day. long. And yet... here it is 10:30 and I've taken time to write the whole day out, including the "yuck" of it. And... honestly, I do feel better. Writing helps, piano helps, not giving in to the "blah" of the day and keeping busy instead helps, talking to friends who care helps. 

It's all ok. It's just one of those down days that I had to push a little harder to get it all done. Everybody has them, some more than others. And we're all going to be ok. And now it's time to sleep and I'm actually going to leave that last load of laundry sitting in the basket without feeling the overwhelm of it. Goodnight, World. Or as Meg Ryan says in my most favorite movie (which I shoulda watched instead of the depressing one)... "Goodnight, Dear Void."