today was a really strange day. it was kind of rotten from thet get go and it seemed to get worse the longer it went on. days like today call for a dose of the pollyannas. i'm getting really good at the pollyannas.
so i don't forget,
today i am thankful for:
the ability to readjust and then continue on a better path.
a restoring mom + huck nap on the couch and an accompanying dream that i suspect might have been an answer to prayers.
beautiful, fat babies that remind me every few minutes to focus on the things that make up my whole world, instead of the things that make up the whole world. (my whole world is so much better these days, anyway.)
rad tents for snuggling up and reading books in.
this evening at bedtime i put on some christmas music and waltzed with huck around the living room. i kissed those droopy cheeks over and over and over and over. i tickled his back while his neck relaxed and limbs went limp. being a mom is the best job i have ever had.
nothing is what we want it to be, but everything is what we make it,
there is no point in trying to plan out anything anymore.
but lastly:
i will learn to relinquish control if it kills me.
(and it might)
i think everything is gonna be a-ok.
how could it not?
Sounding very Anne Shirley-ish. Everything is gonna be ok. For sure.
ReplyDeleteCan I just say that you are my most favoritest blogger? You are. Thank you for this. :)
ReplyDeletefantastic post. It seems the Pollyanna feeling is making her way around the blogosphere.
ReplyDeleteReally, how could things not be ok with that sweet sweet family of yours. :) AND that awesome tent helps too!
ReplyDeleteWhen you post stuff like this it just reminds me as to why I read your blog more than any other. You are real. You write about the hard stuff and you're so honest and genuine.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds really dumb/cliche but you're not alone. Choosing to be content with what God's blessed me with is something I have to tell myself to do daily.
Praying for you!
Keep writing, dear Nat! You're the best!
you are the best. as is that closing shot. i mean...kill me. kill me now. i'm melting.
ReplyDeletelove this -especially polyanna - i loved that movie growing up. and good perspective...its hard to have sometimes..but thanks for sharing this!
ReplyDeletehuckleberry! ahhhh.
ReplyDeleteSorry about your bad day! But at least it made a good post?? :) This past year I have definitely learned that making plans is pretty pointless...things never turn out how you expect!
ReplyDeleteP.S. awesome tent! :)
ReplyDeleteI second Rebecca - favoritest blogger for sure! xo emma
ReplyDeleteThank you for that reminder! I hope you know that you truly are an inspiration. Thank you for adding a bit of beauty to the world.
ReplyDeleteOh Nat, sometimes when I'm having a not so rad day myself I read your blog and find that yes, everything will be ok! Thanks for this post. And heck yes tents in the living room make everything better!
ReplyDeleteABSOLUTELY! Amen and Amen. Being a mom is the best job in the world, but it sure is trying sometimes huh? The hardest days that I have as a mom are the days when I have made "plans" for us and then they just don't work out because of a baby revolt. It is hard, but in the end it all doesn't really matter because I am the mommy of an amazing child of God who loves me and comes to me for comfort. That makes it all better.
ReplyDeleteI can't get past the Carlie brown Christmas tree!! We always had one growing up and I desperately search for them every year but I haven't seen one in like 10 years! (which makes me feel about 100 years) Ok I'm past it. The problem is you bought pink lipstick, you need an orangey red to lift your spirits.
ReplyDeleteI'm reserving the right to say 'I totally guessed that's what you were stressed about' in about 3 months when you right a follow up to this post...yes? :P
ReplyDeleteThanks for another tops post!
well, one things for sure. you know you have a cool mom (or are one yourself) when there is a tent in the living room.
ReplyDeletei've been going through the same thing. just giving up on planning and focusing on what i have now. and that last picture definitely is an example - with that, how could it no be ok? hope the next few days are peaceful for you.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard when we have an absolutely awful day to be grateful of the amazing life we live. Tomorrow is a new day fresh with no mistakes.
ReplyDeleteThis is the best post I've read here in a long time. I reallllly like when you write so true to yourself. Thank you!!
ReplyDeletep.s. I forgot to say that this post helped me a lot today. Thanks again, Nat Ratty!
ReplyDeleteI know this is totally not the point, but I feel you on the dining room table. My husband and I left NYC for Austin, TX and STILL don't have one. It is like we are allergic to normal sized living spaces now? Anyway, loved the post. thanks + hugs
ReplyDeleteI needed this post. I have been trying to control the chaos around me for awhile now, and I think I just need to sit back and let things happen. I'm happy the internet brought me to you years ago, you get my brain thinking.
ReplyDeleteI have a serious question for you: when you go out, how do you get anything done? Like, with Huck being, what's the phrase I'm looking for here? Um, oh yeah: THE MOST DELICIOUS BABY I'VE EVER SEEN.
ReplyDeleteAre people in NYC really that distracted that they don't stop you every two inches to coo over him and ask if they can squeeze his cheeks?
Your husband is going to be a lawyer? So cool!
ReplyDeleteThis was fantastic, I have been trying to figure out what to share with some friends in need and now I can share this post. :) I agree with Shannon, I'm glad the internet helped me stumble across your page.
ReplyDeleteps. The tent. Oh the tent! I love it.
I love this post.
ReplyDeleteYou bring little tearseys to my eyes. thank you for being inspiring. And for replying to my email. :) I hope you realize that taking the TIME to do that is not lost on your readers. You are wonderful!
ReplyDelete"My whole world" v. "the whole world." Wonderful words! Thanks, Nat.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
ReplyDeleteThat's all.
reverie.
I've been in such a funk lately. It's the worst, I can totally relate. And also this is exactly what I needed to read this morning. Exactly. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteAnd p.s. you definitely just inspired this http://rebekaann.blogspot.com/2011/12/off-day.html and I think you're just the best. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteAhhhhhhh shoot, barbri and the bar coming up for us too , just shut you're eyes, make sure all limbs are in the cart and hold on I say!!! Good luck!!!! Also I've noticed squeezing fat babies helps me too.
ReplyDeleteLife can seem so crazy but then you look back and see it was all exactly the way it needed to be.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Where did that fun tent come from? I think my grandbabies need a place like that to read and play!
An extremely good quote a close friend said to me when I found out I was pregnant with my miracle baby.
ReplyDeleteYou make plans and then life happens."