Family Vacation

This weekend we went away. And by away, I mean a 9 hour drive, each way, with a toddler in tow.

Oh yeah, nothing like vacation to escape real life tantrums and crying jags! :)

So, beyond that little hiccup, we had a good, albeit short, (very short) time.
We went to see my family, which, although full of love, they somehow overwhelm me each time I see them.
Perhaps it's because I seem to have been the only one from my family of beach-loving, gregarious, activity-loving beings that would rather be in the mountains, be quiet most of the time, and take it slowly. Or perhaps it's because I don't talk too much, some days I just don't know.

Anyways,you can see how this would make for an interesting family dynamic.

But, all that being said, we had a really good time. A really good time, which was lovely, and to be quite honest, suprising. I wasn't expecting that. I was expecting I would have to be on my best behavior and bite my tongue.
But none of that happened. NONE of it! And even my lovely sister, who I love more than life, but annoys me more than anyone I know, didn't annoy me...didn't even phase me.

It was nothing but love...nothing but love this weekend.

And, so, it got me to thinking...isn't it always nothing but love? All the times I've been annoyed or embarrassed or full of long, exhausted sighs about my family, isn't it still love?
Although it never quite comes in the perfectly wrapped box I would like it to be in, it is still love. It is still love when my mother asks me about 30 questions whenever I arrive in her presence, then tries to shove food in my face. It is still love when my sister (younger, mind you) still questions my life's choices, it is still love when my child lets me know exactly how she feels about riding in the car for long periods of time.

It's all love-the overbearing, the protecting, the strange, STRANGE ways our family shows that they care....this weekend I learned that, and that it's just up to me to translate properly :)

Working from home (again)

So, today was another challenging day working from home.

The work itself wasn't overly complicated and everyone was relatively easy to deal with, however, I had a little one underfoot the entire time.

They say that being a working mom is challenging. If that is not the understatement of the century, I don't know what is.

So, today was a mess of templates and temper tantrums, conference calls and crying, data and diapers. Big sigh.

The challenging thing about being a working mother is the sneaking suspicion that you are not doing well enough at work, and not doing well enough in your home life, or by your child.

Some days it feels like a constant circle of forgetting the back up clothes for daycare, when you've already dropped your child off, and then walking into work, realizing your notes are at home and the presentation starts in 20 minutes.

Some days it's small things you overlook and forget; some days it's big ones...and you get the sense that while being helpful and productive at one area, say like your home life, there is a dam that is about to burst through the sandbags at work..and vice versa. There is the constant sense that there is sand slipping beneath your feet, rolling out with the tide and you can't do anything to grasp it beneath your toes.

So, to recap: A lot of complaints here, since I have tired head and am worn out by the constant negotiating that is living with both a toddler and a lawyer, who were both at home with me while trying to work remotely.

Oh so tired...thank God for coffee, and a chance at a fresh start (and attitude!) tomorrow-

Hi Again!

So, while the house is quiet (don't jinx it, don't jinx it...) I thought I would take a moment to sign in again:

Let me re-introduce myself: Hi, I'm Liz.

I live life a bit impatiently, and am currently desperately (REAL desperate some days) trying to have patience with God, and developing faith in Him also. Even though I'm human and somedays I don't think He quite understands my timetable :).

Anyways, so that's the main idea here. This is also a personal blog, so somedays it will be insightful (hopefully) and the topic will be God or faith or forgiveness or something like that, and somedays, like real life, it will be about how much I wish laundry would disappear and somehow I would not have to worry about the constant aging of my neck, or why my husband's hobbies involve so many outdoor activities that involve so many bugs.

So, I guess, expect a surprise every time you check in :)

In the meantime, I will promise to be real (but not too real; you don't want to know when I'm writing this while wearing my rattiest pajamas, I'm sure), and in all of this being real, I will try to pretend I don't feel exposed and that my whole life and thoughts are being judged :)

Sounds like a fair trade-off, right?

Anyways-hope you enjoy. And hope you come back to read more, and also-hope you comment on the writing and topics that you love, and keep quiet about the things you don't. HaHa!

Seriously-let me know what you think. And if you have to say something negative, at least type your email in Comic Sans so my feelings can't get all that damaged-

Enjoy-
Liz

Back in the (writing) saddle again...

Hi again...Well, a little bit of life has happened since my last post,
so I'm in the process of updating my content and posts!

In the meantime, grab a moment, settle in, enjoy reading and let me know what you think...
I'll post another piece (or two, hopefully) by the beginning of Monday-

Thanks for stopping by!
Liz