From Chaos Comes Happiness

Yesterday, my Ella turned 4. Yes, 4! That's . . . 1 -2- 3 - 4 !!!!! There are no more baby bottles in our house. The crib has long been gone. I haven't seen a teething ring or squeaky toy on the floor in forever ... they have long been replaced with Polly Pockets and silly bands. And while I miss the smell of baby head, we still have the baby lotion on our dresser (and I'll gladly hold on to that a little bit longer!) I can't believe that it has been four years since this beautiful angel joined our family, and made us complete. She has brightened our lives beyond my wildest dreams, and continues to amaze us . . . and I am blessed. I'm also oh-so grateful that while she has grown and grown . . . she still needs me . . . especially when putting her footie pajamas on. And I need her . . . more than she will ever know. Happy Birthday my darling Ella!!!!

You know that saying, "Everything happens for a reason" ? I'm a firm believer in the message behind those words . . . and trust that if something is meant to happen, it will. If it's not, then it won't. I trust the powers that be in this life of mine, and have never been disappointed because of them. This week I've been struggling with blog writing, with a lack of positivity, and with over all gloominess. Not full blown "Crankville" . . . just feeling like a wet wash rag that has been rung out and is left shriveled up and dry. I've felt that I didn't have a single encouraging or positive thought to write, and that I was done with blogging. I felt that I couldn't keep up with life in our home, and that everything was like one step forward . . . twenty steps back. The demands of my job have caught up with me, and I just feel used up. It's a icky position to find myself in, when I often try so hard to live in positivity. But, it'...

Hello dear blog friends! Just a quick post to let you know that I am alive and well . . . and thinking of all of you. It’s been an absolutely hectic week in our “Happy Chaos” home, and the ability to blog has taken a back seat. But happy thoughts of each of you and your lives have filled much of my quiet time, and good wishes to all usually follow. Seems like that darn thing called life is keeping me swamped these days. PG has been in and out of town, and while that usually allows plenty of “me” (aka BLOG) time after the girls are in bed, this week a lousy head cold has taken up every ounce of energy. Worse yet, my brain is on vacation – and the ability to create in any form (tactile or written) has left with it. I’ve had witty and clever topics come to mind, and have often thought, “Ooooo, I should really blog about this.” But most of the subjects would come up at the most inopportune moments (like, while stopping off at a Gas City to for a POTTY EMERGENCY with Ella while running...

In my next life, I'm going to be a chef. I'm going to create beautiful masterpieces in the culinary world, and be seen on shows like Top Chef , or Iron Chef America . I am amazed at what comes out of those shows - and how fast they work and create these dishes . . . really . . . it's a work of culinary art. Yep, I think that is what I will do. Or maybe be a " Real Housewives . . ." lady (because, I guess what I'm living is not 'real' enough.) I'd love to know for one brief second how it would feel to not worry about money - or perhaps how it might feel to walk in a store and buy something without evening looking at the checkbook. Yes, I think that is what I will do. Maybe I just want to be a reality T.V. star. PG would most enjoy having a camera follow him around day in and day out. Lordy, would I be fearful of what that show would be called . . . perhaps, "Those are the Toots of our Lives" or something like that. (bah-dum-dum) I ...

. . .  my shadow.  I haven't seen it in a while, but yesterday afternoon it surfaced. All thanks to this little beauty in the sky . . .    I stood in my driveway for 10 minutes,  soaking in the rays.  I'm sure, if one of my neighbors saw me from their window, they would have thought I finally lost my marbles. Little did they know, I was finding them. Nothing like a little sunshine to warm the soul.   PG returned last night. And I'm taking a few days break from blogland, as I relish in the joy of my family and sunshine. My two favorite things. I'll be back some time this weekend, love!

Yesterday was a challenging day at work . . . not home. Home was great. Work, stressful. We all have days like that, I know. Yesterday was mine. I had to pick the girls up from my Mom's after work, which allowed me a little more time in the car. Since my home is just about 10 minutes from my office, I don't mind the extra quiet car time. And yesterday, I used it well. Yes, time for another Random Thinking Moment. I haven't had many of these lately . . . must mean I'm not "thinking" very often. But yesterday was a good one. After all the stress of the day, the words, "There has GOT to be a better way" kept popping up into my head. So, I decided that I need to start a business. But not by myself ... nope ... I think my sister, my dear friend 2E, and I should start a business. Yep. Because I think the three of us could really do it. Oh, wait. What about PK .... she's a genius. We'll definitely need her expertise. Oh, then how about ...

I was totally surprised when my blog friend Jules from " Ad Bits " comment yesterday that she wasn't surprised I was a little gloomy, as researchers have said that the third Monday after the New Year is historically the "saddest day of the year". Seriously? Not that I ever thought for a minute that my dear friend would steer me wrong . . . but I googled it. And can you believe it . . . there is lots about it. It's also referred to as Blue Monday , the third Monday after the New Year, when the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is over and we are left with some sort of philosophical equation to support our woes.  If I would have read about this last week, I would thought it was a bunch of malarkey. But I wonder why it is that I felt so gray yesterday? Can there be some truth to it?  How did YOU feel? I will say that, aside from waking up with a head cold (yes, I felt that coming on yesterday - and it has kicked...