The Up Side of Down

This weekend I was feeling down.
Down, drained, lost, depressed.

I had to work on a Saturday, which took a good chunk of my day...and time away from my kids.

And let's face it, I'm still not used to spending so little time with them.

I've been a stay-at-home mom most of their life, although I've worked from home and/or been in classes part time at the University of Texas at different times. But, I've always been available for them.

And now that's changed. The change has mostly been for the good. I'm enjoying working in the business world. The boys are gaining more independence. But, a part of me grieves. It just does.

And this summer scares me.
Last summer we went swimming almost every single day.

We went on field trips to corn fields and roller skating.
We had fun...together.

This summer I have to work.
We do have an amazing trip to Disney World planned, but other than that, I have to work.
And I Don't know what to do with them.
I guess summer camps.
And relatives.
but it makes me sad.

So, this has all hit me this weekend.
Along with feeling drained.
And down.
And lost.

And my marriage is a mess.
A big complicated, messed-up mess.

So, when I got home from work yesterday, the boys wanted to go play outside in our neighborhood park. I reluctantly agreed to go with them, grabbing a book and my camera.






And something amazing happened.

I started out feeling grouchy.
sitting in the grass, watching them play.





And then slowly, I began to appreciate the greeness around me. Texas is GORGEOUS this time of year. Everything's blooming.




And then I felt the urge to take pictures.
Of the green trees.
Of the flowers.
Of my two boys playing together.





And by the time we went inside an hour or two later...I felt re-charged.

And I remembered.
Oh, yeah.

Being in nature,
being with my children in nature,
being with my children in nature and taking pictures...

that makes me happy.

Nature break

Head over to UpTake this morning if you have a chance!







Life's been a little busy, so let's take a moment, shall we?

Let's go on a nature walk.

I need to stop and appreciate the moment.

I need to remember the important things.

I need to remember to check the pockets of my boys' pants before washing them.


or be prepared for gross surprises in the washing machine.

I need to remember to look before sitting on the toilet, because little boys don't aim well...
or at all.

I need to remember to force my younger son to change clothes.
Daily.
Because he would live in the same outfit for weeks, if he could.

I need to remember to check the boys' calendars more often,
so that surprise middle school band concerts don't pop up the morning of.

I need to remember to...

make lists.
Because without my lists,
I don't remember anything!

What do you need to remember?

Alien Invasion or a Cold Front?

I don't normally take photos of the sky.
But, these clouds boggled my mind.
baked my noodle.
messed with my head.

Donny said they were a fleet of alien ships set on invasion.

They look like long fingers or icy knives to me.

The layers of colors, the long, pointy shapes.

They're a work of art.
Nature's beauty often astounds me.

Just had to share.