Miracles in the Wash

Do you believe in miracles? Today I think they must exist. Either that, or the Universe is playing a horribly cruel joke on me. I choose to believe in miracles.

What happened you ask? Well, my washing machine has been slowly seeming to be on its' last legs. The timer for the wash cycle has been broken for over a year, but we have been able to move the setting manually and keep going. Several weeks ago, the washing machine started making a weird ticking noise during the wash cycle.  Last week, it started making that weird ticking noise every time the tub would be moving.. in other words, it did not make it during the rinse cycle.

We have been leery to use it, and have been putting off laundry for several days since. But, as everything around the house always does, the laundry pile built up. As the washing machine is in the kitchen pantry, and the hamper at the entrance to the pantry, the pile quickly became problematic as it spilled into the door way and started invading the kitchen itself. When I had to move dirty laundry out from in front of the refrigerator this morning, I finally reached my limit. I decided that I would just do what laundry I could and pray the washing machine would just hold out for a few months until I could do something about it.

I started with the bigger things spreading across the floor, and grabbed blankets to start first. And as the load finished, we realized that we had not heard the ticking sound. I started a second load of blankets, and amazingly enough we still did not hear the ticking sound. I have now gotten a chance to run the fourth load through the wash without any strange noises.

The question I posed to my kids was, "Do you think it is possible the washing machine miraculously fixed itself?!" And the answer I got was, "Maybe the timer will fix itself now!"

For now, I am just immensely grateful that the washer seems to have worked its' kinks out, and seems to be working again. Thank you, thank you, thank you Universe!

Happy Mother's Day

On this Mother's Day, I am grateful for my mother, my grandmother, and my children.

I am grateful for everything my mother has done for me. I am grateful for the stories she read me when I was little, and for the recordings she would make of us reading them together. I am grateful for the time she always found to spend with me, regardless of being a working single mother. I am grateful that she stepped in to be the Girl Scout leader so my school could have a troop. I am grateful that she brought so much learning and exploring and creativity into my life. I am grateful for the unconditional love she has always had for me.

I am grateful that my grandmother is my grandmother. I am grateful for all the things she did with me when I was younger.. I loved going to see plays and operas with her! I am grateful for all the holidays we spent at her house, and all the memories of happiness and laughter. I am grateful for all the wonderful conversations I have been blessed to have with her over my lifetime. I am grateful for the unconditional love she has always had for me.

I am grateful for each one of my kids. They are each a special blessing that brings joy into my life. I am grateful that I have always known what unconditional love is, and am able to love my children that way.

To all the other mothers out there.. I hope you have had a wonderful Mother's Day.

Lost in life..

Believe it or not, that is a good thing. I am lost in life, and loving it.
I am enjoying all the conversations I have, even with customer service people, and loving that I am able to make other people's days better. I am loving spending time with my family, with my kids. Sometimes they are loud and rambunctious, but I choose to see that as a reminder of how healthy they are. I am loving spending time with the love of my life.. he is what makes my heart smile, and why I see hope through all the rain and clouds in my life. I am enjoying my fish.. watching them swim slowly along the front of the tank is a vision of peace to calm my nerves. I am grateful for my cats.. the way they climb into my lap asking to be pet, the way they purr when I pet them..
I am grateful for all those little things in life that we so often take for granted.. all those little things that put a smile on my face each and every day.

Through The Pain

There are days that I wish I was normal. I think everyone has those days. And there are those who would remind me that there is no normal, because we are all unique. But today I wish that I did not have a birth defect that leaves me with chronic pain. On days like today, the pain is so great that it is disruptive of coherent thought. And even through that pain, I have so many things to be grateful for.

I am grateful that I watch my children racing around the yard, and climbing on to the roof every day. I am grateful that I have learned to take advantage of all the down times in my life, and always find a way to see good things in them. I am grateful for how my mother read to me, and made books come alive when I was little. I am grateful for so many wonderful authors who can weave worlds of wonder in our brains with just letters on a page. I am grateful that I turned on the television this evening at the right time to unexpectedly catch a program of classical music played by a trio of renowned musicians. I am grateful that I have two strong boys to take the garbage out!