There are many things diverting my attention lately. Many are worthy of a post, others are not, all of the diversions exhaust me. My most taxing endeavor is the couch*potato*to*5k training I started. I’ve never been an athlete and probably couldn’t run if someone were chasing me, but I’ve always been intrigued by people who could run miles without stopping. The training is going well so far. I’m in the very beginning phase and trying to find balance between running, mothering and wife-ing, the latter being the most challenging.

The super cool Dragonfly Mama tagged me! I love a good tag, its an easy topic for posting and usually gives me good food for thought. Check out Dragonfly Mama, she is very interesting, gentle and vibrant at the same time.

I’m supposed to do 8 lists of 8 things. I’m going to draw this out and do 3 out of the 8 lists today.

8 things i am looking forward to:
1. Christmas- I’m always looking forward to Christmas because I love the season and the way it brings out the best in people.
2. When Little Lassie can articulate her thoughts to me
3. FlyGuy coming home: he travels so much I feel like I’m perpetually looking forward to this
4. My sisters visit next week
5. Dinner tonight: veggie chick’n nuggets, salad and roasted carrots
6. Being able to run 4 miles nonstop
7. 2 week beach trip in August with my sister and her family
8. First pedicure of the summer, finding the time seems impossible

8 things i did yesterday
1. Turned of my phone, tv and computer to spend time with FlyGuy
2. Made terrific meatballs
3. Ran/walked 2.5 miles
4. Helped my niece and Little Lassie make cupcakes
5. Made frosting from scratch for cupcakes
6. Listened to NPR
7. Regretfully gave my friend back her darling dog I was watching
8. Prayed for my good friend who is matched with a baby and meeting the birth parents this week

8 things i wish i could do:
1. Dive into a pool
2. Stop thinking about animal cruelty
3. Successfully potty train LL
4. Live on the beach
5. Eat my favorite sushi (creamy scallop handroll) every day
6. Take LL to work- since I can’t, I don’t work
7. Keep my hallway and nightstand free of clutter
8. Get pregnant- yeah, that monkey is still on my back

I’m exhausted both emotionally and physically, but I wanted to check in and let you know thanks to the help of some wonderful people, I was able to find a no-kill shelter for our homeless kitty. I took her there today and the staff was wonderful. After gaining an understanding of the homeless animal crisis down here, it feels like a miracle that we found a shelter that was willing to take our kitty. This happy ending could not have happened without the prayers and support of others. Thank you Deathstar, Jill, Peggy, Juliana and everyone else who helped with kind words and suggestions.

Have a peaceful weekend.

Lately, FlyGuy as been more appreciative of my wife and mothering efforts. This praise culminated with him calling me the Mother of the Year and the Wife of the Year when he saw me make Little Lassie sunshine toast. I’m not really used to all this positive attention, but it has really been nice to feel so appreciated. Part of me wants to ask him why he is buttering me up. Is there a bomb about to be dropped or is he finagling funds for a new costly, useless hobby?

I think he is noticing this past month I have been making a point to cook and clean like a professional since I gave up my career when I became a mother a year ago. In my mind, I like to think I traded one profession, teaching, for another, mothering. I have a long way to go before I work the kinks out of my mothering style, but I’m enjoying the process. Even though motherhood is not exactly a profession, all the responsibility and accountability that go along with it makes it feel like a full time job. My bonuses don’t come in monetary form, but when Little Lassie sings, “Hi Mommy” when I greet her in the mornings, I feel like the most important woman in the world.