saffronhare

You go to bed before all the kids have been tucked in. Like, even the third-grader. But WOW did I ever need it! Yesterday was the kind of mellow evening that made it possible, too. Crockpot chili was ready to go on the table (with bonus homemade cornbread) when everybody got home, ludicrously hot and deep bath loosened up my muscles and lungs,and before-bedtime routines went smoothly with the kind assistance of hubby putting away leftovers. (Sometimes, that little bit of help and company makes a huge difference when I really dontwanna.)

I was ready to lock up and turn off lights when I realized it was only 8:30 p.m. -- two whole hours ahead of schedule! No dance or TKD class. No meetings. No holiday preparations to get a jump on. THANK YOU LORD. I turned off my bedside light about 30 minutes later and let Mac (who was up in bed at an unprecedented hour as well) pet me to sleep while he read a book. I have no memory of him turning off his light. It was a better night of sleep than the last couple of nights have been, too. Not super yet, but BETTER.

It's amazing how that kind of evening resets my whole universe. I suppose it says something, too, that I have just used more wordcount to talk about SLEEP here than I've used in perhaps the last few weeks to talk about anything else. Ha!

Everyone is back at school for a full day today, with the regular grind of meetings and classes starting back up by Monday. I can really feel the leveling-up of kids in the household lately. PB is in her final semester of high school and really effing ready to be outta here. The next two teens down the line got their learner's (driving) permits over the holiday. Shifty McGee's voice is changing and he's stretching out of his long pants again. FionaPie is growing teeny-tiny boobies (which she'd be mortified to know I'm talking about). And KiraDeara can do it all by herself, thankyouverymuch.

It feels like there's change in the air for 2012. People are getting real and making shifts toward what feels authentic and sustainable for their long-term visions. It's inspiring to hear what's on everyone's minds. Feeling like my own foundation is solid enough these days to really chew on the best stuff. Yay!

FYI: I'm (invisibly) cross-posting from DW these days, mostly because I can't access ElJay at the office. I check/read both and still enjoy the merits of the older platform, but haven't really bothered with the whole link-fu thing. Waves in the ocean, man.