Practice makes better.

Just a few scenes from the day:

I told him to get his shoes. He chose boots. On an 80-degree day.

It was a really good day.

Yesterday was just...too tight around around my neck or something. Not bad, just ill-fitting for the most part.

I still feel a little "rammy," as my husband would call it, like I'm waiting to arrive, but I lived my day. I was there. I didn't walk through the time and then think Was I even awake? Did I notice my son? It was pretty beautiful, actually.

I woke up, after too few hours of sleep (I really need to change this not-sleeping-enough thing soon), and in yoga-speak, I set my intention for the day: I'm going to go to bed early, but until then, I'M GOING TO LIVE THIS DAY.

There were no grand gestures. Just me and Nolan, for the most part. We took our time at home in the morning and mostly read books (he hadn't had enough sleep, either). We took a walk, watched the cars, played at the playground, and then sat on the porch eating frozen pineapple and watching more cars. We visited a sweet friend.

It was good.

I've been writing more, too. I actually published a post at The Social Eater for the first time in months. I'm not sure if the published thing is going to happen anytime soon, but I'm practicing. I starting wiggling my way back into it and eventually, maybe it'll be formal (or not), but either way, this little bit feels like me.

There are cells of insecurity that still live inside of me. They show up in moments and days. Sometimes I am able to shove them aside long enough to OWN what makes me me, with no apologies, and in enough comfort that I'm not defensive or abrasive. I'm practicing.

We Dance(d)

Nolan and I have a bit of a guilty pleasure.

We watch Glee music videos and sing and dance. (Sometimes we mix it up with Macklemore. He loves the official "Can't Hold Us" video- particularly the beginning, because there is a plane in it.)

I've been finding the voice that I think I once had, the one that belts out songs, because I love it and because Nolan smiles the best kind of smile when I do.

That kid.

Today, as we were watching side by side and I was singing, he wrapped his little arm around my neck and pulled me closer, beaming.

He is tearing down all kinds of insecurities in me. I can't throw or catch, but he hands me a basketball or a baseball and insists it's my turn. I'm learning to throw. I'm learning to try again because what I tell him to do.

I'm confident I'm going to learn all kinds of things I previously said I'm not good at in this life as Nolan's mama.

6 More Reasons I’m Actually Thankful for Life in a Tight Financial Spot

1. I've discovered I actually crave simplicity in my life.

2. Free entertainment is usually what we can afford right now; I've discovered it's some of the best.  We explore the local trails. We go to the playground regularly. We go for walks and take our sweet time taking notice of what's right in front of us (Nolan has certainly helped us out with this one a LOT). We talk to our neighbors and occasionally make treats to deliver to them.

3. We've eaten more meals in homes (ours and otherwise). You know what? A little bit of self-made walls need to come down in order to have someone into your home. It's a beautiful thing; certainly part of the community-glue-at-the-table I'm so fond of.

4. We are at least a bit more empathetic towards people in more difficult situations than ours. We would certainly be having a much more difficult time without the help of our family. How does anyone  get through tough situations or raise kids without support? Somehow they do, and they deserve my support if I can give it.

5. We discovered SWAN adoptions. Both Tim and I want to adopt our next child, but we know there's no way we can afford it. We've been introduced to some great foster-to-adopt programs that will make adoption possible for us.  I'd be proud to be involved even if we did have the cash we need to bring our next kiddo home.

6. Tim and I have had to work as a team in a different way. Of course, there's been some tension and some tough spots. But I think we're continuing to grow stronger as a team.

There is good in every day. Look for it. Life is a whole lot richer that way.

Why Living Paycheck-to-Paycheck Has Been Good For Me

We are struggling financially.

For a while, I would try to explain that when I said no because we didn't have the money to spend.  I said "no" to a lot. Sometimes I would be met with a "me,too,"  and feel hopeful about someone who understands! I would usually end up disappointed when one of the next statements would have something to do with not wanting to take money out of savings.

Savings? We don't have that anymore. You don't really understand, I would think, and then try to change the subject.

For a while, I would worry about perceptions of our life. We said no, no, no (some of which we would say no to even if we had the money to spend), but I wasn't working at all. Now, my husband works a job and a half, and I only work part time. How does that look?

I'm a worrier; peace doesn't come to me naturally. It is a trudging forward, a falling, and trying again.

For awhile, I was trying to figure out the healthiest version of us, so I was looking around saying, "I don't want that," "I don't want that," and "I don't want that." I got a little anxious when I realized the same thoughts about us might be floating around.

I am over that.

Once in a while, I have the privilege of nudging a would-be yogi into taking their first class. I hear a lot of "well, I don't have good balance," "I'm going to look ridiculous," that kind of thing. I always reassure the person that the only ones who will and should be looking at them are the people who don't know what they are doing and are looking for some direction.

That is how life goes, right? If people are looking at our family and saying, "I don't want that," well, good for them! They are trying on their own changing life, and that is necessary.

I've been fighting for a healthy family in the middle of the strain a tight budget can put on a family. I just don't have room for worry over what we look like any more. I just don't have the option than to try to really understand a person, rather than only who they look like they are.  Some amazing, not-just-like-me angels have been my strength when I felt like I was running out. They shared their stories, too, even though I might not really get it.

I'm getting better at getting to know people for who they are, instead of what they can do for me.

Maybe I could have changed like I did another way, but living paycheck-to-paycheck is how it happened for me. I am thankful it did.

Lots and lots and LOTS of coffee

I have 13 minutes to write and too many words to spill.

Be warned that I'm going to hit publish at the end of those minutes, even mid-sentence. I'm writing this for myself, because I need to.

Writing is just part of who I am. My mom taught night classes when I was 4 and 5 (and maybe older, too?). He taught me math using word problems because he knew I would be able to understand better that way.

I wanted to be a journalist.

I threw that dream away when it came time to decide my forever fate at the wise old age of 18. I didn't see how it would work, if I could really do it, if I would hate sitting in a cubicle.

Journalism might have been perfect for me, but I'm not here to talk about what maybe I should have done. That's done. I'm here to talk about now.

I'm thinking I might become a drinking coffee at 8 pm kind of girl. That's about when I crash (after work and playing with Nolan and doing house-y things and maybe making dinner. But there are THINGS I want to do. I haven't written in Social Eater for a long time, very much hear, and frankly, even though I still carry some fears, I want to get published. I want to get published several times, honestly.

My husband works two jobs right now- one full time and one part time. I work as many hours as I can get, and when we can get time with the whole fam, I want to soak it all up. I cherish my days off with Nolan, my time to catch up with friends, all of that.

I've been looking for ways to bring in more income. Maybe I'll end up working full time. Honestly, honestly, I think Nolan would miss me but he would also really love all that time with other kids. The kid just loves to be around other kids. He gets that now, but not as much as he would like.

If I'm going to be working that much, I'd prefer to be doing something I can get behind. Kimberton is that; I'm just not sure there's a place for me to climb up to just yet. I'm exploring my options and putting myself out there. I'm also thinking maybe it's time to make my decades-long dream come true. Maybe I'll work my little (big? depends on who you ask, I guess) tail off and get published, over and over until I get paid well for it. Maybe I'll stay up til midnight or wake up at 4 am to make it happen.

But I'm going to make it happen. With the help of coffee and my husband and Uncle Dave who have encouraged me to just try it already, maybe, just maybe I'm about to become an author.

Sometimes we need to leave Jesus out.

Have you heard of VBS? It's Vacation Bible School. Every summer, churches host a week of themed Bible stories, games, crafts, skits. I'm not a fan of VBS for a number of reasons, which are mostly different from the reasons I wasn't a fan when I was 12.

First, I was 12. In 6th grade and not interested in songs with motions and fill-in-the-blank stories. I was interested in finding my place among my friends, in life, all of that. I was always a little uncomfortable, and I wanted someone to help me hash out tough questions.

I still went. I was still at that age when I had to go where my parents took me. I probably would have gone anyway just because I felt like I "should." I was (am still?) just like that.

Some of my friends went, too.

Ugh. My friends.

Some of my friends then just were not good for me at all. I thought they were more "popular" than me because they had more boyfriends and were friends with older kids...but they were just mean and bossy a lot of the time.

I was still trying to discover my place, so I stuck with them.

Well.

That week at VBS, there was a girl, Vanessa. She was kind of quiet and stuck to herself, but I wanted to be her friend. I mean, I was kind of quiet and stuck to myself, too. I understood. My friends didn't like it. They didn't like her for stupid reasons, and it got to the point of choosing between Vanessa and those "friends."

I thought about it.

You know what the best decision would have been right? I would LOVE to tell you I made it. That I was so wise then, so sweet and thoughtful.

I chose to ignore Vanessa for the rest of the week, and THEN. The end of the week came and I knew I made the wrong decision. I was carrying immense guilt on my shoulders, on my back, everywhere.

So to make it better, I walked up to her. My heart was pounding, and I told her quickly, sheepishly, "Jesus loves you." That was it. The end. Our last words.

WHAT. AN. ASS.

Sometimes Jesus' name should be left out of things.

Tonight, Nolan went on his first kiddie ride by himself- the tamest one available.

He nodded in agreement when I asked if he wanted to go by himself. I'm not sure he knew what I was asking.

The ride started, my mother and I both a bundle of nerves. He yelled for me, his face turned red, and he just cried. My mom immediately asked that the ride be stopped (which it was).

It took me longer to recover than it did Nolan.

Being his mother feels like having my heart kneaded on a regular basis.

Nolan is adventurous and messy and wants to figure out how everything works. He tests his boundaries, gives out radiant smiles and the best belly laughs. He loves to work in the garden with Daddy, run-run-run!, sing, play with any kind of ball, and read. He will say he isn't hungry so he can stay outside longer. He. is. FULL of energy.

I kind of like it when I am asked how I keep up with him. It's validating.

(My answer: I played a lot with my diet. I eat a green smoothie almost every day and eat a lot of plant-based whole foods. I am baffled by moms who subsist on processed foods. WHERE do they get their energy?!)

He is my little joy.

Have I said this a hundred times? I would not be surprised.

I do pursue my own passions. I do know I am "not just a mom." All of that.

But, oh, if that boy wants to go to the park, I am out the door.

Recently, I'd had a "touch" of baby fever. We're not ready yet, but that longing was there. When I came back from a recent trip to visit my sister, I felt more...content. Calmer. A little more grown up.

Some of the people I love don't always love to be around each other.

I'm not quite sure where life is headed at the moment and if we'll EVER be ready for another child.

I can live in the tension. And I can do it with peace and joy.

There is so much good in my life.

There are so many honest, thoughtful, LOVING conversations to be had.

There is so much to explore and enjoy with my two best boys.

It's time to celebrate that a little bit more.

Tonight I celebrated my life with a (vegan!) sweet potato cupcake. I might write a list before I go to bed (which should be soon). Simple stuff.

I'm not sure I should even publish this. I mean, there's no neatly tied bow at the end. No measurable goals. But publish it, I will.

Good night to you.

I'd love to hear a bit of your story if you want to share (preferably in person, but if you can't, do share here!)

I got the phone call I needed tonight.  Come over. We're all hanging out in the back yard.

And then this happened.

Soaked. Caked.

An hour before bedtime, Nolan was already losing his marbles and I knew we weren't going anywhere.

So instead, we laughed. We laughed and invented silly games and then laughed some more.

(When life gives us lemons, we're trying to use them these days.)

Stalling

I've been stalling tonight.

I've been rifling through pictures and updates while my mind isn't really on them.

You know, it's hard to come here and write because there is so much I don't even know how to say?

But I feel like there is so much potential in my life right now. I really can't exactly see where I am going, but writing helps me hash it all out.

Typing is faster than words.

Feedback is (sometimes) helpful.

So, here I am.

Writing quickly (all that stalling means I should be in bed by now), feeling pulled to document a few of these moments.

Nolan is in bed, and I miss him. He slept through much of the morning before I went to work. I wasn't ready to leave when the time came, and I didn't get home until close to his bedtime.

I really, really like my job. I want to stay there as long as I can.

But I do miss my son sometimes. I wave and say, "bye, Baby, I'll see you later." He gives me his biggest smile and waves. He's happy to be with his grandparents or his dad.

It's just me. It's me whose heart feels like a rock sitting on the bottom.

That's how love feels to me sometimes.

I don't know how to describe how that's not a bad thing.

It's just not.

It feels like what beauty might feel like.

Or something like that.

Right now, I know I need sleep. I worked out this morning, hustled my butt at work, wrangled a cranky kiddo, and he'll be up around 6 tomorrow morning.

And I'm going.

It's just that, I often find myself wanting time to myself but then I miss my favorites when I get it. I end up stalling and not really paying attention to what I have right now.

I'm getting a bit more time lately.

That's why I'm here.