{hmmm.....}

36 days.

But, who is counting??

Summer here we come. 

{trying to make lemonade}

out of lemons as only she could.

Through tears, Aunt Wanda, I know that you are having

an "absolutely FAB-u-lous" first day in Heaven - as only you

could say it.  I know you've already kissed Dad, but kiss

him once for me.   I will always carry you in my heart and

forever remember how you always made me smile {well,

and Sheila and I laugh until we hurt} with your little positive

words.  You were always and will always be "fabulous."

Aunt J & Aunt Kathy - I love you so much.  

 And, I'm so, so sorry.

{i hear singing}

maybe it's me.

maybe not.

AND.

no one told me tax day is 4/17 this year. 

regardless.

they are complete.

now, i can go back to dreaming...of this...

well, after i pull a few late nights getting several galleries up! ;) 

but, woohoo, i survived 2011 tax season!

{i sooooo need.....}

this

instead of this: 

TAX DEADLINE:  APRIL 15th

on this lovely day of April 10th.

Soon.

Very, very soon.

{oh, how i love them}

Another summer off from sports. 

I always question it as everyone else seems to be

participating in something, but, mine had rather run around

and play here at the farm. Well, having friends over to run around

and play here at the farm is the perfect situation.

But, I feel like that season for us will be coming to a halt.

This may be that last, free summer for many years to come as

lil' man has been counting down the days {almost literally} until

3rd grade football.  Camp would be next summer. 

We were talking about that on the drive to school this morning

and he loved the idea of camp but was a little baffled about

his summer.  Initially his response was.....

"Yay, my favorite sport is athletics".

ha.

I about drove off the road on that one.

Noah tried to negotiate not having Evan start until

4th grade. I think he about had him convinced and

then quick kisses were given to daddy & I,

the back door opened, & they raced out to start their day.

:)  . 

I'm looking forward to the conversation on the way home.

{the good, the bad & the ugly}

of my extraordinarily, ordinary Monday, Monday.

This post will bore you and is for no one but me, myself and I.  I wanted to remember these blurred days in some manner - so, I think from time to time I will post the events of the day.  Yes, I am to the minute basically, but that is how I've billed for the law firm for 10 yrs + {simply in a different format than minutes though}...naturally, it is now how my brain functions re: all things related to time.

But, as crazy as this will seem to some, it may either be a positive or a negative for me.  I feel like I am constantly running and accomplishing little.  I know that EVERYONE is beyond busy.  This is absolutely not an "I'm busier than you" boat.  If it were, I could probably do better by jumping out and swimming.  But, one, I want to remember.  Two, if there is insight out there on chunks of time I am spinning my wheels on, I welcome the insight.

Today is a very relaxed, somewhat boring day.  I've tried to block off Mondays as none "work" days because I am working so many Saturdays right now.  Basically, a day to catch up.  But, being self-employed, there are still work "fires" I will have to address and put out regardless.  It just feels better to know I don't have to go anywhere or complete a session on this day.  

In other words, I don't have to wash my hair.

So, here goes.... 

6:01 - alarm goes off {the first time}...I actually got UP and walked across the room to reset it x 3 and finally rolled out of bed {running at this point} at precisely 6:45. So tired?? 

6:45-7:30 - kids up/ready, breakfast made, lunches packed, my toast scarfed, book order filled out, snack grabbed - out the door and on the road by 7:30

7:55 - kiss boys goodbye

8:24 - arrive back home, decide that officially joining 4-H tonight isn't very likely, therefore, I will skip the hair wash day...quick shower and sunscreen on face.

8:34 - phone begins ringing for the day.  A new MD appt tomorrow for Scott {I COMPLETELY forgot about}.

8:47 - finished my quiet time, ironically titled, "Sabbath Spaces"

8:48 - 2nd load of laundry in washer

8:50 - 9:01 dogs awake and out for a quick walk

9:01 - coffee on.  PTL.

9:01 - clean kitchen with Air1 blaring.

9:22-9:36 quick sweep of the living room/dust/vacuum

9:36-9:42 sat down at desk in LR to weed through the pile that had accumulated over the weekend, update calendar, highlight lunch menu for yes/no's {there are only 5 days in April that one or both will not be packing a lunch}, cameras, lenses, CF cards, etc 

9:42-10:10  pulled up FB and two email accounts to check for/respond to photography messages, take call re: farm purchase, review paypal acct for new payments/transfer to account, etc.
10:10-0:13 update today's To-Do-List
10:13-10:25  3rd load of laundry in/switched - clean sweep of foyer/office
10:25-10:55 week's forecast checked, confirmation sent to tomorrow's session, scheduled 4 MD appts, peeked in on the blogs of my friends - apparently they are on a hiatus. :(
10:55-11:38 - invoiced and settled a wedding account on new accounting system, deposits readied, contacted 2nd photog re: upcoming wedding and ate an orange while standing at kitchen sink. ;)
11:38-12:04  4th load of laundry switch-a-roo,  both dogs out, chickens fed & watered {no eggs, they are on strike since they've been kicked out of their coop for the little ones}, walk-through barn since the crew is on lunch break. 
12:04-12:25  pull bridal packet to send {out of them, lovely}, print and package bridal packet to mail today, f/u with bride via email that it is being shipped today  
12:25-12:36 conversed with 2nd photog re: upcoming wedding
12:41 - finished a blog update
12:41-1:14 5th load of laundry switch {disclaimer:  some of these loads only have a few items;}, lunch of sandwich & veggie chips, read a chapter of James, took dogs out.  again.
1:14-1:20 farm distraction ;)
1:20-1:25 online order from USPS for supplies
1:25-1:46 online order for AMC
1:46-1:52 decision on studio lighting for order
1:52-2:09 had to move all vehicles to avoid barn paint over spray
2:09-2:24 finish edit of a wedding gallery
2:24-2:31 size and add additional pictures into said wedding gallery
2:31-3:48 leave house, scrap dinner plans: order pizza, get gas, pick up boys/pizza, bank, post office, return home for evening {hmmm...tweaked that a bit - took different car that didn't need gas, decided against the pizza, quick trip by bank and post office, then home}
3:48-5:08 prepare 3 CDs of wedding, package, print/sign releases, instructions for printing, 3 phone calls, etc - boys were having snacks and wrapped up homework.
5:08-5:20 order new CD tins and inserts
5:20-5:34 START.  Yes, I said start taxes.
5:34-6:07 outside to play.  Finally. :)  Until the rain. :(
6:07-7:45 watched a movie with the boys / Noah watched and read a book.
7:45-8:30 boys ready for bed.  Trying to keep E calm as the Iowa Testing begins tomorrow and I am trying to rid him of fretting.  Prayers.
9:20-finally got Evan in bed for the.last.time.of.the.night.
9:30-2:10 taxes.

Again, a strange post but pretty much for my eyes only.   Some days my days feel very mundane and the next day feels very much the same, Ground Hogs Day, anyone?  But, many days that is how I get from Point A of the alarm ringing to bedtime. My days definitely do not always look like the day above.  Some days they actually have some fun and other days they can be crazy-frantic. What I am desperately trying to "get" at my ripening old age is...that ALL of the little moments count.  Yes, my family needs clean underwear, but they also need me to keep my spirit fresh.  I can look above and see some definite items missing that direly need to be incorporated, such as some physical activity.  I need to carve and reshapen as much as I possibly can.  I need all of those little moments to count.  Because basically ANYTHING we do - the ink on the calendar or the prayers at bedtime - are testaments to His work in my life.

And, how does the above post have absolutely anything to do with something as monumental as a legacy....I'll get to that in a later post.  I think I'll revisit my activities of the day at random and see what I can glean! 

There is always something to clean {that was an honest typo!} glean isn't there? 

{pardon}

my hiatus.

I have a lot to blog about from the last week or so, but

haven't had a spare moment to even sit down and get 

my thoughts together.  At this very moment....I am 

relishing this beautiful Sunday afternoon.  So, I won't
be updating much now either because I want to get
back to doing nothing.  Which is RARE. 

A day of rest for me.

I've given up the notion of working on that screaming

To-Do List.  Today feels too good to do anything. 

We had an amazing day at church.

We had communion this morning which was the

most touching one I have ever participated in.

My tears would not stop.

We had some quick hello's to sweet friends.

A thrown together lunch at home together.

The house is quiet.

Noah is curled up in bed reading.

Evan and I just finished a championship final of Tic-Tac-Toe.

The little stinker won.

Daddy is not here :( but is helping Poppy & should
be back home soon.

Savannah is sleeping on my right side with her head propped

up on my keyboard.  Molly is snoring on my right.  

The house is dark and cool with lamp light only.

And, Cinnamon Cider burning.  ha!  I know, but

it's my favorite fragrance ever!  Even if it's not seasonally correct.

Later, we will venture out to play and take care of the chickens.
Water my monster ferns {HG you will be so proud!}  They
are the largest ferns I've ever had.  Unbelievable.  Now, if
only I continue this daily watering duty as they hang south.

I'll survey the section of landscaping I completed yesterday
but ran out of mulch....15 bags later.  It was the weeding, round-up,
black paper, new mulch, sweating kind of morning.
It will take me all of next week to finish.

Well, I am off of here again.  I may just snooze with the dogs.
I am hoping this repreive will recharge me for the busy,
busy week ahead.