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This Phoenix Speaks

Seven years in the making, my first published book, This Phoenix Speaks , is now a reality. The tireless and tiring work invested to ma...

freaked out! friday!

I don't know about you, but I have been anticipating Spring Break for awhile, but that anticipation now has a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde type of feel to it...I look forward to taking my children on outings and spending time with them. BUT by the way this morning has gone so far--I FEAR FOR MY SANITY!!! I might turn into a beast of a mother next week.  

This situation makes me ponder on how my mom was able to cope with even more kids in her house. I do not wonder for a moment how she could absolutely need Prozac. Mind you she actually had depression issues, but add in a couple of punk step children and a 6-pack of children all born within a 7 year period and getting a nursing degree during that same time frame--you have got a certifiable nutcase on your hands and you would not blame her for it. 

Except my mom wasn't a nutcase. She was amazing.

God's Green Earth

Between my class yesterday, errands, and problems, I was down-trodden by 4 p.m.  I needed to do something different than laundry, dishes, picking up the millionth piece of kid junk off the ground, so I went outside. 

Trees are a source of joy for me. I have an affinity for trees and yesterday I pruned the tree in my front yard (yes I am a girl and I have many weird hobbies). Then, I asked a couple of my neighbor friends if they would like me to prune their front yard trees and they said yes. I was finishing theirs and ended up asking more neighbors if they wouldn't mind me hacking away at, I mean lightly trimming, their trees.  After all was said and done, I trimmed eight trees. My hands hurt right now. stiff. sore. How I imagine arthritis to feel like. But the happiness I went to sleep on last night was totally worth it.

mud pies

Later on today I am going to teach a class on potted plants - what you need and how to put it all together and do your best to keep the plants alive.  
The funny thing about this idea of me teaching a class on this particular topic is that I used to KILL all plants in my house.  My mom would hook me up with a few plants, give me instructions on making sure to water them, and then I would proceed to slowly kill each of them in turn over a few months time. Then I would go to her house, get some more, and start the cycle again. I just knew I could do better if I just kept on trying.  My mom had houseplants everywhere in her dining room and kitchen and if I was her daughter I could grow a plant or two.