Today

Although life isn't always how we planned, life for our family has been pretty great. There have been little occurances that, while daunting at the time, have prepared us for the next challenge to come.

I think of it in comparison to the roads in San Francisco. When I was a little girl and we would go into the city, the streets felt as if we were walking straight up. But then we would come to a street that was steps, which seemed so much easier. My mom would point out that the stepped streets weren't any more flat than the others, and sometimes they were steeper, it just felt easier. Or at least that's how I remember it.

No matter what our little family has gone through, we have done it together. Here and there, a little or a lot at a time; but miraculously we were prepared for what was to come and somehow it was okay. Our idea of "okay" has changed from time to time and that too is okay. Not ideal, but okay. So now, the last couple of weeks, I have been feeling very fortunate. There have been two major contributors to the realization of how good things are for us. The first is that a friend from college was recently dealt a shocking hand. I met her when she was dating a friend from high school, whom she later married. We caught up with each other when we had kids in preschool together. And while we run in different circles (Evan and I are in the just a bit older crowd) we still see each other on occasion and we still like each other. Right now, I can't imagine what her family is going through, but they are handling it well.

The second, is that my neighbor had surgery on her back. Almost every day I see her walk by, some days more slowly than others, as she improves her endurance and regains her muscle strength. She has four at home, from six to sixteen (or around there.) Anyway, a busy life that doesn't stop for a hurt back.

I have been so blessed to have be healthy. I have the ability to get up in the morning and chase kids and pick up toys. It feels so normal, so happy. I know that I joke about the craziness and the chaos, but I love it. I love that my family lives together, under one roof. We eat dinner together, celebrate birthdays and holidays together, and saddness isn't part of every single day.

We all want the best for our kids. We want them to be happy and kind. We would like them to be healthy, but even without that it's okay. Because they have love and we have love and at the end of the day when you look at them you know this is where you belong. Right here with your family. So for today I am very happy.