Where in the world...

I love these posts--your successes, insights and even your frustrations--they are all inspiring and you have all been in my thoughts and prayers.

Where in the world have I been? Well last week I had the opportunity to take a vacation with my husband to Portland, OR where incidentally it was sunny and warm my entire stay, not a drop of rain : ) I didn't look at, touch, think about or even glance in the direction of a computer so I haven't posted, BUT I have had some neat experiences.

Before I left I had the impression to take the Now & Later candies I had confiscated from my 3-year old out of my jean pockets when I took them off, but somehow I let it slip my mind. I should have taken them out then and NOT later since now I have a melted candy stain in my back pocket. I WILL learn to be conscientious!!

On my trip one day Richard had a business meeting and I wanted to hole up in my hotel room, but I had a SGBD to go out shopping with some spouses of Richard's colleagues. I really didn't want to but I did anyway and had a wonderful time. I really enjoyed getting to know these ladies better and we had a blast.

Yesterday I had a SGBD to take my middle child aside and give her some individual attention. I gave her a manicure minus the polish and told her about the dog named Chester at the cottage we stayed in at the beginning of our trip. She was frustrated about a poem she was memorizing and the alone time seemed to soothe her and meet her needs.

Last night I was helping the children finish their kitchen jobs after dinner and I had a SGBD to make my 5-year old's job more fun. Fun speaks to him. I told him we were the guardians of the floor (like Ga'Hoole) and after we swept it together we swooped down with a cleaning wipe and cleaned any stains. He stayed and worked with me the whole time and finished the job (not the norm...yet : )