An evening at the beach, essentially at the end of my nine-days-in-a-row off work, is being thoroughly enjoyed by my children.
Monthly Archives: June 2012
Me too
For anyone who has ever questioned why I’m open about my struggles… this sums it up. If someone out there can see my struggles and relate, and see that even in the struggle, you can have hope and try to be positive – or even if knowing about my issues helps just one person not feel so alone, then I will continue to be open and honest about living with bipolar disorder, anxiety, etc. I am not alone. My thoughts and feelings just ARE, neither good nor bad. My life is far from perfect but it’s mine and I will never judge another because he or she doesn’t hide behind a mask of “everything is wonderful” or because he or she isn’t successful in the eyes of this society.
181/365+ proof of God’s love
I’ve probably said before that in humor, I’ve often found God’s love. So it was today. One of my favorite people moved far away today. My little one left a trail of poo on the floor. I don’t have a car or the money for a new one. I found reasons to laugh. God’s love, I’m sure, lives in laughter!
Life of a Mom: installment fourteen, sh… Poo happens
It’s probably happened to most of us who have children, at one time or another. Or so I tell myself. One of my children had a tonsillectomy three days ago and hasn’t been able to eat. So she wanted me to make some instant potatoes, much smoother than my mashed potatoes. No problem! I didn’t have much interest in peeling potatoes today, anyway. My dear husband asked me to make a salad and he headed out to the grill to cook the meat. He was even sweet enough to change the two-year-old’s poopy diaper before going out. Awesome! As I sliced a cucumber into the salad, the milk and water heating on the stove, the two-year-old came into the kitchen, held up her right foot and said, “Poopy, Mommy.” Oh no! That poopy diaper Daddy changed must have been a doozy. One look at the floor where little Miss stood with her poopy foot revealed several splats of icky stinky brown. Kitchen and dining room floors, both peppered with splats. It looked like a war zone, if poo was a weapon. I think it could be an effective one. Anyway, I cleaned the poo off the two-year-old and the floors and returned to the kitchen, where the milk and water for the potatoes had, of course, boiled over. What a mess! The family seems to be enjoying the meal and no one is covered or walking in poo at present, so I guess all’s well that ends well.
Day 181/365 photos
One of my most beloved friends, my cousin Liz, is on her way to Colorado. We visited for awhile this afternoon; the sight of her nearly empty house, even with the adorableness of my two-year-old, my cousin’s two-year-old & sweet doggy, made me want to cry even as I snapped the photo.
180/365+ proof of God’s love
It was one of those super hot, hazy summer days. In a lovely, cooling breeze, on this muggy Thursday, I felt God’s love.
Be kind to yourself!
A Time to Love Yourself
Those times when you look at your reflection long enough
That you see only a person, flawed to be certain,
But only human, maybe with a trace of people you love:
Your grandmother’s eyes, your mother’s nose,
A smile that sends a twinkle to your eye that is a family trait,
And you see that you are just a person, flawed to be certain,
But also a miracle, beloved, capable, part of something bigger.
When you look long enough into your own eyes
To see the hurt hiding there at the harsh criticism you’ve inflicted
And you see yourself trying to hide behind sarcasm and uncertainty,
This is the time to forgive yourself,
Accept and embrace the body
That moves you from one place to another,
That enjoys a cool breeze on a hot day,
This is the time to love yourself,
Body, mind and spirit.
A Time to Love Yourself by Karen Ballou©
179/365+ proof of God’s love
I have bipolar disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, as I’ve mentioned in the past. Even on medication, sometimes I have mood swings. Currently, several stressors have been affecting my mood: I’m waiting to hear about a local job for which I applied last week, waiting for the results of the biopsy I had done Monday and while I’m relieved my daughter came through her surgery well, it was stressful waiting for her to come out of surgery and I’m still keeping an eye on her for fever, bleeding, etc. On top of all of this, we are car-less with less than $800 to spend on a vehicle, my husband is still unemployed, we’re behind on rent and I haven’t had one phone call or email asking about photographs since publishing my Shining Star Photography website. Everything feels unstable and uncertain. Thank God for bringing me a spouse who is mostly understanding of my mood swings. We don’t always agree, but we love one another and in our love is God’s.
365+ (ks ballou) 