The day of love is over. Just like years past, it felt similar to a birthday-here and gone before I even get a chance to take it all in. As I thought about this post, I realized with all that took place over the last week and over the weekend, it was going to be all over the place. I'm embracing the chaos. Hope you can too.
My snow week felt like the longest workday ever. Everyday I felt as if I logged on and logged off, but never really left work. The kids were needy. Zach was needy. I was a stress bucket. We did get a few moments to really marvel at the blankets of snow outside. But only a few. Not nearly enough. Lucas just stared up in amazement where the street light lit up the falling flakes-it was the coolest thing to see him take it all in. I do so love the way babies reach out their little chubby hands as if to reach for something they cannot quite understand. Then they usually eat it. Or put it in their mouth just to be sure they have it pinned. But, just like a dream, the snow was melted and had disappeared before we could even really grasp its presence.
Last week also came with some very sad news. Someone very close to me is sick. Someone that has already been dealt a tough hand in recent months. Tougher than I myself am able to fathom. The news has stuck with me every second of every day since. She is constantly in my thoughts and although the news is sudden and scary, I know in my heart that she can handle just about anything life throws her way. This is the girl that, even in the midst of madness, can almost always make you laugh and smile. Make you laugh until you cry because you are laughing so hard. She once told a story that made my dad laugh harder than I have ever seen him laugh-ever, even to this day. She also cries well. She cries more than anyone I know too. She can put even the cryingest cryer to shame. In a good way. The best way. I cry at Publix commercials so who am I to judge? She cries each time we say goodbye to each other-pretty much anytime she says goodbye to anyone she loves. That is how much love she has. Although she doesn't feel as if she has enough strength to conquer this-I know she does. We all do. And I know somehow, someway, she will make it funny and terribly tearful. I only wish that in times like these, we lived closer to one another. All I can really think to say is..."I know that there is pain but...Things will change, things will go your way-if you hold on for one more day."
And just as promised-I will now completely switch gears into my weekend. Chaos go.
Friday we had a dinner party to celebrate Valentine's Day with our closest friends and family. We hosted and welcomed friends with kids, friends with spouses, friends without spouses...you get the picture-everyone was there. It was so noisy and chaotic and wonderful. I would have to say the highlight of the night for me was when my six year old daughter, Addison, pulled out her new pink guitar and dedicated a song to her bestest friend Ella. They haven't seen each other a lot in recent months and they, for once in their six years of friendship, played so wonderfully together-sharing and giggling and putting on fashion shows with very little conflict. It really was magical. The song was precious. It was extremely short and sweet and I cannot remember at all now what the quickly self spoken lyrics were. It reminded me so much of Alicia and I. We sang and sang and sang some more as kids. Before iPads and Barbie Cars (yes, they existed but were way too expensive) and Disney shows that rule the world, kids sang for entertainment. Well, we did. We also played ghost in the graveyard and sardines, but that is for another post altogether.
Saturday Zach and I went out. Not quite for the traditional Valentine's dinner I was expecting-but for a concert. A good friend of Zach's bought us tickets months ago-and it wasn't until the last minute that Zach was able to secure a sitter. The venue was a small little hole in the wall hipster bar in Atlanta. Seemed normal enough. We were about an hour early so we had a couple drinks before the opening act. Holy freakin moly the opening act. I like to think I can enjoy nearly all live music. Something about hearing someone, or a group of someones play live is just fantastic. However, this was not normal. This was heavy metal. I guess. I almost feel as if the entire genre of heavy metal might be offended being categorized with these guys. The instrumental was decent enough. That was-until the lead singer. All he did was scream. In a really freakish way. The kind that rattles you and makes you sick a bit. Like a horror movie. He also spit. Not spit like a few droplets spewed while screaming. He spit, like leaned back and really threw it out there. Ew. The main event on the other hand was phenomenal. They were strictly instrumental-no lyrics or singing whatsoever. Somehow, they made certain parts of each song sound like vocals. It was incredible. They were incredible. Russian Circles for any of you who feel like taking a quick listen.
After recovering from an extremely late night-3 AM to be exact, we decided to take the kids to the zoo on Sunday. Mom got us passes for Christmas and we still hadn't put them to use. Kelly and Ava- my sister and niece, and Zane-my brother in law, joined us. It was such a beautiful sunny day-and after a snow storm and earthquake in Georgia, we wanted to really take in the sunshine. We spent the whole day walking around outside looking at all the sweet baby animals snuggling with their mothers and swinging from branches and chomping on leaves. My daughter and niece liked the snakes the best. Naturally.
All in all, what a wonderful week and weekend of love. In hindsight this probably should have been about 4 separate blog posts, but here it is. All in one. Just for you. Happy Valentine's Day!
