And... we're back.

Sorry for the hiatus, Friends.

It's been a whirlwind of a month filled with so many satisfying peaks and very low valleys.

I want to end on a good note, so I suppose I'll start with the Valleys.

The Valleys

After a month long struggle in the hospital, my Grandfather passed with our family by his side.  We visited often and were thankful for the opportunity to say goodbye and spend time with our family.  Someone close to us (who lost her husband) gently reminded us of this,  and it was helpful in getting through a very difficult time.  I have a lot  to say about this, and I want to do so in a separate post.  I feel as if I took a month long course on love, death and dying.   It's a lot to process.

My Mother-in-law decided to act like a complete jerk for several weeks. She's unhappy and she's been letting us know in every passive aggressive way possible, complete with a fireworks style capstone event on Mother's Day, the day after my Grandfather died.    There's more on that to come....maybe.  D reads this blog from time to time and I'm not sure if I can be even remotely tactful at this point.  Very, very sour is how I'm feeling on this topic, folks.

The Peaks

We have successfully waited out another month and are ready for my cycle to start.  I'm hoping that our baseline check looks as good as last time.  Our fingers are crossed.  It could be any day.  I have made plans to go to Colorado with my aunt for the first part of the trip, and D will join me later on.

Something I've been quiet about here, but I'm ready to share about is that we purchased a cottage.  The timing of this was truly a blessing as it allowed us to be closer to our family during such a difficult time.   Being there for the past three weeks really affirmed our decision to purchase.  I felt content.  Which is  a very strange feeling for me.  It surprised me that it came during a time filled with so many other difficulties.  I think the fact that I could feel it even though we were coping with some very heavy things is telling.  More on this to come too.

For now though, I plan to catch up with what's been going on with all of you over a nice cup of tea. Boy, I missed you! (and my computer).

xo

Good Times, Noodle Salad

I don't tend to watch the same movie over and over, but this one I have.   There's a part of the movie that D and I talk about from time to time.  

Carol: "OK, we all have these terrible stories to get over, and you---"
Melvin: "It's not true. Some have great stories, pretty stories that take place at lakes with boats and friends and noodle salad. Just no one in this car. But, a lot of people, that's their story. Good times, noodle salad. What makes it so hard is not that you had it bad, but that you're that pissed that so many others had it good."

The clip if you're interested: 

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xhqx1w_good-times-noodle-salad_shortfilms#.UP654qW5f8s

Because of this movie, D and I refer to a few people in our life as our noodle salad friends.  I'm sure you have some too.  

We especially notice our fertile noodle salad friends.  One couple in particular are teachers.  Everything major thing in their life seems good.  They worried about her fertility because she only has one ovary after a ruptured cyst.  However, when it was just the perfect time, she went off birth control and poof! She was pregnant right away with perfect timing for the school calendar.  Twice. 

It got D and I talking a while back about who the happiest people we know are.  I wonder, what makes them so happy?  Are they really happy or do they just seem happy? Who is content with exactly what they have but still is motivated?  

I feel a lot of discontentment in my life and I wonder is there something that I could learn from them?  I worry that even with children I might not feel contentment.  It's not because nothing is good in my life.  There are a lot of good things, but I am not the best at noticing them sometimes.  

The funny thing is that we both had a hard time picking people.   It seems like almost everyone has something to deal with.  I suppose when I really think of it, even my noodle salad teacher friends have a few things. 

The other people that come to mind are:

1.  My aunt.  She lives a very full life.  It's not extravagant or fancy.   She spends her summers with her hubby at her trailer with her boat on the waterfront.  She's surrounded by friends there.  She's really good at reaching out to people, especially when they are in need.  She has three grown children who are all starting out in their careers.  She volunteers with her church with the food bank.  She spends time with her elderly mother on a regular basis.  She does really generous and neat things with her time, such as catering and hosting a wedding reception at her (average) sized home for a family friend, just because she could.   She's a great cook who is not afraid of having company over, even on short notice.    

2.  A friend from my church.  She's happy-go-lucky.  She gives the best hugs, and she offers them even to people she doesn't know really well.  The laughs a lot and is very down to earth.  She posted one of those e-cards her Facebook wall the other day that said Eat. Fart. Laugh.  It made me chuckle.  She's relaxed and she is very comfortable with herself.  She doesn't judge people.  She lives in a small community and I'm sure she knows every single person there.  She volunteers a lot, but also really enjoys her career.   I think she's very in tune with her faith.  She's close with her two teenage daughters.  She's got a great husband.  I don't get the feeling they have a ton of money, but they do manage to live comfortably and travel. She loves great food.  

3.  D chose his friend.  He's a chiropractor with his own budding practice and does motivational speaking.  He's very confident.  He loves to travel with his wife.  He doesn't think they will ever have children and he's good with that.   They live in a nice home where he gardens.  

Who do you know that's really happy?  What do you think makes them that way?