Bless this beautiful mess

 It's the kind of slogan you might see on a coffee mug but it's a mantra that serves me well. Yesterday our unpredictable but super sweet (to us and some other people) lunged at grandpa who just arrived. She made a small hole in his jeans. We love Holly AND she can be difficult and scary. Bless this beautiful mess.

My son is still sick, day three. I felt bad for four days but I am a grown person and can get myself through with coffee and perspective. Of course the anxiety, for me, of missing school. Both my kids lean into being sick hard. Neither of them push to get back out there. And, I don't know - it creates a lot of anxiety in me. He reluctantly got up and went this morning with the idea that he'd miss PE. Bless this beautiful mess.

Our life is so far from perfect. We love imperfectly but we try. We all try. There are holes in jeans and things seem dicey and then Holly is sitting with grandpa this morning offering her paw to shake. 

Just keep going and don't get too stuck on the snags. All I can control is me and my reaction to others. That is it, amen and all.  

I wrote this morning. I went to work. It was a sunny clear day. I helped students all day. I went on a walk. Soon I will go to the store for some socks for the kids, I will make spaghetti, and tonight I will likely finish a really good novel. 

I do my very best, and maybe just maybe that is enough. 

Bless this beautiful mess.