Hallelujah

I've been hearing Leonard Cohen's music in my head all day today and all last night. When you are a single-parent, the simplest acts of kindeness mean so much more. Not that I wouldn't be thankful otherwise, and it's not that I'm any more aware, it's that it means so much more... Exactly what I already said. I know I'm basically expounding upon my blog from yesterday--but I must. I am so deeply grateful to those that have reached out to help. And the single word Hallelujah is what I keep hearing (in Leonard Cohen's melody). I'm repeating myself. Okay, so on with it.

Last night after the boys' swim meet (they are the silver division undefeated champions for the first time in the school's history whoo-hoo!), my mom asked what I was planning "to do with Grace" for the counties on Saturday (both Nate and Josh made it)--Of course I told her that she was coming with me and that we'd have lots of snacks and books and drawing supplies for her. It's an all day event in a hot pool area, not something Grace was ever excited about attending. I let her know that Jen had offered to possibly watch her, but that her youngest came home from school sick that day, and I had been planning on keeping Grace with me anyway. Well, mom said she had inadvertantly told my brother that she could babysit my neice that day, not realizing it was the day of counties and did I want her to take Grace, too? Hallelu--nope! Not yet. First I made sure she didn't want to see if someone else could watch my brother's daughter, she said no, it was an all day thing and that she'd already talked it over with Cheri who was going to keep her posted via her fancy phone so she may as well keep Grace, too. And Grace would have fun seeing her cousin whom she hasn't seen in ages...Okay, now: Hallelujah---Hallelujah...

My mom loves to be at every single one of her grandkids' events if she can help it, which was why I had planned on taking Grace (and Jen does SO MUCH for me...). Wow. My mom is helping not only me, but Gracie, too. She'll have a blast with her little cuz and I will likely have a much more enjoyable time without having to keep my six year old happy within the crowds of spectators for the county meet.

Then today Jen told me that she put this blog spot on the front page of our business website: soulsisterscenter.com. She said she was trying to get a hold of me earlier in the week to ask me about it (but I fell off the face of the earth for a few days and didn't know she was calling). Finally she took the initiative and did it without my permission (Jen, you know me better than I know myself sometimes--you never have to ask for my permission.). I am so happy that she did. I just went to the soul sisters site and again, wow. What a beautiful friend. She wrote a wonderfully supportive paragraph updating those that know me from the yoga classes we taught and had been asking how I was doing. (I stopped teaching the classes in December so I wouldn't miss Nate's meets and to concentrate on the writing more.) I just love her so much. And I love all of you that are so caring and supportive in your thoughts of me. Thank you. I really appreciate it.

Hallelujah--Hallelujah...

Thanking My Goddaughter

I'm feeling pretty haggard right now so I'll keep it extra short. (I need to start doing this in the daytime before my regular writing...)

There was a little snow storm today. Not much of anything for these parts, but it began right around 3:30pm, just in time to make rush-hour traffic pretty much a fixed situation. Jen works about 30-40 (?) miles from home so knew it would take her forever and a day to get her 3 year old and get her oldest, before 6pm when the clock starts to tick for late fees. Normally, on Thursdays I pick her daughter up from the latchkey at our school, but today I needed rush right after school in order to get my son and nephew to swimming; they had picture day before their normal practice before the meet.

After dropping them off I decided to grab Jen's oldest on the way home...I didn't make this short did I?...I wanted to let you in on why I had both girls...but does it matter? I'm too tired to really know.

So I ended up taking both girls to the swimming meet because Jen was still miles and miles (and miles and miles--now I'm singing The Who...oh, yeah--) away and still hadn't reached her youngest daughter by 5:30 and the meet started at 6. So there we were. And you know what? I think for the first time ever, my little ball of energy actually sat still for possibly the first 2o minutes of the meet to watch her brother and cousin swim! I give my goddaughter all the credit.

I don't know why I'm not using their names...at least my kids...since Jen doesn't know about this site yet, I can't ask her how she'd feel if I used her kids' names...

Jen's daughter and my daughter are opposite in so many ways (much like Jen and me) yet they complement each other so well (much like Jen and me). Tonight was a perfect example: my goddaughter got my blooddaughter to sit calmly and really pay attention to the races. It was so significant. I let out a little thank you to the spirits both for letting me witness it and for giving me something to write about today. (Because if Joel were here...you know it by now, right? It probably wouldn't have happened that way because the girls would have stayed home with him.)

One more day, one more benefit of being a single-parent. Thank you, Mac. Peace.