No Average Mom

We painted our old house with the idea that we would one day very soon be selling it. Because of this we picked neutral colors for just about every room. Living in a sea of neutrality just doesn’t work for me and really doesn’t reflect our family. I like to think we are vibrant and life loving. When we went to pick out colors for our new house neutrality was the farthest thing from our minds. Should you come to visit bring your sunglasses because we are living life in FULL color. Each and every room in our house is a different color and I am quite sure your first words will not be this color goes with “everything”!!! Our house does not go with everything but it sure is going to go “with” us!

When school started last year my walking partner bailed on me. Since then the only exercise I get is chasing my kids here and there. I really miss walking and talking with another adult. This time was great for my body, mind, and spirit. My friend has more things on her plate than she can find time for and I apparently am now one of those things. Maybe I will just crack open a bottle of diet pills and be done with it. I am sort of in one of those moods where I am tired of people who only need you when they need you and forget you are alive the rest of the time.

The ding dongs next door disappeared. This has been a blessing in our lives that I can’t describe. I can only hope they bought some Branson property or something else that far away. The reality is they are probably hiding from the police or something more along those lines. For tens months they made our lives miserable with parties, drugs, and fights in the street. Where I live is not the type of neighborhood that is used to this type of lifestyle. My prayer is that they never come back. The reality is that at some point I am sure they will because I haven’t read about them in newspaper.

Living in my neighborhood lately has been like living in a real life episode of cops. I am really starting to wonder just how safe we are in continuing to live here. Having mortgage life insurance is some reassurance should anything happen. The reality is that the neighbors on either side of us are living crazy lives that put everyone around them in danger. Saturday night the police were called to the houses immediately adjacent to us on both sides. One of the houses received a total of 3 visits from the police in one night. Even the police said that where we live is a nice neighborhood and we should not have to tolerate people who choose to live outside the law. I am very much hoping that we are able to move in the next year or at least one of these families does.

Frequently I find myself getting caught up in a bit of wishing I had more of this or that. It is so easy when people around you live more extravagant lifestyles that you. I have to giggle when a select few people I know complain about not having enough money when anyone with a clue could very accurately guess their family income (which is 3-4 times that of my own). While they complain about the size of their houses and wardrobes I need only to think about how far my own life has come over the years to be reminded of how blessed I truly am. As I sit in my kitchen with my fabulous under cabinet lighting I am keenly aware of this. There was a time a few years ago when our apartment kitchen was so small I couldn’t fully open the oven door without smacking it on the opposing wall! Needless to say I have to giggle when people who shop at the most expensive stores, refuse anything except brand names, and live in prime locations declare themselves “broke”.

Every parent has been there when your child asks why little Johnny or Suzie gets to have this or that but your family doesn’t. Even as a parent it can sometimes be a tough concept to grasp. What I try to keep in mind that while the Jone’s are out enjoying their Orlando vacation home, new boat, or gym membership they will undoubtedly be the same people complaining in a few month’s about “how tight things are” and they just don’t know how they are going to make ends meet. It literally kills me inside to listen to people go on about the state of their finances when they refuse to see they are their own worst enemy. While it would be nice to have a vacation home I will gladly keep my small house, older cars, and roughing it camping trips if it means not worrying about paying the bills or burdening other’s with my current financial dilemma.