dear january 2010...

dear january 2010...

oh the plans we had!
starting off the year with
a burst of organization & creative fun...
remember?
we were going to get everyone off to school
& solidly into their schedules
& then we were going to organize each week:
mondays for computer stuff
tuesdays for cleaning out specific spots in the house
wednesdays for collapsing in a heap
etc...

& the art & crafts...oh the art & crafts!
such wonders had never been seen...
valentines to make even the coldest hearts fall
madly, deeply in love...
decorations to turn houses into homes...

& then came the illness
i know i don't have to remind you about all
that the illness entailed
the lack of kleenex & nyquil in our house
is a sad reminder...
oh, january 2010!
every night i would think
'tomorrow is our day!
i will feel better & go make some stuff
& fold the laundry
& pick up the kleenex'
but alas
tomorrow came
many many tomorrows
& what did i have to show for it?
four books read
& many afternoon couch sessions with the kiddos...
& then last week
it looked like the fog had lifted
i only took half a shot of nyquil before bed
the kleenex was only ankle deep...

& then saturday!
saturday!
i had to turn & get out of the car
& something
some weird thing in my back did some weird thing
(i didn't take anatomy, does it show?)
& in an hour or so i was in such an immense amount of pain
that i was crying....
goodbye valentine crafts!
see you later!

a little voice in my head said
'well january was a loss'
& i was just about to agree with it
as i am prone to do when i am in pain & tears...
but let's just back up a minute
how did i spend january again?
reading good books
(reviews to come)
watching great movies
(reviews to come)
& hanging out with my sweet, wild kids
(review: five thumbs up
realistically, i'm sure my kids would have at least one thumb down)

january 2010, my first monthed friend
that actually sounds like a great way to start the year off:
doing only what really needs to be done
enjoying life
loving it up with my family...
a waste it was not

plus
bonus lessons:

from my grandma:
when you're off your feet & can't do anything
you find out that you don't have to do it all
& everything goes on fine without you
(said with the utmost love :)

& from me
(i love it when i teach myself a lesson)
there's another january next year...
yes, i know it's hard to believe
but all of this stuff
all of these great ideas
they can be kept & held tight & remembered
& brought out next year
because there's always another january
just 11 months away...

but don't worry, january 2010
i will always remember you
& be thankful to you
for teaching me my lessons about
life, books & the calendar...

enjoy these last few days
they do seem to fly by...
emily ruth

:)