Nine Questions:

Posed by my pal  Jamie Siever of Jamie Siever Photography:

1. What is the worst job you've ever had?

Sears Repair Service, my freshman year of college. It was an endless drab office of cubicles and the shifts were endless shifts of answering phone calls and reading set dialogue to steer customers to schedule their repairs on appliances. Drab. Monotonous. And my supervisor was a witch who hated me and recommended I not be eligible for re-hire after the summer break. At the time, I was so offended... but it was a blessing in disguise. I might have gone back again and again to work there. ICK. 

2. What book are you reading right now?

The Life of Pi, by..... ? Forget. I am not getting into it yet, though. Will it get more gripping? Anyone?

3. Keep in touch with a bunch of friends from high school (other than on Facebook) or just a few?

One very best friend from high school, and a really only one other, if I can't count Facebook.

4. What is your favorite vacation spot?

Italy, Italy, Italy...... Ahhhhhhhhhh!! I ACHE to go back!

5. What did you want to be when you grew up as a kid?

A rock singer, or a teacher. 

6. When you text, do you write out You or do you use U?

Both. Honestly, I really do switch between both. No reason.

7. What is the last thing you did out of your comfort zone?

Wide-awake surgery. Or maybe allowing people to keep helping me, when I feel I should be better by now... (Thanks, beloved friends!)

8. What is something you are really good at?

Singing. I miss using it like you wouldn't believe. For now, though, Noah gets the full force of it. He's my lone audience member. :)

9. What is something that you see as something you need to work on/not a strength? 

Routines. Specifically in regards to chores, financials, scripture study... I get things done, but there's no consistent SYSTEM, and I think life could only improve if I had a better rhythm and routine for these things. 

*

So I am sorry for being so M.I.A.! You can probably guess, but it's just been a time of maintaining my little life as much as I can, despite little improvement in my physical health. The pain ebbs and flows, I have great days and crippling days... And I've been realizing that as much as I thought I knew how to simplify, this era has taught me how much more I can afford to let go of and still function... That truly RESTING, and SLOWING DOWN so I can heal, means letting go of fun things, too... Like outings, like art time with Noah... Like blogging. Even dashing to the store for a Redbox movie to veg to... I have to let that go, too, because even small errands cost a lot, physically. So. For now, I am hunkering down. We're in survival mode. And I am learning to love even THIS version of life. The calm of sitting in my now-infamous spot on the couch, under my Katie-quilt... The letting go to nap more... The treats I can enjoy when I am finally hungry. The smell of our Christmas tree, something I am delighted we managed to accomplish, even in this "new normal". Cheap novels, read a little here and a little there... hot baths. Christmas music. I look forward, even more now, to Joe coming home each day... A breath of fresh air from a day that really wasn't very interesting. Day after day. 

I feel badly for Noah--- maybe he is bored? 

But he seems okay. Somehow. He plays, we laugh, we read lots of books... He watches too many Mickey Mouse Clubhouse reruns some days... but we seem okay. He gets excited at even the smallest things, so I try to do SOMETHING every day to see him light up... Bring out the Play-Doh, resurrect an old toy, let him have a marshmallow for dessert... 

And we carry on. 

My in-laws come next week. I cannot WAIT. I know Noah will thrive under their attention, and they will get him back to the adventures we were having before--- the Magic House, the train exhibit at the Botanical Gardens... Fun things for him to do. I am excited to have company while I sit on this couch. I am excited for my mama-in-law to help me do some Christmas baking... Some present wrapping. I am excited for her foot rubs. It feels like when they arrive, Christmas will really be coming.

So. 

We carry on. And all is well. :)

I have some random photos to post. Maybe tomorrow? Sunday? I'll try not to be gone so long again.