Blessing #216 - The Battle of the Lunch Box Notes

From the beginning of our relationship, Shad and I have been competitive.  Many of our early dates included some kind of game or competition.

When I did my whole 30, I made it way longer than I normally would just because I was determined to beat Shad in the bet.

We are two very competitive people.

I love him with all my heart, but I really like to beat him too! (I realize how that sounds, but you know what I mean.)

Last week, Shad and I engaged in a silent, cut throat competition.

It all started on Brandon's first day of school when Shad and I both put notes in B's lunchbox.

A simple, quick expression of our love for him.

The next day, when I started to pack his lunch, I found both notes in his book bag.  He had saved them.  As soon as I saw that the notes meant so much to him, I decided to make the lunch box note a daily thing.

The only problem was, Shad sent a note too, and he actually used a  piece of paper.  He even pulled out all the stops and put a fire truck sticker on it (not pictured B took it off while he was at school).

The next day, Shad didn't put leave a note, and I thought my note would be the lone star of the lunch box. However, right before we left for school, Shad asked me to stop by the farm, and he had this for B's lunch box.

Are you kidding me? B didn't even bring my paper towel home on this day when he had a tractor calendar picture.  Shad's notes were so good, Collin even cried and told Shad he wanted a tractor note.

How was I going to compete with this? I did what any modern woman would do. I searched pinterest and pinned a bunch of lunch box note pins. 

I also realized that lunch notes were going to be an everyday occurrence so I made a spot in the lunch station for them.

I found this pocket for notebooks for a dollar at Staples.

I cut off the hole tabbed part, added some vinyl lettering, and hung it with a command strip to give me easy access to stickers and notes.

Have I mentioned how much I love my lunch station? It works so well for us.

I had Pinterested. I had organized. I was going to win the battle of the lunch box notes.

When I went to pack B's lunch on his birthday, I found this.

A balloon!?! How was I supposed to compete with a balloon? That's not even a note! How dare Shad think outside of the box! I could barely fit B's sandwich in his lunch box.

It was over. I had lost. I had to admit Shad's lunch box notes were much better than mine.  

Yes, I had to explain that my drawing was a rock.  No, I'm not the winner in the battle of the lunch box notes.

 I am the tortoise of lunch box notes, slow and steady every day with my bad drawings and sweet sentiments.  Shad is more about the flash and show.

I may have lost the battle of the first week of lunch box notes, but slowly and steadily I plan on winning the war.  Yes, lunch box notes are meant to encourage B, but I'm also going to also use them to beat Shad!
 

Blessing #186 - The Best Gift He's Ever Given

Over our years together, Shad has given me some good gifts.  My primary love language is gifts so he always does a great job.  He's given me a flowers, a Lisa Leonard necklace, pyrex, and a banjo.  He has great taste and always manages to find just the right gift for me. (What other husband would work extra to get his wife a banjo?)

I love all the gifts he has given me, but yesterday he gave me the best gift he has ever given me, hands down, no contest.

Yesterday, Shad got up around 4:30 am. I thought he just had to go in to work early because of some snow. I think I may have even huffed loudly as I rolled over in bed because he woke me up, but little did I know he woke up that early just so he could go get the boys and I some Valentines.

When I came downstairs to start my day, Shad had left me some candy, flowers, and a card. Here is what the card said....

Hey Baby, 

I love you more now than the day we met (obviously)

I love you more now than the time you sung "Go Home Weekend" (I never told you, but that song changed my life)

I love you more now than the moments we shared on our first date (Chillis)

I love you more now than all of the nights we walked all the way down the hill and said our goodbye's beside your dorm (so glad those days are over)

I love you more now than our first kiss

I could keep on going, but the point I want you to always remember is that I love you more now than I ever have!

Why? Because I would take this Stephanie and the incredible woman you have become over the girl that stole my heart 11 years ago. 

You are so much stronger, braver, prettier, passionate, determined, talented, confident, creative, funnier and I admire so much more about you than you could ever know!

I love you more, 
Shad

Proverbs 25:11 says, "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver," and that is exactly how I feel about this card. His words were just the right words at just the right time. I carried the card around all day and reread it at least ten times. Those words are the best gift Shad has ever given me, better than a necklace, better than some roses, and even better than a banjo. In a week, the flowers he got me will die, but his words will stay with me.  They will be the confidence in my step, the brightness in my smile, and the warmth in my heart.

Eleven Valentines ago, to know that he loved me was pretty amazing, but to know that he loves me after eleven years, after two moves, and after two kids.  To know that he loves me when he knows my major flaws, and he's seen me at my worst.  To know he loves the woman I have become today...what a gift!
 

Blessing #166 - When Love Whispers

One night last week got a little chaotic.  Our schedules got flipped turned and mixed up, and we ended up late at night in the drive thru of a Taco Bell getting Shad some supper.  The boys and I had already eaten, but I asked Shad just to get me a drink.

A few minutes later, as we were going down the road.  I realized something.  I looked at Shad and said, "You gave me the large drink. That was really, ReAlLy sweet of you."

See, his meal came with a large drink.   He had given me the drink from his meal, and he ordered himself a medium drink.  This may seem small and insignificant, but it meant so much to me.  As he ate his burrito, Shad smiled, happy that I had noticed.

After almost ten years of marriage, I've learned that you have to listen for love.  When he displays his love with flowers, notes, and hot dates, that is when his love is loud. When love is loud it's easy to notice and plain to see. Most days though,  he whispers his love like a quiet little selfless act at the drive thru window.  It's hard to hear a whisper unless you are paying attention.

I'm so thankful to have his love whether it's loud or whispering. I love it when his love is loud, but I pray that my heart will always be tuned to hear and recognize his love whispers.

Blessing #160 - Recognizing the Christmas Spirit

Last year, Shad scored major points by starting a new possible tradition, and he surprised me and did it again this year! It is a fantastic idea so I had to share it on the blog.

For two years, Shad has bought me a small gift at the start of the Christmas season.  Last year, he surprised me with these super cute measuring cups from anthropology.

I use these measuring cups almost everyday, and I can't help but think of Shad every time I use them.

This year, I came home from cleaning and there was a present under the tree just for me.  I opened it up to find two pieces of butterprint pyrex for my collection. (The two round casseroles on the right hand side.)



These gifts are so sweet, but the reason he gives them is even sweeter.  Shad told me that I am our family's Christmas Spirit, and so the Christmas Spirit needs a gift to start the season.  Every family has a Christmas nut, and I just happen to be ours. It was a small statement, but it's one of the sweetest things he's ever said or done for me.

Often, the Christmas Nut is the driving force for Christmas, making sure the tree gets up and memories are made.  The Christmas Nut tries their best to make Christmas fun and special for everyone. Shad found a way to make the Christmas Nut feel special and needed.

If you have a Christmas Nut (a.k.a Christmas spirit) in your family, take a little time to recognize them, you never know what it will mean to them.
 

Blessing #159 - The Grateful Wife Challenge

Remember at the start of November when I mentioned 30 Days of Thanks and how I was taking part in the Grateful Wife Challenge? If not you can read that post here.

For the entire month of November, I found one thing that I was grateful for Shad for every day.  Originally, I planned on giving him a quick note every day with something I was thankful for him. However, after day one I decided to make him a book from Paper Coterie and make a Christmas gift out of it.

I PLANNED on working on the book every day, and I PLANNED on giving him the book on Christmas, but I made a bad mistake.  I didn't write down the thing that I was grateful for every day on a piece of paper, and by the time I had time to sit down and work on the book, I had forgotten it.

If it ended there, I would say it was a failure.  I could beat myself up about it, but who needs more guilt.  Fortunately, the story does not end there, and the Grateful Wife Challenge was far from a failure for me.

This year on my 30 Days of Thanks on facebook and the Grateful Wife Challenge, I decided that I was going to stay current.  That just meant that I was going to try to be thankful for something that happened on that day.  Staying current really made me search for my grateful items, and forced me to really hunt for my grateful items of the day. I believe staying current is what made the challenge so powerful in my life.

All throughout the month, I noticed things that Shad did.

Day 3 - He never complained as we ran around on Collin's birthday adventure even though it was really cold.  He was up for the adventure. 

Day 3ish - He washed all the windows in our entire house

Day 5ish - He worked out an extra quick job so that he could have money for us to go to Georgia to visit my family.  

Day 10 - He woke up early on his day off and cleaned up our yard without me even asking him just because I was having a party that day.

Day 19ish - He sat back and let me enjoy being in Georgia.  I could tell several times he went out of his way to make sure I had a good time. 

Day 23 - He loved my Mamaw by speaking her love language, aggravating her. 

Day 29ish - He took time to give me my Christmas spirit present.   

As I went through the month, I was shocked to see just how much he did and how hard he worked.  Staying current and in the day really helped me to see just how much he does.  Surprisingly, once I started seeing how much he did, I tried to help him out more. I didn't even realize I was doing it until Shad stopped me the week before Thanksgiving, and said, "I can tell you've really been going out of your way to help me out."  I didn't tell him why then, but I knew why.

Seeing all these little things I was missing has also helped renew my spirit towards him. For weeks, when I think of him, I get the warm and fuzzies, and that's a big deal after ten years.

On Christmas morning, Shad won't be getting a book, but on Friday he told me, "My heart is really soft towards yours. We've really been doing good."  That's the moment I told him all about the Grateful Wife Challenge, what it did for me, and how grateful I am for what he does.

Gratitude always seems to work the same.  Gratitude does not change your situation, it changes your outlook.  During November, Shad did not suddenly become an amazing husband, I just saw what I had been overlooking before, and my attitude changed towards him.

The great thing about the Grateful Wife Challenge is that it can be done anytime.  You don't have to wait until November.  If your heart needs a little boost towards your husband, you should definitely try the grateful wife challenge. If you do try it, my advice would be to stay current and write it down on a piece of paper!

Blessing #128 - Gaps

Nine years ago today, Shad and I said "I do" and started our journey together.  Today, (like last year) I am taking a moment to stop and think about our anniversary, marriage, and of course Shad. 

Twenty years ago, a great Italian philosopher name, Rocky Balboa said, "She's got gaps.  I got gaps.  Together we fill gaps."After nine years of marriage, I have learned Shad and my gaps. 


I am an early bird while Shad is a night owl. 

Shad loves to find old furniture, and I like to fix it up.

I avoid confrontation, while Shad welcomes it with open arms. 

I will happily live in denial avoiding the obvious, while Shad doesn't mind saying, "Hey! There's a problem!"

I make gut decisions, while Shad, after careful research and reading all the online reviews will make a decision.

I say, "Brush it off.  It's nothing.  You'll be okay." Shad says, "What if it's the rare drug resistant flesh eating bacteria I saw on that show the other night?"

Shad prefers all conversations to be deep and meaningful about things like "feelings," while I prefer more fluffy conversations about "Who should Emily chose?"


See! We work better together.  Without Shad, my life would be much more shallow, but Shad has always been my wake up call to reality (whether I wanted it or not).

We compliment each other.  If I was 57, Shad would totally be 33 (sorry for the math joke).  Sometimes I may get annoyed that he is so different from me, but maybe we are different for a reason.  It's their gaps that hold two puzzle pieces together. 

Nine years ago today, I said "I do" to a wild and crazy guy that I love with everything that I have.    Shad, I love you very much....gaps and all!

Curse #34 - Being Sick

I have been sick a lot lately, and by “a lot” I mean four times in the past four months. If you do the math, I’m averaging getting sick once a month.

This wouldn’t be so bad if I was a good sick person, the kind of person that can push through and keep going. However, I’m a terrible sick person…one of the world’s worst. When I am sick….

1. I sit on the couch most of the day unable to move.

2. I call my mom to inform her how bad I feel.

3. When Shad comes home, I greet him with the warm welcome of, “I feel like poop.”

4. When Shad gets tired of me saying how bad I feel, and my mom stops answering my calls, I resort to telling the world of facebook just how bad I feel.

5. When people stop liking my status of "I feel terrible", I move on to blog about how bad I feel. (Social networking can be scary in the wrong hands.)

When I’m sick it’s hard on me and everyone around me.

In December, my general doctor ran some basic blood work to see what could be causing me to get this sick all the time. She is a very cautious doctor, but I like that about her. Much to my surprise , I tested positive for lupus. She assured me that this test (ANA test) is known for giving false positives and she told me they would run it again. But the second time showed the same results.

Honestly, I didn’t know very much about lupus. In fact, I knew exactly three facts about lupus.

1. I have a friend on facebook that has it
2. It’s genetic
3. My parents knew a woman that passed away with it a long time ago.

That #3 fact wasn’t the most comforting fact to know. In fact, the #3 fact really was freaking me out!

When I called Shad (who was also sick at the time) to tell him, his response was, “Do you think that’s what me and the boys have.”

One thing you must know about my husband is that sometimes, he can be a hypochondriac. For example, every time his leg hurts he thinks it’s a blood clot because of an episode of Mythbusters he saw 6 years ago (that’s why he’s not allowed to watch the talk show The Doctors or see the movie Contagion).

As soon as he said that, I said, “Are you kidding me?” and hung up on him. (Why no? None of my friends have ever asked me for marriage advice. Why do you ask?)

Anyway, later (after I apologized for hanging up on him) I realized that he genuinely knew NOTHING about lupus. He thought you could catch it like mono. After I shared the facts that I knew about it (except for #3), he understood better.

Oh yeah! If I haven’t mentioned it yet, I got these results just a week or two before Christmas…”Merry Stinkin’ Christmas. You might have a chronic illness…Fa la la la la, la la la la “

I’ve tried to keep a level head about this because lupus is complicated to diagnose and is commonly misdiagnosed. A positive ANA test is only the first step in a diagnosis. Soon, I will be going to a rheumatologists to do more testing.

There are also many factors that could give the ANA test a misreading. I had a virus when I took the test and that can give you a false reading.

My pulmonary doctor (who I will have to blog about on another day) said that my chest x-ray and breathing tests do not look like someone with lupus. It looks more like asthma. I was actually excited when he told me this. I never thought I would say, “Yeah! I have asthma!” However, since then I’ve gotten sick two more times, and I’m losing confidence that it’s just asthma.

Lupus or not, I just need to figure out what’s going on with me. Being sick just isn’t working for me or my family.

If you would like to pray for me, please pray that I find a really smart, really great rheumatologist that can help me sort through all this. Oh, and I’m sure my mom and Shad would ask that you pray for them too.

update: several months later, I discovered I was allergic to milk.  This allergy affects my immune system which made the ANA test read so high.

Blessing #96 - My {dream} pantry

For a while now, one of the items on my "dream house" list is a good pantry. When we moved into the new house, I was thrilled to find that it had a pantry. Sure, it doesn't have a dishwasher (I've mentioned that a bunch lately haven't I), but it has a pantry!

I was so excited, but the pantry looked like this...



Random hooks sticking out alongside of mysterious chords running to a non-functioning antenna and shelves with fruity/flowerdy shelf paper.



Not like the pantries on my pinterest boards.



These pictures were taken right after we moved in, and I had just thrown a box of pantry items on the shelves in no particular order. (Yes, that is the box of cream of wheat from 2006 that I found in a cabinet.)

Originally, I did not plan on working on this project until after Christmas, but then I started to clean out the pantry, and I thought, "I might as well clean it to paint it." The next thing I knew, I had ripped all the shelves out and was stripping off the shelf paper.

One week of naptimes later, and my pantry looks like this...



I loOoOoOoOoOve the chalkboard. I could have made it look pretty for the picture, but right now, it's helping me keep all of our appointments straight. Eventually, this may be a calendar center, or I might put empty frames up and draw pictures inside them. I haven't settled on that yet.

The walls are "pebble gray" and the shelves and trim are a bright white. I thought about stenciling a pattern on the walls, but I was too tired by the time I got there. I did put some wrapping paper up at the back of the shelves to give it some interest for now.



This weekend, I spray painted the old hooks that were in the closet, and used them to hang some buckets. 1 is for chalk, 2 is for chip clips, and 3...I have no idea why I didn't get 3 buckets. I'll have to go back and get another one. I used an old clip board we had, fancied it up, and put it in the pantry. The idea is to write down what we need as we run out. First item on that list...paper for the clipboard.


(Sorry, I don't know why the picture is a weird color.)


The first step in my pantry makeover was cleaning and painting. Then I had to organize all the shelves. Organization does not come naturally for me. I have always been a more "creative" person than I am an "organized" person, but I am getting better.

I have learned that for me to keep stuff organized I need to containerize everything. I categorize like things and then throw them in a bin. The shelf stays organized and all I have to do is throw stuff in a bin.



All the water bottles are in the apple crate on the bottom shelf. It's not in this picture, but I use the space under these shelves to store Collin's high chair.

On the left side, I put breakfast on the top shelf, snacks on the second, canned goods and pasta on the third, and baking items on the bottom. (B can't reach the top two shelves that's why I put snacks and breakfast up there.)



One of the major problems with this pantry is the shelves are so deep tons of space is wasted. I decided to put all the pretty stuff in the front, and use the containers like cabinet doors to cover up the ugly stuff. Here is a shelf with a container pulled out.



I got all of those containers from the Dollar Tree! I spent $25 for all the blue cereal holders and the white crates in that pantry. It was soOoOoOoO well worth it. Shad is kind of neurotic about chips, cereal, and crackers staying fresh. He folds down the bag and then turns it on its side in the box. I never remembered to do that, and it always bugged him. Eight years into our marriage, $25 spent at the Dollar Tree, and we have finally settled that marital argument!



My vinyl cutter is currently out of commission (a very important piece got lost in the move), so I haven't made any labels for everything yet. While at JoAnne's, I picked up a pack of stickers to see what that would look like. I actually liked the kind of crazy look I got. I just ran out of stickers.



After my pantry makeover, I haven't closed the pantry door. I just leave it open, so I can enjoy my dream pantry.





Merry Christmas to me!

I'll be sharing this project with some of these wonderful sites.

Blessing #68 - Shad {what I got when I got him}

When I first started this blog, I did not tell anyone about it for a few weeks because I wanted to make sure that I could actually stick with it. After a few weeks, I told Shad what I was doing. After I explained to him that the blog was a list of my blessings, Shad looked at me with a knowing smile on his face and said, "What...or should I say WHO is Blessing #1?" I looked him in the eye and quietly replied, "Google." He couldn't believe it, "Google is #1 and not me? At least you could have made #1 something spiritual, but Google?"

Since then he mentions every so often, "You haven't even calculated me as a blessing yet." I always tell him that it's all about him, but he doesn't buy it.

Today, Shad and I celebrate our eight year anniversary, but I am still in GA. We both decided before I left that that was fine and we would celebrate on the weekend, but to celebrate our anniversary today I am giving Shad his wish and calculating him as a blessing...finally.

Eight years ago, I thought I was getting a good husband, but eight years later, I realize that I got so much more. Here are a few of the things I got when I got Shad.

I got a husband who is a hypochondriac.

I got a husband who laughs at his own jokes.

I got a husband with attention problems....Squirrel!

I got a husband who loves Goodwill more than I do.

I got a husband who gets out of trouble by being cute.

I got a husband who loves my cooking.

I got a husband who is constantly searching for dollars on the ground.

I got a husband who is my partner in crime.

I got a husband who looks great with a beard. (I'm just throwing that in there in case you are thinking of shaving it.)

I got a husband who just gets more handsome the older he gets (Did I word that one right?).

I got a husband who lets me be myself and loves me for it.

I got a husband who encourages me in every endeavor or project I try.

I got a husband who respects and values my opinion.

I got a husband who turned out to be an amazing dad.

I got a husband who has no trouble showing me that he loves me.

I got a husband whose first priority is me and the boys.

I got a husband who loves God with all his heart.

I got a husband who seeks to follow God.

I got a husband that I absolutely love!

Eight years ago, I had no clue of all the blessings I was getting in Shad, but I'm so glad I've had eight years to learn just what a blessing I got when I got him, and I pray I will have many more years to find more blessings in Shad a.k.a. Blessing #68 (but we'll just call him Blessing #1 just to make him happy!)

Blessing #60 - Someone in my Corner

Once a month, I sing with a group in our church during the service. Yesterday, as we sang, I had a solo during the song for the first time. As I was singing, I looked out over the crowd, and one face stuck out to me, Shad's.

He did not stick out because he was so ruggedly handsome...although he is (I had to throw that in there). His face stuck out because I could clearly see that he was routing for me. He didn't stand up and say, "You can do it!" He didn't need to say anything, his eyes and smile spoke volumes. The singer beside me even noticed Shad routing for me.

I never really thought of that aspect of marriage until yesterday. Although yesterday he was just cheering me on during a simple song, it's good to know he's there for the bigger challenges we face. Pass or fail, victory or defeat, I'm so glad I've got Shad in my corner cheering for me.

Blessing # 47- Our little Referee

Over the past few years, the arguments in our marriage have greatly changed because it is difficult to have an argument when we have a built in referee in our house. All of the experts, and our own instincts say, "Don't fight in front of your child," and Brandon has made sure that we abide by that principle.

The reason why I mention this today is I saw a great example of that dynamic on Friday. Shad went out to start the car before we left for his family's Easter dinner. Someone left the key turned slightly in the ignition and ran the battery dead. Here is what happened next...

Shad walks into the living room where Brandon (a.k.a our referee) and I were.



Shad (smiling with gritted teeth): Stephanie, how in the world do you forget and leave the key in the ignition!

Steph (smiling even bigger): I did not drive the car today, and you were the last one to drive it last night.

Shad: ohhhhhhhhh! Why in the world would I have left the key in the ignition?

Steph(still smiling): I don't know, but you did.




Here's how the same scene would have gone if our referee had not been there.


Shad (not smiling): Stephanie! How in the world do you forget and leave the key in the ignition!!!

Steph (smiling sarcastically): I didn't drive the car today, and you were the last one to drive it last night....ah check...and ah mate!

Shad (not smiling): Why in the world would you make this up about me!

Steph (doing my happy dance): You left the key in the ignition! You left the key in the ignition! You left the key in the ignitions!

Fortunately, our little referee was in the room, and we kept it nice just for him. Why are we so careful around him? Because if we slip up, he will call us out for it. About a year ago, Shad and I got into an argument in the car...in front of Brandon. (I know Dr. Phil and Dr. Dobson would not be happy)

Later that day, I was cooking with B, when he started in on me. "Mommy, that wasn't very nice of you today. You were not nice to my daddy. Mommy, we do not argue." I couldn't believe it. God used this then three year old boy to make me fell like a dog. He even used my own, "We don't argue," line on me. I wanted to tell Brandon, "But B, daddy did not use the right tone with mommy, and I really think Daddy started it." However, all that matters to the three year old is that you argued. Little did I know B had had the same conversation with Shad. I told B he was right and that I needed to apologize to Shad, and then Shad and I apologized to each other in front of Brandon.

I'm so thankful that Brandon is so vocal about no arguing, because it really keeps us accountable. So now Shad and I mind our Ps and Qs because we don't want to be called out by our little referee.

Blessing #46- The Meltdown

I knew it was going to happen. I called it in Blessing #28 {shedding}. I said, "This may be petty to some, but at some point I will end up in tears over this issue." Well, yesterday was the day of reckoning, and I had...the meltdown.

The shedding hasn't stopped, and I am definitely seeing it affects in my bangs and other thinning spots over my head. So I thought if I got my hair cut maybe that would help out. I always have unrealistic expectations. I seriously thought if I just cut my hair, it would magically spring back to life, and it would look like the Pantene commercials. (Cursed Pantene commercials!)

Shockingly, that didn't happen. It wasn't the stylist's fault. He really couldn't do much with my hair. The stylist only cut of the dead ends, and when the cut was done, my hair still looked and felt the same.

After seeing my still thin hair in the mirror looking nothing like the Pantene commercials (Cursed Pantene commercials!), I could feel it creeping up on me. It was that lump in my throat, that knot in my stomach. I salvaged my pride and made it out to the car before it happened...the meltdown.

I've always been a not-so-emotional, glass half full kind of girl, but sometimes about every three months or so, I have a meltdown. It could be about anything, but it follows a similar pattern.

Stage 1: Feeling like an idiot for even getting upset about such a petty issue.
Really, who gets this upset over their hair. Am I really that shallow?

Stage 2: Thinking of people that have it worse than you.
There are so many people with problems soOoOo much worse than their hair. Even the pelican from last years Gulf oil spill has it worse than I do.


Stage 3: Ugly crying.
Enough said.

Stage 4: Calling spouse on the phone.
This is a volatile stage in which things can go terribly wrong. Fortunately, after 8 years of marriage, Shad has learned how to deal with me in these situations. Here is my guess at what he was thinking yesterday when I called him.

Red alert! Red alert! This is a stage four meltdown. This is not a drill. Repeat this is not a drill. Be advised: Do not say lines like, "It's just hair," or she will turn on you. Remember the "I don't have anything to wear" meltdown, and how it blew up in your face. Why does she keep mentioning Pantene commercials? Just say what we've practiced,the magic lines..."Uh huh....Really.....I'm so sorry honey....Uh huh....Really....I'm so sorry
honey....Uh huh.... Really.....I'm so sorry honey."

Stage 5: Drying up the tears, and readjusting focus.
After twenty minutes, I usually start feeling better and then I think of a verse or quote that helps me.

Stage 6: Plan of attack.
In the last stage of the meltdown, I start looking at ways to fix my problem, or making it easier on myself.

That was yesterday, but today I'm calculating my meltdown as a blessing. One thing I have learned about myself in the last five years is when I try to just toughen up and overlook my feelings they always come back and bite me on the rear end. Always! So as silly as I feel having a meltdown, it helps me process through some tough or even silly feelings that get me down. It may seem weak to some, but I know that in the long run, I'll be better because of...the meltdown.

Oh, and just in case you were wondering....

Still worth it!