Friday Five Faves - vol. 3

It's been an off-week for me. On one hand I've got so much to be thankful for. On the other, some things have been a struggle. Like my professional life this week. I kinda feel bad about focusing a little on the negative because I hate watching the news or reading some article about how the sky has been falling. I don't want this to be a place people come and have their smile get turned upside down.

I'm really struggling. I'm not going to go into details, but I'm experiencing some professional stresses that would have made me quit prior jobs. I love what I do and I believe in what our office is doing, I just am struggling with certain aspects of things right now. Things that make me dread coming into the office. That keep me up at night. That make the pit of my stomach hurt from stress.

I only know to pray about it. Which is the best thing for these types of things, but I'm human, so my emotions tend to be a little wonky because of it. I'm really hoping to check those at the door this afternoon because I have some partying to do.

Namely with a certain 2 year old and some of her friends. Which is my #1 this week. I'm totally stoked about the party. Not to give too much away, but we have a hot dog/german sausage feed with salads and chips, game time for the kids to include a small basketball hoop, a bean bag toss and a seed planting station. Then the cake is the shape of a butterfly because it totally matches the Garden Party theme. The centerpieces are adorable. I'll post pictures of them after the party.

2) Dinner with family tonight. D & E will be with us the weekend for the festivities. Tonight N's sister and her family are coming over for some food, fellowship and Wii. It'll be nice to visit with them and just enjoy our time together.

3) Zoe's new cowboy boots. Her G.G. sent them from Austin for her birthday. Aren't they adorable? She'll be line dancin' and two steppin' in no time.


4) My amazing husband. N has been helping out around the house this week extra because of how hard things have been for me. I come home to a clean house, clean laundry and a phone call telling me all kinds of sweet lovey-dovey things. He's made this week better. I'm so thankful that he is a husband who can sense my frustrations and my stresses and does what he can to be supportive. He is truly a demonstration of God's grace in my life.

5) Early bed times. Last night at 8 o'clock Zoe brought me her bedtime book and we read it. Then she ran into the kitchen while she asked for a bottle. At 8 o'clock. That is a whole hour before her normal bedtime. When I told her we needed to get ready for bed, you'd think I just told her I killed her puppy. Because she cried and cried and cried. Alligator tears ensued.

After her bottle, she got into her comfy position on my lap, turned her head toward me, blew me a kiss and was asleep. That little gesture there brought a slew of tears and made my week's stresses vanish.

Then I got to watch The Office. Even though it was a rerun, it was new to me.

It was like the perfect evening. Especially since I lost this week. After eating more food this weekend than I should in a week because, hello, celebrating a birthday! Whatever fries she didn't eat, I couldn't let those go to waste. They were birthday fries. We all know those taste better.

Have a great Friday all.