Wonderful Restful Balanced Weekend

Just a few of the wonderful moments from the past weekend, including catching up on much of the routine loveliness:

-On the way to the airport, the sky was beautiful and clear. We passed the cotton harvest, which was the first time I'd ever actually seen it! (Even though it reminded me of how many nasty chemicals coat and "assist" in the production of cotton---all the plants were sprayed to kill the leaves off for easier harvesting of the cotton....)

-I finally found a few work clothes items I've been searching and waiting for throughout the last year. Most were on sale which made it even more nice! Yesterday I found a way to get FREE shipping and more selection on needed new bras (my old ones are wearing thin and spilling out--not exactly the greatest to be constantly tugging in the chest region when I work with primarily male soldiers). Bras are one item I splurge on to keep the girls in place and covered, and I was stoked to realize the brand that works best actually has a website enabling me to cut out the middle man!

-The house was cleaned. All loads of laundry hung, carpets vacuumed (3 containers of dog fur!), sheets changed, dusting done, and bathroom and kitchen scrubbed. Get well flowers trimmed and reintegrated and my decorative birds were finally hung. Organized surroundings make the rest of me feel organized as well. PS Have I mentioned that we were cut a $17 refund check for our reduced electricity usage? If we can get refunded $17 each month, that's not bad indeed!

-We slept in and attempted to catch up on missing hours of zzzs. Spent a slow, lazy Saturday around the house. Then had a dinner date together and a visit to PetSmart to get a larger collar for Roxi and bones for the dogs! A harvest moon followed us home and the drive gave us time to share.

-I cooked....TWICE! :) I know I should cook more often especially since it is a value I hold most dear, but unfortunately for numerous reasons I usually leave it to the hub. I actually made bread this past week and Saturday morning turned the stale slices into french toast for breakfast. This evening I hit up one of my favorite recipes from the down home southern tastes and made spinach and cheese twice baked potatoes with a side caesar salad. Left overs for work lunches and I'm planning on using the Crock Pot this week. Must get back in the home cooking habit.

-Caught up via the phone. Saturday I phoned my nephew for what we here in the south call a "come to Jesus" conversation---full of tough yet unconditional, honest love. Touched base with Granny Sunday and checked in with Dad numerous times throughout the weekend. Sunday morning I had a phone date with an old high school friend while the hub wiled away hours at work in the field.

-Read through all the blogs I've missed throughout the past two-three weeks. Smiled, sighed, chuckled, and drooled. ;)

-Anna and I had one last walk with her dog friend Wall-E and his owner. We covered 4.5 miles and talked about transitions while the dogs happily romped through the tall grass. A long hug and well wishes shared--one of the simplest yet kind good byes.

-Three days of temps in the 80s-low 90s and rain all throughout today---fall just might happily be on its way!My pepper plants are back with a few more blossoms. :)

-Paid off the credit card. Paid off the hub's small loans. Small debts are g-o-n-e!! Hub focusing on truck payments. My focus is slightly on truck & my student loan, more so on our revised financial plan: saving for a cushion for our transition.

-And all those small items got taken care of: groceries for the week purchased, my hair thinned and trimmed, a book and letters ready to mail out, repaired my sandal with super glue, work clothes ironed, animals enjoyed and loved on, texts returned and waiting messages replied.

For the first time in months, each and every moment had its own place in an entirely different way. I didn't feel rushed. I didn't feel that any particular item "had" to get done or that it was weighing on my mind. I didn't worry about checking everything off the list. I just kept one foot in front of the other and enjoyed taking care of the things that had been patiently waiting...because in due time all things get considered. Amazingly everything that had passed through my mind got done relatively easily and our clan been able to spend hours of interspersed time just relishing in relaxation. A nice change indeed. I feel restored....and ready to head into the potential drama of Monday :)

Here's hoping you had a productive and restorative weekend yourself! Best of the moments to you!