EKjourney Backup

Yes, it is that time of year again....the winter doldrums and the cabin fever that ensues.  I didn't have much of a chance to experience it the last 2 years as we were packing, moving, and putting our house on the market one year.  Madly, remodeling and spending every evening trying to get our house to the point where we could refinance, the next year.  But, as soon as things "calmed down" enough for me to notice, the cabin fever is back.  It is brought about by dark winter months, end of the Holiday season blues, wet weather (and on the farm MUD), and feeling trapped inside....bored, missing sun and being outdoors.  We had a brief little snow flurry (at best) that hit in the upper elevations of the Cascade Foothills.  Nothing on our end except for a few 5 minute snow flurries that didn't stick. Winter months bring a lot of rain and any break in the clouds is a welcome sight. I will admit that with my sleeping issues, I often get up past the sunrise.  ...

This is my 6th blog post today!!!  Really, there were a million other things that I should have been doing, including taking down the Christmas tree but since this is the time that I have a quiet house and there were hundreds of pictures to sort through, I worried that if I didn't catch up now, I might not be able to. So, here goes... I didn't give much "thought" to New Year's and the decade change over.  I reflected on welcoming Brighton at the start of the last decade.  I thought about some "bad habits" that I have gotten into, mostly because of being in the busy season of life - not meal planing and not having balanced meals, using the computer and social media for brain breaks and reality check outs, watching tv in bed to fall asleep, not exercising (specifically working on stretching and icing my plantar so I can get better and be able to exercise without pain), not doing Bible study because I am lying in bed and checking emails or instagram instead...

Social media seemed to suggest that entering a new decade was a big deal.  I thought back to what I was doing New Year's Eve and at the start of the last decade...I was waiting for this little boy to make his way into the world and then enjoying life with a newborn.  Everything clicked with this delivery and adjustment to having a new baby (as opposed to the previous one, where the labor was difficult and we were so sick).  My time in the hospital with him felt like a vacation.  I just rested and read magazines and watched movies while I cuddled him and let Phil (and his Mom came down to help) take care of the 3 other little ones.  He was content and I learned that co-sleeping and nursing on demand was the best way to get a good night's sleep and have a happy baby so I was the most rested with him.   Little did I know that my biggest baby, came with a personality to match.  I have shared before some regrets that I had in his young childhood. ...

We had one day after Christmas of rest and recovery (ok, house cleaning) before Phil and I headed over the mountains to Sun River to attend a wedding.  This was the first time that we have been gone from the children in 12 1/2 years!  The last time, I was pregnant with Evi and we stayed at a resort along the Columbia River for our 7th anniversary.   The admin team from Phil's work rented a house together.  It was fun getting to know everyone in a casual setting, though, admittedly a bit of a culture shock.  My social circle revolves around the children in our little conservative world of church and fellow Christian moms.  Being around a lot of drinking, swearing, and coarse talk is not something I am at all used to.  We had a good time though, visiting, playing games, going on a long walk, and sitting together through the wedding and reception.  Most of all, I enjoyed just being an adult and hanging out with Phil.  I am always "Mom", so ...