In My Arms

I started out for LaPorte this morning. It was raining and thundering and carrying on, but I took the truck and thought, I'll be okay. I need to go...I'm going. 30 white-knuckle minutes later I was like, what am I DOING? Seriously--driving toward the bay? One of the schools is practically in a swamp...so I debated for a few more minutes, then turned around and headed home. And I'm glad I did; turns out, it's just as bad there as we feared. One of the teachers just called; she just made it to work herself, not a single kid is there, and the houses around the school will flood if it rains much more. :( So I'm not glad that the weather's bad at all--but I'm glad that I was able to listen to, as James called it, that still small voice of God. In my life, that voice is often in the form of gut feelings--if you know me at all, you know that when I say I have a gut feeling about something, it's usually spot on. So when my gut feeling tells me to go or not to go...I try to do what it says. But now I'm rambling. But I can, I guess, since I basically just won a free day this week. I still have tons of work to do--and I'll get to it--but I've cut out 4 hours of driving time today (minimum...that's not factoring in rain time), so I feel like I've just been handed an 8 day week. My new goal for today is to take time to do some organizing work stuff I've been putting on the back burner while I put out fires...you know, the boring stuff that nobody sees but you that you've still gotta do or it drives you nuts. Or gets in your way. So that's what I'll do today. It was great to surprise the kids this morning--James didn't tell them when they woke up that I was coming back home, so their faces when I came in were just priceless. And since I was already out in the rain I stopped at Wal-Mart for dog food and basic groceries, so I don't HAVE to run errands today (but if I can hit recycling while James and the truck are home at lunch, that would rock!). The house is pretty clean, the laundry's pretty well done (not put away, but hey). I'm feeling very lucky right about now that I'm not out in the mess, stressed about getting back home in time to pick up the kids (James has a Parade meeting tonight). And I'm still babbling, right?

Yesterday Kayci went to work with me. It was such a great day, even though in a lot of ways it was NOT a great work day. To just be able to spend time with her, and not have to rush around (although we did visit several schools and take care of lots of little things)...for it to be just me and her, to have nothing more important to do than count slug bugs...it was a priceless day. She was so excited about her loose teeth (and kept wiggling, darn it!), she had to tell all of our teacher friends the good news. I love that kid!

We had to stop and go potty on the way in yesterday morning (okay, Kayci and her Daddy-camel bladder were fine...it was my pea-sized bladder, okay?), so we stopped at a Starbucks. Next door there was a cupcake bakery, and my girl was sooooooooo excited. Of course, they were already open. So we popped in, and she took a while to decide. The cupcakes were gorgeous, and I bought a red velvet one and a carrot cake one to bring home and share with James. Keep in mind, these cupcakes cost $3.25. Each. After lunch, Kayci remembered her cupcake and dug in. It smelled great and looked great, and I was jealous, I'll admit it. When she was finished, I asked her if it was good. She was like, ehh. I fought down the part of me that paid $3+ and asked her what she meant, didn't she like her special treat? And she knocked my socks off--she told me that it seems like whenever she gets a special treat, they always LOOK good but don't taste so good or just taste okay. She went on about that, but I was absolutely floored that she already gets it--that it's what's on the inside that counts. Maybe she can't say it in that many words, but she's GETTING IT. Now that's my girl!

This morning I heard this song on my short-lived (well, still hour and a half there and back) commute, and other than the baby blues--she's a brown-eyed girl--this made me think of Bitty. She's growing and changing so fast (see my family blog post today...trying not to dwell on it!), and I'm grateful that she still comes to me for comfort and guidance. I know that those days will end at some point and I'll become the enemy. But for now, I'm so grateful to have the power to heal and hold and make it all better...

In my arms--Plumb

Your baby blues
So full of wonder
Your Curly Que’s
Your contagious smile
And as I watch
You start to grow up
All I can do is hold you tight
Knowing

Clouds will rage in
Storms will race in
But you will be safe in my arms
Rains will pour down
Waves will crash all around
But you will be safe in my arms

Story books
Are full of fairy-tales
Of kings and queens
And the bluest skies
My heart is torn just in knowing
You’ll someday see
The truth for lies

Clouds will rage in
Storms will race in
But you will be safe in my arms
Rains will pour down
Waves will crash all around
But you will be safe in my arms

Castles they might crumble
Dreams may not come true
Cause you are never all alone
Cause I will always
Always love you

Clouds will rage in
Storms will race in
But you will be safe in my arms
Rains will pour down
Waves will crash all around
But you will be safe in my arms

In my arms
In my arms