Perspective

This week, the last one in August, tends to creep up on me each year, to scatter around a bag of mixed emotions that aren't always handled well.

School starting causes enough angst to send me over the edge--and unless you want to see me break down into hysterical sobs, don't mention the fact that my oldest baby will be entering fifth grade and that my baby baby will, in five short days, be starting first grade, and spending the whole day AWAY FROM HIS MOMMY. I think I'm going to vomit.

This is always a sad time of year for me and my family in a more reflective way, as we remember that awful Saturday morning in late August years ago when my dad was killed in a wood-cutting accident. I have always associated the beginning of school with that. Does the pain of losing a loved one ever dwindle??

But the real reason I am more introspective than usual tonight is because of this post that I read on a friend's blog. Wow. While I am so sad for this family, I am thankful that I have chances like this to buck up, to quit whining, and to take a deep breath and say a little 'thank you' for my awesome life. My kids, while crabby, are beautiful. My husband, while picky at the dinner table, is a truly wonderful person. My life, while busy and not always what I planned, is just right.

And, I have to think that if this this is one of the biggest obstacles in my life right now, I'm a pretty happy gal.

Any opinions??
(Especially you, Jayna--you're the one who got me started!!)