Peace and Joy

I keep thinking, "Oh, life will slow down."  

I kept telling myself that after basketball season, my life would slow down and I would have so much time to blog, make fun new themes at school, complete some DIM (Did It Myself) projects at home.  

Well…. here I am finally updating my blog 2 weeks later with only one DIM project completed, no fun themes, and a messy house.  Life is always hectic but I guess that is the fun of it.  

Here is an update on outfits.  

Wednesday: Unfortunately, I had horrible luck in my travel home from my uncle's funeral so my 12:45 pm arrival home turned into a 9pm arrival.  Needless to say, I was tired from a long day of travel and had to be prepared for first grade right away in the morning. I wore my black pants with a pink shirt, white cardigan, and fun scarf.  I needed comfort because I knew my kiddos would be full of IT upon my return.

Thursday: I love this multi-level, floral skirt (can't remember where it is from but my guess is Target).  Today, I matched it with a simple T from Target.   Note: I have this shirt in about 6 colors because it is so comfortable and easy to layer.  I also threw on my jean jacket on the way out the door.  I am still not sure it is short sleeve weather...

Friday: Yay! Friday already.  I guess that weeks go quick when you miss half of it.  I was actually exhausted by Friday (emotional drain is worse than any kind of physical exhaustion).  I wore my go-to Silver jeans with a simple grey long sleeve (Target) and my cream Toms.  Nothing exciting… I just wanted to make it through the day!

And week number 2:

Monday: I wore my go-to dark blue dress pants from Target with a plain 3/4 length shirt from New York & Co.  Shoes are from DSW.  I love the look of dark blue, white, and brown!

Tuesday: Oh, parent-teacher conferences.  It is such a love/hate relationship.  The amount of work and mental stress I put on myself at this time of the year is overwhelming.  Checking in with parents and having the opportunity to show each child's growth since the Fall is overwhelmingly satisfactory.  

My outfit today is a teal/green dress (Target- I swear I do shop other places also) paired with a cream cardigan and belted with my wide brown belt (Target).  I also have on my Jacquelyn Smith shoes from K-Mart.  I love these pumps and cannot believe how comfortable they are!

Wednesday (Friday): Happy Hump Day and last day of the week!!!!  Spring break starts tomorrow (well actually our comp days from doing parent/teacher conferences) so we are calling it Friday today!!!  

I wore these skinny jeans (my consignment store: 2nd Hand Rose) with a dark purple t-shirt (earlier mentioned for having like 6 colors- I noticed that I wore 3 of this same shirt in the last 2 weeks…) and a boyfriend cardigan (Target).  I also wore my multicolor, multilayer pastel necklace.  I love this necklace but have a difficult time wearing it because it always bangs against my microphone at school.  Oh well, I love how it looks with this outfit!  I also wore nude flats with the outfit and absolutely love how this outfit came together!!!  I would wear it again, but nope!  That would break the rules of a different outfit everyday of the school year…

Only about 45 more outfits that I have to come up with!

As you know, I had started to write something I am grateful for, something inspiring, or some positive note on each blog post.  A couple of weeks ago, with so much sadness in my heart, I could not come up with what makes me grateful, inspired, or positive.  

I was sad and angry.  

I could not figure out why my family was having to bury another loved family member.  It felt unfair, sad, and heartbreaking.  

Why us?  

While I cannot come up with why us, I cannot answer the timing of life, I cannot totally kick this sad feeling from heart; I can find comfort in these words.  As I was looking through all of our wedding cards this weekend, I found this simple, heartfelt message: 

"Wishing you peace and joy for years and years."

It may not seem like much to you, but to me it is just the message I needed (and hopefully my family can find comfort in).  

My Uncle Rick who too quickly was taken from us on March 2, 2014 had written this message to me and Travis just 3 short months earlier for our wedding.  Although this was his wish for our marriage, I need to find peace in my everyday life so that I can have joy in my marriage.  I need to have peace with God's timing in calling his son Rick home to him so that I can have joy in my heart for all of God's blessings everyday.  It is not easy in a time of grief to find peace and joy, but today, I need to take my uncle's advice to have peace and joy with God's timing so that I can again enjoy my life, the way my uncle would have wanted.  

Rest in Peace, Uncle Rick.  

We cherish the time we had with you, the memories you gave us through your photography, and the heartfelt message in every card you sent.  You gave so much joy to this world and will be so dearly missed.