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erin

erin

I'm Erin Jo. I'm thinking, writing, dreaming, mothering, loving, living, praising, BLESSED to be Fiona to my Shrek and Mommy to my four amazing kiddos.

dave

dave

Shrek is "like an onion with many layers" but has a heart of gold. He's my husband and my friend, and we just get better all the time.

lily

lily

Lily is my first baby and only girl. She's smart, funny, tall and kind. Keeping up with this girl is a challenge and a joy. She's terrific!

max

max

Max is one part ogre, two parts lover and all boy! Our little man has a temper but gives the best hugs of anyone I know!

colby

colby

Colby is as ornery as he looks. He flirts shamelessly, even with strangers. He's all mouth and curls and the loudest by far.

luke

luke

Luke is the baby of the family, but holds his own. He's happy and adorable. And he's a terrible sleeper. =)

The Next Thing on My List

Well, I, for one, think it’s high time I got back to blogging again. My life has reached a whole new level of busy-ness. I’ve picked up another day a week at work. I’m doing well in my new Origami Owl business. I’m playing volleyball again on Tuesday evenings. I’m teaching kindergarten and first grade catechism to nine energetic kiddos with my aunt. Lily’s a budding basketball player. And Shrek and I have a very unhealthy addiction to “Breaking Bad” and are consuming whole seasons each week.

And I have some ailments. My back is killing me. My knees and hips ache. I just don’t know. Do you think it’s trucking around campus at high speeds in high heels on bricks? Or could it be carrying a couple of hefty baby boys around while cooking and cleaning? Could it be carrying bags full of food and notebooks and catalogs and kneepads and sports bras and diapers and business supplies? (While in high heels and carrying boys?)

I’m not sure, but I think it most definitely has something to do with my low levels of sleep and my high levels of stress.

Most of the time, my busy hands are happy hands. But one day this week at my desk, my busy hands and my busy brain and my busy, useless, handling-of-difficult-people skills gave up, and I just sat and had a mad cry. In the end, I think it was a good cry, because I recovered with a resolve to remember the things that matter. The reasons. The legacy I leave. The people, not the places.

This is not to say I won’t do all things to the best of my ability. That I won’t continue to do what I like to do with difficult people at work, which is to wear them down with my excellence. (Ha!)

I will wear all my hats. I’ll work hard and play hard and love much and laugh often. I’ll take things as they come. And I’ll write every now and then.

But I’ll keep these four children above in my mind at every turn. Because they are the things that just won’t wait. Do me a favor and help me remember that. Tell me at the grocery store and after church and in your comments that these are the days. That I shouldn’t miss them. Not for money or accolades or pride.

And, with that, I am off to bed, to live another crazy day tomorrow. Life has so much to offer, and I only have to live it.

6 Responses

  1. Patti Miller says:

    Whew! You make me tired. I guess I used to keep that pace when the kids were little, but not now. You manage to keep all the balls in the air and that’s impressive. These days will go by fast, make no mistake, but you do a good job at taking them one day at a time and savoring them all. Even the crazy ones are special! You will turn around and they’ll be grown! Hang on to today!!

  2. Karen Rutter says:

    Hey, as long as you make it through every day, one day at a time, you’re doing all you can do, making all the memories you can make, and getting through 24 hours. It’s always just 24 hours. May feel like 48, but it’s always 24. The beginning of the next 24 hours is another opportunity to make it the best 24 hours ever. You’re doin’ okay. 🙂

  3. Rita Harra says:

    Erin, you are a wonderful mom and work hard at it. Take this advice from one who knows about joint pain. Take off the heels, put them in your desk drawer and when you leave work for lunch or to go home—Put on your tennis shoes! When you return to work, put the heels on only if necessary for appearence purposes. Believe me when you get older and your feet hurt, your entire body will ache.

  4. Rachel says:

    Thanks for the reminder, Erin. 😉

  5. julie says:

    I know I don’t have to tell you anything, cause you already know it all. And, I mean that in a good way… I have been putting so much focus on September and spreading the word for childhood cancer and praying that everyone realizes how blessed they are that their life is a beautiful chaos… You know that. You have already lived the journey of a child and mother on a different journey. I read your blogs and I know that your words come from your soul and your life. And they are both beautiful. Keep on living it to the fullest. One day, and one day way too soon, you will want these days back. But, God willing, you will get them back by doing what your Aunt Patti, your mama, me and so many others do… and that is spoiling your grand babies. That seems like many light years away, but the time sure flies. Love you EJ!!! and love the pics!

  6. Jessica Yost says:

    I don’t know how you do it all! You are an amazing mother, wife, friend, woman! I can’t wait to have a party. I hope this new owl business takes off and brings you joy and success. Just keep swimming!

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