Christie Silvers

My husband and I built our house 14 years ago when I was pregnant with our first child. Since then we've done the normal upgrades and changes that anyone does when they own their own home.  We've changed out lights for ceiling fans, repaired torn window screens, painted, patched holes in the walls, replaced appliances and much more.  However, after all this time it appears to me that we're replacing/repairing more and more of the little things and now some of the big things need to be replaced as well.

This morning we finally broke down and bought a new door bell.  Ours works, but it sounds like a sick duck every time someone pushes the button.  This is of course after we ripped out our bathtub in the master bath room the other weekend.  We're still trying to decide on exactly what we want to replace it with.  After the first of the year we'll be replacing the HVAC unit and having some duct work done.  Then throw in that it's time for new living room carpeting, dining room flooring and I'm >t  h  i  s< close to wanting to paint again (I love painting!).

Now, all of this isn't really to complain about the troubles of home ownership.  No, really, it isn't.  I'm actually amazed that it has taken 14 years and three kids to get to this point.  I thought it would happen sooner.

My point in this rambling is to contemplate the timeline for these things.  Why is it that everything always happens all at once?  We're dealing with Tim's health issues, a new school year beginning next week, my constant need to work, write, promote and the house stuff.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to work, but sometimes my writing has to be pushed aside in order to attend to everything else in life.

Oh!  And I've come up with a new outside project to work on when I just can't take it any longer and need to escape into nature.  When this new project is complete I'll have an outside sanctuary of sorts to enjoy.

So much to do, so many ideas, so many layers of work, issues, responsibilities...  What's an insanely busy girl to do?

Wellllll...................

I simply take it one minute at a time.  Not one day, not one hour...one minute!  So many people have asked me how I do so much all the time and that's how it's done.  I can only work with what I have RIGHT NOW.  Sure, I have plans for tomorrow, but things happen, plans change, and I have to be ready to go with those changes.  I've learned over the years that it works best to be as flexible as I can possibly be.  Bending works much better than breaking. 

In the end, everything will eventually be accomplished.  We simply need to know when to move things around and reschedule our lives without neglecting our most important responsibilities...our family!  Tim and our girls will always come first, no matter what's going on in my life.  Everything else will work itself out in time.