Christmas 2011

Christmas this year with the extended family went much more smoothly than it did last year. Joseph fell asleep in the car on the way there this time (it's not a long car ride, 20 minutes or so). We got there and he played for a while. As soon as everyone had arrived, we opened presents. He fell asleep during presents. After dinner, he was still asleep, so I stuck candy canes in his mouth until he woke up. He played with his Hexbugs for a little while, then we took him home without incident. All in all, entirely uneventful. :)

Christmas was really great. Everyone behaved, kids and adults, everyone got really awesome gifts. After I got home and we put the kids to bed, I started thinking about things like rent, utility bills, and credit card bills. Oh, the credit card bills. I remembered how tenuous our financial situation is, with Kristy being out of work, and Wal-Mart deciding that it would be a good idea to give me a credit card. And me deciding it would be a good idea to buy the kids gifts with it. And to buy myself a few things that I knew no one would be buying for me. And having to take out a loan to get Kristy a dental crown that insurance would not cover. And the car accidentS, from which we are still waiting to find out the "damage." (Kristy rear ended someone in her car at a stop light on December 1st, then she totaled my van and hit two other late model cars on I-270 on the 3rd. Our insurance coverage would not pay for one of those cars.) I started thinking about how that peaceful moment was temporary, and sooner or later, real life would impose itself on our idyllic existence.

But for now, the bill collectors are not calling, and the landlord is not harassing us about our rent or our water bill. There's nothing I can do about it right now, so I will not worry about it.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change. The courage to change the things that I can. And the wisdom to know the difference.

Coming soon: An update about ADHD meds. Spoiler alert! INTUNIV IS AWESOME!