Yesterday: Practically Perfect In Every Way

A few evenings ago, Nathanael sat listening to me drone on and on about all the things I need to do, all the things I need to fix about myself, and all the things that aren't right in my life. (You get the picture.) As I drew to a close, I said, "I'm just feeling . . . ." Before I could finish this statement, my dear husband rather sarcastically said, "Let me guess--overwhelmed." Apparently he's heard me say this a few times before, and although I was going to say overwhelmed, I quickly changed my choice of words so as not to give him total satisfaction.

Yes, I have a tendency to see everything that is wrong with me and my life and somehow miss a lot of the good stuff. So yesterday when I kissed Nathanael goodnight and said it had been a really good day, I rather surprised myself. What had made yesterday such a good day? It wasn't necessarily an easy day, but it was a day filled with little victories and simple pleasures. Here's a list of what made yesterday a great day:

• I slept in until 7:30 while Nathanael made breakfast. (I wish I could say this was unusual. He loves to make breakfast, and I love to sleep. I'm pretty sure he'd choose making breakfast and looking like a saint on my blog over sleeping in--although I haven't asked him in a while.)


• Lost .7 of a kilo. (Hey, I said "little" victories!)


• I did the breakfast dishes with a little "help" from Micah who rinsed while I washed. He felt good about himself, and I felt good saying "yes" to one little request.


• Kids played happily together while I showered which is a big step considering that the day before yesterday I had to try to administer discipline (threats really) from inside the shower because I could hear them fighting from upstairs and above the noise of running water.


• Immediately after showering, I decided I should go exercise now that I was so clean and fresh. Actually, it started to look as if it might rain, so I chose (here's one of those small victories) to get out there and get it done. I thought about calling a friend to walk with me, but decided she wouldn't want to go because it was too late in the morning. I don't know why, but some people like to get up early, exercise, and then shower.


• I drove to my new favorite walking spot and was getting out of my car when my friend pulled up. She said she had thought about calling me, but didn't think I would want to walk that early. We walked and talked for 2.5 miles, and I stayed out for another 1.5. (I need the exercise more than she does!)


• Four miles and a lot of sweat later, I arrived home where my kids are still playing happily. (Don't worry they were under adult supervision.)


• Things continued to go well right through lunch when it was time to begin lessons for the day. Ethan HAPPILY did all of his work and then BEGGED for more. So, we did MORE math and MORE spelling practice.


• The kids played, created, and had fun the rest of the afternoon. Mommy stayed calm, patient, and in her right mind as she sorted out any sibling squabbles.


• I got an email from my dad, another from my sister, and a phone call from my mom. The other sister has the stomach flu or I'm sure she would've called, too :).


• I had a 45-minute conversation in Portuguese in which I didn't feel like a complete idiot. (This is especially encouraging since just a few days ago I realized that I've been speaking less and less Portuguese and feeling worse and worse about the few things I do say.)


• Nathanael arrived home only a few minutes late, having called to warn me beforehand. He also came bearing gifts which helped his case. He played with the kids and showered them while I fixed dinner--Walnut-Lentil Burgers (a bit of a risk.)


• My boys LOVED the burgers! Ethan gave it an A+ exclaiming, "It's a keeper!" Nathanael wanted it in the rotation. I even liked it despite my loyalty to beef.


• I did ALL of the dinner dishes with my little helper who, this time, decided to put plastic wrap on the cherry bowl. It took him the entire time I was doing dishes to try to get a piece free to put over the bowl. He finally surrendered and handed me the plastic wrap saying, "I can't do this. You do it." Who knew plastic wrap could keep a kid busy for almost an hour!?!


• Good books are read and boys tucked into bed.


• Nathanael and I have a delicious evening at home together. He stayed up to watch a soccer game, and I fell asleep with a wonderful sense of satisfaction and gratitude for such a good day.

As Seinfeld says: "I love it when it happens good!"