Hi Sisters!

Why does the weekend seem to go by so quickly and the rest of the week go...well, you know.

I realize that I have been sitting here staring at the computer screen.  I think I was asleep with my eyes open....

I woke up at 6:30 this morning and went to do charity work.  Filling food orders and delivering them.  This weekend I was a receipient of one of the orders.  I guess if I weren't where I am now, I would have been embarrassed, but I needed to get back on my feet in the food department and we were running short on things, and there will be a gap in pay periods since I started my new job.  I have a big family, and I know they need to be fed.  Pride could very well come into play here, but  when you are trying to do the best by and for your family, pride can become your enemy.

Arriving back home after 10am, the task of putting everything away began, while at the same time we started laundry.  A friend of our family came to look at our Suburban and gave us the news that he can't figure out which wire has shorted either.  This makes person number 3.  That brings me to both of our vehicles being down.  Thank goodness Dr. Tate let me bring home his Tahoe after work yesterday and said I could use it to deliver food orders and could keep it until Monday.  I could have went into a funk, or crawled back into bed and covered my head, and I might have a month ago....but that wasn't in my plan...it's all about attitude where you go when faced with such opposition, and I have a brand new one with a different outlook on life, people and my surroundings.

I can't control what has happened.  Earlier this afternoon as I was working on my second pile of laundry, seeing to it that my husband had lunch and listen to Elle and Michael complain about being bored, I felt the tears stinging in my eyes and asked myself, "Why me?"  No sooner than I asked myself this, I was able to answer it....."Why not you?"  "Who else would you like to see feeling like you do right now?"  I quickly wiped my eyes and folded the towels with more determination. 

Later this afternoon, I gave Elle and Michael a project which kept them busy for at least an hour which allowed me to get with my older daughters and plan dinner for tonight and for the rest of the weekend.  I also had the chance to spend a little time talking to my husband about our transportation situation.  By the way....hamburgers and Tater Tots tonight, salads and fresh bread tomorrow.

Finally done with the wash.  I worked a little on cleaning my room.  Having my husband spend a great deal of time in our bedroom has turned it more into a play room.  With him being in there, I can always find Elle and Michael in there at some point in the day, blankets covering the floor eating popcorn, popsicles or whatever my husband tells them to sneak to him with the promise he will share!  I hung up some clothes, cleaned off our dresser and was going to attempt to clean his computer area, but decided against it.  It will be longer than a few minute job and I am starting to run out of gas.

Back to the family room, I vacuumed the floor and answered a few emails.  Siobhan and I keep putting our phone calls off because family obligations and duties.  She was going for a walk with her husband, and I was still getting my home in order so I could finally sit down and do a little Broke Wives' work.  Remember what I said in my blog the other day????  Your surroundings help with your attitude.  I needed to do a little more straightening and cleaning before I could sit down and kick back in my recliner.

Anyway, with everything done...Siobhan and I will speak later tonight when all is calm around here.  We are working on much to present to all of you, and I am excited about it!  I had just started typing this blog when I realized that I was indeed asleep...I really wasn't staring at the computer screen.

I wanted to take a few minutes to write this before I get the children bathed.  Then I will check the rest of my emails....by the way, thanks for some of your emails....they are very sweet and comforting...I will have a quiet dinner with my husband on the other side of the house...where our bedroom and office is...and then I will rest my mind, body and spirit.  I don't do yoga or anything like that.  I just find a quiet spot, turn everything off and close my eyes.  I sometimes go to Hawaii in my mind where I can see the white beaches and blue water, or I go to Egypt where the pyramids are and I can almost feel the heat.  Those are two extremes right?  But on the serious side...you should try it sometimes...it really is relaxing.

In closing...take the time and smile right now...I am at this very moment.  We have much to be happy about.  If you have a bed to sleep in tonight..be happy, if you have food enough to eat...be happy, if your children are in good health...be happy, if you have the luxury of reading this...you have what so many do not...access to a computer.  That is the next thing I deal with next week....paying bills and how I am going to do it...but I am happy, I have a job and I have confidence that if I stay strong and endure these little setbacks and complications, I will have learned much and will be able to use what I have learned to help others.

Stay strong and as Siobhan always tells me...

Keep Smiling!

Donna M. Butler
"It's no joke being broke."
The Broke Wives' Club
www.thebrokewivesclub.com