It feels as though it's been ages since I last updated, but in fact it's only been a week. A very very long one. Between business calls, friends, and Christmas preparations I thought I was to busy already. Then the rule of three starts.
I remember when I was little, probably almost as far back as I can go, it was mentioned that Grandma always said bad things come in three. They really do. Sometimes it's three in a day, or two days, sometimes it takes a week or two. I had my three this week, and I'm glad they are over too.
Don't get me wrong, they were not huge issues by themselves, but when you are already focused on something distractions somehow seem worse then normal.
My car was acting lazy. It didn't want to go, didn't want to shift, and didn't want to go up hills, so I thought, ok, it's too cold for summer oil, and sent it for an oil change. This resulted in the news that my battery is wearing down, and I will soon need a new one. Fine. I'll take a day, find a way, and get a new one. Not really a big deal, but just one more thing to do, and one more thing to buy.
The next day, my pet is sick. No, I will clarify that, my child's pet was sick. So, of course, off to the vet we go. It is not possible to explain to your child that even though you take her to a doctor every time she is sick, that it's not that easy to get an appointment with a small animal vet the same day. So we went to the next town. It was apparent he was suffering, and there was nothing else to do but pay the vet, get the medicine, and proceed to syringe it down the poor things throat. I stand behind my new belief that the smaller the animal, the more expensive the vet visits, so next time I will get a Saint Bernard so when he's sick, I can tell what's wrong. That was a half day of driving, waiting, and comforting an animal. I love animals, but really! And another thing to pay for.
So I arrange a job interview. I am not perfectly qualified, but almost, and could reach the remaining qualifications before the start date. So off I go on the highway on a day with reportedly bad highways, to find out that I'm babysitting early so taking a child to my interview, and then my wonderful car that I've had good reviews about by others driving it that week, is acting badly. So I miss my interview, get stuck in the snow, freeze my feet, and finally get home. All for a hopefully small problem (it was an easy fix, but the reason for it is still unknown and it could be a much bigger problem). There was another half a day, a missed opportunity, and another thing to pay for, with the added fear of it being a much more expensive issue in a week or two.
I am calling that my three. That meant I was done for the week, and today was my day of rest.
It doesn't help much that the past couple weeks I had my three electronic issues. One of the most useful buttons on my cell phone no longer works, I dropped the tv remote in my drink (non-alcoholic too!), and got liquids in both by cell phone keypa
I was feeling badly about it all, and worried about making up the money, then I had some calls and watched the news, and was reminded that I really don't have it that bad. Yes, money will be tighter then I had planned this month and next, and yes, it was stressful when I didn't know what was wrong with my child's pet, and yes, my feet were sooo cold, but so what? We have a roof over our heads, food in our cupboards, and I have a car to worry about. There is a lot of love here, or it wouldn't have been hard to see a sick pet, and yes, we even have presents under the tree. So now, instead of worrying about my hardships (well mostly, as every parent does eventually, I do worry jobs will be lost and I won't be able to feed my baby, or someone will get hurt, or sick, but I'm a mom, it comes with the territory) and I'm going to focus on those who have less and need more. I am focusing my business for the next 2-3 weeks on fundraising for children's charities, I am making all my presents for family so I can put love in them instead of money, and I will be happy even on the days it is hard! These are my gifts to the world, and my way of being thankful for what I have.
I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, whether it is in a huge house with lots of toys, or a small home with lots of love. If you have neither of those, my Christmas wish for you is someone to see that, and help to make it even a little bit better.
I know that I can't save the world, or even all of the children, but if I can help just one person know that someone cares, and wants to help, then I've done something.