Lessons Learned...

As I sit alone in my house, I am bored inspired enough to make another post.  A couple of weeks ago, I decided to take a day off of work to do absolutely nothing.  For the first time.  Usually when I've taken off, it's because: the kids or I am sick, doctor's appointments, traveling, catching up on things around the house, etc.  But this was a day of blissful nothingness.  And it was amazing.  I realized that day that I have not had more than 8 consecutive hours alone, actually by myself, since I got married nearly 10 years ago.  So this weekend, Kevin offered (out of guilt or maybe just good husbandry) to take the kids with him when he went out of town.  And here I am on my 22nd hour of alone time (including 10, yes 10 hours of sleep) feeling bloggy.  So here you go.

You know the saying, "If you're not learning, you're not living"?  Well, that should mean that if you are living, you are leaning.  That being said, here are some lessons I've learned (or been reminded of) while living this past week.

1) If left alone with 6 leftover cupcakes, I will eat them.  All of them.

2) I enjoy days alone far more than nights alone.

3) When you suddenly blurt out "I love you" to your students for no apparent reason, you are sicker than you think.

4) A well placed compliment can turn your whole day around.

5) My parents are the best grandparents any kid could ask for.

6) Kids really do grow up way too fast.  Really.

7) I'm either extraordinarily cheap, or really hate shopping (or both) if I can't find something to buy...with a gift card...by myself...without people waiting on me to get home. 

8) A couch looks much bigger when it's not covered with piles of laundry.

9) Much like school, birthday parties (as fun as they are) are best when they're over.

10) You know you're doing something right when your son can teach his church class about the Stations of the Cross and say "giving up video games for lent isn't a big sacrifice if Jesus can die on the cross for us".  And your daughter can do a beautiful retelling of the Parable of the Prodigal Son in her own wonderful 8 year old words and be able to understand that it represents God's love for us.