CSI

As I drove home this Friday, looking forward to a restful weekend, I received a frantic phone call from my ex-husband (who happened to be visiting) that my house had been broken into.  That's a marvelous way to kick-start a weekend!  Two hours of police, crime scene investigators, and sheer mortification later, I'm thinking it's time for some life changes.  You see, I'm a bit of a hoarder (probably an oxymoron).  I try to keep the house clean...it's just overwhelmingly cluttered.  Add three small children into the mix...and clutter turns to chaos and mayhem.  The crime scene investigator came in, camera flashing, muttering, "Oh man, this is awful!" (click) "Oh wow, they really did a number here." (click)  "Oh no!  Over here, too!"  (click)  I puttered behind him, mumbling, "Um, no, that was like that."  "Well, actually that was already there, too."  "Um, yeah, that was just us."  EM-BAR-RAS-SING!

Now for my excuses:  This month of April has been a doozy.  I've lost a water heater, my fridge is on life support, and my sinuses have decided to suck all of the water out of my body to use for nasal fluid production.  One week of antibiotics has done nothing to battle this phenomenon.  Add being down and out, rearranging furniture to install water heaters, stopping laundry production due to lack of hot water, cleaning out refrigerators, and (did I mention?) three small children...all at the same time, and you have a disaster zone at my residence.  (We won't talk about the fact that it's kind of a disaster zone all the time).

Excuses aside, I am really writing to express my gratitude.  Ultimately, I think the CSI horror show is the kick in the pants I needed to get my life on track, and I've been working on my house ever since.  I like to make excuses...but there are none.  

1.  I am a single mother of three beautiful, healthy children

2.  I have been blessed with the world's most wonderful and supportive parents AND friends.  

3.  I am fortunate enough to live in my grandmother's house in paradise (my dream house).  

4.  I have a great job teaching 4th grade in the world's most beautiful classroom.  

Most importantly...

5.  I have what my friends call "Lara Luck".  

Bad things happen to me...a lot.  Stupid bad things...but never horrible things.  My dad says that I'm always in the midst of a crisis...and I kind of am.  

Example:  My house was broken into this weekend, but thanks to something...(My ex stopping in to get my son's wetsuit?  The overwhelming havoc of my messy house?  The fact I don't really have anything that valuable?)...nothing was taken.  

Example:  A three hundred year old magnolia tree uprooted and landed on my car...yet didn't leave a scratch.  Inconvenient?  Yes!  Horrible?  No!  

Example:  My one year old daughter had a tumor, but it was benign.  Terrifying?  Yes!  Horrible!  No! 

I could go on and on and on with examples, but that would be boring.

Ultimately, my point is grace.  I'm not a super-religious, Bible-beating, Southern girl.  If anything, I am always struggling with my faith (like I struggle with most things).  But every time I feel like the world is spinning out of control, I think about my "Lara Luck"...and know that it is grace.  There is someone looking out for me, and keeping my head above the water.  I may be doggie paddling like a beast, but one good wave could sink me at any moment.  Fortunately, I am blessed that he calms the storms and keeps the waves at bay.  I think all the crisis in my life might be necessary to remind me that all the doggie paddling in the world isn't going to get me anywhere. Sometimes you need to just flip on your back and float...and know that it's going to be ok.

Today, I will go back to the Dr. to resume my battle against the forces of infection, I will meet with a contractor about repairing the break-in damage, I will go to war against the laundry and the clutter, but primarily, I want to show gratitude for the blessings and grace that are shown me each day.  I can do nothing without it!