It’s a wild and precious life.

Today is the last day of October…and somewhere between the bathroom renovation and the “redecorate Mom’s house” and the I do’s and the “SURPRISE” and the winning $50 and the “When is my burlap getting here?!” I got lost.

Lost in the realness of my life now. I met with a classmate yesterday for an “intake” interview to make an “assessment” about her current state..and mine. Hah! Friends, let me tell you about my current state. The one that I fall in love with more and more each day..and somehow fall in hate with less and less. I’m busy. So I schedule sushi dates weeks in advance and last minute movie dates hours in advance, shoe shopping and snuggles with mom minutes in advance. I schedule a paper between 11:30pm and 6am. I schedule a run somewhere between sunrise and just after preschool drop off. I schedule making my bed at 6:22 am. I schedule hanging my clothes at 9:18am or 9:54 a.m. depending on the day. And my nails, they’re getting painted in between these words and these thoughts because I have to multitask. HAVE TO. I schedule…I schedule… and I SCHEDULE. My iCal is exploding blue. But my life is exploding what it’s meant to.

So in meeting with Lindsay, my “presenting problem” was time management. Ironic because it’s not much of a problem. It’s just how I get lost in the moment with you–living as though today is the last and no, I don’t just mean that in the cliché form it may come across as. I mean it in that, my life is too busy NOT to cherish each little moment with you.

YOU, this LIFE-this LOVE!

five mile runs around burke lake. without them getting lost would take on a much different meaning. yet with them, getting lost means handling the ~~stresses~~ joys of schedules, schedules, and more schedules.

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and shoe shopping. I think of the three pairs I bought this month, these are by far my favorite. (The others are navy also, flats from Nine West…and since they were BOGO 50% off, I also got red ballet flats).

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THE BATHROOM RENOVATION! click here to get the details and see the after pictures.. still not quite done, but somewhere between the running and shopping and traveling I managed to change that into this!

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..while still finding time for this! Marisa signed up for Amari to do the Marine Corp 1 mile fun run. I bought her cute running clothes (of course) and the girl conquered. Strength, Endurance, and most importantly, FAITH to run the race set before us.

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ps. it cracks me up looking at her right shoe… what kind of Auntie doesn’t fix that for her girl?!

My heart melts for this little man. We get a little closer everyday, what between our dolphin kisses and eskimos and “targuts” runs before or after preschool. In case you need a translation those would be Starbucks runs…yes, those are scheduled in too.

As was the Great Pumpkin 5k at Reston Towne Center with my two favorite running buddies. Note: repeated Starbucks (forget gold member, I’m working my way up to platinum). There’s something so therapeutic about the goofy…

and something so special and therapeutic about being with them.

And as good as it is this scheduling– you have no choice but to crash… after talking the Wendy’s drive thru guy into giving you 50+ chicken nuggets for free while barefoot because those hot cheetah print heels beat up your feet with all those mad dance moves to Daft Punk and Build Me Up Buttercup…

must mean it’s time to recharge.

and then get excited for the next adventure!

because New York City, here I come!

This is Maggie, Katie, and Molly. I helped potty train them. And now they’re 16, 17, and 18. And God knows these are my girls! Surprising Molly for her 18th birthday was by far one of the greatest surprises I’ve EVER been a part of. Seriously. THE GREATEST! Gosh I love this spontaneous life I lead.

Remember that one time I met Mr. Producer Man (Alex) and flirted with him until the girls had to tell me he was gay? oops.

Or the time that I complimented Natalie Morales’ shoes and so she took a picture with us… AND thought that I was 18 (and Molly)? This life makes my cheeks hurt.

And remember the time that Jill told me to make-out with boys because it’s fun? Yes, friends, life is SO FUN!

Because she’s a part of it. Teaching me what it’s like to be a woman, but instilling in me what it’s like to be His woman.

Hey Katie, remember when you were 3 and I was swinging you around and your elbow popped out of joint….yeah, not my best babysitting moment (remember how I was 12?)

those eyes may look tired, but they’re not closing yet.

Remember that part about winning $50 but only taking home a nickel? I’m coming for you Atlantic City…

Dear A.C., We thought you needed to prepare for us and all our funness. We were wrong. PS I continually think that God’s gift to me is my twenties when I get to look pretty with a drink in my hand and a high five in the other.

You ate us alive Atlantic City.

but all good fun must come to an end… momentarily at least.

I don’t know if I talk about Jenn enough but she is seriously one of the sweetest women I know… can I get an amen? She has this gentle soul and this witty boldness that can send me into giggles and tears all at the same time. and I just really really love her…and the fact that I got to watch her teach as part of an assignment of behavioral observation. This is getting real friends, I’m going to be a school counselor… wow!

I want to be as peaceful as him. When the moments get too rushed. When I’m sleeping in naps and not talking in complete sentences. When I’m overwhelmed, Lord just quiet my soul.

and then just let me be.

Yes! Let me be.. with the one who makes me smile, who brings out goofy, and who houses MY COUCH! Let me be with him, and the POPCORN, and the WINE, and the TV. and let me breathe vicariously in an apartment that I can pseudo help decorate.