It has been a day. A long, long day.

Bear and I scrubbed this place down, top to bottom. We made cookies for my mom and dad who babysat the kids tonight. I had a few hours of "me time" this evening, hanging with one of my best girls--eating pizza at her lovely house, talking trash and laughing a whole bunch. I am tired tonight.

I am humbled tonight. By those who felt--and still feel--the impacts of 9/11 so concretely. By those who are fighting in any and every capacity: for our freedom, for their lives, for the greater good.

I am grateful tonight. My girls were sleeping like the angels they are when I arrived home this evening. I helped Bear get ready for bed, we read a book, said our "blessings', talked about his fun evening. As we snuggled in bed he said, "I was so lonely for you tonight. I'm glad you're home. I love you."

I was choking back tears--honestly. I could barely speak. The lump in my throat was epic. But I told him how much I missed him and how deeply I love him, and how happy I am to be home--to be here--with him, with Beauty, with Little Flower. In the quiet of this house, I am reminded. I AM GRATEFUL. I appreciate these gifts each and every day.

I listened to Eric & Kathy's 36 hour radiothon quite a bit this year. I cried quite a bit, too. Okay, I cried a LOT. I cried out of the injustice of these sweet angels' suffering; I cried for parents who have to face a loss every single day--a loss I can't even begin to fathom. I cried out of love for my own children, out of a tiny bit of fear that they would ever have to face such trials, and out of a ton of gratitude that they haven't so far--that they're here, healthy, loving, living, breathing, being.

Give me bills to the ceiling.
Give me catty remarks from uncaring people.
Give me house repairs that needed to be done yesterday.
Give me a house full of teethers and tantrum throwers.
Give me a car with a bad engine and sorta-bad brakes.
Give me anything--throw anything at me. I will take it all.
Keep my children healthy and I will surmount anything. I will take it. I will welcome it. 
And then keep me healthy--keep K. healthy--to be there for my children, and I will surmount any challenge you put before me. You name it. Throw it my way. I will greet it with a smile

I am going to bed. Emotionally spent, but bursting at the seams with love. Always, always love. <3

Oh, and hey...the radiothon? It raised over 1.7 MILLION for Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Never have I been more grateful to be a part of something so very beautiful. <3