A Day in the Life...

It was the day Taryn (aka T-Ron) turned thirteen.  THIRTEEN!  Wow, right?  For a middle-of-the-week birthday, I think it was alright.  The girls and I made her a candy bar poster, got birthday doughnuts for breakfast, balloons (for no reason other than balloons are sort of necessary on birthdays), and a few small gifts.  Grandma took her out for lunch and her dad was lucky enough to be in town to take her out for dinner.  We have yet to do the big family birthday bash because schedules are crazy right now! Thirteen Things Everyone Should Know About Taryn: 1.  When she was a toddler she called noodles "nurdles".  We still think it's great and now my kids call them that sometimes, much to T-Ron's eye-rolling. 2.  When she was a toddler she used to frequently bless Mexicans and hunters during her nightly prayers.  Haha, it was so funny and cute. 3.  Taryn loves family and has always cared about family- like mega, mega. ...

Copper's 2nd grade play... Lemonade. Six second grade classes, and each student said one line.  Nobody could see anything but we could hear them sing!  We've been hearing those songs for a month now!  Copper was Rapunzel, her line being, "When you're stuck up in a tower!"  She was Mega excited and beyond cute.  Always a fun gal.

We renamed our cat Taco.  It seemed better fitting and I think he likes it. Micah: "Mom, I love you so much I'll paint you a flower." Parent day at piano lessons... Copper wore her gymnastics leotard and roller skates... Kota's real twin... Taryn making the most of spring snow... The most delicious bread (I bet).  I made two loaves and gave them both away.  But they smelled great!

When I get a work phone call at ten o'clock at night, it's never a client saying, "Hey, I'm doing great!"  Usually it's a crisis.  Last night's phone call was a mom near and dear to my heart, whose family I've been helping for two and a half years.  They've literally been through hell and are apparently still wading in it.  I've never been closer to a work family and never had a better relationship with a client.  They're really incredible with all the obstacles they've had to overcome.  But sometimes life takes its toll- like last night when her 13 year old attempted suicide and is in the ICU.  I couldn't stop sobbing- like literally crying and crying.  I hear crappy things every day- really hard things that sometimes shake me up a little.  Most days are completely fine but some days I can't really handle all of the secondary stress and trauma of social work.  I have feelings of guilt, regret, hopelessness, and am exhausted emo...