When I look back at today, I’ll have to admit that it wasn’t one of my best ones. In someways, it was downright bad. But with the bad, there’s always some good, I think. And within the bad of this day, good presented itself as well, and for that I’m thankful.
The day started out pretty good. I got to meet up with my beautiful friend Emily for lunch at the Country Cottage Diner, which is as cute as its name. We ate good food and shared life and it was lovely. Emily is quite possibly one of my favorite people ever. She is beautiful, on the inside and out and she encourages my heart in amazing ways. God has great things in store for this young woman and I am so blessed to know her.
Then, this afternoon, I picked up our kids from school and headed out to Bella Smiles, in Riverhead for my dentist appointment. Dentist appointment days are always hard days for me. Because I have major dentist anxiety. And it’s totally just my fault. Because I literally worry about the most random dental things and I really don’t need to worry about. But I do. And while I’m kind of ashamed to admit this, I think it’s good to say struggles out loud. The truth of it all is, is that we have the most wonderful dentist ever. Dr. Sal Lotardo, and his amazing team at Bella Smiles are absolutely incredible. They are friendly and kind. Their office is clean and beautiful. And my appointment went well, and I left today, so thankful and definitely wishing I hadn’t worried so much.
After I my dentist appointment, I drove to my gym. Which I love. Which I’ve gone to consistently for almost three years now. I’ve been in a steady routine of Tuesday/Thursday evening classes with Webby and an amazing group of gym friends that I’ve gotten to know and love over the years and it’s always a highlight of my week. So, you can imagine the sadness I felt, when I arrived at the gym to find out that Webby would no longer be teaching classes there. It was so sad to me, because I’ve always really enjoyed the Boot Camp and Cross Training classes that he taught. He was an incredible trainer and teacher and friend. I do wish him all the very best and hope that he continues to train and teach and use the amazing gifts and talents that he has to help others. And even though it seems like a bad situation, there was still good in it. Good because I’ll continue to go to classes and work hard and meet up with my gym friends. And I’m so thankful for how far I’ve come in the past almost three years. And I’m thankful for being able to meet Webby and take his classes for such a long time.
And finally, to end the kind of bad day that still had good parts to it. I have to admit that I’m pretty sure I’m stressing our daughter out. We missed a few days of school last week since we were in Arizona, and she still has work to make up. So we’ve been pulling these two hour homework marathons for the past few days, and it’s not really working out all that well. I’m cranky and she’s cranky and it’s a terrible combination. She ended up in tears tonight again, and I felt like the worst mom ever.
My goodness, I love her so much. But sometimes, I just need to do better. For her. By her. But I don’t always know what the answer is. And actually, tonight, I literally didn’t know what some of her math answers were. Because Common Core math seems to be a bit more confusing than the good old fashioned math I learned when I was in second grade. Sigh.
After finishing up for the night, and sending her up to get ready for bed, I thought for awhile. And even though there is so much struggle for Ellee when it comes to school, there is also so much good. Ellee works really hard. She has a beautiful school that is helping her so much. She has an incredible teacher that loves her and she has a family that is doing our best to support and help her. And all of those are good things.
So I guess what I’m trying to write tonight, is that there are definitely going to be the bad days. There are going to be the hard days and the sad days and the awful days. But there is always good to be found. I personally believe that God always works goodness into the hardest times. And I’m so thankful for that. So take comfort. Bad days are good days. It just takes a little perspective to see things how they really are.
Laura Herr Photography 