The Simple Life, Lessons Learned In DC

Well, we are back from Washington DC and still recovering from jet-lag. Since we have been home, I have been reflecting on our time there. The best lesson I learned was that keeping life simple really lowers my stress level. We had fewer toys, fewer social engagements, fewer fancy (I'm using this term very loosely) meals, and a lot more fun as a family. We missed all of the above mentioned things, but we also had less rushing around and family stress, i.e. fighting, yelling, tantrums.

The kids really became best friends...so much so that I am really getting worried about Olivia being gone for 6 hours a day starting in one week. I hope Ella can handle it. I think it will be fine as long as I don't get too involved in my own life, something I think happens to me regularly. It was just so nice to get back to the basics, and I loved spending time with my kids going to all of the museums, etc.

Lesson number two was that no matter how simple I keep my life, everything is better when Mark is around. It was so great that he would get home by 4:30 or earlier everyday. It has become very obvious to me that life is just better when we are all together.

Lesson number three was that it is always great to be home! I felt like crying when we got into our car, walked into our home, and walked into the church building on Sunday. It is fabulous that we live in such a wonderful place and have such wonderful friends.