Weekend Links and Life Update {13}

I give up. I had such big dreams of sitting down and writing multiple posts this week. I have three swimming around in my brain, as we speak. But alas, it appears we are nearing the end of the road with both the house-selling and the house-building. Thus, my days have been hijacked by various time-sucking activities. There was not a single hour I could devote to writing. Not-a-one.

This brings me great sadness.

As I write this, I’ve escaped to Panera Bread while the buyers and the home inspectors invade the premises to decide if my current home is fit for inhabitation. Thankfully, I thought to grab my lap-top on the way out so I could compose a brief update and some links, tucked between errand running and more errand running. Unfortunately, my computer refuses to connect to the Panera wifi. So, by the time you read this, it will be tomorrow. Sigh…

As I deep cleaned my house (again!) in preparation for the inspection, it occurred to me that this morning’s cleaning could very well be the VERY LAST TIME I clean that house. I’ve lived there almost eleven years. Assuming I cleaned weekly (on average) I have scrubbed those toilets and vacuumed those floors approximately 572 times. Add to that, the million deep cleanings since we put the house on the market (I exaggerate only slightly), and that’s a lot of elbow grease.

I’ve never gotten sentimental while scrubbing a toilet, but I did a little today. The good news is, I have FIVE sparkly new toilets at the new house, upon which I can pour all my misplaced toilet-affection.

In my head (which, I admit, is overrun with information and functioning on low capacity) I see myself blogging throughout the move. However, you and I both know I will be a ball of stress and will have nary a moment to sit down and pontificate about balance. Balance will be packed in boxes and placed on the moving truck.

I miss you, balance.

(I know there are people who love the whole house-building/house selling process. It’s safe to say, at this point, I’m not one of them.)

(It’s safe to say at this point, if I never move again as long as I live, I will be okay with that.)

(It’s safe to say, at this point, I think people who enjoy this process are freaks of nature–perhaps not even human.)

So, if the blog is void of new material temporarily while I transition to our new home, know that I’d rather be here, writing. And please pray for me and my overloaded brain and stress-ball nerves and the people in my family who need to endure them with me.

Bless you.

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I Wish Someone Would Have Warned Me About These Big Feelings, by Jen Hatmaker. She always says what I think, but way funnier.

What Tools Do You Really Need to Chase Your Dream, by Donald Miller.  A simple reminder to pack light.

Late to School Again, by Kim at Mamma by the Bay. This one had me LOL-ing (literally…I laughed out loud) at the beginning and completely crying (CC-ing?) by the end. My favorite kind of post.

“Celebrities, strangers rally behind teen after ‘not one kid’ RSVPs for his birthday party” . Here is your feel-good-grab-your-tissues story of the week. As a mom of a 13 year old kid who has endured his share of bullying, I only wish I lived close enough to this sweet boy to show up at his 13th b-day party. Heart-warming.

7 Annoying Things People Say to Me Since I Started the Paleo Diet, by Sean Sullivan “When you attempt to go Paleo, you’re voluntarily giving yourself a gluten allergy, diabetes, and lactose intolerance. People who are anti-Paleo are focusing on all the stuff that you can’t eat. That’s not how to approach this. It’s about substitutions. You can’t eat peanut butter, so try almond butter. You can’t eat bread, so put your hamburger between two pieces of lettuce. Missing chocolate chip cookies? Have a handful of raw, unsalted almonds, and if you’re feeling extra naughty, salt them with the tears that are always streaming down your face. “  Funny, funny stuff.