Keeping Up

Everybody tries to keep up with the Joneses. It's part of life. They have it. It's awesome. I want it. Or better yet and slightly more subtle: It's out there. It's better. I NEED it. I have a friend who thinks she needs a certain very expensive car because nothing else is safe enough. Clearly she is not keeping up with anyone -- just trying to stay alive, right?!

I am a pretty bad offender. But usually I do it because I am not creative enough to come up with my own awesome. I get distracted by other people's happiness. It just looks so great! Big house, small house, ballet, new business -- whatever it is, other people just make it look so great. So I get on their train and try to keep up. It is a goal of mine to spend more time deciding what I like. Set my own goals. Keep up with myself (which can also be depressing, but I digress). But I am happy to report, and I have officially bowed out of the race for biggest/ nicest house. It feels great. I might still enjoy the race as a spectator. But for now it feels great to just enjoy what I've got.

I've received some amazing sympathy calls and texts. There has been a lot of LOL between friends. Bridget sent the most amazing text after the sink "before and after" pics.

"I was just reading your blog and had to laugh out loud at "don't judge, jerks" because I seriously wanted to vomit when I saw those pictures of your sink. :) ... Miss you!" -- Bridget Reed.

I loved it! Amazing. I was pretty proud.

So, anyway, it feels nice to just not try to be bigger and better than anyone else -- as far as my house goes. I might get stressed that I can't afford as many activity for my kids as other people or that don't have kids that never eat candy. Ok, I might already be stressed about these things. But my house is what it is, and I'm sticking to it. I realized this again this morning. I said to the girls, "I can't wait for Grammy to come visit." Tim look disgusted and said, "I don't want ANYone to come visit." You're think Mr. Camping-on-the-floor-is-so-great-we-can-keep-our-bed-in-storage would love to have people come over so he can show off his awesomeness. But really I'm the one who is fine with it. Like I said, bowing out is relaxing. There is something about going backwards that takes the pressure off of the sprint forward.

So, come visit! Our awesomeness is open to you!

There is a little hotel a few houses away with a hot springs pool just waiting for you. Or, of course, there is always room on our floor ... With us.