Since the beginning of the year I've been going to the gym regularly and really look forward to my new routine. The kids love going to Child Watch and I use my cool down period to sit in the lobby and check my email and listen to something other than preschool songs for a few minutes :)

I've noticed this girl, who I thought was a teenager, is there every single day. She and I have spoken on occasion but lately she will seek me out if I go sit in the opposite corner for some me-time. A week or so ago she told me she just got out of the psych ward and was feeling much better. I told her I was happy for her. Most of the time she asks me for money because she wants a Coke from the machine and I never/rarely carry cash. Again, I'm assuming she is a teen who is younger than driving age because she said her mom picks her up every day between 5 and 6. She knows all the high school kids by name and speaks to them all. Yesterday she told me her birthday is next week and she will be 22. I was a little confused.

Today as we were getting out of the car I saw her get off a school bus for disabled children. My new guess is she is a special needs student that still attends high school. Today in the lobby, she was surrounded by other people so I thought she would leave me alone. Nope. She came over and asked me for money again. When I didn't have any she walked off to ask other people. I noticed she settled near another lady around my age and was chit-chatting with her.

I felt a little guilty because I thought maybe sometime I should bring a $1.25 so she can have a Coke, and also for trying to avoid her at times. I previously justified it within myself by needing a little me-time since I have to give most of myself to others (little people) the majority of every day. (Please don't take that as a complaint. I love my job!).

Just seconds after having those thoughts, she comes back and wants to ask me a question. Sparing all of the details of it, the subject was sex, and not regarding gender. I just redirected her to ask her mother when she gets picked up today. I had to repeat myself several times because she kept prompting me. I honestly think it has more to do with her mental capacity and not her trying to be inappropriate.

But, I'm wondering if I should mention it to the staff tomorrow, if nothing else to find out more of her story. Surely they are familiar with her because apparently her mom uses the YMCA as an adult after school day care for this girl. My concern is someone or even her falsely accusing me of something that didn't happen. I probably should have said something today but I was so thrown off by the question itself that I picked up the kids and left. What would you have done in this situation?

A very dear friend of mine had a terrifying day yesterday. Her husband was running the Boston Marathon while her MIL and BIL were spectators cheering him on. Her husband was 0.4 miles from the finish line when the bombs exploded. If the thought of that isn't scary enough, runners are released in waves to relief congestion of 27,000 people running the race. Her husband should have been in the wave that finished as the bombs exploded but he missed the call for his group and started approx a half a mile behind with the group after his.

The picture below shows where her MIL and BIL were. See the Starbucks in the back right? They were standing at the guardrail. This is where the second bomb exploded. Her MIL went into somewhat of a shock and was unable to physically move. Her BIL jumped over the guardrail and when he couldn't verbally get his mom to respond to come, he dragged her over the guardrail and forced her to run with him. Look to the left of where they stood and you'll see victims being treated. They estimated they were 10 feet from the blast. Thankfully they didn't receive a single scrape but believe they might have sustained some hearing loss.


Today they are dealing with some survivor's guilt. As they ran from the scene, they saw people missing limbs and limbs lying all over the ground but fear told them to run so they feel guilty for not staying and trying to help. My friend's husband ended up running well over the 26.1 miles of the marathon as they were redirected off route to make their way back to their hotels.

Please pray for this family and the many the world over that were affected in some way by yesterday's senseless and cowardly act.

little boys who love to cook with their mommy
holding a little hand in mine, no matter the occasion
having someone climb in my lap to snuggle
hearing "I love you with all my heart, never forget!" every night at bedtime
seeing little hand prints all over my full-length mirror
spinning in circles until we're too dizzy to stand
singing silly songs at the top of our lungs
playing trucks and dinosaurs...and being educated by a 3 year old as to which is a Compsognathus or a Stygimoloch...yes he does know (his dad is so proud!)
watching them lead singing before/after services as the men do during services

2 little boys, endless amounts of blessings!

As this new year starts, I hope yours is full of endless blessings as well!

My MIL got into town last night. This morning long story short, she, the kids and I got locked out of the house. The fault lies with different people depending on who you ask. None of my neighbors were home to borrow a phone. So on this 30-something degree morning I had to walk, with no coat, to find a phone. I couldn't ride my bike because I couldn't find the bike pump. So on my trek to Walgreens, I remembered about the school in the neighborhood and walked there hoping the receptionist would have mercy on me. She did. I called Matt's desk. No answer. I called his cell. No answer. I left an urgent voicemail. I called over and over hoping he'd realize there was an emergency if I kept calling back to back. To no avail...So I called my mom. She didn't recognize the number so she didn't answer. I called my dad who THANKFULLY answered. Mom started texting Matt. Dad blew up his phone with call after call and he still didn't answer. 45 minutes to an hour later after I kept calling him he finally answered. We had a nice chat about answering regardless of what you're doing if calls come in like they were today. So he heads home and I walk back home. My MIL had put the garage door down to keep the kids warm and when I opened it I didn't know she had the back hatch of my car open. So the garage door got stuck on my car (I can't bring myself to go look for damage). We managed to disconnect one from the other but it messed up the railing on the garage door which would no longer shut. At this point I'm so mad I just say nothing because that was probably for the best. I missed my doctor appointment but left for a while to cool off. I guess it's a good thing it's cold outside huh? :)

The sweet receptionist came around the desk and gave me a hug before I started back for home. She was the highlight of my day. Go hug someone today. You might just turn their day around.

Those two tickers to the right are moving towards the 3 and the 2 ever so quickly! I keep telling the kids to stop growing up so fast but they just don't listen :)
Have a fabulous weekend!