Wild Card

One of my favorite things about being a homemaker is time flexibility. I love that, at the drop of a hat, my friends can call on me when they need something and I can come through for them. There's almost nothing that can't be put off until tomorrow. Positive procrastination. I think I'm on to something. I'm not "just a mom," I'm a jack of all trades, a wild card. I can be/do what someone needs me to be/do at (almost) any given time. I know a lot of people who probably look at that sentiment and roll their eyes--who wants to live a life solely to serve other people? Well, in truth, not me. I desperately miss my alone time to work on all my fun creative projects (oh knitting needles, we WILL meet again!). However, being able to help other people and just doing the simple things I need to do to keep my life and home in order provide me with immense satisfaction. For example, my amazing writer friend (Sheralyn Pratt, check out her books!) just got an in with Random House IF she can get her completed manuscript tomorrow. And guess who she asked to help her edit? C'est moi! Sheralyn's awesome. This is a huge honor. So, now I eagerly await her manuscript in my inbox.

Some things I've been able to do lately in my coveted role as Wild Card:

*Edit Sheralyn's drafts

*Take my pregnant friend to the ER when she had APPENDICITIS (yikes, can you imagine?)

*Organizing a mom/baby swim group for the cooler months

Other things the Tingeys have been up to lately:

*Me: Making FHE visual aids (and let me tell you, they make a difference!)

*Chris: Starting his new semester

*Will: Learning to say 'Sorry,' 'Please,' and 'Thank You.'

*Me: Writing an essay for an essay contest (grand prize $3,000 and a trip to NYC to meet the mag's editors!)

*Chris: Finding a new counselor for the EQ presidency. Done!

*Will: Singing songs out of the primary children's songbook

*Me: Couponing my way into hundreds of free/inexpensive items (just today was dbl coupon day at Smith's. $100 worth of groceries for $40? Yes, please!)

*Chris: Putting up (and ever so graciously) w/my insatiable appetite for girly BBC movies. The Anthony Trollope collection. The Elizabeth Gaskell collection. And, of course: Pride and Prejudice.

*Will: Holding mom's hand as we walk down the hall. Taking Curious George to the grocery store. Losing my Costco card while we were there today. Eating ever so many blueberries.

*All of us: Church, church, church. Hanging out with our families while they were here. Eating more nutritious meals.

What a great little family I have!