Punch in the face...

My fellow retreat women know exactly what I mean when I say that "I came home to a punch in the face".  For the rest of you, please let me explain...

You see, our family has been up north at the "family" cottage for the past 9 days. It's been delightful to be up at the lake. It's a no wake lake so the lake remains very peaceful and calm. In fact, for most of the time up there, there only seemed to be one other family up on the lake. It often felt like the lake was just ours. Every morning went like this:

Twins woke up. They ate a pop tart (or two). They quietly played until the adults got up. The "moody" tween laid in bed while the twins were up listening to her IPOD and enjoying the privilege of having the room to herself. (I think she pictured that this was her real life and not vacation...) After the sleepy adults made it upstairs to the kitchen, they would cook a "real" breakfast. This was often referred to by Princess as the "2nd Breakfast". We then decided that Princess needed a new vacation nickname and called her a Hobbit after the Lord of the Rings movie. (Yes, we are dorks like). After breakfast, it was a quick brushing of the teeth and changing into their swimsuits and it was off to play in the sand. They would play there for two to three hours. Every morning they played in the sand. Then the activities would vary in order. Mostly every day consistent of swimming, fishing, playing in the woods, camp fires, puzzles, games, stories and some kayaking. One day we mixed it up a little by going into town for laundry and horseback riding. (Actually, only the girls went horseback riding and the boys went off to the go carts).

It was a restful and fun family vacation.

Then it had to end. Time to come home. Although we tried to keep the family "high", we had a long car ride home with many potty stops, some traffic, "I'm bored", "stop throwing pillows at your sister" and the family favorite -- the "QUIET GAME".  I was beginning to wonder if we were really serious about the other upcoming family vacation... but then we pulled into the driveway and we were home sweet home.

And then... it happened.  The punch in the face.

Our cat sitter wrote it on the note. Our toilet was flushing. And our basement had water in it. Wait, what? Our basement never gets water... when the streets flood... we are good, right?

Yeah, the water heater. It flooded out the furnace room and all under the stairs. It crept into the kids playroom and preceded to flood the husband's office.  Here folk's is the punch in the face. It's the moment your happy  buzz just gets completely shut down. 

The chaos of returning and unpacking... trying to figure out what's for dinner and now a huge mess to clean up. In the chaos of unpacking, Peaches dropped a huge crate of groceries on Princess' toe and seriously injured it. (Bleed over 2 hours and keep ice on it... go tomorrow to make sure it hasn't been broken). 

What's that I tell the kiddos?  Be content with... yeah. Your circumstances. Count your blessings. Focus on the good. Bluh bluh bluh.

My peep came and rescued us. She brought some dinner over for us as my plans in heading out to get food were dwindling and since we returned home after being gone, I didn't have much in the house. She looked over Princess' toe too to make sure I wasn't an over worried momma about to head off to the ER when everything else was already crazy around me. Although the kiddos got a little more then wound up by her presence... she did bring a calm with her to the house. A hug to sooth over those rough edges. And a reminder that everyone needed grace tonight.

I am content. I did at least have a house to come home to. I have had more than a week of wonderful family memories to treasure.  I have happy kittens that are glad to see me. I have one tired out puppy from all the swimming at the lake (cause a few months ago I didn't even know if she would make it to the lake)! 

Count my blessings?  Well, there are more than I can count. So it's late folks. But you can already guess that I will be counting them as my eyes drift off to sleep (and possibly dream of the 2nd vacation) lol.