thank you ...

I could sit here writing all morning long and still never come up with the right words to thank everyone who rallied to help me after my meltdown 18 days ago.  You guys put so much reflection into your words as you commented - so much support - so much kindness - so much encouragement.  And then the vigilance ... folks coming back after 2 weeks of silence to check in and make sure I was ok ... in short, I am blessed with some really amazing friends here in blogland and I can't thank you enough for the life-ring that each one of you threw out to me ... I truly mean it when I say thank you ... thank you so much ...

My silence was never meant to be this long, but I really needed to take a step back.  My pace had been way too busy and the hamster wheel I was on in Jan/Feb/and early March had begun to spark flames - and I just plain ole' burned out.  Fortunately for my sanity, our school uses a trimester system - and the 3 trimesters are divided by two 2-week vacations, one at the holidays and the other in March.  Mercifully, their 2-week March Break began the day after I posted "freaking out" ... cue the sound of a deep yoga breath.   Every March, I leave with my girls for their 2-week break and go home.  My home.  Home to Florida to be with my mother, my brother and his beautiful wife and baby, and our amazing 91 year old grandmother.  When I arrive, I take that deep yoga breath and know in my heart that I am truly home.  I smell it, I feel it, I love it.  And it seems as though my little ladybug does too ...

When we go each year, it isn't about the sunshine, the beach, or the tourist attractions (though I admit those are some pretty sweet perks!).  It's about being home, plain and simple.  We sleep late - we run errands - we ride bikes - we hit the mall - we go to the local hole-in-the-wall for dinner - all in the comfort and familiarity of being "home".  No better prescription for filling your heart!  Every day as we zipped around town, we passed the hospital where I was born, the house I grew up in, the church I attended, the school I went to, the canal where I collected my pet snails, the 7-11 where I got my slurpees - heck, even Doc's, the soft serve ice cream stand, is still there ... how wonderful is that?  Very wonderful, let me assure you ...

image from here

Unfortunately, it seems to get harder and harder each year to say goodbye.  Booooo.  But indeed my heart is replenished.  We came back on Friday and used this whole last weekend to get settled before this morning brought the hamster wheel back into motion - so at least we're off to a strong and balanced start for the final trimester!  I took a look at my blog feed as I sat down and see that I've missed quite a bit around here - 18 days have produced a whole lot of updates from everyone - wow!  I'm looking forward to catching up with you guys, my bloggy partners, my peeps, my friends ... thank you ;-)