I need to clear my head...

Hmmm. How to start telling you of what is going on...
Do you ever worry about your spouse or significant other? --I think that I know the answer to that...
We all do! But, I think that it's so hard to watch them going through a hard season at work, and we (I) can do nothing, yet blame myself for it.
As you may already know, Eric works with my family -- in THE FAMILY business. It's really more like a dynasty. I may have said that before. I am second in line to the "throne" which I have passed on to Eric, and he manages what I could be doing. The reason he does it rather than me is, that I hate having to sit down for a very long period of time, and that kind of business isn't a passion of mine. I like -- actually LOVE all that I do!
(For instance, right now, I am writing this on the computer, sifting through emails, talking to brides on the phone about wedding details, IMing with another girl about a meeting we are hosting downtown tomorrow on the Woodall Rogers Park Project, listening to the sound track to "Pride and Prejudice," AND watching "The Holiday." My kids are supposed to be asleep, yet Emily keeps sneeking in to watch me and occasionally brings me a book to read when I am not on the phone... I think that she has a tummy ache because every time she sits on me, she..."relieves herself!" Evan sneeks in and we have a quick silly string war before I tell him he needs to be in bed, and so on!)
I may have alot of small "jobs," but there is not one of them that I couldn't drop in a second. I don't really want to because I love all of them, but every one of my "hobbies" involve only me when it comes to the old "payola." No one else is hurt if I choose to leave or stop what I am doing -- meaning I don't have employees. The only people that depend on me are the people I choose to depend on me for a season). My deadlines are always full of praise and excitement and relief that the wedding or the house is finished, or that their child is happy and safe, and their homework is complete. How much better can life get that that??!!
Eric, on the other hand, has deadlines that don't have a "big production" at the end. Once he finishes a project or closes a deal, you have another, and another, go out with clients and companies, go to seminars, put together marketing strategies, and then you start another thing on top of that, go to school to keep up with everything, be there for me and the kids, and he has 500 balls in the air, and amazingly keeps everything going, BUT, like all of us, you hit a breaking point. I am so greatful that he is passionate about what he does! I just worry about him sometimes. And, it's silly things in a way, but I worry about his blood pressure, and exercise, and how he eats, and about him being so stressed out, and I worry that he could have a heart attack in his 30s. Probably silly, I know. As I write, this verse popped into my head: "Seek first his kingdon and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6: 33-34)
Thank you, Lord, that I really don't have to worry about all that! Eric is yours!

This week I start decorating homes, offices, and a couple of spas, as well as, still loving on my own children along with the other 70 kids I have at Grace Camp. That may sound stressful, but it's really not. I am only a little stressed about one new client I took on this year. But, that's normal. I am always worried that I won't be able to create what they are invisioning, and someitimes I say that I have lost my ability to invision what others dream, yet still I keep doing it. This year will be my 13th year in business. Hmmm. Not many 28 year olds can say that they have had a business that long. Mine isn't as big as it should be for being 13 years old, but I have kept it at the size I can manage and stay mentally healthy. If I let it become too big, it turns into work, and the love of it fades.

I took a day off from Grace Camp today to just be at home and relax! I stayed in bed until 10am!! I wasn't asleep, but I was in bed! We had a crazy weekend. Friday was an "early release" day, so I had kids from 11:30am to 6pm rather than the usual 3 - 6pm. So, since it was a longer day, I planned a party, and no party is small when I do it! We decorated pumpkins with paint markers and then I went out to the PE field and hid all the pumpkins while the little ones watched "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown." They had to go out and find THEIR pumpkin, and when they did, then they got a prize! We had pizza, made candy corn picture frames, decorated sugar cookies and cupcakes, made light sabers and played Star Wars, and who knows what else! It was lots of fun! After that craziness, we went to the first event of my highschool reunion at Lake Highlands. We took the kids and watched the Lake Highlands football game! It was fun and we got to see and chat with all sorts of old friends! I was on overload after my day, so I really can't tell you much more than I was was physically there!
The next morning, we woke up, and we all got in the car, and Eric dropped me off at the mall and said, "Have fun!" and then he took the kids for a day of fun! They went to the park and played, they went to the movies, and who knows what else they did! I shopped forever! I loved it! I am searching for my fall wardrobe, and need it to look professional, sassy, flattering, and stylish. I bought myself one outfit with shoes to match, and then bought Eric some really cool shirts! It's easier to shop for him and the kids! I found a ton of suits, but I really need to branch out. Suits aren't sassy -- at least that's what I decided...comments?? (I want to look like Doris Day. Do you guys remember her? I am such an old movie geek!)
I finally called Eric to come pick me up around 5pm. I was at the mall for 6 hours and only found one outfit! I fell in love with a Burbury purse, but I have a personal law in which I only allow myself to spend no more than $40 for a purse. Oh well!
We got home and my friend, Becca, came over to watch the kids for the evening. Then Eric went to clean my friend Teresa's house. She had been moving all day, so I told her that I could clean her house since I couldn't help move, so Eric ended up dong it for me...isn't he the sweetest!! While he cleaned, I made Andrea come over and okay my outfit choice for the evening. We were supposed to go to the 2nd part of the reunion at 7:30, but we didn't even start getting dressed until then, so we finally made it there at 9pm. At least it wasn't over yet!
I got to see so many precious people that I haven't seen in years, but think and pray for often! And, of coarse, did the usual "Catherine thing" and said too much! If only I would learn to be quiet, and not say what I think! That whole "taming of the tongue" thing...

Sorry I haven't updated you guys on my life in a while. Eric's been out of town for the past month, and took the laptop with him. I could get my own, but I really don't need one that bad. He's gonna be gone for half of this month, so I figured I should update you a little bit before Christmas!

OH! I know what kind of vehicle I want! Now that "Big Red" is totalled, I am going to pray for a Victory Red H3 Hummer! I am on the market, who knows when I will actually get one. But, step one is knowing what you want, right? I absolutely love not having car payments, and we really don't need two cars, so we are not going to get into debt with whatever I end up with. But, if possible, that's what I want! AND, it gets the same gas milage as my Explorer (for those of you who are going to tell me that they are super UNeconomical and gas guzzlers!)!!

I love all of you! Please know that! Even when I sound busy, I'm really not -- it's just that I am dramatic! You should know that already!!!