Baby steps

I had a perfect morning today.  The boys slept until 8, didn't get out of bed till almost 9:30- unheard of!  We got up, gave the boys some cereal and chocolate milk on the back porch.  I poured my coffee, grabbed my book (The Year of Fog) and headed to the backyard.  It was cool and breezy. The boys made their way to the swingset and toy area.  They played so quietly and nicely together.   I sat under the umbrella, read and sipped.  There was laundry hanging on the line sending delicious breezes throughout the yard.   Our butterfly bush started blooming yesterday, and this morning, it seems the butterflies discovered it. 

I checked on the tomatoes.  Two of them are finally starting to turn a yellowish orange.  The plant that fell from the porch ledge early this spring has produced about 8 huge tomatoes on a plant that has grown so thick and full that the fruits are still very green because of how much shade the plant provides for itself.  That plant, in particular has represented hope for me all spring and summer long.  As just a tiny seedling, it fell about 10 feet in a storm, it replanted itself in the ground, and survived 2 replants-- one into a pot so I could nurse it, and then into the garden.  Of all the tomato plants I have (about 15), this one is doing the best and producing the most.  It's a fighter.

Later in the day, the boys asked me to attach ribbons to pieces of construction paper so that they could run around the yard and pretend they were flying kites.   It was so ridiculous and cute to watch them run and scream with excitement when the paper would flicker at their eye level.  It was right out of my playbook as a kid.  I used to tie a stick to a piece of string and swing it out over my porch and hope that a bird would mistake it as a perch and sit on the stick so that I could have a new pet.   The day continued like this. 
The storage unit that holds most of my ex's property called me today to confirm that they have removed my checking account from their system and I no longer need to worry about being billed for it.  On the subject of John, he deposited the much anticipated monthly check today.  My 401k paperwork was received yesterday, and so I will be getting a direct deposit in a few days so that I can pay back my parents and sisters for the loans to pay Mr Singh.   Mr Singh's payment cleared on Monday as well. 

I got a call from my friend that I used to work with and has been helping me get my foot back into the Sheraton's door.  The head of food and beverage has approved me as a candidate, provided that I go online and complete the official application process.  I tried to do so, but the position is not posted in the public website, only on the restricted employee only site.  I am not discouraged though.  I'm gonna to persist and keep calling and figure out how to get back in there, if only on an "on call" and/or part time/ temporary basis.  One step at a time.

My 4 year old saw a "giant bug" that he was scared of in the flower box on the back deck.  He was afraid because it was so big and that it might be a stinging bug.  Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be two mating butterflies.  

New beginnings and life is happening all around me.   It's all coming together.  One step at a time.    The way I see it, if a little tomato can make a comeback like that, imagine what I might be capable of!