3/1/10 - Manic Monday.....

This was one of those days that nothing seems to be easy. My husband needed to sleep in today as he was trying to prepare his sleeping schedule for his week of working nights. He ended up having to wake up early because I wasn't here to help with the baby. I was at my Dr. appointment for my back and brought my oldest son Clayton with me as he woke up at 6:30am! I'm not so sure why he has been waking up so early. I walked through the door to my husband coming down with the baby in arms. I felt so bad but was hoping he could go back to bed and get some more rest. Unfortunately, for him that was not going to be the case. Sean needed to get the truck registered but was unable to do so before it expired. So, because I was already to go I told my him I would go to the DMV. Here in Vegas there is a "huge" disorganization in the DMV culture. For some reason, this state likes to do everything the hard way. I'm not sure why? But it just makes the simplest of things complicated. I won't go into details but when talking to the woman I spoke to today she said there is not "one" day that they are overloaded and busy. I had to wait in line for 2 hours before I got to talk to anyone. I waited an hour and a half before getting my "waiting" number and then another 30/40 minutes to get to talk to someone. It is a nightmare.

I did not handle this situation well and in the end mistreated my husband because of all the anger and frustration that was caused by "lack" of paperwork they required for us to get the registration completed. Thankfully, I will be able to go back in a few days and get it taken care of but it will be a juggle to figure out when to get the "smog" check they require, and then to head back to the DMV to go through the circus of people that it entails to get this task completed. Living in such a large city is so overwhelming for so many reasons. Growing up I always wanted to move to a big city (living on a farm most of my life at this point). I wanted the "fast" life, the covenience that living in the city provided that the farm did not, and so many other wonders that the "city" life presented. Now, having been in this "big" city for almost 2 years now, I regret my lack of contentment for the simple things. I love the quote "the best things in life are free". It is so true and I should remember that more often.

Mondays are always hard because it means the end of the weekend of quality time with family, freedom from work stresses and schedules, and other fun festivities that take place on Saturday and Sunday. My Monday wasn't so manic. At times a little tedious but it wasn't horrible.

I have been thinking a lot about Paul's letter to the Corinthians talking about - "finding contentment in all situations." I need to do that in my own life. Its been a real difficult challenge for me to find true contentment out here. I'm homesick. More so than I ever thought was possible. I have always considered myself an independant and self-sufficient person. This experience out here has never proved me more wrong. Tears in my eyes I think about how hard it is to be so far away from all that I ever knew my whole life. God could not of found a more "different" and "difficult" city for me to transition away from "familiar". Las Vegas has been to me one of the most "gut wrenching" see what you're made of experiences. I thought tonight for the first time pretty much since we moved here how much I would miss some of the things I have come to find as comforting here. Crazy enough, my "gym" workouts have helped me a lot. The instructors know me now and its a wonderful feeling to get to know them and vice versa. Cheers is an old tv show that I used to watch with my family growing up. It was a bar that all these people would come to hang out and talk. I don't condone the hanging out in a bar everyday to hang out with your friends. However, I love the theme song, "Where everybody knows your name...." Finding community in your life wherever you are or wherever you live is such an impacting and encouraging experience.

I hope that for the rest of the time that we are out here I can ask God to help me everyday to make the most of it. No matter the 120 degree weather for months. No matter the fact that we have no family out here. No matter the fact that there are some "real" backwards things out here. No matter anything..... I want to start a new leaf and try my very best (with God's ever present help and strength) to find contentment in where we are "right" now.

My children and husband help so much with this.

Looking in the eyes of my boys creates a joy inside me that can not be explained. Having my husband here and not deployed gives me such peace and happiness.

Lord, I am sorry for my "JONAH" attitude of living here. I didn't want to go to "NINEVAH" (Las Vegas), and I ran. The boat was in the storm and I told the guys to throw me overboard. I've been in the belly of the whale now for awhile. I'm ready for you to spit me up and for me to share the message. I have so much to learn in this life but I am so thankful that you are still willing to teach me in spite of all the reasons why you shouldn't. I love you Lord.
Amen.

I hope that the rest of you had a great Monday. Hopefully, no one else spent any time at any DMV anywhere. :) However, if you did I'm sure you had a way better attitude than I did. :)

Blessings for your weeks!