Humor and the details...

You probably gathered from my inaugural blog post that I deal with problems with humor - it's a coping mechanism.  And it works - trust me.  In my world, when the going gets tough, I lean on 3 things - family, faith, and humor.

There have been days that I would like to forget.  And I am not talking about the day my coffee spilled in the car, or the day in January when I backed into a mercedes sports car with my big ol' SUV (I won).  Those were bad days, but all things that are fleeting and pass as quickly as a breeze.  I am talking about the day I found out about Alex and his brain injury - that was a bad day.  Never in my life have tears streamed down my face uncontrollably as they did that day when I held my precious baby boy in my arms knowing his future would be forever changed.  (Did you hear that? It was the sound of me swallowing the huge knot in my throat, although the knot is getting smaller with each passing day).  So how can a person be expected to cope with issues like that? 

Today we focus on humor.

So Justin and I decided to have family photos taken last Fall with the intention of using them as gifts for Christmas.  Let me help you read between the lines - I decided and Justin went along with the plan - he knows it's true.  I am a smidge of a control freak (no snickering people!) and so I started planning - the location, the time of day, the color coordinated outfits.  Heck, my mom even pressed Alex's onesie for the picture, now that's dedication!  We were ready for the family photo of the century!

It went about as well as can be expected.  After about 217 photos, 3 screaming kids, one child who wouldn't stop pulling her dress down, and a guest appearance by my niece Hayden (adorable that one!), we were done!  When we get home we excitedly pull up the photos and start flipping through with the intention of pulling out the BEST EVER family photo to be used as our family Christmas card.  I am here to tell you that there were none - not a single good photo where all 5 of us pulled it together for the benefit of family memories.  Zero. Zilch.  Not that the photographer didnt give it his best, he was a machine - pretty sure I saw him standing on his head at one point in time trying to make the kiddos laugh (thanks Dave). 

Crushed.  That was the only word I could use to describe how I was feeling.  We failed!  Now no one will think we are this perfectly pulled together family that runs through fields of flowers on Saturday and eats everything organic.  What to do?! 

And then it hit me - that's not our family.  We are loud, hectic, bees swarming around our hive trying to survive on a daily basis and yet somehow we find a way to laugh and love every little thing about each other (ok, I could do without the whining of a 3 year old but it comes with the territory).  So we figured, why hide it?  Take a look at our Christmas card below:

That's the point of the story folks.  Dont get so caught up in the details that you forget to take a moment and laugh because it truly is the best medicine.  And I highly encourage it for those out there who are dealing with their own wounds that need healing.

Til next time...M