“Next time I  go looking for my hearts desire, I won’t need to look any further than my own backyard.” – Dorothy Gale, Wizard of Oz

After working for more than a year straight with no time real time off, I finally broke down and declared to the world that I would take a vacation. I think I actually shocked a few people but this post isn’t really about my work-a-holism. What it is about is making grand extravagant plans, because you feel that it is what you are expected to do, but then finding out that even the best laid plans are really trivial in the grand scheme of things…and that’s okay too.

I knew about a month in advance or so that I would be taking an entire two weeks away from the office, something simply unheard of for me. I went home each day and dreamed of the ocean, camping in the mountains, hiking with the family, all the things I never had time to do because I was always working. (actually to get the full effect of those words you have to say them in a slightly pre-pubescent whiny but semi-nasal voice over and over again. At least that is how it sounds coming out of my tween-ager’s mouth repeatedly).

Well as we all know, life happens. I woke up the first day with pink eye. Then spent the next several days frantically working to help my husband to finish up a project so that he too could enjoy a little time with me and the family while I was home. This included working all day on my birthday.Because of all the work (and because of limited finances) we ran out of time and opportunity for any kind of get-a-way so we ended up staying home for the entire two weeks. No beach, no camping, no mountains. drat.

So that was the downside.

The good news – I was able to attend my youngest son’s award ceremony and see him graduate from kindergarten and receive a special award for being an excellent artist. Then both me and my husband ate lunch with him, something he’s been begging me to do all year long. I kept saying I would, when I had time. I was finally able to keep my end of the bargain. That felt good.

I went to my oldest son’s final band performance and watched as he was one of three to receive best percussionist awards, he was beaming. He had never won any kind of artistic award like that at school.

We also finally finished his room and man does that Georgia Red paint pop. He was so proud to have helped with all the construction and when we moved his furniture in…I swear he was hiding tears from me. When he left for his dad’s for the summer I didn’t want to let him go, he’s growing up so fast.

I hosted my U4 soccer team “the Grumpies” final party and handed out to my little players their very first trophies. They hugged me and thanked me, before running off to play. I was so proud of all their efforts. I never imagined I would make it through a season of coaching seven toddlers.

Probably the best part of all….I danced, I sang, I played with reckless abandon in the sunshine, I went barefoot, I jumped on the bed with the kids, I chased the dog and laid in the grass and watched the clouds. It really didn’t hit me until today just how much fun I have had just being home, playing and being with my family.

Maybe we didn’t go to any exotic places, but  maybe sometimes you have to go through a few trials to realize that everything you need is right there in front of you and has been the whole time. Thanks Dorothy. I knew there was a reason Wizard of Oz is my all time favorite movie.