We are in spiral down mode.  Life as it could be, as it should be, has disintegrated to become life as we now know it: disastrous.  Another typical supper hour at the Gard household.  One child has exercised her right to blow out her vocal chords at the ripe old age of five.  They should be good to her for about another, oh say, two months.   At the rate she’s using them.  The barn cats are loose in the house- someone left the front door open.  And the fridge swung a little too quickly setting loose an opened bag of almond powder- flying like pixie dust throughout the pantry.

All else is pandemonium.  I am quickly trying to clean up the kitchen in preparation for the next phase of the evening: piano lessons with my second youngest.  The others are looking for stray socks, soccer cleats, piano books and other odds and ends that will accompany them to a wrap up soccer game, parents against the kids.  I remember I offered to contribute chips.  A quick glance in the cupboard reveals about three nearly empty bags.  And gratefully, one full family sized bag.

Phew.

I can feel my blood pressure spiking.  It is time to expend a little positive energy, refocusing on sweeter things.  Going to that happy place in my mind, even when I feel everything but.  Listing a few of my favorite things just might be the trick to re-routing all these negative vibes coming my way.

These are a Few of my Favorite things:                  Re-mix- Lori’s Version:

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens        (~  Supper is ready and children are reading)
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens (~  It’s been a good day- was not caught for speeding)
Brown paper packages tied up with strings          (~  Hubbie’s not late and clean (lunch) dishes he brings)
These are a few of my favorite things                      ( These are a few of my favorite things)

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels  (~ Laundry all caught up, no hair in the sink)
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles  (~No after school programs, we’re not at the rink)
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings         (~Whenever my Hubbie ‘cuts loose and sings’ )
These are a few of my favorite things                              ( ~These are a few of my favorite things)

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes        (~Children that haven’t got colds, coughs and rashes)
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes   (~Doors that shut softly without great big crashes)
Silver white winters that melt into springs            (~Memory foam covering poor mattress springs)
These are a few of my favorite things                    ( ~These are a few of my favorite things)

When the dog bites                                                      ( ~When the kids scream)
When the bee stings                                                     ( ~When the stress builds)
When I’m feeling sad                                                     (~When I’m feeling mad)
I simply remember my favorite things                    (~ I simply remember my favorite things)
And then I don’t feel so bad                                       ( ~Then I feel far more Rad!)