There is time to spare AND it is precious.

This morning I woke up on the West Coast and began working with my staff on the East Coast on several matters that required my matters that required my attention.  I wrapped that up and shifted my attention to the purpose of my trip, helping my parents to take on the task of winding down my father’s business.

As I began to wipe down the pictures from his office wall, packing each one with care, the somberness of the unplanned beginning of his retirement hung heavy in the room.  Daddy, as he does with every situation, displayed a jovial spirit as he waded through papers on his desk, and watched me begin the daunting task of packing up his office.  There is so much that does not escape me, fleeting glances of melancholy, moments of pride as he notes the purpose of each award or certificate, a memory that we share together, it is all a part of the process that his stroke precipitated.  We bond over this experience as we have in his office so many times before.  There have been family history lessons, business lessons, lessons about how to be an entrepreneur or a good boss, lessons about how to laugh at myself, and lessons about how to deal with perceived failures.  Now, we are sharing the lesson of how to gracefully accept the newest challenge of life with dignity and grace.

His staff is falling over themselves to be helpful.  They are loyal to a fault.  I am grateful for the familiarity of the man who has worked with my father for more than 30 years.  It is comforting that he is here.  There is also another man who has worked for my father for almost 15 years.  Both of them hover in the background, watching, anxiously awaiting the opportunity to help.  They are among the last of specific breed.  People no longer work in one job for such long periods of time.

Now, all that I have learned from my father about being an entrepreneur floods my thoughts.
1. You should always know how to perform every job in your business.
2. Be the best boss that they could have (in other words, be the best boss that you could have)
3. Know how everything works
4. Be a good example for your staff.  If you care, they will care.
5. Know your clients/customers and anticipate their needs.
6. Always remain ahead of the game.

These lessons have served me well.  One day I will have to discuss the ones that I learned to not follow.

Life is so interesting.  It sometimes blows my mind that we are here....

I finish with my dad, meet my girlfriend for coffee and then went back to my parent’s home to prepare some more documents to email to the East Coast for tomorrow.  I stop to skype with the girls and my hubby. Now, I am blogging, saying good night to FB and going to bed so that I can start the process all over again tomorrow.

Today I walked 4.5 miles....there is time to spare.

Whew!

Up at 5:20, pray, meditate, journal, sip my cup of coffee while I Facebook and scan the morning headlines to see what is being reported as important by news outlets.  I have at least 20 things to attend to before I get to work this morning.  I must get the girls up, get their teeth brushed, dress them, prepare breakfast for both and a snack for the 6 year old, make sure she reviews her science unit one last time because she has a quiz today, check to see what the whacky weather is like outside, shower, load the car, kiss the husband (oops, he is still in the shower, get the jackets on, grab the umbrella, double check that I have everything and now get the girls in the car, whew...wait, where is my second cup of coffee?  There it is, on the window sill, inside of the living room.  Ughh, now I have to get back out of the car.  I drive the girls to school and we talk about the day ahead we set our intentions to have a fabulous day!!!  Now for the drop off, the 6 year old is in the first grade line and the 4 year old has been delivered to her Pre-K class.  Now, back to me I have... the 45 minute drive to work is the time that I use to get focused and ready for the day at work or to reflect on the previous day's work.  Its 7:55 a.m.  I have a 9:00 a.m. hearing.  It should be a quick hearing, but that is what I thought about yesterday.

Yesterday, I spent 8 hours in court litigating the lives of children and their families in the de.  My role is to provide legal assistance to my client, the Department.  Children were removed from families and placed in Foster Care, kinship care and group homes.  The reasons vary but are all, generally, heart wrenching.  Often, though, we do have wonderful stories; children are reunited with their families because the family gets the help that it needs to succeed or children are adopted into new ones.  There are even cases where children, who are living independently from their families, graduate from high school against the odds and they have been accepted to colleges or they have plans begin working toward the day that their case is closed and they are no longer wards of the court.  This work is good work.  It is intellectually challenging and it is also emotionally challenging but it is good work.  At the end of days like Wednesday, I go home and give my kids extra hugs and give thanks for my blessings!

What happened to Monday and Tuesday????

OK, It's Thursday.  Can someone please explain to me how that happened?  I know that I spent the majority of Wednesday at a conference getting up to speed on the latest laws regarding litigation of Child Abuse and Neglect cases.  After which I picked up the girls, made dinner (and reviewed homework while doing that), played soccer in the back yard with them ( I was the goalie), bathed them and put them to sleep.  Then, I reviewed a contract for purchase of real property along with all of the attending documents for my client, showered, facebooked with my cousins, sat down to catch a little mindless tv, and woke up on the couch with the tv watching me. BUT, what happened to Monday and Tuesday? I can tell where the days went by looking in my calendar.  There were two court hearings and one mediation session as well as all the other things that I do, (phone calls, emails, reviewing documents) to manage 173 plus cases that are all in active litigation, my clients and my staff.  On Monday I worked with the 4 year old on her letters and numbers and site words.  I can also look at my FB wall and see what I posted on those days.  On Tuesday the 6 year old and I finished up her International Night Report.  I had taught her some children songs from Jamaica during spring break and we danced in the living room until we collapsed in a heap on the floor.  This reminded me of music from my childhood and I posted links to them on my FB profile.  Remembering this, brings a smile to my face.  I, also see in my calendar that I checked off my 2 mile walk so I know now that I did take time out for me to exercise.  Now I remember.  I completed my to-do-list for work, spent time with my children, and took time for me.  Monday and Tuesday were filled with living.

The Day Before Mother's Day...

Up at 5:45 a.m. (sleeping in for me) with the four year old, sipping coffee (me not her) while she drinks her milk.  Thankfully, both of my children understand the importance of Mommy's quiet time.  There is a lot on the agenda today however, since the husband is traveling for business tomorrow, I need to get as much done today as possible.  "Mommy, can I watch Maya & Miguel?" yells the four year old from the living room.  Heeeeeeeere... we go........!

Pick clothes for the kids to wear.  Oh yeah, gotta check the weather, is it going to be hot or cold or mild (I still don't know what "mild" means after living here for 12+ years.  I think it depends on if it is winter or summer). The four year old has dance class at 9:45, the 6 year old has her musical theater class at 11:00.  I have my Weight Watchers meeting at either 8:30 or 10:00 depending on how things go, generally.

Thankfully, today is Hubby's day to chauffeur the children around. Sooo while he is doing that, I will go to the hair-dresser and then the grocery store.  Whoops, I haven't checked in with my parents who are living on the other coast.  Daddy is recovering from a recent stroke and processing instant retirement.  When I get home, the kids are quietly involved in their own activities. Hubby puts the groceries away.  I check my email at the firm.  I review two contracts that were sent by a client.  I check my calendar for next week.  I send some emails, check my Facebook page, post about my unwavering support of the Lakers even though they are down 3-0  and return some personal phone calls. 

Hubby and the girls brought me flowers and cards for Mother's Day.   Mummy and Daddy sent me flowers. They are beautiful.  I am really, really blessed.  These are the moments.

Now its time to do my 1.5 mile walk, take a shower, run to Target (Hubby took the kids out for dinner and to see their grandmother.)  Sort, fold, wash; three loads down, three to go. I catch up with my sister on the phone while in Target.  Back at home (its 9:30 p.m.) Fold and wash; four loads down, two to go.

Time to BLOG.  PJs on.  Time to read the most recent Court of Appeals decision that could affect my client.


Good Night Blogspot....Going to check Facebook one more time...

What is time anyway?

We have watches and clocks and calendars.  We have wave work weeks, weekends, days off, and vacations.  We measure with birthday milestones and other accomplishments.  Me, I measure my life by the amount of things that I accomplish in a period of time.  I am a wife, a mother, a business owner, a daughter, a sister, a niece, a cousin, friend, and a student, among other things.  I am far from perfect but I am perfectly me!  My life rocks!