Juncal is coming!

So we will have an exchange student from Spain arrive on Wednesday. She will turn 17 while with us. I don't think the girls could be any more excited. They are beaming with ideas - Maeve wants to make her cupcakes and Lily wants to make her a cake on her birthday. We worked last night in Maeve's room, so that Juncal can stay there...OH MY, that room. Obviously I am in it every day however, when you REALLY look....I mean, I have done a diservice to that girl. I have somehow not taught her to throw stuff out...maybe this is what she inherited from Grandma Onnalee. She'd like to think of herself as a "collector" but that's just her fancy word she wants to use when I find candy wrappers in a box from Halloween....WHAT????? So we survived. And she actually did pretty well. ONly one time did she cry. It was when I suggested we throw a doll away -It was a cheap, little dirty doll that has to be a million years old. She started bawling...I tried to explain that the doll has clearly NOT been taken care of but....she wouldn't have that. So the doll is up there still....But we made TONS of progress.
So I have to really clean the house - you know, dust, bathrooms, vacuum upstairs...
AND I have some real estate stuff to get to...
And the grocery store.
WOW _ what a weekend...Friday we went to the Cubs game and ate high on the hog...Breakfast at Southport Grocery and then dinner at Leona's...Fun was had by all but I think Lily was bored...which I understand. The game is long especially if you don't have any interest. Saturday was the MP Block party....so nice, so fun but 1 million humans were there...YIKES. But an excellent affair. Makes me happy to live here. Sunday we saw Fiddler on the Roof. Our sitter Carvel was in it...it was truly amazing...again, I think long for Peter and maybe lily could have used more breaks...but I was singing along and on my feet.
While I truck along in life....working on raising my brood and having a thriving work life and marriage, I realize that others are suffering. I know that others have had a tough go of it...And this is something that I always feel so compelled to realize...Kind of like a "life check"....a little perspective. As mentioned before, our little town has had loss - of parents and children. And I guess I feel a sense of guilt that I forget them as far as my daily life goes...and then I am reminded. And I am thankful and sad.