Blessings in the sadness

"This too shall pass.  It may pass like a kidney stone, but it will pass."

I saw this quote recently, but don't know the origin of it.  It sums up our week perfectly.  This has been the toughest week of my life.  My children, all of them, have made very poor decisions this week.  Catherine and Thomas have suffered some consequences at school, some at home, and some are just natural.  Andrew and I work so hard to guide them through life, but we realize that their lives are their own.  It's just really hard some days.

I've had several people ask why we've all come to school all week.  A death in the family is definitely a legitimate reason to stay home.  Honestly though, I am so grateful that I've had a job each day.  I'd rather be sitting here working and distracted, then home dwelling on things I can't control.

There are blessings in all of this.  To say that our family has been wrapped in love and support from school is an understatement.  We've had a co-worker offer to have our kids live at her house if we needed to leave town.  I've received more hugs than I can count, words of support, smiles, concerned expressions, and encouragement.  So have my kids, and so has Andrew.  It's been a hard week.  A really, really hard week.  Andrew even said to me last night that he didn't think he could take any more.  My easy-going, mild-mannered husband who never lets anything bother him had reached the end of his rope.  Each time I think I might get there myself, another hug, another word of encouragement, another friendly smile, another "thinking of you" comes along.  I am so, so grateful to be surrounded by so much love and support!