9 Things Before Nine{AM}

                                                                                      Source: theposterlist.com via Amanda on Pinterest

I love lists.
Really, I do.

I think it comes from the fact that I'm pretty disorganized in my head and it helps to write most anything down. I know a lot of people feel the same way about themselves. I'm also sure that my dear husband would think that "pretty disorganized" is an understatement. (I'm okay with that. )

So....after a weekend, whether it was full or not, I have a lot of thoughts swirling in my head and instead of trying to do a post on some of the topics, I'll just start writing them in list form on Monday mornings before 9am. No pics today because I honestly didn't take any all weekend!

(And yes, 8 Things Before 8 would be absurdly too early for any human being. So I'll go with 9. )

1. I have been sick for 1 full week now and I'm over it. I have that deep horrible cough that sounds like I'm hacking up a lung each time and it's pretty gross. Good news: It doesn't hurt to cough today and my regular voice is *almost* back. At least I can speak now and give orders. ; )

2. Because of #1, I did laundry ALL.DAY.YESTERDAY. That's it. And the bedding is still not completed this morning. Bright side? At least I'm not having to fold it.

3. I'm going to Blissdom on Thursday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I feel unprepared because of #1, again. If you don't know what it is, the short answer is: a blogging/social-media conference here in Nashville. If you want the long answer, click on the link. : ) I've been waiting to go to this for 3 years now and finally made the leap and bought a ticket. So many "famous" bloggers to meet!

4. Yesterday, for the first time ever, we had to talk to Maddox about the death of someone he knows. A beloved grandfather of one of his closest friends passed away unexpectedly this weekend. And Maddox sees him quite often. We told him early in the day, so there wouldn't be any uneasy thoughts for him at bedtime. It went smoothly and he had good questions, but seemed to understand. When bedtime prayers were said, he added a prayer for his friend all on his own and melted my heart even more.

5. I bought a used treadmill from a friend. As of yesterday, it now resides in my bonus room and as soon as I'm not coughing/wheezing anymore I'm excited to use it! No more trying to convince myself to drive all the way to the YMCA and failing!

6. Maddox has his first loose tooth. I think. I'm so sad about it (even though I know I shouldn't be) and told him not to touch it so it won't fall out too soon. It makes me queasy.

7. We eat cold cereal for breakfast almost every single morning. Unless Chad makes oatmeal. My theory is that a healthy cereal + almond or coconut milk is waaaaaay healthier than most cooked breakfasts that other people make.

8. I'm on a reading binge. I've read 5 novels in the last week and a half and I'm only slowing down this week to prepare for Blissdom.

9. And finally, for today, the biggest thing on my mind all weekend was my friend, Cindy. She is one of my best friends from high school and college and she has cancer. Breast cancer, to be exact. She's been through her double mastectomy already this past week and is healing, but the cancer was found in her lymph nodes and that never equates to "easy". I've been through this with my own mother, but she was lucky and had none in her lymph nodes, so she didn't have to have the dreaded chemo or awful radiation. Just a chemo pill every day. Please join me in prayers for Cindy, her husband, and their 3 children ages 4.5, 3. and 1. They need all the prayers we can send up on her behalf. Thank you.

That's it, folks. Lists in the future won't be quite as long, but it was a heavier mental weekend than normal.

On a last note, I have decided to take back my life and DO the things I've been wanting and planning on doing instead of just dreaming in my head and this post (whether you understand why or not) is the start of that. This is going to be my year! I just know it. : )

Happy Monday!