What's in a name......

This is my stab at a "lifestyle" blog. (I already do politics HERE.)I just recently heard that term and I like it. For me, being a mom to teenagers immediately disqualifies me from having a "mommy" blog....in my mind anyway; I'm just too old. But a lifestyle I have. That, I am qualified to drone on and on about.

I like to think that I might have something to contribute, so here it is. It also occurred to me today, while waiting as my 16 year old baby tried and achieved this weeks goal of independent driving, time is flying by and while I don't have much time left with my girls (at home, I'm not dying or anything) I don't want to miss a second. Plus, even teens are hilarious some days.

For today I just want to share a few bits with you, like my title....why "Cover it with trim"? This has somehow become the mantra of my marriage and my life. We say it all the time around here and it is said with the same feeling as "Don't sweat the small stuff." or "We'll work it out."

My husband and I do a lot of home projects ourselves. He is awesome at constructing and I am awesome at designing, bossing, and then, gophering, when the actual work is beyond me physically. We work very well together most of the time. For some strange reason, we really enjoy doing these things together.

But......the title. One of our first projects was adding an office and bedroom with walk-in closet to our partially finished basement about 8 years ago. We had done some little projects here and there, but this was our first major undertaking together. If you know anything about construction and tiny, 60 year old homes, you know there are some things that just cannot be made totally level or totally square and maybe even totally right. It soon became the running joke on that project (and every project since) that an uneven cut, misplaced hammer swing, or unattainable square corner, that we would "just cover that with trim". Of course, had that reined true our entire bedroom would have be made of trim. Have no fear, the actual project turned out fantastic. I sit in my office, typing this today.

The statement says a lot about my marriage and my outlook on life though, especially where my family is concerned. Have no doubt, I am fierce. I am strong and bullish. I don't take any crap off my teens, my husband, or anyone really-but I don't sweat the small stuff. My husband I and rarely fight; we try to resolve our differences through give and take; loud words are hardly ever needed. I had that in my first, very dysfunctional and abusive marriage; I wasn't going for that the second time around.

I have come a long way baby. Over the next weeks, months and years you may come to know that about me.

So just remember, the next time things are not quite going your way or something won't quite fit in your life just "cover it with trim". When it's done, the trim only covers the parts that you have no control over; the rest looks just the way you want it to.