I've accomplished quite a few things that I'm quite proud of lately. Today (or I guess technically yesterday), takes the cake, though.

The toilet in the girls bathroom had been driving me crazy for some time now. After it flushed, it would stop, but a few minutes later, you would hear the tank filling up again. This would go on all night and all day. I'm still not really sleeping well, so I would blame their toilet for keeping me up late at night.

Anyway, I looked it up, and it seemed like it was likely that we were suffering from a "leaky flapper". It seemed like a pretty easy fix. I went upstairs to take the old flapper off so I could buy a new one, and I couldn't figure out how to get the old flapper off. I became overwhelmed with the project and quit. I turned off the water to that toilet and locked that bathroom door when other kids were over so no one would use it. I'm sure that was a very healthy way of dealing with things! (Hush, I really DON"T want to hear it!)

So, anyway, today, I had had enough. I went back to the directions I found a while ago, and I went back upstairs to their bathroom. It said to "pop" off the flapper. So, I just did that. It was simple.

The girls and I were running out anyway, so we "popped" by Home Depot. I bought a new flapper for less than $6.00. When we got home, I "popped' on the new flapper. Honestly, the hardest part of all of this was adjusting the chain for the new flapper onto the - oh, let's call it the flush handle. No, let's call it the flusher. Yes, adjusting the chain onto the flusher. The rest was really easy. I fixed that toilet almost 12 hours ago and I have yet to hear the water running in it. I guess I now have to figure out something else to blame for my inability to get to sleep at a decent time. It certainly can't be my fault, can it?

knb

I have been amazed at the heart and soul's capacity to ache, mend, and grow over these past 7 months. 7 months ago, I would have assumed that today would have been a tough day. Today is the anniversary of something that I no longer have cause to celebrate. 7 months ago, I couldn't figure out how I was supposed to stop loving someone who had moved on to "love" someone else. 7 months ago, I didn't know where I would get the strength to face the next day, much less the strength to pick up the pieces left behind, and move through days, weeks and months that have now stretched behind me. I could have never predicted that I would be where I am today. Certainly, walking this path I have made mistakes, I always do. I learn best the hard way. I have been blessed these last 7 months with a wonderful family and wonderful friends. I have been reminded of God's love, grace, and power time and again, as I do not have the ability on my own to handle where I was 7 months ago.

On this day for the last 11 years, I've remembered that girl who took those vows. For the past 10 years, I have thought about the boy who she vowed herself to. Today, there is no more thought of that boy. He is long gone. That girl is still there. She still has dreams, they are just changed now. I had assumed that there would be some desire today to somehow tell that me of yesterday, "Stop, you don't know what you are doing!". I didn't feel that way, though. I don't regret my marriage. The very best thing that came out of it was 2 beautiful, wonderful, loving girls.

Next year, I don't know if I will remember this day. I hope each year, I do take time to be thankful for the lessons learned, for the good times we had, and for the fact that it is now over. I look forward to what is to come. I don't know what is in store for me. I do know, though that I will face each day, grateful for the path I've walked and the blessings in my life. I will continue to try to follow God's will, and trust Him in all things. And, when I make the mistakes that I know will come, I will be grateful for His forgiveness as well.

Here's to the next 11 years! May they get better and better!