in the mail

 (Damon will be so proud that I creatively covered up our names/address with my thumb!  I probably still did something else really obvious to jeopardize our privacy, though)

I got three things in the mail yesterday that made me extremely happy:

1.  My order from Snapfish:  400+ pictures that chronicle November and December of 2008 (scary, I know).  I never should have challenged myself to take more pictures in the month of December. 
Usually, my children’s scrapbooks are bare from Halloween until a child’s spring birthday.  I’m lucky to get my annual Christmas card and a Christmas Morning layout squeezed out of my measly documentation of Christmas. 

This year was different.  I vowed to take more pictures.  And that I did, to the tune of 400 pictures (divided roughly by five). 

2.  I also received my first TAX RETURN DOCUMENT ENCLOSED piece of mail today.  This makes me happy because I love doing my taxes.  Odd, I know, but it’s true.  I love the thrill of the numbers, and I especially love my refund.  It always pays to have 5 kids and be a full-tithe-paying Mormon come tax-time.  I usually have my refund in my bank account by the first week of February.  This year, I seem to be a bit behind, but I’m sure I’ll get it done soon enough.

3.  The third piece of mail that I received was also regarding the IRS, but instead of making me smile upon first seeing it, I got a knot in my stomach.  This one was not about filing my 2008 return, but a dispute about my 2006 return.  This is the letter that would tell me if I filed an incorrect claim in 2006, off by $19,999 or if I was justified in claiming that same amount as an itemized deduction.  This has been weighing on my mind since last October when I received my first letter and sent my detailed reply and explanation in November. 

And I breathed a huge sigh of relief when the letter said I was right.  (not in those words, of course).  Bottom line:  I do not owe the IRS any additional money.  Hallelujah.

4.  The fourth piece of mail I DID NOT RECEIVE was a package from Brooke.  “Mom- when are we going to get the candy that Brooke sent?” 

And, also

I wanted to address how lame I am.  [What?  did you even know?!]  I had every intention of watching Obama’s inauguration yesterday, and I just didn’t get around to it.  Is that the lamest excuse ever?  I’m ashamed.  After hearing so much about it, I felt super dumb that I didn’t make it a priority yesterday and promised myself I’d watch it today. 

I am inspired by many who commented on their blogs about how empowering and amazing it was, by my kids who all watched it in their elementary school classrooms, and by those I talked to that were equally in awe.  I, too, am ready for change and am 100% behind President Obama {whether I voted for him or not}.  I did watch the events of yesterday (in a shortened form) this morning from the comforts of my own bed. 

 (with added text- to make Brooke even more jealous)

I feel proud, scared, hopeful, and immense gratitude for our country.  I am fully aware that I lack the complete depth of what this means to have our first African American president, but proud just the same. This is what is amazing to me, though:  What a freakin’ busy, exhausting day  and he has to start “work” today as President of the US.  I so would not want that job.

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