A New After

I have realized recently that I live my life on the promise of "afters".
After Nashville, I'll work on the wedding decor and get ready for Boston.
After Boston, I just wont sleep for a couple of days so I can wrap up all of the wedding plans.
After the wedding, I'll do everything else I have been putting off for months.
After school's out, we'll do lots of fun things, like camping, and hiking and family bike rides, and spending long days at the pool...
But alas...I have come across a new, unexpected after.
I was selected on Monday to be a juror in a case that is projected to last between 8 and 10 business days. I thought I was convincing. However, the judge did not agree that having four young children at home whom I am the sole caregiver of every day was a great reason to be exempt from service.
Unluckily, I get to sit in court for eight hours a day listening to the same arguments being rendered over, and over, and over again.
Luckily, the other jurors I'm serving with are a pleasure to be around.
Unluckily, I am missing out on two weeks of my kids' summer.
Luckily, I have sweet, sweet friends who are willing to be inconvenienced watching my older 3 kids every day. {Emmett comes with me and sits in the little "Court Care" childwatch all day. Except for today when he was home with the big kids and Dan's mom. Thanks Deb!}.
I do not love my new after.
But, I sure can think of lots of things that complete the end of my "after jury duty..." sentence, like river rafting, and camping at Taylor Park, and dates with Dan, and visiting Nana & Bapa, and swimming with my sweet Cal who still can't stand being in the pool by himself, and never, ever having a job that would take me away from my kids all day every week-day. I am really, really hating that part.
It sure has opened my eyes to what an AMAZING blessing it is to be able to stay home with my kiddos.
I really do love my real life, and after jury duty, I plan on living it to the fullest!