Life seldom goes as planned. I could stop right there for today, that is wisdom enough, but as you’re probably expecting more I’ll add another insight to this truth.  I’ve had enough of life’s “curve balls” thrown at me to know it’s best to deal with them by staying positive. I also know when the curve ball is bad enough staying positive almost seems impossible. But…and this is the important part…I’ve never seen my frustration, anger, or a desire to blame ever fix a situation. In fact, it usually compounds whatever problem I’m facing.

So when the weather decided to dump a ton of rain the night after we dug trenches to put sprinkler lines in this past weekend, I trudged through the mud with shovel in hand and a smile on my face.

“All that rain will make the dry hard dirt we couldn’t move for the patio last night easier.” I tell my children, going for that positive spin.

Right then my husband hunched over one of the muddy trenches laying sprinkler pipe just had to speak up. “A hose could have worked just as well too.”

“Thanks honey,” I said gritting my teeth so hard my smile might have looked a little sinister.

Don’t you just hate it when your spouse kills your positive reinforcement? I guess I can’t be too upset. Cold, and covered in mud the whole day, his job was way harder than mine.