Charlie was blessed on Wednesday when David agreed to drive Charlie to Hobart, Oklahoma to stay for a couple months because we didn’t have the extra money for a road trip, but David hardly ever tells Charlie or I know, if we want to do something.
There was no, time for a teatime morning reset for me even though I needed one as I was dropping my son off and he was going to get engaged. We got up at 3 even though David didn’t have that much rest and took for Hobart which is our hours away.
We got there and went to Lunch/ Brunch with Charlie and Mikalya and came back home to Texas. Once we arrived, I came upstairs to work, and David cleaned the kitchen and cooked dinner for Gerald and I even though he was exhausted.
The next morning the first day without Charlie as he had stayed in Hobart was hard because he wasn’t across the hall asking for Coffee. Although the morning did start with sunshine and quiet. But the morning also started with soreness in places I didn’t know I had, a kitchen that looked like it survived a tornado, and a heart that was still somewhere between Hobart and home.
I sat down with my water— because coffee wasn’t happening yet — and let myself breathe for the first time since yesterday. And as the steam curled up from the mug, I realized something important: Yesterday wasn’t just a day trip. It was a turning point. For C. For Mikayla. For our family. For me.
Teatime is where I tell the truth, so here it is: **I am tired. I am hurting. I am proud. I am overwhelmed. I am grateful. I am human. ** I learned being 60 and doing day trips like this may be coming to an end because they hurt David and I too much and more times than not we do not have extra money for trips like this.
Charlie and David are over 6 feet, and I am overweight, but we squeezed three grown people into Larry’s tiny truck — the kind of tiny that makes you question your life choices before you even leave the driveway.
As much as I am grateful thankful and blessed that Larry and Lisa thought enough of my family to give us his truck, we have to get the brakes on Charlie’s car fixed because this truck is perfect for 2 people and even 3 small people but not my family.
David drove to Hobart because I don’t drive after Suzzane getting killed and Charlie hasn’t gotten his driver’s license. We shopped at Walmart, ate brunch/ lunch with Mikayla and Charlie, dropped C off, hugged him goodbye, and watched him step into the next chapter of his life. Then David and I snuck off for a mini date as I took David to the Casino where he was able to sign up for there rewards programs and play for free.
And then we came home and didn’t rest. Because of course we didn’t. Because David’s mom needed David. The dogs needed us. We needed to run to the grocery store and David had a quick honey-do job to do.
On Thursday David asked Bradley to come and help us out and they went ahead and cleaned the front porch and took things to Lisa and cleaned the back porch. Then the guys rearranged the dining room and then they rearranged the washroom. We sorted donations.
I tried to build the coffee bar (didn’t happen). I tried to make dinner (also didn’t happen). We dealt with the phone company messing up our phones AGAIN. I tried to get to the books that went into my shelf David picked up for me. Then wewatched Gerald leave with my sister. We kept going. And going. And going.
By the time the sun went down, David was exhausted and hurting. I was exhausted and hurting. And the house still wasn’t done. But here’s the thing: We survived it. We did it together. And today is a new day. We cheated and ordered Lisa’s Chicken even though we shouldn’t have because we know the LORD knows and our needs and will help those who help themselves and we did that last night when even though David wanted to stay home today he went to work and so did I and I have a small job that will pay for dinner we purchased last night.
**Teatime is where I reset.
Tea Time is where I breathe. Tea Time is where I remember who I am.**
So even though Charlie is gone and David is working and Gerald is camped out on the porch and Bradley may or may not come over I wanted to share what I’m reminding myself this morning with you your friends and family:
⭐ 1. It’s okay to be tired.: Yesterday was big. Emotionally big. Physically big. Family big. Scary big, Heart hurting big.
⭐ 2. It’s okay to not finish everything. The coffee bar will get built. The house will get done. Dinner will get made. Life will settle. I may or may not catch up on work one day but not today. And that’s okay.
⭐ 3. It’s okay to feel everything at once. Pride. Sadness. Joy. Exhaustion. Love. Chaos. Hope. Anger and sadness because that’s motherhood. That’s family. That’s real life.
⭐ 4. It’s okay to start slow. Today begins at 7 a.m. Not with a sprint. Not with a to‑do list. Not with pressure. But with OJ because the Coffee bar isn’t done and Charlie isn’t here, so I didn’t want to use his coffee pot but with breath. With honesty. With grace
⭐ 5. It’s okay to ask for help. Bradley helped yesterday and I thank the Lord for that because David pushed himself too hard. Gerald did nothing but left with my sister as usual and came home hungry. C is starting his own chapter. And I don’t have to carry everything alone I have friends and family who will stand by me on the hard days.
⭐ 6. It’s okay to celebrate the small things. A clean corner. A rearranged shelf. A working phone (hopefully). A moment of quiet. A sip of tea or a piece of Chocolate or a moment of quiet
⭐ 7. It’s okay to love big. C is engaged. He’s happy. He’s growing. He’s building a life. And that’s worth every mile, every ache, every tear.
**So this morning, I’m choosing peace.
I’m choosing slow. I’m choosing grace. I’m choosing tea.**
If you’re reading this and your life feels like a Walmart bag full of mismatched chaos — you’re not alone. If you’re tired, hurting, overwhelmed, or behind — you’re not alone. If you’re trying to hold your family together while holding yourself together — you’re not alone.
Sit with me. Sip with me. Breathe with me.
Today is a new day. And we will face it together.
Happy Friday, friends. Let’s begin.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
