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Sometimes it's hard to know just when enough is enough, isn't it? Like when you are eating ice cream or sugar cookie dough. Your mouth says "more!" right up to the moment your belly says "too much!". Would've been nice to stop at 'enough'.

I've been trying to find balance lately. Despite really loving my little java job, I've turned in my notice. I'll be hanging up my barista's apron at the end of the year. It's been a great ride, this crazy job that required me to get up at 3:30am. I loved the fast pace of some days juxtaposed with the quiet of that first hour when I could typically read a few pages of a good book. I have especially loved the friends I've made and the relationships I've built. What fun to enjoy the beautiful sunrise with someone who typically wouldn't have even noticed it. I will dearly miss seeing my friends each morning and knowing that their day is maybe a little better because they got a great cup of coffee and maybe heard a little something funny before their day really got too stressful.

The major reason for my retirement from all things espresso is that our oldest daughter will be embarking on her senior year of high school next year. I don't want to be too tired or too busy to miss a moment of it. She's an idenpendent girl and surely doesn't need me to really 'do' anything for her, but I just want to BE there....BE available....BE AWAKE! After she graduates they all go every other year, if all goes as planned! I likely will not get another job. At least not a 'paying' job.

Other areas of balance for me include relationships. I'm at an age where the silliness of not speaking to someone is just that...silliness. I have a family member who hasn't spoken to me in a few years. I've not been told why and I've tried to respect their 'space'. But I think in this case, enough is enough. I contacted this person by email but haven't heard back. I'm a little all over the board emotionally about it. Some days I'm a little ticked that I'm dropped like a hot potato with no reason or explanation. How rude! Other days, I'm sad over the loss of a person I love and don't understand the distance. Still others I'm at a loss as to how to explain to my children that a sibling of mine apparently wants nothing to do with them and I have no other explanation for it. Mostly I just feel sad. I'm still holding out hope that there can, again, be a relationship there. We are nothing without hope, right?

Volunteering...where do you draw the line there? There is always a 'good cause' that needs people to put in the time to make it happen. I have a heart for these types of activities but have learned to 'just say no'. Currently I have one volunteer activity and it's all I can fit on my plate. With two businesses, 5 kids still at home, trying to maintain a friendship or two and keep a marriage afloat it's the best I can do. I really think it's enough. Thankfully, I'm not one of those who finds my whole self worth in the number of volunteer activities I can participate in. No, I prefer to find my self worth in the number of times I can remember to pick everyone up on time and deliver them to their respective activities.

The time came in our 'family building' when we said enough. I know many wondered if we'd ever get to that point! We did what we felt was right and adopted whom we felt was right to adopt and though it feels right, it's not ever easy. Parenting little people who have no genetic connection to you isn't easy. I don't say that to discount the adoption experience. Not at all. But you know how hard it is to learn to work as a team with your spouse? Well, try connecting with a child who hasn't the reasoning ability or the vocabulary or the nurtured loving beginning that your spouse has. I'm not saying it's not without reward, I'm just saying it ain't always easy.

Election stuff..enough is enough! Enough crazy promises that nobody will keep. Enough blindly following 'your' candidate as if he has all the answers straight from above. And enough with the calling anyone who doesn't agree with your particular political bent 'stupid and uninformed'. Nobody ever looks at the most important FACTS anyway: 1. John McCain needs to whiten his teeth and 2. Barak Obama needs obviously spraypaints his bald spot.

Since dinner is over and short people are beginning to file into the kitchen and get in my way, it's clear that enough is enough with this column.