The Rest of Me

by Ashley Munoz

“Mommy says he needs a whole lot of Jesus, but I think Jesus is getting tired of his attitude,” Henley commented while reaching for the cookies.

Those moments with her were my favorite. She’d be hunched over the kitchen island with a school book in front of her and I’d be coloring a picture of a horse in a coloring book she’d said she was too old for. Every time I’d color a picture and leave a note, she’d reply with her own.

I normally didn’t shower until after I got home and had worked out for a while in the form of stretching and doing yoga, and sometimes I just vegged out and watched the workout videos while I drank water. Sometimes putting on workout gear was a feat in itself.

I liked that the kids had taken so well to my dog and vice versa, especially because I’d been thinking forever kind of thoughts about their mama lately.