The pace in our home changes dramatically with the end of the school year - I'm no longer opening curtains and turning off fans, trying to lure my sleepy kids out of bed at 6:40 AM. There's no (barely) underlying frantic "hurry-hurry" mode for breakfast, teeth-brushing, bed-making and lunch packing, in order to get out the door by 7:30 AM. My nearly 3-year old daughter is allowed to sleep until she wants to - school pick-ups no longer require her to be yanked from peaceful afternoon napdom. Ballet and piano recitals are complete, and soccer season is over.
Everyone together now ... aaaaahhhhhhh! It's a zen moment.
Scout camp, swim lessons, neighborhood Kidz Kamp, and other outings lay before us. The challenge is, the hours inbetween - keeping them from turning into an un-ending marathon of Looney Tunes and other kiddie TV fare. We have daily chores, school bridge booklets, the YMCA, the library, and the community pool. We have a house full of Legos, puzzles, books, and toys, toys, toys. Still, I often feel like the ancient Egyptian taskmaster, cracking my whip and directing children (with the requisite foreboding glare) to "turn off the TV/computer/Wii", and do something. I've occasionally "suggested" that if they're that disinterested with their toys, that we pack them up and take them to the United Way donation truck (that often elicits a quick response). North Texas is just not a family-friendly place in the summer as far as the great outdoors are concerned.
To their notable credit, my children do get along, in spite of the reverse cabin fever of a Texas summer. Sometimes they play all together, sometimes they split off into random pairs, sometimes they seek a little solitude. The "big three" (agest 11, 9, and nearly 7) are very patient with their all-too-evidently terrible-2-year old sister. Still, I count my blessings - no teenage angst (yet), no slammed doors with "keep out" signs. Don't get me wrong! There is definitely dissent from time to time, and regular eye-rolling (try picking out music in the minivan that pleases all ages! Musical Mission Impossible! We rotate between Raffi, Harry Potter soundtracks, Backyardigans, Madagascar, Little Mermaid, Hap Palmer, classical ...)
One week of precious summer vacation has already come and gone - soon enough we'll be trolling the aisles of Walmart and Target for school supplies, new school shoes, and uniforms. I need to remember that though they are not necessarily easy days, these are nonetheless, days to embrace.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Blessings in disguise
This will be very short - school pick-up is in about 10 minutes.
I've decided to tack on to my last entry, but on the tangent of blessings in disguise. For instance. our ward RS is ending their monthly activity (a progressive e.g. travelling one) at our home tomorrow night. They'll gather here to eat desserts and chat before calling it a night.
This disguised blessings has prompted me to do some deep cleaning that I was in denial of (oh say, steam-cleaning carpets that have dirt & water marks from playing in the snow ... 3 months ago), re-arranging the decorations in my living room (Kirsten taught me to "shop my house", rather than spend more money), and begin the purging of junka-lunka that must be completed before the kids come home for summer. Somewhere along the way in running errands, I found a steal of a deal on a new comforter set for our master bedroom - I will confess we have the same set we received for our wedding 14 years ago. Oh the things we let slide ...
This disguised blessing repeats itself in varying forms whenever company is coming to stay from out-of-state, or when I host an event (bridal shower, etc). I am always thankful, for it truly kills two or more birds with the one proverbial stone, and leaves my home much more orderly, peaceful and clean.
On a side note, that deserves a big note, I think birthdays are blessings in disguise. Because of my friend Karin's birthday last week, I got to spend an awesome evening out with 10 gal pals that I just do not get to see enough of. Thanks for being the undercover agent and pulling off a superb surprise Girls Night Out, Michelle!
And for my last note, this blessing isn't so much a disguised one, as a sometimes forgotten one. I love the New Testament, particularly the original 4 gospels. I just finished re-reading Matthew through John - always the best pick-me-up and centering thing out there, to read the testimony of the original apostles, and read the words of Christ.
I've decided to tack on to my last entry, but on the tangent of blessings in disguise. For instance. our ward RS is ending their monthly activity (a progressive e.g. travelling one) at our home tomorrow night. They'll gather here to eat desserts and chat before calling it a night.
This disguised blessings has prompted me to do some deep cleaning that I was in denial of (oh say, steam-cleaning carpets that have dirt & water marks from playing in the snow ... 3 months ago), re-arranging the decorations in my living room (Kirsten taught me to "shop my house", rather than spend more money), and begin the purging of junka-lunka that must be completed before the kids come home for summer. Somewhere along the way in running errands, I found a steal of a deal on a new comforter set for our master bedroom - I will confess we have the same set we received for our wedding 14 years ago. Oh the things we let slide ...
This disguised blessing repeats itself in varying forms whenever company is coming to stay from out-of-state, or when I host an event (bridal shower, etc). I am always thankful, for it truly kills two or more birds with the one proverbial stone, and leaves my home much more orderly, peaceful and clean.
On a side note, that deserves a big note, I think birthdays are blessings in disguise. Because of my friend Karin's birthday last week, I got to spend an awesome evening out with 10 gal pals that I just do not get to see enough of. Thanks for being the undercover agent and pulling off a superb surprise Girls Night Out, Michelle!
And for my last note, this blessing isn't so much a disguised one, as a sometimes forgotten one. I love the New Testament, particularly the original 4 gospels. I just finished re-reading Matthew through John - always the best pick-me-up and centering thing out there, to read the testimony of the original apostles, and read the words of Christ.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Name them one by one ...
I was feeling pretty blue this morning when I woke up - too much to do, too little time, wah wah, woe is me. As I drove about on errands during the morning, I found my eyes directed to observe the plight of others, and realize how blessed I am, how thankful they would be for many blessings I take for granted. So, I'm a'countin'!
1. A heated car with a full tank of gas. I can go where I want/need to, when I want/need to, in comfort, and with music even.
2. My kids' minds and bodies are healthy and whole.
3. Health insurance - we have great doctors (and nurses who know us!) who almost always can squeeze us in when we need them. We may have a co-pay & deductible, but it's small potatoes compared to a full bill.
4. 24-hour pharmacies.
5. Kind drivers who let me into their lane rather than gunning it to block me out.
6. Mr. Mullini standing in the freezing cold to direct drop-off traffic at our school, all week long! He always has a kind smile for every child who walks by.
7. A washer and dryer in my house - I don't have to tote my laundry to a laundromat, or scrounge quarters, or tote a 2-year old with me. I get to stay in the comfort of my house, and do dozens of other tasks just waiting on the beeps and buzzers that tell me its time to to rotate or fold!
8. The computer and internet. Yesterday and today I searched for recipes, worked on church projects, got in touch with family, paid bills, worked on our tax return, wrote in my journal, weighed in on a city council issue, correlated with my Primary presidency, and heard snippets from the lives of dozens of friends. All in a matter of hours, all from my nice comfy leather office chair in my living room. Crazy amazing when you take 2 steps back and remember this didn't exist not so long ago.
9. Ross Dress-4-Less. This is the only way I can keep my family dressed in good quality, durable clothes on a single income budget ($70 jeans for $13! wahoo!)
10. General Conference report. Love, love, love my conference report. Nothing lifts my spirits and my perspective faster.
11. My husband. He is patient, helpful, kind, observant, diligent, willing, funny, and full of hope and faith. These are the attributes of true love.
12. Warm beds and hot showers. It's been frigid all week.
That's it for now. There's much, much more - including some of the obvious answers - but this is what stuck with me today.
1. A heated car with a full tank of gas. I can go where I want/need to, when I want/need to, in comfort, and with music even.
2. My kids' minds and bodies are healthy and whole.
3. Health insurance - we have great doctors (and nurses who know us!) who almost always can squeeze us in when we need them. We may have a co-pay & deductible, but it's small potatoes compared to a full bill.
4. 24-hour pharmacies.
5. Kind drivers who let me into their lane rather than gunning it to block me out.
6. Mr. Mullini standing in the freezing cold to direct drop-off traffic at our school, all week long! He always has a kind smile for every child who walks by.
7. A washer and dryer in my house - I don't have to tote my laundry to a laundromat, or scrounge quarters, or tote a 2-year old with me. I get to stay in the comfort of my house, and do dozens of other tasks just waiting on the beeps and buzzers that tell me its time to to rotate or fold!
8. The computer and internet. Yesterday and today I searched for recipes, worked on church projects, got in touch with family, paid bills, worked on our tax return, wrote in my journal, weighed in on a city council issue, correlated with my Primary presidency, and heard snippets from the lives of dozens of friends. All in a matter of hours, all from my nice comfy leather office chair in my living room. Crazy amazing when you take 2 steps back and remember this didn't exist not so long ago.
9. Ross Dress-4-Less. This is the only way I can keep my family dressed in good quality, durable clothes on a single income budget ($70 jeans for $13! wahoo!)
10. General Conference report. Love, love, love my conference report. Nothing lifts my spirits and my perspective faster.
11. My husband. He is patient, helpful, kind, observant, diligent, willing, funny, and full of hope and faith. These are the attributes of true love.
12. Warm beds and hot showers. It's been frigid all week.
That's it for now. There's much, much more - including some of the obvious answers - but this is what stuck with me today.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
