Summer is ending.  The school supplies have been out in WalMart for weeks.  I love summer and wish it could last forever.  It's not that I don't want to start school (I teach, ya know!).  It's that when a new school year begins, it means I am that much closer to working myself out of a job.  My kids are one step closer to the completion of their time at home.  And I'm pretty much wailing, just thinking about it.

Call me strange but I've never been one of those Moms who couldn't wait to get away from her kids.  I think I caught that trait from my own Mom.  She loved being with my brother and me and we knew it.  She still does.  And, if she could right now, I think she'd still come get me out of school when it snowed so I could play with her!!  Or let me stay home so we could work on Valentine Cards together.  Or sit up late so she could hear all the (boring) details of my evening.

I am sure there will be plenty to do once all my kids are gone.  I've never been one to be bored.  But if I could just hit the pause button for a bit, I'd do it.  I already know what it's like to set less places at the table.  To start to fix cheese grits casserole and remember that the one who loves that best won't be at breakfast that day.  To be able to finish laundry in 1/3 less time. To spend less at the grocery store. (OK, that part's not so bad!) To have fewer soccer practices and piano recitals and AWANA lessons.  I know that when I lie down in the hall outside the bedrooms late at night to pray, some of the beds are empty now.  And the only way they come home now is with a suitcase.

OK I'm in full blown sob mode now.  Can hardly see to type.  All because of what it means when summer ends. 

Happy Birthday to my Mama

Today is my Mom's birthday.  I would gladly share how old she is except that I don't know.  She has told so many fibs about her age that she herself probably doesn't even know!  In fact, I cannot even be sure that her driver's license is accurate!!!

Oh,well, that's my Mama.  Fun and funny. I'll bet she is the only person in this country that can dial a rotary phone with her toes or jump up and down and click her heels together twice before she lands.  For real.   Never a lack of laughter when she's in the room.  Kind.  Whether it's dispensing candy to all the kids at church, delivering the most delectable brownies ever to a neighbor or including someone on the fringe in her circle, she is kind to her core.  Empathetic.  She can rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep better than anybody I have ever seen in my life.  No wonder there has been a constant stream of people to her door for the entirety of my life.  Once you've spent some time with my Mama, you just plain feel better.  Servant.  She is the most authentic example of servanthood I have ever seen.  Has absolutely no desire for attention or recognition (runs from it like a jackrabbit, actually!) But if there's a need anywhere in the county, she'll find it...and meet it.  Before anyone else knows it exists.  Maker of memories.  Cookies and lemonade at the end of my day.  Sitting at her kitchen table to tell her my troubles.  Picnics at Dowdell's knob.  Daytona Beach vacations.  Black bags at Christmas. Secret keeper.  Putting up peaches in the summer to enjoy all winter.  Early morning birthday calls.  Iron-clad promises of prayer. Rocking my babies.  Complete acceptance.  Unfailing love.  That's my Mama. 

She's all those things and lots more.  But most of all, she's my Mama.  If, by God's mercy and grace, some day, my children feel about me like hers do about her, I will consider myself the most blessed woman in the universe.  I love her with all my heart and want to be just like her when I grow up.

Happy Birthday, Alice.

Aha!

I've missed blogging.  Sometimes I write posts in my head...but when I get to the computer, I can't find them!!  I noted recently that I've been empty.  So I shared my cleaning tip!  (That was quite well received, actually!  I guess lots of us have gunky showers.) 

I had an "aha" moment about my lack of content.  About why I've had a hard time coming up with things to write.  I've been writing elsewhere!  I am working on a Bible study to teach this fall and it takes everything in me to write the lectures and especially the homework.  So I've missed being able to share more Living Letters but, boy, am I having some fun on this study!  It's about spiritual warfare -- "Equipped for Battle Victory".  We're in this thing to win, not just to fight!  So I'm getting ready to share some rules for engagement with fellow warriors!!!

If you are in the Athens/Watkinsville GA area, I'd love to have you join us.  There will be two sessions offered, beginning in September - one will be taught on Tuesday mornings and the other on Wednesday evenings.  Both classes are at Watkinsville First Baptist and childcare is available.  Let me know if you need other info.  Once the class is done, I hope to have the link to audio lectures and download for the workbook available through Living Letters.

Until then, let's keep in touch here!

Cleaning tip

Sometimes I don't feel too inspiring.  Lots of times, actually.  Pretty much every post I wonder if any of it's worth reading.  But I keep writing cuz I have stuff inside that just has to get out.

Today is different.  I feel compelled to write but there's nothing to share.  Empty.

SO I decided to tell you about a great cleaning tip.  Seriously.  This past weekend was full of household projects and it was quite gratifying to get some things done.  Painted a shelf to use in the kids' bathroom.  Hung some pictures.  Started a DIY project.  Etc.  Fun stuff.

But the most fun was getting the caulking around my tub clean.  For real.  I am not a clean freak (as in "hope you are up to date on your shots when you come to my house")  but the state of my tub has bothered me for, well, a long time.  Too embarrassing to even guess how long.  And it's not that I haven't tried.  I have.  All sorts of cleaners.  Bleach, Greased Lightning, Lysol Tub Cleaner, etc etc etc.  Some of them showed promise but nothing that really zapped the gunk (OK - it's mildew!) and looked clean for more than a day.  I even got to where I left the cleaner in the tub and used it every day after my shower.  Negligible results. 

Then I saw something on Pinterest.  And tried it.

I bought some of those long cotton strands that they use for perms and stuff.  At the beauty supply place.  (THAT was an interesting trip !!  Maybe inspiration for another post...) Poured straight bleach in a bowl right there in my tub and stuck the cotton strands in to soak it up.  Then I c-a-r-e-f-u-l-l-y laid them along the gunky places on the tub.  Left them over night.  Closed the bathroom door - that bleach smell is STRONG. 

Next morning.  Prettiest tub you ever did see!  The caulking looks brand new!  I have smiled for 3 days straight. 

We'll see how long it lasts.  Smile.

There it is.  Perhaps my most inspiring post!

Sometimes....Some times...

Sometimes things are so hard.  Little things like broken dishwashers or a toothache or inconvenient disruptions.  Big things like the end of a friendship or loss of a job or terrifying doctor's report.  We've all been there and we all know that dreaded knot in the stomach, the strain in our voice, the anxiety endured.

But, thankfully, sometimes things are so good.  Little things like double rainbows and a happy toddler and an unexpected hour to relax.  Big things like enough money at the end of the month and a teenager at peace and successful surgery. 

Today has been a good day.  This weekend was a great one.  And I just want to go on record saying "Thanks".  To my family and my friends and especially to the Giver of all good gifts.  Thank you.

I know things aren't always peachy keen.  But sometimes they are.  Like today.  And, for the record, I am going to enjoy every moment of it.