I was just thinking about all the back to school hustle and bustle. Frightened kids just starting kindergarten; "know it all" kids starting junior high; and "I have arrived" kids starting high school.
Ahhh, I remember those days with some sadness, some gladness, but all with sweet memories. It's like this great big house and you've been living in one section of the house. You've decorated it with memories, you've made it comfortable with routines, and you've cleaned it with discipline. Then, one day you notice another door and it's been locked up until this moment. When you notice that it's unlocked, you're uncertain about going through it.You're very comfortable in the room you're in, but you've outgrown it, so with some quick breathing of anticipation, you walk through. Umm, it's kind of empty and it's sad that you've had to leave the other room because it was so complete. You can still look into the room you've just left, but you can't go back there.....sooo...time for some housework in the new room.
Kindergarten days full of crayon pictures; huge writings on those pages with three lines for one letter; dress up days for special programs; new songs. Everything is new. New school, new teacher, new schedule, new clothes, new lunch boxes, new backpacks, new friends.
Whew! What a change! After you get over the shock and lonliness, you notice you have time to actually clean house, take a bath, comb your hair! Hmm...this may not be so bad afterall. Your days become routine, building up to the climax when you see your little cherabim running out of the school building, grinning from ear to ear, waving the newest addition to your refrigerator collection of art.
Uh, oh, looks like another door. It has written on it JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL. How did I get here so fast? And when did my little angel's favorite words change from "I love you, mommy," to "whatever."(the last being said with an eye roll) New stuff again. New ideas, new (strange) clothes, new activities, new girlfriends?, new eating habits because they're way to cool for lunch boxes now.
Oh, wow. You have car pools to sports games, after school activities, overnighters, controversies (everyday). It's all so exhausting.....but it's all so fun!!!!! I don't know who said that raising teenagers is awful, but they were totally wrong! It's amazing! Those little people that you used to read stories to, now come home with stories for you of who said what to who, and who did what, and who got in trouble(again). It's stories of crushes, of sports victories, and heartaches. Oh, my! I love this room!
But, alas, there's another door....HIGH SCHOOL. Umm, I don't think I'm ready for this one. I really want to just stay where I am, but there's this pre high school kid behind me pushing and shoving as I'm trying to hang on to the door facing. As, I pick myself up off the floor, I see this kid doing high fives, running around the new room like a lunatic. Okay, I can do this. I start by looking at this kid and realizing he doesn't look so much like a kid anymore...more like a younger replica of me or his dad.
Again, this room was amazing! Probably the funnest of all the rooms to decorate. It was all a blur of new accomplishments, new directions, new relationships. It was finished way too fast. I can't make it last any longer, I can't add one more thing. It's done.
I've gone through rooms of college, grad schools, relocation. It's all difficult and it's all good. I'm working on a new room now. It's full of toys, baby beds, bicycles, and story books. Hmm, it kind of looks like the room I started out with, only now, I can sit back, relax, and revel in it.....I really love my new room.... I really love my house.
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am therewith, to be content. Phillippians 4:11 KJV
or
Whatever room I'm in, be happy. JV (Joy's version)
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Chivalry is Dead
It's been a long day. Did laundry all day, cleaned house (a little) and then went to church. Just a little tired, but I have a big day planned tomorrow of canning some veggies from our little garden, soooo unfortuately, I have to stop at that place that sucks us all in. It's like a black hole that just pulls and pulls until your car is forced to turn into the parking lot of, none other than, Wally World!
I've got my little list of all the necessities for canning pickles, green beans, apples, squash, and maybe even some peppers. I'm singing to the CD in my car, feeling all domestic about canning, and just a little frightened of the full parking lot I see.
So, as I turn toward a very close parking space, I have my signal on, so that all involved will know that I'm heading into that spot. But, you all can guess what happens....yep, she just zipped right in that spot before I could say bread and butter pickles.
I keep telling myself that I just got out of church and decide to do what all good church going people do.....I start quoting scriptures to myself....... "Vengence is mine, saith the Lord, I will repay." Now. I feel a little better.
Entering the store, it becomes apparent that because school starts tomorrow, all the bedraggled parents are there to grab the last pencil and sheet of paper in the county. I heard one frazzled dad on his cell phone, saying through gritted teeth, "There isn't one single #2 pencil in this place."
Finally, after dodging buggies, avoiding teens having cart races through the store, and kids crying, I make it to the check out lines.
You have got to be kidding!! Three aisles open! Really? So, I get in line and I end up somewhere between the Misses super skinny t shirts and the Men's underwear aisle. I hear bits of strained conversations between parents, kids, and the poor dad still on his cell phone stressing over the #2 pencils.
Wait! Can it be!! Another aisle is opening! But by the time I get in shopping cart gear, someone else is racing to the same spot. Uh oh. I'm scrambling to make it in the passing lane when out of nowhere comes a man from church, jumps in the line and waves for me to get in front of him!
Yay! I won! However, there are still about four people in front of me and the check out guy is slower than cold molasses. I've seen my grandma move faster than that! How can you be that slow without trying??
Can it be?? Is there another aisle opening up?? Yes!! So, I back up to get traction and make a dash, but just as I get ready to cross the victory lane, some man cuts me off. Unbelievable! Where is chivalry?? Where is good manners?? He just stands there and looks at me with this little smile, no, I believe it was a smirk, on his face.
As I weasle my way back into my line, I wait for Mr. Molasses to finish, head out to the car and wonder if there is any possibility someone would help a lady put a forty pound bag of dogfood in her trunk. I guess not. "Vengence is mine, saith the Lord, I will repay."
I've got my little list of all the necessities for canning pickles, green beans, apples, squash, and maybe even some peppers. I'm singing to the CD in my car, feeling all domestic about canning, and just a little frightened of the full parking lot I see.
So, as I turn toward a very close parking space, I have my signal on, so that all involved will know that I'm heading into that spot. But, you all can guess what happens....yep, she just zipped right in that spot before I could say bread and butter pickles.
I keep telling myself that I just got out of church and decide to do what all good church going people do.....I start quoting scriptures to myself....... "Vengence is mine, saith the Lord, I will repay." Now. I feel a little better.
Entering the store, it becomes apparent that because school starts tomorrow, all the bedraggled parents are there to grab the last pencil and sheet of paper in the county. I heard one frazzled dad on his cell phone, saying through gritted teeth, "There isn't one single #2 pencil in this place."
Finally, after dodging buggies, avoiding teens having cart races through the store, and kids crying, I make it to the check out lines.
You have got to be kidding!! Three aisles open! Really? So, I get in line and I end up somewhere between the Misses super skinny t shirts and the Men's underwear aisle. I hear bits of strained conversations between parents, kids, and the poor dad still on his cell phone stressing over the #2 pencils.
Wait! Can it be!! Another aisle is opening! But by the time I get in shopping cart gear, someone else is racing to the same spot. Uh oh. I'm scrambling to make it in the passing lane when out of nowhere comes a man from church, jumps in the line and waves for me to get in front of him!
Yay! I won! However, there are still about four people in front of me and the check out guy is slower than cold molasses. I've seen my grandma move faster than that! How can you be that slow without trying??
Can it be?? Is there another aisle opening up?? Yes!! So, I back up to get traction and make a dash, but just as I get ready to cross the victory lane, some man cuts me off. Unbelievable! Where is chivalry?? Where is good manners?? He just stands there and looks at me with this little smile, no, I believe it was a smirk, on his face.
As I weasle my way back into my line, I wait for Mr. Molasses to finish, head out to the car and wonder if there is any possibility someone would help a lady put a forty pound bag of dogfood in her trunk. I guess not. "Vengence is mine, saith the Lord, I will repay."
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
All Shook Up
I love my life. I love my family. I love my relatives (for the most part...hehe). I love my friends. I love my God. However, (unfortunately, there is always a however), sometimes things get "shook up". (I just had a mental vision of Elvis singing and I know that wasn't good grammar)
I got "shook up" this week and I can't seem to "shake" it. Why is it we can get hundreds of compliments and well wishes, but we get one itsy bitsy negative response and it rattles our world?? Anyway, that's how it is for me. Actually, my world hasn't been rattled, but I can't seem to let this tiny little thing go. I'm probably just waaay too sensitive, and I get lots of responses of "just let it go" or "don't let it bother you", but will someone just please tell me HOW!!
I've been judged. Yes, that's right, I've been judged. However, (there's that word again) I haven't been judged by a judge. I have been judged by people that don't know me, that haven't been involved in my life, that are gossiping, and that are stirring up lies.
Okay, so after writing that, I'm already feeling better because I just realized that they don't matter. My husband that sees me everyday (at my worst and without makeup, I might add) and still loves me, matters.
My children that I have raised, loved and nurtured, who still call me mom, who still call me, who still say "I love you, mom", matters.
My friends that shop with me (and let me boss them on what to buy), that go to church with me, that like my oddball behaviours, that cry with me, that listen to my problems, matters.
My family and relatives that have been a part of my life, that have shared my griefs, have shared my table, have shared my successes, matters.
So, to those others, that judge, gossip, and are just basically hurtful......ppppttttthhhhffffttttt!! You're judgements and opinions of me don't matter!
I got "shook up" this week and I can't seem to "shake" it. Why is it we can get hundreds of compliments and well wishes, but we get one itsy bitsy negative response and it rattles our world?? Anyway, that's how it is for me. Actually, my world hasn't been rattled, but I can't seem to let this tiny little thing go. I'm probably just waaay too sensitive, and I get lots of responses of "just let it go" or "don't let it bother you", but will someone just please tell me HOW!!
I've been judged. Yes, that's right, I've been judged. However, (there's that word again) I haven't been judged by a judge. I have been judged by people that don't know me, that haven't been involved in my life, that are gossiping, and that are stirring up lies.
Okay, so after writing that, I'm already feeling better because I just realized that they don't matter. My husband that sees me everyday (at my worst and without makeup, I might add) and still loves me, matters.
My children that I have raised, loved and nurtured, who still call me mom, who still call me, who still say "I love you, mom", matters.
My family and relatives that have been a part of my life, that have shared my griefs, have shared my table, have shared my successes, matters.
So, to those others, that judge, gossip, and are just basically hurtful......ppppttttthhhhffffttttt!! You're judgements and opinions of me don't matter!
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