Some of my favorite things

clean sheets

great deals on new clothes

delicious leftovers

quiet evenings with Tim

a ladies' potluck

good books

planning a party

my kitties

music that moves me

Complications

I was talking recently with a friend about how complicated life can be - all the decisions we have to make, how we spend or time, negotiating things with spouses, keeping our hearts open and tender while not being constantly wounded by life...

It does all sometimes seem like just about too much! It is (by "it" I mean life, handling it, the day to day stuff) - it is made much easier by lovely relationships. I have a great marriage, great, fun friends, a relationship with God that sustains me (rather than a religion that boxes me in), a beautiful place to live, etc., an awful lot of freedom in my personal life.

It is those relationships, though, that are the outriggers on my canoe. They help keep me even-keeled in the water of life. I am thankful for them. I know I often neglect some of my relationships (you know who you are...bear with me?). I just can't keep up with all of them, all of the time. That is a consequence of moving so much in my life. But they all are the padding around me, helping protect me from getting too banged-up and bruised on this Mr. Toad's Wild Ride of life. Yeah for friends!

Where have I been?

Seems like the last several days have just flown by! I know, I say that a lot. Well, what have I been doing? Sending pictures of my daily life to a "pen pal", volunteering at our local elementary school's book fair, going to the zoo with my 2 nephews and sister, trying to find a new pair of red shoes (red's a neutral, you know!), keeping up with my house a little better, taking care of my sick husband. 

Oh, that's why I haven't written much lately!

And now I'm off to do some laundry, sort through clothes I don't need/want anymore, get ready for Bible study, load the dishwasher, and call a friend. Whew! Maybe I'll write more this weekend. Sure is a good thing I don't have a job - I don't think I have time for one. 

In all seriousness, the whole job thing is weighing on me a little heavier lately. Tim and I are getting short on money, and it looks like we might not be selling our current renovation project in time to refill our bank account. Should I be working? Is what I contribute in the house enough (eating out less because I cook, have the energy to work at saving money, etc.)? I'm not sure. I definitely don't want to go back to work, but I think I need to ask those questions of Tim and make sure we're on the same page. I'll let you know what we decide!

Meanwhile, back to those housefrau tasks.

Shiny floor

Yeah! I found my living room yesterday! I can see the floor - it is even swept. The couch is clean enough to sit on. The trash is emptied. The books are picked up. OK, so I still need to vacuum the rugs and dust, but there it is - a room clean enough to relax in. That makes me happy. Oh, and I did almost all the laundry...and even put it away. ;-)

It has been a good 1 1/2 days working in my house. I can see progress, can see keeping it this way for a good long while. Somehow trips out of town derail me from keeping my house clean. Not sure why that is, and haven't ever sat down to figure it out. 

My big goal for this fall? Get the house clean, keep it clean, then start going through all those boxes sitting in the basement. I had a good talk with a friend today who gave me some good ideas and wonderful encouragement. Thanks, Julie!

It feels so good to make progress on a project, to see tasks completed and be able to cross them off the running list I keep. Ethan's hat is finished, Zachary's is almost done, I have a sweater sitting to finish, but that's a good thing. And what a perfect time to finish some things, and start others. Fall and winter will be the perfect season to go through those boxes with the cool temperatures outside, the warmth inside, the golden sunshine that my house collects like a box of treasures. Tea, bagel in the morning, hit the chores, get going on those boxes, and by the afternoon, I will have accomplished enough to sit, knit and enjoy a favorite episode of M*A*S*H or something like that. 

Life is good, ain't it? 

For my friends who are struggling with stuff, I'm praying for you...that you can experience some peace and lovely quiet, too. May my peace be contagious and cross the miles to your hearts.

Crazy...

...that's what last week was! I took care of Zachary for 2 days, helped my sister with 2, and then Friday was spent with some wonderful lady friends. ;-) A good week, but totally exhausting. I'm processing the whole baby/no baby thing, and that's good. Meanwhile, my house seemed to explode even though I was hardly here (because I was hardly here?). 

What does this week hold? Very little...except catching-up on my house. That means laundry, dishes, sweeping, dusting, etc. I'll get a lot done, and hopefully some praying while I do it. I want to spend more time on my relationship with my God! He sustains me and loves me; I want to seek him out.

I know, still no pictures of Boston...maybe later this week! Back to my full laundry baskets for now.

Beautiful world

I don't think I can write, think, sing, pray, talk enough about the beauty of this world! 

Last night a hard rain in the late afternoon cooled things off considerably, and we awoke this morning to a clear blue sky, cool air, and the prospect of an extraordinary July day. 9:00 a.m and it's only 62'. The city maintains a green that is unusual for this time of year, thanks to our cool summer thus far. Yes, the weeds are flourishing, too, but it is all so lovely that I just can't seem to find a reason to care! Music about my good God pours from my stereo, I wash dishes, I look out the window and have to smile at the leaves twisting in the faint breeze, shining against the sky like tiny pieces of stained glass. 

Life is hard. We all agree on that. There are more challenges than any of us would like, more hard times, more sorrow, more struggle. But on a day like today, it all seems to fall into place and the hard stuff, albeit still present, is pushed to the side for just a few moments and I can look at the beautiful world with a clear heart, clear vision, and a strong sense of the good and benevolent.