Yesterday was a busy day. There was, of course, the normal everyday busyness of getting everyone out the door for school. I was working on a couple of household projects that only added to my ever-increasing to-do list. Have you ever done that? Started something that was supposed to make life easier only to look around and realize that it looks like a bomb has gone off in your home? Anyway, I was scheduled to guest teach for my husband in the afternoon while he travelled with his high school boys soccer team to an “away” game. After school I would be driving to my daughter’s volleyball game at a school about 40 miles from our home. In anticipation of a late arrival at home from the game, I worked as fast as I could to finish up some cleaning chores before lunch. I loaded the dishwasher and got it all ready to run, but I decided to wait to start it until I left for the afternoon. I was so proud of the progress I had made on my to-do list and I left the house smug with satisfaction.

This morning when I went into the kitchen, I realized that I didn’t remember to hit the start button on the dishwasher yesterday. Grrrrrr!!! Why did I procrastinate instead of just starting the cycle right after I finished filling the machine?! Why was I relying on my memory that just isn’t what it used to be? Why didn’t I set the “delay start” function so the cycle would start automatically later in the day?

In the midst of my frustration I began to think about this issue of procrastination and how it affects my life. I should probably join a twelve step program to deal with it once and for all. Hi, my name is Laurel, and I am a procrastinator! Why do I procrastinate? There are a variety of reasons both simple and complex. I’m lazy- “Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow?” I rely on my memory to remind me of the things that need my attention. (Obviously that isn’t working out so well. ) Often I’m overwhelmed by the task at hand and don’t know where to start. Sometimes I’m afraid that I might fail, so I don’t even begin. And sometimes I have everything ready to go, but I don’t press the start button.

I can’t overcome this entire issue of procrastination in one day… that will require some intensive behavior modification for me! But I can begin this process by giving myself a simple little reminder, “Have you pressed the start button today?” A little reminder can often stir us into action.  Perhaps it’s the dishwasher, or a difficult task, or something that God has put on your heart… have you pressed the start button today?

Monday Musings

Out in my yard today... a beautiful sunny September day. Last spring I mentioned the vines in my front yard that I prune back to practically nothing each year.  Here is the one that matures in the late summer now just breaking into full bloom:



Fall is beginning to show a little bit in my yard, as well.  The leaves on this bush have already turned red.

I'm grateful for... a relatively smooth start to the new school year.

One of my favorite things... is working with yarn.  I decided a couple of years ago to learn how to knit.  So far so good.  I have a basic understanding of the stitches and how to read a pattern, so I'm ready to tackle something that incorporates my new skills.  This week I will be picking out the yarn for the darling little sweater that I will be knitting for my canine companion Baxter. 

This week I'm reading...  The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs.  I picked it up from the library a few days ago hoping it would inspire me to pursue a new project.  And so it has! 

I'm looking forward to... the start of the fall session of the Moms group Bible study that I lead at church.  We took the summer off and will begin meeting again this Thursday morning.  It will be so nice to see everyone again and dive into our topic for this session- "Loving like Jesus."

Simple life tip for the week...  When my daughter was about seven years old, she asked me one day what I did at work. I told her I worked at the college - that my job was to teach people how to draw. She stared at me, incredulous, and said, "You mean they forget?" ~Howard Ikemoto 
Have you forgotten how to draw?  Grab a freshly sharpened pencil or pick up a brand new box of crayons at the store along with a clean sheet of paper and let yourself go.  You might be surprised at what you see and maybe even learn something new about yourself.

Word-filled Wednesday

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  And be thankful. ~Colossians 3:15

Several years ago a very wise woman shared with me some wonderful insight about parenting.  She told me to remember that parenting is a continuous process of letting go.  It begins at birth when the mother's womb releases that tiny, beautiful baby into the world.  From that moment on, we as parents are engaged in a never-ending series of events that challenge us to let go in order for our child to grow and develop into an independent person.  Baby's first tentative steps, first day of school, first time away from home, first solo drive in the car, first job... in each situation we have to make the choice to let go and allow our little darling the chance to experience life on their own. 

This sage mentor also advised me to remember that as scary and stress-inducing as this process may be, it is a necessary and wonderful part of life. Celebrate the daily progress along with the big milestones and take comfort in knowing that your child is growing as they should.  

I have sincerely tried to take this advice to heart.  While it is still hard for me to let go sometimes (okay, most of the time), I try to remember that it is a necessary part of life.  Some moments I am able to go directly into celebration mode; others take me a little bit longer.  Like this morning...

Today is the first day of school- for both my school teacher husband and our girls.  It is always a bittersweet moment for me.  I like the return to a regular daily routine.  I also have a little more time to myself.  However, it also means that my kids are getting older (and I am getting older).  Today is especially poignant because it is my youngest's very first day of high school.  Where did the time go?  I was feeling very melancholy at breakfast this morning when my husband reminded me that this is the next step for her.  Not only is it fundamental, but it is in keeping with what we want for her.  Independence... really?  Yes, really.  And so I watched her walk out the door with her older sister.

 I've been slowly crawling towards adjusting my attitude to celebration mode all morning.  My goal is to be there by the time school gets out and I will hear the exciting reports about today's events.  And then we will celebrate... and I will begin to prepare for the next time I get to "let go." 

"There are two lasting bequests we can give our children.  One is roots.  The other is wings." ~Hodding Carter, Jr.

Monday Musings

Out in my yard today...  73 degrees- an unusually cool day for this time of year.  The butterfly bush is in full bloom, attracting many different varieties of colorful butterflies.

The peaches are beginning to ripen and will be ready to pick in a few days.  Due to a late-spring freeze, there are exactly 8 peaches on the entire tree.  I guess it's better than nothing, but there won't be any homemade jam this year.

I'm grateful for... kind words filled with love and encouragement.

One of my favorite things... is this darling Little Red Riding Hood cookie jar that my cousin brought to me last month.  Once upon a time my mother gave this cookie jar as a gift to her mother.  Years later my grandmother passed it on to my cousin who had often enjoyed the yummy cookies that she kept in constant supply in the cookie jar.  All of these years later my cousin thought that I would enjoy having this family treasure.  My grandmother died a few years before I was born, so it is especially nice to have something of hers.  Knowing that my own mother picked it out makes it that much more special.

This week I'm reading... Invitation to the Jesus Life  Experiments in Christlikeness by Jan Johnson.  This is a book that I've had to read a little at a time because it is so thought-provoking.  It has challenged me to really examine my heart.  This is a reference book for all of our ladies Bible study groups this fall, so I have been doing a lot of extra reading and research in preparation for teaching.

I'm looking forward to... catching up with a couple of friends this week that I haven't seen for most of the summer.  I'm sure there will be a lot of laughter as we share our summer adventures.

Simple life tip for the week... "You don't have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces- just good food from fresh ingredients."~ Julia Child  

Word-filled Wednesday

The Lord is my light and my salvation-

whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life-

of whom shall I be afraid? 

~Ps. 27:1

Monday Musings~ There's no place like home...

My family and I just returned last week from a two week vacation in the eastern U.S. We had such a wonderful time! My brother and sister-in-law graciously hosted us in their home and really made this vacation possible. We couldn't have done it without them. What a tremendous blessing! 

As much fun as it was to get away, it is also so great to be home. So, without further ado, here is this week's edition of Monday Musings.

Out in my yard today... a volleyball net that will get a lot of use in the next few days since my youngest daughter is trying out for the school volleyball team at the end of this week.   

I harvested the first fruits of my garden when we got home last week.  One zucchini, one cucumber, one yellow squash, some lettuce, and some cherry tomatoes.  Yummy!

I'm grateful for... safe travels and vacation fun.  We visited some amazing places and saw some really cool stuff, but the best part for me was spending time with people I rarely get to be with in person.  Seeing my nephews all grown up, two of them with families of their own... simply extraordinary.  And meeting my darling great-niece and great-nephews, a whole new generation... absolutely incredible!  We also spent a wonderful day with some of my husband's family in Connecticut. They showed us such love and hospitality- we are blessed!!!  

One of my favorite things... watching my kids wholeheartedly pursue their dreams.  They have such courage and determination.  I wish I was that fearless.

This week I'm reading... Off Season by Anne Rivers Siddons.  A light summer read, perfect for this time of year.  I read Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol while on vacation.  Set in Washington D.C., it is a major thriller involving Masonic secrets and some well-known historical sites.  I was in the thick of it while we were in Washington D.C., which increased the intrigue that much more.  We even drove past the Masonic temple where a lot of the action takes place in the book.  Creepy! 

I'm looking forward to... watching my husband's soccer team play this weekend.  He is the high school boys JV soccer coach this season.  It's good for him to spend some time with the guys.  There's a lot of estrogen at our house!

Simple life tip for the week... "Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time." ~John Lubbock 
Spend some time "resting" this week.  You won't regret it!