"For everything there
is a season, a time for every activity under heaven." -
Ecclesiastes 3:1
I was talking to Jesus this
morning about what I should write for this blog. If I'm honest, and
I'm doing my best to be honest here on this blog, I often wonder how
many people are actually getting anything out of these words. Is what
I'm doing making any sort of a difference? And then I remember. I
hear the whisper in my ear that this isn't about me really. It's
about glorifying God by doing what he has called me to do. And right
now, I'm in a season of Summer Mothering.
You know what Summer
Mothering is if you've been a mom for even a minute. Summer Mothering
is all about keeping everyone alive. We are at the end of this
particular season and I've already broken up a death threat (here is
where I wish I knew how to cross out writing because I want you to
see those words but I want to replace them with something else too)-
make that a Nerf battle threat between the sixteen year old who is
bored and the seven year old who is just tired deep into his bones.
He hasn't had his daily dose of chocolate and sugar yet. It works
much the same way as coffee does for us adult-like people. I'm
thinking about getting him a chocolate IV...(I'm kidding, or am I?
*insert steriotypical evil laughter here*) Look, don't judge. He's
the fourth child. If he had been the first child, he would have only
been introduced to organic chocolate that is dairy free and perfect.
But he's the fourth. And fourth children get away with more things.
Ask my oldest son.
At the beginning of the
summer, I had plans people. We were going to read. We were going to
complete the 85,000 activities that it would take to earn free ice
cream from the library (not that the library gives the ice cream,
just the coupon). We were going to go places and have play dates.
Ahem, for teenage boys this name no longer applies though they do
much the same thing at these "manly gatherings" as they did
when they were 12 and "play dates" was still okay. They
play video games and shoot each other with Nerf guns and eat all the
good food (see, the definition of junk food for this one) and annoy
the siblings, because why not?
What we have really done
looks nothing like that. We have gone on vacation. That is the extent
of our summer travels. One week. Every single other day has pretty
much been here at home. We are watching tv, playing video games and
board games, and doing the occasional chore. What are these books I
referred to in the upper paragraph? Where did the summer reading
paperwork go? How do I have late fees to the library right now when
we barely read a thing?! And how do we have only four weeks left of
summer vacation? Can I also add an equally important question here?
How do we still have four weeks left of summer vacation??
Because that is how I feel.
I am torn about this season of Summer Mothering. Part of me is so
happy to have all of my cherubs under one roof. All. The. Time.
Except for work times for the oldest and swimming time for the second
son because he is lucky and has a friend with a pool and so his
summer is all "I'm swimming!" and "I'm playing
baseball!" and "Let's see how far we can launch a potato in
a potato gun! Bonus points if you hit the old dryer right inside the
door!"
And that is also how I feel.
I am a total scatterbrain that cannot stay on topic if my life
depends on it. How did I go from talking about being torn about the
loveliness of having kids home to potato guns? It's a mystery...but
anyway. I also am so ready for them to go to school. I am ready for
them to fill their brains and their time with new information and new
friends and new teachers and new books. I am ready for this house to
be silent for a few hours.
If you know me at all in
real life, you know that I am not especially optimistic. I am more of
an Eeyore, a pessimist. But I have this teeny weeny little part of my
brain that is optimistic. And in that part, I foresee myself getting
the house cleaned, making amazing dinners and fancy treats, and
having tons of time to just read my Bible. But I am pretty sure that
is outside the realm of reality.
At this point, I have
wandered so far from my original point, that I don't know if I can
get this train back on the rails. So let's end with some questions.
What season are you in right
now?
What is fun about this
season?
What do you wish you could
leave out of this season?
Is there a season coming
that you're excited for?
Is anyone else in this
season of Summer Mothering? I'll pray for you. ;) Because this season
is one of the hardest I've been in so far. And I know it's going to
repeat itself. The funny thing is, I also know that when it
approaches again, I'll be excited about it again. Because Jesus was
good to me when he made me. He gave me this amazing ability to forget
things- a skill I don't fully appreciate when I fail to return the
books to the library or use that amazing coupon at the grocery store.
If you're still reading, and
come on, I'm not really sure why you would be since this post is so
off the wall and all over the place, I urge you to enjoy the season
you are in. Embrace it. Squeeze in a few more play dates (Manly Get
Togethers) and have fun where you are. Don't focus on what happened
earlier in the season and don't be gazing too longingly at the
future- trust me, the kids notice that and they don't find it cute.
Be fully present where you are. God is with us and he will get us
through. He promised it in the Bible. And I believe him.
Have a blessed day today and
don't forget to be a blessing too!
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