Summertime Blues

Being a teacher, I look forward to my summer break. I always have lofty plans of all of the organizing and house cleaning that I can get done, in addition to catching up on my reading and relaxing by the pool. Being a Mom seems to change all that. I often find myself starting projects that never seem to get finished because I have to break up a fight, fix lunch, make smoothies, go to the pool, wash clothes, etc... There's always the temptation to spend hours on Facebook and Pinterest as well. It's enough to cause a case of the summer time blues. But, then I stop and remember that before I know it, they will be all grown and I am so fortunate to be able to spend this time with them. The housework and projects will always be there, but my children will not. When I ponder that point, I realize that I am not blue at all, just green with envy at the Mom's who can stay so organized and have such clean homes! My attempts at organization just seem to add more clutter. Before I know it, the school year will begin again and another summer with my kiddos will be gone, but the happy memories will last forever.

Refreshing

I was trying to find a word to describe how I feel about this time of the year. Refreshing was the word that came to mind. It seems that October through March is the busiest time of our year with school, activities, holidays, etc... When the winds of spring blow in, I feel a burst of refreshing happiness. The flowers blooming, wind blowing, birds chirping.
As I begin organizing and cleaning out areas of my home, I also have a spiritual sense of refreshment that comes from "cleaning out the cobwebs". Uncovering all those things from the past that have piled up and need to be cleaned out, stored away or discarded. As my home becomes less cluttered and organized, so does my spirit. I am not constantly "busy" doing those things that are mundane and have more time to do the things that are meaningful.

Resolutions

I like to take time to journal my New Year resolutions. It's already January 7th and I've yet to write them down. I'm trying to take life a little slower these days and not "obsess" about all the things that need to be done. If 2011 taught me anything it was that I need to enjoy every moment with those that I love. My house continues to need organizing, the dishes always need to be done and the floors always need to be mopped. However, my little boy won't stay little for too much longer. So, I'm making a resolution to not stress out about all the things that really don't matter and focus on the things that do. I resolve to be a better human being, care more about the people around me and to grow in love and awe of all the wonderful gifts that God gives me each day.

My Girls

As challenging as it is to be a Girl Scout leader, I love my girls! I have had the same core group of girls now for four years and it is such an amazing journey to see them as they grow and develop. They are beginning to go through bodily changes and their emotions are ever-evolving, but they are still girls at heart! They love to giggle and play but also discuss serious issues as well. As exhausted as I have been lately, I would do anything for my girls! They make me hopeful for the future and it is such an honor to walk this sacred journey with them as they discover who they are and where they are going in life!

Sorrow and Joy

I completely lost the month of September with the start of school and sports activities. Our schedules became hectic and busy. Amidst all the chaos, I received the call from my Dad that has completely changed my view on things for the moment. My younger brother took his own life at the age of 41. He had been struggling with a back injury and the pain medications for them. He left behind two beautiful daughters ages 7 and 5. This has been heartbreaking for everyone.
Prayer and life have allowed me to continue on as best I can. Teaching preschool and seeing the joy in the eyes of young children as they sing and dance and play has allowed me to focus on the joyful moments. The sorrow comes in the quiet. Life is consistently made up of the constant moments of sorrow and joy. Through the pain, we see life in a new light and it makes the joyful moments seem more real. I treasure my children now more than ever and feel even more driven to share life with them in a positive and loving way. God bless all those affected by mental illness and families struggling with the loss of a loved one as a result of suicide.

Hot Stuff

Wow... it's hot here in Texas. Today is day 19 of temperatures over 100 degrees. This is a record for Texas! It's too hot to do much of anything outside. My plants and the grass are all burning up. We try to water the yard every few days which helps a little. It hasn't rained much this summer and Texas is experiencing a severe drought. I've been spending most of the summer cleaning and organizing so I haven't been quite as crafty. I have a few projects to show off, however.

The Fruits of Summer

For the fourth of July, I endeavored another "from scratch" creation. Lemon Blueberry Buckle with whipped cream and strawberries. I found the recipe online and it comes from a book called Rustic Desserts. Last summer, I made Hummingbird Cake from scratch. I love baking in the summer because I have the time ( I teach and have summers off) and the patience to try new things. I used fresh Texas blueberries and it was delicious! My family is coming to visit from Louisiana and I want to try Blueberry Stuffed French Toast for them. I also found a popsicle recipe with a simple syrup, fresh blueberries and Blueberry-Pomegranate juice. This weekend, I would also like to try grilling some fresh peaches served with ice cream. The fresh fruits and vegetables of summer are so delicious. I taught my daughter to make Bruschetta yesterday from fresh French bread, fresh basil pesto, Roma tomatoes and mozzarella cheese! Heavenly! I need to learn to make a summer stew now! In addition to all the new recipes and cooking, I've been trying to get "my house in order" in more ways than one. Working on organizing rooms (an endless task), but more importantly, trying to make time for prayer, reflection and creativity in my life.
Thank you, Lord, for all of my blessings!