Achievement

We had an unexpected snowstorm on Tuesday that prevented me from getting those errands done, but everything that needed to be done at home was done! Woohoo!

Muffins. Chicken stock. Pillows. Check. Check. Check. I took pictures, but the pictures were boring. I wouldn't tell you to run out and make the muffins either. They were okay, but nothing I'm eager to make again. So that leaves us with not much else to say about that- let's move on then, shall we?

If you can't tell, I'm trying to get back in the habit of writing. I realize I don't have much of an audience anymore, but it's something I've always enjoyed, except when I've been in a place where I really had nothing uplifting to say. So, what do I have uplifting to say these days? If you ask my husband, he might start rubbing his forehead and looking like he was in a little bit of pain. My poor husband, the freak outs he has endured these last thirteen years! Really, he's endured them longer than that which is why we can't feel too sorry for him- he totally knew what he was signing up for!

Anyway, here's something a coworker told me yesterday; she has a sign that says this in her kitchen: "Thank you, God, for dirty dishes." And I have to say, I totally didn't get it. I am used to not operating on the same wavelength as this lady, as sweet as she is, and I often just smile and apparently don't fool her at all because she explains.  She said we can be thankful that we had food to make the dishes dirty and we can be thankful for the number of dishes because of all the people we were blessed to have at the table with us. I still feel like this is one of those "attitude of gratitude" platitudes that I can do without, but I probably will smile to remember it and see its truth and worth sometime later- probably when I do dishes next!

I think the reason I don't like stuff like that is because it seems sort of like someone is telling me how to feel. I recently received a plaque with some inspirational statement on it in a gift exchange and I just don't want to put it up. I don't want someone to tell me to think that thought (although it wasn't particularly meant for me as it was part of an exchange), and I don't want to tell my guests to have that thought. They can think if they want, but who am I to tell them what life is all about in twelve words or less?

However, I often wish I had a sign in my kitchen that says, "Unless you were invited into this kitchen  by the cook, get out!" I'd also like to put this on my front door, "it is NEVER okay to be early to this house." Even a small plaque under the doorbell that says, "Stop. Look at the time. Is it at or later than the time stated in the invitation? If so, please ring the bell. If it is earlier than the stated time, turn around and go somewhere else. Do not come back until the time you were told." But those are just the bossy things I do want to tell people (I have no interest in encouraging them to have a positive outlook-- I'm much more interested in teaching them manners!)

So, I still haven't said anything very uplifting. Maybe I should just be okay with not having anything to write about. I think I had thought that this big year, this year where the kids were finally all in school and I could sort of figure out what I want to do or be, would be the beginning of some new chapter. I feel sort of ready for it to start, but I just feel all around in the wrong place to start it. And I can't complain about that because I have no idea what "it" is. I started reading the new book, the one about "God-sized Dreams" and doing what God has called you to do- even if it seems hard or scary or uncertain. It's actually a really encouraging book for anyone who might have an idea of what they want to do- the author isn't overly touchy feely about callings; she has a nice practical way about her (but not overly practical, because we know how I hate practicality!) It's just that I have NO idea what I might want to do. But after years of looking forward to George having a job and getting where he needed to go, and raising little ones from infancy and getting them where they needed to go, I feel like I should DO something. And I feel like, after all the dying to myself to do for everyone else all day every day, I finally CAN do something. But what is it? Let me know if you find out; and I'll let you know if I do!