Getting To It

Posted by

0

I finally got my attic back.  Over the past few years, changes in the housing setups for the children have landed quite a bit of stuff in my attic.  She had a jeep load and so did he.  I got everything down and took it to them.  Then promptly loaded my own stuff up there.  I had things tucked in closets and the washroom.  With a place to put things I don’t use often, I can make room to spread out things I do use regularly. 

The winter cleaning has finally begun.  I started with the washroom.  It is very large and has a lot of storage space.  With the boxes removed and put in the attic, I have space to move things from crowded closets.  My idea is to eliminate layers.  I want to be able to get something from a shelf without having to move other things around.  It will require getting rid of some things, too.  Things I don’t really want.

Both the children have their own homes now that our daughter has bought hers.  I have so many things I have held on to in case they want them.  It’s time to get my house together.  I don’t mind them not wanting things I will offer them.  I just wanted to allow them time to be in a place to take them if they do want them.  Otherwise, the Salvation Army will have a few more things on the shelves.

I have several empty boxes awaiting things.  I haven’t filled them up.  I thought I would have by now.  However, I have had more company than I had planned.  Wonderful company. 

I’m working on a system or whatever than calls for no zero days.  The idea is to have certain things I will do every day and tasks I have on my things to do list and each one counts.  If I do even one of the everyday tasks or one of the things to do, it makes it not a zero day.  One done is not a zero day.

The older Duchess was with me the other day and she and I were talking about it.  I was sort of thinking out loud about it at least not being a zero day.  She wanted an explanation.  I told her that had certain things to do and if I did even one it was not a zero day.  I named a couple of things I had done and she reminded me of a couple more things. 

Her encouragement made my heart warm.  The little ones are paying attention.  Lord, let me get more right than wrong for them to see and hear and feel.    

Winter Days

Posted by

0

I’m sitting at the south window of our bedroom looking out at sun dappled woods.  The pale winter sky peaks through a mix of intricate gray lace and pine green plumes. 

This is my darkest month.  I have always struggled with the cold dark days of February.  The odd thing about my trouble is that I love the winter.  I love all the seasons in their turn.  It doesn’t seem logical that I would struggle emotionally through any of them.  I love the steel gray of the low sky that comes with the Southeast Texas winter.  The long shadows that stretch across the land and the colored leaves which cling to trees till spring ones push them off at last. 

I have promised myself I will do all the things needed to not let the bottom fall out of my emotions. What are all the things?  Seeking sunlight at every opportunity.  Lighting candles everywhere.  Soaking in a hot tub of bath water in the evenings.  Getting fully dressed even when staying in for the day.  Riding with him when he goes on cow business.  Making time for friends.  Making time for Duchesses.  Making myself see the beauty around me.    

I have set myself a real challenge.  This Valentine weekend, I plan to have both Duchesses spend two nights.  We may go to a birthday party Saturday I’ve been invited to or we may stay here and have the tea party I had already planned.  It will depend on how well we all sleep Friday night for the most part. 

Thinking about the weekend, making plans, gathering supplies, making ready has been a very good way to keep the gloomies at bay.  Looking forward to all the love and affection exchanged between the three of us is a perfect way to keep my heart up. 

Most importantly, I am trusting in the Lord to comfort me as He always has.  Rock helps me get through this.  I have him and some others who pray specifically for my difficult days of winter. 

This year they don’t seem so dark after all…………………