A Woman's Gift

Hello blogging world!  Is it just me, or is life busy? I've missed regular blogging, and thank you to those who've inquired if I still plan on blogging.  While I haven't given you much confidence here, yes, I'm not giving up on this creative outlet.  We need to hold on to creative outlets that add to happiness.

We just got through a bunch of camps, 3 birthdays and an anniversary, not to mention getting the kids back in school which includes the obligatory school shopping.

 I actually did the back to school shopping over a month ago and was so proud of myself as I loaded the bags of paper, pencils, and a plethora of back-to-school smelling supplies.  I was driving home, perhaps doing a little nail shine and glance when I realized: Clover. Is. In. Kindergarten.

 I guess not so much a realization, because I've known since she was born, duh, but how did I entirely skip her list that I even had in my hand.  Not so much as a pencil-top-eraser.

 I slumped down in my seat, sighed a big sigh, and rolled my eyes and laughed.  There might have been hysterical laughing, the kind where you pull up to a red light, look over to the car next door, and wonder what in the world is so funny to that person sitting all alone in their car.

Something needs to change, I thought.  I used to blame it on moving and changing schools and and and.  But we don't have any new schools this school year, the boxes are unpacked (except for that one pesky one that nobody wants to deal with) and the chaos in my mind and in my house are still very present.

What do I need? More storage containers? More ways to organize? More systems? More lists?

I was at the library and stumbled on a book Zen and the Art of Housekeeping by Brownell, while looking for cookbooks, checked it out and renewed it once already.  I'm inspired.  The maintenance is just a small portion of my new quest to gain control and peace in my life.  

I haven't had time to sew and do other things that are passions because too much gets in the way. Less, less, less, less is what I need more, ironically.  I just finished Zen and the Art of Housekeeping last night and will start it again, because, as Brownell puts it, Whether or not my work is figured into the gross national product, I deserve to have a home that is peaceful and positive. My husband deserves it. My children deserve it.

 I've got two more books in the queue that have revved my engine for my desire of simplicity, that I will share if they are noteworthy.  

 I have big plans.

 It's even part of the Back To School Theme: ...A House of Order...A House of Prayer...

 "As keepers of the home, we have an incredible opportunity to make an enormous impact on the quality of the lives we live and the lives of those that we love.

This impact can best be felt by doing small things well--the things that make life worth living, that give our existence its depth and its richness.

 In my case, I may not be bringing home the bacon.  But I am the one who knows exactly how much mayo to put on the bread of each and every member of my family in order for them to have the perfect BLT." -Brownell

That went straight to my heart while my head wanted to yell Yes! Yes! YES!

What we do as mothers may not be directly deposited in a bank account, but the value is beyond price.

I forget that sometimes and drag my feet through the daily drudgery of chores.

It's a gift, the raising of these souls, and I want them to feel and know that when they are home they are standing in holiness, where they are loved above any other place, and where they are met with acceptance, but also the challenge to be a finer human being.  

I'm excited.  It's a great gift for a woman to give herself control of her life.

ps I'm planning on starting the Weekly Alphabetical Sewing next week for those who are planning on sewing along.