Un-Routines

Summer is usually a time for 'un-routines' for me, and for the whole household. Slowly we drift from early bedtimes and predawn "stagger-to-the-coffee" mornings to a more unpredictable, relaxed schedule of waking and sleeping. Alarm clocks are rarely used. It's a nice change of pace.

Actually, the only significant difference is the lack of scheduled appointments and required events. The calendar looks almost bare! NO homework tutoring, after-school rehearsals or projects clutter the day. NO volunteer work at school. NO choir rehearsals or drama practices. NO committee meetings! (YAHOOOOOOOOOOO!) Instead, we have downtime with friends, play at the pool and read a ton of books.

I have found that I desparately need my routines in the Spiritual disciplines regardless of the season. My time of private prayer, study, worship, Bible reading and time with Christian friends can't go on vacation. I need to keep those spiritual 'muscles' strong. The only way I can keep them going is to have some sort of predictable schedule. For if I sleep in until 9 am every morning, I don't have time to read and pray before starting on the day's activities.

This summer, though, I had to admit that there are others areas in my life that can't be shelved for the summer. For instance, much as I dislike cleaning, doing laundry, fixing meals and washing dishes, the household doesn't run for long without these tasks. Especially fixing meals! People can walk on dirty floors and make do with wrinkled shirts, but take away their food and they get a little cranky! And as much as I get lobbied for a 'vacation' from it, practicing musical instruments can't stop, either. (And no amount of whining in the world gets me to bend on that one!)

With a sigh, I'm back to being a Flybaby again, EVEN in the summer. No whining, just doing the best I can. I'm working at keeping my routines done, yet done flexibly. I love FlyLady because of her sense of humor, and the way she keeps me on task. The other day I did a "sofa cushion dive" and found $3.21 in change, a missing hairbrush and a couple of pens and pencils, not to mention a permission slip for school that "never" came home. I realized then that my kids and husband need me to be a Flybaby all year.

FlyLady, you'll be SO proud of me. My sink is shining!!! :)

From our home to yours,

Deb

Wash away those stains...

Four days of painting... one outfit. It bears the stains of my work!
- primer
- ceiling
- wall colors (2)
- trim
- closet doors

Yup, it is now a technicolor shirt and jeans outfit! Thankfully, I've washed it and the smell that came with those colors is gone. But the stains remain.

The immediate parallel that came to my mind was the forgiveness but the lingering effects of sin. My sins are washed away by accepting Jesus' death for me. But the 'stains' (or scars, if you will) are still there.

As time goes on, the paint stains will weather and become smaller, but they will never completely go away. The guilt and shame are gone - the visible reminders of what I've done will crop up from time to time... but come the day I go to heaven, they will be gone!

OK so you might think that is too restrictive a belief system. I guess one day we will find out who's right... I'm banking on my Savior...

How clean is your shirt?

From our home to yours...

Deb