dishes and laundry

Try as I might, I can't seem to pass the obligation of chores that are SUPPOSED to be done to someone else. If they don't get done, I feel like a nag until the person who was asked to do them does! If I do them myself, I feel like a martyr. We're not talking rocket science here -- dirty pots and pans, a crumb-covered counter and grease on the stove. Laundry that is all over the floor in the laundry room, and some of it even pre-sorted!

Will it kill me to see grease and dirty underwear pile up? No... but it will be hard for me to study guilt-free. I still have hours of class work to do!!

In the back of my mind, there's a guilt loop playing about all of the chores that are being neglected. Some artifical "Good Housekeeping" standard is being violated! I need to stay ON TASK and study!!! Get thee behind me, Mr. Clean!

And where's that magic wand when I need one?

sigh...

From our (messy) home to yours (probably cleaner...)

Deb

End of summer blues

Sad, but true... summer is close to ending.

As I write this, the girls and I finished our last beach week before starting to rev up for the school year. We've gotten school supplies, found the miscellaneous things that have migrated to the far corners of the galaxy (aka under beds, dressers and the back of desk drawers), and tried to connect with friends before the school year starts. It's hard. We all like the easy flow of summer days. Yet in a way, we are also ready for a change.

So as we flip that last burger on the grill and pull weeds for a few more weeks, I can look back and say, 'THANKS, God! This was a GREAT summer!'

gratefully, from our home to yours...

Deb

Understanding Hair Shirts a little better...

I think I am understanding the concept of hair shirts a little better... let me explain, lest you think I've gone off to join a group which practices voluntary mortification!

This weekend daughter Beth is off on her Chrysalis weekend. (You can read more about Chrysalis here...) As part of the weekend's prayer support, sponsors and friends are given an opportunity to pray for the team which is leading the weekend and the participants (called "caterpillars"). We are given prayer bracelets which look much like the lovely plastic ID bracelets you wear when admitted to the hospital. Each bracelet has written on it the name of a person you will be praying for personally. OK, so far so good.

Except that it is HOT here right now, and the plastic bracelets are annoying me. And they rub and chafe and make the skin sweat underneath. They are doing their job - they are constant reminders to pray for Nate and Marie, as well as our Beth. I have a continual focus on God's work in their lives, and coincidentally in mine, as I go about my daily chores.

I don't know as I'll graduate to a hair shirt... but I am getting it.

From our home to yours...

Deb