There is something very therapeutic about cleaning your kitchen floor.
No, I am not talking about damp mopping it or just wiping up a couple of spills. I am talking about an all out stripping and waxing of the kitchen floor.
I’m in the process of it right now. So far it has taken me an hour and a half to scrub and strip the floor. I am taking a short break before waxing begins.
I have been thinking about the last week and I realized that tonight was the first time I have actually had some quiet time to reflect on things. When did things get so complicated that I need to wash my floor in order to have a moment for self reflection?
So, what have I been thinking about?
Today is my sister’s birthday. She is thirty-something…
She is also a remarkable woman. She has four children and a husband and she seems to have “it” down pat, from soup to nuts. She is loving, giving, realistic, intelligent and very involved in her family’s life. Did I mention she is funny and pretty too?
When I was a child she used to meet me after my “Brownie” meetings, which met after school, so I didn’t have to take the big kid bus alone. We would pass by the “Snack Shack”, (a pickup truck with a little house on it selling all kinds of sugary goodness) and my sister would pull out a quarter and buy me a big sweetart! I used to lick that piece of candy as if I would never have another ever again. She protected me and listened to me. That was quite a challenge because I was a really annoying kiddo.
It has been the same ever since. My big sis still looks out for me. She tells me what I need to hear, not what I want to hear. She is a wonderful role model of motherhood and generosity of self to others. She volunteers and knows what is going on in her children’s life. She can speak about politics and faith with ease and can entertain 60 guests while making it look so easy.
So, it is my sister Jennifer whom I have been thinking about while I am scrubbing my floor. I am grateful for her and pray that God blesses her with continued happiness and health.
I am also grateful for my time of reflection tonight. Granted, I would much rather have a brand new floor that didn’t require so much darn work… But in the meantime thinking about my big sis has passed the time in a very pleasant way.
I am also grateful for one other thing…that I am not as old as she is…
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
First Day of Kindergarten...
We made it through the first day of Kindergarten!
Isabella walked to her bus stop, hand in hand with Daddy and Stephen. I, of course, lurked behind snapping photo after photo.
As she boarded her bus I could see that she found a seat and as the bus pulled away I saw her through the window smiling at me.
As the three of us walked home I felt no tears stream down my face. I thought I would be a wreck but I felt more contemplative than anything. This was HER big day. It wasn’t about me or how difficult it was to let her go to “big girl” school. I didn’t want to focus on my feelings today. Instead I came inside and played with Stephen and his trains. I thought about her while she was gone, and said a few prayers too. I hoped she was having fun.
After 2 ½ hours Marc and I waited in front of our house for that big yellow bus to come down the street. The only word that comes to mind when I saw it was elation. She was home, safe, and I couldn’t wait to hear about her day.
The bus driver smiled and a nice man from the school helped Isabella off the bus. She made sure she had her bag and that she held on to the railing on her way down. I was impressed that they had a “helper” on board to help these kiddos make there way on their first day.
Isabella was beaming! She learned three songs, played outside and made a card for her first day. She told us that when her teacher’s name was called she immediately got in line with the other children. She was so proud of herself. And I was so proud of her.
Marc and I were nervous about today, as any parent would be. We see her as one way when she is in our home. She is our first born and will always be my special little sweetheart. But she also needs to be introduced to the exciting aspects of our world, one of them being school.
I will never forget the look of joy when she came off the bus. I will never forget how I felt when I saw her come off the bus. It was precious and I will take it with me in my heart wherever I go. Thank you God.
Isabella walked to her bus stop, hand in hand with Daddy and Stephen. I, of course, lurked behind snapping photo after photo.
As she boarded her bus I could see that she found a seat and as the bus pulled away I saw her through the window smiling at me.
As the three of us walked home I felt no tears stream down my face. I thought I would be a wreck but I felt more contemplative than anything. This was HER big day. It wasn’t about me or how difficult it was to let her go to “big girl” school. I didn’t want to focus on my feelings today. Instead I came inside and played with Stephen and his trains. I thought about her while she was gone, and said a few prayers too. I hoped she was having fun.
After 2 ½ hours Marc and I waited in front of our house for that big yellow bus to come down the street. The only word that comes to mind when I saw it was elation. She was home, safe, and I couldn’t wait to hear about her day.
The bus driver smiled and a nice man from the school helped Isabella off the bus. She made sure she had her bag and that she held on to the railing on her way down. I was impressed that they had a “helper” on board to help these kiddos make there way on their first day.
Isabella was beaming! She learned three songs, played outside and made a card for her first day. She told us that when her teacher’s name was called she immediately got in line with the other children. She was so proud of herself. And I was so proud of her.
Marc and I were nervous about today, as any parent would be. We see her as one way when she is in our home. She is our first born and will always be my special little sweetheart. But she also needs to be introduced to the exciting aspects of our world, one of them being school.
I will never forget the look of joy when she came off the bus. I will never forget how I felt when I saw her come off the bus. It was precious and I will take it with me in my heart wherever I go. Thank you God.
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