Did I Tell You?

I have a little domestic improvement project going on at our house...a kitchen/den thing.

You know the expression "It gets worse before it gets better"?

Well, it is worse. Here. In my kitchen/den. Not better.

Yet.

In fact, all the stuff from the cabinets, shelves and bookcases, pantry, island and drawers has been in the middle of the dining room floor. Since January 1st.

We have been making coffee in the dining room.

The dining room is also where my wooden spoons are. And my spatulas. And my salt and pepper shakers.

I made a promise to myself that I would go through ALL THE STUFF before I put it back. No more chipped plates, weird electronic cords, half finished art projects, broken calculators or Latin dictionaries are going back in my beautifully redecorated kitchen/den!

Does anyone use a dictionary anymore? I mean with spellcheck and all....anyway, I have at least 10 of them so I decided to get rid of the Latin one. This is progress!

(Note: No one has studied Latin in this house in 8 years.)

Back to picking through my STUFF....

I found duplicate copies of a booklet called Did I Tell You? by Elizabeth Knapp.

I think I bought them in 1996.

One for each of my girls.

I needed to hang on to them for a while since they couldn't read in 1996 and they are meant for older daughters. I have carried them with me through several moves. Saving them and then forgetting where I put them.

They were in my kitchen/den cabinets.

It is a beautiful book(let).

Now that you are almost grown, I look back and ask myself - Did I tell you?

Did I tell you to laugh, to dance, to sing? There is a lot in life that is hard, but take it as it comes and find the good...and make time to dance!

Did I tell you to serve other people if only in a small way. There is growth and satisfaction in being part of something larger than yourself and your life will be richer knowing this.

Did I tell you to be bold...be cautious...love unconditionally...be courteous...work for what you believe...


Did I tell you?


There is more, but I don't want to spoil it for my beautiful daughters.

I hope they listen to these wise words.

If there is one thing I know for certain, it is that I want for them a good life.

My family. Is my life.

Thank you, God.

Didn't mean to leave little Michael out....

Who knows what else I might find in the dining room floor! I hope it is a little magic fairy that will finish the job with a wave of its wand!

More later...

~J

Mop Handle Musings

I love that I am still learning about myself.

It would be so boring to occupy this body/mind, day after day, and already know everything there is to know about it.

Recently, I went to the hardware store to purchase a newer, better kitchen mop. I chose the hardware store over and above Walmart or something because I believed there would be a better selection of mops to choose from. I stood in front of the dozen or more mop choices for 30 minutes.

Cotton? Poly?

16" or 18" or 24"?

Twist mop?

And the mop handle...how long? Plastic clamp at the end or metal?

Some of them looked sturdier than others. Some were "lint free" and others were labeled "big, thirsty".

I really gave this mopping issue some thought.

I made the decision. And then I needed a new bucket. They were on another aisle.

I was super focused. Doing the right thing by my mop.

There were a lot of bucket choices, too.

Dang! Buckets are expensive. I really wanted the one that wrings out your 18", all cotton mop head, for you. It was $69. Instead, I wisely chose a different one.

Mission accomplished, 45 minutes later, bucket and mop head and mop handle in hand (plus a some de-greaser, granite cleaner and other extras), I turn to walk to the check out counter.....

And the back end of the long mop handle rips across the shelf and about 50 stocked items crash to the floor.

I turned to see the disaster....

And the mop handle takes another 50 stocked items off the other shelf....

I look around, thinking I am being filmed for America's Funniest Home Videos.

No such luck. No camera. Just me and a mess.

So this is my latest "I am still learning about me" lesson:

I try really hard at life. I am focused, goal-oriented, thoughtful and motivated.

But even when I am productively making headway, I am inadvertently knocking a whole bunch of other stuff off the shelf. Mainly because I am TOO focused on the finish line and not paying attention my surroundings.

Yes?

Yes!

It is the circle of life. Or the circus of life. Or the (short) circuits of life.

My motives are good, people.

The results don't always reflect my good motives, but that is why I need grace. And mercy.

Please accept my humble apologies if you have ever been in the wake of my mop handle.

I may never change. I may write this chapter and continue on in my overly focused, blindly ambitious manner but I am going to try and slow down and notice my surroundings a little more.

Which ain't so bad, you know?!


Have a good weekend!

~J