Today I am getting my birthday gift: a new tire, for which I will pay half. You see, Saturday evening we decided to drive across town to our favorite Dutch bakery for one of my favorite treats, Napoleons. Isaac drove. On the way home he was trying to merge into traffic and was watching the traffic instead of the road. He jumped the curb, blew a tire, and sent the hubcap flying down into a ravine. Hannah dashed after the hubcap while Isaac and I surveyed the damage. Wow! We would need to change the tire.
The kids set to work and it was amazing to watch them. They cooperated so well, taking turns with the wrench and jack. Although it was hot, and we all got pretty dirty, no one was cross. No one got frustrated or angry. There was even chatting and laughing! When a gentleman stopped to see if we needed help, Hannah thanked him and said, “We’re just changing the tire; we can handle it.” I was very impressed! The work was done in no time and we cleaned up as best we could with tissues and a bottle of water.
Isaac was very apologetic and offered to pay half of the new tire. He asked if I would drive the rest of the way home. We had a simple supper and quiet evening together enjoying our Napoleons. None of us was worse for the experience; we were all probably better off. Isaac learned a few great lessons, Hannah grew in confidence, and I, well, I think it was the best birthday gift of all, watching my amazing children in action!
Monday, June 28, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
happy birthday
Many years ago I read about a very industrious and productive girl, Rhoda Richards, who wove thirteen yards of cloth on the day she celebrated her thirteenth birthday (August 8th, 1797). She has been in the back of my mind all these years, making me wonder at each of my birthdays, what I could “do” to celebrate each passing year.
Today is my 57th birthday and all I can do is chuckle to myself at the large number I now have to work with. Weaving fabric is hardly a possibility, although I could probably manage a length with 57 threads… I suppose I could make 57 cookies or play 57 songs on the piano, although Rhoda is probably tsk-tsk-ing me, remembering the 57 loaves of bread she made the day she turned 57 (or whatever she did that day).
Birthdays give me the urge to quantify myself, evaluate what I’ve done that year, measure my life against what I’d hoped it would be, what I think I could/should have done. But not this year. For some reason I am looking at things differently. I am having trouble quantifying my life, I can’t even think of any major accomplishments this year. I am at a loss.
It occurs to me that perhaps that is the very thing that this year has given me, a new perspective about myself. There is a great peace in coming to the point where one doesn’t need to measure their own value, they accept who they are, appreciating the good and doing the best they can with the not-so-good. After 57 years, I am finally there. I am happy just to be alive. Each day is full of joy. I am content to love and be loved. I am grateful, hopeful. I will celebrate this day just enjoying myself, whatever takes place. I may even have a 57-minute nap!
Today is my 57th birthday and all I can do is chuckle to myself at the large number I now have to work with. Weaving fabric is hardly a possibility, although I could probably manage a length with 57 threads… I suppose I could make 57 cookies or play 57 songs on the piano, although Rhoda is probably tsk-tsk-ing me, remembering the 57 loaves of bread she made the day she turned 57 (or whatever she did that day).
Birthdays give me the urge to quantify myself, evaluate what I’ve done that year, measure my life against what I’d hoped it would be, what I think I could/should have done. But not this year. For some reason I am looking at things differently. I am having trouble quantifying my life, I can’t even think of any major accomplishments this year. I am at a loss.
It occurs to me that perhaps that is the very thing that this year has given me, a new perspective about myself. There is a great peace in coming to the point where one doesn’t need to measure their own value, they accept who they are, appreciating the good and doing the best they can with the not-so-good. After 57 years, I am finally there. I am happy just to be alive. Each day is full of joy. I am content to love and be loved. I am grateful, hopeful. I will celebrate this day just enjoying myself, whatever takes place. I may even have a 57-minute nap!
Saturday, June 26, 2010
de-clutter
I am using the summer months to de-clutter my home and simplify my life. Here are some rules of clutter control that have helped me keep order in my home over the years:
1. A place for everything and everything in its place. Label, if necessary.
2. Organize things for efficiency/ease of access.
3. Pick a number and stick with it: if 12 pairs of shoes works for you, then get rid of one before you buy another.
4. Handle something once; resist the urge to pile it up to take care of it “later”.
5. If you haven’t used it in a while, get rid of it; resist the urge to save it “in case” you need it someday, give it to someone who can use it now.
6. When in doubt, throw it out, give it away, or recycle.
7. Displayed items must pass a test: “contribute” in some way to the “spirit” of your home, have sentimental value, or a functional purpose.
8. Take good care of what you have.
9. Weigh the value of an item against the effort it requires: if something requires more time/effort/room than you are willing to give, pass it on to someone else.
I’ve made it a practice to clean/organize one shelf or drawer each day. Of course it doesn’t happen every day, but by trying to keep up with that habit, things never get too far out of control, and pretty much everything gets cleaned/organized at least once a year.
You may have noticed a few changes to my blog. I’m trying to de-clutter that, too, hoping to eliminate unwelcome comments and get back to posting more often.
1. A place for everything and everything in its place. Label, if necessary.
2. Organize things for efficiency/ease of access.
3. Pick a number and stick with it: if 12 pairs of shoes works for you, then get rid of one before you buy another.
4. Handle something once; resist the urge to pile it up to take care of it “later”.
5. If you haven’t used it in a while, get rid of it; resist the urge to save it “in case” you need it someday, give it to someone who can use it now.
6. When in doubt, throw it out, give it away, or recycle.
7. Displayed items must pass a test: “contribute” in some way to the “spirit” of your home, have sentimental value, or a functional purpose.
8. Take good care of what you have.
9. Weigh the value of an item against the effort it requires: if something requires more time/effort/room than you are willing to give, pass it on to someone else.
I’ve made it a practice to clean/organize one shelf or drawer each day. Of course it doesn’t happen every day, but by trying to keep up with that habit, things never get too far out of control, and pretty much everything gets cleaned/organized at least once a year.
You may have noticed a few changes to my blog. I’m trying to de-clutter that, too, hoping to eliminate unwelcome comments and get back to posting more often.
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