Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Lists

There's a week and a half to go and our apartment is looking sparse. The walls are bare, the shelves are empty, there are boxes in every corner and things are messy. It's not a fun way to live, especially for a couple of toddlers. But we're so excited, we don't care. Even Jake is excited, even though he doesn't REALLY know what's happening. He keeps asking if we're moving to a new house because every time I'm packing a box, he asks what I'm doing. I always tell him I have to pack up our stuff to move it to a new house. Then we go through the list of all the different things there will be at his new house--his own room, a yard to throw balls and play tee ball, a driveway to pull his wagon, ride his bike, and play basketball, a basement to wrestle with Daddy where the neighbors won't bang on the ceiling...

Along with the packing and cleaning, I have been making lists like crazy. I have always been a list girl. I love the satisfaction of crossing things off a list of to-do's. I love knowing that I don't have to worry about forgetting something on a trip because I checked my list before I left. But I don't think I've ever made so many lists at one time before as I have right now. There are so many things coming up, I feel like making lists is the only way to keep my head on my shoulders. I have a list of things that need to be done before the move, a grocery list of things we'll need for our one week in Ohio before leaving for PA, a list of things we have to bring to PA, a list of things I have to take care of while in PA, a grocery list of staples needed when I shop once we're home from PA, and there are more, but I just can't think of them right now. I know once we make the move, I won't have time to sit down and make shopping lists or PA trip lists because there will be so much to do in that one short week. And I have a lot of time here, so why not just get it done now?

I feel good about my lists. I feel organized, and when I'm organized I'm happy.

Hail the pen and paper!

Thursday, May 25, 2006

A Hammock...

"A hammock is the best place to spend a midsummer afternoon. When you climb into a hammock, you are linked to reality only by the narrowest of cords. Suspended in time and space, you shed any sense of weight or corporal substance. As you sway with the gentle rhythm of the breeze, you drift and dream between heaven and earth, glimpsing the blue truth of sky beyond the wagging treetops. Then suddenly the spell is broken by a dog's snout poking you, a rumble of thunder or a child's cry, and you are brought back to a world you temporarily left behind. But the hammock's solace is not forgotten. Its gentle crescent lingers."

--Robert S. Kyff

Monday, May 15, 2006

Mother's Day

I had the BEST Mother's Day! Mark had to coach a tournament this weekend, but he more than made up for not being around part of Sunday. He made french toast for breakfast and told me I absolutely was NOT allowed to do the dishes. He made sandwiches for the kids and put them in the fridge after breakfast so I wouldn't have to make lunch for them. And he surprised me with Macaroni Grill reservations for supper. We had such a great time. I think that might have been our most successful restaurant experience with our kids--they were soooo good. And Rory piped in with the opera singer who came to our table to serenade the kids. She is hilarious.

I decided to go to our friends' church for the morning, instead of Berean, because I wanted to be with people I love. Since Mark couldn't be there, it was nice to sit with people I'm close to during the service. Mark had a two hour break from coaching and showed up after the church service to talk and visit with our friends for a few minutes, and also to help me get the kids out to the car.

The best part of my day was Jake telling me "Happy Mother's Day" before he went to bed. Mark had him saying it first thing in the morning, and througout the day, and I know he had Jake say it again that last time, but it sounded so cute and like he actually knew what it meant that time. He made me cry because he suddenly seemed so old.

Thanks, Mark, for such a special day. I love you!

Friday, May 12, 2006

Christmas in June

I haven't been blogging much lately. I have been told more than once that I have too much time on my hands because of all the time I spend online, but I can honestly say that it's no longer true. Now that I'm back from my South Carolina trip it's crunch time. I have exactly 4 weeks to get this place organized and packed up.

In the process of going through every room of our apartment and relocating boxes and bins, I was reminded of how many things we never got to unpack, simply for lack of space. Not only do we have tons of unpacked boxes, but Mark's car is still full of stuff we haven't touched either. I'm getting really excited about unpacking in our new home, and finding all kinds of lost treasures. It will be like Christmas in the summer!