We are just wrapping up our fourth week of the 2014-15 school year.  The following is our productivity tally so far:  zero days late to school, no missing homework assignments, 3 hot breakfasts every morning, lunches packed x’s 3 with approximately 180 ziplocs used along with a roll of wax paper.  We have also had 13 diving practices, 2 hockey tryouts,  7 hockey practices, attended 4 football games, 2 school curriculum nights, 2-3 emotional meltdowns (mine not the kids),1 school commission meeting, my auction donation has been turned in, I made a contribution to the school library renovation campaign, attend church 4 times and I have happily enjoyed 2 beers and 1 gin and tonic.  That pretty much wraps up September!  84 days until Christmas break!!

We have had a strong start overall however bright and early-ish, Saturday morning there will be a restructuring meeting in the living room.  These are scheduled as needed and are usually a bit of a surprise attack.  I may be the only one that sees this as a good opportunity to make sure we are each taking care of the spaces we occupy.   It’s obvious that we are running at a fast pace each week though we could make a small effort do our part around the house.  Our grand meeting will go over:

1)      Taking the garbage and recycle out.  It is not difficult to recognize when it is full and you don’t need my invitation to march it out to the curb!  Jump right in and be proactive.

2)      Toilet paper consumption.  No one needs more than 7 squares at most, 5 seems to be plenty in most cases. I keep the bathrooms stocked with very nice heavy toilet paper – have better judgment and when needed, flush midway.  Clogged toilets are messing up the function.  If you clog it, own it!!

3)      Hang your wet towels up in the bathroom.  They don’t belong on the floor of your bedroom – EVER!!

4)      If I call or text message you, answer it with some form of communication.   This is a simple concept with a non-negotiable expectation.

5)      Homework BEFORE sports.   Just do it!

6)      Out of respect , please tell me when I have something stuck to my butt.   I don’t realize when I am walking around with a melted chocolate chip from my Kashi bar stuck to my backside.  I am just asking one of you to glance over before I barge into a public setting.  PLEASE!!

There are plenty of other items of business I would like to add to this “wish list” though I am well aware the current addendum is going to be the maximum capacity they can absorb in one sitting.  I have to catch them before their eyes glaze over, anything further will go unheard.  I can live with the other mild frustrations that come with our full schedule and parent/child ratio.  In general my kids know they need me to get them where they need to be and I know they need these activities to burn off any extra teenage energy and keep their minds focused – leverage is pure gold in making this daily routine a success!  Our home isn’t going to be perfect or spotless but we are a cohesive unit that I am really proud of even when 1-6 is not their priority.  We’ll get there little by little.  My goal is to tackle this list with grace instead of the current ineffective shout out that takes place. Wish me luck!

I can do all things with God and a To Do List!  That list is vital though, and as you can see, sometimes there is a list, upon a list, upon a list.  I add to it as I go along and it stays with me like a life line.  There have been days I don’t have a list which result in me going all over town waywardly.  I forget to pick something up at the store forcing me to double back or I will get to a location and realize I needed to be somewhere else and sometimes I will accomplish just about nothing the entire day. This scrap of paper and trusty pen provides me mental stability, is fuel efficient and saves me hours on time. My Mighty List keeps me moving and focused.

One morning I was parked outside of Target cleaning up my car before I went in.  I had a handful of garbage in one hand and my list in another as I approached the door.  Just as I tossed the garbage into the can outside the store I looked down and noticed I still had the garbage in my hand though my list was gone.  That is an immediate panic situation, no list equates to 1/2 brain function and I am not too proud to admit it.  I took the lid off the garbage can and began clawing my way through, thankfully the can was fairly empty. The day was early so mostly Starbucks cups rimmed with various shades of lipstick from mom’s that had just dropped their kids off at school.  Being I am only 4’11” it is quite a sight to dig down into the garbage outside of a store.  Super classy to be sure but without that list I may as well go home and crawl back in bed!  I retrieved the list, held my head high and went straight inside to wash my hands (that was now first on the list)!

Fun can commence when my list is complete!  It is a primitive method especially with all the gadgets, alarms and helpful reminder apps.  I have tried them all; this remains tried and true day after day.  It’s 1:56pm and I only have a couple items remaining before I am set free for the rest of day, feeling accomplished with an apple crisp (#3 on the list) cooling on the counter – hooray for me.

In the spring of 2010 I became Reasonably Happy.  Those two words opened up my life to a new standard of greatness that released me from a personal quest I thought I was supposed to be seeking.  It happened during an 8 week journey with a new ministry at St. Luke’s called MOMS (Ministry of Mothers Sharing).  Somehow my name was thrown in the mix to be a part of the inaugural session.  When I was asked to attend my instinct was to decline but my heart said yes which spilled out verbally before I could sort the workable excuses through my brain.  Leading up to the start, I played the pros and cons over and over.

I don’t need one more thing to do right now VS. what would it hurt to go?

How in the world did my name land on this list VS. it is a great honor to be associated with this impressive group of women

I really don’t want to do this VS. this might be a very good way to grow in my faith

There were several other conflicts rising up daily though I wanted to be true to my character and integrity so I arrived at the first gathering.  They gave me a workbook that would take us through the 8 sessions.  There was a table full of delicious snacks which we would rotate bringing each session; a good recipe is a key component to establishing strong connections. Instantly it became a sacred group of women that opened their hearts with full trust of each other.  This moment in time would prepare me for the future storms that were headed my way. It equipped me with a deeper faith and friendships that when tested would not fail, they would become my army!  In the meantime, my identifying moment came during the fourth week, a chapter on feelings.  Page 52 had a reflection prayer.  It was the Serenity Prayer which I knew, though mostly associated it with Alcoholics Anonymous.  At each of our places was a book mark with the prayer in the entirety.

God grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference.

(here is the big part, watch for the bold print – the part that set me free is in the second paragraph)

Living one day at a time;

enjoying one moment at a time;

accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

taking, as He did, this sinful world

as it is, not as I would have it;

Trusting that He will make all things right

If I surrender to His Will.

That I may be reasonably happy in this life

And supremely happy with Him

Forever in the next.

Amen

All together the second paragraph is life changing, I read it over and over for days paying special attention to “reasonably happy in this life”!  EUREKA – all this time I had been chasing the idea of “supremely happy” on this earth when I am only expected to be “reasonably happy”.  That was fantastic news!!  I could relax, I could be content and I didn’t even know it until my fourth week of MOMS Ministry.  It took me 41 years to get to this day and it felt great.  Who can’t find reasonable happiness in their life?!  It is the constant effort and race to over shoot and impress everyone that makes us miserable.

There are many many supremely happy moments that will happen on this journey but I no longer have to look for them, feeling overwhelmed when I fall short.   Being reasonably happy guarantees me a priceless calm that is achievable – I am reasonably happy today and it is perfect!  That statement does not apply to every single day on the calendar, this is not a precise science.  Of course, there are days or moments within a day, that I am way less than happy by any measure, however, I work to keep those at a minimum.  I much prefer happiness and strive for it – I am confident that happy looks really good on me!