May all of us remember those who made the freedom we have today possible ...including the Vet who lives in this home.I spent all day yesterday getting ready for the overtaking of the house by little ones. Isn't it amazing what we do when we have "company" coming, even if it is our own immediate family? I've been needing to spring clean the garage and having the grandchildren on the way here was incentive enough. So I spent half of Friday doing that.
I've been trying to get my husband to glue the rocking chair on the front porch, it has needed it since being purchased last year at a thrift store. I have nearly fallen on the ground when it came apart but he certainly didn't want it to fall when his daughter was rocking the baby ...so it is finished. Although, her brother thought that sounded quite funny...except for the part about holding the baby and all.
Many thanks for the kind e-mails about my two posts on contentment. After reading the posts again, I thought I should make it clear that I'm not talking about doing everything we do to the best of our ability and all... What I have realized was "wrong teaching" is that quest to have to be #1 in all we do and that success is judged by how much stuff we accumulate. I live in a community where people do not understand this. People are still calling the Bears "failures" because they didn't win the Super Bowl!
Most of my son's friends are graduating this weekend. He is attending one graduation (as the gentile member of his adopted Jewish family) and a multitude of graduation parties. It is quite surprising to me how many young people are still making college and career choices completely on how much money they will make, rather than what they are passionate about. That...and the quest to get into the "best" schools. Some were crushed when they didn't get into Ivy League colleges (with straight A averages, too) and had to "settle" for Big Ten Universities (settle?).
I still remember when my daughter was in sixth grade and her teacher told me I had to remind Stephanie that it was okay to do something "badly". I was a little startled at that until she told me my daughter was such a perfectionist that she believed it hindered her from trying new things. I've thought about that quite often since then. How often do we not write, or cook something new and exciting, or garden, or play an instrument, etc. because we have to go through a learning curve? Hmmm...more to ponder...when there is time.
Also, apologies to those who have sent me an e-mail in the past ten days or so, life around me became a little more...complicated. I promise to write soon! I enjoy receiving comments and e-mails. Blogging is more fun when it is a two way street. It is not a burden for me to write back, it may just take a little more time than usual right now.
I pray your Memorial Day is safe and secure. I pray for those who are now serving us in all parts of the world as well as the families who have a vacant chair at the table, having given the greatest sacrifice one can give...so we may be secure.
May we also remember the beloved family members who have gone on before us. I miss you Mom.
6 comments:
I tried to post this once, and it didn't appear to go through. We'll try again and hope it doesn't double-post!
Yes, I agree about not having to do everything wonderfully and impressively. GK Chesterton said something along the lines of "if a thing is worth doing, it's worth doing badly," so he agreed with your daughter's teacher. And I remind myself of that all the time! A friend in a little discussion group once went off on a hilarious little monologue about what she was thinking about that morning as she scrubbed her kitchen floor. She unofficially called her impromptu speech, "Mediocre Mopping," and it was all about just what you said. And Susan Schaeffer Macaulay did us a favor by stressing that "good enough" (homes, homeschools, families...) is good enough. :-)
Just wanting to chime in!
Susan L
Yes dear Brenda, please give your Vet a hug today, from me. And a heartfelt Thank You too.
Especially, since he didn't get many strangers coming up to him and giving him hugs/thanks, when _he_ came home. -sigh-
Mari-Nanci
Thank you, Susan! Great comments. You need your own blog. :) I love the Chesterton quote.
MN, that's why we both often go to places where they are honoring vets. When he came home, he was told not to wear his uniform at the airport!!
Just recently, I stood outside for a couple of hours (in the sun and heat) to be one of many people lining the street when a young soldier from my daughter's high school came home from Iraq. His coffin had landed at the airport and was being taken through campus and downtown.
I so agree with you about people being afraid to do things badly, and that it is okay if you do have areas of grown, and a learning curve. I really do have to keep that in mind more often. I've never been to your blog before and I really like it. I'm excited to take a look around. Thank you so much for visiting me today. And as for Sufjan Stevens - he is great, I hope you'll try his music. You can listen to it on line at Amazon.com to see if you like it. Have a great weekend!
allie
www.mycozyhome.typepad.com
Have a great memorial day yourself.
Thanks for coming by and entering the drawing. Sounds like you have been busy, I appreciate you making the effort to visit!
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