Blessings

We shall steer safely through every storm,

so long as our heart is right,

our intention fervent,

our courage steadfast,

and our trust fixed on God.

~St. Francis de Sales

My thoughts and prayers are with East Coast friends.

Needed . . .

more hours in the day,

but only if they can be used for pleasure!

After that truck pulled out of our driveway,

I said a few prayers, dried a few silly tears, and headed upstairs with one goal in mind --

to turn my son's bedroom into a workspace for yours truly!

Since moving my business to our home, I desperately need an area dedicated solely to the massive amount of necessary paperwork and files.

I made amends with my Dyson, and can happily report there were no broken bones during all the vacuuming that ensued!

I admit to not being a perfect mother.

I love my son more than life itself, but he is not always the perfect child.

However, there was a great sense of calm and pride when I knew there would not be any surprises or disappointments as the contents of his room were sorted, packed away or disposed.

Instead, there were smiles, lots of memories, and even a few heart touching moments and silly tears again.

The bed and dresser will remain.  He may return for the occasional holiday or event, and need a place to lay his weary head.

His desk, bookcases and a few other assorted pieces of furniture have been removed.

All books, video and computer games, electronic gadgets and gizmos, and sports paraphernalia are gone!

My office furniture will soon be retrieved from storage and set in place.

I am attempting to add a few feminine touches, without making it too uncomfortable for him during any short trips home.

The walls are already a creamy yellow.  I loved these drapery panels, currently on sale at Pottery Barn!  They have a wonderful texture and weight, with a design reminiscent of 18th century French textiles.  Maybe more for sentimental than economical reasons, I am leaving the blue plaid duvet cover.  It rarely saw the light of day!  Boys, or at least my son, do not seem to comprehend that closets and dressers serve a purpose.  The duvet cover was normally buried under an avalanche of clothes.

The pillows were purchased during a fun run to Ikea yesterday!  I rewarded myself for slaving away, and took a much needed break.  It had been way too long since I strolled through our local store.  Susan, at Between Naps on the Porch, recently posted about her first venture to Ikea.  She also purchased these same pillows.  When I saw them, they were exactly what I was envisioning for the room.  I wanted a pop of red, and these also pull the gold of the drapes and the blue of the duvet cover all together.  I also love that the design is embroidered, adding more texture to the overall scheme.

I am more a lover of the eclectic look, and not the perfectly polished and matchy matchy look. 

Hopefully, this will be a room that evolves.  One where I can work while being surrounded with fond and happy memories of a boy now grown.

About those extra hours needed . .

These have been patiently waiting to be turned into all kinds of cute little things! 

It seems some of my best design thoughts come when there is no time to sew.

Hoping I find those extra hours soon.

If you happen to find any, just send them my way!

Blessings

The faith that gets us through unthinkable circumstances

begins with being flat-out needy

and allowing God's love to

wrap us up,

hold us close,

 and dry our tears.

~Carol Kent~

Blessings

May you have enough happiness to keep you sweet,

enough trials to keep you strong,

enough sorrows to keep you human,

enough hope to keep you happy,

enough failure to keep you humble,

enough success to keep you eager,

enough friends to give you comfort,

enough wealth to meet your needs,

enough enthusiasm to look forward,

enough faith to banish depression,

enough determination to make each day a better day than yesterday!

~Unknown~

Enough fresh crayons to make you smile,

and  enough childlike freedom to sometimes color outside the lines!

The Next Chapter

For the past couple of days, this has been parked in our driveway.

Early this morning, I stood in the driveway and watched it disappear down the street

carrying our son and most of his possessions.

He is beginning the next chapter of his life.

I know it is so cliche to say it seems like only yesterday.
Yet, it really does not seem that long ago this time of year simply meant purchasing a new blanket for rest time at  preschool.

Then, there were the years of buying boxes of fresh crayons and markers for kindergarten and elementary school.

He was responsible for making sure the backpack was filled with all the necessary supplies for those first day of classes during high school.

Preparation for college wasn't exactly fun for him, but I was in my glory --

shopping for sheets, towels, comforters and all those nifty storage bins and organizing gizmos and gadgets.

For the next four years, I loved strolling the aisles of favorite stores, selecting special surprises, combining them with homebaked treats, and shipping them off to remind him that he was loved and missed.

Those four years at Wake Forest University were probably his best.  I saw him flourish and come into his own.  He reveled in a campus rich with tradition.  He loved his classes and all that he learned.  He made friendships to last a lifetime.

He decided to return to Texas after graduation.  The last four years have not been the best.

The economy and job market have been tough.

He never found the perfect job or what made his heart sing.

During the last year, his father and I began to sense that change was in the air.

A couple of months ago, the lease on his apartment ended.  He moved home to save money.

I became used to having him here. 

His beloved Schnauzer became accustomed to more head scratches and being coaxed to jump on furniture when Mom was not looking.

Now, the house will be quiet again.

Groceries will last longer, thumps and bumps upstairs will cease, and music will not play into the wee hours of the morning. I will be the one curling up with the dog, as we try not to miss him too much.

His kindergarten teacher always referred to him as a little sponge.  He soaked up all that he could learn, and was always eager to learn more.

He will be a sponge again.

On Monday, he becomes a first year law student at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

Of all his choices, I am actually quite pleased with this selection.  I know and love the city.  He will be closer to other family members in Tennessee.  He will also be closer to some of those friends from Wake.

It is the first time that I have not known where he is residing, or with whom he is living.  When he calls or emails, I cannot picture in my mind where he is.

He is taking a huge leap of faith, and I must make that leap with him.

For years, he said he did not want to be like his parents.  We grew up in a different time.  We just do not understand.  We march to a different drummer.

We will next see him in October when we attend his father's 30 year law class reunion at Vanderbilt.

Guess being a little like dear old dad is not so bad afterall!

Best of luck to everyone, little or big, heading off to new educational experiences.
Hugs for all of us watching them grow wings and soar.
Maybe I will go buy a fresh box of crayons just to remember the joy!
Happy Back to School!

Thank you for all the healing wishes and thoughts for my foot.  I am still limping along, but without quite as much pain.  It also gave me permission to just supervise the loading of that truck, and not participate in the heavy lifting!

Blessings

Forgiveness may be excruciating for a moment.

Anger and bitterness are excruciating for a lifetime.

~Beth Moore~

Me and Peas

Remember last summer when I was bonding with packages of frozen peas?

Unfortunately, I am doing it again!

Thank goodness, it is not my eyes this time.

Wish I could say that I was doing something fun, or on some grand adventure.

Instead, it was just me, my Dyson vacuum, and a complete lack of grace and coordination.

I now have a lovely black, blue and broken toe!

The good news?

We are experiencing record breaking temperatures, and it is predicted to only worsen.

Meanwhile, I am chillin' with my frozen peas!

So, if I am quiet for a few days, that is why.

I am hopeful this will provide some quiet time to sit and stitch!

Hope all of you are staying cool -- but minus any painful injuries.