The First Week

This was the first week of school at the college. It came with lots of people and a whole different strategy for getting through the workday. You must arrive early to get a parking spot near your building. You must decide if going out to lunch is worth the risk of having to park much further away when you return. If you decide to eat in the cafeteria, you must time it around class release or be standing in line for most of your lunch break. You must also plan your departure time around class schedules or risk sitting in a car line for 10 minutes while trying to get off the campus.

We made it through the first week. Whew! The weekend had arrived. Oh wait. I volunteered to help with the school's Starlight Concert & Fireworks on Saturday evening. I loaded up the child and headed out in the 90 degree heat at 4:45 pm to help sell glow sticks for a couple of hours. We were under a tent, but oh my it was hot! Over a two hour period I sold nothing. Nada. Zip.

Finally with my duties over, we met up with friends and claimed a grassy spot in the shade to wait for the evening entertainment. We sat around eating BBQ and listening to music. The kids and some adults danced around to various songs. It relaxing and nice to just chill out after a long first week. The fireworks show topped off the night and helped make a good memory to look back on.

Ecclesiastes 8:15 So I commended enjoyment, because a man has nothing better under the sun than to eat, drink, and be merry; for this will remain in him in his labor all the days of his life which God gives him under the sun."

Mowing Grass

After so much rain last week my yard, my parents' yard and the field behind us were all overgrown and in desperate need of mowing. Friday evening a nearby storm dropped the temperature to a comfortable level, so I decided to mow my lawn that night instead of rising early Saturday to beat the heat. I saw that my Dad had the same idea. I jumped on my mower and after about 30 minutes I heard a rather unfortunate sound emanating from my mower deck. I did what any grown person would do, turned off the blades and took it to my Dad to find out what was wrong.

With only about 1/3 of my yard mowed, I began looking for a new belt by calling service departments  early Saturday morning. It had to be ordered, so Dad offered to finish mowing my yard while I finished his job - mowing the back field - on his tractor - with the bush hog. Oh what fun! It was so nice to spend the time doing something new. 

Psalm 72:6 He shall come down like rain upon grass before mowing, like showers that water the earth. 

I don't think I'd ever thought of people mowing grass in Bible times. I'm sure I would not have liked it much without the tractor.

The Concert

It's been a long, tough July and August at work. Each year I think it will be better, but I'm usually not surprised when the chaos takes over just before school begins. I could feel the stress building and I needed something different to break it up.

I rarely go out for entertainment. I just don't enjoy crowds or spending lots of money to see a movie. I prefer to stay at home or travel to a beach or creek and read. However, I have been known to splurge for a Brad Paisley concert and I did exactly that this week. It had been at least 5 years since I attended the last concert, so I was curious to see if it was as enjoyable for me.

A friend from work went with me to a very nice amphitheater. Our seats were about 8 rows back. The first opening act was good, but I didn't like the second one. Finally, the 'real' concert began. As always, it was highly entertaining. Brad Paisley doesn't just stand and sing, he has the entire show choreographed with video. It's almost like watching a movie that changes every 3 minutes. After an hour and a half, he briefly left the stage then returned for a finale and said good night. 

An hour later I was home and utterly exhausted. When I went to work the next morning, I realized something: I don't do well on only 5 hours of sleep anymore. Regardless, it was fun and a nice break.

Ecclesiastes 3:4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance.

Back to School

I blinked and my kids have started back to school. It's been only 10 weeks since they finished the school year, 71 days to be exact. Where did the summer go? Where are the days when I only had to make sure that I was up on time? When I didn't have to pack a lunch for school? When I could drop the younger child off at her Grammy and Pop's house in her PJs? When I didn't have to monitor homework? When I could come straight home after work without needing to pick up a child? When bedtime was not always strictly enforced? 

After that brief hiatus, life has returned to normal. She's a 5th grader and he's a 10th grader. She'll enjoy her last year in elementary school and he'll be getting his license. I'm not ready! Seeing my angst, a friend of mine suggested I read the book, "The Power of a Praying Parent" by Stormie Omartian. The first verse printed in the book is a keeper.

Lamentations 2:19 b-c Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord. Lift your hands toward Him for the life of your young children.

Sounds like a good plan.