regret me not

Usually, I drive my kids to school each morning. It's a 20-minute or so drive one way. We shoot to leave the house by 7:10 a.m. but lately we've been running 10 minutes late.

Not late to school, mind you. Just later than they'd like to get to school.

In the car are 5 of my kids and 2 kids of a friend of ours that we carpool with.

7 kids.

Trapped in my Odyssey.

Each seat is full (IE: they are close enough to touch each other).

And I love it.

I love it because they are trapped. I can talk to them about ANYTHING and they can't run away. Can't slam the door. They are my captive audience.

So, I use this time to engage them in stimulating conversation. Otherwise known as the Topic of the Day.

They know it's coming and they present the usual and customary eye roll and/or groan. Lately they have also tried the "I'm wearing headphones and can't hear a word you're saying so I don't have to participate" game. But it's not working.

On the drive to school this morning, the TotD (Topic of the Day) was this:

"If you were to die today, would you have any regrets? Anything you regretted not doing? Anything you regretted doing? Anything you regretted saying?

Kind of a daunting question for people under 20. But it was fun to hear their answers.

• 17 year old: not getting to have a family (getting married and having kids)
• 14 year old: not travelling to Canada
• 14 year old: not travelling to Europe
• 13 year old: not travelling to Europe
• 12 year old: not travelling to Italy

What would you regret? Why haven't you done this regret? Post your comments below!

you can't take it with you

My first-born took a two-week trip to Europe. She's 19 and it was her senior class trip. Yeah, I know. Europe. My senior trip was to the mall. No, really - I think it was to Daytona Beach. The night before she was scheduled to leave she stayed up all night packing. I was worried she wouldn't pack "right." Worried she'd forget something. Worried she'd pack the wrong something. Worried she'd pack too much something. Just worried.

She did manage to pack, though. Without any help from me, ether. How'd she do? I'll let you read for yourself ...

"When I attempted packing two weeks into a single suitcase, I experienced firsthand the legendary crisis of separating "wants" and "needs".

The more I "needed", the more I'd be carrying, which would make traveling awkward and inconvenient. I might miss part of the experience.

I was forced to abandon luxury and discard many items that make me comfortable and/or happy.

In addition to my hairdryer and Bop-It Extreme, I have left behind my former self.

I will not need her for this adventure- her problems and opinions, prejudices and fears, the way that she has always seen the world

To bring those things would be too much to carry. It would be awkward and inconvenient. I might miss part of the experience.

Instead, I left some empty room in my suitcase.

They always say that you come back with something new."

plates

You know that guy at the circus with the spinning plates? He has long sticks and he balances breakable plates on the ends of the sticks and the plates are spinning. He's not only doing this with one plate, but with l o t s of plates. He's running around, from plate to plate to plate, making sure none of his plates lose their balance, stop spinning and crash to the ground.

That's me. The plate spinner.

I work delicately to take care of one plate. I get it up and spinning. Tending to it ever so gently.

You see, the plate has to be able to spin on its own. I can't spin for it. So, when it wobbles I run to it. Giving it a nudge, waiting with protective hands.

And then I step back - to watch and wait.

Watching and waiting are hard things.

It reminds me of this verse:

"Be still and know that I am God."

-Psalm 46:10

"

Be still and know that I am.

Be still and know.

Be still.

Be.

Trusting the Lord is not an easy task. Sometimes we have to trust that He DOES know what's going on. That he IS in charge.

8

Ugh. There are only 8 days of summer left.
Well, technically, "summer" is still in full force. And for The Rest Of The World, summer will continue for several more weeks. It's still blazing hot outside. So hot, I even get sweaty driving my van out of the garage. Even still, I "kicked" the kids outside one day last week.
(Imagine the voice of a dictator.)

OK! It's time to go outside! Enough computer! Enough TV! Enough Xbox! Enough texting! Go outside!

What are we supposed to do out THERE?
I don't want to go out THERE!

moan moan whine whine

Go find something to do. Just sit on the porch swing. Run around in circles (actually, I did tell one of them to go outside and run around the house 5 times once in an act of desperation). I don't care. Just go outside for 20 minutes.

They came in 5 minutes later, they had already become dehydrated, you know.

Even though our community pool is out THERE, they love going. They must not realize it's also outside. And I love the pool. There are no computers of TV's at the pool. Ah, there is also no laundry. No bills. No dishes. It's bliss.

It will remain open until September ... I don't want to count those remaining days, but I do know it's more than 8. I could take them to school and go to the pool by myself. Wow.

But, I'm not a mom who jumps for joy when school starts. I love having everyone home. I love the floppy pajama days of summer. Uno tournaments. Connect 5 (You have to get 4 in a row? I thought you had to get 5 in a row. Why do you think they call it Connect 4?). Disney movie festivals. Reading. Sleeping late. Staying up late. Late night runs to Rita's. That chlorine/sunscreen smell.

8.

I think we are heading to the pool.