Mothering Many

Because I guess I thought writing the lesson plans, filling out some government paperwork and planning the pack meeting, and scheduling the youth group were not enough of a to-do list to keep me busy. But daggone, it is exciting to visit all my books again! Here’s what it looked like late yesterday when I got started, and by late, I mean after supper, ya’ll.

This is a shot of the front door, where shelves are being moved from and the couch is going:

There is a set of shelves you can’t see behind that cabinet.

Here is where the library will be:

My husband does laundry on the weekend, but he does not fold. Don’t laugh, but it makes Mondays real touchy in the laundry arena. Also, there are still some Christmas presents under there.

And here is what those same areas looked like when we started again this morning. Country is helping, because she is almost as excited as I am to have all the books back. It’s…..wonderful.

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As I was posting my preliminary goals for the year over on Midlife Musings, I noted that I wanted to get the kids through thier current year and one more, so we’ll be putting our noses to the grindstone. We have fallen behind because life has just been going at a wicked fast pace. I’d love to say we’ve learned to handle change with grace and aplomb and courage and a willingness to be of service to others. That would sound so good, wouldn’t it? The truth is that we’ve learned to struggle, adapt, make do and wait. I guess that means we’ve learned to live life on it’s terms, and there’s some value in that. But I really wish we had at least learned to find the joy in the process. Kinda like in the movies. Ha!

Anyway, I need to write plans, and I’ll start on that today. I actually arranged my desk the last time I cleaned it so that I could have a big work surface by sliding the laptop over to the side. We’ll be using Ambleside again, and I’ll fill you in on the details after I write the plans. One thing I really wish I could put more attention on is music. We have an electronic keyboard, but we don’t have any space to put it up. I kid you not, there is not enough un-used wall space in this house to put it. We have utilized our space to the extreme, LOL. If I could put it up, though, I would subscribe to these Piano lessons & piano chords by email. It’s free, and you know that price suits me just fine.

I also noticed while I was on the site that he has a course specifically for hymns and gospel music. Oh, it was good! Our church is piano-player-less just now, and so we have to use recorded instruments. As if I have the ability to add one more thing to my plate. There’s just no way I can do that. At all. But it would be wonderful. He uses the chord technique, which I have enjoyed before, from both sides of the piano.

Back to the school planning: I’ll be sticking with composer study for music for now, but I will be filing this info in my brain for later use. You know–when we build that addition I want. I’ll have room for the keyboard then.

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This one ought to go without saying, but I will say it anyway, because I am a mother, and so I often have to say things that ought to go without saying. It’s just the nature of the job. So, here it is: if you made the cookies, and there they are, and you are not abstaining from them for some reason, then embrace the cookieness of it, and let go of the guilt. Enjoy it for what it is. Christmas is just such a short part of the year, and it just no fun to feel guilt over food. Either eat it or leave it, but don’t feel guilt.

Which brings us to Number Eight: Freeze it. If the holidays end before your cookie stash is depleted, stick the rest in the freezer. Don’t eat them just because they are there!

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