The "Age"....

My baby is growing up.

The other day Joe took over Craig's "The Age Dispatch" paper route. Craig has a "real" job and that is the criteria you need for giving up the paper route. At this house, until that day comes, the paper route is just about your only income. Trust me....you need the money!

Joe really balked at becoming the sole delivery person, but realized that he would also be the sole recipient of the proceeds. I gave him about a week to wrap his head around it, and he came up with many reasons why it was totally unreasonable for me to expect him to be able to hold up under the weight of Craig's half of the route. 12 extra papers (just the way the route is divided, fewer papers, longer distance).

I know.

He was relentless. I held my ground. I'm a stone.

He came home from school with a look of resolution on his face. I tried not to greet him...much. I was deeply engrossed in writing a post for my blog...go figure. I certainly wasn't up for another pail full of grief. He counted the papers, made himself a routine cup of "cavity-inducing-super-with-cream-AND-CoolWhip-triple-hot-chocolate", and set out on this almost epic journey.

He returned, out of breath, after 15 minutes. He'd sprinted almost the whole way.

I told him how impressed I was with his first solo mission. He beamed. I think there are only visions of dollar signs dancing in that boy's head.

They say that the apple does not fall far from the tree....but at this age he's still attached to the branch, past the blossom stage and just beginning to put on flesh.

Craig on the other hand will point out just how much flesh he's put on and is at the stage where he is straining to break free from the branch. Some days this is not a comfortable process. There is still a lot of ripening that needs to take place, but not all greenhorns appreciate it when you point that out. Funny how lately Craig seeks Ray out for counsel.

Funny...I always think of Ray as the tree, and have never thought of myself that way with this illustration. I'm always the long haired maiden, that you see strolling along the water's edge with the lovely long white gown and long wavy tresses, bare feet and a chain of daisies around her head....think "The Lady of Shalott" without the angst.

Today....

I was commenting to someone today about their "weekly column". I suppose this is mine, but it's readership is nowhere near the number of people that read his. His audience is clearly defined, mine could include just about anyone who happens to be surfing by.

Today is a good day. I feel awesome, super, like I could just about burst. I'm a sensitive person and I REALLY feel the lows, but I also REALLY feel the highs. Some days....being even keeled seems sooooo attractive, like something that would be easier to sustain, and maintain.

But today is a really good day. I painted with a friend. ( It was like old times. Such fun. And then we ran out of walls). I smell like Tim Horton's (maybe I should have Blueberry Fritters more often if they make a person feel this good:). Someone agreed to help on a committee after I got 4 or 5 'NO's. I listened to Christmas music ("Family Force 5's Christmas Pageant...ummmm not so "Christmas-sy"....but oh so much fun and so funky!!! You should listen to Carol of the Bells and My Favourite Things! ) I had a headache but it went away. My dog was soooo excited to see me when I got home...she does full body tailwagging and makes you feel like you're better than biscuits! And...there was email in my inbox!

I think God gets a kick out of bringing about days like this. Little treats. Some people might experience these same things and not give them a second thought. They're still little treats that God sprinkles about that go un-noticed.

Me? ...I am celebrating today...doing a little inward happy dance.

It doesn't take much and that's just the way I like it! :)

...A Vapour...

I am amazed at how time evaporates.

What is it that makes a day seem to fly by, and what makes it seem to drag on? I suppose it depends on what you are filling each day with. Some days there are things that are pushing you and other days things that are holding you back. Some days you accomplish many things and other days you waste time and regret the empty time that is forever gone.

I work on Sundays and really have to be conscious of taking time for Sabbath rest through the week. Is it really Sabbath rest when I sit and read a book, or watch my son's basketball game, knowing I should be making phone calls, or folding laundry? When I take time to make cards, am I really justifying the way I indulge in paper craft? (someone said that to me once.... )Call it what you want, but I always find it time "well wasted" when I've made cards for people placed on my heart. Nothing else gets done, but my spirit is at rest, true rest.

I also happen to REALLY enjoy shoveling snow so could I classify that as "rest" because that never feels like work?

Either way, you can only spend a moment once...and when God is in it, it is never wasted.