Seasons Change Sometimes Slowly

Michigan got stuck in the fall zone this past May and June and July, except for one boiling hot week with 98% humidity back in June, but we were up north living on the lake that week, so we didn't even notice. After that, the great lakes state couldn't seem to steam it up into even the 60's and at night the temps dove into the 40's and 50's for weeks on end. Our tomatoes are still green.

About two weeks ago Florida must have tilted her head back and blown a big AAhh-Chooo-ie or something, because summer floated in- finally! We're just beginning to need the air conditioner during the peak of a scorching day, the pool water is hanging around 82 degrees and we're making sun tea. But all around us fall is closing in. Football players are butting heads at the high school green space and we can hear announcers testing the loudspeaker and buzzer on the scoreboard at the full length, turfed field. Meijer, the local grocery plus store, has been featuring folders, glue sticks, 9 cent notebooks and pencil boxes for over a month already. The sale signs hang over mostly empty bins. Bloggers from other states are posting about how their school day went and pictures of yellow buses are beginning to show up in the background, as little, toothless Johnnys show off their new duds and backpacks.

Over here, at my house, I'm studying my daughter's high school transcript and shopping for curriculum she needs to round out her senior year of coursework. This is our last leg of the homeschooling journey we embarked upon twelve years ago. I'm late getting at it. My job at the Home School Bookstore rapidly grew into a monster sized, full -time load of work, as the marketing end of things expanded and preparations were made to move the entire store online. The two and 1/2 days a week I was putting in, as manager, were no longer going to cut the mustard. About six weeks ago, it became crystal clear to me that I needed to concentrate the next nine months of my energy exclusively on Fashionista. (reminds me of another time I gave her 9 months priority) So, with probably more than half of Michigan's population out job hunting, I resigned from my beloved book buying, book selling dream job where everybody knows your name and they're always glad you came and your troubles are all the same.

*deep breath*

Today on Chatty Kelly's blog, she mentions in #5 that she is thankful for God's timing. That's what got me thinking about this post. I'm thankful that God speaks clearly in whatever way he needs to do that to get the message across, when he has something really important to tell me. I haven't always had ears to hear, but this time I did. And while I would think I'd be kicking and screaming right now at the loss of a perfectly wonderful job- I'm not. Instead I feel peace like a river (line inspired by a quote Mrs. E posted here) about the fact that I am now free to focus on Fash, thus fulfilling the long term commitment I.T. and I made all those years ago to educate our kids, at home, together.

Like I said, though, with all this sunshine and warm air and no bookstore matters to attend- I just began my summer vacation! *sigh* Anyway. Today it is raining cats and dogs. So, I will head on up to the school cupboard and continue loading out, sorting and filling in the planner.

Sometimes I get ahead of myself. I jump in with both feet and run like the wind when I get excited about an idea. But sometimes the wind dies down before the "project" is done. There's that word again. I keep trying to make friends with that word. My mother was a big believer in finishing what you start. It's taken me 46 years to embrace "finish what you start" and I'm still pretty good at holding it at arm's length, while trying to stare it done. But we are going to finish this senior year of this last child of ours with a bang. I'm working on my attitude to make sure that won't be the bang, bang, bang of my head against our unpainted walls.

fried, green tomatoes- anyone..