Aging With Adventure: My Own Personal Stash

I have kids so I have stashes all over the house. This is for the sake of my sanity than any desire to go treasure hunting. About 15 years ago after buying yet another hammer after my husband used the last one and the hammer somehow went walk about, I bought my own personal tool kit. All the tools fit in a cool black plastic case and I have not had to go hammer hunting since. No one in my home knows of this tool kit existence. My husband has made more then a few trips to the hardware store to get another hammer. The children got older and became hammer liberators also.

I keep my sewing kit hidden also. If I don’t the thread gets tangled, the pins wander away and the needles I suspect wander after the pins. I have to find a new hiding place after a child borrows the sewing kit. There is something about how the children interact with the sewing kit that causes the pins and needles to disappear. I can’t figure out why this is, my children don’t cause the dishwasher to run and hide or the stove to overheat.

Scissors, I have scissors hidden all over the house. The problem is I can’t remember where they are secreted so I have to buy another pair no matter if the kids uncover one of the hidden ones or not.

For clear tape, I have a different plan. There is a roll in the kitchen draw next to a pair of scissors I am hiding in plain sight and then there is my secret supple. The kids discovered the secret supple so that explains why we rarely have clear tape on hand when needed.

Finally my stash of Dove Dark Chocolate Promises: 2 little pieces and life seems better than it was 5 minutes ago. Not only do I have to keep these little sanity savers hidden, I have to be moved my stash every 24 hours or so because we have some truly dedicated chocolate loves in my home. I am willing share when I am raiding my stash. Two for me, one for every child that asks nicely.

Do you have a stash?

Time For A Second Cup

Fifty is approaching.  So much in my life is starting to change.  My main occupation for the last 20 years has been as an at home mom.  I am really good at my job.  However, that job is gradually being outsourced to the very children I have been raising all these years.  Six more years and I will be done.  There will be some parenting of semi-adults left to do.  Parenting semi-adults is not the same as raising children.  At least it’s not as time and labor intensive.

These last 20 years have been like a first cup of coffee.  It wakes you up, it’s the start of the day, time to hit the ground running and get stuff done.  I really enjoy that first cup of coffee in the morning.

It is getting to be time for that second cup of coffee.  I hope to savor this cup more.  There is still a lot to do, but this time, what I do will be more of my own choosing.

Parenthood has been a great adventure.  There is something amazing about having the time to be actively involved is my children’s lives.  It is a privilege, and I have enjoyed this opportunity.

Not that I haven’t wondered what life would be like if my husband and I had made different choices. If I had remained in the work force we would have more savings for retirement, for college, for travel, for donating. I could continue in my chosen career instead of starting out again in my 50’s. Sure of how good that first cup of coffee was, with very little changing I would be assured of the pleasure of my second cup.

For a short while I thought  I had wasted my life by remaining at home instead perusing a career.  I came to realize I had doubted my past decisions because the ones I am starting to make now are little leaps of faith, the potential for making a mistake rides along side the potential for continued purpose and joy in life.

One reason I was confident in my decision to be an at home parent is I am not the one who brews the coffee I so enjoy in life.  Being a believer in Jesus means I have His assurance of an overflowing cup of His love and His plan for my life, even with some of the hardships Dave and I have endured together while raising our family.  His plan has been one for our good.

It is time to start planning to have that second cup of life.  I know the Master Brewer.  Sometimes He has poured bitterness and hardship into my cup of life, but not often, and never more than I have been able to swallow with heaping spoonfuls of His grace and mercy.

Not being an at home mom means my future is no longer settled.  It is time for change.  Change in life is either scary, or an adventure, or a little of both.  I’m planning to enjoy my second cup.