Summertime 2011 will be a season different than any I have ever had in my life, for so many reasons.
- I have been a Mom for sixteen years, but this will be the first summer both of my two beautiful daughters plan to spend full time with their Dad & his family.
- Handsome and I have a busier hobby farm than we have ever had before.
- I am actually on the road to losing weight instead of gaining it.
- The gardens are mostly planted by now, and not just on paper.
- I have a blog, a new, shiny, unscrewed up blog.
- Handsome’s car show calendar is the fullest it’s ever been.
- I am scheduled to be a bridesmaid in our nephew’s wedding.
- Handsome & I will be celebrating our tenth wedding anniversary in July.
- And our very best friends will be sending their youngest off to college in August, a milestone we cannot help but commemorate along with them.
Gulp. Lots going on!
So how shall I ensure that this summer of patchwork challenges and opportunities doesn’t fly past me like a kid greased up in Coppertone, zooming down a wet Slip-N-Slide? I have a plan….
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I will use sunscreen & self tanner on my face and throat as often as possible, acknowledging all the while that I am now in my late thirties and no can no longer afford multiple sunburns there. Similarly, I will wash up frequently, because summertime means outside, and outside means dirty (especially around here), and dirty means surprise breakouts. I will not be grody.
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I will seize every day for what it offers. No matter the weather or the agenda, I will accept every day for the specialness it bears, because Summertime 2011 will be made up of only about eighty-four days and eighty-four nights. And we all know how quickly those can evaporate, especially in the Oklahoma heat and humidity. I will not luxuriate in the freedom of summer so much that I waste it.
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I will send gifts to my children, call them frequently without asking when we’ll see each other again, and pray for them and their Dad and Step mom every day. I will get through this summer without bitterness, and I will conquer the seeds of resentment.
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I’ll spend some time with my sweet and wise ol’ Grandpa Rex. He has the prettiest and most productive garden in the world, and he has taught me nearly everything I know about this rewarding art. I hope this isn’t our last summer with him. I will not take my loved ones for granted.
5. I will entertain zealously, like probably once or twice a week, but I will NOT, I repeat I will NOT gain three to five pounds for every party we throw.
6. My husband and I will celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary in July, woohoo!! I will not wait until the morning of departure to pack my suitcase and mop the floor.
7. I will not spend more time on Facebook than I spend writing something that will last. Yikes, that one could be difficult.
8. I will not shy away from the most difficult and icky farm chores, forever resting on the brute strength and industriousness of my Handsome Husband. I will shoulder more of this burden than he’s honestly expecting me to, but I won’t tell him first. Who was it who said this? “Don’t tell me what you’re going to do; show me.” This is good advice. The bank where I used to work had a customer service tenet: “Under-promise and over-deliver.” Bingo.
9. We have a great book club. I mean, we have collected some of Oklahoma’s best and brightest women, and we have a great time! But this summer I will not read the last page first, not on any of our chosen titles. Like, I totally promise.
10. Lastly, I will not freak out too awful much if I fail at any of the previous nine resolutions. Life is good; life is beautiful in fact, and I am so grateful for every detail of what I have been given. Even the tough stuff.