Thank You

I don't have a lot of vivid memories from my childhood for whatever reason. One that I do have is Wednesdays.

Before my mom went back to work (when my younger sister was in school), Wednesdays were the day. She would go to the beauty shop and get her hair done and then to the local Dixie Dandy to buy groceries. I don't know if I always went with her because my dad worked shift work and was home during the day sometime but I do remember going a few times.

For my young heart, it was very grown-up to go watch the ladies sit under the hair dryers and have their hair teased! But the biggest thrill, by far, was going to Dixie Dandy. I watched as mom checked the price on things and put them in the buggy (they were definitely buggies--not carts-- at the Dixie Dandy!) And, then, we got to check out. The check out girl's fingers would fly over the keys as she punched in the price for each item (boy, am I dating myself).

My goal in life was to become a check out girl at Dixie Dandy so I could push all those buttons! I had lofty goals as a 6 year old.

Mom was a good manager of the home that God had given her and my Dad. I don't know if she had a fancy schedule for cleaning, laundry, and ironing--so much depended on what shift Dad was working. Groceries were bought with a thought for not only family meals for the week but for also putting aside cake mixes or casserole fixings for needy or bereaved families. Everything was always done and always done well.

Through watching her, I learned to prioritize and to get things done fairly quickly and efficiently--I learned to manage a home though I have never done it with the ease and grace that she does.

Since September, life has been a little disjointed and very humbling. My abilities to keep up with everything have been challenged. There have been weeks when I wasn't able to be in my leg at all. Some weeks I averaged 1-2 hours every other day. Because I have been an amputee so long, there is a lot that I can do on crutches. What couldn't be done on crutches was delegated to the hours I was in my leg--and Jeff and Gracen have picked up lots of the slack!

While things haven't been "normal", they haven't fallen totally apart either. The dust is thick in places, more than the usual amount of sandwiches and soups have been served, the bare necessities in the cupboards are getting a little thin, and the stash of meals in the freezer are low. But, the clothes stayed washed and the kitchen and bathrooms have stayed clean though they probably wouldn't pass the "white glove" test!

I have been reminded again how thankful I am for my family. For my mom who taught me by example how to manage things and how to prioritize. For Jeff and Gracen for being willing to do a more than they already do to help and for being so gracious when I get frustrated--and for reminding me that we will be OK if the floors aren't shiny!

In case I haven't said it lately or enough--thank you.