The Sounds You Might Be Missing, Could Be Just What You Need

Stop and take a few minutes to listen to your morning routine. Really listen to what your environment tells you; so many times we get up and "get on" with our day, we can miss the beautiful and small things; so often I fear we all do, I'm guilty.

So ,for the past week I've made it a point to listen.

I've listened to the sounds I make as I crawl out of bed; usually about ten minutes after Scott pops up and hits the floor. My bones crack and my ankles ache, I growl, stretch and then shuffle off.

I've listened to the same creak for a week as I walk out of the bedroom and shuffle across the hardwood floors. I never noticed that before; something new to fix on my to-do list.

I've listened as I click off the lamp in the living room that gives us all enough light at night to make our midnight snack run, and guide my Peanut Butter thief back to his room safely.

I've made note of the dishwasher door as it rolls open and groans, as it releases yet another load of clean dishes from last night. My son will be up shortly to clank the glasses together as they make their way back to the cabinet.

The slurping noise the coffee maker makes, as it drains hot water through the filter, reminds me that I have someone in my life that enjoys brewed Morning Mojo. I'm blessed to have the opportunity to set it up for him the night before; complete with cup and hazelnut syrup. My dear friend and sister-in-law, taught me this Language of Love; she would do this each night for her incredible husband. He is terribly missed; I think of him (and Nancy) everyday as the coffee brews.

I've listened to the rhythm of my "Espresso Creation"; every step from pouring the water into the machine, the cracking noise the beans make as I measure out just the right amount of espresso, to the soft crunch of the raw sugar being spooned out of the canister into the cup, and finally the screech of the last drops of the caramel brown nectar hitting the shot glass. It's all a very melodic song to wake me up and stir my senses. I've never noticed it before last week, because I wasn't listening.

And then it's so quiet and I listen for Peace.

I hear it outside in the rustle of the leaves on our willow trees; in the groan of the magnolia trunk as it gives in to the wind, blowing it North. I hear it as the our little friend Rabbit scurries across the yard boldly crossing our dog's path; and Sun Tzu not caring in the least about Rabbit, but being more interested in chewing the dirt from his paws. As the corn whispers from the farm next door, letting me know God's out there working for all the good of His people.

I hear the constant clang of the metal clasps on our flag pole out front, reminding me that we are indeed free and how lucky we are to enjoy those freedoms.

And finally, the best sound of all, "Mom!" as he stirs from his slumber in a big stretch and yawn.

Take a some time and listen to the sounds around you; I think you'll see love and joy where maybe you didn't. And I hope you find a few moments of Peace.

Vacuum Cleaners...Not Just for Your Rugs Anymore!

Who knew that there are so many other uses for vacuuming than just cleaning your carpets?! Maybe I was just having an "off day" or maybe my brain turned itself off and tuned into the calming whir of the vacuum, or maybe (and this is probably the case) I was just being lazy.

After sweeping my kitchen debris into neat little piles on the floor, I grabbed the vacuum from the game room closet where my son was playing with his LEGO's. I began as I normally do; plugging the rubbery hose to the vacuum so I have a "focused" suction and the crumbs (remember them from an earlier post?) don't blow across my floor. So I go rolling by the stove top I noticed a few dried penne pasta shells that had escaped the pot a few days earlier, yeah, you see it coming don't you? I reached that little hose thing in between the stove burners and VIOLA, it sucked those shells right up. Needless to say I was thoroughly impressed with my new found cleaning tool! It sucked up all manner of stuff on my stove top and flat top grill; it got the melted hard cheese from the quesadillas a few days earlier, it even got a morsel of egg from Sunday Brunch! I've never claimed to be a great house keeper.

I was so happy I wanted to try out more new time saving efforts, but first I emptied the whirly bin of trash and then started hunting! I made a sad attempt at vacu-dusting, but think I'll need a softer attachment, I tried to vacuum our dog, but he had no part of my Master Clean plan. As I retired the vacuum for the day and begin to put it back in the game closet, I looked around the game room; LEGOs everywhere!

I'm telling you I sucked up about twenty of them in no time flat, it was AWESOME! Little Luke Skywalker mini-figures whirling around in the bin, green bricks zipping past me in a fury of wind and then my son caught sight of what I was doing and ran to unplug my new cleaning device.

I'm still in trouble with him and he's not talking to me. But I retrieved all the LEGOs from the LEGO "torture device"; Luke has a few bumps and nicks, but I think secretly my son thought I was cool too! Or at least that's what I'm telling myself; that, and enjoying a few hours of silence!