plans and the purpose that prevails

Too tired to floss

I used to be a dedicated dental hygienist.  Years ago in my former life I would gently scold those who claimed they had no time to floss.  I emphasized the importance of healthy gums and the fact that flossing takes less than a minute.  I encouraged patients to floss while watching TV.  Occasionally a frazzled mother of small children would claim to be too tired to floss.  I clucked my tongue and suggested she floss in the morning.  I could never understand the "too tired"excuse.  "No time to floss" registered little sympathy from me.

I am now one of those whom I chastized.  Four children has left me at the "end of my floss".  At the close of the day I am so spent taking care of the rest of the family I cannot summon the energy to rid my interproximal spaces of plaque.  No one need tell me of the evils of gingivitis.  I know what a periodontist does.  Making the effort to wrap a little bit of string around my fingers is more than I can handle...and I'm even a trained flossing professional!

So to all you ladies who are too worn out for basic dental care...take heart...I am reminding myself, and those of you who are guilt ridden after a trip to the dentist...this is only a season.  Your teeth will not fall out if you take a couple months off.  I know I will eventually begin flossing again...and putting on makeup...and fixing my hair...and wearing clothes that don't have some form of stain from a child...until then, I'll smile. 

Grace and peace!

Clobbered By God

The Grandmas Go Home

Boppie and Mamaw just pulled out the driveway with J1 to fly away home.  My heart was heavy this morning as I watched them leave in the predawn darkness.  The past 2 weeks have been full of laughter, reminiscing, sightseeing, hugs and the smiles of people who truly know me.

I grew up in the same town as both my grandmas.  I saw them weekly, sometimes daily.  They watched me change through the years.  They saw me on every birthday.  My children are having a different experience.  Their times with grandparents are an oasis of a few weeks in a long desert of a year.  There are lots of phone calls and email to keep in touch in between, but it isn't quite the same.  It was especially tough on my mom as she kissed sweet baby J6 goodbye, knowing how much she will change in the months to come.

I am thankful for their willingness to travel so far to invest time in the lives of those they love.  Despite the distance, we will probably see them at least once more this year, maybe twice.  Today will be a long day as I look around the house and hear the echoes of their precious voices.; they will not be far from my heart.

Grace and Peace

Mamaw and the TSA

My 88 year old grandma and my mother arrived for a 2 week visit last night.  Mamaw hasn't flown since pre 9-11, so while they waited in the security line and my mother told her to remove her shoes she was a bit puzzled.  My mother joked with her that she would be singled out and searched since she hadn't been on a plane for 7 years. 

When Mamaw passed through the scanner she beeped. ''I have artificial knees." She informed the unsmiling TSA agent.  Back through the scanner.  BEEP.  She then had to step out of line for the hand held scanner.  Her knees passed the test but she beeped repeatedly around her waist.  It must have been her bruised chin and roughed up nose from a fall earlier in the week that made the TSA think her to be a travel risk...so she headed behind the screen for a "behind the screen screening".  She was there a long time because she was also a guinea pig for a new TSA agent.  I'm glad to say Mamaw passed the test. They never did resolve the waistline beeping.  I suspect it was remnants of the heavy dough from her New York pizza lunch.

I'm so glad little old ladies are searched before they fly.  I can't wait to see what happens on her return trip.  I'll keep you posted.

Baking and Biking

J4 had her first sewing lesson today with the new Texas teacher.  We were thrilled to find a lady in our development that holds classes in her home.  I was not so thrilled that the AC in our SUV decided to quit.  This is not good in Texas.  No problem though, the lesson is a bit less than 2 miles from our house and we do own bikes.  J4 hopped on her wheels and I followed on mine.  I was also towing J5 in the bike cart.  The morning temperature was 85 but felt like 92 because of the humidity.  The ride only lasted about 15 minutes but I was sweating buckets when we arrived.  We walked to the door and the teacher looked at us in shock.  It seems we were a day early for our lesson.  She kindly asked me if I would like a tissue to wipe my face; I am not a Texas woman, I sweat! 

I left my daughter for her lesson an biked home.  I was relieved because my son was planning on bking back to get J4,  I was pulling an ice pack out of the freezer to cool down when J3 informed me he really didn't want to bike to get his sister.  Back on the bike I went, this time the temperature was a mere 102 degrees.  If I ever wondered what it would be like to bike ride in my oven, now I know.