Tuesday, July 28, 2009

I feel the wind changing


I have always loved the movie Mary Poppins for so many reasons (not the least of which is that I've always wanted the ability to "tidy up the nursery" by snapping my fingers). But if you remember the movie, you'll know that she only stayed until "the wind changed". It was sad that she left, but everyone who watches the movie knows it was time. She had accomplished what she needed to...it was time to move on.


Well, I feel the wind changing here. I feel myself--my mind and my intentions shifting from the carefree, laid-back (although busy in a different way) summer days towards the schedule and routine of the school year. I have bought some school supplies. At work I've got both feet in the planning of our children's ministry programs for the fall--teachers, curriculum, new things. I have a bit of the organizing bug at home. Now that our travelling is over, I find myself pushing the kids back into some basic routines...like, you know, making their beds and reading now and then.

although... true confessions: we haven't quite gotten to the get-to-bed-at-a-decent-hour routine yet...for them or us. Oh well, that will come.

So, its always kinda sad when summer ends. Soon will be gone the mornings when the kids and I get up when we want to (there's been a few of those...) and the trips to the pool to watch bubba swim and talk to my pool friends, and the warm evenings, the many excuses to eat ice cream. But, truth be told, once I accept it, I always like the start of a new school year. It's a fresh start with new notebooks, new classes, new routines and the hope of being more on top of things than I was before. (I know, I know, I'm no Mary Poppins who is "practically perfect in every way"...but I can still hope!)

Now, I'm not saying goodbye to summer yet, but the winds are changing. It's OK, it's almost time. Today I'm unwrapping the gift of switching gears. It's not always easy, but it's good.

This post is linked to Tuesdays Unwrapped--a tuesday tradition over at Chatting at the Sky where we are encouraged to find the gifts in the ordinary. Read more about it here.

7 comments:

  1. I love the look, smell, and feel of new school supplies. It makes the change that much easier! And this year is new backpack year in our house - that's fun, too!

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  2. I love Mary Poppins.. my husband used to dance all over our sofa and chair to Step in Time when the kids were little:)
    I like that life has seasons, and the school year is a season too.
    I love the summer, but I think even the kids prefer a more predictable schedule.
    Whatever that is around here .

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  3. I'm struggling with switching gears this year. Thanks for the reminder that the changing wind can bring with it many blessings.

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  4. wait, is that a picture of you or of Mary Poppins? :-)

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  5. Darren...very funny. Nice to hear from you here.

    I hope you see that I already talked about you on this blog...head to the roller coaster post..you are the "wise student" I misquoted.

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  6. While I don't experience the change of schedule that many do in the summer - this year we are holding a school supply drive at work for a nearby school with financially-challenged students. I finally have a reason to purchase new school supplies after all these years! I'm a danger to myself though - every store I go into I end up buying stuff. It's all so much cuter now than when we were kids! MUST STOP BUYING!! :)

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  7. I too love the buying new school supplies and the invigoration of new teachers, new friends...which I guess is why I'm still in school more than a decade after I graduated high school... :)

    You're so right about the winds changing - it's bittersweet, but there's something right about it, at the bottom.

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