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.