Open a Box of Childhood

I have a small yearning that overwhelms me every Fall. Okay, it can get to be a pretty big yearning for me. Now, just so you know, I'm not one to spend a lot of time in the malls or shopping for clothes. Personally, I'd rather spend an afternoon in the hardware store, checking out the latest hardware gadgets that make a house more up-to-date without spending a lot of money. But my yearning does involve shopping.

When the last few weeks of summer start up, I start stock piling the object of my yearning: school supplies. It's a sickness really. I can lose at least an hour sorting through all the different kinds of pens available every school year. And, I used to buy packets and packets of loose leaf paper, just because Fall was the cheapest time of year to buy them. As much as my children hated all those handwritten exercises and homework, I loved to see my well preserved school supply box get used. For years, it seemed that I spent almost as much on pens, folders, binders, highlighters, crayons, markers and scissors as I did on back to school clothes for both my boys. They may have needed new jeans, but I always made sure they had enough items in the school supply box to get their homework done.

When my sons were both in high school, I was forced to redirect my school supply spending to more important things - like track shoes and activity passes. They didn't need my loose leaf packets of paper anymore. They were, however, going through lots of copier paper and inkjet cartridges. Times were changing, their needs were changing, and my school supply box sat dormant, with hardening crayolas and drying markers.

This year was the saddest Fall of all for me. I had nothing to buy for my school supply box. Although one son is in college still, and the other one is in the military, neither of them needed me to provide their school supplies. They were old enough to take care of their needs themselves.

I peered into the overcrowded back-to-school aisle at Walmart, watching mothers and children gather long lists of supplies for the start of the school year. I had no reason to fight them for my space in the aisle so I could make the perfect pen selection for the season. I mourned the loss of my overflowing shopping cart. Today, I just needed some shampoo, trash bags, and light bulbs. I didn't need any school supplies - for anyone.

It was then I decided to start a new box.

I haven't spent enough time lately remembering what beautiful and special children God gave me. I work full time now. My stay-at-home mom days are over. They are grown men now. But, they were such adorable boys. I called them my sunshines, and sang to them every morning and read to them nearly every night. We had designated positions for cuddling on the sofa while we watched TV and we threw the baseball mitts on the top shelf of the front closet for those quick games of catch we'd play after school.

So, instead of filling a box of school supplies that get used up or dry out, I've started both of my boys boxes of something different: my memories of their childhood.

And, yes, I have a few pages of their handwritten homework - on loose leaf paper, of course.

Inspiration is everywhere...

I'm having to adjust my heart this summer and look for inspiration in new ways. There is so much going on in the world, in our country, and in our homes. The challenge is to take every concern, every fear, and every unknown to God. With my youngest joining the military and the oldest debating the same opportunities for his future, I'm looking to God more deeply and earnestly. I realize Moms around the world and for generations have given back their children to God in various ways. But, now, I'm giving doing the same.

So, take a minute to watch and listen to my gifts from God being placed back in His hands!

Devotional Song: Hope of the Nations by Brian Doerksen

The Channels of Life

I was reading a marketing site yesterday where the resident expert was sharing his research on the generational differences in managing media intake. He said that the number of channels (input of information) that our generation can manage simultaneously is 1.7. For example, on average, most of us can watch TV and read a magazine and be full aware of both channels of information. Not bad, huh?

He said, however, that the next generation is more capable of handling up to 5 channels of media simultaneously. So, our children can play a video game, text message, surf the net, IM or chat with someone online, and talk on the telephone and still retain the majority of information. It slowed me down to realize how much more our children and grandchildren will be exposed to just because of the capacity of technology.

I'm not sure I could ever manage that many channels of information at once. I think I need music on in the background while I work, just so I tune out other channels of information, so I can concentrate. I listen to about 20 hours of CDs I've bought over the years, all stored on my hard drive and set to play in random order. They range from Christian Artists on the WOW Collections to individual artists including: Mercy Me, Newsboys, Michael W. Smith, Stephen Curtis Chapman, Casting Crowns, Mark Shultz - oh and just about Good Christian artists for the last 6 or 7 years.

Anyway, while I work, I listen. This morning, I found a website that has wonderful videos that also tell the messages with visuals. Here's one I found that just settled me.





So, while I get back into work today, I hope and pray that a little "GodTube" channels it's way into your life, and you can be blessed to take in a little more Him while the world is trying to overwhelm you with every other channel in this life.