Not Yet Above the Line

I read something the other day that has really stuck with me.  "Before, people were created to be loved and things were used.  Now a days, things are loved and people are used."

The world loves (worships) money (and all it buys: i.e. status).  If you are a stay at home mom, a home schooling mom, taking care of a disabled person or your aging parents/in-laws, or if you yourself is disabled...you are not valued.  Is that all you do?  You are viewed as not contributing to society, because the people you are caring for are not valued.

It is hard to live in this world, without living in it.  Does that make sense?  It is hard to make your way in this crazy world without getting caught up in the craziness.  My friend and former Sunday school teacher called it: living above the line.  Living according to what God finds worthy, not what society is chasing at the moment. 

Funkified

I'm in such a funk. We dropped off Tdawg at college and I met Shellie. She is the mom of one of Tdawg's roommates. She is really nice...but for some reason it just seemed that she is everything that I am not.  She is easy breezy, vivacious, funny, beautiful, athletic, successful.  She painted the guys a picture for their room.  My jaw dropped.  Really?  Oh yeah, she is an art major from Auburn and has her own graphic design firm.  So she just whipped this up the night before.

And I felt like a chubby sweaty dork.  Amazing how all of our insecurities can flood back in a blink of an eye. So, after that, I didn't feel like painting anymore. There are so many that can paint better than I can...I just felt why bother.  Thousands of people knit (better than I can), so why bother...

 

...The analyst in me knows that I'm having identity issues.  Who am I?  I'll always be a Mom...but the kids are grown up.  No career.  And it doesn't seem like I do anything special or especially well.  Being the best Me that I can be, just doesn't seem to be enough.

PCB 2013

 I love the beach... so relaxing! The sunsets were breath taking! 

 Cletus and I after 26 years, loved our morning walks. Cletus got out with the metal detector, but no luck.  Last year he found me a large serving spoon.  No jewelry or rare coins yet.

One of our neighbors was teaching me how to Stand Up Paddle board.  I don't have the balance to stand up.  Next year, for sure!

 Buddy and I chilled on the beach while the boys fished.

 Would love to try and paint this.  Amazing colors!!

 The guys fished most nights after dinner.

 Oh yeah, they saw sharks and sting rays.

Tdawg and I went on our first helicopter ride.

 Taking off over Pier Park shopping center.

 Aerial view of our condo.  Cletus is on the balcony!

 Water was a bit murky from rain, but we still saw sharks and rays.  Amazing view!!

 Yes I was scared at first.  But another check on the Bucket List. (I think skydiving is next)

 The food was incredible.  This is Rhode Island red shrimp (jumbo!) with crabmeat wrapped in bacon.  Don't know how they cooked the bacon without overcooking the shrimp. It was the best! Also had Crab Au Gratin.  (I looked up Paula Deen's recipe for Crab Au Gratin...it starts with a stick of butter. Really bad for the diet!)  And Shrimp and Cheese Grits (weird combo but it works!).  And an amazing Pecan Crusted Tilapia. Ooo la la!!  One of the best things about vacay.  No cooking, no dishes!

 Last night and not much bait left.

 Something bit through the metal leader and ate Tdawg's hook!

 But they were determined!

 I gave Buddy my ipod and he had a blast singing on the beach!

It was quite dark and with the last piece of bait! Tdawg caught a blue fish.

Buddy and I also kayak again.  It was fun but I liked paddle boarding better. Tdawg also parasailed for the first time.

But mostly we just hung out on the beach reading and relaxing, while Buddy built sandcastles.  It was nice to escape reality...for awhile.

You may recall last year, when I was driving home from the beach, I hit a buzzard.  Cletus was astounded.  How in the world do you hit a buzzard?  Well, on our way home this year...you guessed it.  Cletus hit a buzzard!  I was dying laughing.  If you watch closely, they are the slowest birds!  And lower Alabama is full of them! It really isn't that hard to hit one.

End of Summer

Weird feeling not having any kiddos going on the bus this morning.  I guess that means they are all grown up.