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Oct. 15, 2006 - I'd rather be raking

'To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:"  Ecc 3:1

 

There is something so satisfying about doing a job that has visble results.  Like mopping a really nasty kitchen floor or sweeping or raking.  Of course in this part of the country, (NW Fla.) we don't get to do much raking.  This time of year I do especially miss it. (?)  Well, I miss the change of colors and the need for a jacket.  It actually dipped down to a 'frigid' 50 degrees the other night and in the morning you'd have thought it was an ice age the way my kids were going on about how 'freezing' it was.  They were grabbing jackets and sweat pants and trying to see their breath. 

 

As we put it here, we have two seasons - Tourist and hurricane.  But we panhandlers do have it a little better than the central and south Floridians.  Here you might actually find a tree along the road that changes color in the fall.  (Of course it probably just blew here from Alabama last hurricane season and the neighbors haven't had it taken away yet) 

 

My boys don't share my fondness for "all things autumn" - or rakes. When the leaves DO fall ( in March!!)  they've learned to use the leaf blower to blow it all into a pile and then fill up the trash bags with shovels. fun.

 

Have you ever tried to enjoy hot apple cider with the air conditioner on?  Or a really good chili?  It just isn't the same.  We do still build a fire, (fireplaces here are pretty much for asthetics) but usually have to open a window to cool off.

 

The Lord has taught many lessons since we moved here.  The most difficult has been contentment.  ( I still can not figure out WHY he made Florida other than He wanted a place to keep all the mosquitos, roaches and alligators; and to have a great place to conduct fun homeschool science experiments on humidity, wind ratings on playground sets and the melting point of candles in the garage )

As you can tell, I am still working on my lessons on contentment.  That's probably why we're still here.

 

But this is my season for this.  And I do have many purposes.  The six little purposes I will wake up tomorrow and care for are worth all the trying days that this season of life brings with it.  Because it also brings those sweet times; listening to a child learn to read, watching a big brother help a little brother ride a bike. (extracting a rock from my two year olds nose - but that's for another post)

 

There may be those of you 'cold weather-snow haters' that would love to spend Thanksgiving on the beach or New Year's wearing short sleeves.  If your leaves are piling up and you're short on helpers, let me know.  I'll come if I can. 

With my rake.

 

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