Busy hands

We've been so busy that I haven't really had a day just to take care of things around the house.  Last Saturday morning I did manage to clean out my closet and later in the week, give away quite a few items of clothing.  It was great to know that things I no longer wear have a new life.  Today I spent the day cleaning our master bath...clearing and wiping out cabinets, drawers and the linen closets, and scrubbing out the big jacuzzi (not an easy job-hard on the old back!), along with all the grandbabies' bath toys.  I got rid of things that weren't being used, scrubbed my hairbrushes and comb, organized my nail care items and the kids' items, and ran the whirlpool with detergent and bleach and toys.  I rinsed everything with a white vinegar mix and put the toys out in the sun to dry, along with our bed linens, fresh from the washer.  I polished mirrors and did laundry, carefully folding everything fresh from the dryer and putting it away.  Ed and I watched The Shawshank Redemption, while I sat and ironed four of my blouses, two of his dress shirts, and the fresh smelling pillow cases we'll sleep on tonight.  I cleaned out the kitchen junk drawer and all the drawers and countertops in our wet bar.   Ed grilled enough chicken breasts to make the base of at least three meals this week, saving me time and energy after long days at the office  It feels really good to start the week ready to go.

Tuesday or Wednesday we'll travel to Newport News to see my daughter, an Officer in the USAF, who flies in from North Dakota.  From there, she will be deployed.  I've intentionally put this deployment as far away from my thoughts as possible because I'm having a hard time dealing with it.  She's my baby - the tough little thing who has traveled the world (3 trips to Europe so far), earned an engineering degree, run marathons, graduated from the Va. Tech Corp of Cadets (and was a Company Commander), volunteered...the list is endless... and here she is doing the thing she has wanted to do since she was small.  She seems pretty prepared.  Me?  No so much.

So today, I stayed busy.  I kept my thoughts on mundane tasks and with each item checked off my mental lists, more time passed.  When I get upset, I tend to clean and organize.  It makes me feel like I an control at least a small part of my life.  I think it will be easier for me when she's safely arrived at her destination.  Of course, I have no idea how I'll know she made it or that she's safe.  I have to trust that she's a remarkable woman, and that this will be an enriching experience for her.

Prayers for her, and for all our deployed troops (and their parents and families), are always appreciated.  Maybe I should offer out my services as a maid for the next six months.