Why My Kitchen Looks Like This...

Because we've been loving summer and doing things like this...

Boating, picnicking, swimming, and fishing with friends.

The boys were fearless.

Exploring The Farm,

some family land.

Working in our garden and enjoying the harvest.

We have exponentially expanded our garden this year,

like, to the thirteenth power,

thanks to some good friends who had an extra garden plot out at their place.

That there corn that Reuben is chomping

GREW IN OUR GARDEN.

It just amazes me how plants grow from a tiny dry seed.

We haven't used any chemicals at all,

the animals have been kind and stayed away,

and we go pick about every other day and eat, eat, eat.

And I 'put up' as much as will fit in my freezer.

Mostly corn, green beans, zucchini, and blueberries.

I'm still a bit of a misfit because I don't own a canner

and therefore do not provide our family with two years

worth of produce from one summer harvest.

But maybe some day.

Anyway, the gist of this post is a reminder to me that I did not resign from my job that I loved as a public school teacher to clean my house.  I left the 'real world' to spend time with my kids.  To love them, and train them, and invest in them, and experience life with them.  To create memories with them.  Like these.

Another spin on this is the Mary/Martha issue.  In Luke 10, Jesus visits Mary and Martha and Mary stops what she's doing to spend time with Jesus.  Meanwhile, Martha worked and prepared to serve Him.  I see nothing wrong with that, which is my flaw.  Martha and I agree that someone has to clean and cook and be hostess to guests.  But Jesus said Mary had chosen what is better.  I tend to be more task focused, like Martha.  So I'm trying to let go of that tendency and focus more on people and relationships.  Such as leaving my kitchen to be a potential embarrassment if someone drops by (which they do) so that I can spend time with important people (my family).

(When Jesus says, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things..."  My brain always adds another 'Martha' in there and it takes me back to the Brady Bunch.)

Happy Summer