Stuff That Matters in Life

Katy’s Weblog

I love Psalm 121.

When I first learned to drive, in the pre-GPS, pre-Thomas Guide days (all we had were those maps from AAA, you  know, the ones that are impossible to refold), I was taught that if I am lost, look for the mountains – the mountains are north. We lived against the foothills in Pasadena, so if I just head towards the mountains, I will eventually see something familiar near home.

Whenever I see mountains anywhere, I think of Psalm 121.

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?

2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 121 is a picture of a personal God. He is not only the awesome Creator,

but also one who reaches down to where where we live –

“The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in”;

… where we walk –

“He will not allow your foot to slip”;

… where we work in the day –

“The sun will not smite you by day”;

…where we sleep –

“Nor the moon by night”;

…where we struggle –

“The LORD will protect you from all evil”.

He is faithful and committed to us –

“From this time forth and forever.”

Whenever I look at the mountains, I think of God’s love for me.

When I went to college, I attended a junior college near home for one year, then transferred and lived away from home. I didn’t come back home to live until after I got married. My husband and I lived with my parents for one year while saving money to buy our first house. Living with my parents as an adult was difficult, to put it mildly. Honestly, I don’t recommend it.

Now as a parent, as much as I enjoy my children, I know that it is better for them to live on their own as an adult when they finish college. Several of my friends have children coming home to live after graduating from college this year while looking for their first job. We’ve been talking about the change in the relationship with our adult children.

We’ve been moms to our kids as minors for 18 years  It would be easy to gravitate back to treating our adult children as we did when they were little. It ain’t going to work.

It takes intentionality to treat our adult children differently.

I am still learning this. I catch myself saying silly things to my 22-year-old son like, “It’s time to go to bed,” or “Don’t forget your wallet.”  Does he really need me to tell him things like that??

As my children become independent, I am becoming the same – to be independent to be just me and not operate in mom mode.

Family

Filed under General, Kidsby Joyful

With empty nest approaching for me, we are down to one child at home. With only 3 of us home now, without grandma or the 2 older kids, we are down 50% of the number of people in our house. I only do laundry once a week; I cook enough rice for 2 meals at one time because it’s hard to cook just 1 cup of rice; things are generally pretty quiet.

This week, my 2 older children are home!  Back to more noise and more dishes to wash. But I am not complaining.  I bought a bunch of food from Costco. Just like old times.

My son is leaving again in a day. His room will remain available for him when he comes home next time, whenever that may be.

Knowing that I like to read mysteries, my sign language teacher told me this book is light reading and entertaining. I think it’s a little too light, and I did not find it very entertaining.

Mrs. Pollifax Unveiled by Dorothy Gilman is one in a series of Mrs. Pollifax novels. This is the first one I’ve read, and it is my last. There were no surprises, no intrigue. The writing lacks style. It’s straightforward and plain, the way I would write…and no publisher is knocking at my door. There are over 10 Mrs. Pollifax books, so apparently she has fans. But I’m not one of them.

I miss Agatha Christie.

Do you step on the pedal and speed under the railroad crossing gates when the red lights start flashing? I do…

But I won’t anymore.

Yesterday I was driving with my friend when we approached the railroad tracks. There was a car in front of me when the lights started flashing. That car sped past the tracks as the gates are starting to come down. But there’s still plenty of time for me to pass. “You have to stop,” my friend warned. “You can get a ticket for that.” She knew from experience because her husband got a $300+ ticket for doing that.

It was a good thing I took her advice. A cop came out of hiding, .and caught the car that was in front of me.

Close one.

I’m taking a sign language class, we meet twice a week, and it’s one of the highlights of my week. There is a great sense of satisfaction when I actually understand what my teacher is signing (if he does it relatively slow).

There is a 70-year-old man in the class. He’s retired, wakes up anytime…

Read more of “Why learn”