Kids all around are getting ready to go back to school. Whether next week or after Labor Day, the big day will soon be here.

It’s one of my daughter’s favorite times of the year — mainly because it means frequent visits to the mall and shopping are required. I’ve found as she’s gotten older, that it’s harder to find the “right” backpack. We look for things such as, will her instrument fit and will the zipper hold up the whole year. She on the other hand looks for things like will her friends be able to sign it and have their signatures show up, is it dorky or stylish, and does it have enough pockets.

Wouldn’t it be great if those “in charge” created a great big kiosk in the grocery store or mall parking lot to offer one-stop-shopping for all school needs. Sort of like the fireworks booths that spring up a few weeks before and offer heavy discounts the day after. All resources could be pooled into one massive kiosk. So when the composition notebooks are empty off the shelves, another box could be pulled out immediately to reload. Or when the school supply list calls for a compass and graph paper, they actually have shelves containing compasses and graph paper. Sounds like a great idea to me!

The back-to-school season often seems to be so stressful with all the shopping needs required which only fuels the financial burden stress. Then if that isn’t enough, school fees demand to be paid as well. Parents feel like a bank throwing money at everything they encounter, whether the balance is in the black or red.

So, to lighten the load, here’s some mindless humor I found in my day-calendar to brighten your day. Go ahead … it’s okay to laugh:

1. Hand a small child a pair of scissors and eventually they or a sibling will need a haircut.
2. “Always end the name of your child with a vowel, so that when you yell, the name will carry.” Bill Cosby
3. “Hospitality is making your guests feel at home even though you wish they were.” Barbara Johnson
4. No debate class on earth can ever prepare a woman for a standoff with a 3-year old.
5. If you or I had been Lot’s wife, we’d never have risked looking back and turning into a pillar of salt. Imagine how you’d retain water!

When my daughter was in kindergarten, I relayed to my boss something undesirable that she did.

“Where does she get this from? I just don’t understand.” I insisted.

My boss laughed. By the look on my face, he quickly realized I was not joking.

“You’re serious?” He said.

“Yes!” I said emphatically.

Silence. I walked out of his office and thought about it all day. When I got home that night, I told my husband what happened. “Please tell me … do I do that? Does she get it from me?”

He waited a moment looking gently at me, and then said softly, “Honey … you’re getting better.”

I appreciate greatly his honesty. It was after that moment that I took the not-so-desirable behaviors or attitudes I saw in my daughter and put them to thought and prayer asking, “Do I do this?” The majority of the time, I was guilty.

Have you ever had one of those moments where you realized your child is mimicking you? Usually they don’t pick up on the magnificent qualities we possess. Instead they pick up on the little irritating things we tend to not see ourselves.

Our children are a mirror for us. We cannot do one thing and expect they will not follow suit. They watch our every action, move, behavior, and attitude — they are great copycats.

Let’s work hard to be a great example for our children.

Your example is much more powerful than anything you can ever say. — Elisabeth Elliot

Typically, at this time each year I find myself baffled at how quickly summer has passed and how little I did on the list I hoped to accomplish. This year is no different.

How is it that each day is quickly consumed and we find ourselves at the end of the day wondering how we spent our time? I often find myself discouraged when the day ends and my list did not budge. But when it comes down to it, I have to ask myself what is more important — my list or my influential role as a mom?

Obviously being a mom is most important, but I wish I could readily say each evening, “Today, I made my role as a mom my top priority.” I’m human and I fail at times like everyone else. Life crowds in swiftly and at times I find myself giving in to its push.

It is times such as these that I have to stop and remember to not forget the little things that matter. Breakfast together. Listening to my daughter without multi-tasking. Joining her interests for the day, rather than finagling her into my life demands. Just hanging out, laughing, talking, and being together.

These things matter every day. It’s the little things that make a big difference. Even though not mapped out on our to-do list, they should top a parent’s list.

Do our children know by our actions that they top our priority list? Perhaps some days, but if you’re like me … some days not so much.

God’s plans for parents are significant and I’m pretty sure checking off a to-do list isn’t at the top. As parents, let’s remember the little things God has purposed us to do and be for our children.

As a reminder to me of my powerful role as a mother, I wrote out my heart’s prayer and set it on my desk for me to see every day.

“Guide me Lord to do what You desire me to do this day! May it not be just a list of things to accomplish, but a day to fulfill Your plans.”

I admit … I’m a pack rat. The clutter police could have a hay day in my house. It’s full of things I might just need — someday. But, I’m getting better. Knick knacks, general paperwork, my daughter’s school papers and projects from every year of school, every memento she has ever made me … you get the idea. Personal treasures I can reflect on — someday. I always intend to organize the piles, stacks, overflowed boxes — someday. But it seems that many other things crowd out that someday and someday lingers in the distant — very far distant — future.

Last fall we did some remodeling. When we replaced the flooring and painted the walls, some internal cleanup was required. My “someday” arrived. I de-cluttered half of the house (the half being remodeled). I went through each item that would or would not fit with the new decor. It felt so good! I didn’t throw everything away as I have to admit our attic received a few new residents, but I did get rid of much excess.

Tired out from an overdue remodeling project, the de-cluttering of the other half of our house got waylaid. I planned to get back to it — someday. I just won’t take anyone to that half of the house. Most people just see the clutter-free part anyway! I reasoned.

The idea of attacking the other half of the house lacked luster. It meant attacking a plethora of paperwork piles. Where’s the creative decorating in such a project? There is none. That’s just paper shuffling and filing — my absolute disliked tasks. I’d get to it someday …

Fast forward to this past weekend. My “someday” finally arrived once again. In one week, we pick up our then eight-week old puppy. I read puppy training material that said, “If your puppy eats or chews on one of your prized possessions, it is not your puppy’s fault. It’s YOURS for leaving it out.” Ugh. I knew already I’d be guilty of such an offense. My forced “someday” meant puppy proofing trumped my avoidance issue.

I started Saturday morning in one room. After a few hours of yard work, my husband came inside. “Wow. This is awesome!” You see, he is NOT a pack rat. He’s a perfectionist, and a patient neat freak husband that’s incredibly gracious about my pack-ratting ways. I knew this would make his day, week, or maybe his whole year!

“I’m moving on to my office next because if I stop now, I’m afraid I won’t start again.” I announced.

My family ate lunch, I continued de-cluttering and grabbing finger food along the way. Once the office was done, mounds of paperwork organized, and garbage taken outside, I helped my daughter organize her things. She’s picked up my bad pack-ratting habits and expanded on a few of her own.

By last night I was finally done and it felt WONDERFUL. I can now walk down the hallway of that half of the house with a sigh of relief and satisfaction. Now … the other half of the house (the usually clean de-cluttered part) has been ignored and clean laundry covers the furniture. I’ll get to that … soon. It can’t be someday. After all the puppy is coming!

The moral of the story? If you need to clean your house or de-clutter … get a puppy! It’s cheaper than remodeling.

Puppy. Firsts. Shiny penny. Souvenirs. What do these all have in common?

They all represent something new. At a recent garage sale, I bought a $.50 purse — a cheap find, but a gem to me. A few months ago, I got my braces off. That new luxury of smooth (and straight) teeth was exhilarating. I couldn’t stop smiling!!

Have you ever had an “Ahhaa” moment? You know, the moments when a new concept or idea just suddenly comes together in your mind and everything makes sense. It’s so profound to you that the moment lingers a while as you discover its deep meaning or affect on your life. New things don’t have to come with price tags and they aren’t always enjoyable, but one thing is for certain … something new does something to a person.

Puppy: Our beloved miniature poodle, Oscar, died unexpectedly last month days after discovering a blood disorder. He has been greatly missed, but our home without a pet is like a refrigerator without power — it just doesn’t work. So, after research, we found our new labradoodle puppy. She is now just a mere six weeks old. We’re quite excited for this new addition to our home soon, but this new change will mean major puppy proofing of our home over the next few weeks and breaking a few bad (messy) habits.

Firsts: We just returned from vacation and had the wonderful opportunity to experience for the first time an area we had never been to — New England and New York City. Going to a new area never explored is full of firsts. Historical sites — the place where it all began. Whale watch — can’t do that in Colorado. Times Square — a city’s nightlife incomparable. Firsts are exhilarating new explorations.

Shiny Penny. Everywhere we went on our trip, Hannah spent $.51 — two quarters and the shiniest penny we had. The result — a flattened penny embossed with the attraction’s symbol. It’s a token memory of the little enjoyments she saw.

Souvenirs. No vacation is complete without a few new souvenirs. After wandering all over NYC and finally finding the best deal, we got 20 postcards for $1.00 on our last day. What a find!! After we made our purchase, much to my surprise, the next shop boasted 30 postcards for $1.00. Go figure. I know when I drink from my new coffee cup or hang our Christmas ornament on the tree this year, the memories of our trip will be renewed.

Yes, new things do something to a person. What new things will you experience this summer? Will you try something new with your kids? Will you see something you’ve not seen before? Will you read a new genre of book? Or learn a new creative outlet?

Make a point to cut loose from your status quo and discover something new. Sure, it will stretch you. It may not be comfortable and it may even take some extra time and effort. But the benefits will be worth it!