Today (looking ahead)
* by 9 AM Justin leaves for the remainder of the summer to work again as a boyscout camp councilor
* JoJo, Molly, & Brian hope to arrive in time to see him off - then will stay the remainder of the day
* Before all of that happens I would like to de-clutter
* Tonight bake banana bread for church
* pray and prepare for Sunday Church - The Lord's Day Worship!

It has been so wonderful to have Justin around so much this spring and early summer. Even though he has been away at college for three years and has limited time to come home and just hang out visit we still are getting used to the new way of things. Which means his presence these last couple of months has brought a balance to us as a family. A temporary return to our previous equilibrium. Though I know it was temporary, it has been good ... for all of us.

I am not sad to see him go, nor do I want to hold him back, this work is his joy. He loves the wilderness, the hard work of it, and the manly toughness it requires. He loves working with the kids (weblos sp?), both leading them and playing among them. (I am hoping he has more return kids who remember him. I know that is a joy.) But there is something, a kind of feeling making me pause this morning. I am having a hard time finding the words for how I feel. I guess it is just that I will miss him. He is a good man. Kind and loving. Tough and Strong. He is a leader - a great big brother - a great oldest of the bunch type of leader... in charge leading and teaching but AMONG... . He is a big thinker. He is wise. He is my "m-Justin". I love him. I will miss him, but I am glad for him too.

Then there is the fact that JoJo, Molly, and Brian are coming through town. I am SO EXCITED and glad that she is able to MAKE the time to do this, even if only a daytrip, because I have not been able to make the time to get down there and see her and hers. I blogged about life demands etc earlier this spring. http://pluto-sam.blogspot.com/2008/04/love-in-silence.html My excited feeling and anticipation is mixed a bit with the "my house is such a big big big mess" panic but that is normal for me.

I am a terrible housekeeper. It is not that my Mama didn't train me well she did. I do know how to keep a clean (truly clean) and de-cluttered house. A clean and de-clutter house is more peaceful to me, but I almost never have any motivation to actually DO the pick up and clean up it requires. This is the kind of home my kids grew up in. Bursts of high energy that kicks only on the rare occasion. So whenever someone is coming by the house there is always this panic, because I want my house to be peaceful in it's physical state as well as it's relational atmosphere.

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TODAY:
The birds are singing. My coffee is good.
My son is ready and packed.
I get to visit with JoJo, Molly, & Brian.
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