Hello and א גוטן חודש!

While cleaning out a closet, I found a bag that I didn’t recognize.

When I opened it and saw the contents, I was transported to another time, one I cannot believe really existed.

It was 2 needlepoint canvases (partially finished)  with tons of beautiful threads, different size needles and a few books with at least a hundred different stitches. 

I was back in the mountains, where my husband was a Rebbe/Division head for a number of years, sitting in a circle of women on lawn chairs, watching our children play, giving out drinks and ices, wiping scrapes, settling childish arguments….….. And relaxing and enjoying each other’s company.  

We spent hours, days and weeks on those chairs, shmoozing, laughing, bonding, and actually developing as wives, mothers, and friends.

Fast forward a bunch of years, and I don’t recognize that person. Nor do I see many women who are at that stage now, experiencing that relaxedness….

I decided to do an unofficial experiment.

For 2 weeks, when I asked women how their summer was going ( I looooooooove the summer), the answer I most often received was “hectic”.  

It sounds like a pretty parve answer, but I felt a twinge of sadness when I heard it.

Summer has become endless carpools, many schedules to juggle, lack of structure (which is actually so healthy sometimes), all of the doctor appointments that we don’t want our children to miss school for, and you can probably think of more things than I can.

Early this morning I was talking to my daughter, as she was drinking coffee on her back porch, watching her children, who were still in pajamas, riding bikes and playing.  

At one point, she said, “I really have to get moving, and get this day started”. 

The day did start!

It’s a little bit slow, it’s a little unstructured, it’s a little messy….

But that’s summer!  

It’s wonderful!

Embrace it! Slow down! The “unhurriedness” can do wonders for us.  

Before we know it, we will be bundling into coats and hats, and boots, and back in that rigid, keep-chceking-my-watch routine.

Take that cup of coffee, sit on your porch, or better yet, sit in a circle with friends.

And if you like needlepoint, I have a bag full of projects!

Enjoy!