Bruce is out of town on business. Florida. His first trip with his new employer. He won't be gone long. He left Tuesday afternoon and will be back Thursday evening. Sure I miss him but a strange thing happens when he is away. I get more things done. Not that I consider him a hindrance to my duties at home. In fact he usually is a major contributor to the chores of daily family life. Its just different when he's away.

I just seem to accomplish more. Sure, yesterday I could not decide what to have for dinner. And I let the kids play outside til 7:30pm before I called them in to eat. But boy...once dinner was made the domestic goddess descended upon my being and I hope she doesn't leave any time soon.

After cleaning up dinner and doing the dishes I shuttled the youngest off to take a bath. While he bathed I folded a load of laundry and started a new one. I read and relaxed while absorbing my ear drops. Dried off child number 3 and sent the middle son to the water filled tub. While he cleansed and scrubbed I sorted soaks while watching Yard Crashers on the DIY channel. With two clean boys and tidy bedrooms I gathered the children for evening prayers. I sent the boys off the bed with kisses and hugs. Offical bedtime for the night....10:00pm.

I stopped to fold another load of freshly dried clothes and poked my head into my oldests' room. "I'm headed out to get some groceries, keep an eye on the boys for me please." With a request for pretzels from my daughter I head off to the store.

Walmart is a strange place at night. It's quiet. Very few customers. I have room for thought! Imagine that. In the fruit isle I come across a major bargain. Strawberries $1.42 lb. "Wow" I think to myself, "I should make some strawberry jam with prices like these." So I load over 10 lbs of strawberries into my cart. I worry that I might be turned away at the check out "Sorry Ma'am. The limits 2 per customer." I take my chances and load my cart up with 6 more pounds. I found fresh corn for $.25 an ear and asparagus for $2.00 a pound. Roma tomatoes were dollar a pound and bananas just $.50 a pound. I imagine tomorrow nights meal of freash corn and pasta with basil and roma tomatoes. With culinary thoughts filling my mind I happily finish my shopping and head home with all 16 lbs of strawberries.

This morning I woke up earlier than normal and drove my daughter to school. I stopped at the pharmacy on the way home. The boys were still sleeping when I walked in the door so I decided to get started on the jam. I hulled and washed and smashed and crushed strawberries while listening to the morning show on the radio. The boys woke up and headed downstairs for breakfast. They were fascinated with what I was doing. Eager to help we spent the next hour making jam together and counting the experience towards todays school hours.

I set the boys onto school and had them start their lessons. After lunch I weeded the garden, nursed a scrape, update my blog and started a new painting in my personal adventure as an artist. Tonight I'll head to church with my 10 year old for scouts and my 13 year old for youth group. I imagine we'll come home and have another quiet evening of domestic accomplishment.

To some this may seem like an ordinary day, run of the mill, old hand....but for me someone whose mind and soul is muddled with depression this has been a splendid day of sucess. This is what life is all about. Enjoying the mundane everyday moments of living.

And Bruce, when you get home please don't disturb the domestic spirit that has taken up residence in your absence. I rather like her and I'm sure you will too!