Talent!!!

This morning my friend's status on Facebook read, "I feel like moping...and pouting...I'm not sure why...I just do...coffee time!!!" My response, "I AM moping today! My servant bank account is closed...I have nothing left to give! I'm sitting on my a$$ (yep, I wrote that) reading magazines until 3pm, when I'll have to reopen!" I tried the coffee, a whole pot, but it didn't change my attitude. In fact, it sent me to the bathroom over and over again, only to confront the toothpaste splatter all over the mirror...and the never-ending cleaning which is causing me to mope in the first place! After my pot of coffee, I took a nap (a bit worrisome being I had just consumed how many ml's of caffeine?), then I turned on the Travel Channel and learned Reno has an Italian Festival every year...really? I did not turn on the Travel Channel to hear about RENO! As I flipped through the channels "Say Yes to the Dress" was running it's Top Ten Moments. Oh my goodness! If only my biggest problem was whether my $10,000 DRESS fit me perfectly...I don't know if my whole WEDDING cost $10,000!!! Get a life girls! When you're running kids everywhere and that dress is boxed up in the attic you'll realize just how important it was! I decided I wasn't learning anything useful by watching TV.

A couple of weeks ago my mother-in-law came for a visit. I LOVE her, she wants nothing but the best for her children and grandchildren and she's wise!!! She also has an incredible knack for reading people and offering advice without sounding preachy! I'm not sure if it's because summer was coming to an end or if the dark circles and exhaustion gave me away, but she could obviously see that I'm in desperate need of a recharge. We sat talking and she pointed out the obvious fact that I am not using my creativity in any shape or form and that maybe I should find an outlet for it. In a nutshell, "you are very talented, but you're turning into the Wicked Witch of the West because you're not fulfilling your purpose." Now don't get me wrong, I am very grateful I have been able to stay home with my children, but really, who dreams of being a taxi cab driver or a maid? I used to paint and redecorate my house, draw up plans for the perfect kitchen, plant roses and boxwood, now I just plant myself on the couch and look around at all the things I want to change, but it's not my call in this rental. My husband always thought I was crazy for constantly changing things, now I really am going crazy because I can't. So mother's know best...I need to use my talent!

Doing this is much easier said than done. I don't even know where to start. I've signed up for the Art Docent program at my kid's school. This is a parent sponsored program to teach kids about art history and art mediums and then help them make their own masterpieces using the same techniques as Van Gogh, Seurat, Warhol, etc. While I'm very excited to share my knowledge, I'm also certain teaching is not my purpose, how am I supposed to teach 30 kids something when my own 3 don't even listen to me?? So ironically, after being told last week by a few friends and family members, the very same thing my mother-in-law told me two weeks ago...do I really look THAT defeated...I've realized I need to pray specifically for God to lead me to the door I need to go through. My overworked brain can't process my own thoughts!

Sunday I went to Chapel with my cousin's family and all of the other families with a Freshman at William Jessup University. The keynote speaker lectured the new students about finding your purpose, using the talent on loan you've been given by God. Um, I'm certainly way past being a Freshman in college but I'm sure if I'd had a mirror present, a spotlight would have been shining down on me!!! "In order for this technology driven world to change, it needs people with creativity and critical thinking skills, people with communication skills, not texting skills!" She showed us a video about a man who is contributing to the world...and it all started with a simple idea and creativity. This "sole man" is Blake Mycoskie, the creator of TOMS shoes. I'd seen him before and admired his passion and purpose but this time something stirred within me....I wanted to drive to the Galleria and plop down $200 to buy my family some "not so cute shoes" to support his mission. I haven't made it there, YET!

Tuesday it was HOT, Africa hot, as I was walking to my mailbox. My poor dog was lifting his paws trying to avoid touching the pavement...I thought of the children in Africa and other countries that have never had shoes...until TOMS came along. I swear on my life, I opened the mailbox, and there on the cover of my "Costco Connection"...Blake Mycoskie. Weird. It's gets weirder. Thursday night I plunked myself down at swim practice and opened up my new Coastal Living magazine...whose "can't live withouts" are they profiling...none other than Blake's! So I've had three encounters with Blake Mycoskie this week...he's HOT, loves to travel, loves the ocean and drinks Pacifico beer...but I'm thinking it's more than our common interests drawing me in! So what is it? I'm not sure, but I must be receiving "Godwinks." Do I have a simple idea hidden within me that could change someones world? Something creative which is just below the surface and my murky mind is clouding the water? I'm like Sandy in "Grease", while she's singing Hopelessly Devoted. I can see my reflection in the water, but Danny is not causing the ripples, it's soccer, swimming, and this house. I need to be still so the water can clear.

So while I deemed this day totally unproductive, it really hasn't been. This is the first time I have written in two months. My kids are all home from school and I haven't raised my voice once. I even remembered to take meat out of the freezer...this morning! Maybe I'll hit the Galleria and pick up those TOMS...and then maybe I'll fancy them up and sell them for $200 a pair... to those crazy girls to wear with their $10,000 wedding dresses!!!