This Sunday was a Fun Day! This was a Sunday like Sundays are supposed to be. You know, that whole actually taking a day off thing? Well, these days we call that vacation (though half the time, at least, vacations aren’t even taking time off). It used to be called Sabbath, a day of abstinence from work.
I haven’t abstained from “work” on Sunday in a long time. After church, there’s grocery shopping for the week and making meals and doing laundry and running whatever kid errand is overdue. But last night, because the kids had Columbus Day off from school, my darling hubby ran out to the farm with them for a little break.
While work calls tomorrow, their excursion left me solo today.
I have a lot to do. I need to get organized after all the birthday presents and leftover party chaos. All our closets need redone now that fall’s arrived. There was laundry and practical errands and work and thank you notes. You know. The need-to-do list never ends.
But I made an affirmative decision not to do ANY OF IT. Yep, that’s right. Nada. Zilch. Zippo.
It wasn’t an easy decision, but it was a necessary one. My family was off on a long weekend vacation and I had a huge day of work ahead on Monday. I decided to choose a day to play.
I can’t remember the last time I goofed off for a day. My last vacation day was spent doing kids birthday prep. Not exactly relaxing! While I did go to church and teach Sunday School (so not entirely goofing off), I slept in until 8 (gasp!), picked up Starbucks, and thought about what errands would be fun.
First, I bought a new CROCK POT! Stop laughing! Y’all, I hated my Instant Pot. I know I hated it when it arrived, but it didn’t grow on me. My darling husband has primarily been using it for stews. Well, this week he accidentally poured all of his stew ingredients into the pot without the actual pot being inside. (I laugh every time I try to say that.) It killed all the wiring in the machine. If it had been me, I would have felt bad about buying a new crockpot. But since he broke it, I gleefully picked up a new, old school, Crock Pot – on sale and family size! Now I can fill up seven quarts to feed my increasingly hungry kiddos! I also roamed the superstore buying soccer snacks and vitamins and clearance shorts for the boys. No kids. Just me and my buggy. Bliss.
Then I rambled over to Michael’s for their huge mark down sale. Now I HATE stores pulling out Christmas décor when we haven’t even gotten to Halloween, but… I’m not a Halloween fan and I am a Christmas fan. Michael’s offered new ROWS of Christmas ribbon for 60% off! I love Christmas ribbon. I collect Christmas ribbon. Making gifts and Christmas décor look beautiful is therapeutic for me. Selecting new Christmas ribbon made me giddy.
I picked up a pizza and sat on my back patio, on what was an absolutely spectacularly gorgeous day, and drank a beer and noshed on my yummy lunch. Happy and restful. On of my favorite people ever came by so we could outfit her for an upcoming ’80s party. We dug through a thrift store and costume accessories store and came up with the BEST finds. You’ll see more on Friday, she’s such a good sport she agreed to be a Fashion Friday, but here’s a sneak peek of our dressing room laughter.
I managed to sneak in a pedicure and a grocery run before vegging in front of the (not so) Presidential debates.
With all the sickness and birthday-ing and heavy work load and new school schedule, today was a gift. I feel like a new woman. A day of doing things fun for me. The house is still a mess. I didn’t contribute to American productivity today. I never cooked or picked up around the house. Maybe I should even feel bad about that.
Friends, I have learned, as you probably know, there will always be more to do. Your list will always grow. Still, you have to stay healthy and focused to help your family and your company and your community with all there is to do. If you don’t take a day off every now and again, then you will burn out. You don’t have to take a fancy vacation. You don’t need a weekend at an expensive spa. Sometimes, just a $25 pedicure, laughing with a girlfriend, and a solo trip to Costco or Target will recharge you. It sure did me!