Instapost {Sept. No. 1} ⋆ A Delightful Glow

Well, technically my idea when I first instaposted was to post ONE picture, sort of like Instagram, and then write what was on my heart or on my mind to record. I was thinking they would be a cross between Instagram and a blog post. I really enjoy Instagram, but generally don’t write long captions or thoughts there. Blogging is still my first love.

One picture just doesn’t happen for me a lot. I always want to take more than one or try this angle or that one.

So, instapost it may be. But quite possibly more than one photo.

Partway through the week, when my kiddos were gone to Ohio, I had my kitchen all tidied up and it was holding its own pretty nicely. The island in my kitchen was cleared off and I found myself keeping it that way.

This week we have all been under one roof again and glad to have those kiddo voices and noise around again. I decided though, that I just liked that clear, empty island and my little goal for the week was to keep it that way. Any time I spotted an offender of any kind that didn’t belong on the island and wasn’t getting used, I moved it. The other counters were loaded at times or scattered and strewn with sundry items, but NOT my island.

It was nice!! If I wanted to sit down and write something or make a grocery list or wrap the gift for my friend’s baby shower, I had a clear island! I use my island a lot and for a variety of things.

I made mention to my husband about my whole keep-the-island-empty campaign and he witnessed a couple of times when I gave a yelp along the lines of “My island!” and pounced on the offending object or dish and deposited it quickly to another surface.

I also thought all week that I wanted to write an Instapost about my island. The week kept busy with kiddos home from visiting grandparents and schoolbooks to break out and a baby shower to prep for. I took some pictures of my lovely, EmPtY island, but never grabbed a few minutes to go instapost about it.

“Today I am going to,” I thought this morning. I sort of had a rough draft in my head about this compelling, breath-taking island post that would keep readers scrolling, hearts pounding. I did have a rough draft idea, just without all the breath-taking stuff. ALTHOUGH, I am betting there are a few mamas out there that would totally get the whole idea of a clean island and keeping it emptied and would read with bated breath to the end, wondering, WONDERING,

“IS SHE ABLE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN?”

My post was just going to be a couple of pictures of the clear space making me happy and a few words about my challenge to myself and my swooping and protecting of my space and how it stayed clear and blah, blah, blah, aren’t you so encouraged and stuff like that.

So, the end.

EXCEPT.

My man.

He rewrote the end.

Right after lunch he was headed to the field to do farmy stuff for a little while. I was going to chauffeur him to the field and motor back home in the pickup, so his pickup wouldn’t be stranded at the field. I was clearing and putting away after lunch and as I’d been doing all week, I cleared off the island.

Mr. Matthew nonchalantly strolled over and took a drink from his red cup and casually set it on the island. Then he proceeded to place another red cup and a bowl on the island. Very casual deliberateness.

Straight face. Gleam in eye. Ornery oozing.

I did what any good wife would and gave him the reaction he was teasing for.

{He may or may not have been threatened to suddenly be chauffeurless for his needed ride to the field, IF offending items were not promptly and swiftly removed. He may or may not have been threatened with the {empty} threat of locked doors when he came back from the tractor, if that island WAS. NOT. CLEARED. NOW.}

Nobody messes with mama and her empty island quest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I managed to get Mr. Ornery off to the tractor and returned home.

Fast forward and farmer returns.

At this point Miss R and I were just settling down in the basement to watch our Esther Bible study session. The two men of the family retreated and were left alone upstairs to grab a snack.

I’d made a few mental notes, one that when we finished our session, I would blog my empty island. Never realized what a story that was going to become.

Great session. Many good words. Words I was needing right now. Done and ready to do my next thing.

I quick-ran upstairs to grab my camera card.

Reaching the top of the steps I did a double-take and then began to laugh. And laugh. And laugh.

And call, “Help! Renae!” And quote Mrs. Miracle, “Oh no! We’ve been robbed!”

The men were gone, outside doing man-work.

Oh, but they’d been there!!

And, oh, they’d left their handiwork.

OH YES!!

Girlfriends, look.

LOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!