Dear Mom...

  Dear Mom,

     Well, it's the night before we leave for Grandma Doris's. And wouldn't you know, the house is in a mess and only the minority of the family is packed. As I sit in the living room with pillows all over the floor and dishes on the coffee table, I think : How in the world are we going to make it out of here early tomorrow?
   Furthermore I know that the fault is mostly mine, if I hadn't begged you to take me to that last minute fundraiser today everything would have been done already. The kitchen would be clean, the carpets vacuumed, the bags packed, the laundry done, and that bottomless pit that I call a closet wouldn't be full of dirty cloths. On top of all that, it's looking like dad's three day weekend is going to be shortened to two and a half days, or maybe even two and one fourth.

    So what can I do to make up for all of this? There is only one thing.

   It's going on midnight and I'm still up. I can feel my limbs slowly loosing their strength and my eyelids beginning to droop. But even when I catch a glimpse of that couch and think how good it would feel to just lay down and forget everything, I'll remind myself how many sleepless nights I've caused you and press on.          First I'll jump in the shower, hoping it'll wake me up a little. Then I'll sneak into the kitchen after your asleep, put on a pot of coffee and turn on some of my favorite ( and most energizing ) music and get to work. I'll wipe down all the tables, fold all the clothes, clean up my room, wash all the dishes, pack my own bags and recheck Charlene's already packed bags. All without making the noise of even a mouse. And when I'm standing over the sink and hear the rooster crow outside the window, I'll ignore his wake up call and finish my job. So that when six 'clock rolls around and the sun is rising over the horizon, I can go out on the front porch and watch the day begin while I drink my sixth cup of coffee.
     Then I'll come back inside, make the breakfast and clean the kitchen once more before helping load the car. This way, maybe we'll get out of here before noon. c ;
     And a few hours after that when I can hardly keep my eyes open, I'll try my best to be as civil as possible for the sake of the rest of the family.
    I don't think I'll get much sleep tonight, if I get any at all. And I know you told me to go to bed, I hope your not upset. But as I sit here thinking of all the things you've ever done for me, I can't help but feel that you deserve at least this.
   I know that the only reason the house will stay clean for three whole days is because we won't be here, and that as soon as we get back I'll be cleaning carpets and washing dishes again. But I guess that's okay, just so long as I have you to do it with.

  Thank you for all the time, care, love and sleepless nights you have put into raising me and the rest of us. And thank you most of all, for showing us who God is, and guiding us into loving relationships with the true, living Father who you know so well.When I have children, I hope I'm at least half the mother to them that you are to us.
 I love you.


~ Chelsey



P.S. ~ There's fresh coffee for you and dad in the kitchen. c ;

P.S.S. ~ When we get to Grandma's, I can take a nap right?