When did cat hair become a metaphor for my life?

Honestly, I don't know what to say about this, except that it's a typical day at the Hooks home. Sarah Beth looks pretty normal, but John is touching his nose with his tongue, and Hannah is...well, I don't know for sure, but I think she's trying to touch her nose with her tongue. Let's just say this...they aren't boring or dull.

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

Okay, okay. I know it's been a while. Would it matter if I told you I've been really, really busy? Or that I've had so much going on that I just didn't have much to say? It wouldn't make a difference? Well, then I'll just have to apologize and try to do better. How's that? (That was for Mom.) Things here are fine. It's been a bit warmer in Prague, and that's nice. School is rolling along, and we have been able to get Sarah Beth mostly caught up with where she would be if she hadn't gone to the States. Marc is leaving this morning for an editing retreat, and the kids and I are getting the house ready for Thanksgiving. Pretty much just normal life.

We had a teen girls' Bible study over last night for dinner. Sarah Beth goes every Tuesday to study with this group of girls, and it was our turn to host last night. We had a truly wonderful time. I am so thankful for colleagues who are willing to give their time to invest in my child. So thankful. It was fun, and Sarah Beth cooked a great meal--vegetable lasagna, garlic bread and apple crisp--that left the whole house smelling like heaven. I spent the day (when I wasn't homeschooling) scrubbing different parts of the house to make sure it was just perfect for guests. And, of course, as I do every day, I spent some time working on the cat hair.

The cat hair is my nemesis. It is the arch-enemy of my life. (Actually, that would be Satan, but forgive the hyperbole for a moment. I'm making a point.) I'm not sure I've said this before, but we are staying in an apartment that is usually occupied by a family who is on stateside assignment this year. Since their stateside and our year in Prague were the same time, they asked if we would hold their apartment for them, which we are glad to do. They asked if we would keep their cats, which we were also glad to do. And they are precious cats. Precious. We love them very much. I talk Russian baby talk to them all day long, cuddle with them, they sleep with one of us every night...we really love the cats. So don't walk away from this thinking it's the cats who are the nemesis here. No. It's their hair. You see, the cats shed like no other cats on earth. I'm not kidding. Tumbleweeds of cat hair roll down the hall like something out of High Noon. No matter what I do, no matter how many times I vacuum, no matter how many lint brushes I use per day, there is always cat hair somewhere. And this, my friends, drives me insane. Insane, I tell you. Every single day, I vacuum all the floors and the furniture in the living room, and then I take a lint roller and clean the furniture and the rug in the living room. Every day. And still, by about noon, the tumbleweeds of cat hair are rolling down the hall. Do you hear what I'm saying? I, Kellye Hooks, type-A personality, controller of all things domestic...I am losing the battle with the cat hair. In fact, it's really not even a battle, because there is no chance that I am going to win. Ever.

So imagine for a moment my determination to have a cat hair-free evening last night. I vacuumed, and then I had Sarah Beth vacuum and lint roll everything in the living room. And it looked great. I'm telling you, I felt really good about the lack of cat hair last night. And then, as I was sitting in my favorite blue chair, one of the cats jumped into my lap. The girls were discussing something, and as I listened, I absentmindedly stroked the cat's fur. Then, in a moment that can only be called metaphorical, I looked down to say something to the cat, and as I looked at her, I noticed cat hair literally drifting through the air right before my eyes. My pants...covered with white fur. The arm of the chair...coated. And you know what? The girls continued to talk. The Bible study went right on in spite of the cat hair. No one turned around and gasped in horror. In fact, I'm pretty sure no one but me cared enough to notice. They also didn't notice that I'd scrubbed behind the toilet or underneath the kitchen table. You know why? Because they were focused on each other and relationship-building, and I was focused on...cat hair. Hmmmm....

Maybe you are always focused on that which is eternal, but I have to tell you that I am often focused on the goofiest, silliest things around me. I struggle with the cat fur as if I am going to win some kind of prize for best Mom if it is gone from the house. I focus on what I perceive to be flaws in my children but sometimes overlook the great qualities they possess. I sigh heavily because Marc leaves his laundry on the floor but forget that he treats me like a queen even when I am at my worst. I focus on the burden that life on the field can sometimes be but fail to praise Him for the great joy that it often is. I pray for this decision or that, for guidance and direction, but forget to praise Him for today, for my family, for the now that He has given me in spite of myself.

And so this morning, I am not getting out the vacuum. I'm going to wait until later in the afternoon. (Baby steps, people. I can't go cold turkey.) I'm going to enjoy an easy day with the kids, a day when all we have to do is school. We might even have a movie night tonight, complete with homemade pizza. Because all too soon, our family will send Sarah Beth off to start her own life, and these days and nights, full of fun and laughter, will be what she takes with her. And Hannah and John will follow her right out the door before I know what has happened. I am much more concerned about what they take with them when they leave than that they leave without cat hair clinging to them. So this morning, I am asking God for a more eternal view. A small glimpse of the big picture. And maybe just a little Divine help with the cat hair. Wherever you are in the world, I pray that you are looking at the eternals in life, and that the apple cinnamon candles you found on sale at Tesco are making your house smell good, too. Blessings to you and yours!

His,
Kellye