Thoughts From The Island

Nope, not a luxurious ISLAND. Although that would be sweet, wouldn't it? In the winter any way.

I'm talking about the kitchen island.

This is the place where a lot of life seems to happen in this house. It's become like my home office space. So many projects come from this one place and so much conversation has happened here.

Today while I am baking up a seemingly ginormous batch of peanut butter cookies (can you smell them? *yum*), I'm pondering how the kitchen is the hub and heart of my home.

It's raining outside again and for some reason it's starting to feel like monsoon season. I've got some things that are heavy on my heart, some unspoken prayers on my mind and many thoughts swirling around. It seemed the perfect day then for baking cookies.

 From here I can see and hear a lot around our house. It's the first thing you see when you walk in the front door and virtually the first thing my husband sees when he comes in from the garage after a hard day at work.

I can also see a lot outside from here too. I feel a certain serenity when I look out the kitchen window and see my back gardens. I've worked hard out there and love to see the fruits of my labor.

I can also see out the patio door and watch the trees beautifully leafing out, pine trees that are growing and obscuring the view of the traffic going by and my other perennial garden that is lush and beginning to bloom.

Many a smile has been shared here by the island. Meals eaten. Contagious laughs unexpectedly happened. Tears shed. Heart to heart chats. Some refereeing. Serious conversations. Family time. Alone time. School time.

While I'm feeling a little restless today, I find consolation in this sacred place the more I think about it.

Tomorrow we'll finish our last day of school for the year from this island. Many new memories will be made from here this summer. More life lessons will be learned.

As I contemplate all of this, I realize that to my family, I am like the kitchen island. I've been reminded numerous times over the years about how the mother is the heart of the home and the family. You know that saying 'If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy' or 'A happy mama makes a happy home.' How true.

As the mother I run a majority of the day to day operations, hold things together and perform many tasks. Just like the island, I provide a place to gather, a solid starting and ending point to the day and endless availability and versatility.

With love, kindness, care, occasionally a stern word and always a hug, I direct the family from the center of our home. Sometimes, with the help of the kitchen island and maybe a cookie or two.