Proof of Accomplishment

And we're off. School is well underway, rhythms being reestablished and confidence renewing itself that "we can do this!" Life is such a team effort for families, isn't it? It's a good thing.

My mother brought over a bag of "we-have-way-too-many-of-these" plums and into jam they went. Plum jam has a surprising tartness amongst all the sweet. A very nice alternative to the still-delicious blackberry, raspberry, strawberry goodness that was also sugared into jars earlier this summer. (I was kind of jam-crazy there for awhile).

So even though the jam is ready to be put away in the cupboards, I have opted to leave them on the kitchen sill for a little while longer. They seem to be beauty and accomplishment in a jar. Like a little wink and thumbs-up every time I look at them while I'm racing to do the next oh-so-important task ... like making lunches or taking out the trash.

Sometimes I need to be reminded that proof of accomplishment comes in many ways. Sometimes that is a clean house, or a jar of jam. But frequently, for me, it's in remembering that proof isn't always tangible. And all the mothers smile and give a sigh of relief ...