A Life of Losing

Somewhere in my house is a half-drunk cup of coffee in a purple Fiesta mug. I have lost it for the second time in 15 minutes.

I had planned to go upstairs and get the book I'm reading (One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp...I'll let you know how it turns out), and then settle down in my red chair to read it with the last of my morning caffeine. But between the kitchen and my room, I picked up two toy fairies and a pair of black leggings and put them away. Then I replaced the roll of toilet paper in the bathroom (went in their to blow my nose), then decided to put the ironing board away so I could get to my bedroom window and open it.

Somewhere in there, I set down my coffee.

I blog a lot about losing things. It's a way of life for me, really. I live a life of losing. It's very frustrating, particularly because I am Mom. And Mom is supposed to find things for other people.

Other things currently lost: two Mother's Day cards that I bought for my two best friends (early!) and then put away in a special place. Also, a blue notebook that says "Blessings" on the cover, in which I would like to begin a list of things I am thankful for (thanks to Ann Voskamp, above, for the inspiration).

My husband says the reason I'm chronically losing things is that I'm always thinking of other things while I am cleaning up. Well, of course I am. For one thing, I am constantly cleaning up, and who wants to think about cleaning up? And for another, there are lots of things to think about.

What should I make for dinner tonight? 

Is Sophia's soccer uniform clean? 

I wonder if that comment I made in mom's group hurt any one's feelings? Should I ask someone? Do I need to apologize?

What was that great idea for a blog I had in the shower? 

I think I might make the 9:45 Zumba class today...

Must buy plants for my mom for Mother's Day...

And in the meantime, I'm writing a blog in my mind, a lesson for the Bible study I'm teaching in two weeks, and pondering the meaning of life in some way or another.

No wonder the coffee cup has gone missing.

I will say that even though I'm losing cards, notebooks, coupons and 50,000 ballpoint pens as I go about my business, I'm also finding sudden bursts of inspiration and things to be thankful for. On the other hand, pondering the meaning of life while vacuuming, I'm likely to remember for the thousandth time that the Bible as well as every other source of wisdom in this world says I should strive to be in the present.

As I've been writing this, the sun has come out in my backyard. I think I'll go look for that coffee cup one more time, and then go and enjoy it. Let's hope I don't lost on the way.