Tis the Season to Get Prepping

In our part of the world, middle of August is the time when students K-12th grade start back to school.  Every year comes with chaos, excitement, a little bit of dread, and a new routine.  But this year came with my first (and only) experience.  I now have a senior in high school.  August 13th was my sweet girl's last first day of high school.

Cue the waterworks!

Actually, I didn't shed too many tears...I didn't have time to!  Leading up to the big day, Dotty and her friends were painting parking spots (whose idea was it to be on concrete in Texas in August...seriously way too hot for that!), painting senior jeans, painting car windows, painting, painting and more painting.  And just about the time I was really happy the arts and crafts portion of her senior year was over, she was helping to organize the senior sunrise breakfast!  

Have I mentioned before that I don't cook?!

So on Dotty's first day of school I was thoroughly worn out and she was ready and gone before the sun came up so I barely had a chance to grab a quick picture and a hug as she rushed out the door.  It was probably for the best.  I am not a big fan of crying or emotions in general (I am in counseling...its a work in progress.)  So with the chaos of the days leading up to and the day of the actual event where my one and only child is having her LAST FIRST DAY...to say it was not what I expected would be an understatement.  

But that is true in life too I think.  

I had prepared for the big emotions, the need to want to "take to the bed" as Leanne Morgan would say, the wailing and gnashing of teeth, the anxiety, the depression...I was prepared for all of it.  But if it came it was going about 100 mph and I missed it.  I also didn't feel big feelings of joy or excitement either.  

It ended up kind of being just a Wednesday.

I feel like that as we prepare for the holiday season at work.  The overwhelming prep work is harder than the days we are actually in the thick of things. 

Thinking about all we will need, might need, and hope to high heaven we don't need.  Trying to guess what will be popular this year or what customers will want this holiday season.  Setting up interviews for new staff.  Trying to create a schedule where all shifts are covered.  Prepping the warehouse and the retail area for the different stages that we know will take place as the season progresses.  Trying to alleviate any potential disasters.  Getting all the equipment checked (and rechecked.)

In our retail world we spend 8 months prepping for 2 months of retail frenzy followed by 2 months of recovery! 

It feels a lot like prepping for your only child to go into senior year. 

I spent almost 18 years getting ready for this event...it will last not even one full year...then I hope I can recover by the time she graduates college! 

But just like with my daughter's senior year the memories made, the time spent, the moments captured, the long days and even longer nights...they are all worth it.  Perhaps I have mentioned that Dotty is my only child (once or twice maybe) and so while I don't get a chance to do senior year again with a kid, I know that no matter how many opportunities any parent gets, we will never get it perfect.

Same with retail.

No matter how many seasons I have had under my belt, some stuff will still go wrong...but more things will go right. And like with my senior...I plan to just cherish the time.  Before I know it, another holiday season will be over and we will be prepping for the next.

Tis the season! 

Behind the Scenes: Lights, Camera...Pecans!

We had a blast this week filming our brand-new commercial that will hit local TV this fall in the Wichita Falls area! It’s always an exciting (and slightly chaotic) day when the cameras roll...but this year’s shoot was especially meaningful.

Let’s just say, I’ve confirmed once again that I was not made to be a stage mom! The moment kids step in front of the lights with lines to deliver, all my usual “take charge” instincts fly right out the window. I’ve got a whole new respect for child actors. Seriously, hats off to them!

The Montz granddaughters have basically grown up in front of the camera...literally! They’ve been part of Pecan Shed print ads and commercials since before they were even born. This year would have marked my niece Presley’s 20th year of appearing in our ads, but she had to sit this one out due to a packed schedule (and maybe because she’s heard enough of my “brilliant ideas” to last a lifetime...ha!).

My daughter, Dotty, just wrapped her 18th year in the spotlight as she begins her senior year of high school. My other nieces, Lulu and Lona, have been troopers for 10 and 8 years, respectively. And this year, we welcomed our newest star...Lila! She’s the adorable daughter of our amazing cameraman and creative mastermind, Jake from KFDX (not to be confused with my brother Jake…though that’s caused some funny mix-ups over the years!).

You’d be surprised how much time goes into a 30-second commercial. What you see on TV takes well over an hour  (sometimes closer to two) to film. And by the end of it, I usually need a nap, a snack, and maybe a good therapy session! But each year gets a little easier. Maybe the girls are getting more comfortable, or maybe I’m learning to loosen my grip. Either way, this time I walked away with just a dull headache...and a full heart.

That’s kind of the lesson, isn’t it?

Whether it’s filming commercials or walking through big life transitions, the more we try to tightly control every detail, the more things seem to slip through our fingers. As Dotty heads into her senior year, I feel myself wanting to cling to every moment...like holding on to the edge of a cliff. But the truth is, the harder I grip, the more the moments seem to get crumpled by the pressure.

I heard a line on a podcast this week that stopped me in my tracks:
“We need to trust God more than our grip.”
Whew. That hit home.

As a mom, especially one facing the bittersweet season of senior year, I want to trust God with everything. But sometimes, my tight grip on Dotty’s future tells a different story. Letting go isn’t easy...especially for those of us who find comfort in the illusion of control. But I never want my agenda to get in the way of God’s plan for her.

You know, when we film these commercials, I give Jake from KFDX a rough vision. But what he produces always blows me away. It’s better, brighter, and more beautiful than anything I had in my head.

And that’s just like God.

His plans for our kids—for us—are always greater than anything we could dream up. So here’s to letting go a little more, trusting a lot more, and believing that the best is still ahead.

Thanks for being part of the Pecan Shed family. We can’t wait to share this new commercial with you soon...because from our family to yours, it’s made with heart…and just a little bit of pecan dust.