These ants came in one by one to our bathroom. I had just finished nursing myself and two kids back to health after a month of virus’, pink eye, ear infections and so on. I was ready for the first time in 10 years to begin another push to turn my painting into a business. My kids are both in school and I decided not to go back to working my part time job.

I was ready and yet the pause button would have to get pushed back again, due to these little creatures marching in though the door frames of our bathroom and crack in the tile. Of course I googled it. How to kill ants naturally, as if there is a humane way to kill these pests. Vinegar, lemon oil, baking soda, peppermint oil, chalk, and all the things. I went to work, but they kept coming back, as is with most natural remedies. Don’t get me started on how to curb the cedar allergies here with herbs. It just doesn’t work.

Ace Hardware always takes me back to my summer job after high school, where my first day of work I wore my new Doc Martin’s for an 8 hour shift at the cash register back in 1997. I love the older men that work there. They are just a wealth of knowledge that is one day going to be very missed. They know the ends and outs of home repair. I walked in the doors and straight to the ant killer asile. I picked up some raid traps and a spray that looked indoor friendly. I got home and got to work. Let me tell you that spray lingered strong for several days. It sure did not help with the allergy sore throat. The ants slowly began to disappear and after a week of this I was spent. I will tell you that our floors and baseboards have not been that clean since we moved in.

Sometimes I can be a very slow learner. I had a plan. I was ready to get out and make art, but life happens and before you know it a week goes by and those paint brushes are still dry as a bone. There are urgent things like ants that come in and derail plans. I have to believe that God had a purpose in the march of the ants. Teaching me patience and selflessness. We do not grow in those areas without the practice of becoming. Without asking the Lord for help.

It takes time and work to press in and sometimes to the not so glamorous tasks. Having to wait gave me a greater desire to get after it and make something. I hope that whatever “ants” you are taking care of that you remember it is just part of life and soon enough you will be going after the work that awakens you.