These are the mornings that dawn crisp and cool, and where we awake ready to tackle the world.

I love this time of the year. It gives me a renewed sense of purpose and new beginnings, as many would argue that it should. Fall is the time when the trees throw down the fruits of the summer and begin the process afresh.

As I started out the door Tuesday morning, with its slight chill and promise of lunchtime sunshine, that feeling was further affirmed as I settled myself behind the wheel of the car.

It was a feeling I wish I could have made last for the entire day; alas, it wasn’t so.

Sometimes it’s just so hard to juggle it all, especially when you consider there is just not enough time in the day.

I’m a list maker. I like ‘em a lot. I like to cross of the things that I have accomplished because, well, it makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something.

So as a single, working mother, one could imagine the lists I have at any time in my possession.

I have a list for school stuff, doctor stuff, sports stuff, house stuff and lastly, work stuff. Somewhere in there I try to work in me stuff. Generally that’s not possible, that’s why it floats around in outer space, never making it onto the actual list.

And people wonder why I run around with a Blackberry and a planner.

I have to have something to tell me where to be, when to be there and something that sets off an alarm, lest I be late.

Most of the time, the process works, and I’m able to prioritize and schedule things. There are those who make fun of me, (and you know who you are) but it’s what I need to make my life work. Apparently, it’s frowned upon if you forget your children’s Tremendous Tuesday lunch (which I didn’t. Yea, me.).

So Tuesday was one of those typical nothing is falling in line where it needs to fall.

Which means a trip to Florala for lunch, running from one end of the county to the other and figuring out how to make time to write this column.

But I did it.

I managed to get to the elementary school in a timely fashion. Apparently it’s OK to be seven minutes late for lunch, as long as you show up.

I did remember to send the girls to their father’s house after school so they could make soccer practice.

Speaking of soccer – I have three girls on three different teams – my Saturdays are now filled until the end of forever with games. And did I mention they start at 8 a.m. on the one day of the week I have to sleep late?

Sigh….

Making my way back to my desk after deciding to trade my scream for a cup of coffee, it comes to me – life is about showing up, picking up and not missing out. So, after writing this column, I’m not doing too bad with this whole thing we call life. After all, I’ve got my lists, my Blackberry, my planner, my refrigerator calendar, my Post-It note reminders…which reminds me, I need to put those on my Wal-Mart list, and if you’ll excuse me, I need to stop here. I have kids to pick up, supper to cook, Bible stuff to get out for church and snacks to pack for school.

But, you know what? I have a great life, and I love every hectic, jam-packed minute of it.