Today was moving day for us. And I as I sit here now, after an exhausting day, I just can't stop the tears. Not because of the reality of the house we will soon call home. Not because we are moving. Not even because we are leaving a place where treasured memories were made.
All I can do now is cry huge, wet tears. I am just overwhelmed. Overwhelmed with the way that our friends loved us today.
I am beyond humbled. I don't know that in a thousand years I could ever be able to express just how blessed I felt today. As I stood today, surrounded by people who love us, people who care deeply for our family, it became a reality just how much God has provided for us.
And for the first time in a very long time, I'm speechless. I'm overpowered by the thoughts of how these people served and ministered to us today. And I know, without hesitation, that I saw the very face of God today in 18 different people. Ordinary people who chose to be His hands and feet.
And it's because of His love today that I am overwhelmed tonight.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Das Not Funny! Friday: Right in the sniffer
It's Friday again already. What a week we've had! Last night some friends of ours blessed our socks off and descended upon our rental house and cleaned it better than I even thought possible. But, I'm guessing that's not why you are here today.
So saddle up and join me while I share with you the funnies from my kids in this week's edition of Das Not Funny! Friday. And don't ask why I said "saddle up" because I don't know why. Maybe Lucas' affection for all things cowboy has finally caught up with me.
-------
Elizabeth and Ashlee were cleaning their VERY dirty room. At the bottom of a large pile of clothes and blankets Elizabeth finds some dirty panties and smells them.
Elizabeth: "Shoooo weeee. These stink! Smell them Mom!"
Me: "Uh...No thanks."
Elizabeth: "Okay, smell them Ash."
Ashlee: "Ew. Somebody tooted in doze!"
As Elizabeth walks out of their bedroom carrying them to laundry room, Ashlee goes running behind her saying, "Wait! Lemme smell dem again."
-------
A few weeks back I borrowed the Planet Earth series from our library. For several nights in a row the big kids would join Luke and I in our bed and watch an episode as our bedtime story. One night, Luke broke wind as he left to get something in another room. Immediately Elizabeth darts from our bedroom and into the bathroom, returning with the air freshener.
When Luke returned to our bedroom Elizabeth was fogging our room with air freshener and Lucas pipped up and yelled,
"Dad. Shoo-wee dude. You stink! Get outta here."
-------
Brinkley, our golden retriever, was walking through our living room recently. Elizabeth said something to her and called her over.
Lucas asserted, "Mom. I think Brinkley's a boy."
To which Elizabeth replied, "No Lucas. Brinkley's a girl. Just look at her butt."
I have no idea what that means but apparently it cleared up any misconceptions on Lucas' part.
-------
Our kids are into playing "Puppy" and sometimes it changes to "Horsey." Whichever is the flavor of the day it generally annoys the mess out of me after about 5 minutes. Mostly because the incessant barking and screeching from the "puppies" or the obnoxious neighing from the "horses."
One afternoon recently, all three big kids were in full blown Puppy mode. As I bent over to pick up something from the floor my bottom became the object of Puppy Ashlee's interest and I found myself having to physically pull her nose away from my bottom. I absolutely demanded she stop when she proceeded to try and lick my...um...butt.
Yes, I'm serious.
Y'all have a great weekend. Happy Friday!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
I would list for you all the ways I'm not Type A but that would require another list
My mind is spinning in such a tailspin that until I get some of this out on paper (or onto virtual paper) that I don't think I can properly function. That's what I do when I'm stressed, I make lists. I'm sure Luke LOVES my stress-induced Type A tendencies because normally I am so the opposite of Type A that I'm Type Z or something.
When I begin making lists you know I'm getting anxious. Currently I have 5 separate lists saved to our Desktop. 5 separate, yet totally related, lists titled such things as:
Needed for Baby
House Stuff
To do for the move
Repair requests that need to be done
Ways God is working (This one is SO cool and I can't wait to share it with you all.)
Not to mention that I have scribbled notes on about a bazillion pieces of paper that I can no longer find (see, not so Type A am I?). My organization skills are on overload. If you're Type A this will be the only month of my life where we can coexist peacefully. Hence the fact that my husband is LOVING that I'm a go-getter right now. LOVING IT I tell you. I think his photo is in the dictionary or Wikipedia beside Type A. And if you look up the antonym you'll find my photo.
So, why not continue my list making right here? I will, thankyouvermuch. Except this list is of things that are weighing heavily on my mind. So heavily I know nothing else to do other than list them, in a list-type fashion so that I feel like I'm accomplishing them. Or something like that.
-------
These past few weeks I have stunk it up homeschooling Elizabeth. Between being physically fatigued from just being pregnant to battling a never-ending cold to dealing with all the things that come with selling our house and my Maw's surgery we've done very little in the way of schooling.
She did explain reversible change (thanks to Sid the Science Kid) to Ashlee so I know she's soaking stuff up. But I feel like such a failure as a homeschooling mother. Especially because she desperately wants to know how to read and that's something we have to work on during naptime so I can give her my undivided attention and by that point in the day I just want to lay in the bed. I am using that time to read aloud to her, but still...
I've even thought about enrolling her in school for the next 2 months just so her brain cells don't die off and be shed for eternity. I worry about her loosing critical brain storage space while I'm floundering with having a baby, moving and such. At least if she's in public school she'd be learning something.
Even though it may not be what I want her learning.
-------
I think the use of the TV is the sole reason I will not end up yelling at my kids continually for the next 2 weeks. PBS Kids is educational, right? What about Porky Pig?
-------
My Darling child continues to drive me crazy. I reprimand Darling for the EXACT SAME THING every.single.day. Often multiple times a day...
"Darling we don't jump on the bed.
Darling, please don't touch that.
Darling, please don't pull all the clothes out of the drawers.
Darling, please don't climb onto the table.
Darling, please don't throw your food on the floor.
No, Darling, this is what's for dinner (or lunch or breakfast). Mommy isn't making anything else. Please eat.
Darling, STOP IT!"
It's exhausting and I feel like a failure when it comes to parenting my Darling.
-------
My quiet time is so sporadic. When I make time to be alone with God I am so tired that my mind drifts off to a happy place where I don't think of anything. I know that quiet time with the Lord would calm the other areas of my crazy life so I try hard, I really do. But my mind is so weary and I just can't comprehend what I'm reading. And, if I close my eyes to pray I almost fall asleep.
It's so frustrating because I feel like it's all my fault and yet I can't do anything to make it better.
-------
OH MY WORD THE COLD WEATHER! Please, no more snow or cold weather we need to go outside. And bundling all the kids up in 57 layers of clothes is so tiring, especially when I'm 99.9% sure that as soon as we get outside someone will poop their diaper or have to come in and poop. And then I feel selfish because it's just easier on me to stay inside where we can all be close to the toilet and in 1 layer of clothing or less. And so I can sit on something that doesn't make my pelvis feel like it's about to split into two pieces.
-------
I am just overwhelmed and humbled at the friends that are pouring out of the woodwork to help us with this move. Seriously, if I think about it too much I just get teary eyed. I'm pretty sure we are blessed with the most gracious, giving, serving friends on the planet.
-------
We still have so much to do to our house before closing. We have to paint (per our contract) all the places that have marker or crayon on the walls (which is our entire basement and most of the girls' room) and have trees removed from the yard and just MOVE OUR STUFF. Geesh, when will we ever get all that done?
-------
I loathe calling all of our accounts and changing our address. I just loathe it.
-------
Last night our whole family had cereal for dinner. All of us. How pathetic.
-------
And then, THEN I think, "What happens if we do all this stuff, move all our stuff and the deal falls through at the closing table? What then?"
Have mercy. I think I'm going crazy. Just plain crazy. Anybody wanna join me?
When I begin making lists you know I'm getting anxious. Currently I have 5 separate lists saved to our Desktop. 5 separate, yet totally related, lists titled such things as:
Needed for Baby
House Stuff
To do for the move
Repair requests that need to be done
Ways God is working (This one is SO cool and I can't wait to share it with you all.)
Not to mention that I have scribbled notes on about a bazillion pieces of paper that I can no longer find (see, not so Type A am I?). My organization skills are on overload. If you're Type A this will be the only month of my life where we can coexist peacefully. Hence the fact that my husband is LOVING that I'm a go-getter right now. LOVING IT I tell you. I think his photo is in the dictionary or Wikipedia beside Type A. And if you look up the antonym you'll find my photo.
So, why not continue my list making right here? I will, thankyouvermuch. Except this list is of things that are weighing heavily on my mind. So heavily I know nothing else to do other than list them, in a list-type fashion so that I feel like I'm accomplishing them. Or something like that.
-------
These past few weeks I have stunk it up homeschooling Elizabeth. Between being physically fatigued from just being pregnant to battling a never-ending cold to dealing with all the things that come with selling our house and my Maw's surgery we've done very little in the way of schooling.
She did explain reversible change (thanks to Sid the Science Kid) to Ashlee so I know she's soaking stuff up. But I feel like such a failure as a homeschooling mother. Especially because she desperately wants to know how to read and that's something we have to work on during naptime so I can give her my undivided attention and by that point in the day I just want to lay in the bed. I am using that time to read aloud to her, but still...
I've even thought about enrolling her in school for the next 2 months just so her brain cells don't die off and be shed for eternity. I worry about her loosing critical brain storage space while I'm floundering with having a baby, moving and such. At least if she's in public school she'd be learning something.
Even though it may not be what I want her learning.
-------
I think the use of the TV is the sole reason I will not end up yelling at my kids continually for the next 2 weeks. PBS Kids is educational, right? What about Porky Pig?
-------
My Darling child continues to drive me crazy. I reprimand Darling for the EXACT SAME THING every.single.day. Often multiple times a day...
"Darling we don't jump on the bed.
Darling, please don't touch that.
Darling, please don't pull all the clothes out of the drawers.
Darling, please don't climb onto the table.
Darling, please don't throw your food on the floor.
No, Darling, this is what's for dinner (or lunch or breakfast). Mommy isn't making anything else. Please eat.
Darling, STOP IT!"
It's exhausting and I feel like a failure when it comes to parenting my Darling.
-------
My quiet time is so sporadic. When I make time to be alone with God I am so tired that my mind drifts off to a happy place where I don't think of anything. I know that quiet time with the Lord would calm the other areas of my crazy life so I try hard, I really do. But my mind is so weary and I just can't comprehend what I'm reading. And, if I close my eyes to pray I almost fall asleep.
It's so frustrating because I feel like it's all my fault and yet I can't do anything to make it better.
-------
OH MY WORD THE COLD WEATHER! Please, no more snow or cold weather we need to go outside. And bundling all the kids up in 57 layers of clothes is so tiring, especially when I'm 99.9% sure that as soon as we get outside someone will poop their diaper or have to come in and poop. And then I feel selfish because it's just easier on me to stay inside where we can all be close to the toilet and in 1 layer of clothing or less. And so I can sit on something that doesn't make my pelvis feel like it's about to split into two pieces.
-------
I am just overwhelmed and humbled at the friends that are pouring out of the woodwork to help us with this move. Seriously, if I think about it too much I just get teary eyed. I'm pretty sure we are blessed with the most gracious, giving, serving friends on the planet.
-------
We still have so much to do to our house before closing. We have to paint (per our contract) all the places that have marker or crayon on the walls (which is our entire basement and most of the girls' room) and have trees removed from the yard and just MOVE OUR STUFF. Geesh, when will we ever get all that done?
-------
I loathe calling all of our accounts and changing our address. I just loathe it.
-------
Last night our whole family had cereal for dinner. All of us. How pathetic.
-------
And then, THEN I think, "What happens if we do all this stuff, move all our stuff and the deal falls through at the closing table? What then?"
Have mercy. I think I'm going crazy. Just plain crazy. Anybody wanna join me?
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
God and moving and my cervix. Not be confused with "God moving my cervix."
Today was a pretty big day for us. First up, Luke and I drove over the attorney's office this morning and signed all our paperwork for our closing that is STILL SCHEDULED for next Wednesday, March 3rd. We gave our relator limited power of attorney so that he could sign everything needed the day of closing.
Then, I went on a search for an infant carrier for Baby. You see, we had the car seat we bought when Elizabeth was a baby, but it expired in December.
(Yes, carseats expire. I know, who'dathunk? Right? If you have a carseat and you didn't know they could expire, flip it over and look somewhere on the bottom. The expiration date is stamped into the plastic somewhere. That was SO helpful, I know. "Flip it over and look somewhere." I'm a wealth of information.)
So, we felt extremely blessed when someone from Luke's work gave us a "new" infant carrier. However, when I went to take the cover off and wash the "new" carrier, I realized that it too expired in December. Not so "new."
So, today was carseat day. So, I went to Babies R Them and looked but they all seemed so expensive. So I went to Target but nothing there really tripped my trigger (mostly because they were all gender specific). After my Doctor's visit, I went to Walmart, which really had nothing in the way of an infant carrier that is compatible with the stroller I have my eye on.
After Target, I ran (Not literally, I'm 10 months pregnant people. I run no where.) over to my OB's office for a check up. I asked the nurse to ask the Doctor if he would please check my cervix since we are, afterall, still closing on our house next week. He obliged and after a quick check said that my cevix was shut up nice and tight.
I told him that we didn't say "shut up" in our house.
In other news, he is estimating that this baby is already 7 lbs. Which means it would be my largest baby ever. Elizabeth was 6lbs 13oz at birth and a WEEK LATE. Lucas was 5lbs 2oz and Ashlee was 5lbs 13oz and they were considered "on time" as far as twins go (and still I was induced with them at 38 weeks).
We threw around the possibility of an induction next week and ultimately agreed that we could decide further when I come back in on Monday for him to check me again.
So, this weekend will be full of packing and moving stuff to our rental house and more waiting. I will blog more later about how God is making this all incredibly easy. Just when I think that it couldn't be more stressful, something happens and I think, "Seriously? It's THAT simple?"
And you know what? It really is. And there's no other reason other than God's grace and His mercy over our family and this situation. No.other.reason.
In fact, as Luke and I spoke on the phone just moments ago about our situation with moving and paying deposits and such and how incredibly gracious our new landlord is being to us, Luke commented,
"Seriously. Who does that for people?"
And just now, I realized that my response to him should have been, "Our God does, honey. He always does."
Then, I went on a search for an infant carrier for Baby. You see, we had the car seat we bought when Elizabeth was a baby, but it expired in December.
(Yes, carseats expire. I know, who'dathunk? Right? If you have a carseat and you didn't know they could expire, flip it over and look somewhere on the bottom. The expiration date is stamped into the plastic somewhere. That was SO helpful, I know. "Flip it over and look somewhere." I'm a wealth of information.)
So, we felt extremely blessed when someone from Luke's work gave us a "new" infant carrier. However, when I went to take the cover off and wash the "new" carrier, I realized that it too expired in December. Not so "new."
So, today was carseat day. So, I went to Babies R Them and looked but they all seemed so expensive. So I went to Target but nothing there really tripped my trigger (mostly because they were all gender specific). After my Doctor's visit, I went to Walmart, which really had nothing in the way of an infant carrier that is compatible with the stroller I have my eye on.
After Target, I ran (Not literally, I'm 10 months pregnant people. I run no where.) over to my OB's office for a check up. I asked the nurse to ask the Doctor if he would please check my cervix since we are, afterall, still closing on our house next week. He obliged and after a quick check said that my cevix was shut up nice and tight.
I told him that we didn't say "shut up" in our house.
In other news, he is estimating that this baby is already 7 lbs. Which means it would be my largest baby ever. Elizabeth was 6lbs 13oz at birth and a WEEK LATE. Lucas was 5lbs 2oz and Ashlee was 5lbs 13oz and they were considered "on time" as far as twins go (and still I was induced with them at 38 weeks).
We threw around the possibility of an induction next week and ultimately agreed that we could decide further when I come back in on Monday for him to check me again.
So, this weekend will be full of packing and moving stuff to our rental house and more waiting. I will blog more later about how God is making this all incredibly easy. Just when I think that it couldn't be more stressful, something happens and I think, "Seriously? It's THAT simple?"
And you know what? It really is. And there's no other reason other than God's grace and His mercy over our family and this situation. No.other.reason.
In fact, as Luke and I spoke on the phone just moments ago about our situation with moving and paying deposits and such and how incredibly gracious our new landlord is being to us, Luke commented,
"Seriously. Who does that for people?"
And just now, I realized that my response to him should have been, "Our God does, honey. He always does."
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
He perceives my thoughts from afar
Usually I blog in the evenings and schedule it to post the next day. But lately, I fall into the bed at night, exhausted from the day and pelvic pressure that seems to be unending. So in a effort to update my blog and have some free therapy, here I am blogging during nap time when I should be napping as well.
This week has been extremely tiring and it's only Tuesday. I have apparently lost my voice due to some mystery cold. Actually, I have a voice but it resembles that of a 98 year old who's been chain smoking since birth. I spoke with our realtor on Thursday and he alluded that it might be possible that we wouldn't close on our house on time. Therefore, we could push closing from March 3rd to the first week in April.
I was a little happy about that considering my due date is March 8th.
But, as of today it seems as if closing will be right on schedule (maybe a day or so late) and we will, in fact, be holding our breath hoping that Baby #6 doesn't come on the day we are moving all of our stuff.
Speaking of moving, we have found a place to rent. It's about 200 yards from our current home so that SHOULD make moving much, much easier. The biggest catch is that the house we are moving to is about 1/2 the size of the one we are currently living in. Which means that we need to find somewhere for 1/2 of our stuff to go.
And I'm NOT all about storing our crap for no apparent reason. So, we have a basement full of furniture and toys and books and children's clothing that needs to go somewhere. My biggest frustration is deciding what to keep, what to toss and what to just give away. I have two amazing friends that gave up their Mother's Morning Out time last week and came to my house and helped me pack up and sort through most of our basement. Can I just tell you how relieved I feel?
Yet, when I sit back and look at what the next 30 days of our life here is what I see...
> A new baby
> A new house
> Moving and sorting all our stuff
> Deciding what is worth keeping and what is not
> Finding the essential baby items once they've been moved to a new place
> Making large purchases
> Discerning between a good choice and the best choice
> Still finding time to spend alone with God
> Still managing my home and our children
> Still schooling Elizabeth
Oh and did I mention we are having a Baby somewhere in all of this?
And we filed our taxes and there was a problem so we had to send in a paper return which means we will probably get audited. AGAIN. JUST LIKE LAST YEAR.
I am praying for God to give me clarity to see what He wants me to learn through this process. And I am reminding myself that NONE of this is a surprise to Him. He knew this would all be on our plate at the same time. He knows when Baby is coming even though I have no clue.
A while back Angie challenged her readers to memorize Psalm 139. I made it about half way through. But, the half I vaguely memorized keeps flooding back into my mind.
He knows how well I function on little-to-no-sleep because He has searched me and knows me.
He knows that this will either make my marriage stronger or cause us to distance ourselves from each other because He knows when I sit and when I rise.
He perceives my thoughts from afar. (That part just baffles me.)
He knows. I don't. And, somehow I need to make up my mind that I'm okay with that and just let go of the things I have no control over and just trust Him.
I love that He brings opportunity for me to see that He knows me better than I know myself. Like yesterday, when Elizabeth is frantically searching for a specific sticker book and I see her, from afar, doing the pee pee dance.
I say to her, gently, "Elizabeth. Please go to the bathroom before you have an accident."
"But Mom!" she stammers, "I don't need to go!"
"Really? You sure look like you do," I reply softly, not wanting to hurt her tender feelings.
She turns and sprints to the bathroom, barely making it to the potty.
He knows me. When I sit and I rise He sees me. He perceives my thoughts, desires and needs from afar. He knows when I'm on the verge of having an accident and He gently urges me in the right direction before my tender heart gets broken and the waves of uncertainty cloud my mind.
This week has been extremely tiring and it's only Tuesday. I have apparently lost my voice due to some mystery cold. Actually, I have a voice but it resembles that of a 98 year old who's been chain smoking since birth. I spoke with our realtor on Thursday and he alluded that it might be possible that we wouldn't close on our house on time. Therefore, we could push closing from March 3rd to the first week in April.
I was a little happy about that considering my due date is March 8th.
But, as of today it seems as if closing will be right on schedule (maybe a day or so late) and we will, in fact, be holding our breath hoping that Baby #6 doesn't come on the day we are moving all of our stuff.
Speaking of moving, we have found a place to rent. It's about 200 yards from our current home so that SHOULD make moving much, much easier. The biggest catch is that the house we are moving to is about 1/2 the size of the one we are currently living in. Which means that we need to find somewhere for 1/2 of our stuff to go.
And I'm NOT all about storing our crap for no apparent reason. So, we have a basement full of furniture and toys and books and children's clothing that needs to go somewhere. My biggest frustration is deciding what to keep, what to toss and what to just give away. I have two amazing friends that gave up their Mother's Morning Out time last week and came to my house and helped me pack up and sort through most of our basement. Can I just tell you how relieved I feel?
Yet, when I sit back and look at what the next 30 days of our life here is what I see...
> A new baby
> A new house
> Moving and sorting all our stuff
> Deciding what is worth keeping and what is not
> Finding the essential baby items once they've been moved to a new place
> Making large purchases
> Discerning between a good choice and the best choice
> Still finding time to spend alone with God
> Still managing my home and our children
> Still schooling Elizabeth
Oh and did I mention we are having a Baby somewhere in all of this?
And we filed our taxes and there was a problem so we had to send in a paper return which means we will probably get audited. AGAIN. JUST LIKE LAST YEAR.
I am praying for God to give me clarity to see what He wants me to learn through this process. And I am reminding myself that NONE of this is a surprise to Him. He knew this would all be on our plate at the same time. He knows when Baby is coming even though I have no clue.
A while back Angie challenged her readers to memorize Psalm 139. I made it about half way through. But, the half I vaguely memorized keeps flooding back into my mind.
"O Lord you have searched me and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise.
You perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all of my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue,
you know it completely Lord.
You hem me in, behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me."
Psalm 139:1-5
You know when I sit and when I rise.
You perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all of my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue,
you know it completely Lord.
You hem me in, behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me."
Psalm 139:1-5
He knows how well I function on little-to-no-sleep because He has searched me and knows me.
He knows that this will either make my marriage stronger or cause us to distance ourselves from each other because He knows when I sit and when I rise.
He perceives my thoughts from afar. (That part just baffles me.)
He knows. I don't. And, somehow I need to make up my mind that I'm okay with that and just let go of the things I have no control over and just trust Him.
I love that He brings opportunity for me to see that He knows me better than I know myself. Like yesterday, when Elizabeth is frantically searching for a specific sticker book and I see her, from afar, doing the pee pee dance.
I say to her, gently, "Elizabeth. Please go to the bathroom before you have an accident."
"But Mom!" she stammers, "I don't need to go!"
"Really? You sure look like you do," I reply softly, not wanting to hurt her tender feelings.
She turns and sprints to the bathroom, barely making it to the potty.
He knows me. When I sit and I rise He sees me. He perceives my thoughts, desires and needs from afar. He knows when I'm on the verge of having an accident and He gently urges me in the right direction before my tender heart gets broken and the waves of uncertainty cloud my mind.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Well, I packed my hospital bag this weekend in the hopes that Baby Beaver #6 was waiting on me to be "ready." Turns out, Baby could care less that I'm ready.
So, I thought I'd go a step further and go ahead and add twitter to my blog so that when I (finally) do go into labor I can tweet and you all can see updates right here on my blog, if you care. If you do care, you can find those updates right over there on my right sidebar.
Or you can click here and see all my updates on twitter. Most likely after the baby comes I will remove twitter from my blog again. When it's up, I feel pressure to update it. And, I like to set goals that I can actually reach. And, quite frankly, my life just isn't that interesting to need to update twitter several times a day. Well, okay, some days are that interesting but I forget (repeatedly) to refill Lucas' juice cup so chances are I won't remember to tweet about something interesting.
Although today I may need to communicate with EVERYONE via twitter because apparently I've caught a cold that has caused me to lose the majority of my voice. That should go well today with 5 kids who don't really listen when I have my whole voice in tact.
I wonder if using Twitter to help Elizabeth learn to read would be a good idea? Probably not.
Anyway, y'all have a good Monday.
So, I thought I'd go a step further and go ahead and add twitter to my blog so that when I (finally) do go into labor I can tweet and you all can see updates right here on my blog, if you care. If you do care, you can find those updates right over there on my right sidebar.
Or you can click here and see all my updates on twitter. Most likely after the baby comes I will remove twitter from my blog again. When it's up, I feel pressure to update it. And, I like to set goals that I can actually reach. And, quite frankly, my life just isn't that interesting to need to update twitter several times a day. Well, okay, some days are that interesting but I forget (repeatedly) to refill Lucas' juice cup so chances are I won't remember to tweet about something interesting.
Although today I may need to communicate with EVERYONE via twitter because apparently I've caught a cold that has caused me to lose the majority of my voice. That should go well today with 5 kids who don't really listen when I have my whole voice in tact.
I wonder if using Twitter to help Elizabeth learn to read would be a good idea? Probably not.
Anyway, y'all have a good Monday.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Babies and racecars
I think somewhere, woven into the DNA of my children, there are two unspoken truths.
My girls believe that before any real fun can be had with a babydoll, they must be naked (or as naked as you are able to make them).
Then once the clothing is as removed as your little fingers will allow, you must "mommy" them to the point of breaking them.
In turn,
my boys have the ability to know exactly where every car in our house is located.
In addition, they know exactly how to make car noises for as long as their little lungs can hold breath. Then they repeat this noise approximately 3,729 times.
(Just so you know, when I took these pictures Aaron and Olivia were playing in the kitchen at the same time. Olivia with her baby and Aaron with his car. It was, perhaps, the most precious thing I'd seen all week.)
My girls believe that before any real fun can be had with a babydoll, they must be naked (or as naked as you are able to make them).
Then once the clothing is as removed as your little fingers will allow, you must "mommy" them to the point of breaking them.In turn,
my boys have the ability to know exactly where every car in our house is located.
In addition, they know exactly how to make car noises for as long as their little lungs can hold breath. Then they repeat this noise approximately 3,729 times.(Just so you know, when I took these pictures Aaron and Olivia were playing in the kitchen at the same time. Olivia with her baby and Aaron with his car. It was, perhaps, the most precious thing I'd seen all week.)
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
I only thought that I had this whole God thing figured out
Can I just confess you to you that God is doing major work on my heart right now?
Which, by the way, is NOT where I prefer Him working right now. I'd much rather He be working on my cervix. But, He doesn't seem to want to change that right now, so I guess my heart will have to do.
As I write this, my husband is in Atlanta waiting to board an airplane that will bring him home from a long weekend away at his grandfather's funeral. By the time you read this, he will have been home for a mere 8ish or so hours and will be back at work.
I just can't tell you how ready I am to see my husband.
(Can I just take a second or three and tell all of you single parents out there that I think you are AMAZING? Seriously? No matter the reason you are currently single (this includes you military spouses) my hat is OFF to you. I have no idea how you do life day in and day out knowing you are the sole provider for your family's needs. I commend you and I can promise you that I will spend MUCH more time in prayer for you. This weekend, I was humbled by what God revealed to me about your lives.)
But, when my husband left I wasn't so thankful. Actually, I was pretty pissed if you want to know the truth. I mean, here I am 57 months pregnant with our 6th child. The other five kids are a mere 5.5 years old and younger and one of our darling kids is pushing me to my limits. Why in the world would this man think it would be a good idea to leave me here to do life for 3 whole days - ALONE?
(Nevermind that I encouraged him to go. Nevermind that at all.)
Then, I realize that he left me a sink full of dirty dishes. AND a trashcan that is overflowing. AND a refrigerator full of uncooked food.
I mean, when I left him and went out of town for a week at least I tried to leave our house in some sort of condition where it would be easier on him. I left him frozen meals and even prepared a posse of men to come a few times after the kids' bedtimes to give him a mental reprieve.
But OH NO. He just left.
So yeah, I was pretty upset about it. And, the night before he left I managed have had an emotional breakdown over everything that is going on in our life. I might have cried because he hurt my oversensitive feelings. And, I might have been ticked off the next morning because he didn't take my breakdown seriously and instead he drifted off to sleep while I continued to cry.
(Have I mentioned that my marriage is perfect? No? Oh wait, that's because it's NOT. Close, but no cigar. I mean, mostly because of me.)
I don't say all of this to try to make my husband look bad. Because, truly, I was being selfish, I see that now. But, as I texted my BFF Amanda in an effort to "ask for prayer" (which was really just me disguising my desire to unleash on her about my husband and gossip) I realized something.
It's all about my perspective. So, I prayed a prayer I seem to be praying a lot lately.
"Father, help me to see what YOU desire me to see in this situation. It seems crazy and chaotic to me but this situation is not surprising you. So show me God, show me."
And you know what? He did. That afternoon I read this post by Katie. Actually, I read it in bits and pieces because I prefer to be hit across the face with tiny, little God slaps rather than one ginormous sized God slap.
Over the course of the weekend, He showed me that if I HAD to make it with 5 (or 6) kids all by myself, I could. He gently reminded me that somewhere in Haiti (or another disaster ridden nation), there is a Mother begging for just 1 more day with her babies.
He showed me just how much my husband does for me that I never really notice. Small things that I take for granted. (I realized that until this weekend that I don't think I've taken out the trash in probably 4 months. And, I never feed the dog.)
Mostly though, God made it abundantly clear how incredibly selfish I am. Selfish with my time and the selfishness of my heart's desires.
Why did I ever believe that being a follower of Jesus would be easy? Why did I think that looking less like the world and more like a crazy Jesus freak would be fun?
Why did I ever believe that because I am set apart within the light of God's truth that I would no longer have difficulties or struggles or even have to make sacrifices that are close to my heart, intimate with my spirit even? I so desperately want to live a life sold out to God but in turn I expected it to be easy and streamline and, well, uneventful.
Where is that Biblical? Show me where it says in God's word that giving up your own life for one immersed in His is easy?
Blessed? Yes, incredibly so. Filled with joy? Most of the time. Burden free? Hardly so.
So, sometime on Saturday afternoon I decided to put myself up by my bootstraps (which it totally figurative because I can promise you that my cankles will NOT be fitting into boots anytime soon). I decided that I can choose to loathe the entire weekend, make my kids miserable, be miserable myself and speak harshly to my husband each time we talk.
Or...
I can do life alone (as alone as you get with 5 kids) with joy. I can be supportive of my husbands need to be there for his father and family. I can joyfully look and see what God is choosing to show me during these few days alone.
And I can pray I won't go into labor while my husband is 3 layovers and 8 hours worth of plane travel away.
I was exhausted every night and I certainly didn't win any awards for Mother of the Year. But I did it. I made it through the weekend. I chose to change my attitude. And, honestly, I had fun with my kids.
My house is a total disaster and I don't know that I ever want to be pregnant and alone with 5 kids again, but we made it.
And today while my husband is back at work and life goes back to "normal" for us (whatever that is) I will choose to face our continued chaotic life looking for what God wants me to see. And how I should act in response.
Considering the alternative I'd say that's really my only option.
Which, by the way, is NOT where I prefer Him working right now. I'd much rather He be working on my cervix. But, He doesn't seem to want to change that right now, so I guess my heart will have to do.
As I write this, my husband is in Atlanta waiting to board an airplane that will bring him home from a long weekend away at his grandfather's funeral. By the time you read this, he will have been home for a mere 8ish or so hours and will be back at work.
I just can't tell you how ready I am to see my husband.
(Can I just take a second or three and tell all of you single parents out there that I think you are AMAZING? Seriously? No matter the reason you are currently single (this includes you military spouses) my hat is OFF to you. I have no idea how you do life day in and day out knowing you are the sole provider for your family's needs. I commend you and I can promise you that I will spend MUCH more time in prayer for you. This weekend, I was humbled by what God revealed to me about your lives.)
But, when my husband left I wasn't so thankful. Actually, I was pretty pissed if you want to know the truth. I mean, here I am 57 months pregnant with our 6th child. The other five kids are a mere 5.5 years old and younger and one of our darling kids is pushing me to my limits. Why in the world would this man think it would be a good idea to leave me here to do life for 3 whole days - ALONE?
(Nevermind that I encouraged him to go. Nevermind that at all.)
Then, I realize that he left me a sink full of dirty dishes. AND a trashcan that is overflowing. AND a refrigerator full of uncooked food.
I mean, when I left him and went out of town for a week at least I tried to leave our house in some sort of condition where it would be easier on him. I left him frozen meals and even prepared a posse of men to come a few times after the kids' bedtimes to give him a mental reprieve.
But OH NO. He just left.
So yeah, I was pretty upset about it. And, the night before he left I managed have had an emotional breakdown over everything that is going on in our life. I might have cried because he hurt my oversensitive feelings. And, I might have been ticked off the next morning because he didn't take my breakdown seriously and instead he drifted off to sleep while I continued to cry.
(Have I mentioned that my marriage is perfect? No? Oh wait, that's because it's NOT. Close, but no cigar. I mean, mostly because of me.)
I don't say all of this to try to make my husband look bad. Because, truly, I was being selfish, I see that now. But, as I texted my BFF Amanda in an effort to "ask for prayer" (which was really just me disguising my desire to unleash on her about my husband and gossip) I realized something.
It's all about my perspective. So, I prayed a prayer I seem to be praying a lot lately.
"Father, help me to see what YOU desire me to see in this situation. It seems crazy and chaotic to me but this situation is not surprising you. So show me God, show me."
And you know what? He did. That afternoon I read this post by Katie. Actually, I read it in bits and pieces because I prefer to be hit across the face with tiny, little God slaps rather than one ginormous sized God slap.
Over the course of the weekend, He showed me that if I HAD to make it with 5 (or 6) kids all by myself, I could. He gently reminded me that somewhere in Haiti (or another disaster ridden nation), there is a Mother begging for just 1 more day with her babies.
He showed me just how much my husband does for me that I never really notice. Small things that I take for granted. (I realized that until this weekend that I don't think I've taken out the trash in probably 4 months. And, I never feed the dog.)
Mostly though, God made it abundantly clear how incredibly selfish I am. Selfish with my time and the selfishness of my heart's desires.
Why did I ever believe that being a follower of Jesus would be easy? Why did I think that looking less like the world and more like a crazy Jesus freak would be fun?
Why did I ever believe that because I am set apart within the light of God's truth that I would no longer have difficulties or struggles or even have to make sacrifices that are close to my heart, intimate with my spirit even? I so desperately want to live a life sold out to God but in turn I expected it to be easy and streamline and, well, uneventful.
Where is that Biblical? Show me where it says in God's word that giving up your own life for one immersed in His is easy?
Blessed? Yes, incredibly so. Filled with joy? Most of the time. Burden free? Hardly so.
So, sometime on Saturday afternoon I decided to put myself up by my bootstraps (which it totally figurative because I can promise you that my cankles will NOT be fitting into boots anytime soon). I decided that I can choose to loathe the entire weekend, make my kids miserable, be miserable myself and speak harshly to my husband each time we talk.
Or...
I can do life alone (as alone as you get with 5 kids) with joy. I can be supportive of my husbands need to be there for his father and family. I can joyfully look and see what God is choosing to show me during these few days alone.
And I can pray I won't go into labor while my husband is 3 layovers and 8 hours worth of plane travel away.
I was exhausted every night and I certainly didn't win any awards for Mother of the Year. But I did it. I made it through the weekend. I chose to change my attitude. And, honestly, I had fun with my kids.
My house is a total disaster and I don't know that I ever want to be pregnant and alone with 5 kids again, but we made it.
And today while my husband is back at work and life goes back to "normal" for us (whatever that is) I will choose to face our continued chaotic life looking for what God wants me to see. And how I should act in response.
Considering the alternative I'd say that's really my only option.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Honestly, Darling.
Can I just be really honest here?
(I'm guessing since it's my blog and you aren't beside me as I type this, I can. And, I don't really know why I used that as my opening sentence because it's not like you can answer me and then it would change the rest of this post.)
Well, I'm gonna be honest. And if honesty is something you don't like then you might wanna go ahead and leave now. And, if you read what I'm about to write and you don't agree with me, then that's fine. I only ask that you comment respectfully.
Right now, I love all my children. I love each of them so much that I would die to save their lives, without hesitation. You see, I know that true love is a choice you make. I touched on that previously way back when I wrote this post about my husband. But, what I've realized since then is that even loving your children is choice.
Some women receive their children into their arms and immediately fall in love. Other women grow to love their children over the course of their first weeks and months with them. As for me, I've found both to be true with each of my babies. I loved them immediately but the fluttery emotion of it faded at times and the real choice to love them came later.
Sure, I have moments, several of them a day even, where my children do or say something and my heart swells with pride and adoration. Most days, I can just look at my kids and feel a rush of emotion and feel overwhelmed with how much I care about them.
But, you see, I choose to love my kids. I choose to train them to be responsible, God loving, courteous, family focused people. I choose to give them my attention and affection and somedays, I make better choices than others. But, in my opinion, loving my children is a choice I make, daily.
But lately, there is one of my children that I just don't LIKE very much.
I know. Mothers should never speak such words, huh? Truly wonderful mothers don't speak about when they've had enough of their kids or when they're so sick of them that they dread hearing them wake up the next morning. Or, if they DO mention such things then they ONLY do so while joking. Right?
Well, I'm not joking.
I'm seriously in a state of unlike with one of my kids. Because I'd rather not call out one of my kids and because I'm sure that there will be a day (and there have already been days in the past) where I feel this way about another one of my children, I'll call the child I'm currently referencing "Darling."
Now, please don't misunderstand me. I still love Darling as much as possible. Because I choose to love Darling.
I choose to love Darling despite the fact that Darling is driving me insane. I still love Darling despite the fact that Darling is currently causing me to employ every disciplinary method I've ever wanted/needed/thought about trying.
I choose to love Darling despite the fact that I discipline Darling for the EXACT SAME DISOBEDIENCE several times a day.
But, I'm gonna be honest. When I look at Darling I don't see very much like. In fact, I hardly want to be in the same room with Darling. I hardly want to go out of my way to help Darling find a toy or understand how something works.
But then, Darling will grab a book and crawl into my lap, bat those eyes and I'm hooked. And I smell Darling's hair and kiss Darling's cheeks and I remember that God blessed me with Darling, even when Darling doesn't feel like a blessing.
And I wonder how often my Father feels the same way about me. I wonder how many times God looks at me suffering in the EXACT SAME DISOBEDIENCE and wonders if I'll actually get it right this time.
I wonder how often God looks at me and hardly wants to be alone with me. I wonder if He looks at me and hardly wants to go out of His way to help me or help me understand how something works or how it harm my soul.
Currently, I have 5 children. All of whom I love deeply. All of whom have taught me so much about myself and my God and how much He loves me, even though I'm completely flawed. And I think about this verse,
"If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!" ~ Matthew 7:11
And I am reminded that I am imperfect and yet I can still love my little Darling, despite the fact that Darling is driving me insane. In contrast, God is perfect and He continues to love me, despite the fact that I am driving Him insane.
And suddenly, I have perspective.
So tomorrow, I will wake up and feed all 5 of my children breakfast. I will hand out sippy cups and kisses for boo boos. I will continue to choose to love all of my children, even when I don't feel warm and fuzzy about them. And I will maintain that I am the most blessed woman I know because God has entrusted me with these babies. And gifts like these are not something I take lightly.
(I'm guessing since it's my blog and you aren't beside me as I type this, I can. And, I don't really know why I used that as my opening sentence because it's not like you can answer me and then it would change the rest of this post.)
Well, I'm gonna be honest. And if honesty is something you don't like then you might wanna go ahead and leave now. And, if you read what I'm about to write and you don't agree with me, then that's fine. I only ask that you comment respectfully.
Right now, I love all my children. I love each of them so much that I would die to save their lives, without hesitation. You see, I know that true love is a choice you make. I touched on that previously way back when I wrote this post about my husband. But, what I've realized since then is that even loving your children is choice.
Some women receive their children into their arms and immediately fall in love. Other women grow to love their children over the course of their first weeks and months with them. As for me, I've found both to be true with each of my babies. I loved them immediately but the fluttery emotion of it faded at times and the real choice to love them came later.
Sure, I have moments, several of them a day even, where my children do or say something and my heart swells with pride and adoration. Most days, I can just look at my kids and feel a rush of emotion and feel overwhelmed with how much I care about them.
But, you see, I choose to love my kids. I choose to train them to be responsible, God loving, courteous, family focused people. I choose to give them my attention and affection and somedays, I make better choices than others. But, in my opinion, loving my children is a choice I make, daily.
But lately, there is one of my children that I just don't LIKE very much.
I know. Mothers should never speak such words, huh? Truly wonderful mothers don't speak about when they've had enough of their kids or when they're so sick of them that they dread hearing them wake up the next morning. Or, if they DO mention such things then they ONLY do so while joking. Right?
Well, I'm not joking.
I'm seriously in a state of unlike with one of my kids. Because I'd rather not call out one of my kids and because I'm sure that there will be a day (and there have already been days in the past) where I feel this way about another one of my children, I'll call the child I'm currently referencing "Darling."
Now, please don't misunderstand me. I still love Darling as much as possible. Because I choose to love Darling.
I choose to love Darling despite the fact that Darling is driving me insane. I still love Darling despite the fact that Darling is currently causing me to employ every disciplinary method I've ever wanted/needed/thought about trying.
I choose to love Darling despite the fact that I discipline Darling for the EXACT SAME DISOBEDIENCE several times a day.
But, I'm gonna be honest. When I look at Darling I don't see very much like. In fact, I hardly want to be in the same room with Darling. I hardly want to go out of my way to help Darling find a toy or understand how something works.
But then, Darling will grab a book and crawl into my lap, bat those eyes and I'm hooked. And I smell Darling's hair and kiss Darling's cheeks and I remember that God blessed me with Darling, even when Darling doesn't feel like a blessing.
And I wonder how often my Father feels the same way about me. I wonder how many times God looks at me suffering in the EXACT SAME DISOBEDIENCE and wonders if I'll actually get it right this time.
I wonder how often God looks at me and hardly wants to be alone with me. I wonder if He looks at me and hardly wants to go out of His way to help me or help me understand how something works or how it harm my soul.
Currently, I have 5 children. All of whom I love deeply. All of whom have taught me so much about myself and my God and how much He loves me, even though I'm completely flawed. And I think about this verse,
"If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!" ~ Matthew 7:11
And I am reminded that I am imperfect and yet I can still love my little Darling, despite the fact that Darling is driving me insane. In contrast, God is perfect and He continues to love me, despite the fact that I am driving Him insane.
And suddenly, I have perspective.
So tomorrow, I will wake up and feed all 5 of my children breakfast. I will hand out sippy cups and kisses for boo boos. I will continue to choose to love all of my children, even when I don't feel warm and fuzzy about them. And I will maintain that I am the most blessed woman I know because God has entrusted me with these babies. And gifts like these are not something I take lightly.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Das Not Funny! Friday: Not much and an email rant
Wow! I just realized it's Friday. I mean, I knew it was Friday because we did our normal Friday morning activities already this morning, but I just realized it was Friday. You know what I mean?
I don't really have anything in the way of a Das Not Funny! Friday post because, well, I've been a little busy...
...growing a baby.
...going pee.
...packing up my house.
...searching for a place for us to live.
...going pee.
...calling to check on my Maw.
...and the normal stuff like changing diapers and cooking meals and breaking up arguments and kissing boo boos and tying shoes.
...and going pee.
The only funny things that I remember from this week are two, both from my Ashlee.
She was playing with her Vsmile and changing out the game to play Winne the Pooh and she looks at me, holds the cartridge next to my belly and says,
"Mommy, you and Pooh have the same kinda tummy. 'Sept your tummy has a baby in it and Pooh's doesn't. He's just got honey."
And then this afternoon as I backed our new (to us) van into the driveway Lucas says,
"Let's 'retend that dis is the DINOSAUR TRAIN!"
To which Ashlee replies, "Let's don't. And just let it be a people train, okay Woocus?"
There's always a joy killer in every group.
-------
With the rest of your time, I'd like to discuss with you the aspect of email addresses. As I am calling all over various towns, speaking to several different people, trying to find us a place to live I'm having to give out my email address to strangers.
And, it's got me to thinking. Your email address actually says quite a bit about you, don't you think? Have you ever looked at someone's email address and wondered WHY ON EARTH they'd have chosen that one?
I mean, did they think no one would ever see it?
I mean, what if my email was something like: foxychick@somewhere.com? Um, can you imagine giving that out to someone when you are looking to have a professional relationship with them?
What about: hellzangelinlove@anywhere.com?
Or one I saw not long ago, attached to a Craigslist listing: toohotforyou24.7@idontknow.com.
Seriously?
So I ask you...what does your email address say about you? If it's got the word "sexy" or "love" or some reference to your VERY personal life may I suggest a change is in order?
Mmmkay, I'm done now.
Have a great weekend. If you need me, I'll be in the bathroom.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Hope
Even though our lives seem to be spinning into a world of chaos God is proving that He is, indeed, in control.
On Monday, as we waited for word from the operating room regarding my Maw's surgery, we received another kind of word.
Yes, our sweet Baby Girl is now officially a Beaver!
After sitting in the courtroom just over 14 months ago, listening to all the things her little body endured before she was born, we have no doubts that God mercifully spared her life so that she could one day be our precious daughter.
So, it's with great joy that I present to you:
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
Thank you God. Thank you.
On Monday, as we waited for word from the operating room regarding my Maw's surgery, we received another kind of word.
Yes, our sweet Baby Girl is now officially a Beaver!After sitting in the courtroom just over 14 months ago, listening to all the things her little body endured before she was born, we have no doubts that God mercifully spared her life so that she could one day be our precious daughter.
So, it's with great joy that I present to you:
Olivia Hope
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
"The LORD is my portion," says my soul,
"therefore I will hope in him."
~ Lamentations 3:22-24
they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
"The LORD is my portion," says my soul,
"therefore I will hope in him."
~ Lamentations 3:22-24
Thank you God. Thank you.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
He knew our life would be this chaotic. I just wish He'd told me sooner.
Our life is never boring. EVER. Even when it seems as though things are "normal" around here, it's chaotic and crazy and full of energy.
I'm pretty sure that our life is the antonym of boring. And, I'm pretty sure that we are the synonym of chaotic.
But over the next month our lives will prove to be more chaotic than ever.
And, through it all I continue to remind myself that NONE of this comes as a surprise to God. He knew how incredibly chaotic our lives would be at this time and He remains in control.
(And lately, I'm chanting the previous sentence to myself on an hourly - sometimes minute by minute - basis.)
Why is our life more chaotic than normal these days? Let me start with the basics that you probably already know.
I'm about 36 weeks pregnant with our 6th child. Our oldest child is a mere 5.5 years old. That in-and-of-itself is chaotic.
But wait, there's more.
My grandma, Maw, just had major heart surgery. Major, major heart surgery. God is proving, once more, to be merciful and is healing her body unlike anything we expected. Her recovery will last for the next 3 - 4 months and my Mom will be her primary care giver. How does this directly impact our family, aside from the fact that we love my Maw more than words? Well, my Mom usually helps us out several times a week with childcare and dinners and such. With her giving all her effort to care for my Maw, our life will become a little more chaotic.
But wait, there's more.
We found out that Luke's paternal grandfather passed away and arrangements will be made for his memorial/burial in the next week. Luke is planning on attending the funeral, which will be in another state. We are still working out details, but he will certainly be traveling over the course of 2 - 3 days, while his wife is on the verge of going into labor. That makes life chaotic.
But wait, there's more.
Perhaps the most chaotic thing is that we finally sold our house.
Oh, had you forgotten that it was still on the market? Well, it was. Let me catch you up to speed.
We've had a contingent offer on it since sometime around October. However, the folks who are buying our house had to sell their house first. It wasn't looking good and we had agreed that if they hadn't sold their house by December sometime (I don't remember the date) the contract would become voided.
Well, that day in December came and went and we re-negotiated so that our contract would expire if we didn't close by February 28th.
We didn't think it was looking promising. Actually, Luke and I hadn't even spoken about selling our house in several months. We were sorta on auto-pilot with the whole house thing, or so we thought.
Then, randomly (you know if you believe in coincidences) last Thursday, Luke and I laid in the bed and talked about how wonderful it would be if God would allow our house to sell before the baby came.
We talked about the debt we owe on our house and how much of burden we felt over it.
THE NEXT MORNING I got an email from our realtor. The buyers had an offer on their house. At 5:00pm I was on the phone with our Realtor hearing myself say that a closing date of March 3rd would be acceptable.
That's 5 days before this baby is due.
With my Maw still being in the thick of recovery and rehab.
And now we have to find a place to live.
And pack up all ourcrap treasures.
And all the things that come with moving.
Our life is getting incredibly chaotic. More chaotic than I ever thought possible.
But God knew. He knew the before the creation of the Earth that we'd be expecting a baby and moving and dealing with recovery of my Maw and the death of Luke's grandfather.
He knew. Even though we had no clue.
So we press forward, trusting that the Lord is completely in control. Trusting that even though it feels like the ground beneath our feet is spinning out of control. Truly, it isn't.
Truly God is in control. Truly, He knew that when we placed our house on the market back in August, with a new baby growing in my womb, that it would all accumulate around the same time that the baby would come.
He knows what will happen in the next 30 days and I do not. He knows whether or not I will go into labor while my husband is several states away (please Lord, NO!).
He knows how on His own green Earth we will pack, move, settle, have a baby, help as much as possible with my Maw, support Luke's Dad and family and still Homeschool, disciple and raise our children.
He knows. Even though we have no clue. And I am trying my best to rest in that knowledge.
I'm pretty sure that our life is the antonym of boring. And, I'm pretty sure that we are the synonym of chaotic.
But over the next month our lives will prove to be more chaotic than ever.
And, through it all I continue to remind myself that NONE of this comes as a surprise to God. He knew how incredibly chaotic our lives would be at this time and He remains in control.
(And lately, I'm chanting the previous sentence to myself on an hourly - sometimes minute by minute - basis.)
Why is our life more chaotic than normal these days? Let me start with the basics that you probably already know.
I'm about 36 weeks pregnant with our 6th child. Our oldest child is a mere 5.5 years old. That in-and-of-itself is chaotic.
But wait, there's more.
My grandma, Maw, just had major heart surgery. Major, major heart surgery. God is proving, once more, to be merciful and is healing her body unlike anything we expected. Her recovery will last for the next 3 - 4 months and my Mom will be her primary care giver. How does this directly impact our family, aside from the fact that we love my Maw more than words? Well, my Mom usually helps us out several times a week with childcare and dinners and such. With her giving all her effort to care for my Maw, our life will become a little more chaotic.
But wait, there's more.
We found out that Luke's paternal grandfather passed away and arrangements will be made for his memorial/burial in the next week. Luke is planning on attending the funeral, which will be in another state. We are still working out details, but he will certainly be traveling over the course of 2 - 3 days, while his wife is on the verge of going into labor. That makes life chaotic.
But wait, there's more.
Perhaps the most chaotic thing is that we finally sold our house.
Oh, had you forgotten that it was still on the market? Well, it was. Let me catch you up to speed.
We've had a contingent offer on it since sometime around October. However, the folks who are buying our house had to sell their house first. It wasn't looking good and we had agreed that if they hadn't sold their house by December sometime (I don't remember the date) the contract would become voided.
Well, that day in December came and went and we re-negotiated so that our contract would expire if we didn't close by February 28th.
We didn't think it was looking promising. Actually, Luke and I hadn't even spoken about selling our house in several months. We were sorta on auto-pilot with the whole house thing, or so we thought.
Then, randomly (you know if you believe in coincidences) last Thursday, Luke and I laid in the bed and talked about how wonderful it would be if God would allow our house to sell before the baby came.
We talked about the debt we owe on our house and how much of burden we felt over it.
THE NEXT MORNING I got an email from our realtor. The buyers had an offer on their house. At 5:00pm I was on the phone with our Realtor hearing myself say that a closing date of March 3rd would be acceptable.
That's 5 days before this baby is due.
With my Maw still being in the thick of recovery and rehab.
And now we have to find a place to live.
And pack up all our
And all the things that come with moving.
Our life is getting incredibly chaotic. More chaotic than I ever thought possible.
But God knew. He knew the before the creation of the Earth that we'd be expecting a baby and moving and dealing with recovery of my Maw and the death of Luke's grandfather.
He knew. Even though we had no clue.
So we press forward, trusting that the Lord is completely in control. Trusting that even though it feels like the ground beneath our feet is spinning out of control. Truly, it isn't.
Truly God is in control. Truly, He knew that when we placed our house on the market back in August, with a new baby growing in my womb, that it would all accumulate around the same time that the baby would come.
He knows what will happen in the next 30 days and I do not. He knows whether or not I will go into labor while my husband is several states away (please Lord, NO!).
He knows how on His own green Earth we will pack, move, settle, have a baby, help as much as possible with my Maw, support Luke's Dad and family and still Homeschool, disciple and raise our children.
He knows. Even though we have no clue. And I am trying my best to rest in that knowledge.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Update on my Maw
Hey peeps.
Today has proven to be an amazing day. I'm telling you, God has really shown off in the last 24 hours. I mean, He acts like He's actually in control of all things or something. Geesh. ;-)
My Maw is doing fabulous. I just left visiting with her in the ICU and she was eating applesauce and threatening to charge the nurses for every vile of blood they took from her. Typical of my Maw. Excessively typical.
This morning, she walked to the end of the hall and back. Since I just told you about the whole eating thing, I'm guess you could infer that she is off the ventilator. But in case you couldn't, she's off the ventilator. Her heart is also sustaining its own rhythms and she in no longer needing the pacemaker.
She will remain in the ICU tonight, but purely as a precaution. Hopefully tomorrow, she will be moved to the step-down unit.
I probably won't blog about her status and recovery here regularly. However, if you'd like to follow her recovery or leave her a comment you can click here and go to the blog we've set up that will follow her recovery, even after she comes home.
Thanks so much for your prayers and thoughts. I know that they were heard by our marvelous Creator. I am amazed at how wonderful His blessings continue to be.
Today has proven to be an amazing day. I'm telling you, God has really shown off in the last 24 hours. I mean, He acts like He's actually in control of all things or something. Geesh. ;-)
My Maw is doing fabulous. I just left visiting with her in the ICU and she was eating applesauce and threatening to charge the nurses for every vile of blood they took from her. Typical of my Maw. Excessively typical.
This morning, she walked to the end of the hall and back. Since I just told you about the whole eating thing, I'm guess you could infer that she is off the ventilator. But in case you couldn't, she's off the ventilator. Her heart is also sustaining its own rhythms and she in no longer needing the pacemaker.
She will remain in the ICU tonight, but purely as a precaution. Hopefully tomorrow, she will be moved to the step-down unit.
I probably won't blog about her status and recovery here regularly. However, if you'd like to follow her recovery or leave her a comment you can click here and go to the blog we've set up that will follow her recovery, even after she comes home.
Thanks so much for your prayers and thoughts. I know that they were heard by our marvelous Creator. I am amazed at how wonderful His blessings continue to be.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Surgery Day: Update
745pm Update:
We got to go back and see Maw for a few brief moments. I'll be honest, it was really hard seeing her in that condition, although I was expecting it - as much as I could.
She continues to be on the ventilator and has tubes everywhere. She is on medication to ELEVATE her very, very low blood pressure and is also on an external pacemaker. Our understanding is that without these two things she would have no blood pressure or heart rhythm.
The nursing shift is changing now and the new nurse will begin weaning her off sedation within the hour. With that, they will also begin trying to wean her off the ventilator. However, as the doctor said previously, her accelerated lung disease (due to many, many years of smoking) is a big factor in how well she will respond to the decreased level of the vent.
Visiting hours end at 9pm EST and at that time we will be asked to leave the ICU and we cannot return until 9am tomorrow morning. We can, however, call at any time for an update.
Unless there is significant improvement or a significant decrease in her condition, I won't update again until tomorrow.
Thank you all so much for your prayers. Right now we are just praying for her to be strong enough to be weaned from sedation so that her body can begin to regulate itself. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers so very much.
5:00pm Update:
Surgery began about 5 minutes before 8:00am. Maw came through surgery well. The surgeon met with us about 1.5 hours ago and said that they bypassed 4 arteries and replaced her aortic root and valve. He commented that she had more lung disease than we originally thought (due to 60+ years of smoking cigarettes). Additionally, that getting her lungs and airways to dialate properly so that she can get adequate oxygen is going to be important.
We are waiting outside of the ICU now to go back and see her for the 1st time since surgery. I'll try to update again later tonight.
We've got a long 48 hours ahead. Thanks again for the prayers.
Original Post:
Today is surgery day for my Maw. If you're visiting my blog today, please offer up a prayer for her, the surgeons, the doctors, the hospital staff, the nurses and all involved in the surgery.
I will try to update throughout the day via my twitter account, if you'd like to know how things are going.
Thanks for all your support friends. It's going to be a long day and I appreciate your thoughts and prayers more than you know.
We got to go back and see Maw for a few brief moments. I'll be honest, it was really hard seeing her in that condition, although I was expecting it - as much as I could.
She continues to be on the ventilator and has tubes everywhere. She is on medication to ELEVATE her very, very low blood pressure and is also on an external pacemaker. Our understanding is that without these two things she would have no blood pressure or heart rhythm.
The nursing shift is changing now and the new nurse will begin weaning her off sedation within the hour. With that, they will also begin trying to wean her off the ventilator. However, as the doctor said previously, her accelerated lung disease (due to many, many years of smoking) is a big factor in how well she will respond to the decreased level of the vent.
Visiting hours end at 9pm EST and at that time we will be asked to leave the ICU and we cannot return until 9am tomorrow morning. We can, however, call at any time for an update.
Unless there is significant improvement or a significant decrease in her condition, I won't update again until tomorrow.
Thank you all so much for your prayers. Right now we are just praying for her to be strong enough to be weaned from sedation so that her body can begin to regulate itself. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers so very much.
5:00pm Update:
Surgery began about 5 minutes before 8:00am. Maw came through surgery well. The surgeon met with us about 1.5 hours ago and said that they bypassed 4 arteries and replaced her aortic root and valve. He commented that she had more lung disease than we originally thought (due to 60+ years of smoking cigarettes). Additionally, that getting her lungs and airways to dialate properly so that she can get adequate oxygen is going to be important.
We are waiting outside of the ICU now to go back and see her for the 1st time since surgery. I'll try to update again later tonight.
We've got a long 48 hours ahead. Thanks again for the prayers.
Original Post:
Today is surgery day for my Maw. If you're visiting my blog today, please offer up a prayer for her, the surgeons, the doctors, the hospital staff, the nurses and all involved in the surgery.
I will try to update throughout the day via my twitter account, if you'd like to know how things are going.
Thanks for all your support friends. It's going to be a long day and I appreciate your thoughts and prayers more than you know.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Das Not Funny! Friday: I can't think of a clever title because I'm too focused on the nap I'm about to take
Welcome to this week's edition of Das Not Funny! Friday. I don't have much this week so I hope these few give you at least a smile or two.
Lucas has been all about getting himself dressedlately for the last several months. Usually his outfits consist of pants that are on backwards and cowboy boots on the wrong feet. But this week, he emerged from his room after getting ready for bed in the following outfit:
I always knew he was a turkey. Those feet prove it.
-------
Earlier this week Lucas saw my bra laying on the bench at the end of our bed. He casually picked it up and handed it to me saying,
"Here mom. Put your boobies on."
-------
Lucas, from the bathroom: "Bizzy! Ashwee! Come here and wook at my poo poo."
Ashlee and Elizabeth file into the bathroom and I hear the following...
Ashlee: "Shoowee Woocus. You stink!"
Elizabeth: "Lean up Lucas and lemme see." (insert pause) "Yep. You stink alright."
-------
You know you over-rationalize your thoughts to your 20 month old when you talk to him and his reply to you is,
"Mum."
Which means "Yes Mam."
-------
One afternoon this week Lucas changed into a pair of Ashlee's jeans. When I asked him what he was wearing he said,
"Mom, dese are boy jeans too because day have da zwipper in da front for my peenus."
That still doesn't explain why he wears his own pants backwards, with the zipper on his butt.
Y'all have a happy weekend.
Lucas has been all about getting himself dressed
I always knew he was a turkey. Those feet prove it.-------
Earlier this week Lucas saw my bra laying on the bench at the end of our bed. He casually picked it up and handed it to me saying,
"Here mom. Put your boobies on."
-------
Lucas, from the bathroom: "Bizzy! Ashwee! Come here and wook at my poo poo."
Ashlee and Elizabeth file into the bathroom and I hear the following...
Ashlee: "Shoowee Woocus. You stink!"
Elizabeth: "Lean up Lucas and lemme see." (insert pause) "Yep. You stink alright."
-------
You know you over-rationalize your thoughts to your 20 month old when you talk to him and his reply to you is,
"Mum."
Which means "Yes Mam."
-------
One afternoon this week Lucas changed into a pair of Ashlee's jeans. When I asked him what he was wearing he said,
"Mom, dese are boy jeans too because day have da zwipper in da front for my peenus."
That still doesn't explain why he wears his own pants backwards, with the zipper on his butt.
Y'all have a happy weekend.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
My Grand Maw
To the average person, possibly even to my own husband, these trinkets that live on top of the bookshelf in our bedroom are meaningless. They appear to be just junk, possibly some random garage sale finds or some misplaced pieces to a not-so-complete collection.
But when I glance at them I see a passageway to my childhood. These things take my mind back nearly 25 years to a place where I spent my time doing nothing and everything all at once.
Looking at those Pepsi-Cola bottles and that tiny, little teapot, I can almost taste the sweet tea that I spent hours pouring back and forth between their narrow openings. I can smell the distinct fragrance of my Maw's house. I can feel the warmth of her propane heater as I sit at her kitchen table and pour and drink, pour and drink, pour and drink for hours on end.
And that is just how I remember my Grandmother's (Maw's) house from my childhood. Warm, sweet and wonderful.
As I sit here and think about all the things I cherished about her home as a small girl, I can almost hear the music floating through her den as it played from that little, wooden music box, pictured above. I feel my body spinning through her house as I dance and sway and pretend I'm a princess or ballerina or bride.
I remember the scotch tape and cotton ball bandaids she used to make for me when I got boo boos, whether they were real or imagined. I remember her special shelf, where she kept all sorts of interesting things. Most were breakable, like the bottles and teapot above, but all were just for my tiny fingers to touch and hold and enjoy.
I remember her singing to me as I lay in the window seat of her den, the words to "Goodnight Irene" floating through my head as she stroked my hair and I fell asleep on her lap.
I remember ice cream cones from the corner ice cream shop and finally being old enough to walk there by myself and get a cone to bring home.
I remember her neighbor's woodshop, where Mr. Reisner built things from scratch. And swinging on the playset in her backyard and sitting on the stool in her bathroom and playing with her makeup.
There are so many things I remember about my Maw's house. The laughter, the love, the way it was always just there. And as I sit here with tears streaming down my face, I know that in a few days all of the things I love so much about my Grandmother could be gone.
On Monday, my Maw is scheduled to have major heart surgery. My Maw. The woman who always bandaged my boo boos and let me use all her scotch tape. The woman who held me close and mumbled songs in my ear.
Four bypasses, a new aortic valve and aortic root. Someone opening up her chest and assessing a life's worth of damage. Someone who may not ever know just how precious she is to me or how much I still need her here. Someone who may not realize that I've been so very selfish and not allowed my own children to make the same memories with her that I now hold so close.
So I ask you. From today, until late into Monday evening, will you lift up my Maw to the One who can heal all things? Will you pray with me that the Surgeon's hands will be guided by the One who created her very heart?
My Maw, that poured countless pots of tea into that tiny brown pot and endured hours of dancing and music from a tiny little music box, seems so fragile to me now. I almost want to scoop her up into my lap, stroke her hair and sing into her ear.I want her to be able to see our new Baby born and know that 6 little faces adore her just as much as I do. And, I want our kids to dance to the music and drink sweet tea from tiny glass Pepsi bottles. I want them to have scotch tape and cotton ball bandaids and have their hair stroked. I want them to know and remember their Maw like I do.
Because lots of kids have Grandmas. But we have a Grand Maw. And that's something that should never be taken for granted.
My Aunt Judy, My Mom, Me and Maw - 1979
Maw and Elizabeth - Christmas 2003
My Mom holding Lucas, Maw holding Ashlee, My Dad holding Elizabeth - July 2006
Maw and Lucas - May 2008
Maw with the big kids - August 2009Wednesday, February 3, 2010
I'm 50
I just realized I have 50 followers. Which means absolutely NOTHING.
But...it DID make me think of this.
Hilarious.
But...it DID make me think of this.
Hilarious.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Official Eviction Notice: 2 week warning
As I write this, it's late Monday night. 11:39pm to be exact. I'm exhausted. However, I cannot sleep.
It's begun.
That time in my pregnancy when I feel the most exhausted, yet I get the least amount of sleep. Not by choice, mind you.
Oh no. This sweet, darling, (and I'm sure) adorable child in my womb refuses to allow me sleep. It's not the hormones or heartburn or even the inability to get comfortable.
It's movement. Tons of it.
Last night Baby spent about 2 hours turning my belly into various geometrical shapes.
I can tell Baby is going to be genius already. Baby has mastered creating shapes such as triangle, rectangle, oval, hexagon and square.
It's almost artistic really. I'm sure the society of Mensa will be beating down our door as soon as Baby is home from the hospital. I mean, how could they NOT want such a young intellect to join them ASAP?
Baby could teach other fetuses all about prenatal geometry, I'm sure.
At least, Baby could have last night.
Tonight, Baby seems to be into shoving his butt all the way over to the right side of my stomach and then S-T-R-E-T-C-H-I-N-G the rest of herself as far up and down as her limbs will go.
I would appreciate the gesture immensely if it didn't make me gasp in pain.
Then, Baby gets hiccups. Which, I mean, are purely a joy. The rhythmic jolting of my body every 3.5 seconds for 30-45 minutes helps me not to forget that Baby is still there, happy as a agitated lark.
Earlier today Ashlee was standing beside me as I sat on the couch. I took in a deep breath as Baby shoved a body part into the wall of my abdomen in an obvious effort to reach through my uterus and touch my elbow.
"Was wong Mommy? Why you breafin' like dat?" Ashlee asked, clearly concerned.
"Oh nothing honey. The baby is just moving inside Mommy and it surprised me." I replied.
Then, Ashlee laid her hands upon me and prayed.
Or at least that's what it looked like as her face became somber and her 3.5 year old hand rested on my tummy.
Then, she skipped into the other room.
So now I sit here and wait for Baby to slip off to sleep. Truth is, I actually love this stage being pregnant. I know that so many women desperately want to be pregnant and feel the things I'm feeling. So, each time I try not to take it for granted or complain.
So, for the record, I'm not complaining.
Still, whatever Baby is doing on the INSIDE of me makes me really think that he wants to be on the OUTSIDE of me. Which I'd totally be fine with in another 2ish weeks.
So Baby, if you can hear me, consider this your 2 week eviction notice. Keep these wild parties up and I will do everything in my power to ensure that your time in "Momma's house-o-fun" is coming to an end.
And that's a promise, not a threat. Consider this your 2 week warning.
It's begun.
That time in my pregnancy when I feel the most exhausted, yet I get the least amount of sleep. Not by choice, mind you.
Oh no. This sweet, darling, (and I'm sure) adorable child in my womb refuses to allow me sleep. It's not the hormones or heartburn or even the inability to get comfortable.
It's movement. Tons of it.
Last night Baby spent about 2 hours turning my belly into various geometrical shapes.
I can tell Baby is going to be genius already. Baby has mastered creating shapes such as triangle, rectangle, oval, hexagon and square.
It's almost artistic really. I'm sure the society of Mensa will be beating down our door as soon as Baby is home from the hospital. I mean, how could they NOT want such a young intellect to join them ASAP?
Baby could teach other fetuses all about prenatal geometry, I'm sure.
At least, Baby could have last night.
Tonight, Baby seems to be into shoving his butt all the way over to the right side of my stomach and then S-T-R-E-T-C-H-I-N-G the rest of herself as far up and down as her limbs will go.
I would appreciate the gesture immensely if it didn't make me gasp in pain.
Then, Baby gets hiccups. Which, I mean, are purely a joy. The rhythmic jolting of my body every 3.5 seconds for 30-45 minutes helps me not to forget that Baby is still there, happy as a agitated lark.
Earlier today Ashlee was standing beside me as I sat on the couch. I took in a deep breath as Baby shoved a body part into the wall of my abdomen in an obvious effort to reach through my uterus and touch my elbow.
"Was wong Mommy? Why you breafin' like dat?" Ashlee asked, clearly concerned.
"Oh nothing honey. The baby is just moving inside Mommy and it surprised me." I replied.
Then, Ashlee laid her hands upon me and prayed.
Or at least that's what it looked like as her face became somber and her 3.5 year old hand rested on my tummy.
Then, she skipped into the other room.
So now I sit here and wait for Baby to slip off to sleep. Truth is, I actually love this stage being pregnant. I know that so many women desperately want to be pregnant and feel the things I'm feeling. So, each time I try not to take it for granted or complain.
So, for the record, I'm not complaining.
Still, whatever Baby is doing on the INSIDE of me makes me really think that he wants to be on the OUTSIDE of me. Which I'd totally be fine with in another 2ish weeks.
So Baby, if you can hear me, consider this your 2 week eviction notice. Keep these wild parties up and I will do everything in my power to ensure that your time in "Momma's house-o-fun" is coming to an end.
And that's a promise, not a threat. Consider this your 2 week warning.
Monday, February 1, 2010
It's a chore
We are past the point of no return when it comes to having a small family. I mean, let's face it. Even if Baby #6 is our last baby, we will still have 6 kids in 6 years and that officially qualifies us as a LARGE family.
I mean, we do drive a 15 passenger van as our family vehicle, afterall.
So, how do large families do it? How do they manage their homes, keep their sanity and still love each other at the end of the day?
Truth is, I'm still figuring that out.
I'm still figuring out what it looks like to have all these kids, a house, a husband, homeschool, cook dinners, make lunches, change diapers, give baths, play games, have fun, kiss boo boos and still have the energy/time/desire to clean up my house.
It would be a daunting task for me to keep a clean house even if we didn't have (almost) 6 kids. But we do have (almost) 6 kids and we do do all those things I just mentioned above (I know, I just said do do). And you know what I've figured out?
What works now may not work forever.
It may not work in 2 months. And, I'm okay with things changing, obviously. But, I've figured out that my kids can work. At least the big kids can, and man are they good at it!
So, this past week we re-implemented chores. We did chores in the past and then Mom and Dad got lax on enforcing them and it had not been something we'd gotten back around to doing. And, truth-be-told, the last time we did chores I wasn't creative enough. The same kid did the same chore week after week after week.
But this go round looks to be much better. And, the kids seem to love it. I got our basic chore charts here and then customized them to fit our needs. Even the big kids helping in the little areas helps us BIG time.
Each week each of the big kids has "Helper Chores." These are things they do just because they live in this house. I do things just because I live here and so should they. Because they live here they can make their beds, clean up their rooms, pick up their toys and put their dirty clothes in the laundry room.
Simple huh? And basically, if they truly clean their rooms and pick up their toys, they've accomplished all 4 "Helper Chores" in about 15 minutes. Not to shabby.
Then, they have their "Chore Lists." The difference in their Helper Chores and their Chore Lists is simple.
Money.
They get paid for their Chore Lists and they don't for their Helper Chores. Helper Chores are things they do just because they live here, remember? I don't get paid for diaper changes. But oh how I wish I did.
They receive $0.05 per chore on their Chore List. Saturday is pay day. We keep track of which chores they do with a sticker chart. Each week the chart changes so that the chores for each kid for that week changes. They still do all their Helper Chores as normal but their Chore Lists are different.
I distinguished between Helper Chores and Chore Lists based on one very important principle. Helper Chores are always things they can do WITHOUT MY HELP. Chore List chores are things that they need my help with. I feel that they should pull their weight around here because they help make the messes. Thus, HELPER chores. Their Chore Lists chores are things that they do (work) to relieve my work load. Thus, things they can get paid for.
And, they take SO MUCH PRIDE in those chores, let me tell you. This week one of Ashlee's Chore List chores was helping with the laundry.
Have mercy, you'd have thought she'd hit the jackpot.
Naturally, all she does is either load the washer or transfer from the washer to the dryer. But, she's oh-so-proud of herself. In addition to laundry, Ashlee was also responsible for helping me cook and for checking the trashcans.
Elizabeth's chores were feeding the dog and sweeping/vacuuming under the table after meals. Lucas' chores included dusting (I pick a piece of furniture and spray a little dusting spray on a cloth and let him go to town) and setting the table.
Obviously, we do not expect perfection. I mean, look at this bed made by Elizabeth...
Now, check out her face. Serious pride right there. And you know what? Her sheets and comforter are on the bed and resemble a bed that is made and that's good enough for me!
Here's a shot of Lucas in his all clean room...
Yes, he had help with his bed on this day. Notice that his clean room it's NOT perfect. But, neither am I. And if you've been to my house anytime ever you'll know that I don't expect perfection often.
How could I?
It would stress me out. And, it would stress my kids out. So we go with our best effort?
And, for us it works. Our home is a little cleaner. Our kids a little prouder of their contributions. And we train them, little by little, to do it a little better the next time.
-------
What do you do to make your home run more smoothly?
I mean, we do drive a 15 passenger van as our family vehicle, afterall.
So, how do large families do it? How do they manage their homes, keep their sanity and still love each other at the end of the day?
Truth is, I'm still figuring that out.
I'm still figuring out what it looks like to have all these kids, a house, a husband, homeschool, cook dinners, make lunches, change diapers, give baths, play games, have fun, kiss boo boos and still have the energy/time/desire to clean up my house.
It would be a daunting task for me to keep a clean house even if we didn't have (almost) 6 kids. But we do have (almost) 6 kids and we do do all those things I just mentioned above (I know, I just said do do). And you know what I've figured out?
What works now may not work forever.
It may not work in 2 months. And, I'm okay with things changing, obviously. But, I've figured out that my kids can work. At least the big kids can, and man are they good at it!
So, this past week we re-implemented chores. We did chores in the past and then Mom and Dad got lax on enforcing them and it had not been something we'd gotten back around to doing. And, truth-be-told, the last time we did chores I wasn't creative enough. The same kid did the same chore week after week after week.
But this go round looks to be much better. And, the kids seem to love it. I got our basic chore charts here and then customized them to fit our needs. Even the big kids helping in the little areas helps us BIG time.
Each week each of the big kids has "Helper Chores." These are things they do just because they live in this house. I do things just because I live here and so should they. Because they live here they can make their beds, clean up their rooms, pick up their toys and put their dirty clothes in the laundry room.
Simple huh? And basically, if they truly clean their rooms and pick up their toys, they've accomplished all 4 "Helper Chores" in about 15 minutes. Not to shabby.
Then, they have their "Chore Lists." The difference in their Helper Chores and their Chore Lists is simple.
Money.
They get paid for their Chore Lists and they don't for their Helper Chores. Helper Chores are things they do just because they live here, remember? I don't get paid for diaper changes. But oh how I wish I did.
They receive $0.05 per chore on their Chore List. Saturday is pay day. We keep track of which chores they do with a sticker chart. Each week the chart changes so that the chores for each kid for that week changes. They still do all their Helper Chores as normal but their Chore Lists are different.
I distinguished between Helper Chores and Chore Lists based on one very important principle. Helper Chores are always things they can do WITHOUT MY HELP. Chore List chores are things that they need my help with. I feel that they should pull their weight around here because they help make the messes. Thus, HELPER chores. Their Chore Lists chores are things that they do (work) to relieve my work load. Thus, things they can get paid for.
And, they take SO MUCH PRIDE in those chores, let me tell you. This week one of Ashlee's Chore List chores was helping with the laundry.
Have mercy, you'd have thought she'd hit the jackpot.
Naturally, all she does is either load the washer or transfer from the washer to the dryer. But, she's oh-so-proud of herself. In addition to laundry, Ashlee was also responsible for helping me cook and for checking the trashcans.
Elizabeth's chores were feeding the dog and sweeping/vacuuming under the table after meals. Lucas' chores included dusting (I pick a piece of furniture and spray a little dusting spray on a cloth and let him go to town) and setting the table.
Obviously, we do not expect perfection. I mean, look at this bed made by Elizabeth...
Now, check out her face. Serious pride right there. And you know what? Her sheets and comforter are on the bed and resemble a bed that is made and that's good enough for me!Here's a shot of Lucas in his all clean room...
Yes, he had help with his bed on this day. Notice that his clean room it's NOT perfect. But, neither am I. And if you've been to my house anytime ever you'll know that I don't expect perfection often.How could I?
It would stress me out. And, it would stress my kids out. So we go with our best effort?
And, for us it works. Our home is a little cleaner. Our kids a little prouder of their contributions. And we train them, little by little, to do it a little better the next time.
-------
What do you do to make your home run more smoothly?
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