Let me just set the stage here.
We're moving in one week.
We had a going-away party/birthday party last night. I thought we'd combine that with a sleepover with a few friends of the girls. All went well last night until one of the girls decided she wanted to go home. She wasn't upset--she just wanted to sleep in her own bed.
The kids watched movies, made tents, did each others' hair, and played with stickers. Chris and I visited our friends until about midnight. We finally sent the kids to bed at 1:00, and the last girl fell asleep by 1:30 (as did the super-cool but not super-smart mom).
Imagine my surprise at 6:30 when I heard screaming from the playroom.
I had asked the girls to shower when they woke up because they had hairspray in their hair, so I was not surprised to hear the bath running at 6:30am. I was, however, surprised at 9am when I stepped in the shower to find that the hot water did not come on.... because the 6:30 bath was STILL RUNNING. Marisa said innocently, "Well, the drain is open." No big deal!
Five kids. Five hours of sleep. LOTS of whining.
Where's my coffee???!
I'm about the business of raising godly children. So far, God has blessed us with six of them! My husband owns his own business, and I'm fortunate enough to stay at home with the kiddos. If you're looking for deep philosophy on this blog, you're out of luck. If you'd prefer random tales of childhood tomfoolery, stick around!
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Eighteen meals at a time
I just took 6 casserole recipes from About.com, tripled them, and cooked 18 meals for the freezer.
I thought I'd share the links in case any of you care to do the same. The recipes share many ingredients, making it easier to cook, and I chose to buy frozen, chopped vegetables in many cases instead of doing it myself to save time. I had a lot of fun, and I can't wait to enjoy our meals!
Here are the links to the 6 freezer meals I made this time around. Except for the chicken rococco, it was REALLY simple. I think I'd leave off the chicken rococco for a group once-a-month-cooking adventure. I actually had to save it for another day, because it takes about 1.5 hours preparation time, plus 40 minutes baking time. And you have to beat the snot out of the chicken to flatten it (which actually was kind of therapeutic.)
Freezer Chili:
http://busycooks.about.com/od/hotsouprecipes/r/freezerchili.htm
Sicilian Dinner:
http://busycooks.about.com/od/groundbeefrecipes/r/siciliansupper.htm
Chicken, Veggies, and Parmesan Noodles
http://busycooks.about.com/od/precookedpoultryrecipes/r/vegchickencasse.htm
Chicken Potato Casserole:
http://busycooks.about.com/od/precookedpoultryrecipes/r/chickenpotcasse.htm
Chicken Rococco*:
http://busycooks.about.com/od/chickenrecipe1/r/chickenrococco.htm
Turkey Delight:
http://busycooks.about.com/od/precookedpoultryrecipes/r/wildriceturkey.htm
(This calls for 3 c. wild rice, but I substituted a wild/brown/red mixture I found at Kroger, because I wasn't sure how straight wild rice would taste... and it was less expensive.)
All in all, I probably spent 10 hours from start to clean-up (which Chris helped with!)... but that sure beats the 16 hours I spent first time I did this! The cooking part took less than 4 hours because all the recipes share so many ingredients. I think it would have taken less time if I had more stove space and bigger pots. =)
Good luck!
I thought I'd share the links in case any of you care to do the same. The recipes share many ingredients, making it easier to cook, and I chose to buy frozen, chopped vegetables in many cases instead of doing it myself to save time. I had a lot of fun, and I can't wait to enjoy our meals!
Here are the links to the 6 freezer meals I made this time around. Except for the chicken rococco, it was REALLY simple. I think I'd leave off the chicken rococco for a group once-a-month-cooking adventure. I actually had to save it for another day, because it takes about 1.5 hours preparation time, plus 40 minutes baking time. And you have to beat the snot out of the chicken to flatten it (which actually was kind of therapeutic.)
Freezer Chili:
http://busycooks.about.com/od/hotsouprecipes/r/freezerchili.htm
Sicilian Dinner:
http://busycooks.about.com/od/groundbeefrecipes/r/siciliansupper.htm
Chicken, Veggies, and Parmesan Noodles
http://busycooks.about.com/od/precookedpoultryrecipes/r/vegchickencasse.htm
Chicken Potato Casserole:
http://busycooks.about.com/od/precookedpoultryrecipes/r/chickenpotcasse.htm
Chicken Rococco*:
http://busycooks.about.com/od/chickenrecipe1/r/chickenrococco.htm
Turkey Delight:
http://busycooks.about.com/od/precookedpoultryrecipes/r/wildriceturkey.htm
(This calls for 3 c. wild rice, but I substituted a wild/brown/red mixture I found at Kroger, because I wasn't sure how straight wild rice would taste... and it was less expensive.)
All in all, I probably spent 10 hours from start to clean-up (which Chris helped with!)... but that sure beats the 16 hours I spent first time I did this! The cooking part took less than 4 hours because all the recipes share so many ingredients. I think it would have taken less time if I had more stove space and bigger pots. =)
Good luck!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Summer Break
Would you believe we're in Summer Break mode already? Chris, of course, won't graduate until May 23, but since he doesn't rely on ME to teach him, I don't really count him. We finished our 180 days of Kindergarten and K4 last week, so now, we're FREE!
And what wonderful weather in which to be free. Our days are spent outside, running, playing, biking, and picking flowers (which, by the way, are not ours.)
Saja likes to play with the older girls in the neighborhood. Yesterday, they picked a handful of azalea flowers each, and they made a bed for Pocket Pals. It was so cute that I forgot to reprimand them for picking the flowers.
Kora and David like to climb to the top of the monkey bars and hang upside down. You know, we have already been to the ER for a CT Scan when Kora broke her skull, yet somehow, I rest in God's sovereignty (and practice stress-relief breathing) when my children are suspended six feet from the ground head-down. So far, no problems.
Yesterday, David was playing outside barefoot. I let them play barefoot most of the time, because they usually take their shoes off first chance they get, and then the management throws them in the dumpster when they forget to pick them up. (It really happens.) So David, in the infinite wisdom of a 3-year-old, decided to stomp an anthill yesterday... barefoot. When I finally reached him, he was writhing on the ground, screaming, rubbing his feet on the grass. He perked up in less than a minute, though. Then, of his own accord, he went inside to get shoes. Why? you may ask. Because he wanted to stomp on the poor little ants some more. Seriously.
Well, at least he chose to wear his shoes.
Tyler and Tobias have learned that they can wander away if they're not strapped into the wagon or the stroller. They know not to go into the street, yet they test the waters every minute that we're outside. David's terrible 2's prepared me for this stage, so I'm cracking down with training right away.
Tobias loves to pick on Tyler. He grabs the back of his shirt collar and pulls. Tyler screams like a girl. Tobias roars in laughter. Yesterday, Tobias approached a slightly older boy on the playground and just hit him for no reason. Then he laughed. So... it seems like David has taught them this is how you play. I think we'll just have to seclude ourselves until we grow out of this (like, when the boys are 25?!)
We're making plans to move to Chattanooga this summer. Please pray with us that God will preserve a large house with a fenced-in backyard in a good neighborhood near Tennessee Temple University for us to reasonably rent. Chris' position is unpaid, but we have some savings to see us through the year. What an amazing lifestyle, so distant from the world, to be relatively unworried about finances.
Maybe that's why our marriage is so fun.
Finally, on a side note that has no functional bearing whatsoever, something has happened in the world of Catan. I'm the champion, and I love it. =) I think I've won 6 out of the last 8 games I've played. "So, eat that, marshmallow boy!" (Sorry, that's from Monsters, Inc., which is playing in the background, and making it very difficult for me to concentrate.)
Life is fun now. I thank God for that!
And what wonderful weather in which to be free. Our days are spent outside, running, playing, biking, and picking flowers (which, by the way, are not ours.)
Saja likes to play with the older girls in the neighborhood. Yesterday, they picked a handful of azalea flowers each, and they made a bed for Pocket Pals. It was so cute that I forgot to reprimand them for picking the flowers.
Kora and David like to climb to the top of the monkey bars and hang upside down. You know, we have already been to the ER for a CT Scan when Kora broke her skull, yet somehow, I rest in God's sovereignty (and practice stress-relief breathing) when my children are suspended six feet from the ground head-down. So far, no problems.
Yesterday, David was playing outside barefoot. I let them play barefoot most of the time, because they usually take their shoes off first chance they get, and then the management throws them in the dumpster when they forget to pick them up. (It really happens.) So David, in the infinite wisdom of a 3-year-old, decided to stomp an anthill yesterday... barefoot. When I finally reached him, he was writhing on the ground, screaming, rubbing his feet on the grass. He perked up in less than a minute, though. Then, of his own accord, he went inside to get shoes. Why? you may ask. Because he wanted to stomp on the poor little ants some more. Seriously.
Well, at least he chose to wear his shoes.
Tyler and Tobias have learned that they can wander away if they're not strapped into the wagon or the stroller. They know not to go into the street, yet they test the waters every minute that we're outside. David's terrible 2's prepared me for this stage, so I'm cracking down with training right away.
Tobias loves to pick on Tyler. He grabs the back of his shirt collar and pulls. Tyler screams like a girl. Tobias roars in laughter. Yesterday, Tobias approached a slightly older boy on the playground and just hit him for no reason. Then he laughed. So... it seems like David has taught them this is how you play. I think we'll just have to seclude ourselves until we grow out of this (like, when the boys are 25?!)
We're making plans to move to Chattanooga this summer. Please pray with us that God will preserve a large house with a fenced-in backyard in a good neighborhood near Tennessee Temple University for us to reasonably rent. Chris' position is unpaid, but we have some savings to see us through the year. What an amazing lifestyle, so distant from the world, to be relatively unworried about finances.
Maybe that's why our marriage is so fun.
Finally, on a side note that has no functional bearing whatsoever, something has happened in the world of Catan. I'm the champion, and I love it. =) I think I've won 6 out of the last 8 games I've played. "So, eat that, marshmallow boy!" (Sorry, that's from Monsters, Inc., which is playing in the background, and making it very difficult for me to concentrate.)
Life is fun now. I thank God for that!
Sunday, March 8, 2009
A crushing experience
You never know what a day may bring forth.
We took the children to McDonald's after church tonight for a special treat. Tyler needed a diaper change, so I carried him and the diaper bag and my purse to the restroom. I found two wipes in my tiny plastic wipes container, and this particular McDonald's doesn't stock paper towels. Now how will a hand-dryer help wipe Tyler's hiney? Frustrated, I cleaned him up as best as I could with only two wipes. While I washed my hands, I let him roam around the bathroom. He's been walking four or five months now, and it's a wonderful break to not have to carry him everywhere.
I decided to let him walk back to the playground.
He walked out first, and I slowly let the heavy door close behind me. I saw Tyler's hand quite close to the hinge-side of the door, so I stopped the door and leaned down to ask him to move his fingers. I noticed his finger had actually been caught already and shoved the door open to release it. He started screaming.
Blood was everywhere. Paper towels were not.
I forced his finger under a stream of water amidst his terrible howls of pain. Every time I pulled it out to look at it, the blood just ran down his hand, on my shirt, down the sink, on the countertop. I tried my best to stop the bleeding and clean the counter with toilet paper, but come on. Really??!
At some point, I noticed the wound lay across the center of his middle fingernail, but the cut extended out from the fingernail on either side a quarter of an inch. I actually thought he might be at risk for a partial amputation for a moment.
It was dreadful.
I admit, I freaked out a little. I ran out, blood running all over, yelling for Chris, who was playing with the children. (I grabbed napkins on my way in.) He calmly sat with Tyler, still screaming in pain, and asked me for some ice. When I told the McDonald's employees the situation and asked for ice, they complied politely, but offered no help. One kid did ask, "I can't figure out how that happened."
I wasn't in the mood to explain.
I thought we were headed to the minor med for at least stitches. The Fussells from church had ended up at McDonald's as well, and I think God puts us in places sometimes we feel benignly when He has specific purposes and plans in mind for us. They certainly had a purpose there tonight--offering help to us in this semi-emergent situation.
I assumed we were on our way to the hospital for a few stitches.
Chris later assessed the situation and thinks Tyler might have broken the bone. Having recently worked in the ER as a nurse, he was able to tell me what they would do in the hospital for a broken fingertip, and we replicated it at home.
I'm proud of my husband, who certainly kept his cool and took care of our poor, injured baby tonight. I'm pleased to report that Tyler is sleeping soundly, band-aid and popsickle-stick-splint in place, Tylenol taking the edge off the pain.
I'm also amused to report that Chris broke HIS fingertip playing softball in 2000. Did he go to the doctor then? Of course not.
I love to remind myself that God is in control of my life and the lives of my children. While I could spend the evening berating myself for letting my baby smash his finger in the door, I realize that God has a purpose in it. While I could worry that we should take him to a certified, bonified, medified clinic, I rest in my husband's decision and knowledge. Jesus tells us to rest in Him and be anxious for nothing, but instead, to pray. I also smile to think that God put us and the Fussells in the same place at the same time for a reason.
So pray I will, and then rest I will... because all this excitement has worn me out.
We took the children to McDonald's after church tonight for a special treat. Tyler needed a diaper change, so I carried him and the diaper bag and my purse to the restroom. I found two wipes in my tiny plastic wipes container, and this particular McDonald's doesn't stock paper towels. Now how will a hand-dryer help wipe Tyler's hiney? Frustrated, I cleaned him up as best as I could with only two wipes. While I washed my hands, I let him roam around the bathroom. He's been walking four or five months now, and it's a wonderful break to not have to carry him everywhere.
I decided to let him walk back to the playground.
He walked out first, and I slowly let the heavy door close behind me. I saw Tyler's hand quite close to the hinge-side of the door, so I stopped the door and leaned down to ask him to move his fingers. I noticed his finger had actually been caught already and shoved the door open to release it. He started screaming.
Blood was everywhere. Paper towels were not.
I forced his finger under a stream of water amidst his terrible howls of pain. Every time I pulled it out to look at it, the blood just ran down his hand, on my shirt, down the sink, on the countertop. I tried my best to stop the bleeding and clean the counter with toilet paper, but come on. Really??!
At some point, I noticed the wound lay across the center of his middle fingernail, but the cut extended out from the fingernail on either side a quarter of an inch. I actually thought he might be at risk for a partial amputation for a moment.
It was dreadful.
I admit, I freaked out a little. I ran out, blood running all over, yelling for Chris, who was playing with the children. (I grabbed napkins on my way in.) He calmly sat with Tyler, still screaming in pain, and asked me for some ice. When I told the McDonald's employees the situation and asked for ice, they complied politely, but offered no help. One kid did ask, "I can't figure out how that happened."
I wasn't in the mood to explain.
I thought we were headed to the minor med for at least stitches. The Fussells from church had ended up at McDonald's as well, and I think God puts us in places sometimes we feel benignly when He has specific purposes and plans in mind for us. They certainly had a purpose there tonight--offering help to us in this semi-emergent situation.
I assumed we were on our way to the hospital for a few stitches.
Chris later assessed the situation and thinks Tyler might have broken the bone. Having recently worked in the ER as a nurse, he was able to tell me what they would do in the hospital for a broken fingertip, and we replicated it at home.
I'm proud of my husband, who certainly kept his cool and took care of our poor, injured baby tonight. I'm pleased to report that Tyler is sleeping soundly, band-aid and popsickle-stick-splint in place, Tylenol taking the edge off the pain.
I'm also amused to report that Chris broke HIS fingertip playing softball in 2000. Did he go to the doctor then? Of course not.
I love to remind myself that God is in control of my life and the lives of my children. While I could spend the evening berating myself for letting my baby smash his finger in the door, I realize that God has a purpose in it. While I could worry that we should take him to a certified, bonified, medified clinic, I rest in my husband's decision and knowledge. Jesus tells us to rest in Him and be anxious for nothing, but instead, to pray. I also smile to think that God put us and the Fussells in the same place at the same time for a reason.
So pray I will, and then rest I will... because all this excitement has worn me out.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Focusing on Fun
I am a stellar teacher. I have a schedule, I have an agenda, and I have a whip to keep those little distracted kids in line. But you know what I forgot?
Fun.
I get so caught up in advancement, that I forget to let the family enjoy the present. God reminded me today that there is a place for rest. Just as adults can get burnout, children can, too, when we push them and push them without any respite or playtime.
Kids can learn while they're playing, too, and it's much less of a battle!
So off we go to the Children's Museum, to "play" about China.
Fun.
I get so caught up in advancement, that I forget to let the family enjoy the present. God reminded me today that there is a place for rest. Just as adults can get burnout, children can, too, when we push them and push them without any respite or playtime.
Kids can learn while they're playing, too, and it's much less of a battle!
So off we go to the Children's Museum, to "play" about China.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Turning 30
What's the one thing you want to do most on your 30th birthday?
-skydive?
-bungee jump?
-spend the day with your friends and family, playing games and laughing?
-stand in line for four hours at the Memphis DMV waiting to record your new 30-year-old self on a license that will be expiring at the stroke of midnight?
You guessed it. DMV here we come!
I only noticed that my license would expire on my birthday three days before it did. In a family of seven, three days is not enough time to carve out four hours of congruent time. Anyone living in the Memphis area knows that's how long it takes to stand in line, hand over your paperwork, snap a picture, and pay for a TN license. A city of a million has three stations in which one can do that and a thousand other DMV-related things (including apply for a permit to carry a handgun. Two people in front of me did it while I was waiting--that's how I know.)
I decided that I should drive to Oakland, 20 minutes from my home, a city of 10,000, to be served more quickly. I went to the appropriate website to gather my paperwork the night before. After only one hour with my children in the morning, I left amidst chaos and crying--broken dishes and food on the floor, dirty clothes flying through the air in an effort to land on the ceiling fan, 2-year-old David tackling 16-month-old Tyler. I knew I wouldn't see them under 5:30 pm, a rarity in my life. So I departed bittersweetly.
Thirty minutes later, the Oakland DMV, who had only 10 people waiting, said I didn't have the right paperwork. I started, "But I checked the website..." She interrupted, "The website's wrong. You have to have a certified birth certificate or a passport to prove citizenship." So back I went to the house to gather 18 pieces of paperwork. Seriously. My passport's in my maiden name, so I had to have my marriage certificate. No bills are in my name, so I had to get Chris' license and bank statements. I honestly thought about bringing the whole filing cabinet, but decided it would take too much work. I'm kind of lazy.
So, when I walked inside to retrieve the CORRECT paperwork, David was running around naked. We were trying to potty-train him, and we had experienced mild success the day before by leaving him naked. But today, as I walked in, Kora was yelling, "David pooped!" And Chris was yelling, "Did you poop in the toilet, David?" And David (bless his heart) was saying, "Um, no. I pooped behind the T.V." I think I didn't even process what was going on until I saw Chris grab a plastic grocery bag like a pet-owner might. You know what I did? I kissed Chris on his cheek, thanked him for taking care of the children, and scooted out.
My second trip to Oakland was uneventful, except that the lady actually chuckled at the amount of paperwork I pulled from my purse. It was like Mary Poppins! It just kept coming. The woman after me was also getting a first-time TN license, and she handed over three pieces of paperwork. Oh, to be her. My purse would be lighter.
The office in Oakland was quite efficient. They were like a well-oiled machine, and even with my 40-minute mixup, I still beat Chris' four-hour wait at the Memphis DMV on Summer Ave. And I like my picture. Good thing, too, since I have my license for four years. I wonder if I'll look different in four years. I still have my very first license. Boy, do I look different from age 14! But wouldn't it be funny if I didn't?
Then I slipped in a visit with a childhood friend who now lives very close to Oakland. That was refreshing.
Then I sped to Life Choices, stopping briefly to grab a cucumber-hummus pita from Chris. It was remarkably good.
I ended up with a late client and arrived home late, to my chagrin, but Chris had a wonderful chocolate-covered-strawberry-cake waiting for me. Saja had slipped off with a piece of it before he frosted it. She was upset because I laughed when Chris told me that.
So then we ate cake.
Then we ate more cake.
Oh, it was so good, can I have just one more piece??!
Kora had made a wonderful drawing for me and even signed her name! I'm so impressed.
Saja drew a picture of Cinderella for me, but forgot to add legs, so she cut out legs and glued them on. That was thoughtful.
Then we played and went to bed. It was wonderful to turn 30.
I'm glad I didn't do it with a plastic grocery bag playing the poop scavenger hunt.
-skydive?
-bungee jump?
-spend the day with your friends and family, playing games and laughing?
-stand in line for four hours at the Memphis DMV waiting to record your new 30-year-old self on a license that will be expiring at the stroke of midnight?
You guessed it. DMV here we come!
I only noticed that my license would expire on my birthday three days before it did. In a family of seven, three days is not enough time to carve out four hours of congruent time. Anyone living in the Memphis area knows that's how long it takes to stand in line, hand over your paperwork, snap a picture, and pay for a TN license. A city of a million has three stations in which one can do that and a thousand other DMV-related things (including apply for a permit to carry a handgun. Two people in front of me did it while I was waiting--that's how I know.)
I decided that I should drive to Oakland, 20 minutes from my home, a city of 10,000, to be served more quickly. I went to the appropriate website to gather my paperwork the night before. After only one hour with my children in the morning, I left amidst chaos and crying--broken dishes and food on the floor, dirty clothes flying through the air in an effort to land on the ceiling fan, 2-year-old David tackling 16-month-old Tyler. I knew I wouldn't see them under 5:30 pm, a rarity in my life. So I departed bittersweetly.
Thirty minutes later, the Oakland DMV, who had only 10 people waiting, said I didn't have the right paperwork. I started, "But I checked the website..." She interrupted, "The website's wrong. You have to have a certified birth certificate or a passport to prove citizenship." So back I went to the house to gather 18 pieces of paperwork. Seriously. My passport's in my maiden name, so I had to have my marriage certificate. No bills are in my name, so I had to get Chris' license and bank statements. I honestly thought about bringing the whole filing cabinet, but decided it would take too much work. I'm kind of lazy.
So, when I walked inside to retrieve the CORRECT paperwork, David was running around naked. We were trying to potty-train him, and we had experienced mild success the day before by leaving him naked. But today, as I walked in, Kora was yelling, "David pooped!" And Chris was yelling, "Did you poop in the toilet, David?" And David (bless his heart) was saying, "Um, no. I pooped behind the T.V." I think I didn't even process what was going on until I saw Chris grab a plastic grocery bag like a pet-owner might. You know what I did? I kissed Chris on his cheek, thanked him for taking care of the children, and scooted out.
My second trip to Oakland was uneventful, except that the lady actually chuckled at the amount of paperwork I pulled from my purse. It was like Mary Poppins! It just kept coming. The woman after me was also getting a first-time TN license, and she handed over three pieces of paperwork. Oh, to be her. My purse would be lighter.
The office in Oakland was quite efficient. They were like a well-oiled machine, and even with my 40-minute mixup, I still beat Chris' four-hour wait at the Memphis DMV on Summer Ave. And I like my picture. Good thing, too, since I have my license for four years. I wonder if I'll look different in four years. I still have my very first license. Boy, do I look different from age 14! But wouldn't it be funny if I didn't?
Then I slipped in a visit with a childhood friend who now lives very close to Oakland. That was refreshing.
Then I sped to Life Choices, stopping briefly to grab a cucumber-hummus pita from Chris. It was remarkably good.
I ended up with a late client and arrived home late, to my chagrin, but Chris had a wonderful chocolate-covered-strawberry-cake waiting for me. Saja had slipped off with a piece of it before he frosted it. She was upset because I laughed when Chris told me that.
So then we ate cake.
Then we ate more cake.
Oh, it was so good, can I have just one more piece??!
Kora had made a wonderful drawing for me and even signed her name! I'm so impressed.
Saja drew a picture of Cinderella for me, but forgot to add legs, so she cut out legs and glued them on. That was thoughtful.
Then we played and went to bed. It was wonderful to turn 30.
I'm glad I didn't do it with a plastic grocery bag playing the poop scavenger hunt.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Family planning
I recently read an article bemoaning bloggers who share too much private information, during the course of which the author actually quoted some of the private information he would rather not have known, as examples of course, but none-the-less proliferating the TMI! If you'd rather not know details about our family plans (and by that, I mean, the process of adding one or more babies to the family), then stop reading. (Side note--I just re-read this sentence after finishing this post, and it sounds much more graphic than I intended. I will not, in fact, be discussing "the process" of making babies. This post is really about adoption. =)
There, you've been warned.
Chris and I talked yesterday. We have both come to the conclusion that we are content with five children, and also content with the idea of more children. This begs the question, "What now?" People in a contented state usually don't try to change that state, so without discontent, how will we move forward?
We discussed another pregnancy. My poor body has had about all I care to take. I get so tired when I'm pregnant that I can't look after the other children the way I want to. Chris, being an employed student, really can't take up the slack at home when I'm sleeping 14 hours a day building a baby (or two.) It's only nine months, but I am NOT content with the idea of another pregnancy at this time in my life.
We discussed adoption. Everyone wants a baby to adopt, and with good reason. If you've read child-rearing books, like the one I'm currently reading, "Bringing Up Boys" by James Dobson, you'll know that the first few years of life really do allow the parents to set up a child in behavioral patterns. James Dobson suggests that a boy desperately needs his father in the picture at the early age of three, as he separates himself from his mother in his toddler years and begins to learn what it means to be a man. (I have actually seen David, 2, doing this!)
However, Chris doesn't want to place through an adoption agency to adopt a baby when we can make our own. He said if someone we know needs adoptive parents and chooses us, he'll certainly adopt. He's actually open to adopting older children sometime down the road. I'm content with that decision, too. The Bible teaches us to care for orphans and widows, and adoption is certainly one way to do that.
I told God one time last year that if He provided another vehicle for us (that has more seats), we'll take that as a sign to have more children. =) I love Gideonizing.
So far, no car.
I'm still content. Honestly. The Christian who rests in the intimacy of fellowship with God can really rest. What a wonderful Lord we have.
There, you've been warned.
Chris and I talked yesterday. We have both come to the conclusion that we are content with five children, and also content with the idea of more children. This begs the question, "What now?" People in a contented state usually don't try to change that state, so without discontent, how will we move forward?
We discussed another pregnancy. My poor body has had about all I care to take. I get so tired when I'm pregnant that I can't look after the other children the way I want to. Chris, being an employed student, really can't take up the slack at home when I'm sleeping 14 hours a day building a baby (or two.) It's only nine months, but I am NOT content with the idea of another pregnancy at this time in my life.
We discussed adoption. Everyone wants a baby to adopt, and with good reason. If you've read child-rearing books, like the one I'm currently reading, "Bringing Up Boys" by James Dobson, you'll know that the first few years of life really do allow the parents to set up a child in behavioral patterns. James Dobson suggests that a boy desperately needs his father in the picture at the early age of three, as he separates himself from his mother in his toddler years and begins to learn what it means to be a man. (I have actually seen David, 2, doing this!)
However, Chris doesn't want to place through an adoption agency to adopt a baby when we can make our own. He said if someone we know needs adoptive parents and chooses us, he'll certainly adopt. He's actually open to adopting older children sometime down the road. I'm content with that decision, too. The Bible teaches us to care for orphans and widows, and adoption is certainly one way to do that.
I told God one time last year that if He provided another vehicle for us (that has more seats), we'll take that as a sign to have more children. =) I love Gideonizing.
So far, no car.
I'm still content. Honestly. The Christian who rests in the intimacy of fellowship with God can really rest. What a wonderful Lord we have.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
A great vacation in blustering St. Louis
Do you love free stuff? I do! Free admission to the Zoo. Free admission to the Science Center. Reciprocal admission to the Magic House (with membership to the Children's Museum of Memphis). Free playplace at CooperElla Cafe (coffeeshop). We drove four hours north to St. Louis for five days of crazy fun with the kids, and most of our days were spent on free, albeit cold, activities.
The high on Thursday was 7. That's seven. I've NEVER lived a day that cold in my life. Bundling up myself is certainly a daunting task, but dressing and bundling five kids and myself before one of them starts undressing can intimidate even the most determined mother.
We went to the Zoo on Wednesday. It was 20 degrees outside. Fortunately, because Missouri is technically the "North," they built many of their exhibits indoors. We ran from building to building to see bears, penguins, giraffes, ostriches, kangaroos and baby wallabies, tiger cubs, primates (but not apes), and reptiles. The kids handled snake skins, crococidle skins and skulls, and a rattle from a rattlesnake. Tobias and Tyler even crawled up to the spider monkeys and played hand games with them through the glass.
Isn't it wonderful to hear your kids laugh?
Because we were the ONLY idiots brave enough to face the freeze, our kids had the freedom to run and scream and play without interfering with others. Chris and I relaxed and enjoyed their thrill.
We went to the Magic House on Tuesday and Friday. We still didn't explore the whole thing! My favorite room, "A little bit of magic," allowed all of our children to play without our immediate supervision. Both entrances were guarded by employees so they couldn't wander off. They played in sand, in water, on slides, on stairs, with balls and bells, with rubberband shapes, with baby toys, and with a strange PVC-and-rubber-flip-flop musical instrument.
Of course, the rest of the Magic House, designed for children of all ages, kept them entertained as well, with an entire floor dedicated to a mini-village complete with grocery store, electric company, post office, pond and river (through which you could watch your fish swim back to the pond), pizza parlor, library (with real books!), and bank (where kids can learn to write a check--what's that?!) They had Once Upon a Child, a room full of fairy tale play. Believe me, we had to drag them out of there! They had an awesome musical instrument made out of a wooden ramp, down which the kids could roll a ball. As it dropped from step to step, it hit hidden xylophones and rang out the tune of Ode to Joy. The thing spanned an entire wall!
We love the Magic House. The four-hour drive was worth it for that alone. Admission is not free, but we have a membership to the Children's Museum of Memphis, and they accepted that membership on a reciprocal basis.
The Science House has dinosaurs on exhibit this season, but we spent so much time in the construction zone (building an Arch, of all things!) and the Discovery Room (specifically for youngsters) that we didn't have time to see the Dinosaurs. Sad times. We intended to go back on Friday afternoon, but when we saw snow set in, we determined it would be best to begin our drive home. The Science Center has free admission, but the Discovery Room, IMAX, and Planetarium, of course, cost extra. They also accept the Children's Museum reciprocal membership.
I won't review the restaurants here because I don't want to bore you, but I will tell you to steer clear of ZuZu's Handmade Mexican Restaurant--canned nacho cheese dip and canned black beans only begin to describe why.
We stayed at the Cheshire Lodge on Clayton Rd. in a huge suite that fit our family perfectly. It had an English feel with ornate decorations and a 10-foot-tall grizzly bear, which held David's attention every morning during our continental breakfast. Frankly, this hotel is known to be a romantic getaway... but it was fun for our family, too.
One last thing we did--we visited an indoor water park, as it's called. The kids really enjoyed the Richmond Heights Community Center (which is a fitness facility strangely adjacent to the library), but the water was really, really cold. So cold, in fact, that the kids started to complain and shiver, so we left after an hour. This was NOT free, so I was not happy about it. But in the locker room here is where I learned from a native St. Louisian (?) that it hadn't been this cold in St. Louis for ten years.
Brrrr.
But lots of fun. I'm glad we were able to go.
The high on Thursday was 7. That's seven. I've NEVER lived a day that cold in my life. Bundling up myself is certainly a daunting task, but dressing and bundling five kids and myself before one of them starts undressing can intimidate even the most determined mother.
We went to the Zoo on Wednesday. It was 20 degrees outside. Fortunately, because Missouri is technically the "North," they built many of their exhibits indoors. We ran from building to building to see bears, penguins, giraffes, ostriches, kangaroos and baby wallabies, tiger cubs, primates (but not apes), and reptiles. The kids handled snake skins, crococidle skins and skulls, and a rattle from a rattlesnake. Tobias and Tyler even crawled up to the spider monkeys and played hand games with them through the glass.
Isn't it wonderful to hear your kids laugh?
Because we were the ONLY idiots brave enough to face the freeze, our kids had the freedom to run and scream and play without interfering with others. Chris and I relaxed and enjoyed their thrill.
We went to the Magic House on Tuesday and Friday. We still didn't explore the whole thing! My favorite room, "A little bit of magic," allowed all of our children to play without our immediate supervision. Both entrances were guarded by employees so they couldn't wander off. They played in sand, in water, on slides, on stairs, with balls and bells, with rubberband shapes, with baby toys, and with a strange PVC-and-rubber-flip-flop musical instrument.
Of course, the rest of the Magic House, designed for children of all ages, kept them entertained as well, with an entire floor dedicated to a mini-village complete with grocery store, electric company, post office, pond and river (through which you could watch your fish swim back to the pond), pizza parlor, library (with real books!), and bank (where kids can learn to write a check--what's that?!) They had Once Upon a Child, a room full of fairy tale play. Believe me, we had to drag them out of there! They had an awesome musical instrument made out of a wooden ramp, down which the kids could roll a ball. As it dropped from step to step, it hit hidden xylophones and rang out the tune of Ode to Joy. The thing spanned an entire wall!
We love the Magic House. The four-hour drive was worth it for that alone. Admission is not free, but we have a membership to the Children's Museum of Memphis, and they accepted that membership on a reciprocal basis.
The Science House has dinosaurs on exhibit this season, but we spent so much time in the construction zone (building an Arch, of all things!) and the Discovery Room (specifically for youngsters) that we didn't have time to see the Dinosaurs. Sad times. We intended to go back on Friday afternoon, but when we saw snow set in, we determined it would be best to begin our drive home. The Science Center has free admission, but the Discovery Room, IMAX, and Planetarium, of course, cost extra. They also accept the Children's Museum reciprocal membership.
I won't review the restaurants here because I don't want to bore you, but I will tell you to steer clear of ZuZu's Handmade Mexican Restaurant--canned nacho cheese dip and canned black beans only begin to describe why.
We stayed at the Cheshire Lodge on Clayton Rd. in a huge suite that fit our family perfectly. It had an English feel with ornate decorations and a 10-foot-tall grizzly bear, which held David's attention every morning during our continental breakfast. Frankly, this hotel is known to be a romantic getaway... but it was fun for our family, too.
One last thing we did--we visited an indoor water park, as it's called. The kids really enjoyed the Richmond Heights Community Center (which is a fitness facility strangely adjacent to the library), but the water was really, really cold. So cold, in fact, that the kids started to complain and shiver, so we left after an hour. This was NOT free, so I was not happy about it. But in the locker room here is where I learned from a native St. Louisian (?) that it hadn't been this cold in St. Louis for ten years.
Brrrr.
But lots of fun. I'm glad we were able to go.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Sleeping in
Would you believe that my dear, sweet husband can claim that he changed the last dirty diaper of 2008 AND the first dirty diaper of 2009? I imagine that will come up many times throughout this year. Maybe I should start keeping up with how many dirty diapers I change all together. That would make quite a math problem.
Saja has been creating word problems for quite some time now, but yesterday, Kora looked at a group of buttons on the van and piped up, "Momma, two plus two equals four!" If all my kids are this easy to teach, I will not be intimidated about homeschooling.
To homeschool or not to homeschool... I like my life now. All my kids, all the time (except for weekly babysitting--thank you, Julia and Megan!) We spend about 20 minutes per child doing a form of reading lessons and math lessons. I had a much bigger plan (see post in September), but with the holiday obligations, my educational time has diminished quite a bit. But they love to learn. It's rewarding and fulfilling to teach them. God hasn't led us one way or the other, but I like things the way they are now.
Yesterday, Tobias called me, "Mama." So sweet. Kora called me, "Doo-doo head." She didn't know it was naughty. She really thought I told her that was my name. She called a random number on my phone. Chris answered, but she thought it was "the other Chris." So I took the phone and said, "This is Dorothy!" She said, "Doo-doo head?" Chris lost it in laughter.
Late at night, I lose it in laughter so much more easily than normal. Last night, New Year's Eve, I found myself downright silly and giggly. I like to laugh. I'd rather be silly and giggly than pretentious or angry. I wish I could be a kid again so I wouldn't have to act like a grown-up.
Now I need coffee. I know I'll read this in a month and wonder what I thought I was saying. Some of our most inspirational thoughts come the moment before we drop off to sleep, not just after we've awakened!
Happy New Year!
Saja has been creating word problems for quite some time now, but yesterday, Kora looked at a group of buttons on the van and piped up, "Momma, two plus two equals four!" If all my kids are this easy to teach, I will not be intimidated about homeschooling.
To homeschool or not to homeschool... I like my life now. All my kids, all the time (except for weekly babysitting--thank you, Julia and Megan!) We spend about 20 minutes per child doing a form of reading lessons and math lessons. I had a much bigger plan (see post in September), but with the holiday obligations, my educational time has diminished quite a bit. But they love to learn. It's rewarding and fulfilling to teach them. God hasn't led us one way or the other, but I like things the way they are now.
Yesterday, Tobias called me, "Mama." So sweet. Kora called me, "Doo-doo head." She didn't know it was naughty. She really thought I told her that was my name. She called a random number on my phone. Chris answered, but she thought it was "the other Chris." So I took the phone and said, "This is Dorothy!" She said, "Doo-doo head?" Chris lost it in laughter.
Late at night, I lose it in laughter so much more easily than normal. Last night, New Year's Eve, I found myself downright silly and giggly. I like to laugh. I'd rather be silly and giggly than pretentious or angry. I wish I could be a kid again so I wouldn't have to act like a grown-up.
Now I need coffee. I know I'll read this in a month and wonder what I thought I was saying. Some of our most inspirational thoughts come the moment before we drop off to sleep, not just after we've awakened!
Happy New Year!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Kora's gift to Jesus
Saturday, we took gifts to a needy family in Frayser. There were two adults and six children in the home. Chris wanted to share the Christmas story with them, and he prepped our children in the car on the way over to not answer his questions until the family had the chance to answer.
Well, the family wasn't very vocal, and our girls jumped at every opportunity to speak. It actually worked out great, because it kept the whole situation from feeling too awkward.
Chris asked at one point, "What gift would you bring to baby Jesus?"
Silence.
Kora's hand went up.
"Um, a phone!" she exclaimed.
Oh, so we could call him?
We try to pass on sound biblical doctrine in our house, as you can tell.
Well, the family wasn't very vocal, and our girls jumped at every opportunity to speak. It actually worked out great, because it kept the whole situation from feeling too awkward.
Chris asked at one point, "What gift would you bring to baby Jesus?"
Silence.
Kora's hand went up.
"Um, a phone!" she exclaimed.
Oh, so we could call him?
We try to pass on sound biblical doctrine in our house, as you can tell.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Flat tires and all my plans
Yesterday, I had big plans.
Buy presents and groceries. Get decorations from storage. Decorate house. Get tree. Decorate tree. Decorate outside. It was a full day's worth of plans.
I managed to get all the children dressed, fed, and ready for our big day by 11 am! I buckled them all in the car. I cranked the engine and pulled away. FWAP, FWAP, FWAP, FWAP.
Great, I thought, a flat tire. So I backed into my spot again. PWAF, PWAF, PWAF, PWAF.
I went to get Chris. He graciously dropped his project and immediately changed the tire. Since the weather was nice, and we were at home, I let the kids run around the playground while I actually learned how to change the tire. There are lots of nuances in our vehicle that one can't just figure out. I guess manufacturers do that to make the writer of the owner's manual feel important.
I lay on the pavement next to Chris. He was loosening the lug nuts when I heard Saja yell, "Mom, David's playing on the playground naked!" I jumped up in a flash and whammed into the drivers' side mirror. I actually felt my neck jam. Lying on the pavement, I confirmed that by "naked" she actually meant in a diaper, and then I just whimpered for a while. It somehow makes things feel better.
Before David turned streaker, I recorded him jacking up the car with his daddy. I'll try to get it posted, because it is just too cute!
Instead of my big plans, for some reason, God wanted me to spend my day in the waiting room at Gateway Tire with four kids (at naptime). It really didn't go as badly as I expected, except for one moment when David threw a Lego block at a much older kid and nailed him in the face. The kids' mom kind of told David off. I, of course, punished him with a time-out, mostly for the mom's benefit. She yelled at him, "We don't throw things!" I thought, "The kid's two years old! He knows we throw baseballs, basketballs, tennis balls, and footballs. He knows we throw water balloons. So you can't just say, 'We don't throw things.' " But at the same time, I had just told him to stop throwing the blocks. So he spent most of the rest of our time there in time out by my side. He liked it there.
I did manage to go by Walmart for groceries and a gift card. My parents brought the decorations to me. We didn't get a tree yesterday, but when we went to Priddy Farms today, we saw they had marked all their trees down. I don't know why God changed my plans yesterday, but I'm glad He did.
I'm glad that in frustrating moments, I can relax. Remember that God orchestrates my life. There is a reason Jesus commanded that all who are weary come rest in Him. It is wonderful rest.
By the way, if we had had the flat tire the day before, it would have interrupted our 4-hour trek home from a mini-vacation. If we had had the flat tire the day after, we would have disappointed a needy family awaiting Christmas presents. Of all the days and ways to have a flat, I'll take yesterday.
I just wish David would have kept his clothes on.
Buy presents and groceries. Get decorations from storage. Decorate house. Get tree. Decorate tree. Decorate outside. It was a full day's worth of plans.
I managed to get all the children dressed, fed, and ready for our big day by 11 am! I buckled them all in the car. I cranked the engine and pulled away. FWAP, FWAP, FWAP, FWAP.
Great, I thought, a flat tire. So I backed into my spot again. PWAF, PWAF, PWAF, PWAF.
I went to get Chris. He graciously dropped his project and immediately changed the tire. Since the weather was nice, and we were at home, I let the kids run around the playground while I actually learned how to change the tire. There are lots of nuances in our vehicle that one can't just figure out. I guess manufacturers do that to make the writer of the owner's manual feel important.
I lay on the pavement next to Chris. He was loosening the lug nuts when I heard Saja yell, "Mom, David's playing on the playground naked!" I jumped up in a flash and whammed into the drivers' side mirror. I actually felt my neck jam. Lying on the pavement, I confirmed that by "naked" she actually meant in a diaper, and then I just whimpered for a while. It somehow makes things feel better.
Before David turned streaker, I recorded him jacking up the car with his daddy. I'll try to get it posted, because it is just too cute!
Instead of my big plans, for some reason, God wanted me to spend my day in the waiting room at Gateway Tire with four kids (at naptime). It really didn't go as badly as I expected, except for one moment when David threw a Lego block at a much older kid and nailed him in the face. The kids' mom kind of told David off. I, of course, punished him with a time-out, mostly for the mom's benefit. She yelled at him, "We don't throw things!" I thought, "The kid's two years old! He knows we throw baseballs, basketballs, tennis balls, and footballs. He knows we throw water balloons. So you can't just say, 'We don't throw things.' " But at the same time, I had just told him to stop throwing the blocks. So he spent most of the rest of our time there in time out by my side. He liked it there.
I did manage to go by Walmart for groceries and a gift card. My parents brought the decorations to me. We didn't get a tree yesterday, but when we went to Priddy Farms today, we saw they had marked all their trees down. I don't know why God changed my plans yesterday, but I'm glad He did.
I'm glad that in frustrating moments, I can relax. Remember that God orchestrates my life. There is a reason Jesus commanded that all who are weary come rest in Him. It is wonderful rest.
By the way, if we had had the flat tire the day before, it would have interrupted our 4-hour trek home from a mini-vacation. If we had had the flat tire the day after, we would have disappointed a needy family awaiting Christmas presents. Of all the days and ways to have a flat, I'll take yesterday.
I just wish David would have kept his clothes on.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Sharing the Gospel, by Saja
Today, we explained to our children that our neighbors, friends and cousins, the Gehmans, were moving to Pennsylvania to tell people the good news about Jesus and start a church.
Saja told us when we moved to tell people about Jesus, she wanted to do it.
Chris asked what she would say.
"I would say, 'Jesus died on the cross for our sins,'" Saja said.
I smiled the smile of a proud parent, job well done.
"And if you don't change your ways, God will kill you," she continued.
I raised my eyebrows and looked at Chris.
"And destroy your whole village," she finished.
Thank you, Jonah.
Saja told us when we moved to tell people about Jesus, she wanted to do it.
Chris asked what she would say.
"I would say, 'Jesus died on the cross for our sins,'" Saja said.
I smiled the smile of a proud parent, job well done.
"And if you don't change your ways, God will kill you," she continued.
I raised my eyebrows and looked at Chris.
"And destroy your whole village," she finished.
Thank you, Jonah.
Friday, December 12, 2008
To walk or not to walk
All of my children have been walking by age one. Kora was running by this time! But neither Tyler nor Tobias have shown any interest in walking. They are 13 months old. At their one-year check-up, the doctor asked, "When did they start walking?" Ahem... they haven't. Sad times.
Or is it?
For now, I carry them to the car. I carry them to the shopping cart. I strap them into a triple stroller. I can't lose them. What happens when they start to walk? Will it be chaos all over again?
When they were 6 months old, I spent 15 minutes everyday for one week individually teaching them what the word, "No" means by thumping their hand. Oh, it's heartbreaking all right, but effective. Both of them are fairly obedient now. I guess my next task will be to teach them the word, "Come."
I trained my golden retriever by offering doggie treats when he obeyed. You think the twins will go for doggie treats?
The whole point of this post is to announce that I've been playing a game with Tobias. I'll stand him up about four steps away from me and hold my hands out. Do you know what he does? He giggles and grins... and then falls forward (of his own accord) like a timber tree!
Moments ago, however, he got it. He took four steps before he fell down, accidentally. The time is near.
Anyone know where I can get some leashes?
Or is it?
For now, I carry them to the car. I carry them to the shopping cart. I strap them into a triple stroller. I can't lose them. What happens when they start to walk? Will it be chaos all over again?
When they were 6 months old, I spent 15 minutes everyday for one week individually teaching them what the word, "No" means by thumping their hand. Oh, it's heartbreaking all right, but effective. Both of them are fairly obedient now. I guess my next task will be to teach them the word, "Come."
I trained my golden retriever by offering doggie treats when he obeyed. You think the twins will go for doggie treats?
The whole point of this post is to announce that I've been playing a game with Tobias. I'll stand him up about four steps away from me and hold my hands out. Do you know what he does? He giggles and grins... and then falls forward (of his own accord) like a timber tree!
Moments ago, however, he got it. He took four steps before he fell down, accidentally. The time is near.
Anyone know where I can get some leashes?
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Still here... laughing
I can't believe it's been two (and a half!) months since I last posted a thing on this blog. A friend of mine recently reminded me of its existence by saying, "Given up on the blog thing already?" At least the last post gave all of you a good understanding as to why I gave up--lack of time!
Well, I like to think my kids haven't said or done anything worth posting, but the truth is, I probably have just been too tired to remember. I don't have a photographic memory. I don't have a scanner memory. I have a Photoshop memory--where you upload the pictures and kind of make what you want. I can watch movies over and over, I can read books more than once, and I can read those scrapbooks I spend half my life organizing and really enjoy them because it's like a new story every time!
Chris, on the other hand, has a great memory. When I tell a story to my friends, I tend to Photoshop. When Chris is in the room, I just let him tell it. He remembers fine details that make no difference in the outcome of the story, but it seems to be pretty important to him. He's so gracious not to correct me in the middle of the story, but his story ALWAYS sounds a little different than mine (much like the Gospels. =) We've decided that I'm a headline teller, and he's a "the-rest-of-the-story" kind of guy.
So, the one thing that made me embarrassed happened last week. Kora was having a bath. I left the room to get a towel out of the dryer (I'm such a cool mom), and when I returned, David had stripped and hopped in. I prefer for them not to bathe together, but I decided not to make a big deal about it. Within the minute, Kora pointed to David's manhood and said, "Look, Mom! David's got a belly button on his bottom!"
To his credit, David has an outie belly-button.
I snickered inwardly and calmly agreed with her. Then I whisked her out of the bath, out of the room, and closed the door behind me. I excused myself from her presence and HOWLED. A belly button. Poor David.
Well, I like to think my kids haven't said or done anything worth posting, but the truth is, I probably have just been too tired to remember. I don't have a photographic memory. I don't have a scanner memory. I have a Photoshop memory--where you upload the pictures and kind of make what you want. I can watch movies over and over, I can read books more than once, and I can read those scrapbooks I spend half my life organizing and really enjoy them because it's like a new story every time!
Chris, on the other hand, has a great memory. When I tell a story to my friends, I tend to Photoshop. When Chris is in the room, I just let him tell it. He remembers fine details that make no difference in the outcome of the story, but it seems to be pretty important to him. He's so gracious not to correct me in the middle of the story, but his story ALWAYS sounds a little different than mine (much like the Gospels. =) We've decided that I'm a headline teller, and he's a "the-rest-of-the-story" kind of guy.
So, the one thing that made me embarrassed happened last week. Kora was having a bath. I left the room to get a towel out of the dryer (I'm such a cool mom), and when I returned, David had stripped and hopped in. I prefer for them not to bathe together, but I decided not to make a big deal about it. Within the minute, Kora pointed to David's manhood and said, "Look, Mom! David's got a belly button on his bottom!"
To his credit, David has an outie belly-button.
I snickered inwardly and calmly agreed with her. Then I whisked her out of the bath, out of the room, and closed the door behind me. I excused myself from her presence and HOWLED. A belly button. Poor David.
Monday, September 22, 2008
24 hours
There's simply not enough time in the day to do everything I would love to do everyday. Here's a quick rundown of my ideal day:
Get up at 6am to do everything that needs to be done without distraction from children. This includes getting ready, completing any type of correspondence, and doing Bible studies, as well as any undone chores. (1.5 hours).
Make a healthy and hearty breakfast, and awaken the kids at 7:30 when the automatic coffee maker begins to grind the beans. (1 hour)
Guide the children to enjoy learning while playing with reading lessons, worksheets, art, science, snack, etc. (2.5 hours)
Make, eat, and clean up lunch. Prepare for nap, to which the children look forward and in which they eagerly participate. (1 hour)
Cook dinner during nap, so that when they awaken at 4, we can go outside to play with our friends until dinnertime.
Clean up after dinner. Bathe, read a story, pray with the kids, go to bed (which, again, involves no resistance of any kind.) (1.5 hours--it's a lot of kids!)
While the kids are in bed, complete the chores: fold and put away a load of laundry, do a load of dishes, spray the table, sweep the dining room and kitchen floors, vacuum the carpet, and take out the trash. (1 hour)
After the chores, prepare for the next day of school, which includes choosing worksheets, choosing lapbook activities (and cutting them out), and preparing storybook, art, or science projects. (30 minutes)
Exercise to a 45 minute video, then make sure to stretch to avoid back pain, which is another 15 minutes.
Shower.
Prepare automatic coffee maker to actually work the next day. (5 min, but an important 5 min!)
Sew a bit, to justify the "Cadillac" sewing machine and mounds of fabric I've collected over the years. Make new clothes and repair old ones. (2 hours)
Study a foreign language. Options: Chinese via CD or Spanish via textbook. I'd also love to be able to read the original Greek and Hebrew of the Bible. (1 hour)
Check Facebook again. (oh, 10 minutes or so--right!)
Holy cow, it's no wonder I'm so tired! I'm trying to smush 26 hours of doing into 16 waking hours!
Here's my actual day:
Wake up at 7:30 to screaming children.
Wrestle with the kids to get them all dressed and ready.
Cereal for breakfast. (not the hearty, healthy meal I'm always intending to make!)
Bottles for babies. Change diapers, change clothes, change bedsheets because diapers leaked, get them into the high chair.
Go get ready. Lean ear out the door once every 3 minutes to check for choking or provoking.
Wipe up three spills with bath towel from last night's load of laundry still laying on floor.
Throw dishes in sink.
Make coffee, because I forgot to do it the night before.
While waiting for coffee, hold eyes open with fingers and try to avoid conversation at all cost.
Fix coffee. Try to remember to drink it.
Corral kids for school. Remind David 15 times to sit still and quiet for the story. Finally let him go play.
Make snack. Field questions from kids like, "Why couldn't we have sprinkles? I don't like this. I wanted hyper-juice instead!"
Call kids back to the table 10 times each. Promise to spank them if they do it again.
Throw snack out after kids leave table again. Put crying babies in beds. Push kids out of babies' bedroom.
Crush 17 Cheerios into the carpet on the way out of the bedroom. Yell at kids for breaking the rule. Vacuum Cheerios... then decide to vacuum the rest of the cluttered floor while you have out the vacuum, but don't bother picking up the clutter. Vacuum sucks up a whole shirt (yes, it happens), and burns out the belt. Go dig up some air-freshener from behind the child-lock under the sink. Spray it liberally and high away from kids, who are attached to my kneecaps. Remember to put it back or the kids will spray it in each others' faces.
Beg kids to sit at the table, avoiding the sticky milky spots, to do worksheets or art while I do the dishes.
Check the clock. (Please be naptime!)
Fish out a movie all the kids agree to watch, preferably educational, but anything will do! Tell them 3 times to sit on their bottoms and watch the movie. Leave each other alone!
Announce naptime. Deal with whining, crying, temper tantrums, splitting them up into separate bedrooms, spanking, cuddling, storying, ignoring, breathing. Go outside to get my sanity back.
Finally get the last kid asleep. Sit down to sip coffee I forgot to drink this morning. Get right back up to collect the babies, who have just awakened. Bottles, change diaper, change bedsheets again if necessary, put them in high chairs, and pray they'll be quiet enough to let Saja keep sleeping on the couch.
Get Saja a snack when she wakes up. Tell her, no, she can't go outside without me, and I can't go outside without the others who are sleeping.
Hold Kora for 15 minutes when she wakes up. Meanwhile, get David a snack.
Potty, brush hair, strap babies into stroller, go outside to play. Keep a sharp eye on David, who tends to run in the street. Spank David for playing unkindly with neighbor kids. Take Cheerios to keep babies happy.
Call kids inside. Put on another movie to make dinner. Saute, boil, bake, broil, steam, eat, clean up.
Start bedtime. 2.5 hours later, push through the fatigue and finish bedtime.
Do the chores, prepare for school, set the coffee maker, check the calendar for tomorrow's activities, think about working out, but decide to sit at the computer instead. Stare at the screen blankly with a cloud of weariness covering my brain.
Move Kora out of my bed. Make the bed. Climb in the bed.
Get out of the bed to turn on the fan, set the alarm, brush teeth. Say goodnight to hubby.
Climb into bed, wishing there was more time to sew, learn a language, pray, exercise, shop, meal-plan, spa days, etc. Fall asleep before head hits pillow.
It's the sad truth, but I'm willing to accept the idea that this is merely a season in my life. I'm raising children, not computers who conform to my every whim and wish (and sometimes, computers don't even do that!) I try to find laughter in every day. I try to prioritize my husband and my children, and when I remind myself that God's purpose for our family means much sacrifice, I willingly and even happily put myself to work. It's hard work. It's thankless work. It's endless work. But it's God's purpose for me right now. To shirk God's purpose would mean despair and heartache, even if I thought I were pursuing happiness. My I have the mind of Christ in my role!
P.S. This explains why I've not posted in a while! (I've skipped the dishes to write this. You should feel so lucky!)
Get up at 6am to do everything that needs to be done without distraction from children. This includes getting ready, completing any type of correspondence, and doing Bible studies, as well as any undone chores. (1.5 hours).
Make a healthy and hearty breakfast, and awaken the kids at 7:30 when the automatic coffee maker begins to grind the beans. (1 hour)
Guide the children to enjoy learning while playing with reading lessons, worksheets, art, science, snack, etc. (2.5 hours)
Make, eat, and clean up lunch. Prepare for nap, to which the children look forward and in which they eagerly participate. (1 hour)
Cook dinner during nap, so that when they awaken at 4, we can go outside to play with our friends until dinnertime.
Clean up after dinner. Bathe, read a story, pray with the kids, go to bed (which, again, involves no resistance of any kind.) (1.5 hours--it's a lot of kids!)
While the kids are in bed, complete the chores: fold and put away a load of laundry, do a load of dishes, spray the table, sweep the dining room and kitchen floors, vacuum the carpet, and take out the trash. (1 hour)
After the chores, prepare for the next day of school, which includes choosing worksheets, choosing lapbook activities (and cutting them out), and preparing storybook, art, or science projects. (30 minutes)
Exercise to a 45 minute video, then make sure to stretch to avoid back pain, which is another 15 minutes.
Shower.
Prepare automatic coffee maker to actually work the next day. (5 min, but an important 5 min!)
Sew a bit, to justify the "Cadillac" sewing machine and mounds of fabric I've collected over the years. Make new clothes and repair old ones. (2 hours)
Study a foreign language. Options: Chinese via CD or Spanish via textbook. I'd also love to be able to read the original Greek and Hebrew of the Bible. (1 hour)
Check Facebook again. (oh, 10 minutes or so--right!)
Holy cow, it's no wonder I'm so tired! I'm trying to smush 26 hours of doing into 16 waking hours!
Here's my actual day:
Wake up at 7:30 to screaming children.
Wrestle with the kids to get them all dressed and ready.
Cereal for breakfast. (not the hearty, healthy meal I'm always intending to make!)
Bottles for babies. Change diapers, change clothes, change bedsheets because diapers leaked, get them into the high chair.
Go get ready. Lean ear out the door once every 3 minutes to check for choking or provoking.
Wipe up three spills with bath towel from last night's load of laundry still laying on floor.
Throw dishes in sink.
Make coffee, because I forgot to do it the night before.
While waiting for coffee, hold eyes open with fingers and try to avoid conversation at all cost.
Fix coffee. Try to remember to drink it.
Corral kids for school. Remind David 15 times to sit still and quiet for the story. Finally let him go play.
Make snack. Field questions from kids like, "Why couldn't we have sprinkles? I don't like this. I wanted hyper-juice instead!"
Call kids back to the table 10 times each. Promise to spank them if they do it again.
Throw snack out after kids leave table again. Put crying babies in beds. Push kids out of babies' bedroom.
Crush 17 Cheerios into the carpet on the way out of the bedroom. Yell at kids for breaking the rule. Vacuum Cheerios... then decide to vacuum the rest of the cluttered floor while you have out the vacuum, but don't bother picking up the clutter. Vacuum sucks up a whole shirt (yes, it happens), and burns out the belt. Go dig up some air-freshener from behind the child-lock under the sink. Spray it liberally and high away from kids, who are attached to my kneecaps. Remember to put it back or the kids will spray it in each others' faces.
Beg kids to sit at the table, avoiding the sticky milky spots, to do worksheets or art while I do the dishes.
Check the clock. (Please be naptime!)
Fish out a movie all the kids agree to watch, preferably educational, but anything will do! Tell them 3 times to sit on their bottoms and watch the movie. Leave each other alone!
Announce naptime. Deal with whining, crying, temper tantrums, splitting them up into separate bedrooms, spanking, cuddling, storying, ignoring, breathing. Go outside to get my sanity back.
Finally get the last kid asleep. Sit down to sip coffee I forgot to drink this morning. Get right back up to collect the babies, who have just awakened. Bottles, change diaper, change bedsheets again if necessary, put them in high chairs, and pray they'll be quiet enough to let Saja keep sleeping on the couch.
Get Saja a snack when she wakes up. Tell her, no, she can't go outside without me, and I can't go outside without the others who are sleeping.
Hold Kora for 15 minutes when she wakes up. Meanwhile, get David a snack.
Potty, brush hair, strap babies into stroller, go outside to play. Keep a sharp eye on David, who tends to run in the street. Spank David for playing unkindly with neighbor kids. Take Cheerios to keep babies happy.
Call kids inside. Put on another movie to make dinner. Saute, boil, bake, broil, steam, eat, clean up.
Start bedtime. 2.5 hours later, push through the fatigue and finish bedtime.
Do the chores, prepare for school, set the coffee maker, check the calendar for tomorrow's activities, think about working out, but decide to sit at the computer instead. Stare at the screen blankly with a cloud of weariness covering my brain.
Move Kora out of my bed. Make the bed. Climb in the bed.
Get out of the bed to turn on the fan, set the alarm, brush teeth. Say goodnight to hubby.
Climb into bed, wishing there was more time to sew, learn a language, pray, exercise, shop, meal-plan, spa days, etc. Fall asleep before head hits pillow.
It's the sad truth, but I'm willing to accept the idea that this is merely a season in my life. I'm raising children, not computers who conform to my every whim and wish (and sometimes, computers don't even do that!) I try to find laughter in every day. I try to prioritize my husband and my children, and when I remind myself that God's purpose for our family means much sacrifice, I willingly and even happily put myself to work. It's hard work. It's thankless work. It's endless work. But it's God's purpose for me right now. To shirk God's purpose would mean despair and heartache, even if I thought I were pursuing happiness. My I have the mind of Christ in my role!
P.S. This explains why I've not posted in a while! (I've skipped the dishes to write this. You should feel so lucky!)
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Where's my denim jumper?
Homeschool, here we come. Saja's officially registered with HomeLife Academy now as a kindergartener, even though the public schools wouldn't accept her until next year because of those stinking 30 days past the deadline that she doesn't turn 5. My hope is that if we decide to send her to school next year, we can show them the transcript from HomeLife Academy for kindergarten and at least have her tested for placement. A friend of mine who teaches kindergarten in the public school said it sounds like she'd be bored this year... let alone waiting a year! However, kindergarten is not mandatory in Tennessee, so the school system might just shrug their shoulders and place her in an age-appropriate (instead of skill-appropriate) class. I'm not fretting yet. I'm just plugging away at the homeschooling.
It's a bit intimidating to be held accountable for my child's education. I have been teaching them unofficially for quite some time now, simply because in our house, we have to have a schedule, so why not make it educational? So, I thought I'd post our routine for any other mommies of multiple young kiddos wondering how to make it work. It works well for us!
I started doing preschool-type education with my girls because they seemed interested. David is a different story--he hates sitting still to read or color or do worksheets. He does like flashcards and computer games. I guess you just have to figure out what's best for each child, but I'll show you what I've done for my kids. That will give you a starting point, at least.
I started teaching Saja to read when she was almost three. She already knew the sounds letters made because she picks up on things fast, so I used a book called Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Easy Lessons. I LOVE this book.
http://www.amazon.com/Teach-Your-Child-Read-Lessons/dp/0671631985/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219252131&sr=8-1
I started out thinking we could do a lesson each day, but her brain tired easily, and we decided to just go for 15 minutes--whether or not we finished the lesson. This book will teach your child the sounds of letters and letter blends, as well as the proper way to sound them out. We made it through lesson 70 by the time she turned 4. The last 30 lessons are headed toward a second grade level and are too advanced for her level of interest. I've started using this book for Kora now. She's 3 and a half.
Now I use the Sonlight Curriculum for grade 1 in reading lessons. They have story books, and ideally, you read one story each day with your child. I read the story first, then Saja reads it. We've done 40 lessons, and they've all been short vowel words (and a few sight words). She likes the stories, and they're significantly easier than the later lessons in the other book, so she doesn't get so discouraged. Some people wrote negative reviews for these books, but they've been exactly what Saja needs.
http://sonlight.com/1R161.html
http://sonlight.com/1R162.html
http://sonlight.com/1R163.html
http://sonlight.com/1R164.html
We also use Explode the Code workbooks for reading. They have preschool workbooks, which introduce the letters and the sounds they make, which Kora does, and Kindergarten workbooks, which introduce the short vowel words, which Saja does. I bought them on Ebay, but the links below will show you the Sonlight pages.
http://www.sonlight.com/KL031.html (First book--get ready for the code)
http://www.sonlight.com/KL032.html (Second book-get set for the code)
http://www.sonlight.com/KL033.html (third book-- Go for the code)
http://www.sonlight.com/1L02.html (Explode the Code--short vowels)
For Math, we just use the Comprehensive Curriculum workbooks you can find at Sam's Club or Walmart. We started out with Preschool, then K, and now we're in grade 1 with Saja. I don't know how accurate those labels are, but we're just moving on to the next one when we finish one.
http://www.amazon.com/Comprehensive-Curriculum-Skills-Preschool-Curriculum%C3%A0/dp/1561893749/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219253197&sr=8-1
Finally, I started using a program called Five in a Row for the science/social studies/miscellaneous lessons. It's super-easy (and cheap) and works well in our family, because it's based on story books that you can find in the library. I go online to memphislibrary.org, order the books for the next three weeks on hold at the Cordova library, and then pick them up the next day. Saves me time and effort. You read the same story to your child five days in a row, and you apply a different area of education to the story each day. For example, today, we're reading a true story about the first man to fly over the English Channel. We're going to talk about onomatopoeia. You'd be amazed at how much young kids can pick up! Yesterday, we talked about France and England, and we colored their flags (thus, the obsession with the flags). They also give you leeway to emphasize art, which my kids adore. They also have a preschool program called Before Five in a Row. The book is less than $40, and all the storybooks are available through the library. And it's really easy and fun. My kids love storybooks.
www.fiveinarow.com
Finally, I read a Bible story to them and work on memorizing a verse and a hymn everyday. The Bible I use is Ergermeir's Bible Story Book. I bought it at Overstock.com, but here's Sonlight's description.
http://www.sonlight.com/KB01.html
We memorize with songs from Scripture Memory Fellowship. Sometimes I make up my own songs and motions.
http://scripturememoryfellowship.org/preschool.htm
I just choose hymns from a hymnal.
All in all, the schooling time takes about an hour (although it sure seems more overwhelming when you read this novel I wrote!). My ideal day goes like this: Bible time, Reading lesson (while David watches his Letter Factory movie), snack, worksheets: math and reading, storybook project (art, science, applied math, geography, social studies, etc.) RECESS!
I'm really an advocate of finding what works best for you and doing it. Don't pressure yourself or compare your kid to others. Just give him what he needs to be challenged, and keep it light and fun. Kids pick up so much from just having fun! Good luck, by the way.
It's a bit intimidating to be held accountable for my child's education. I have been teaching them unofficially for quite some time now, simply because in our house, we have to have a schedule, so why not make it educational? So, I thought I'd post our routine for any other mommies of multiple young kiddos wondering how to make it work. It works well for us!
I started doing preschool-type education with my girls because they seemed interested. David is a different story--he hates sitting still to read or color or do worksheets. He does like flashcards and computer games. I guess you just have to figure out what's best for each child, but I'll show you what I've done for my kids. That will give you a starting point, at least.
I started teaching Saja to read when she was almost three. She already knew the sounds letters made because she picks up on things fast, so I used a book called Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Easy Lessons. I LOVE this book.
http://www.amazon.com/Teach-Your-Child-Read-Lessons/dp/0671631985/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219252131&sr=8-1
I started out thinking we could do a lesson each day, but her brain tired easily, and we decided to just go for 15 minutes--whether or not we finished the lesson. This book will teach your child the sounds of letters and letter blends, as well as the proper way to sound them out. We made it through lesson 70 by the time she turned 4. The last 30 lessons are headed toward a second grade level and are too advanced for her level of interest. I've started using this book for Kora now. She's 3 and a half.
Now I use the Sonlight Curriculum for grade 1 in reading lessons. They have story books, and ideally, you read one story each day with your child. I read the story first, then Saja reads it. We've done 40 lessons, and they've all been short vowel words (and a few sight words). She likes the stories, and they're significantly easier than the later lessons in the other book, so she doesn't get so discouraged. Some people wrote negative reviews for these books, but they've been exactly what Saja needs.
http://sonlight.com/1R161.html
http://sonlight.com/1R162.html
http://sonlight.com/1R163.html
http://sonlight.com/1R164.html
We also use Explode the Code workbooks for reading. They have preschool workbooks, which introduce the letters and the sounds they make, which Kora does, and Kindergarten workbooks, which introduce the short vowel words, which Saja does. I bought them on Ebay, but the links below will show you the Sonlight pages.
http://www.sonlight.com/KL031.html (First book--get ready for the code)
http://www.sonlight.com/KL032.html (Second book-get set for the code)
http://www.sonlight.com/KL033.html (third book-- Go for the code)
http://www.sonlight.com/1L02.html (Explode the Code--short vowels)
For Math, we just use the Comprehensive Curriculum workbooks you can find at Sam's Club or Walmart. We started out with Preschool, then K, and now we're in grade 1 with Saja. I don't know how accurate those labels are, but we're just moving on to the next one when we finish one.
http://www.amazon.com/Comprehensive-Curriculum-Skills-Preschool-Curriculum%C3%A0/dp/1561893749/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219253197&sr=8-1
Finally, I started using a program called Five in a Row for the science/social studies/miscellaneous lessons. It's super-easy (and cheap) and works well in our family, because it's based on story books that you can find in the library. I go online to memphislibrary.org, order the books for the next three weeks on hold at the Cordova library, and then pick them up the next day. Saves me time and effort. You read the same story to your child five days in a row, and you apply a different area of education to the story each day. For example, today, we're reading a true story about the first man to fly over the English Channel. We're going to talk about onomatopoeia. You'd be amazed at how much young kids can pick up! Yesterday, we talked about France and England, and we colored their flags (thus, the obsession with the flags). They also give you leeway to emphasize art, which my kids adore. They also have a preschool program called Before Five in a Row. The book is less than $40, and all the storybooks are available through the library. And it's really easy and fun. My kids love storybooks.
www.fiveinarow.com
Finally, I read a Bible story to them and work on memorizing a verse and a hymn everyday. The Bible I use is Ergermeir's Bible Story Book. I bought it at Overstock.com, but here's Sonlight's description.
http://www.sonlight.com/KB01.html
We memorize with songs from Scripture Memory Fellowship. Sometimes I make up my own songs and motions.
http://scripturememoryfellowship.org/preschool.htm
I just choose hymns from a hymnal.
All in all, the schooling time takes about an hour (although it sure seems more overwhelming when you read this novel I wrote!). My ideal day goes like this: Bible time, Reading lesson (while David watches his Letter Factory movie), snack, worksheets: math and reading, storybook project (art, science, applied math, geography, social studies, etc.) RECESS!
I'm really an advocate of finding what works best for you and doing it. Don't pressure yourself or compare your kid to others. Just give him what he needs to be challenged, and keep it light and fun. Kids pick up so much from just having fun! Good luck, by the way.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Did you make the coffee yet?
This week, we're blessed with the opportunity to attend a prayer conference at church. Chris would not have this opportunity had his classes fallen into place the way we had hoped, and I would not have this opportunity if our church did not prioritize childcare. As it is, we can both attend. Unfortunately, the start time this morning was 8:30 am. Tough to do when you have five kids to get ready.
Last night, I laid out all the kids' clothes and diapers for the morning. I stacked diapers in two diaper bags. I made five lunches and put them in the refrigerator. I crawled in bed about 11 pm. I woke up about 6:45 am, concerned that I wouldn't have quite enough time to meet my 8am departure time. I showered, got dressed, and even applied mascara. I thought about touching up my toenail polish, but it slipped my mind between the brushing of the teeth and the scrunching of the hair. I stepped out of my bedroom, savoring the quiet that is too often overrun by the chaos of my kids, and I heard rustling in the kitchen.
David.
Sigh. Please let it be a phase.
David had come out of his room (against the rules), opened the fridge (against the rules), and began eating his lunch for breakfast (I don't really have a rule about that.) His cookies were gone, and he had started on his raisins. He looked up at me and grinned the sweetest smile--no hint of mischievousness in it.
I fixed three bowls of cereal, two bottles, woke up everyone, changed their diapers, changed their clothes, brushed their hair, brushed their teeth, put on their shoes, put the babies in their carseats, made four more bottles (because they'd be at church for 6 hours), added two changes of clothes to the diaper bag, saddled myself with purses and backpacks and lunches and diaper bags. I picked up one 30-pound carseat child in one hand, one 30-pound carseat child in the other, turned sideways to shimmy out the hallway.
Chris walked out of the bedroom, showered and dressed in his scrubs. It was 7:45 am.
He said, "Did you make the coffee yet?"
??!!!!!!
I know Chris well enough to know that he wasn't asking me to make the coffee. He just wanted to know if he needed to make it (which he did.)
I'm proud to say the kids and I made it to the conference on time. Chris made the coffee and his lunch, drove his own car, and brought me a cup of coffee at 8:35 am.
We sat together in the back of the packed-out fellowship hall and heard a remarkable man of God speak about talking to God. I was exhausted, but satisfied.
I learned last year that I choose my attitude. I can have a happy day doing the same thing I did on a terrible day. When I view my role as mom and wife as a joy instead of a job, something I get to do rather than something I have to do, then I can enjoy myself.
Instead of being angry that I had to get everyone ready by myself this morning, I'm proud and thankful that God allowed me to have the patience, foresight, and organization to pull it off. We'll see how tomorrow goes!
Last night, I laid out all the kids' clothes and diapers for the morning. I stacked diapers in two diaper bags. I made five lunches and put them in the refrigerator. I crawled in bed about 11 pm. I woke up about 6:45 am, concerned that I wouldn't have quite enough time to meet my 8am departure time. I showered, got dressed, and even applied mascara. I thought about touching up my toenail polish, but it slipped my mind between the brushing of the teeth and the scrunching of the hair. I stepped out of my bedroom, savoring the quiet that is too often overrun by the chaos of my kids, and I heard rustling in the kitchen.
David.
Sigh. Please let it be a phase.
David had come out of his room (against the rules), opened the fridge (against the rules), and began eating his lunch for breakfast (I don't really have a rule about that.) His cookies were gone, and he had started on his raisins. He looked up at me and grinned the sweetest smile--no hint of mischievousness in it.
I fixed three bowls of cereal, two bottles, woke up everyone, changed their diapers, changed their clothes, brushed their hair, brushed their teeth, put on their shoes, put the babies in their carseats, made four more bottles (because they'd be at church for 6 hours), added two changes of clothes to the diaper bag, saddled myself with purses and backpacks and lunches and diaper bags. I picked up one 30-pound carseat child in one hand, one 30-pound carseat child in the other, turned sideways to shimmy out the hallway.
Chris walked out of the bedroom, showered and dressed in his scrubs. It was 7:45 am.
He said, "Did you make the coffee yet?"
??!!!!!!
I know Chris well enough to know that he wasn't asking me to make the coffee. He just wanted to know if he needed to make it (which he did.)
I'm proud to say the kids and I made it to the conference on time. Chris made the coffee and his lunch, drove his own car, and brought me a cup of coffee at 8:35 am.
We sat together in the back of the packed-out fellowship hall and heard a remarkable man of God speak about talking to God. I was exhausted, but satisfied.
I learned last year that I choose my attitude. I can have a happy day doing the same thing I did on a terrible day. When I view my role as mom and wife as a joy instead of a job, something I get to do rather than something I have to do, then I can enjoy myself.
Instead of being angry that I had to get everyone ready by myself this morning, I'm proud and thankful that God allowed me to have the patience, foresight, and organization to pull it off. We'll see how tomorrow goes!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Deliver us from evil
"Deliver us from evil." I pray a variation of this section of the Lord's Prayer everyday for each of my children. I believe God answers it everyday, and we may never know what might have been. Sometimes, however, we can get caught up in the imaginings of the land of "What if" until we torment ourselves.
We recently went to Mountain View, AR with Chris' family to enjoy a cabin in the mountains. Chris had an extra day off work, so our immediate family went up early. We found a one-room guest house in which the seven of us crammed. The babies were in separate playpens set up between the wall and the queen bed. There was just enough room between the bed and the playpens to shimmy through. Saja and Kora slept on the bed in normal fashion, while David lay crosswise at the foot of the bed. They loved it. I, of course, sat in the corner for an hour at bedtime to berate anyone who moved or spoke.
Then I slipped into the bathroom/kitchen/living room (yes, those are slashes) to visit with Chris for an hour or so before we went to sleep on the sofa bed. I had forgotten how terrible sofa beds are for the back. I felt a bar in my body no matter how I turned! Sleeping lightly, I jumped out of bed the moment I heard a cry from the crammed kiddie room. David had fallen off the bed. I anticipated the fall and had placed pillows and blankets on the floor to soften the blow, but he fell away from the padding and hit the floor anyway. So much for anticipation. "The best laid plans..."
This little cabin was located directly across the street from a recreational area that included a playground and a public pool. We took the kids swimming the next day and opted not to pay for the babies. While they do love the water, it just hurts to pay full price for what really is a burden in the pool. Our older children love to swim and do so very well with floaties (although the warning printed in bright blue on the orange armbands very clearly states, "These are not lifesaving devices.") I have very few reservations when swimming with their floaties. However, water wings of any type were prohibited at this public pool in favor of lifejackets, which are, of course, "lifesaving devices." I took the girls into the ladies' changing room to get ready, and Chris took the boys. When we entered the pool area, Chris was sitting under a pavillion with the babies. I beamed at him and rushed over. We had mounds and mound of swimming stuff for the seven of us piled three feet high on the picnic table! Chris first words to me were, "Hey. Um, have you seen David?" As I turned to scan the area, an older woman began to run in a panic from the other side of the pool.
A man next to us saw her and said, "What's wrong?"
All she could answer was, "Baby! Baby! Baby!"
She flung herself onto the ground at the edge of the pool directly at our feet, fishing in the water with her hands. The lifeguard still had not noticed. Chris and I stood frozen in observance, knowing that the "baby" they were rescuing was ours. We couldn't see him because he was right up against the edge of the pool, having eagerly jumped in sans lifejacket, grasping at the ledge just out of his reach, kicking his little feet, eyes wide with effort, managing a breath with every tip-toe push out of the water. I'm pleased I didn't see him. The images might plague me for years.
Happily, the man and the woman, who were strangers to us and strangers to each other, rescued my son. He didn't pass out, gag, or even actually realize he was ever in trouble. I hugged the stranger. We then spoke to David in very terse terms about the importance of wearing a lifejacket or floaties before ever jumping into the water, as well as asking permission to do so. We have had this conversation with him many times. Once, under my close supervision, I even let him spend some time underwater to teach a lesson (which apparently didn't work).
People say you can't take your eyes off of them for a minute. Even if you only have one child, that's impossible. What a burden you, mom, or you, dad, are carrying around to think that your child's life depends upon your watchful eye bearing down on them at every moment, keeping them within arm's reach at all times. What a wearisome motto.
I praise God for the freedom he allows us parents through His sovereign will. The Bible says, "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Did you know that I am not perfect? Neither is Chris, but I won't expound. We cannot change the plans God has for David, no matter how watchful or worrisome we are. David cannot die because of our neglect outside of God's permission. Is that difficult to accept? Yes, it is. Is it hard to think that God allowed your innocent child to perish? Yes, it is. But hear this: you cannot live the rest of your life under an umbrella of shame and guilt if your mistake led to the demise of your child or one under your care. God ordains your days. Rest in that. Experience forgiveness, love, and grace from the Author of goodness.
David has been around for 28 months, and has given us more than one scare in the land of "What if?" (I try not to visit too frequently, or worry will overtake me and defeat my joy.) Kora broke her skull last year falling off a waterslide onto the concrete. And I WAS watching! I just couldn't reach her in the short second it took to mishandle the step and slip off onto her back six feet below on the hard concrete. That image still haunts me. But in God's grace, he spared her life and her physical well-being.
I don't know what God plans for my life and for the lives of my children. I have made it my job to enjoy them everyday and to teach them godliness. I pray they will learn to love God and to love others, and I do pray for their protection from mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual evil all their lives. "Deliver us from evil." I'm glad it's not my job.
We recently went to Mountain View, AR with Chris' family to enjoy a cabin in the mountains. Chris had an extra day off work, so our immediate family went up early. We found a one-room guest house in which the seven of us crammed. The babies were in separate playpens set up between the wall and the queen bed. There was just enough room between the bed and the playpens to shimmy through. Saja and Kora slept on the bed in normal fashion, while David lay crosswise at the foot of the bed. They loved it. I, of course, sat in the corner for an hour at bedtime to berate anyone who moved or spoke.
Then I slipped into the bathroom/kitchen/living room (yes, those are slashes) to visit with Chris for an hour or so before we went to sleep on the sofa bed. I had forgotten how terrible sofa beds are for the back. I felt a bar in my body no matter how I turned! Sleeping lightly, I jumped out of bed the moment I heard a cry from the crammed kiddie room. David had fallen off the bed. I anticipated the fall and had placed pillows and blankets on the floor to soften the blow, but he fell away from the padding and hit the floor anyway. So much for anticipation. "The best laid plans..."
This little cabin was located directly across the street from a recreational area that included a playground and a public pool. We took the kids swimming the next day and opted not to pay for the babies. While they do love the water, it just hurts to pay full price for what really is a burden in the pool. Our older children love to swim and do so very well with floaties (although the warning printed in bright blue on the orange armbands very clearly states, "These are not lifesaving devices.") I have very few reservations when swimming with their floaties. However, water wings of any type were prohibited at this public pool in favor of lifejackets, which are, of course, "lifesaving devices." I took the girls into the ladies' changing room to get ready, and Chris took the boys. When we entered the pool area, Chris was sitting under a pavillion with the babies. I beamed at him and rushed over. We had mounds and mound of swimming stuff for the seven of us piled three feet high on the picnic table! Chris first words to me were, "Hey. Um, have you seen David?" As I turned to scan the area, an older woman began to run in a panic from the other side of the pool.
A man next to us saw her and said, "What's wrong?"
All she could answer was, "Baby! Baby! Baby!"
She flung herself onto the ground at the edge of the pool directly at our feet, fishing in the water with her hands. The lifeguard still had not noticed. Chris and I stood frozen in observance, knowing that the "baby" they were rescuing was ours. We couldn't see him because he was right up against the edge of the pool, having eagerly jumped in sans lifejacket, grasping at the ledge just out of his reach, kicking his little feet, eyes wide with effort, managing a breath with every tip-toe push out of the water. I'm pleased I didn't see him. The images might plague me for years.
Happily, the man and the woman, who were strangers to us and strangers to each other, rescued my son. He didn't pass out, gag, or even actually realize he was ever in trouble. I hugged the stranger. We then spoke to David in very terse terms about the importance of wearing a lifejacket or floaties before ever jumping into the water, as well as asking permission to do so. We have had this conversation with him many times. Once, under my close supervision, I even let him spend some time underwater to teach a lesson (which apparently didn't work).
People say you can't take your eyes off of them for a minute. Even if you only have one child, that's impossible. What a burden you, mom, or you, dad, are carrying around to think that your child's life depends upon your watchful eye bearing down on them at every moment, keeping them within arm's reach at all times. What a wearisome motto.
I praise God for the freedom he allows us parents through His sovereign will. The Bible says, "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Did you know that I am not perfect? Neither is Chris, but I won't expound. We cannot change the plans God has for David, no matter how watchful or worrisome we are. David cannot die because of our neglect outside of God's permission. Is that difficult to accept? Yes, it is. Is it hard to think that God allowed your innocent child to perish? Yes, it is. But hear this: you cannot live the rest of your life under an umbrella of shame and guilt if your mistake led to the demise of your child or one under your care. God ordains your days. Rest in that. Experience forgiveness, love, and grace from the Author of goodness.
David has been around for 28 months, and has given us more than one scare in the land of "What if?" (I try not to visit too frequently, or worry will overtake me and defeat my joy.) Kora broke her skull last year falling off a waterslide onto the concrete. And I WAS watching! I just couldn't reach her in the short second it took to mishandle the step and slip off onto her back six feet below on the hard concrete. That image still haunts me. But in God's grace, he spared her life and her physical well-being.
I don't know what God plans for my life and for the lives of my children. I have made it my job to enjoy them everyday and to teach them godliness. I pray they will learn to love God and to love others, and I do pray for their protection from mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual evil all their lives. "Deliver us from evil." I'm glad it's not my job.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Technologically Obsolete
My babysitter taught my 4-year-old how to text. So, D-daddy, that explains the message you got tonight: "Saja. Mama. Dad. David." She even knew how to type a period, and it's not even marked!
She said, "Mom, guess why your phone writes smaller than [the babysitter's] phone?"
I said, "Why?"
She said, in her best 'Duh' voice, "Because her phone is bigger!" What a cutie pie.
Do you know that I'm approaching 30, and I never once texted anyone anything until my babysitter got the feature? It's the only way to keep up with her, and she's pretty vital to my existence. But Saja, once she learned she could type messages to anyone in the world, wanted me to actually run down the entire list of contacts in my phone to decide to whom she could send her oh-so-informative-and-educational message. We are IN TROUBLE!!!
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