Tales of the Not-So-Mundane (and time well spent)

Back in the old days, when our oldest kids were babies, my sister-in-law, Lynet, and I used to talk on the telephone for hours.  I don't remember how often. . . every few months, maybe?  I remember days when we would say, "I have a blow-out poopy diaper to change.  I'll call you back in a minute."  Or, "Let me go fix lunch, and I'll call back."  I think the first time I ever had Anna up past 8pm (SO first kid), I slid down the frige to the floor, toddler in lap, and she fell asleep while I chatted with Lynet. 

Fast-forward about a decade.  Lynet and my brother have 4 kids, ranging from late middle school to rising 1st grader.  Our brood is 12 yrs down to 3 yrs old.  It has been a tremendous blessing through the years to have her one step (18 months-ish) ahead of me.  The previous stage was always fresh enough in her mind for her to be truly sympathetic to the maternal trials of any given age.  We also celebrated the joys of the different stages, but she was a wonderful sounding board for frustrations.  This is not a coincidence.  She is a certified clinician and has an MSW (Masters, Social Work).  Yes, I probably owe her thousands for over a decade of therapy.

The long days home with babies and toddlers have given way to more activity filled days with older kids, and we talk on the phone much, much less often.  Today Lynet called, because we had planned a cousin spend-the-night-party for Friday.  We decided we should reschedule in light of the White house strep throat outbreak.  We started talking and talking. . . and talking.  She called me back after she had to answer the disposal repairman's phone call.  I called her back, after a neighbor dropped by with hand-me-down shoes (score!).  I took kids out of the bathtub with the phone pinned to my shoulder.  There is never a shortage of things to talk about.  We covered some of the dysfunctions of her family of origin, my family of origin, and both of our current family units.  Kids, spouses, siblings, parents, grandparents.  We are relationship people. ;)  And Lynet's friendship is a gift.

Separate thoughts on relationships and sanctification:  There's not a relationship on this planet that is untouched by sin.  We do even the right things for the wrong reasons.  Sometimes we aren't even aware of the motivations of our own hearts.  But I'll tell you one thing, the motivation of my heart is not always to glorify the God who created me.  We are messy, needy people.  Fortunately, God is in the business of redemption.  To Him be the glory.

Tales of the Mundane (and poor time management)

I need to do laundry and clean the house and go to the library and take the kids to the pool.  Well. . .want to take the kids to the pool, rowdy crazies that they are today.  We had taken the day off on Sunday, and the pump was broken on Monday, so the pool was closed.  Tuesday was yesterday (of strep throat and tweaked back).  My back feels much better today, just a little stiff.  Caleb is MUCH improved.  His throat still hurts but the fever and vomiting seem to be gone.  So now I'm wondering if Luke is getting it.  He said something about the water he drank, making his neck feel better.  If he doesn't currently have it, the big swig he just took of Caleb's water bottle is probably not a good thing. =/

Sometimes, when I have a zillion things to do, I just don't do any of them.  Perhaps, I write a blog instead.  That way the most urgent ones rise to the top.  For instance, I DID go to Walmart this morning to fill Caleb's prescription (following antibiotic shot for yesterday).  I DID go to the dollar store and get two 2-packs of toothbrushes for the kids (minus Anna who keeps her toothbrush in her own room for reasons such as the current strep throat outbreak).  So I can throw out all the toothbrushes, which is great. . .unless one of the other munchkins is incubating strep.  It's a waiting game, friends.

In other news, we head to Atlanta tomorrow, to pick up my little JuJu, who's been vacationing with Nana and Papa at Myrtle Beach (lucky dog).  I hope she had a great trip, despite the wicked cut she got on her foot a couple days ago.  I'm excited to go get her!  [Hence the need to clean up and do much laundry.]

I need to be reading all of the 5th and 6th grade books for my classes next year. . .Keep meaning to get around to that.  [Hence the need to go to the library.]

Nat keeps jumping on people.  [Hence the need to burn off some energy at the pool.]

I need to make a few phone calls too.  I almost always need to make a few phone calls.  I'll let you know which things become most urgent and how the day shapes up.   This is me in sunglasses.  High in the 90's again.  LOW 90's (high in the 80's later in the week)-- it's a veritable cold front.

Vacation Bible School '09

I survived VBS week!  I helped teach the rising Kindergarten class.  The girl I taught with was fabulous (thank you Melissa!).  She did all the decorating, undecorating, and planned our daily, hands-on activity.  I just showed up, really.  We had 11 kids. . .which is wonderful.  Not that you don't want everyone to bring a friend and all.  But wow, I kept thinking of the year I had 24 four year olds show up a few years back. . .And I was thankful.  :)

The kindergarteners were precious.  It's sweet to have a group, that is actually ready to learn something.  I have felt in years past, with younger guys, that I was really only there to put shoes back on and take them to potty (or change diapers).  The kindergarteners learned Philippians 2:10-11 to the tune of "Frerra Jaque" (sp??). . .and of course rocked it in the closing program.  

Nat was in my class.  She's been in a Mama's-girl phase, and I thought it would make it more fun for everyone, if she wasn't darting after me, any time she saw me in the hallway.  It worked out well.  She wasn't overly clingy, once she figured out that I was REALLY staying.  She particularly enjoyed the art and rec. time.  As predicted by her Dad, she scurried up the rock climbing wall, with no trouble at all.  

All 150 (or so) kids painted 4 huge, beautiful murals, that will be hung on the walls in the children's Sunday School hall.  I'm amazed at the talent of my friend Missy, who sketched out the pictures and put the finishing touches on them, after the kids had painted them, section by section.   

My own children were pretty wiped out by this afternoon.  The last day generally feels like a marathon, by the time we finish the closing ceremony/pizza party in the evening.  I did great getting them to bed early SOME of the nights.  Others, not so much.  Tonight, I finally shooed them all off to bed at 10-something.  I predict lots of sleeping late in the morning. 

. . .Except for Julia who gets to go on vacation to Myrtle Beach with my parents tomorrow.  I really must go pack her bag.  Procrastination strikes again.   Lucky for me, her Dad is taking her to meet Nana and Papa, while we all have a lazy morning.  Hope y'all have a great weekend!

Weekend Update

It's shaping up to be a birthday party sort of weekend.  We have a friend over this morning for the little girls, and we're meeting other friends at the pool in the afternoon.  Tomorrow afternoon Caleb is invited to a pool b'day party (whole family is invited to stay).  Sunday JuJu is invited to a neighborhood party (and to spend the night!).  Pool and b'day parties sound like a fun and virtually free way to spend the weekend. 

We had originally planned a trip to Atlanta for my nephew's b'day party.  Happy Birthday, Daniel!!  But I used up the paycheck, and gas prices are creeping up again.  Now all of this weekend's activities will be close by, which is nice. 

At some point, I'll need to have the girls clean up the multi-kid room.  It's abominable.  The thing is, they destroy it when friends are over.  It's a trade off; they actually play with toys, when friends are over.  Would I rather have the room clean (and them quite possibly lazing around on the couch asking to watch t.v. all day)?  Or would I rather have them engaged in creative play, reeking havoc on the bedroom?  Depends on the day, really.  Today, I'm glad they're playing.  I'm sure there's a happy medium in there, somewhere between "everything in it's place" and "category 6 disaster area," but I never seem to find it.  It's all or nothing.  I'm maintainance impaired in that way.

Anna's still sleeping over the din of 3 little girls and Luke and Caleb in the next room.  That's pretty amazing.  I let her stay up late-ish last night, after she watched all the kids while I had a night out.  She even had the kids tidy the den (for Twizzlers!).  She's a good babysitter.  On Monday, she leaves for 5 days at a beach conference with her youthgroup. . . Not sure how she got old enough to do that.  I'm excited for her.  She'll have a blast.

P.S.  I just went into the room to settle a trading/snatching issue between 2 and 5 year old, and Caleb was explaing to Julia the various reasons why "Oreo" is an inappropriate name for a dog (littlest pet), who is almost entirely white, with just a few black flowers.  ;)

Anothermadhousewife is. . .

I can't keep posting status updates (at the risk of looking like a facebook-a-holic).  I can stop whenever I want to!  So I'm kicking out a mini-blog instead.  Papa Bear had the day off today.  The WHOLE day.  I went and got my haircut first thing this morning.  It's cut.  Really, really cut.  Maybe I'll have Anna take a picture tomorrow.   That's me saying, "Cheeeese."

I took the 4 youngest kids to the pool for about 3 hours before dinner.  Bananna is protesting the still-freezing water, so she stayed here and hung out with her dad.  Papa Bear and I took a long walk together after dinner.  I'm sure he was gratified by the fact that he can still run WAY faster than I can. . .eventhough he was in sandals. ;)  So yeah, that's really about all.  No wrap up.  Just consider this a string of status updates.  Oh yes, and I was feeling way less "energized and encouraged" early this afternoon, when I paid bills.  Ugh.