The dishwasher we bought when my Petra Jayne was an infant seems to have washed its last load. I cannot complain. Petra Jayne is 14 years old. I remember well the exhausted mom I was of a very needy newborn and a highly busy toddler. I would try to wash dishes with Petra wailing at my feet, but her cries always resulted in my well intended attempt ending in a gross, sink of old cold water and undone dishes. In desperation I informed my wonderful husband, that dishes were now a job that was his. Petra wanted me, only me, all the time and he could do dishes. He was a smart man. He considered his options and preferences on chores. He bought a dishwasher.
We were once again considering our options because now there are five children. None of them are wailing at my feet, pleading to be picked up and loved. But they do keep us busy. Disposable dishes are for those folks that have money to throw away and don’t mind ignoring the need to take better care of our earth. Seven people create a lot of dishes and we need a plan. A new dishwasher is out of the question. With five capable people able to have a turn at the sink, the notion seems outrageous. In order to replace our portable machine with a built-in machine (a complete necessity if we do get one) we must redo our cabinets and countertops because they are too short. It would be an expense that we cannot justify.
My plan was to let the three big kids know that they are taking turns doing dishes and when the need arose, I would step in. Dad’s role would be that of motivator and task whip. As I thought of it all I was talking. Truth is, I like doing dishes. It’s like water therapy for big kids. Playing in hot, sudsy water is pleasurable. It really is. The feeling of a job well done and knowing it is done with proper standards is worth the little time of really scrubbing hard. I like doing dishes. The problem? I can’t do dishes without getting soaked. I drip I get so wet. I’m short. My arms are short. And I’m rather round in the middle. Wet turns to cold, and then I have to change and then it becomes a laundry issue (a task I do not enjoy!) Chris said, “you should make yourself a waterproof apron.” Man that guy is smart! I had never thought of that. It was brilliant.
In the basement I found some clear plastic that I had bought to protect the table years ago. Then I found the ducktape. Nothing more was needed except scissors. I have an awesome apron with a duck tape collar and a big pocket. I needed a pocket for the hand towel. As I think about it I may need to add a drain hole in the pocket. I am so happy to think that I can do dishes and not get a wet, cold belly from doing so. Whoever created duck tape was brilliant. My dear husband is brilliant. And I’m feeling a little impressed with my creativity too. Time to go do dishes.
Filed under: Uncategorized
My normally busy home is even more busy today because we took on three extra kids for the day. Small ones too, the oldest of them is almost 6. We had a few days to plan for the big day and we are ready. (note, they have only been here for a mere 45 minutes thus far, the day is far from over).
The first plan of action was to go through the toys. Half of them went upstairs, to the bedroom, where no children will be allowed to play. This cuts the chaos in half, but more importantly, makes what we do have down here more enjoyable. Why is less more enjoyable? It’s been sorted. The broken and the missing have been tossed. Best of all, the tools are all together with the toy nuts, bolts, safety glasses and ready to be used on their workbench. The toy kitchen is stocked with play fruit and vegetables, dishes,tea cups, pots and pans. Nothing more. But ready for little ones to create awesome meals for me to nibble on all day. The Thomas the Train box is full with only working, in tact pieces. Nothing is broken. Everything belongs. Everything is ready to create a train track to be proud of. The matchbox storage box is waiting for discovery. The big plastic tote of plastic animals, dinosaurs, oversized toy cars, balls and dress-up gear is waiting and ready. Let the play begin!
I readied our table for activity as well. The top of the table is covered with one big piece of paper from a giant roll I got from the KJ years ago. Spread over that is an assortment of crayons, some construction paper, scissors, glue, coloring books, markers, preschool workbooks,and pencils. Already there are drawings of big heads with two attached legs for the body. Names etched out with oversized letters. The sort of work that keeps little ones busy. The sort of busy that means they are quiet. Some may call this set up educational, I call it peace of mind, because the work the table brings out usually is quiet. It just naturally is. I love natural quiet. And I am ready for when the joy of markers, crayons and scissors wear off. In the kitchen, all wrapped up in wax paper, there is freshly made, still warm play dough. Four batches, one color. Purple. Simple. Fun. When it’s time, the play dough and cookie cutters (more alphabet and shape fun!) will again quiet the wild things we call children.
Truth be told, this wonderful morning of play, table fun, and more play will probably turn into an afternoon with a movie on the big screen. Not a perfect day. Child psycologists and pediatricians would warn against spending too much time watching tv. Me? I say bring out the blankets, popcorn and settle down after lunch for some nice afternoon quiet. After the movie, play will begin afresh. The table will bustle with activity. Children will request snacks of fresh fruit, juice, banana bread and goldfish crackers. I will feed them. It keeps them happy and quiet.
Three kids will go home, with stories of fun, activity, and movie time. My little boys will be wondering when friends can come again. Tonight? Tomorrow? WHEN? They will go to bed asking if friends will return in the morning. WHEN? When mom, can we have more friends?
Filed under: Uncategorized
I went along with my husband to church tonight. He had something he needed to do and then we were planning on enjoying some time without kids at a local coffee shop. His task at church took much longer than expected and I found myself being invited to join in with the worship team’s practice time together. Their time was different because their leader was away at a conference. We were asked to come up with one word that God was being or doing in our lives. I was hoping to listen to everyone talk while I sat knitting on some mittens. Leading the discussion was Ellen. She looked straight at me and asked, “Wendy, what word has God been speaking to you?’ At first I froze, I was not expecting to be called upon so directly or so early in the discussion. A fraction of a second passed, and as I looked up at my husband working on his task, the first word that came to mind was trust. Trust.
Chris isn’t working the normal 9-5 right now. We are living off of savings, and looking for what is in store for our future. I am uncertain about many things. But I can trust God to meet our every need and I can trust my husband to make sure we are cared for. Trust. I admit, I do panic now and then. But I know my God has a future for us. We will figure out the path He has us on as we learn to trust in Him. Really trust in Him. The following passage is one of many I cling to as I learn to trust my God.
Psalm 143:7-9 (New American Standard Bible)
7(A)Answer me quickly, O LORD, my (B)spirit fails;
(C)Do not hide Your face from me,
Or I will become like (D)those who go down to the pit.
8Let me hear Your (E)lovingkindness (F)in the morning;
For I trust (G)in You;
Teach me the (H)way in which I should walk;
For to You I (I)lift up my soul.
9(J)Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies;
I take refuge in You.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Today was Sunday and today started out like many Sundays. After a crazy attempt to get out of the house looking good and feeling prepared we arrived at church at 10:02am. Church officially starts at 10. The parking lot was full and I knew we’d have trouble finding seating. Chris and Nicholas had arrived much earlier. Chris was greeting people at the door and Nicholas had found himself a seat with some friends. Just as I anticipated, I could not find a spot where myself and four of my children could sit. We split up. The girls sat two rows in front of us and the boys and I sat in the back row. For some reason this arrangement made me grumpy. Not sure why. But it did.
I grumped about about all the single people and older people without kids just spreading themselves out comfortably, so those of us with families could not fit in anywhere and stay together. I grumped about seat saving. I grumped that the church didn’t own enough chairs. People were worshiping God all around me, while I grumped because I was 2 minutes late; which had the expected consequence of being unable to be with my family during church service.
The turning point of my day came when a young dad came in with 3 girls. I know this family well, and I love them dearly. But I was grumpy. Still, very grumpy. The little one, Bella, wanted to sit with me. That little girl, a young toddler, melted all my grumpy away. I love baby therapy. I held her and I played with her and whispered in her ear and kissed her face and smoothed her hair and the world became good again. Church became a fine place to be. The boys became a delight to me. All because a little girl, a baby, wanted to be held and give me some loving baby therapy. It turned out to be a pretty nice day. Thank you, Bella.
Filed under: Uncategorized
“Mom, the bathroom’s broke. MOM, the bathroom’s broke. No mom, the bathroom’s BROKE!” (yelled by 4 yo son)
Normally such screaming would leave a mother running for the bathroom, expecting all kinds of gross mess. But that is not what we have here.
I walk past the bathroom to see my 4yo son with the cover off the toilet tank, working with the mechanisms inside the tank, shirt soaked. As I told him to get down and pulled him from the toilet, those were the words he screamed. Off to a timeout while I clean up the watery floor and wet toilet. I let him down with a firm warning to not fix the toilet ever again; without asking for help first.
What is his very next move? He finds his plastic tools and examines them all carefully. Clearly getting ready for the next family emergency. Please, God, help me see the humor in this.
Filed under: Uncategorized
This weekend we volunteered to take on two extra children. A boy and a girl, 7 and 4 respectively. We were expecting to have a great weekend. I’m not complaining. But I have been reminded of a lesson I learn every now and then. Our kids are not so bad.
We have a couple of picky eaters. I’m not fond of picky eaters. They add challenge to a part of the day that should be enjoyable. Sitting with the family over a meal to talk should be a favorite part of the day. I find it just isn’t true. And I blame the picky eaters for this. They whine, and nothing can ruin a meal faster than whining about the food; especially well made, healthy, and delicious food. We struggle with our picky eaters.
I bring up our picky eaters because we have these two extra children in the house. Guess what? THEY are picky eaters! My kids don’t even come close to being as picky as these two are. The lesson I have been reminded of is that though my kids are a work in progress, they are progressing! They are progressing and I need to relax a bit, because they aren’t so bad after all.
Filed under: Uncategorized
My husband of 18+ years has been telling me that I should blog. Me? Sure, he says. I have lots to blog about.
I homeschool. I parent 5 kids with very different personalities and learning styles. I have several differing birth experiences, including adoption. Because of surgery, my breastfeeding experiences have differed greatly. Because of adoption I’ve lovingly bottlefed (while using the term ‘attachment parenting’) I’ve used cloth diapers and loved them and I’ve used disables. I’ve mastered Flylady skills and then lost myself in chaos again. I effectly lo-carbed for about a year, sure I’d never gain weight again,(I did).
I struggle with the idea of going back to low carbing, or maybe just exercising or walking. I struggle with organizing my stuff, and keeping life simple. I struggle with parenting. I struggle with the balancing act of serving others and maintaining healthy boundaries.
One of my favorite things to do, besides read aloud to small children, is knit. I love knitting and consider myself at the intermediate skill level. I’m thankful for some good friends that knit way better than I do, so I can ask questions and stretch my knitting to new horizons. I knit, but I’m a yarn snob. Wool, silk, or soy please. NO acrylic…unless the person I’m gifting prefers to throw everything in the wash together and dry on high heat. Those people get acrylic. But I’m still a yarn snob. I’ve never knitted for myself, though I have some wool/silk merino yarn that I hope to create into a shawl for myself. Currently, I’m knitting infant socks with it on very fine needles.
Most days I feel like my life is about survival. That perception is only mine though. I’ve given myself to serving a loving, compassionate, gracious God. I’ve given myself to cherish and respect my husband; a great guy who also serves Jesus and desires to show others the way too. I’ve given myself to love and actively parent my children, to attempt to raise them as responsible, caring adults, able to thrive. I’ve given myself to serve the body of Christ, His church, through teaching Sunday school to preschool children, mentoring mothers in crisis, and through a lifestyle of hospitality. My life is not about survival, as it may feel many days. My life is about service.
My daughter recently joined the battle to get me to blog. She’s funny. I think it might be great fun to follow both our blogs. Her version of our life and mine will probably differ much. She’s 14, it’s expected that her perceptions will be different from mine. If you are interested in following Petra you’ll find her at sothedrama.wordpress.com.
www.91courtstreet.net is Chris’ home on the net. He’s interesting to follow too, (if you’re a geek anyways).
Let’s see where this whole blogging thing brings me. Only time will tell.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Welcome to WordPress.com. This is your first post. Edit or delete it and start blogging!
