Roll Film!

Ever have one of those days where you think, "This is like something out of a movie!"  One crisis follows another and the only thing missing is the dramatic soundtrack in the background.  That's today, only think more Three Stooges/slapstick film.  All that's missing is the "boing!" sound effects!  Only two things on my to-do list, but they're pretty crucial.  Lesson plans and lesson plans.  Oh, and did I mention that I picked this week to start potty training Daniel?  So, when the alarm goes off at 6, I roll over - oh, wait, can't do that because my bed is filled with sleeping boys.  Oh well, back to sleep for another couple of hours.  That means, of course, what with Rob gone, taking Daniel to the bathroom every twenty minutes, and getting everyone up and dressed, breakfast was at nine or so. 

Following breakfast, more potty trips between accidents (sploosh) and cleaning up from breakfast.  This potty training is a lot easier when you have only one perfect child.  First of all, for the past 8 months, Daniel has gone to the bathroom in his diaper mostly standing up.  Now, all of a sudden, I'm asking him to go sitting down.  This means that he sits on the toilet for 10 minutes (did you know that there were so many fascinating things to distract a child in a toilet's environs?), then, when Mama gives up and sets him on his feet, he pees (sproing)!  This atmosphere of distraction is aided and abetted by having four older siblings IN THE ROOM encouraging him.  Talk about performance anxiety.  It's not a huge bathroom, people. 

My mother-in-law who is still on Christmas break has offered to help.  She has a long errand to run, she says.  Can she take Katie?  The oldest, quietest one. (bong.)  I'm starting to giggle hysterically.  Sure, why not?  Finally, I have a moment to sit and gather my - oh, there's the phone.  Twice.  One is my mother, who after hearing about my morning encourages me to write about this.  You have her to thank for this post.  :)  No lie, as soon as I lay the phone down from talking with her, there's a knock at the door.  Just a quick drop-off from a family member, but I close the door, turn around and see that Daniel has peed in his pants again (tada!).  Back to the bathroom.  At some point in the morning I get him to go while standing up ON the toilet seat.  Not perfect, but it's a start.  Now...

Snacktime.  Of course.  They just ate an hour ago, but apparently their stomach acid is burning a hole in their empty bellies.  Another potty trip (boing) and everyone's settled.  I've managed to copy down my to-do list into my planner, when there is an interpersonal crisis (crash).  Once dealt with, it's lunchtime.  Fortunately, I have a plan and it all comes together quickly (light, happy music).  A quick game of telephone at the lunch table and everyone heads off for naptime.  And here I sit, the house quiet, no one stirring - well, almost no one, and I'm still not planning lessons.  Oh well, maybe next semester.

Just Do It

I don't feel like blogging today. So, like I know to do: Just do it! Life is busy and a bit hard right now. Time to keep making good choices. There is still much to be thankful for.

407. Fall is coming.
408. A hard conversation
409. Teaching
410. A new puppy!
411. Continued bounty from the garden
412. A tough decision
413. Encouragement from a more experienced pastor and his wife
414. Spontaneous company
415. Clean floors because of said new puppy
416. The wedding of the first couple Rob and I counseled together
417. My parents-in-law's anniversary - Congatulations on 35 years!!
418. New ideas

The Great Thanksgiving Desert

It's been far too long since I've sat down and given thanks. Oh, we still do it at mealtimes and at bedtimes, but not regulartimes. It's been far too long and my attitude is showing. This is a difficult season for our family, but I have never found that not giving thanks is helpful during tough patches. (Confusing sentence? Try living in my brain this week!)
School officially started for us this week and with the advent of our new schedule comes the return to the blog. I'm looking forward to the regular remembering of His many blessings. I hope you'll join me again.

Picking up where I left off:
398. School beginning
399. A fabulous garden harvest
400. No tomato/potato blight
401. Girls finishing their county fair projects
402. Girls winning blue ribbons for their fair projects
403. No dead chickens
404. A dog - Jack - joining our family
405. Fall coming
406. Forgiveness

Some Time Away

I'm in denial. Again, I might add. Or perhaps I should say, as usual. My sweet husband is giving me a precious gift: some time away. I leave on Friday for a ten-day trip to see my dear friend in Chicago and then to attend the wedding of a cousin who stood up in my wedding. I desperately wanted this time away, but as I draw near my departure date, I'm conflicted. People keep asking if I'm packed/ready/excited. The answer is no. The truth is, now that it comes to it, I don't really want to go. Oh, I want to see my friends and my family. I'm so grateful that I get to see this cousin's wedding. But I don't want to leave my family. It's a reminder that I'm not meant to. Occasional short trips aside, God has called me to be a homemaker, a wife, a mother. It's tough to leave what you've been called to do. And blessed to do! So, would you all please pray for me this week as I get ready to leave behind my vocation (for a some needed R&R) to return renewed and refreshed? Pray for my sweet husband who will be a full-time stay-at-home mom while I'm gone. I'll try and blog on Wednesday before I go, but I probably won't get to this page while I'm gone.

In the meantime I'm grateful for:
329. Not wanting to leave on this trip
330. Emma's selflessness
331. Cool nights
332. A whole day to clean the house
333. A new school term
334. New recipes (Simply in Season)
335. A clean kitchen to cook in
336. A grace-based perspective on parenting
337. Snuggles with Ian and Emma
338. Dinner with the Moskowitz family
339. Not-yet-believers at church on Sunday!
340. Getting started on school this morning

One of Those Days

We're spring cleaning this week. So the blogging will be short. Again, more for me than anyone else. I still need to keep track of what I'm thankful for!

320. Easter and the great work done on that day!
321. Nature hike

322. Katie picking up trash on said hike

323. Dinner with friends
324. Quilt squares

325. Excitement around ordering next year's homeschooling supplies
326. Frogs peeping

327. Sunny days

328. Planting flowers with Rob and the kids

Thank you, Lord.

A Bit of a Fastball

So, for those of you who keep an eye on this blog, you might have noticed I didn't post on Monday. I meant to, I really did! This week I began helping to coach the "modified" (read Junior High) softball team for the local public school. The head coach is a member of our church and a friend and when I offered some assistance she said, "Sure. You've pitched before, right? You're the pitching coach. Oh, and get these girls in shape, too." So now I'm in charge of fitness and pitching! It's a fun challenge, but the biggest part of it all has been balancing all of my other responsibilities. I have realized that as much as I'm going to enjoy this season, I am NOT called to be a working mom! I miss my kids and yet I feel distanced from them by the time I get home. (I'm gone about two hours in the afternoon.) I don't feel like cooking dinner, doing dishes or laundry, or doing any of the other chores that I usually do in the evening. We'll get into a routine here, I'm not too concerned, but in the meantime I'm grateful for the lessons I'm learning: I'm a good teacher/coach, I prefer to teach/coach my own kids, I'm not called to work outside the home, and I understand a little more what Rob feels when he walks in the door at the end of the day. Perhaps I can show a bit more understanding, especially since he's taking over for me for those two hours I'm gone! Please continue to pray for me as I coach these 29 girls. They need so much guidance and I hope to show them as much of God as I can in the short time I have with them.

This week I am also grateful for:
297. Spray paint
298. Hard-boiled eggs
299. Homeschooling (Have I mentioned this one before? :) )
300. Facebook
301. Old friends
302. A sweet grace of dinner and an activity timing coming together
303. Sewing with Katie
304. Silence
305. Clean schoolroom (first time in months!)
306. Homemade pickles, applesauce, and yogurt
307. My own issues (as opposed to someone else's)
308. The family of the home where Ian was born coming to celebrate his 1st birthday
309. Feeling like the Love Dare doesn't have much for us to do!
310. First week of softball practice

Thanks in Retrospect

287. Grace

Yes, I am especially grateful for grace this week. I sat down to blog today and saw that I had written down nothing for the week that I was thankful for. Oh, I can think of things in retrospect (288. An AWESOME school day on Saturday), and even the weather outside reminds me (289. Warmer weather, 290. Picnic outside on Friday) that I have much to be thankful for. My children are well (291. Katie and Emma telling me the truth about a broken jar mess, 292. Ian saying "Oopsie," even 293. David developing his own view of what makes God sad), I have all that I need (294. A huge grocery shopping trip, 295. Our new car holds everything!), I am just forgetful. And so, I give thanks again for

296. Grace