Sunday at Home

We are staying home today. It is raining. And freezing. And we live on a mountain. Not a good combination, unless you are hoping to get a new car after wrecking the one you own. I called the sub about a half hour ago when it was barely misting. Now it's RAINING.

And both my kids have stuffy noses. Not the end of the world, but Little Boy has his dental surgery Thursday, and I need to get him healthy before then. Church isn't the place to do that.

So DH worked last shift last night and we are going to have a quiet morning while he sleeps.

Guess we won't be getting McD's for lunch. Rats.

Thanksgiving Day 2008

We had a nice Thanksgiving. It's been very laid back and relaxing. Thursday, I ran to the grocery store in the morning. I really expected it would be packed, but there were only a few people wandering around. I needed to pick up enough basics to get us through the crazy days to come.

We had a quiet morning, a light lunch, and put the kids down. I took an hour nap and got up and made sweet potatoes and rolls. When the kids got up, we walked across the yard to the in-law's house and sat down to a delicious meal. DH's sister and her husband were there so there were 8 of us.

Somewhere near the middle of the meal, Little Boy decided to announce that Mommy has had intestinal problems in more detail. I told him that was last week, Mommy feels much better now and that we don't talk about that at the table. Daddy chimed in, Grandma chimed in, Granddad chimed in, and when I looked at Little Boy, his little eyes were full of tears. Daddy took him in the other room to comfort him, and I said he must have been embarrassed. Poor kid.

Don't we all have that problem at one time or another? No, I don't mean the norovirus. I mean, saying something without thinking and completely mortifying ones self? I remember a couple times. One recently. I was saying something, and the whole time I was talking, I was thinking, "Stop talking, stop talking, STOP TALKING." But while my head was thinking that, my mouth just kept blabbing away.

The book of James has always been a favorite. I feel I've made huge strides since I got saved in 1989. I was the most sarcastic person I knew. I know I was attempting to protect myself from other people's comments. But I realized I was being more caustic than sarcastic. I made a concerted effort to change that. I have worked over the years on not being negative, not gossiping, not talking without listening, and yet, there I was, not able to stop my mouth.

So, when I think of poor Little Boy, sitting there with his eyes full of tears, embarrassed, I can empathize. And I made sure to tell him how very much I love him.

Little Boy's prayer request

My son loves snow. He has asked all summer long when it would snow. So when he got up this morning and saw two inches on the ground, he was super excited. He was outside at 7:30 am, and again about 8:30. But the sun came out and he was very upset. I told him it would snow again.

He sat at the front window and asked Jesus to make the sun go behind the clouds and send more snow. "Please, Jesus."

So this is what we saw out the window while we were eating lunch. He told me, "Mommy, Jesus answered my prayer!"

Faith of a little child

Little Boy and Baby are playing with their "magic" wands. Little Boy was covered up with a blanket, and Baby had the wand. She said, "Magic, magic. Hocus, pocus, pocus!" She got closer and looked under the blanket - "Are you still there? Ugh." And she looked at the wand like it must be defective.

Froggy Day

Baby woke up this morning and looked out the window.

"Oh, man. It's a froggy day." And she leaned her chin on her hand.

We went down the hill to town and she and Little Boy were relieved that there was not fog down there. It's a different world up here; that's for sure.

So disappointing

This morning I got the kids ready and in the car in plenty of time to make it to story time at the library. We got about 2 blocks away and the traffic was backed up. The fireman waved us around and down a side street - they weren't letting anyone through. We went around the town, got gas, and I thought maybe we could get to the library from the other direction. Nope. So - plan B - we came back to our town and stopped at the library here in town to pick up some books I have on hold, but it was closed. Baby cried when we climbed back into the car.

Plan C - I decided to take them to Bessie's shop for lunch if she was working - we drove past and she wasn't working. They started crying, again. So we picked up Happy Meals on the way home, and had a picnic in the living room. Maybe we'll make it next time.

Smarmy love

My kids like to watch Extreme Makeover Home Edition, but it airs during church Sunday nights. We have a DVR that holds 2 hours of programs, so we get home, change into jammies and settle in to watch EMHE. We were on our way home last night and Little Boy and Baby were not getting along very well in the back seat, nor were they quiet. I told them they needed to be good, or I wasn't going to allow them to watch EMHE. Here's what DH and I heard: "Oh {sister} (he said her name), I love you so much!" "Oh, you are my best brother!" "Oh, let me hold your hand." "I love you, my brother." DH and I were in the front seat trying to not laugh or barf at the same time. It was hysterical. How smarmy!

So, we got home and backed up the recorder and were watching the end of the race and the recorder froze and turned itself off. So much for EMHE. Little Boy looked at me and said very sadly, "I guess we'll have to wait for next week." Poor little boy - all that mushiness for naught.

Our celebration dinner

Last night we had a celebration dinner. We had steak, curly fries, baked beans, green beans and Welch's Sparkling Grape Juice. I pulled out the pretty glasses for Husband and me, and pulled out the Denny's rocket cups with curly straws for the kids. We had a "toast" - 4 more years - 4 more good years for our family. Had John McCain pulled off an upset, it would have been much more exuberant.

After dinner, my son was walking through the living room and put his fists in the air as he chanted, "John Mc-Cain, John Mc-Cain!" I hugged him and told him that's how I felt, too.

I had to make a conscious decision to have a good attitude last night. I know I am overly competitive and the stakes in the political election are so high that I know I could very easily fall into depression. Knowing I need to trust the Lord and that everything is in His control doesn't just magically fix the way I feel. But I know my kids need to see from me that everything is going to be ok - that God will take care of us. My son told me he is sad John McCain didn't win.

I have a long way to go in accepting Obama as MY president.

57 Million Patriots

In spite of yesterday's tragedy, I am encouraged that there were over 57,000,000 people in our country did NOT vote for Obama.

Completely sickened

I am sickened that Obama has won. I cannot ever see myself referring to him as "President". I am physically ill, and I told my DH that if it were not for my children, I would be in bed all day tomorrow with the blankets pulled up over my head.

Early morning adventures

are for the birds. LOL. I am definitely not a morning person. Unless you mean staying up until the wee hours of the morning, of course.

This morning the alarm clock went off at 5:10 am and then I received a wake-up call from my husband 5 minutes later. I had to get myself up and get a shower, get dressed and ready to leave the house at 7:10. See, I am one of those lucky people chosen to serve for a month as a jurist, and this morning was our initiation service.

I am actually hoping to be chosen as a jurist, because I think the whole process is so interesting and critical for our country.

I need to close my eyes for a couple minutes while the kids play quietly. Then I'll rouse myself long enough to put something on 2 plates for the kids to eat. Hope it's edible. I'm sure the kids will feel the same way.

I Hate People

Ok, I know - we are supposed to love as Christ loved us. But there are at least a couple dozen times throughout the day when my sinful flesh takes over, and I don't even come close to that holy virtue.

Like today. It started out with such promise! My sweet husband worked all night long, but he stopped at the quick mart and brought home milk and eggs. (I haven't made it to the store yet this week.) AND he brought home McDonald's for breakfast! (I usually buy donuts or sweet rolls for Sunday AM - I don't cook on Sunday's.) He helped me get the kids dressed, he put the car seats in the car, and he helped get the kids into their seats. Then he went into the house to try to get some sleep while I took the kids to church.

I had 5 kids in class today. I am amazed that each week I have a different combination of kids, but I always have more than I used to. If I could only get them all to come on the same Sunday, I'd have a full room! They were excited as we started building our model of the Ark of the Covenant - so many things to learn from it!

And then... I gathered my things after class, gathered my son from his class, and made our way to the sanctuary. I was hoping the pastor's wife had remembered that I have requested Baby be taken straight to the nursery from her class, but no. I know she must have a million things on her mind each Sunday, but I have asked repeatedly. I got Little Boy settled into the pew, and took Baby down to the nursery.

No worker. So now I'm stuck in the dilemma I've been in way too frequently lately. Do I stay with Baby and leave my 5 year old to sit upstairs alone? Do I get her occupied long enough to dash back up and grab my son or direct a deacon to have my son sit with someone? Do I trudge back up the stairs with Baby in tow to find someone to work in the nursery or to collect my son to join us in the nursery? Do I wait for the deacon who comes around to get a head count? Or should I get my children and just go home.

And the anger sets in. Even when a nursery worker shows up, they show up after the service has started, and I get to walk into the service late - all the way to the front of the church where we sit each week. Many times, the person comes downstairs after the first song has been sung and says, "I was sitting there and just looked at the bulletin. I had no idea I was supposed to be in the nursery!" And I lie - "It's ok; I understand."

I don't understand. If I am scheduled to participate in the services in some way, I make sure I don't forget. I take my participation seriously. What I do to prepare allows others to worship in a more meaningful way. And so, there I sat. Frustrated, concerned, irritated, and yes, angry.

While I was pacing in the church basement, I located my crock pot from Tuesday - I made potato soup and a huge tray of sandwiches for the dinner our church put together for the special pastors' service during our week of revival. But I couldn't find my tray. It's a heavy, aluminum baking tray - 15x10x2 - and it was no where to be found. The pastor's wife pulled a couple trays out from the cabinet, but I don't think they were mine - they didn't look big enough. I'll look at them again tonight with a tape measure in hand. And I am partially to blame - I do not have my name on it. But. I feel like in our tiny church, I should be able to take items from my home to church with the anticipation that I will be able to take those same items home again.

Don't get me started on the drive home. Just let me say, that there are very few people in our area who actually passed a test to get their drivers' licenses. And I don't know where I picked up the two snarling, barking animals in the back seat. Surely, they are not the cute, lovable, clean children I took with me this morning.

So, while I get frazzled, I don't actually HATE people, but I think I need a good nap.