I know I don't tell you this enough, but I truly love you. In fact, I don't think I could exist without you. My life would be miserable if I didn't get to be with you every day. I love the way you keep your cool when things start to get heated. I love that you work all day and all night and never complain. Thank you for always being there for me. I know times have been hard lately. I know that many of your friends and colleagues have given up and quit on their families. But not you. No matter how bad things get, I can always count on you. You make our home a place that we love to be. I thank God for you every day. You are the best air conditioner a girl could ask for. Thanks for all you do. Hang in there...fall is right around the corner!
Love,
Jessica
"But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure." Psalm 71:14-15
Friday, August 26, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
For Your Amusement
Do you ever read people's facebook posts or blogs and think, "wow, what a great mom." Or, "they really have it all together." Or, "where do they find the time?" That will not be how you feel after you read this post. Please feel free to laugh at me about what I'm going to tell you...I've been laughing about it since it happened! This is real life from the trenches! Ha!
Last week I offered to help Aidan's teacher put together some folders for her class. She said she would leave all the materials for me in her rolling cart in the office. So, Friday morning, I picked up the rolling cart from Aidan's school, brought it home and assembled all the folders. That afternoon, I was ready to take the cart and the folders back to school, but the kids were exhausted, and were quietly watching a movie on the couch. Plus, it was 150 degrees outside, roughly. Since the school is at the end of our street and all I had to do was drop the cart off in the office, I told the kids they could stay here. It was going to be less than 5 minutes. So, I gave Aidan my cell phone number and cautioned him to not answer the phone or the door, NO MATTER WHAT. So, I locked all the doors, rolled the cart out to the van and prepared to put it in the back. Then, I realized I had left my keys inside. Locked my keys inside. So, I went to the door and started knocking. No one answered. I tried calling on my cell phone. Again, no answer. What obedient children I have! I kept knocking, and was about to give up and go around to the back door so they could see me (if they weren't hiding!), when I hear this little voice say, "who is it?" Aidan had looked out the window and realized our van was still in the driveway. He was so scared when he opened the door. He had tried to call me on my cell phone but couldn't get through, because I was trying to call him at the same time. I felt really bad for him, and frustrated with myself. But, it gets better.
So, I got my keys, and told the kids to REALLY not go to the door this time. I was flustered and in a hurry, and I think it was now 175 degrees outside. I quickly jumped in my car, trying not to fry my legs on the hot seat, threw it into reverse and backed up. Then my heart fell into my stomach as I heard, "Bam!" followed by "Crunch." I had left the rolling cart behind the van. I had flattened the rolling cart...the rolling cart that belongs to Aidan's teacher! It was completely flat in the driveway and one of the wheels was broken off. Ugh. I tried to fix it, but it was beyond repair. All of my aspirations to be Room Mom of the Year died with that rolling cart.
So, my quick 5 minute trip to the school turned into quite the fiasco. It seems to be a talent of mine! Can anyone else relate?
Last week I offered to help Aidan's teacher put together some folders for her class. She said she would leave all the materials for me in her rolling cart in the office. So, Friday morning, I picked up the rolling cart from Aidan's school, brought it home and assembled all the folders. That afternoon, I was ready to take the cart and the folders back to school, but the kids were exhausted, and were quietly watching a movie on the couch. Plus, it was 150 degrees outside, roughly. Since the school is at the end of our street and all I had to do was drop the cart off in the office, I told the kids they could stay here. It was going to be less than 5 minutes. So, I gave Aidan my cell phone number and cautioned him to not answer the phone or the door, NO MATTER WHAT. So, I locked all the doors, rolled the cart out to the van and prepared to put it in the back. Then, I realized I had left my keys inside. Locked my keys inside. So, I went to the door and started knocking. No one answered. I tried calling on my cell phone. Again, no answer. What obedient children I have! I kept knocking, and was about to give up and go around to the back door so they could see me (if they weren't hiding!), when I hear this little voice say, "who is it?" Aidan had looked out the window and realized our van was still in the driveway. He was so scared when he opened the door. He had tried to call me on my cell phone but couldn't get through, because I was trying to call him at the same time. I felt really bad for him, and frustrated with myself. But, it gets better.
So, I got my keys, and told the kids to REALLY not go to the door this time. I was flustered and in a hurry, and I think it was now 175 degrees outside. I quickly jumped in my car, trying not to fry my legs on the hot seat, threw it into reverse and backed up. Then my heart fell into my stomach as I heard, "Bam!" followed by "Crunch." I had left the rolling cart behind the van. I had flattened the rolling cart...the rolling cart that belongs to Aidan's teacher! It was completely flat in the driveway and one of the wheels was broken off. Ugh. I tried to fix it, but it was beyond repair. All of my aspirations to be Room Mom of the Year died with that rolling cart.
So, my quick 5 minute trip to the school turned into quite the fiasco. It seems to be a talent of mine! Can anyone else relate?
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Power Not Fear
School is back in session! I miss my boys. :( I feel so blessed that our whole family gets to be together for the summer. I know most families don't have that luxury. It is such a great time for our family. I especially love how Aidan and Ella get to bond more with their daddy, and how closely bonded they became over the summer. They were thick as thieves, playing in their bedrooms every day. Some days they were campers and hikers, some days they were orphans (living in a closet), some days Ella was the mommy and Aidan was the baby...they built a fort almost every day. I love that they are making sweet memories that will bind them together throughout their lives. I got really sad last week thinking about Aidan going back to school. It just seems so odd for him to be somewhere else all day long. He's my helper, and I miss him when he's not here. Ella misses him too. She cried when we dropped him off yesterday. And for most of the day she kept saying, "I want him back." Me too! I know we'll get used to it, but it seems pretty awful to get used to someone not being here. I'm missing Mark too. I am so blessed to have the kind of husband that takes great care of me. He kept things running smoothly at the house and helped me keep it "show ready" all summer...not an easy task when we're all here ALL day. Mostly, I just miss having a grown up to talk to!
As I was processing all of these "going back to school" emotions last week, God laid something on my heart that has really changed the way I think about sending Aidan back to school. I wanted to share it with you, maybe it will give you some insight too. See, we had trouble with Aidan at the beginning of summer. He was getting a little bit of a smart mouth on him, and not always obeying the first time. It was nothing terrible, but more than we were willing to accept from an 8 year old for sure! But, as the summer progressed, he matured so much. He turned back into the sweet, loving boy we adore. He started helping out more without being asked. He started treating his sister kindly and really having fun with her. I feared that when school started again, we would lose all the progress we made over the summer. I've also been discouraged lately about all the influences in the world that we have to protect him from...tv, movies, music...they all seem geared at making kids grow up too fast. I was really struggling with this and fearful about it. I was feeling overwhelmed.
Then God started speaking. Isn't it funny how when God starts speaking all those feelings of being overwhelmed and afraid, just fade? It started when I read a quote online somewhere (I will try to find who said it...but it escapes me at the moment). It said, "I don't want my kids to just survive the world. I want them to change it." God whispered to my heart when I read that quote. I spend a lot of time thinking about how to help my kids survive this world...watch out for this, don't do this, do this...and not nearly enough time teaching them how to change it. And when I really started thinking about it, I realized that most Christians are not aware of the power we have available to us. Why would we ever be worried about anything? God really started dealing with me on this idea. Protecting our kids and warning them about potential pitfalls is important. After all, we have an enemy that prowls around like a lion, seeking someone to devour(1 Peter 5:8). They need to realize that. But we need to also teach them that this shouldn't make them feel afraid. Because while the Bible does talk about what we need to watch out for, it spends a lot more time talking about what we should be doing...how we should be using God's power that lives inside us to change this world. When I read my Bible, there are warnings there about what to be careful about, but there are also verses like this:
"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Cor. 10:3-5
and this one:
"Pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength." Ephesians 1:18-19
and one of my favorites:
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7
I don't know a lot of Christians that live like they have a spirit of power. I think the world has beat it out of us sometimes. I want my kids to be different. Because the other thing that God revealed to me was that if I teach them about that power...teach them how to tap into it...they'll be hooked. And all that other stuff...the inappropriate music, the tv shows, the friends that try to lead them astray...they won't want anything to do with it. Once you've felt just a little bit of that power...the power of really loving someone, the power of making a difference for someone, the power of overcoming fear and insecurity...you don't ever want to walk away from it. I want my kids to be so busy doing what God has for them, that they have no time for anything this world may have to offer. Then, they will be fulfilled. Then, they will change the world.
"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." 1 John 4:4
As I was processing all of these "going back to school" emotions last week, God laid something on my heart that has really changed the way I think about sending Aidan back to school. I wanted to share it with you, maybe it will give you some insight too. See, we had trouble with Aidan at the beginning of summer. He was getting a little bit of a smart mouth on him, and not always obeying the first time. It was nothing terrible, but more than we were willing to accept from an 8 year old for sure! But, as the summer progressed, he matured so much. He turned back into the sweet, loving boy we adore. He started helping out more without being asked. He started treating his sister kindly and really having fun with her. I feared that when school started again, we would lose all the progress we made over the summer. I've also been discouraged lately about all the influences in the world that we have to protect him from...tv, movies, music...they all seem geared at making kids grow up too fast. I was really struggling with this and fearful about it. I was feeling overwhelmed.
Then God started speaking. Isn't it funny how when God starts speaking all those feelings of being overwhelmed and afraid, just fade? It started when I read a quote online somewhere (I will try to find who said it...but it escapes me at the moment). It said, "I don't want my kids to just survive the world. I want them to change it." God whispered to my heart when I read that quote. I spend a lot of time thinking about how to help my kids survive this world...watch out for this, don't do this, do this...and not nearly enough time teaching them how to change it. And when I really started thinking about it, I realized that most Christians are not aware of the power we have available to us. Why would we ever be worried about anything? God really started dealing with me on this idea. Protecting our kids and warning them about potential pitfalls is important. After all, we have an enemy that prowls around like a lion, seeking someone to devour(1 Peter 5:8). They need to realize that. But we need to also teach them that this shouldn't make them feel afraid. Because while the Bible does talk about what we need to watch out for, it spends a lot more time talking about what we should be doing...how we should be using God's power that lives inside us to change this world. When I read my Bible, there are warnings there about what to be careful about, but there are also verses like this:
"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Cor. 10:3-5
and this one:
"Pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength." Ephesians 1:18-19
and one of my favorites:
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7
I don't know a lot of Christians that live like they have a spirit of power. I think the world has beat it out of us sometimes. I want my kids to be different. Because the other thing that God revealed to me was that if I teach them about that power...teach them how to tap into it...they'll be hooked. And all that other stuff...the inappropriate music, the tv shows, the friends that try to lead them astray...they won't want anything to do with it. Once you've felt just a little bit of that power...the power of really loving someone, the power of making a difference for someone, the power of overcoming fear and insecurity...you don't ever want to walk away from it. I want my kids to be so busy doing what God has for them, that they have no time for anything this world may have to offer. Then, they will be fulfilled. Then, they will change the world.
"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." 1 John 4:4
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Do You Remember?
Do you remember this day? It was exactly 6 months ago...it was 13 degrees...almost a full 100 degrees cooler than today! What a difference 6 months can make! Remember that.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Things I Wish I'd Known
I'll start this off by confessing that I am a liar. I said my next post would have Colorado pictures...but this one does not. Sorry...maybe tomorrow?
I'm not sure if it's because I'm about to have my 3rd child, or because of my quickly approaching birthday, but lately, I've been thinking about things I wish I had known 15 years ago. I've kind of been compiling a mental list...some serious, some funny. So, I thought I'd share my list, one at a time (about one post a week, if all goes as planned) on the blog. What I'd really love is for everyone reading this to share something they wished they had known when they were younger too...if you'd like to share (and PLEASE do!!), please leave the thing you would like to go back in time and tell your younger self in the comments. I think it will be fun to read everyone's advice. Anyone and everyone is welcome to comment. And who knows, we might just help out a young whipper-snapper somewhere with all of our wisdom. :)
So here's my first installment of "Things I Wish I'd Known:"
1. You do not have to accomplish EVERYthing you ever want to accomplish in your 20s. Slow down and enjoy being young and relatively free to do as you wish. It is not necessary to get a career, marriage, children and a house before you are 25 years old. Wait for God's timing and don't try to force it or make it happen. Just enjoy the ride. You can never go back to this time, so enjoy it as long as it lasts.
So, what about you? What do you wish you had known 15 (or 20, or 30, etc) years ago?
And, as a bonus, here's one Colorado picture. I love this view. It makes me feel close to God and at peace. In my dreams, my "mansion" (which I hope is more like a cottage) in heaven has this view:
I'm not sure if it's because I'm about to have my 3rd child, or because of my quickly approaching birthday, but lately, I've been thinking about things I wish I had known 15 years ago. I've kind of been compiling a mental list...some serious, some funny. So, I thought I'd share my list, one at a time (about one post a week, if all goes as planned) on the blog. What I'd really love is for everyone reading this to share something they wished they had known when they were younger too...if you'd like to share (and PLEASE do!!), please leave the thing you would like to go back in time and tell your younger self in the comments. I think it will be fun to read everyone's advice. Anyone and everyone is welcome to comment. And who knows, we might just help out a young whipper-snapper somewhere with all of our wisdom. :)
So here's my first installment of "Things I Wish I'd Known:"
1. You do not have to accomplish EVERYthing you ever want to accomplish in your 20s. Slow down and enjoy being young and relatively free to do as you wish. It is not necessary to get a career, marriage, children and a house before you are 25 years old. Wait for God's timing and don't try to force it or make it happen. Just enjoy the ride. You can never go back to this time, so enjoy it as long as it lasts.
So, what about you? What do you wish you had known 15 (or 20, or 30, etc) years ago?
And, as a bonus, here's one Colorado picture. I love this view. It makes me feel close to God and at peace. In my dreams, my "mansion" (which I hope is more like a cottage) in heaven has this view:
"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." Ecclesiastes 3:11
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Trust
What a whirlwind summer we are having! For those that don't know, the night (yes, ONE night) before we left for Colorado, we decided to put our house on the market! We love our house, but we are starting to feel a little claustrophobic. The idea of getting all the baby stuff out of the attic and trying to find space for it makes me want to hyperventilate! We have found a neighborhood we would like to build in, but we have to sell our house first. We have covered this in prayer, and God has not really chosen to reveal much of his plan for us at this time. So, our plan now is to keep it on the market until the baby comes, and if it hasn't sold by then, we'll just stay here. There are a lot of "ifs" and a lot of unknowns right now...not something my personality handles well! So everyday, I have to consciously turn it over to God to handle all the details in his timing, not mine. I know he's teaching us something through this...I can almost feel myself growing and stretching (and not just my pregnant belly either!). He knows I hate not being in the know! But, he's been so gracious to give me such sweet verses out of the blue to help settle me down just when I need it.
For instance, the other day I was doing laundry and fretting about if moving was the right idea...is that the right neighborhood, would we like it there, would we miss it here, etc. When I glanced up, I saw a verse hanging on my bulletin board that said, "I am the Lord your God and I am with you wherever you go." It brought me such peace to know that it doesn't really matter where I live or what happens in my life, because the God that spoke the universe into existence loves me as his child and never leaves my side.
Then, as I was stressed about the details and the timing of trying to sell one house, build another, all while having a baby...and all the financial details that go along with it...I sat with my Bible in my lap not even sure where to turn and it fell open to Jeremiah. There, highlighted in my Bible was the verse: "For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future." Okay God...you have this under control.
Sunday, the stress was really creeping in...money is tight, and there are so many unknowns. The sermon was on trusting God...very timely. It brought both Mark and I a lot of peace and reminded us again to just take our hands out of it and let God handle the details. That night, I was reading a magazine article that referred to living life as "the lilies of the field." It reminded me again..."consider the lilies of the field. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?"
Okay, God, I get it...we don't have to worry about this or try to make it happen. We'll just take one step at a time and let you handle the details. If our house sells, wonderful, we'll get a new house. If it does not, we'll stay here in the home we love, surrounded by all your blessings. We'll just cling to you as you work all of this out. How blessed are we to be your children!
Speaking of God's blessings, (sorry to change gears all of the sudden, but I have some catching up to do!) we had a beautiful and restful time in Colorado. I'll post some pictures in my next post. When we got back, we found out that we are going to be blessed with another daughter! Aidan said he is moving to China. Ella announced that she is glad it is a girl and no longer hates babies (that's a relief!). I am 22 weeks pregnant...only 18 to go! I've been feeling good for the most part. I am feeling the baby move on a regular basis now, and it makes me feel very honored to be a mother. What a gift it is to bring life into the world.
I hope everyone reading this is having a great summer. I'm thinking we should all pray for rain!! My lawn could stand a good drenching right about now...and it would do wonders for my soul too!
Bye for now,
Jessica
For instance, the other day I was doing laundry and fretting about if moving was the right idea...is that the right neighborhood, would we like it there, would we miss it here, etc. When I glanced up, I saw a verse hanging on my bulletin board that said, "I am the Lord your God and I am with you wherever you go." It brought me such peace to know that it doesn't really matter where I live or what happens in my life, because the God that spoke the universe into existence loves me as his child and never leaves my side.
Then, as I was stressed about the details and the timing of trying to sell one house, build another, all while having a baby...and all the financial details that go along with it...I sat with my Bible in my lap not even sure where to turn and it fell open to Jeremiah. There, highlighted in my Bible was the verse: "For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future." Okay God...you have this under control.
Sunday, the stress was really creeping in...money is tight, and there are so many unknowns. The sermon was on trusting God...very timely. It brought both Mark and I a lot of peace and reminded us again to just take our hands out of it and let God handle the details. That night, I was reading a magazine article that referred to living life as "the lilies of the field." It reminded me again..."consider the lilies of the field. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?"
Okay, God, I get it...we don't have to worry about this or try to make it happen. We'll just take one step at a time and let you handle the details. If our house sells, wonderful, we'll get a new house. If it does not, we'll stay here in the home we love, surrounded by all your blessings. We'll just cling to you as you work all of this out. How blessed are we to be your children!
Speaking of God's blessings, (sorry to change gears all of the sudden, but I have some catching up to do!) we had a beautiful and restful time in Colorado. I'll post some pictures in my next post. When we got back, we found out that we are going to be blessed with another daughter! Aidan said he is moving to China. Ella announced that she is glad it is a girl and no longer hates babies (that's a relief!). I am 22 weeks pregnant...only 18 to go! I've been feeling good for the most part. I am feeling the baby move on a regular basis now, and it makes me feel very honored to be a mother. What a gift it is to bring life into the world.
I hope everyone reading this is having a great summer. I'm thinking we should all pray for rain!! My lawn could stand a good drenching right about now...and it would do wonders for my soul too!
Bye for now,
Jessica
Monday, June 27, 2011
Excuses
Everyone has been asking about the blog...I know, I've been TERRIBLE this summer! Sigh. I just can't seem to get it together.
Since everyone loves excuses, here is a list of excuses for why I haven't been blogging regularly:
1. I'm pregnant. (18 weeks...almost 1/2 way!!) I'm pregnant and I can't think a complete thought...putting that thought into writing? Next to impossible. I have pregnancy induced dementia. For example, the other day, the kids and I were driving to the grocery store. I was NOT thinking about what I was doing, and I missed the turn. So, I turned the car around. I immediately started thinking of something else and missed the turn AGAIN! I would not have even realized it if Aidan hadn't said something. I've also taken wrong turns on the way to church twice in the last week. Church is less than 5 minutes from my house. So, I'll be doing good to finish this post and remember how to get it published correctly.
2. Both of my kids are home all day every day. I LOVE having my kids home, but if I don't keep them entertained they will do one of three things: a) Eat every bit of food in the house b) Fight c) Make a gigantic mess. So, needless to say, I do my best to keep them entertained.
3. My husband is only working half days. One might think this would make it EASIER for me to get things done, but no. I need a routine. I have my days planned out, and on my schedule, Mark gets home at 4 or 5, not 1:30. It totally messes me up.
4. Laundry. Does this even need an explanation? Could someone please explain to my children that you can wear the same clothes AFTER you go swimming that you were wearing before? And, if you want to pretend to be super heroes, you do not have to ACTUALLY change clothes while spinning around. If God had told Eve that eating that fruit would ultimately lead to load after load of laundry I am SURE she wouldn't have done it. Fortunately, Mark took up the laundry cause yesterday...he decided he was going to wash every piece of dirty clothing in the house so it would ALL be clean at once. I just smiled...I didn't bother to explain that this is an impossible task, because our kids won't stop wearing clothes! He'll figure it out soon enough. In the meantime, I'll update my blog while he chips away at the laundry.
5. Dishes. (sigh)
6. Our computer is a dinosaur. I'm not kidding. It takes 7 minutes to open one email. If all goes as planned, we will be getting a new one this summer, thanks to my awesome hard working husband.
7. We are getting ready for a long trip. Because of my PID (pregnancy induced dementia) this is really taking up all my mental energy. I usually have a great system for trip preparation, but I can't seem to concentrate long enough to work on it. So, I just think about it, walk around the house a few times trying to decide what to do first, and then sit back down. It is exhausting.
8. I am trying to keep 2 kids (I guess, 3 now), 2 cats, 1 dog, 1 bird and 1 husband alive. They must all be fed, groomed and played with regularly.
9. A realtor is coming to the house on Thursday to discuss the possibility of listing our house. That means, I feel compelled to clean the whole house...and not just "stuff it all in the closet" clean, but really clean and organize everything...which takes twice as long because of the aforementioned PID.
10. It's summer...and I'm lazy.
Enough excuses though...I promise to try to do better. Maybe while on vacation, I'll have more time. Ha!
In other news...we find out the gender of the baby on July 18th. Yea! My morning sickness is almost completely gone, although it still rears its ugly head on occasion.
Please don't hate me, but we will be going to Colorado VERY soon. Colorado! The place that boasted a cool 56 degrees last week...on the same day that it was 105 here! If you need me, I'll be sitting on a deck looking out at a stunning mountain view and reading a good book. Please don't hate me. :-)
Since everyone loves excuses, here is a list of excuses for why I haven't been blogging regularly:
1. I'm pregnant. (18 weeks...almost 1/2 way!!) I'm pregnant and I can't think a complete thought...putting that thought into writing? Next to impossible. I have pregnancy induced dementia. For example, the other day, the kids and I were driving to the grocery store. I was NOT thinking about what I was doing, and I missed the turn. So, I turned the car around. I immediately started thinking of something else and missed the turn AGAIN! I would not have even realized it if Aidan hadn't said something. I've also taken wrong turns on the way to church twice in the last week. Church is less than 5 minutes from my house. So, I'll be doing good to finish this post and remember how to get it published correctly.
2. Both of my kids are home all day every day. I LOVE having my kids home, but if I don't keep them entertained they will do one of three things: a) Eat every bit of food in the house b) Fight c) Make a gigantic mess. So, needless to say, I do my best to keep them entertained.
3. My husband is only working half days. One might think this would make it EASIER for me to get things done, but no. I need a routine. I have my days planned out, and on my schedule, Mark gets home at 4 or 5, not 1:30. It totally messes me up.
4. Laundry. Does this even need an explanation? Could someone please explain to my children that you can wear the same clothes AFTER you go swimming that you were wearing before? And, if you want to pretend to be super heroes, you do not have to ACTUALLY change clothes while spinning around. If God had told Eve that eating that fruit would ultimately lead to load after load of laundry I am SURE she wouldn't have done it. Fortunately, Mark took up the laundry cause yesterday...he decided he was going to wash every piece of dirty clothing in the house so it would ALL be clean at once. I just smiled...I didn't bother to explain that this is an impossible task, because our kids won't stop wearing clothes! He'll figure it out soon enough. In the meantime, I'll update my blog while he chips away at the laundry.
5. Dishes. (sigh)
6. Our computer is a dinosaur. I'm not kidding. It takes 7 minutes to open one email. If all goes as planned, we will be getting a new one this summer, thanks to my awesome hard working husband.
7. We are getting ready for a long trip. Because of my PID (pregnancy induced dementia) this is really taking up all my mental energy. I usually have a great system for trip preparation, but I can't seem to concentrate long enough to work on it. So, I just think about it, walk around the house a few times trying to decide what to do first, and then sit back down. It is exhausting.
8. I am trying to keep 2 kids (I guess, 3 now), 2 cats, 1 dog, 1 bird and 1 husband alive. They must all be fed, groomed and played with regularly.
9. A realtor is coming to the house on Thursday to discuss the possibility of listing our house. That means, I feel compelled to clean the whole house...and not just "stuff it all in the closet" clean, but really clean and organize everything...which takes twice as long because of the aforementioned PID.
10. It's summer...and I'm lazy.
Enough excuses though...I promise to try to do better. Maybe while on vacation, I'll have more time. Ha!
In other news...we find out the gender of the baby on July 18th. Yea! My morning sickness is almost completely gone, although it still rears its ugly head on occasion.
Please don't hate me, but we will be going to Colorado VERY soon. Colorado! The place that boasted a cool 56 degrees last week...on the same day that it was 105 here! If you need me, I'll be sitting on a deck looking out at a stunning mountain view and reading a good book. Please don't hate me. :-)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)