Chesed

playing doll

               eating ice cream almost every night before bedtime

                              climbing trees

                                               my first real snowman

                                                                   singing with Mom, Christy, and Beth

                                                                                             wanting to grow up

And now, sometimes, I think it would be fun to be a little girl just for one day.

Last night we filled up with gas for $1.87/ gallon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I didn’t think I’d ever see it under $2.00 again.

Almost every time we drove to church in the daylight the last six months or so, David Lee heard me say, “some time, I want to take pictures of somebody in that field.”  I can only imagine how much he rolled his eyes inside but outside he only said, “yeah, that is a nice spot” with about 9% of the enthusiasm in my words.

If you live in this part of Virginia, it is almost a crime to not say, “Oh, the mountains are so beautiful,” or “Wow, what a gorgeous view” when someone has a view of the mountains.  When we bought our land and started clearing it we discovered we had an incredible view.  Someone told us we could probably turn around and sell it for thousands more just having cleared it.  No thank you.  We happen to really like it ourselves.  We do have a lovely view from our house; but this spot is amazing.  Some day someone is going to have a splendiferous place for a house.  But for now it is perfection in my mind.  An open field of grass with mountains in the very near background. 

I was so excited when Gina asked me if I’d do some family photos for them.  I rarely get enough little girl in front of my lens and suddenly I had four of them! 

to see more, go here.  I hope you enjoy them, Gina!

Thank you guys for your kind comments on my grouchiness.  I feel much better after a night of sleep.  In fact I felt better yesterday afternoon after a shot of caffeine.  And I had the distinct feeling of being prayed for so HUGE thanks to you whoever you were.  I forget sometimes how great a gift we give to others when we intercede for them.  My friend Charlene was a missionary in Ireland and when my birthday rolled around one year she offered to pray for me every day that month.  I could email her specific requests if I wanted to.  I remember it as being one of the most emotionally “held-up” months of my life.

And get this.  We had reorganization of our church offices last night. 

Now there will be “NO DESSERTS EVER unless puppies never dig holes under this fence again” * mommy is never late to church again after December 1rst.

David Lee just got voted in as song leader.

I am afraid some little body is going to have to be out of his car seat getting breakfast on the way to church in the near future.

* taken from The Poky Little Puppy

Do you ever wish you were a robot so you wouldn’t feel things?  Today is one of those days when I feel more like sitting down and crying then anything else.  Nothing is so terribly wrong … but nothing is clicking like I hoped either.  I blew the entire morning taking Adam in to the pediatrician again for his still painful ear.  Yes, it perforated.  Yes, it’s still infected.  Yes, he needs another round of a different antibiotic. 

Liam is in one of those “sleep for ten minutes wake up crying” kind of nap days.  I didn’t complete 1/4 of my to do list yesterday and when I try to work on it today, I keep getting interrupted. 

I tried to upload a photo order only to realize the web page is down for some bizarre reason.

Finishing the dress I’m sewing looks so appealing because the first thing I have to do is pick a seam. 

It feels futile to start a project because my supper menu tonight takes longer then most and we have church tonight and I’m really tired of us being late.  Especially because 98% of the time it’s my fault for not starting supper earlier, giving the boys baths before supper, etc.

No one I try to call is at home (lucky for them).

“Some days are like that. ….  Even in Australia.”

Ten of them alive and well.  One born a bit later, stillborn, er, whatever you call them when it’s puppies.  I mean, no fair.  Just squat, grunt, and squeeze out another puppy.  And then have someone move you and family into a bigger home with room service provided at no extra charge.  And all you do is take care of puppies.  Goldi is up and wagging her tail.  No trouble fitting into pre-pregnancy clothes.  I say.  No fair.

Oh, and does anyone want a puppy?

I’ve said it before.  I love Mondays.  And today is a grey Monday; but I don’t mind.  I just love Mondays.

So, I’ve left you agonizing over the fate of Goldi’s puppies … or lack of them.  Before you accuse me of subjecting people to mental anguish purposefully hear me out.  Since Thursday evening our schedule for the weekend looked something like this. 

Thursday: Dinner for 24 at our house (yes I had lots of help with the food)

Friday: Goldi’s morning ordeal.  The contractions stopped by the time David Lee got home.  He called a canine expert from church who said maybe she has a false pregnancy where the uterus swells up with fluid and other signs of pregnancy exist; but there are no puppies (blighted ovum, anyone???)  Or she might just have one puppy or maybe two depending on how many times she was bred.  So we started waiting it out. 

Meanwhile I loaded up the boys and headed two hours north where my cousin was getting ready for her wedding.  It took about an hour and a half to get all the instructions for my job as reception co-ordinator the following day and we got back into the car and headed back.  I had a photo appointment at 4 and was b.a.r.e.l.y going to make it back in time.  Plus the skies were dark grey and it was cold so we postponed.  I was so excited I could hardly contain myself.  The youth at church offered to babysit all the young married couple’s kids so we could have a date-night out.  David Lee was planning this one.  Back on Monday already a note and picture of the two of us appeared on the towel bar in our bathroom.  I knew he’d made some sort of appointment for me that was not dinner; but other then that, I was in the dark.

I tucked Adam into bed as soon as we got home and went to take a rare leisurely shower.  One hour later my visions of romance flew headlong into the ground when Adam woke up screaming.  I flew to his bedroom where he was throwing up in bed between screams.  He was burning up with fever … 102.5 tympanic so at least 103.5.  He kept throwing up after I got him to the bathroom and finally calmed down in the tub with some Motrin, Emetrol, and Coke. 

Our “date” consisted of taking Adam to the pediatrician at 7:45 (their earliest opening) and then racing to CVS before they closed for $92 antibiotics.  I said our date wins for true love in sickness and health; but boy, I’d pick something a little more mushy-gushy.  The doctor said it would be fine to take him to the wedding the next day and that continuing the motrin would be “very kind.”  She cooed and ahhed all over him.  He wasn’t exactly in the beginning stages of the ear infection and I was feeling like a flop of a mom on one hand and impressed and somewhat frustrated with Adam’s pain tolerance on the other.

Saturday: We left for the wedding at 7:30 and had a delightful day.  Things went smoothly and cleanup was a breeze … my biggest disappointment was not having time to talk to cousins and friends since I was always running around for one reason or another.  When we arrived home David Lee went to check on Goldi and discovered she was too lethargic to walk so he carried her to the dog house and took her some of my precious store of canned chicken and broth which she gratefully licked up.  By the time we left to clean the church house and set up for Sunday night she was at least standing. 

Sunday:  Communion Sunday morning.  Very quick lunch.  Afternoon of continuing set-up at church where we had a special supper / tribute service for our ministerial team.  Ruth does such a great job of organizing something for them every other year or so.  Emily and I decorated the tables in bittersweet, fall floral arrangements, candles, fall leaves, miniature pumpkins and Indian corn.  Ida and her girls did an incredible job fixing gift baskets for each minister and his wife, and Ruth spearheaded a yummy supper of cheesy chicken chowder, chili soup, ham and cheese croissants, vegetables and dip, and pie and ice cream.  Steven shared an excellent speech on what it’s like to be a minister … pros, cons, and personal thanks to each minister for the unique strengths they bring to the team.  As I listened to him talk, it reminded me of Christy when she was pregnant with Zachary after their foster boys left.  Pregnant with her first child, yet knowing what a treasure those moments alone with Steve and her own schedule were in a way no one can know until they’ve had a baby.  Steven and Janelle lived in Canada for three years where he assisted in pastoral work.

And now it’s M O N D A Y and there are still no puppy/ies.  Goldi is a little stronger thanks to more chicken and bologna.  And now, those of you who haven’t tuned out, know why it wasn’t priority around here to send out puppy progress updates. 

Oh, and one more thing.

Adam has a small amount of dried blood in his ear since last evening.  I think his eardrum burst and David Lee insists it’s probably just a bug bite because it’s toward the top of his ear canal instead of the bottom where gravity should make it drain.  I say if something “bursts” pressure could send it toward the top, especially if the hole happens toward the top of the ear drum.  Plus, he was running around.  Anyone have any experience / knowledge to share?

Oh, and just one more thing.

Sleeping in til 9:00 is DELICIOUS!!

Goldi has grown very fat.  We were worried she’s pregnant but when David Lee took her to the vet for a sore on her foot he couldn’t feel puppies.  He said she’s either pregnant or has congestive heart failure.

Now she’s on my front porch (a big no-no) and I think she’s in labor.  I’ve never seen a dog in labor but it’s either that or she’s dying and from human experience it looks a lot like the former.  She’s got her head stretched out and she’s having terrible pain that makes her whine every few minutes and her whole body sort of shakes and moves.

Honey, I think you’d better come home.  I want out of here NOW.  I don’t like this kind of stuff.

We’re in theology up to our necks or further.  Lunch got interrupted today because Adam continues to ply me with questions regarding death and what happens to our body afterward.  I explained that we bury the body but our spirit goes to heaven yesterday and was surprised that he seemed to grasp the concept.  Until today.  He asked how many days after our body is buried does it get out of the ground and go to heaven and when I said it doesn’t the tears flowed.  So we stopped lunch and I held him and tried to explain death….how do you explain that to a child who has not mastered abstracts?  I still don’t know what all I said; I just know he seemed comforted in the end.

But here’s the other question that has surfaced at least a dozen times in the last month and I need help.  Why do we call barbecue sandwiches “sloppy joes?”

These dark, cold mornings make me want to hit the snooze button.  I can’t wait for time change to let me sleep an extra hour!