Mother’s Day Eve

I am already receiving homemade Mother’s Day cards, and I plan to scan them in and share them, but I just, minutes ago, had them revoked.  I’m not sure why.  I think there was probably a little more work to be done on it.  There is truly nothing I enjoy more than those homemade cards.  It’s not just the cards themselves, it’s the absolute joy I can see (and sometimes feel) emanating from the girls when they present them.  Hope was the one this morning who gave me an early card.  She could hardly contain her excitement when I looked at it and hugged me repeatedly.  Does it get any better?  That’s evidence that they hopefully remember that giving truly is better than receiving.  She put so much of herself into that piece of paper and couldn’t wait to give it away.  That is such pure love.   My love for them can’t even be described.  I thank God daily for giving me the opportunity to raise these three amazing souls.  I am blessed beyond measure.  Below is a song by Celine Dion that, although I’m not a big Celine Dion fan, I used in the first video I made of the girls’ pictures.  It still makes me cry, but it also puts into words the way I feel about them. 

Disappointing Day

I had really hoped and prayed that Addie’s weight check would reveal a nice, albeit modest, gain today.  It didn’t.  She has lost 2 pounds since December.  We’ll be making a trip up to Children’s soon to visit with a specialist.  I’m trying not to get down about it, but I just want to explode with, “WHY DOES IT ALWAYS HAVE TO HAPPEN THIS WAY?  WHY DOES IT ALWAYS HAVE TO HAPPEN TO HER?”  That’s it.  I can talk myself down from it, but not before the tears fall.  I realize that we are exceptionally fortunate that none of the girls have any life-threatening problems left over from their preemie days.  My head knows that.  My heart, on the other hand, has a problem with it.  I read the following quote today, and it was what I needed. 

If you think of this world as a place intended simply for our happiness, you find it quite intolerable; think of it as a place of training and correction and it’s not so bad.  ~ C.S. Lewis

I don’t know what the answer will be for her.  One way or another, we’re going to get this girl healthy.  Your prayers are greatly appreciated.

Oh, and the picture up there is of Zoe.  This is what she looked like as we were loading up to come home from Meme & Papa’s last time.  Think she misses us when we’re gone?

The Golden Rule

I remember Miss Hodgden teaching us “The Golden Rule” in 4th grade, and it has always stuck with me.  Granted, sometimes it is exceptionally difficult to follow the principle, and I have failed more times than I can count, but at least I try.  It was included as one of our scriptures last night at M&M as we studied Abigail.  I think it bears repeating here.  I know it’s a scripture that I should probably have posted over every door of the house, but since I’m not doing that, I’ll just post it here.  The Golden Rule part of this is difficult enough, but throw in the preceding four verses, and it really gives us something for which to strive.  It’s easier said than done…  But I’m working on it. 

27"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Luke 6:27-31

Feeling a Little “Grouchy Smurf”

Do you ever have one of those days?  I’m having one of those days when I’m just on the verge of being a little grouchy, but instead of it sneaking up on me, I’m totally aware of my grumpy tendency today.  I don’t know what the cause is.  I can’t pinpoint anything that has made me lean toward the grumpy side.  Granted, we did have another of our arguing trips home from school.  Everybody’s fine when they get in the car, but in the 7 miles between school and home they get on each other’s nerves.  A little of that can go a L-O-N-G way.   As I’m typing, all three girls are (for the the first time today, seemingly) getting along.  The twins are playing on the keyboard and singing, which in itself is one of the most beautiful and happy sounds I could ever hear.  Add to it that Addie is currently in her pajamas with a fancy stocking cap on, and really, how could I be anything less than pleasant? 

I had a nice afternoon doing “Christoga” with my exercise buddies.  It was a slightly cheesy Christian yoga DVD that was really pretty fun.  I loved the “holy rollers” – yes, you had to be there…  I’d recommend it, but I suggest you keep your eyes closed.  It’s slightly less odd that way…

And, in light of my grumpy day today, I’m posting one of my favorite end of the day songs.  It’s a great one - “Red Sky” by Brandon Heath.  Listen to the words, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.  Here’s to “the promise of a better day to come.” 

Another Normal Week

You have to understand that a “normal” week around here means that the unexpected and unintended have occurred once again.  It’s frightening, just a little, when abnormal becomes normal.  So we have, indeed, had another “normal” week around here.

Addie started in with an earache (no other symptoms) Monday evening.  I took her to the doctor Tuesday and ended up having to get her both ear drops (which I’m now saving) and then Zithromax in order to clear up her lingering sinus infection.  I thought she was over it, but the doctor said her sinuses were a mess. Hopefully now we’re getting her back to normal. 

We also had the excitement of the girls’ first (they were sick last year) field trip on Friday.  They had been very excited about it, so when Friday finally arrived, we were ready go to.  I got to go with them, so I was a little less excited and a little more apprehensive, but their excitement was palpable.  When we pulled up to the school Friday morning, we noticed smoke coming from one of the windows of the old school/current museum.  We also noticed some of the district officials, so we knew it couldn’t be good.  Long story short, lightning struck the chimney and started a fire in the building.  By the time we left for our field trip (a little behind schedule), the parking lot was full of fire department vehicles.  We did, eventually, make it to Kansas City and had a great time at Hallmark & Kaleidoscope.  It was, as we decided on the way home, organized chaos, but not all that organized.  The kids seemed to have a great time, though, so that was the important thing. 

This week we will just plan to have another “normal” week.  I have to take Addie back to the doctor for a weight check on Thursday and will take all 3 girls with me so Addie & I can go to the eye doctor Friday.  Maybe if I plan on a chaotic “normal” week we’ll have a nice, quiet, perfectly abnormal week! :)

Breath Mints & Dog Treats

Yesterday was just not my day.  I had groceries to get for our house as well as the church pancake supper.  I had a lot of groceries to get.  I wasn’t really interested in loading and unloading them in the pouring rain, so my trip to town was postponed repeatedly.  I had decided to just go this morning when, at supper last night, Gary suggested we all go in together…after supper…when people (I’m not saying who) get grouchy.  Since he suggested it in front of the wild things, I couldn’t exactly say no.  Off we went.  I believe I mentioned at one point that we are NEVER doing that again, but that’s beside the point…

While wandering Wal-Mart with the three girls (Gary was in the car listening to the NFL draft), Hope smacked her lips and said, “Whew!  I really need a breath mint!”  Now, I can’t adequately convey her tone of voice, but it was hilarious.  She’s such a quick-witted little stinker and has the gift of funny. 

As we were standing in the check out line some 30 minutes later, Addie was examining all of the impulse items, particularly the honey-roasted cashews (she thinks those would be amazingly tasty) and the slim jims.  While I didn’t mention it to her at the time, I should have…  When she and Hope were learning to “eat” (I use quotes, because at the time they were not eating and swallowing anything) at around 8-10 months old, they gnawed on slim jims often.  It was one of their absolute favorite “chew toys,” for lack of a better term.  We have lots of pictures with them sitting in the floor gumming up slim jims.  This wouldn’t be quite so funny (odd, perhaps, but not funny), except last night she saw those in the individual packages and asked, in complete seriousness, if they were for dogs.  No.  Not quite.  If she only knew…  The do look like Pupperoni… 

Spring, Spring, Spring!

I am loving this beautiful weather!  Maybe it’s because the winter was so horrendous, but this spring weather is absolutely amazing.  Yesterday on my way home from taking the girls to school I saw (and hurried home to take pictures) a beautiful ring around the sun.  I felt like God was smiling on me! We have spent a lot of time outside lately.  We spent a couple afternoons at the lake playing, got the garden worked up and planted a few things, and have just generally played outside a lot. 

We went south for Easter and had a perfect weekend.  The girls had Friday and Monday off, so we made a 4-day weekend out of it.  We made a trip to the creek to play Sunday afternoon and had a ball!  The girls were in their rubber boots splashing through the creek and crossing the dam for no other reason than to do it.  Zoe (Meme & Papa’s dog) went with us and loved it as well.   Jonathan even convinced her to climb a tree.  It was a little unexpected!  She was a new addition to the family last summer and has become part of the gang.  She has a little trouble listening sometimes, but so do the kids! :) 

The Avon business continues to grow, slowly but surely.  I am thrilled to be able to try out some wonderful products and share them.  Every woman should feel beautiful, and sometimes it only takes some fantastic moisturizer and some fun new products to do just that.

We’re hoping to spend the weekend outside and will try out all the fun outdoorsy toys the girls got from the Easter Bunny.  We also plan to have a weenie roast and roast some leftover Peeps.  If you haven’t tried them roasted, you should do it, and soon!  But be careful, that caramelized sugar is hot, hot, hot!