Marshmallow Musings

          I am polishing off a bag of half-eaten marshmallows while reflecting back on this day (yes, unbeknownst to most people I cannot leave marshmallows sit in their bag...they call to me to rescue them). I am so full of gratitude. Moving from our last home was challenging. I was totally open to moving, but I was still suprised that we actually did move. It was like I was somehow waiting for God to step in and to stop us. It all felt rather surreal; and when we did move and close on our old house on that end and close on our new house on this end, I was a little perplexed.
            Today was my birthday; and although I have often had my mom around for it (since she only lived an hour and a half away from me), I cannot remember the last time I had my brother's family over as well. My brother's oldest daughter has a birthday on the same day. When my brother asked if I wanted to get together on our birthday,  my hubby came up with the idea of a having a bonfire up here and even putting hay in the cart our lawn tractor pulls for "hayrides". It was pretty awesome for me (plus my sister-in-law left half a bag of marshmallows to inspire my musings and temporarily bloat me...thanks, Sis!).
           I miss my old friends and old town, but I love being able to be apart of my extended family's life. This past week I was able to spend a couple of days with my neices and nephew while my brother and sister-in-law got to remember why they really like each other on a trip in Mexico. I loved hanging out with them and being an aunt again. I always felt like I barely got to see them when they visited.  I was too busy making meals or taking care of the baby to really get to know them. I've already seen my neice play in a couple of softball games and watched my nephew score two touchdowns in football. Today, when my youngest neice spent all of her money on a present for me, I felt overwhelmed with gratitude to get to know her sweetness firsthand. 
           This would've never been possible without my hubby's decision to move for this job or to move to this house (that he picked for us). Had we stayed in our old town, I would've never experienced a birthday like this. Had our septic system been ok and our original buyer bought our house, we would've moved to the first house we had our bid accepted on  (which would've been an hour away from my brother)...so my birthday still probably wouldn't have been this way. It's funny how God always makes my hubby's choices benefit me. God knew just how much He would be giving me when we moved.
          My mom wrote this verse from the Message translation on my birthday card today, and it seems so fitting: "God's angel sets up a circle of protection around us while we pray." (Psalm 34:7) I can't remember a day I haven't talked to God about this whole situation for the past few months. I can feel His protection and His provision.  I can feel the smile on His face as I am beginning to realize what a gift this is for me. I can't help but say thank you to Him for blessing me with a hubby to take me just where I need to be.

The Escape Artist

             We have one chicken who is a master escape artist. Her name is Sunny, and she goes rogue almost every afternoon. She brilliantly flies off or climbs through a fence hole (there are some perks to being the runt and smaller than everyone else) to free-range without her sisters. She eats first from our compost. Then, she tastes the choicest grass on the hilltop. The world is her oyster or buffet (however you want to look at it). She loses the safety of her flock; but since she is the bottom of the pecking order anyhow, she also frees herself of the heirachy and pain. 

          Sometimes, I wish I were Sunny. I just want to fly off and have my own space. I feel a pang of guilt in admitting that; but this past week, I realized that even Jesus got tired and took naps. I can't tell you how many times I've been exhorted to get up early before everyone else and spend time praying, just like Jesus did...and I'm not saying they're wrong. It is biblical, but I can't remember anyone preaching about how even Jesus took naps. It's in the Bible too (Luke 8:23). Remember the story about Him falling asleep in the boat and being woken up because of the disciple's fear over the storm. (Can you relate to people, albeit little people, waking you up because they're scared?)
          At one time, I questioned why anyone would seriously not feel like going back to their family after getting a break. I remember hearing a good friend express this to me, and wondering what was wrong with her. How could she even consider this? This was all before I had more than two children, so that might explain part of it.
          This past week has brought me many moments that are funny now, but I desperately wanted to escape from at the time. Half-Pint incubated some duck eggs that Puddles (our female mallard duck) is refusing to sit on. After a few hours, the porous eggs began to ooze their rotting contents. The smell that hit me when coming into the house was horrendous. I would suggest checking what your nine year old has researched on the internet concerning fertile eggs...yes, they should have shadows...but also veins...and only AFTER incubation, not before. We had to dump the eggs, but thankfully, Puddles has begun laying more fresh eggs. This meant cleaning the incubator. I carried the base (that was too heavy for Half-Pint) filled with some putrid water accross our carpet, never realizing there were some holes in the base until some of the nasty water spilled on my clothes and the carpet. It was enough to make me want to hide in room and take a nap, but that didn't work out so well for me this past Saturday either.
           I laid down to rest my eyes for half an hour. When I got up, I went down to the basement to start some laundry. My jaw dropped open in suprise at the concentrated laundry soap that covered a good 3 square foot area of tile. While I was resting, the container had been knocked over onto the floor and the lid that I had loosened so the detergent freely flowed out the other side came off. I began sopping up the soap with some dirty laundry while I wondered what the point of my nap was. I no longer felt rested.
            Then there is the awesome change of season which brought the sudden realization that Mary has one outfit for fall...and Half-Pint has zero warm shirts. We headed off to Kohls last Friday for a lesson on Economics and Art (creating and combining outfits for the tween crowd at our house should count for something,right?) We were only there for ten minutes when little Carrie declares that she has to pee NOW. I race to the nearest associate to find out where the bathroom is. As I'm shoving the stroller at break-neck speed (the amount of accidents I have cleaned up in the past month are beyond counting, and I don't want another one now), Carrie stops in front of the stroller to talk to me. I run into her causing her to complain about her ankle getting scraped, but I rush past her goading her on toward the bathroom. I'm convinced she is exaggerating the pain, but she promptly drops to the ground in agony, holds her breathe, passes out, and looses control of her bladder in front of the Vera Wang pajamas display. We proceed to the bathroom and problem solve how to get a five year old to the van where clean clothes (intended for my potty-training three year old are). Carrie refuses to put her wet clothes back on. I end up giving her my Blush as a makeshift skirt. We did exit the store again 3 hours later with a couple pants and tops for both girls. Mission accomplished. I won't even go into detail about the escapade of yet another accident on Tuesday this time at the park by Grace. She rode home in a diaper and jacket, since I hadn't remembered to replace the clothes for the accident bag.
        The reason for wanting to escape from my work isn't really so much about exhaustion or feeling underappreciated like I've heard many moms talk about. I think it might be because I don't really value the moment I'm in. I hate it when the unpredictable happens. I don't like my schedule being messed with. I love what Jill Savage says in "No More Perfect Moms" that "The moment we are in is just as important as the moment we planned." I need that as a daily reminder because my planning is constantly hijacked. My attitude can make the difference between it feeling like a vacation or prison (laundry anyone?).
          So for now, I will relish the fifteen minutes of holding my new eight week old kitten in the sunlight (Harley, the dog, has already been sternly told that they are not chew toys, and he no longer drools while staring at them). I will open my heart to the words I read in the Bible when the house is quiet in the morning. I will stop and smile when my day is derailed...and know that every moment is a gift and an opportunity for growth.

          

Making Lemonade

          This past weekend,  we welcomed a new member into our family. I now have another sister!! As excited as I am about my brother-in-law taking the plunge, I was so frustrated with Amtrak. What started out as a ten minute delay in boarding the train translated into a 2 1/2 late arrival at our final destination. I really, really wanted to be there to see my sister's grand entrance (not to mention my adorable Carrie and Grace, who were her flower girls). My hubby, who was a groomsman, had droven out the day before with all four girls. It was so nice to play and snuggle Mr. Blue Eyes on the train. At eight months old, he doesn't really enjoy or understand long car rides...so I'm extremely grateful that Charles agreed to let me take the train out.
          My mom had vacationed in Arizona last week, and took her return trip so that we met up in Missouri for the remainder of the trip. It was awesome to see my mom and chat for hours, literally. What a present! When we realized we'd be late, it was nice to discuss it with someone...and tell each other that getting upset would do no one any good. My mom had left her van and keys at a church for the week she was on vacation,  and the pastor had promised to have a member drive it to the station so it'd be waiting for us.  When we got off the trian, we both groaned to find the van missing. Thankfully,  a friend of her's was being picked up at the same train station by her son, and he happily ferried us to the church. This made us even later, but we made it to the ceremony in time to hear them exchange rings, kiss and walk down the aisle together.
          Although I wasn't there for the entire wedding ceremony, I got to stay for the entire reception. The wedding was beautiful,  and I loved the fall theme with green yellow, orange, and purple dresses accented by brown sashes. No one seemed to mind that I showed up late. Clearly, there was much more to talk about than my presence or absence. The next morning we all slept in, which rarely happens with a little one and pets that need tending. I actually felt a little rested when I woke up.
           When I checked my phone, I saw a message from my mom. She decided to pick up the unused keys that day and hang out with me while I waited a few hours for the train. I know that you are thinking,  why didn't you ride back with Charles? Well, I still don't relish long car trips with Blue Eyes. Also if he sleeps a lot during the day (which is what he did when we moved), he is up a bunch at night (which is what he did after our move...leaving me with a bad case of red eye, which is still better than pink eye). After months of spending the weekdays flying solo, an afternoon and evening with just one was something to savor. Anyhow,  it all made perfect sense at the time I booked the return ticket.
          So maybe you're thinking, why didn't she just ask for the keys to be mailed to her instead of driving thirty minutes to pick them up? She told me that she decided to make lemonade out of the lemons we had been served. The afternoon we spent shopping and giggling sure tasted sweet to me. She even brought pears and tomatoes from her home. What a treat! It has been a long time since I've been able to spend time with my mom without the distraction of kids. Maybe it was even sweeter because I live so much farther from her than I used to.
          At the end of the trip, I did feel a little tired from the late nights and early mornings; but my soul felt nourished from the companionship. It took me almost a day to feel grumpy about the mounds of laundry awaiting me; and even then , it was easier to correct my thoughts than the week before. Like a tall glass of lemonade, this past weekend refreshed my thirsty heart.