Holiday

The day after Thanksgiving - our bonus day - felt like all the days I had imagined I would have with a preschooler.  It felt like all the days I grieve not having with Little Guy, due to his starting school at 3 1/2. 

We all ate well yesterday (Thanksgiving).

We all had our love tanks filled yesterday, spending 8+ hours with extended family.

We all got enough sleep (no alarm clock; no reason to wake up early).

We all woke up happy.

We had nowhere to go, nowhere to be at a certain time, no morning rush to get in the van with backpack and lunch.

We relaxed.  {Sigh!}

LG and I played a board game before LM woke up.

I had time to be creative and finally made the morning & evening routine charts I mentioned here. (LG said, "This is so cool, Mom!" LM recited the steps in her routine all day.)

The children played in their imagination for hours and hours, with no request for screen time.  They acted out The Sugar Creek Gang in great detail.  I was called upon at various times to be Bill's mother, or Mrs. Thompson, or Miss Lily the school teacher.  I was reminded to refer to LG as Bill and to LM as Charlotte Ann (or Poetry, as the case may be).  We all stayed in character through lunch.

We made a craft (!).

I did the bare minimum of online shopping to snag some deals.

By 2:00 we had eaten lunch, and packed Jim's lunch, and LG had gotten his barn clothes on & gathered his barn jacket, hat and gloves.  He did his post office chore (of running in and getting our mail) ... and suggested that we train LM to have the chore of bringing in any packages that UPS leaves on our front porch. :)  We dropped LG off at the farm to work for 2 hours, and LM and I ran an errand and then visited Grandpa.

Such a leisurely day! The type of day I dreamed we would have regularly.  The type of day we rarely have. 

1000 Gifts, Vol. 5, #96

951.  Thanksgiving ~ a time set apart to give thanks for all God's goodness

952.  holiday from school!! 

953.  children sleeping in

954.  time for me to enjoy the quiet in our home (even with sleeping in myself!)

955.  some really sweet kindnesses of the Lord lately, shown through the very practical kindness of His people

956.  the Barnes & Noble gift card in my purse, LG's prize for reading (or having read to him) the most books (in PreK-1st grade) in summer reading program

957.  Aldi's gluten-free breads (bagel for breakfast; stuffing for lunch)

958.  these cards that have spoken deeply to my soul

959.  although LM's singing can seem incessant and loud, the words are filled with Truth and Hope!

960.  even if we miss all the sales on Black Friday, we have enough!

1000 Gifts, Vol. 5, #95

941.  Thy great salvation so rich, full, and free!

942.  Christian heritage, especially thinking of my grandfather who would have turned 141 last week

943.  And my fourth-great-grandmother about whom it is written:

"It was said of FBR (1764-1850) that in her prayers she always asked God's blessings upon all her descendants to the end of time."

944.  The rhythm of Sabbath, the Word and prayer being instilled in my being

945.  Hymns, hymns, hymns!

946.  Sunday school teachers, youth group leaders, Bible camp staff, and campus ministry volunteers investing in me

947.  challenging words from friends, even this week:

948.

"Never take the name of God on your lips if the flame of His presence does not burn in your heart."

949.  a few hours respite at the nearest coffee shop (albeit 16 miles away - it was either that or the nursing home lobby!) on Sunday afternoon after a long week (that included my first IVIG as well as 6 nights of interrupted sleep due to a toddler with a cough)

950.  hope

Worlds colliding

Jim was part of a singles' group decades ago that has morphed into what they refer to as "Friends group."  12-18 remain close. We see each other at funerals.  Two came to our wedding 600 miles away.  All the others came to our local wedding reception.  One family always hosts a Christmas party.  I led a Bible study with 3 of the girls for a couple years.  In the past year, they've started meeting for supper once a month.  Quite amazing!

A few weeks ago, we went to the funeral of one of the ladies, whom I had only seen once.  When I signed the guest book, I saw a few lines above our names, that one couple had written "(Japan)" after their names.  You can bet I made a beeline to find them afterwards!  We know a lot of the same people and they had just visited my Japanese home church a few weeks previously.  They "just so happened" to be in Chicago that weekend, so were able to make it to the funeral of this lady, who was the Japanese missionary wife's college roommate.  I almost felt my head swirling.

This past week, a friend stopped by for a 24-hour visit.  I have known her for 25+ years in her role as counselor for the mission agency I served with.  But she is also related by marriage to my sister-in-law! Her son married my SIL's sister.  What a small world!

Earlier this month I attended a home luncheon as part of our church's missions month.  As I conversed with the missionary to South America, sitting next to me, she asked where I am from, and as soon as I answered, she said, "There's a camp near there that my family went to."  Lo and behold, her parents (and even grandparents) were friends with my great-uncle, who directed that camp for 50+ years. He had even visited them on the field back in the 50s or 60s!  This dear lady's sister had just emailed their whole family the previous day, reminding them that it was my Uncle M's birthday.  My mind was really swirling with that one!

Carpool Daze

Two weeks ago on my carpool day, I was planning to take Little Miss to drop-in childcare.

We arrived in time to drop the boys off in the carpool line (HUGE sigh of relief!).  But, since the commute is not conducive to potty training, we immediately pulled into the circle and parked, and LM and I hurried into the restroom in the lobby.  The lobby is the waiting room for the ENT & audiologist's office, and as such has chairs, toys, and books for little ones to enjoy while they wait.

We used the restroom, and on our way out, I got into a conversation with the receptionist and another mom.  Then it was time to go.  LM was running, and, in a freak accident, fell (on a very age-appropriate toy) and started spouting blood from a gash in her forehead. 

L-o-n-g story short, she had 3 sutures at a convenient care clinic, and I did NOT take her to drop-in childcare.  She was understandably clingy, and I was shaken. We ran in Walmart for a few things ... including a $3 Build-a-bear on Clearance, as her consolation prize.  I had to make a return in a big box store, and we pulled the Ergo out of the trunk for the first time in months or maybe a year, to provide close comfort. 

Last week on my carpool day, we did not make it in time to drop the boys off, but I parked in the fire lane, as opposed to the circle drive (to reduce my stress), fished for LM's shoes, and made it upstairs to their teachers (through 3 doors, a code, an elevator, and a hand wiping station), whereupon LM began SCREAMING that she wanted to go to HER class with HER teacher. 

On our way to the van, we had to walk through the lobby, where she ran straight to the scene of her accident the previous week (!).  We skipped the restroom there (remember: fire lane!), and found the restroom at Walgreen's which was our first errand-stop of the day.  Next up was gas at Sam's Club (for 20c/gallon less than anywhere else).

Then we went in Sam's and l-e-i-s-u-r-e-l-y walked up and down every aisle. :) [She could not go to her much loved drop-in childcare due to her up-in-the-night-for-4-nights-and-counting cough.  Thus we had visited Walgreens.] After eating (and drinking - lemon ginger tea!) our way through Sam's, finding our toilet paper (and many other items), and getting a fountain drink for me and a hotdog for her, I buckled her in her car seat while I first re-arranged the back of the van, before unloading my shopping cart.  By the time I myself got buckled in, she was asleep.

Hmmmm.... I parked in a quiet corner of a parking lot, with the van idling, sipping my Root Beer, but afraid to open any package of snacks (as she is very sensitive to sound)... for ... two ... long ... but ... quiet ... hours.

We had just enough time to run by a friend's house to use the restroom and make a fresh cup of hot tea for the road, before picking up the boys.

Hopefully she can go to drop-in childcare on my next driving days. :) (Normally every Wednesday, plus other days as needed.  Thanksgiving week, I'm on the schedule for Monday & Tuesday.)

1000 Gifts, Vol. 5, #94

931.  God's sustaining grace

932.  people who pray

933.  the amazing power of a sugar-free sucker (carrot on the end of the stick) to reduce carpool screaming (Hooray!)

934.  I got half a dose of IVIG

935.  the reaction I had (which ended the procedure at the halfway mark) was NOT an anaphylactic reaction

936.  a 24-hour visit from a godly, gracious friend I had not seen in 9 years

937.  her wisdom & professional insights

938.  harvest is complete! 

939.  Little Guy's enjoyment of his second round of nervous beginner swim lessons

940.  we hung the Christmas lights in the van today!! That's one of our favorite traditions! And since we spend so many hours there, we might as well decorate it, right? ;)

Sugar Creek Gang

We spent a week listening to the first book in The Sugar Creek Gang in the van.  I love hearing the adventures of Little Jim, Poetry, Circus, Dragonfly, Big Jim, Bill Collins and Little Tom Till.

First I checked it out from the church library, and then I realized that an audio version would be better, so I (in a rare move) paid money for an audio book (mp3 format).

We have now listened to the first five (out of 36) books.  We spend about a week on each one, listening to it over and over. :)

When I was a child, I could read the book.  Or I could be by the radio from 3-3.15 pm and listen to the dramatized version.  Period.  If I missed a day, I missed it. I couldn't go back and listen to it again.

But now, Little Guy can have the print book read to him, or he can listen to the audio book.  Or he can listen to the dramatized version (I assume it's online somewhere).  Or he can watch the video, as he has done in the past week, thanks to Amazon prime.  I was planning to hold off on the videos until we had finished all the books, but Mom needed some screen time in our day. :)

People

As an introvert, I do not need much people time.  But, as many moms of littles do, I feel isolated alot in this season.  I mainly see the two other carpool moms (for 5 minutes or less twice a day) and the teachers or staff at school (once a week for 5 minutes or less).  Other than that, the adults I see most often are the Walmart employees who bring my online order to my van and the receptionist at the allergist's!

I don't even see the post office clerks much anymore, because I'm rarely in town when it's open, and going in to the post office is Little Guy's chore.  Same with the library.  (When LG was LM's current age, we went to the p.o. and library and IGA almost every day, if only for a diversion!)

But ... the Lord is good to provide.  While I can think of lots of scenarios for time with people that might be better for my spiritual or emotional health, the Lord gives what is good.

He has given me:

a morning at Starbuck's with a mom who adopted from the same agency we did,

a morning at a cafe with a mom preparing to adopt a newborn,

an afternoon at Starbuck's with a chaplain for the post-adoptive program we're enrolled in,

lunch with a fellow mom from LG's school,

a weekday lunch with two missionary couples and five others from our church during missions conference,

a Sunday morning elective discussing the why, how and what of serving in our church,

a planned morning with another adoptive mom who has insight to share,

a planned time of fellowship with a mom who used to be in our Moms in Prayer group for LG's school,

two or three sessions with the social worker at LG's school, who has listened so well to me and infused me with hope and joy,

a "chance" encounter with another adoptive mom in a store, where we stood and talked and testified of God's goodness until we both had to go, and

another "chance" encounter in the same store with one of the staff from my GYN's office.  My sister in Christ, she was part of the medical staff who helped me through multiple surgeries, and she rejoiced with exceeding great joy to see our family picture on my phone.


He knows what I need, and He provides.

Photo dump

It's 9.30 pm.  As we drove home (at dusk) at 5 pm, combines, grain wagons, and semis hauling grain were working hard in fields we passed by.  Apparently my farmer is still working hard in some field, also.  A farmer near our house is working loudly right now.  (Lots of beeping for going in reverse, plus it sounds like he needs 10 or 20 gallons of WD-40!)  Thankfully the children are sleeping through it!

Below are several random photos.

We have tried a nighttime routine visual in the past. It's time to start up again, and this is my favorite one I've seen.   It's simple - a file folder and some velcro and stick figures.  The child can check each item off by sticking the velcro together.  And it seems like something I could actually make! (That's the best part.)

One day Little Guy came home with a baggie of slime he had made at school.  He proceeded to lovingly make cupcakes for me in his 'oven.'  I assured him they were the most delicious cupcakes I had ever eaten!

His speech therapists are amazing! This came home in his backpack one day during the time he was working on final -l sounds.  "Another wheel," was the phrase that his therapist was modeling and he was repeating as he glued wheel after wheel after wheel onto the truck he made!

We had a record-breaking snow the last day of October.  LG absolutely loved riding his bike around in it, and pulling a sled behind it.  The next morning the bike (that had been left out all night) looked like this:

My husband loves me well, and I have a new dishwasher.  After several weeks, I read the instruction booklet, and am *loving* the 3rd rack!  Emptying the silverware and putting them in the drawer is super easy!

One afternoon Little Miss fell asleep in the van, and LG and I drove around for awhile to delay waking her up.  I just had to stop on a country road and take pictures of this amazing fall day!

Little Miss is fully two. Enough said. :)  In her defense, she will also sit and leaf through books for what seems like an hour at a time.  This just happened to be less of a sitting still moment.

I snagged this in the Dollar Bin at Target.  LG has really become motivated.  I had no idea it would be such a wonderful fine motor activity!  Thankfully he's motivated to do it first thing every morning.  He is also having fun observing and comparing different coins that he uses to scratch off the leaf.