Thoughts on a Sunday

I had to light the water heater again yesterday.  It wasn't as scary this time, and I didn't even cry about it. ;) Progress!  And it is such a miracle to have it work.  And it's a miracle now to turn on the faucet and have hot water come out.  I am definitely feeling thankful and also pleased with myself. :)

I have been missing people lately.  I miss being minutes away from family.  And today (Sunday), I think the thing I miss the most is having people come over for Sunday dinner.  That is one my absolute favorite things in the world.

And that thought led me to think about how I've changed in that regard over the years.  I used to worry so much more about absolutely everything.  I feel that I still have a long way to go, but I don't worry as much as I used to.  And Sunday dinner is a good illustration of that.  I used to worry about having the house spotless and have everything go smoothly.  As Jeremy has helped me learn to worry less I've been able to focus more on things that are most important.  I've realized that people don't come to see a spotless house.  They don't come to inspect my sink to see if all the dishes are done, or the beds to see if they are all made.  They don't even come to inspect the toilets and judge my toilet-cleaning skills (or lack thereof).  They come to be together and to be with us.  Isn't that a lovely thought.  And so as the years have gone on I've learned to focus on that - bing together with people we love.  I have to let go of embarrassment if the house isn't spotless.  And when people are here I have to drop any worry and just enjoy.  I've learned that as hostess I can set the tone for a get-together.  If the hostess is not happy or is worrying like crazy, the guests are not going to feel at home.  There will be tension.  That's not my goal.  I want the experience to be happy, to be treasured.  And the most important thing I have learned is that my loved ones are still going to love me even if I failed by not getting the house all the way clean.  And it is a pleasure to serve them all and welcome in the sweet feelings that come with being together.  All these things I've learned are a miracle to me as well.  I'm thankful.

I'm not sure when we'll get to have these Sunday dinner experiences again.  I'm not sure where the road of life will take us.  Who knows?  We could end up in some odd place like Panguitch. ;) But I know that there will be more opportunities like this, and that makes me happy.  I still like to have a nice Sunday dinner with my children.  They are my honored guests, and I'm thankful for each one.  And though I'm not through raising my children, I really look forward to having grandchildren to come and be smothered in love from their grandma.  And at least I can cook huge dinners again when they come. :) Today we're having funeral potatoes and ham.  I'm really looking forward to it!

Fired

I think moms all over the US will agree that whoever designed the packaging for Apples to Apples is FIRED.  If the kids even shift the package, every single card falls out, and that gives me a lovely 20-minute session of putting all the cards right in the back slot.  I'd throw it away, but it's a good game.

And know who else is fired?  Whoever designs packaging for tents and stuff.  I never can squish any of it small enough to go back in the bag without plenty of grunting and struggling.

And Jill is also fired.  Know why?  Today I took her and Timmy with me to go to the Post Office to mail a package to Jeremy.  I put Timmy in his stroller, and Jill was all excited to push him around.  She loves looking at all the things for sale in the store side of the Post Office.  But usually she just pulls the reusable shopping bags off the wall and puts stuffed animals in them.  No biggy.  Well, today as I was filling out the customs ticket and getting everything all set with the package, Jill disappeared with the sleeping Timmy in his stroller.  I hurried and finished up and then went looking for her.  I found her over by the wall of greeting cards.  I noticed that she'd taken one of those shopping bags and put it on the handle of the stroller.  Then I noticed there was something in it.  And I'm sure you guessed it - she'd taken entire stacks of cards out of the display and dumped them all together in the bag.  Silly girl!  I tried and tried to figure out which envelopes went with which cards and where each stack went, but I finally ended up giving up.  But I did get a good laugh out of it.  Oh, Jill!

Little Stripper

After church today, Timmy wandered around the house for a while and then ended up without one of his shoes after a while.  He came to be held, and I took off the other one.  Then he made it very clear that he wanted his socks off as well.  Before five minutes had passed he had stepped out of his pants.  A few hours later I took off his shirt so he could eat beans without staining it.  And then as I was putting dinner away he wandered nonchalantly into the kitchen with absolutely nothing on.  I'm not sure where he left his diaper, but he seemed pleased to be free of it, and he just kind of went about his business as usual.  I laughed about it, but continued to put dinner away, figuring I'd just hurry and then get a diaper on him as quickly as I could.  It doesn't hurt to allow a little baby nudity, right?  Well, before I finished he squatted down and pooped right on the kitchen floor!  Argh!  I got him cleaned up and put a diaper on him, and not five minutes after that he had stripped that diaper off too.  Heaven help us!

Poor Fella

My poor baby woke up repeatedly last night.  Looooooong night!  This morning at 5:30 I was fed up.  I marched us both downstairs (after stubling over the boys who were sleeping on my floor - who will NOT be there tonight!) and tried rocking him.  That usually helps.  It didn't really do the job this time, though, and then he threw up all over himself.  I gave him a bath and tried to get us some more sleep, but I was awake and he kept fussing every five minutes before falling asleep again.  And he's still throwing up.  So sad!  I'm thankful that at least he doesn't have a fever!  And I'm praying that this does not spread to everyone else!

We were supposed to go camping this evening to celebrate the last day of school, but we're not going to make it.  It is really, really windy today and I'm not sure how long this sickness will last.  These are not good camping conditions.  I felt bad telling Joshua that we couldn't go. He's really been looking forward to it.  But Hyrum reminded me that we could go on Monday if we want.  Hooray!  Maybe we'll try that.

In the meantime, the declaration, "Timmy's sick," reminds me of The Secret of Nimh, and my arms are gettin very tired.  Timmy keeps falling asleep, but he does not want to be put down.  That boy is getting heavy!

Look at This

This picture is from July of last year.  Becca, Austin, and Rachel came to visit, and Rachel took this picture of us.  I love it!  And just look how much littler all my kiddos look.  Crazy!

Thank Heavens, He's There!

Jeremy's dorm room

I'm so thankful all that flying is over and he's there.  We just got done Skyping him.  We couldn't see him because he doesn't have a camera or even a place to plug one in, but we could see him. :) It made me cry.  It's 1:30 there - too late for him to be up skyping, but thank heavens for the technology of today!  It sure makes this a lot better.  I've actually been sitting by the computer for way too long, dying for any news from him.  I'm just so thankful!  Jill loved hearing her Papa and was sad to hang up and let him sleep.

He's Gone

Jill has been talking for the last 2 days about going to see the airplane. She kept saying things like, "A miss you a airplane." And she kept asking if she could come on the airplane. Then she found the toy airplane Hyrum bought with his own money when he was about Jill's age, and she kept asking if she could go on that airplane.  Then Papa showed her some airplanes taking off.  And she also kept asking if she could go with Papa.  And then she'd start the process over.  And over.  And over.  It was a bit maddening and sad.

At 5:30 this morning we all left home and hurried out to the airport.  Jeremy quickly kissed us goodbye and ran inside to check in.  I intended for us to stay outside to watch the plane take off, but it was really loud just idling, so we went into the waiting room.  We could see Jeremy on the other side of the window in the passenger waiting room.  Joshua had his camera, so he and I were both taking pictures and video.  Jill stood on the windowsill and told the airplane to go up over and over again.  After Jeremy turned in his boarding pass he came ot the window and waved goodbye to Jill and the rest of us again.  Finally, the plane taxied away, and then after a little wait we saw it zoom down the runway and fly away.  All this time I was trying hard not to just bawl.  It was fun to show the plane to the kiddos and have them watch it go, but Hyrum and I had a hard time watching Papa go.  It was just so sad. 

And then I came home with 6 wide-awake children and 2 hours to go before we had to get to school.  I made pancakes and just tried to stay busy.  All morning I just had such a sickening feeling.  It was not fun.  And I kept breaking down and crying.  But I made breakfast, and we watched Cinderella, and then we took the boys to school.  I took Jill and Timmy shopping, and by the time I was done shopping things felt better.  Life goes on.  I miss Jeremy, and it pains me to think he's headed to the other side of the continent.  He'll be on the other side of the world tomorrow, with an 8-hour time difference.  But I'm very excited for him, and I think that if I just focus on one hurdle at a time I can do this.  It will be all right.  Still, I can't wait to welcome him home 2 a little over 2 months!