How not to run your household

     As I come upstairs, it is 10pm, and my bed is covered with clean laundry to be folded.  I just finished the dishes, which were backlogged for 2 days, due to lack of dish soap.  Finally this evening, I went grocery shopping and got some.  Today has been basically a comedy of errors, a day that should truly be recorded for my children's benefit, so in the future they will understand why I have such mental problems.
     It started out late and somewhat disorganized, but just the normal amount.  School, laundry, lunch, the usual Monday stuff.  Scott had asked us to move a bunch of junk out of the old chicken coop in the barn, so we could move the rapidly growing chicks out of the school room, which I am highly in favor of, as they begin to stink.  After lunch, I was fading, so the kids played while I lay down for 20 minutes or so.  That must have been what threw everything off.  Upon rising, I got myself a cup of coffee, and assigned some chores to Levi and Tirzah, while Caelin and I worked on his math corrections.  That alone is enough to wreck Caelin's day.  I heard the kitchen faucet running continuously and hollered for Aila to turn it off, as I was sure she was the culprit. A minute later, it was still going, so I dashed out to the kitchen, coffee in hand, to check. As my Crocs hit the now-wet linoleum, I slid not-so-gracefully, coffee sloshing wildly, and crash down hard on my elbow and knee, smashing my right ankle on a chair. Imagine how pleased I was, still having to get up and turn off the water, because of course, there appears to have been a partial rapture of my children.
     Finally the math was done. We had to attend the ball of Prince James and Princess Anna, a.k.a. Levi and Tirzah.  There was dancing to Celtic music, appetizers, and dessert.  The tickets, I was informed, were made with melted jewels.  "OK kids", it's time to get to work on that coop. Except I was on the phone when Caelin showed up, insisting I come move the van so he can jump start the mower, which he wants to use to pull the wagon full of junk.  So, I drive the van over and we successfully jump the mower.  As I back the van up, however, there is a clunk, bump, and a jump. I throw it in drive, alas, it does not move forward.  Quickly I get out only to find that somehow, I cannot firgure out how, I have managed to get a blue plastic 55 gallon drum wedged under the van and the back driver's side tire is a good 6-8 inches off the ground.  Huh.  Horror, then laughter, then anxiety.  I must take a picture and send it to Joni, who appreciates this sort of thing.  I realize we have to somehow jack the van up to get this barrel out, which Caelin and I spent the next hour working on, to no avail.  The frame of the van is so rotted, the jack went through it like hot butter. In the midst of trying to find a jack, a spot on the van that can be jacked, and various pieces of wood to place the jack on, Aila approaches, wailing and covered with mud.  She is wet, cold and sad. I am not at my most motherly, but I take her inside to change her.  Levi and Tirzah appear, also covered in mud.  My cool was not kept.  I was yelling things about stress, clothing, being good for 5 minutes, and they better change and just sit on the couch!  I realized however, what we really needed was prayer, so we paused and asked God to please! Help us!
     Scott arrived as I was trying the jack in yet another spot.  You may imagine his surprise.  After he picked his jaw off the ground, he shook his head, laughed and said wonderingly, "This isn't just normal talent here, this exceptional."  He then proceeded for the next hour to try various things.  In an effort to be helpful, I tried pulling the barrel out while the van was jacked up, causing it to come off the jack.  He was pleased.  Not.  Eventually, we jacked as high as we dared, and dug around the edge of the drum where it was stuck in the ground.  Praise God, it came out!  The van seems to be fine, though the barrel was pushing on the fuel line.
     It was now 6:15, and we were starved. I came inside to whip up something with thawed chicken.  The living room floor was covered with red, pink, and white sprinkles, like some Valentine's donut. The dining room floor, which Tirzah supposedly cleaned, was littered with random objects. Dinner consisted of sauteed chicken, Stove Top stuffing and broccoli.  Not bad.    I stepped in the school room to broken glass.  The microscope was out and the thin slide covers had been left down and were now smashed on the floor and desk.  Yay. Quickly shooing the barefoot girls out, I vacuumed both rooms.
     I then realized it was 7:20.  Aldi closes at 8:00 and I was planning to take the girls and go grocery shopping. I yelled to Scott that I would have to go alone. Changing out of my muddy clothes, I now cannot find my keys.  Running back to the barn where Scott is working on the chicken coop, I get his and head out, alone.  Shopping was peaceful and successful.  Returning home, we tuck the kiddos into bed and I tackle the mountain of dishes with my newly bought detergent.  Which brings me back here.  I have the tragically funniest life.  I just had to get this stuff down before I forget how crazy our existence is, day-to-day.  I'm laughing, I'm yelling, I'm praying, I'm sore, but I am never bored.

Prayer: By and For Levi

Friday, Jan. 3, we attended Grace Community Church.  Pastor Rick handed out slips of paper to write down prayer requests for 2014. Levi asked for one, and began writing.  He showed it to me. It read, "that I would be saved"  He went back to his writing position on the floor, pausing to whisper, "How do you spell godly? I have god..."  Me, smiling, "Just add l-y." After a minute more he shyly showed me his work.  "that when I grow up I will have a godly family"  Me- melting.
     This is the kid that gives us more grief than the others combined, yet has more thinking going on upstairs than we realize.  The potential is staggering, both for good and for bad.  This is the kid who keeps my prayer life rather active...Please, God, let him know how much he needs you, and how much you love him!