I found the poem below while reading in car line. I have to admit, the first few days of everyone back at school- the first time ever to be at home by myself, have not gone quite as I expected. The twins, were far more demanding than I ever expected and homeschooling, while wonderful, drained anything else left of my lifeblood right out. Basically, I have 3 and a half years of accumulating to do lists waiting to be tackled as soon as I dropped all 4 smiling faces at the school house door. Not just big projects, but some things as basic as clean the basement kitchen sink, finally have all the clothes put away at one time, separate important mementos from 6 month old mail, find the charger to my nook, wash hair and shave in the same showering event. Day 7 on the island and none of these have happened. I have spent hours in meetings, the nightmare/never ending house redecorating project, and caring for a sick child but...... Basically, I am as overwhelmed as before they went back to school, now I just feel more guilty for not having it all done. It will get better. I have a little more done each day, I have just had to extend projected completion date to Christmas. Or maybe May.
At an old English parsonage down by the sea,
There came in the twilight a message to me.
Its quaint Saxon legend deeply engraven
That, as it seems to me, teaching from heaven.
And all through the hours the quiet words ring,
Like a low inspiration, do the next thing.
Many a questioning, many a fear,
Many a doubt hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment, let down from heaven,
Time, opportunity, and guidance are given.
Fear not tomorrow, child of the King,
Trust them with Jesus, do the next thing.
Do it immediately, do it with prayer;
Do it reliantly, casting all care.
Do it with reverence, tracing His hand,
Who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on Omnipotence, safe'neath His wing,
Leave all results, do the next thing.
Looking to Jesus, ever serener,
Working or suffering be thy demeanor;
In His dear presence, the rest of His calm,
The light of His countenance, be thy psalm,
Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing.
Then as He beckons, do the next thing.
Author Unknown
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Meet the Patriots 2011
You only thought this was about hearing from the football coach and meeting the team. It was really about seeing and hearing my baby girl announced as part of the Patriot Cross Country Team. Watch out world she is coming on strong!
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
First Day of School 2011
Update from this morning. Girls all had a great day! Jack's at least got better than it started. Brianna made friends and loves her science teacher. She and Hadley talked non stop after pickup. Lucy fell dead asleep at cheer practice. We just got back from cross country where Brianna ran 4 miles. Whew! We will need dynamite in the morning but at least they seem excited for day 2!
Rough start. Juice was spilled, tempers flared, hormones raged. 3 people cried. (I was one of them) Lunch and one backpack forgotten. As we walked the whole distance of the building to Jack and Lucy’s classes, Jack lamented that he wanted to “go to the same school as last year” And who can blame him. The idea to fruit basket toss up the entire building guaranteeing no one knows any one was a terrible plan. So much for strong and stable. It has to get better right??? So begins the 2011- 2012 year. Two kindergartners, 5th grader and 7th grader. Cross country and cheer tonight. Really hoping this is not a statement on the overall year.
Rough start. Juice was spilled, tempers flared, hormones raged. 3 people cried. (I was one of them) Lunch and one backpack forgotten. As we walked the whole distance of the building to Jack and Lucy’s classes, Jack lamented that he wanted to “go to the same school as last year” And who can blame him. The idea to fruit basket toss up the entire building guaranteeing no one knows any one was a terrible plan. So much for strong and stable. It has to get better right??? So begins the 2011- 2012 year. Two kindergartners, 5th grader and 7th grader. Cross country and cheer tonight. Really hoping this is not a statement on the overall year.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
What 40 years of marriage will get you
I think the plan was for Grandma and Grandpa to be front and center, but somehow Jack and I ended up there.
This is what 15 years will get you. Expect to see this again at Christmas!
Tooth Fairy
I am pretty good at Easter most years. I have made resurrection rolls, dyed Easter eggs with natural colors and usually get the white shoe thing taken care of (thanks Susan for help this year!). I am a little better than good at Christmas- neat teacher presents, theme gifts, homemade gift bags one year (yes, that was pre children.) I even manage to get gingerbread made for Russian Christmas and at least mention the happening of major Jewish holidays, so my kids can be more well rounded. But.... I am really, really, really, really, really, really, really, REALLY AWFUL at the Tooth Fairy. If I had it to do over again, this little tradition would never have graced our door step. I don't have change, they forget to tell me, teeth have been lost in the yard, I have to explain why teeth are worth $1 this time and $5 the next (the change thing again) and why the teeth down the road are worth $20. I can't answer all the questions about the boy fairy or girl fairy thing thanks to the Santa Claus movies. And finally, sometimes, most of the time, I fall into bed exhausted and just forget. Such was the story this week.
My sweet baby boy lost his first tooth. It had been loose for days. We had begun to worry it would come out in his sleep. The grown up tooth was already coming in behind the baby tooth. He was gnawing corn on the cob with his jaw teeth. He would not let me touch it and finally, all on his own, he pulled that little sucker out while watching Loony Tunes. He was so proud. The gap is so cute. We praised his skill at pulling it himself. He smiled his now gaping, super self confident grin, and Hadley began to tell the wonders of the tooth fairy. UGGG. Daddy helped him place the tooth in his shoe instead of under the pillow as this makes tooth fairy work easier and sent him off to bed. After a few more up and downs, an issue from Lucy, and confirmation that I had set the alarm for our new early morning schedule of cross country, we climbed into bed while discussing the debt ceiling vote and ....... forgot all about it. The next morning, only moments after I had awoken before the alarm due to yet another headache, a somber little boy wandered into my room to exclaim "She forgot to come." Forget the excedrin and lack of coffee. I immediately sat up and engaged. "Oh baby, I am sure you just can't find it." Wheels are spinning in my head. I have used lots of explanations about the holiday season or backlog of tooth loosing cases, but this was a first tooth. Nothing could explain this away. I convinced my still slightly groggy boy to lay down and watch TV, a privilege he had lost for hitting Lucy, while I went to look. I quickly wrote a note on leftover invitation card stock giving him the right to pick out the toy of his choice from Toys R Us- Love the Tooth Fairy. Guilt is a terrible thing. I ran upstairs and stuffed it between the mattress and headboard and called him to see what I had found. So by 6:15am, I had lied, connived and set an impossible future standard all to appease my guilt. Did I mention the headache?
My sweet baby boy lost his first tooth. It had been loose for days. We had begun to worry it would come out in his sleep. The grown up tooth was already coming in behind the baby tooth. He was gnawing corn on the cob with his jaw teeth. He would not let me touch it and finally, all on his own, he pulled that little sucker out while watching Loony Tunes. He was so proud. The gap is so cute. We praised his skill at pulling it himself. He smiled his now gaping, super self confident grin, and Hadley began to tell the wonders of the tooth fairy. UGGG. Daddy helped him place the tooth in his shoe instead of under the pillow as this makes tooth fairy work easier and sent him off to bed. After a few more up and downs, an issue from Lucy, and confirmation that I had set the alarm for our new early morning schedule of cross country, we climbed into bed while discussing the debt ceiling vote and ....... forgot all about it. The next morning, only moments after I had awoken before the alarm due to yet another headache, a somber little boy wandered into my room to exclaim "She forgot to come." Forget the excedrin and lack of coffee. I immediately sat up and engaged. "Oh baby, I am sure you just can't find it." Wheels are spinning in my head. I have used lots of explanations about the holiday season or backlog of tooth loosing cases, but this was a first tooth. Nothing could explain this away. I convinced my still slightly groggy boy to lay down and watch TV, a privilege he had lost for hitting Lucy, while I went to look. I quickly wrote a note on leftover invitation card stock giving him the right to pick out the toy of his choice from Toys R Us- Love the Tooth Fairy. Guilt is a terrible thing. I ran upstairs and stuffed it between the mattress and headboard and called him to see what I had found. So by 6:15am, I had lied, connived and set an impossible future standard all to appease my guilt. Did I mention the headache?
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