The Park

The kids and I unleashed ourselves onto the crowded park area like a breaking dam. Sun, slides and freedom! In case hunger were strike at a moments notice, I was armed with a cooler full of hummus, flat bread sandwich thins and clementine oranges.

White puffy clouds, cool breeze and green grass = Bliss

I soaked in the freshness of the air and sipped on my warm coffee watching my big kids run and climb. I felt ‘with-it’ (I was wearing my new sunglasses after all) and prepared (no need for fast food here), a great feeling, to be at peace, in the hubbub of the day.

We ate while the babies slumbered away in their double stroller. Hummus proved to be no substitute for pb&j. Ry and Molly ate plain bread and didn’t complain! The oranges refreshed our dry palettes.

Swinging time! Molly held her feet and legs straight out of the swing a hollered, “Look Mom! I’m pumping!” So cute. We even had Claire in a baby swing. Very fun.

Then I heard Ryan say, “I have to pee…real bad!” This declaration was accompanied by a crossed legged, crotch-hold stance. I knew I had no time. I told him to run to the bathroom within my eye shot.

He ran.

Then he ran back with a frenzied whisper, “It’s locked!” I whipped off my new ‘with-it’ sunglasses to squint and clearly read the sign by the door. CLOSED FOR SEASON

What season does it have to be to hire someone to maintain toilet paper? Ack! I can see Ryan’s eyes darting around, silently screaming, surely Mom has a key to the bathroom.

In the distance, I see a city truck slowly creeping along the road in front of the park. It looked as if it were patrolling dandelions or dirt on the curb. I wanted to scream, give us the key, he doesn’t even need to wipe! But, alas, the truck was too far and most likely only had weed killer in the truck.

So like every strong mama I slugged down my now tepid coffee to empty my to-go mug, snatched Leah’s baby blanket and latched onto Ryan’s hand. We ran for the nearest tall bush. You can fill in the rest from here. Let’s just say, the city worker won’t need any weed killer for that bush.

As we returned to the double stroller, I murmured a quick prayer. Please don’t let me forget later what my to-go mug was used for just now.

Crisis solved. I saw a fellow mama park goer flash me a dry smirk, as she had likely been there, done that.

More play time in at the park was enjoyed by all.

Until, I heard, “Mom, I have to poop…real bad!”

Off to the nearest store front…part 3 coming soon.

Love,

Jess

My days are all blending together. Thank goodness for my breakfast meal plan or I’d have to really question what day I’m living in.

Parks, meals, tears, farts, laughs about farts, more meals, toys, worship, books, worries, prayers, kisses, sleep, putting sleepy kids back to bed after sneaking in my bed, folding oh.my.word. the folding, joys, finances, time shared…

You get the idea.

I have big mushy life ingredients that mash together in a soup of treasured memories, present day routine & dreams for the future. Fluid yet chunky & good for the soul. Yes, I did just compare my life to soup. Can we move on now? Okay.

Some days stand out. You’d think it was the important days like the State Fair or Christmas. But, it’s always the ordinary days that stick with me.

• Like the time we declared it a pajama day and went to bed in the same p.j.s that we had on all day.
• When Molly found the tooth paste and used it as “paint” all over the bathroom walls, floors and doors.
• Or the time we spent every quarter we find in the van to buy ice cream cones at McDonald’s.

Yesterday was one such day. It started like any typical day (see the beginning of this post).

Then, we went upstairs to begin weekly allowance earning chores.

Ryan got right to work. Molly wandered in and out of the rooms, helping with chores, whenever she felt like it was her turn to use the squirt bottle. The babies slept.

Bathroom clean. Check. Bed made and stuffed animals straightened. Check. Laundry put away. Check. Extra helper chore. Check.

Next, it was time for errands.

After the babies were awake and fed again, we scurried toward the van in five different directions.

1. Ryan went straight for his bicycle and rode around the driveway.
2. Molly tried to find her shoes, bless her, she could only find one shoe of every pair she had.
3. Claire rolled around on a blanket in the entryway.
4. Leah rested, next to Claire, trying to put her thumb into her sister’s mouth.
5. I went to the kitchen, even though I had declared it was already time to leave,  to pack a lunch and pour more bottles. I had just realized it was already noon. Hungry babies and kids + errands in the van = not bliss.

In the van. Check. Can I please put “Get In The Van” on my to do list just so I can cross it off?  WAIT! Where’s my coffee? Oh yea, my to-go mug was on a shelf in the bathroom. Not sure when or why it was put there. None the less, I fly back upstairs to grab it, then, of course, reheat it in the microwave.

Two bank trips. Drive through, of course. The first bank was out of stickers and suckers. Really? Where is the manager? Is there not a Walgreen’s down the street? Buy some. Customer service these days. Of course, I don’t complain to the kids.

Instead, I try to bellow to the back of the van, some lesson to Molly about not getting a sticker because, “Little mouths shouldn’t say big hateful words!” (like, “I hate my car seat!”) Meanwhile, telling Ryan that the next bank will probably have a sucker for him, without letting Molly realize the only reason she’s not getting a sticker or sucker is because the first bank was out off them.

The second bank dutifully sent two suckers through the tube. I was sweet-talked into handing them over with promises from my kids to, “Never be mean their whole lives, to me or each other, ever again!”

Off to the park…part 2 coming soon.

Love,

Jess

Proverbs 31: 25 a

²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity

Wake up. Splash water on my face. Feed someone. Kiss someone. Dress someone. Brew coffee. Wipe something. Remind someone. Hug someone. Drink coffee. Remind someone again. Feed someone else. Feed the first someone again. Wipe something else from yesterday. Hide in bathroom. Check email from my mobile phone while hidden in bathroom. Splash more water on my face. Reheat coffee.

Really Wake Up.

Then the day starts. Some point between wiping someone and wiping something, I dress myself with strength and dignity. When my feet hit the ground each morning, I want all the evil forces out there to say,

“Oh, crap! She’s up!”

But where does it end? How will I get through another day of life with my circumstances?

Will I  rumple into a ball from defeat? (rumple is like an ishy way of making a ball)

Will I ruffle into a ball from success? (ruffle is like a pretty way of making a ball)

Cause let’s face it, I’m going to end up in a ball. Preferably, a cozy place, next to my husband in front of a good movie or my laptop computer screen. Remember, I said my days are long? Falling into bed is not a figure of speech in my life. It’s the truth.

Let’s look at today. Some funny, strength growing things happened today. pause. I knew this would happen. I can’t remember the specifics about today. pause again. pray.

I’ll be back tomorrow with a look at my day. I am too rumpled and ruffled to write.

Love,

Jess

Proverbs 31: 15
She gets up while it is still dark;

Some folks are naturally night owls, while others arise cheerily with the dawn. My energy peeks around mid-morning. Getting up while it’s still dark does not “do it” for everyone. How about you? When is your prime time?

I need sleep. My goodness, if I was up for the day at 4:55 a.m. I’d be ready for bed by 4:55 p.m. For real, passed out by dinner. So, during this time of baby raising and 5 a.m. feedings (if not 4:30 a.m.) I’m choosing to sleep.

I may not see the sunrise. But, I do see the point of this verse.

Be ready to serve, reflect, prepare or whatever it is that is needed to get your daily priorities straight…at anytime. Let nothing come between you and your purpose.

It is my priority to sleep until daybreak, or rather, go back to sleep after I have already been up feeding babies in the dark. (Which, among other things is my purpose these days.)

Until, another time Dark, until another time.

Love,

Jess

Well, I am up before the sun. I fed my 3 month old babies, Claire and Leah. They help me get up while it’s still dark. I stayed awake after putting them back down to sleep.

I dressed myself in my gray imitation Uggs boots and my light blue fleece robe without a tie. (Ry always steals my robe ties for part of a costume, mostly Ninja Turtle headbands I think). I stumbled downstairs and made coffee. It is still perking.

Now, I am upstairs in my office “closet” on a laptop, wondering, what am I doing trying take on all the Proverbs 31 wisdom?

Well, I have to start somewhere. So, why not at the beginning.

Proverbs 31:10

¹⁰ A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.

First things first. I am a wife. But, what is this noble character business? All I can think of is a wife that is brave and knows how to curtsy.

Noble Definition: possessing, characterized by, or arising from superiority of mind or character or of ideals or morals

Noble wife, okay. I possess decent morals and most of the time I think my ideals are solid.

Am I worth far more than rubies? Let’s see, just to be cheeky, I’ll try to figure out my salary!

According to Salary.com my yearly income, in my zip code, as a stay-at-home mom (SAHM) of 4 kids is $133,544. Salary.com put together some of the responsibilities of SAHM and listed them in an hourly form. Below is an example of the hours.

Housekeeper	16.5
Day Care Center Teacher	14.7
Cook	13.1
Computer Operator	9.2
Facilities Manager	8.6
Van Driver	7.3
Psychologist	7.2
Laundry Machine Operator	7.2
Janitor	7.1
Chief Executive Officer	5.5

I am sure there are more responsibilities like nurse, referee, and gift shopper. Not to mention, all the extra pay that would ensue from literally being available for 24 hour on call services like bad dream cuddling, wet-bed changing and late night baby feeding.

The point of Proverbs 31:10 isn’t lost on me entirely. I realize that a wife of noble character is worth more than anything or any service money can buy.

Well, I better go throw some jeans on and ingest some of that coffee I smell downstairs. The big kids are up and so is the sun.

Love,

Jess

In Order:

Sledding in newly fallen snow

Painting for the sake of getting messy

Watching a dormant summer patio

Reading, watching, admiring…all the fantastic blogs out there (blog in my reader? The Inspired Room’s post Quick Room Makeover)

Freezing my fingers off taking photos of the fresh layer of snow

Studying and writing a presentation about loving kids for my MOPS group

This is my new Archer Farms mug. It is tall, simple and easy to hold. It came with a bag of grounds at Super Target. Archer Farms is their house brand. Decent coffee. I bought a second mug on clearance so it can have a partner. I think it would be nice if I actually shopped at a place called Archer Farms. I have to hand it to Target Corp. for their marketing group – Generic never looked so good.

So what brand am I? God created me. Do I have a logo? What do I represent when people interact with me?

Can I be spotted for my house brand flavor? Like the house of the Lord is my logo. Peter always gives me a friendly sneer for my close-but-not-close enough analogies. So forgive my stretch to compare a mug brand to myself.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children.

Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.

-Bible, Book of Deuteronomy, Chapter 6, Verses 5-8

So I am challenged today to teach my kids about how to love God and wear my faith like a God logo.  I strive to love God with all my soul, heart and strength in my home and beyond.

Stupid things I’ve done and regretted:

• Gossiped about a good friend
• Ate 3/4 of a 9X9 pan of brownies
• Forgotten sunscreen on the back of my knees at the State Fair
• Cut my own hair with an office scissor
• Thrown a laptop to the ground for revenge and broke it

Stupid things I’ve done and not regretted:

• Blasted the AC in my car with all the windows down just so I could have my hand skimming the wind
• Told a hot dude I would be his girlfriend if he asked (wink, hi Pete!)
• Worn yesterday’s underwear inside out
• Napped instead of cleaned
• Rode the rickety old Zipper carnival ride with my Mom at the State Fair and laughed until I couldn’t breath

Proverbs 10:8

⁸ The wise in heart accept commands,
but a chattering fool comes to ruin.