Creative thinking?

We were looking everywhere for my moms phone but couldn't find it. I remembered that Savannah had it last. She likes to put grandma's phone in a bag and carry it around.

"Savannah, have you seen Grandma's phone?" I asked with crossed fingers.

Most the time when you ask her important questions, she just stares and blinks.


"It's in my pocket" was her reply. My eyes rose to meet my mom's. I could tell we were both thinking the same thing.

Savannah was wearing a dress.

Her dress didn't have pockets.

"Where's the phone Savannah?"

Quickly, she grabbed the hem of her dress and pulled up to her head.

It was hard to miss the rectangular shaped object protruding like a plateau in the front of her underwear.

"In my pocket."

...and flashed us that smile.

Laughter quickly erupted and filled every corner of my house.

For the past week and a half, I have had the company of my mom and my sister in law Liz. What a wonderful week it has been. They have made my shoulders feel light again! My laundry and dishes were magically done by two housework fairies. (My dishwasher croaked a couple weeks ago, so the fairies had to hand wash everything.)

We spent most of our time playing in the water at the pond, and at the pool.

They have since gone home, and I am missing them terribly!

On the brighter side, I get to spend the weekend with one of my dearest friends.

I can't wait.

And there's another brighter side too...my mom, dad, sister and Liz, Mark and Truman are coming back in 11 days.

Oh and one last brighter side...my mother and father in law come early next week!

All are welcome at the Hotel Verde! Please come and see me!

(ahem, you know who you are)

You can come stay here while you explore DC!

A rite of passage.

Can you tell what's different about Tehya? I'll give you a treat if you can!

Oh

SWEET

WATERMELON

We're all feeling much better now.

the best medicine

I have an annoying cold, and I have behaved like a grumpy old sympathy seeker...lying around all day, in my pj's, barking out orders with tissues stuffed up my nose.
I was not a good mom today.
As I tucked each child in bed tonight, I apologized for my awful behavior and asked for forgiveness. My cheek received 3 precious kisses on it from my 3 youngest children. Lastly, I entered Tehyas room to say sorry. As I finished pledging my promise to be better tomorrow, she responded... "It's ok mom. When you're sick, it's like it doesn't count."

With that, she planted one last kiss on my cheek and I waltzed out of her room feeling so much better.

Forgiveness is such great medicine.

Sometimes I feel as if I am standing as straight as I can in the center of a storm, with dark sky swirling and winds dancing around me. It is hard to find peace and calm.

But it is there.

I can grab it, and hold on to it.

Chad has been traveling a lot lately. He works so hard for us, and I am so grateful he has a job. For some reason though, when he is gone, everything seems so much harder. One recent night as this "storm" gathered momentum around me, I found that I could no longer stand tall. I slumped to the floor of the kitchen and allowed my head to sink into the palms of my hands.

Then peace came.

Peace in the soft tickle of little fingers on my arm.

Peace in tiny lips kissing the top of my head.

Peace in stretched arms wrapped around my shoulders.

I am so grateful that peace will always come.

It will.

My washing machine is always full of towels now.


I don't mind. I'd much rather fold towels than sort through 4 different sizes of clothes. That's much easier isn't it?

Plus, they come home so worn out and go right to bed. How can I ask for anything more?

Feeling poopy

Guess how I found Vanna today after her nap?

Naked.

Guess what brown stuff I found smudged all over?

Poop.

Guess what I spent all day doing?

Feeling like Cinderella.