How?

My patience level today: -1.

Why is this? What makes the difference? I got a pretty good amount of sleep last night, considering that I still have a baby who wakes up at night.

I'm not stressed.

I'm not pregnant.

The kids weren't particularly challenging today.

Joel and I have been extra loving toward each other.

I had a good scripture study session.

What changes things? Does anyone know the answer? Does anyone have a remedy?!!?

Year's Supply

Lately a significant portion of my mental power has been dedicated to building our year's supply.

Nope, not of food; of clothes for the kids. Since we're going to be starving students, I figured I would hit all the post-winter sales and get the clothes the kids will need for the upcoming year. I hoped to get everything, but I didn't think I would manage it.

But I have! I have everything all set for a year for both kids. Because I have been spreading it out, I have gotten some phenomenal deals and the entire lot hasn't cost much at all. The best purchases were ones I made at Ross and TJ Maxx. I was too cheap for the regular aisles and only shopped the clearance racks. . .and I found two pairs of 40 dollar jeans for Everett, totaling 12 dollars! I also found three pairs of shorts, totaling 15 dollars. They are all great brands, which is the best thing. I was so happy. The best part was, the only ones the stores had just happened to be the exact size that I needed.

The whole time I was getting kids clothes, I was worried about getting snow gear, especially for Everett. I have looked for winter coat sales but I didn't find anything that worked out. I was starting to get a little discouraged, but. . .

This past week, I was browsing the kids section on Craigslist, and I came across a listing for a parachute (you know, the kind with handles that kids use) and immediately remembered that some of the nursery leaders and I were talking about getting one. I contacted the seller and picked it up the next day.

And, guess what? When I walked in her house she had bags and bags of clothes she was donating. I am too shy to ask her about them, but for some reason she looked at me and held up a pair of size 7/8 boys winter snow boots.

"Would you like these as well? I'll just give them to you," She said.

Would I!?! Those are the exact size I was looking for! I happily accepted. Then she gave me a pair of winter snowpants and a coat that matched. She also threw in four pairs of knit/athletic shorts. All for free!

What was it that made her ask me about those particular items, out of all the ones she had in her house? They were exactly what I needed.

What a blessing! It was a small thing, but it really made me feel that the Lord is mindful of our family. That is more meaningful to me than the items I received.

Am I the only one who thinks this way?

This post is completely self-indulgent. Ready? Ok.

I have been realizing lately that I am sympathetic, pretty much to a fault. I would make a terrible, terrible police interrogator.

I would start asking the person questions, get down to the meaty stuff, notice that they are looking uncomfortable, and reflexively inquire if they would like anything to eat.

The whole time I would wonder if maybe, possibly, this man--the person the beat cop found in the act of mugging a man to death--really was out of his mind, and didn't mean to do it. The poor guy. I mean, right? Maybe his wife is dying of cancer and his children are starving and they are all about to get evicted, which would be too bad because they don't even have a car to live in anymore, since he sold it to the woman down the street for far below bluebook value, but it didn't matter because he needed the money to get his children food after watching them starve for three days, so he sold it to her anyway, and now the money has run out, and he just became desperate.

AND the guy he chose to mug pulled a knife on him, and the mugger didn't know what to do, so he tried to grab it, and an all-out knife fight began, but since the mugger was so desperate, his adrenaline kicked in--because his family would certainly be gonners without him--and before he knew it, the knife had worked its way somehow into the man's stomach, and as he started backing away in horror, he heard sirens wailing, crying "you're guilty! you're guilty! you're guilty!" like some sort of ambulatory conscience, and then, he tried to run but stumbled because he was also wounded, and the police caught up with him. . .and suddenly he didn't even know himself anymore.

[Whew.]


But then I'd take a look at the hardened, deadened glint in the mugger's eye, and I'd tell myself that certainly that story--the story that my mind completely fabricated--couldn't be true and he must have meant every inch of that knife fight.

But it would be too late. The doubt would have already fogged my judgement.



You know how at the end of those crime shows, the guilty person is finally apprehended by the police, and at first they start to deny everything, but then they realize that they are caught and there's no way out? And you know how at that moment, they look as though they are watching their life get snuffed out in front of them, and despair sets in, and they begin to look a little frantic?


Well, whenever I watch those shows, this is the point where I feel pangs of pity for the murderer/serial killer/thief/cold-blooded whatever. I can't explain it, but suddenly I feel deeply sorry for that person.

Sure, I feel sorry that they commited the crime, but I also feel sorry because I know that at that moment, they realize there is no more hope and the rest of their life has been completely altered for the worse. There is nothing they can do, they've fallen into the deep, deep hole they created for themselves, and everything they love is all over.

You can bet that if I was the interrogator at that point, I'd quietly excuse myself from the room and ask my superior if we can offer some sort of anemic plea bargain. Because really, this scare might be enough to change them, right, especially if this person was not the sort to ever do this again?

Right?

But deep down, I'd know that the murderer is getting his due consequences, I'd be glad that the person in question is off the street, and I'd only hope that they have the opportunity to repent before they get to the next life.

And then? Then, I'd want to go home, crawl under my covers, and watch a movie about people who are so happy, so perfect, and so loving, daisies sprout involuntarily out of their foreheads.

They'd be singing and frolicking and laughing, and it would be lovely.

Absolutely lovely.

What To Do?

Everett is asleep on the couch. Joel is asleep next to him. Ashley is still sleeping in her crib, which is in my room.

The next thing on my list was to organize my room and get things ready to give away. But I can't do that with a sleeping baby in there.

What should I do? I've all ready gone through the kids clothes and boxed them up. I've all ready cleaned up around here. I tried to ask Everett if he wanted to make cupcakes with me, which always gets me big, big reactions, but this time? Nothing. Just a groan and a roll over on the couch. I would make dinner, but everyone is still sick, and no one would want to eat it but me!

If I sneak away now, no one will probably notice for a while. Do you think I should go take myself out to dinner? I'm starting to really think about it. . .

(knock on wood that I don't get sick. knock on wood. knock on wood.)

Having Fun

Know what's fun?




Cardboard box tunnels are fun.

Really fun.

It almost makes you forget that you are sick.

(But your mother announcing that it's bedtime will miraculously make your symptoms reappear.)

It's a good thing the five minute warning works with this child.

Getting Well

Today is an interesting day. Everyone is sick but me! I think it is just a cold, but the kids are feverish and cranky, and Joel is feverish and lethargic.

I remember when I had strep throat growing up, that my mom would rent Anne of Green Gables and make me campbell's chicken and rice soup--per my request. I don't know why I liked it so much. Now I would definitely prefer homemade soup, or at least a better pre-made kind.

So, this morning I ran to the grocery store to pick up some gatorade, popsicles, and milk, and I stopped at the video rental store. I was going to pick up the Lion King, but the movies were in complete disarray because they were "renovating." After spending a while looking through all the movies, and only finding "Simba's Pride," I had to settle with "Brother Bear." None of us had ever seen it before, and it is kind of cute. Everett is captivated, anyway, which is the goal.

In a way it is kind of fun to play nursemaid to everyone. It is fun to think of special things to do to help them feel better, and it is nice to be needed.

But, I'm sure I won't be singing the same tune when bedtime rolls around!

Ologists

I have already mentioned that Joel and I went up to Philadelphia on Thursday to watch BYU's tournament game. It was a lot of fun. The last time I went to a basketball game, I saw the Jazz with some friends, but it has been a while.

I really enjoyed the basketball game. The time flew by and the excitement of the fans was infectious. It helped that we had really good seats; we were on the corner, but we were sitting in the 11th row. I thought the seats were pretty good, and this thought was confirmed when Joel noticed who was sitting a few rows back from us:

Joe Lunardi, who looked like he was really enjoying himself.

(for those of you who don't know who Joe Lunardi is, don't feel bad. He is called a "bracketologist" and gets overhyped to
talk about which teams will with the NCAA tournament. If you care (I don't), you can learn more about him here).

And don't worry. He didn't know we were taking the picture. I pretended to be taking a picture of us, even though Joel kept making fun of me.

So, that was fun. Even though I really don't care what Joe Lunardi thinks, and I can promise you that not one ounce of my mental energy has been devoted to determining the tournament winners, it was kind of fun to know that we saw a "celebrity".