The Bebes

Can I just say, "THANK YOU!" Thank you for your sweet phone calls and comments and emails. You encourage me in so many ways and I am so thankful for you.

Before I had that good cry last Friday, Sister and I did manage to cook a whole chicken. We diced onions and sauteed them in butter with garlic. We rinsed that chicken and Sister oohed and ahhed over the lack of "inner'ds." Her comments kept me laughing. This was the first time she'd intentionally touched a raw chicken. At first, it was only with one finger and a look of disgust.

We talked about the ways food can minister to others - and the importance and beauty of learning to cook.

We boiled that baby until it was falling off the bone. At which time we pulled it out, sliced it open, and began "picking it." Little Man wanted "in" on the action. We gave him the fat and bones. He was hilarious. Every time he stripped a bone clean, he'd hold it up and in his toughest manly man voice he'd shout, "Anoder bone!!!!"

And we did make homemade chicken salad. Did you know you can take the meat you picked off the bone and put in in your kitchen aid with the "beater" paddle, turn her on for a bit, and she yields the most wonderful consistency of shredded chicken for chicken salad? The Engineer's cousin shared this with me. I'm trying not to think about how many weeks of my life I've spent picking and hand shredding/tearing chicken.

Monday The Engineer was off work and it was wonderful to me, to have him see the way our days run.

He also kept Little Man occupied for part of homeschool. They worked on building more book shelves for the library. {That sounds so sophisticated...it's really the den, but once the shelves are up, we're naming it "the library."}

This outfit was killing me. Another benefit of homeschooling. I'm not sure my pride could take going out in this. But, I'm learning to swallow. {I smile.}

We had fun with this little activity. Sister was eager to read each page aloud and then had a blast decorating with stickers.

As we live and learn, I'm tweaking things...figuring out how better to run this wonderful task of homeschooling. This week, I went over our meal plan with Sister - expressly because I incorporated a planned snack into each day. This has eliminated fussing over what the children do and don't want to eat. It's simplified things.

Before this week, during "snack time" I bumbled around the office/homeschool room, putting up this and straightening that. This week, I'm using our snack time to read aloud. We're still reading through the Little House series. We're so close to the end. Little Town on the Prairie has touched my heart again and again. Mary is getting ready to leave for college and Laura is deeply aware of how much life will change without her dear sister at home. I keep thinking of my own sisters and of my girls and their relationship. I pray they love one another well and deeply, as Laura and Mary did.

In a moment of desperation I handed this wooden puzzle/shapes set to Little Man. He was occupied for almost an hour. Sweet.

And all of that brings me to today. I spent the early hours of this morning with Little Bit cuddled in my arms, rocking back and forth beside the humidifier. She looped one arm around my neck and sucked her middle two fingers on the other hand...for quite a while. She'd cough and then cry a little.

Meanwhile, Little Man had come downstairs and announced his throat hurt and he was sick. I gave him some water and a cough drop, but really thought he was hamming it up for some attention. I dressed him and sent him upstairs to get his shoes for school. He cried and told me he "couldn't." I took him in my arms and just as I began explaining that whining isn't acceptable, he threw up all over me and down the steps.

And I cried out, "Oh Lord HELP ME!!!" (I usually dry-heave when they're sick...) as I tried in vain to catch it while we ran to the bathroom.

After his bath, but before the next few uh, episodes, he grinned at me and said, "Mama, you were weally wong. I WAS sick."

So we were "that" family at the doctor's office, you know, the ones with the throw up bowl. It was like the parting of the red sea. Everyone moved as far away as they could. {I don't blame them!}

Of course, croup and throwing up aren't enough. Warrior had to leave his mark on the way out the door. I'm just thankful I could haul that one outside and scrub/hose it down!

Yes, her hand is in his mouth. He took her pretzel. And she was okay with that.

Oddly enough, despite the throwing up, this has been a good day. I have LOVED holding Little Bit. I haven't even minded having a snot soaked shoulder...because that's where she lays her sweet little head.

These days are rich. And good. And sometimes gross.

And God is so in the details. The mailman just brought the mail. What was in there? A handmade card with a handwritten note from a sweet friend. This is what she wrote:

"I made this card with you in mind, and I hope you get this on a day that you need some encouragement....I pray that this year will not only teach your children much, but also that it will provide many opportunities for the Lord to bless you and teach you through your kids. I hope you will (more than ever) experience the grace and love and blessings of God as you instruct those little ones."

Precious. Thank you sweet friend. And how awesome to belong to a merciful heavenly Father who knows our needs before we even ask.

Blessings to you on this day!