In a perfect world things on a "To Do List" get accomplished.
To do list:
Get laundry completely done
Pack suitcases
Wash van
Pack van
Pick up a few ingredients to make dessert
Make pies for dinner at friends' home
In our world:
Do enough laundry to make outfits for everyone then stop.
Pack suitcases then recheck them because kids are taking outfits out to get dressed for the day.
Wash van
Agree to let everyone wear swimsuits to make it "fun" and get some help out of them.
Wash the van. Play in the water. Kids get covered with mud on arms and legs while you're detailing road grime off hubcaps.
Send kids in to get showers.
Move the van out of the yard to go and supervise showers.
Get the van stuck in the yard. Spin out in reverse and forward.
Continue gunning it to try to get the van unstuck.
Sink the tire down to the rim.
Attempt to jack up the tire only to have the jack dig further into the soft ground.
Retrieve some scrap wood to put the jack on.
Watch the jack dig a hole into the wood as we crank it.
Shove some twigs and a 2x4 down in the hole to hopefully get some traction.
Attempt to get out of the hole. Throw out the 2x4 in the process.
Retrieve a piece of paneling to stick up next to the tire for traction. Fail again.
Drive to high school to recruit the coach and borrow his truck. Get a couple from the team out of school to come help pull the van out.
Success! Thank the coach and guys who came to the rescue.
Rewash van from muddy spin outs.
Ruin a bottle brush breaking up mud from tire.
Wash tire again. And again. And again.
Run in and shower off the mud from the day.
Run to store for ingredients.
Start to prep pies, realize the butter box in the fridge doesn't actually have any butter in it.
Realize pies need to bake 30 minutes longer than I have before we need to be leaving the house to arrive on time.
Pick up an ice cream cake at Dairy Queen instead.
Friday, March 14, 2014
Saturday, March 1, 2014
You might live in a small town if:
You call up to the Chamber of Commerce to reserve a ticket for the current play and after being asked the name to hold the ticket for, the lady says, "Isn't he in the play?"
You run into people in the community while your husband is gone in Israel and they ask me how I'm making it while he's gone. Then they offer to help with anything if I need it.
You feel safe taking your 10-year-old up on her offer to go into the Family Dollar to buy toilet paper by herself.
While at the grocery store, you always run into at least a couple of people you know and then hang around to catch up.
Your pharmacist knows you by name. (I'm trusting this is a wonderful quality on their part and not that we have 5 kids and have a need for medicines often in the winter months.)
The teller at the bank drive-thru asks how your husband's trip was when you are there cashing a check.
You get a Christmas card signed by all the bank tellers at your bank.
Your husband walks into Subway to order subs and the person behind the counter hands him a hairbow left the last time your family was there.
The pizza you get when you do "carry out" comes from a gas station. And it's awesome!
You've had a tab at the Shell Station, and at the Country Kitchen. And the library.
Your husband makes the announcement from the pulpit that baby #4 is on the way and by the time you go out to lunch following the service, your waitress is congratulating you.
You feel safe at the 4th of July festivities on the square because everyone knows who the redheads belong to if they wander off.
You can put a stamped envelope in your mailbox with only the name of who is to receive it and the postman will get it there.
You call in to your doctor's office during the lunch hour expecting to leave a message on the nurse's line and your doctor answers in person.
You can check out books at the library and you don't even need to pull out your library card.
The guy at Dairy Queen takes the time to make you a Cherry Coke even though they don't technically have it on the menu.
It's a nice little town with super nice folks and we enjoy living among them!
You run into people in the community while your husband is gone in Israel and they ask me how I'm making it while he's gone. Then they offer to help with anything if I need it.
You feel safe taking your 10-year-old up on her offer to go into the Family Dollar to buy toilet paper by herself.
While at the grocery store, you always run into at least a couple of people you know and then hang around to catch up.
Your pharmacist knows you by name. (I'm trusting this is a wonderful quality on their part and not that we have 5 kids and have a need for medicines often in the winter months.)
The teller at the bank drive-thru asks how your husband's trip was when you are there cashing a check.
You get a Christmas card signed by all the bank tellers at your bank.
Your husband walks into Subway to order subs and the person behind the counter hands him a hairbow left the last time your family was there.
The pizza you get when you do "carry out" comes from a gas station. And it's awesome!
You've had a tab at the Shell Station, and at the Country Kitchen. And the library.
Your husband makes the announcement from the pulpit that baby #4 is on the way and by the time you go out to lunch following the service, your waitress is congratulating you.
You feel safe at the 4th of July festivities on the square because everyone knows who the redheads belong to if they wander off.
You can put a stamped envelope in your mailbox with only the name of who is to receive it and the postman will get it there.
You call in to your doctor's office during the lunch hour expecting to leave a message on the nurse's line and your doctor answers in person.
You can check out books at the library and you don't even need to pull out your library card.
The guy at Dairy Queen takes the time to make you a Cherry Coke even though they don't technically have it on the menu.
It's a nice little town with super nice folks and we enjoy living among them!
Monday, February 24, 2014
Davises do drill
The calm before in the storm:
We had spent 2 hours at play practice Thursday night. We left the theater at 8:15 and bee lined for DQ to get me a coke and some chicken quesadillas because I knew it was probably going to be a long night. I promised the girls I'd make them cheese roll-ups once we got home. I learned something very important. DQ guy will MAKE you a Cherry Coke if you ask if they have it. I felt very special.
So, I sip it down in disbelief I am actually drinking a Cherry Coke from the drive-thru in Byrdstown!!!! I mean...only the big wigs in Livingston serve Cherry Coke!
Anyhow, we get home and get busy making cheese roll-ups individually in the microwave. Anna figures out the process and says she'll take over, so I run downstairs to toss the load of clothes washed that morning into the dryer then start another load. And these are the days of our lives.
I head back upstairs. A couple girls are eating, Adalyn has a Netflix movie on too loud d/s, Alivia is scooting her baby doll stroller across the tile floor and it's just overall a pretty chaotic scene.
I take a quick moment to download the News 5 app on my phone so I can be tuned in like Louis is (but since he's in Isreal he's not tuned in and won't be keeping us informed of the weather, either).
That was easy enough. I get on Facebook for the the first time in a few hours just thinking I'd leisurely scroll down the news feed to see how everyone's day was going and immediately see a friend's post: "Byrdstown friends, be careful. Tornado warning right now"....or something heart-stopping like that.
Immediately I start yelling for everyone to head to the basement. I keep yelling out names of girls
hoping they're hearing me from wherever they are in the house. Like a mad woman, I'm grabbing pillows off our bed. Then I rip off our comforter too (it somewhat resembled the way a magician would do a tablecloth during his act- only the other junk on top of it just fell to the floor instead of staying put.) Oh well.
Our home phone rings. I run after the cordless. The caller I.D. reads, "Methodist Parsonage". My thoughts were: we are the Methodist parsonage. Why is our house calling itself? Confused, I answer the phone as I'm walking into the middle basement room to where I have all the girls corralled. It's a pastor friend from Celina checking in on us and saying the storm is heading our way. As a reply, I'm saying, " I just saw the tornado warning on Facebook".
Upon hearing me say that, our girls start crying. So I'm on the phone trying to express my genuine appreciation for my friend's concern for us in between a chorus of crying. As if that wasn't a good enough dose of crazy, my cell phone (that I'm holding with my other hand) starts blaring out as if it's counting down the detonation to a bomb. Oh. It's none other than the stinkin' News 5 app giving me the alert that we were under a Tornado Warning. Girls are crying loudly. I'm assuring my friend we are in the basement and that we'll call if we need anything. As soon as I end the call, the cordless phone rings again but I ignore it this time and let it ring as I try to console the girls assuring them it's gonna be okay. Then the answering machine picks up and it's an automated recording from the National Weather Service: "Attention. Your county may be in the path of a tornado. Please seek shelter immediately". Girls hear it, and start crying again. They don't call it "screaming like a little girl" for nothin'.
When the crying is under control, I point out that we can't even hear the thunder. (Due to the washer and dryer running) How great! Almost simultaneously after I said that though, the washer and dryer
cycles end and it's completely silent. I'm holding my breath and stuck in a moment of : do I run over
and restart them? But then the silence is broken by the thunder. Then they're afraid all over again.
So, I thought we needed a crash-course in a tornado drill. As I'm demonstrating how to crouch down with your head down and covered by pillows and arms, Anna grows more frightful and is almost shaking at this point. She is complaining, "It's not comfortable." and "How long do we need to stay like this?" In my less-than-glorious-mom-moment, I'm saying, "Do you wanna be comfortable or do you wanna be alive?"
After I realized the crash course was only making things worse , I just started praying out loud over our huddle and rebuking the storm. We then settled in to reading Dr. Seuss books and looking at Louis' pictures of Israel in the Dropbox of the tablet. It's amazing how useful the thunder became when you're fitting words into a chanted rhyme!
And that's how we found the calm in the storm.
We had spent 2 hours at play practice Thursday night. We left the theater at 8:15 and bee lined for DQ to get me a coke and some chicken quesadillas because I knew it was probably going to be a long night. I promised the girls I'd make them cheese roll-ups once we got home. I learned something very important. DQ guy will MAKE you a Cherry Coke if you ask if they have it. I felt very special.
So, I sip it down in disbelief I am actually drinking a Cherry Coke from the drive-thru in Byrdstown!!!! I mean...only the big wigs in Livingston serve Cherry Coke!
Anyhow, we get home and get busy making cheese roll-ups individually in the microwave. Anna figures out the process and says she'll take over, so I run downstairs to toss the load of clothes washed that morning into the dryer then start another load. And these are the days of our lives.
I head back upstairs. A couple girls are eating, Adalyn has a Netflix movie on too loud d/s, Alivia is scooting her baby doll stroller across the tile floor and it's just overall a pretty chaotic scene.
I take a quick moment to download the News 5 app on my phone so I can be tuned in like Louis is (but since he's in Isreal he's not tuned in and won't be keeping us informed of the weather, either).
That was easy enough. I get on Facebook for the the first time in a few hours just thinking I'd leisurely scroll down the news feed to see how everyone's day was going and immediately see a friend's post: "Byrdstown friends, be careful. Tornado warning right now"....or something heart-stopping like that.
Immediately I start yelling for everyone to head to the basement. I keep yelling out names of girls
hoping they're hearing me from wherever they are in the house. Like a mad woman, I'm grabbing pillows off our bed. Then I rip off our comforter too (it somewhat resembled the way a magician would do a tablecloth during his act- only the other junk on top of it just fell to the floor instead of staying put.) Oh well.
Our home phone rings. I run after the cordless. The caller I.D. reads, "Methodist Parsonage". My thoughts were: we are the Methodist parsonage. Why is our house calling itself? Confused, I answer the phone as I'm walking into the middle basement room to where I have all the girls corralled. It's a pastor friend from Celina checking in on us and saying the storm is heading our way. As a reply, I'm saying, " I just saw the tornado warning on Facebook".
Upon hearing me say that, our girls start crying. So I'm on the phone trying to express my genuine appreciation for my friend's concern for us in between a chorus of crying. As if that wasn't a good enough dose of crazy, my cell phone (that I'm holding with my other hand) starts blaring out as if it's counting down the detonation to a bomb. Oh. It's none other than the stinkin' News 5 app giving me the alert that we were under a Tornado Warning. Girls are crying loudly. I'm assuring my friend we are in the basement and that we'll call if we need anything. As soon as I end the call, the cordless phone rings again but I ignore it this time and let it ring as I try to console the girls assuring them it's gonna be okay. Then the answering machine picks up and it's an automated recording from the National Weather Service: "Attention. Your county may be in the path of a tornado. Please seek shelter immediately". Girls hear it, and start crying again. They don't call it "screaming like a little girl" for nothin'.
When the crying is under control, I point out that we can't even hear the thunder. (Due to the washer and dryer running) How great! Almost simultaneously after I said that though, the washer and dryer
cycles end and it's completely silent. I'm holding my breath and stuck in a moment of : do I run over
and restart them? But then the silence is broken by the thunder. Then they're afraid all over again.
So, I thought we needed a crash-course in a tornado drill. As I'm demonstrating how to crouch down with your head down and covered by pillows and arms, Anna grows more frightful and is almost shaking at this point. She is complaining, "It's not comfortable." and "How long do we need to stay like this?" In my less-than-glorious-mom-moment, I'm saying, "Do you wanna be comfortable or do you wanna be alive?"
After I realized the crash course was only making things worse , I just started praying out loud over our huddle and rebuking the storm. We then settled in to reading Dr. Seuss books and looking at Louis' pictures of Israel in the Dropbox of the tablet. It's amazing how useful the thunder became when you're fitting words into a chanted rhyme!
And that's how we found the calm in the storm.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Mothering a future bride
Nothing prepares you for having a 10-year old.
All of a sudden, she is 3 years shy of being a teenager. She'll hate me. She'll resent me. She'll know everything. I'll know nothing.
She could fall head over heels at 14 for the boy who could be her future husband (like me).
She'll be driving in 6 years. She could be moving out in 8. Married in 9 (like me). Is she ready? Am I?
I know it sounds like I'm panicking. I am.
All of a sudden, I find myself cramming for a final that I'm not prepared for. Sitting in my dorm room typing ridiculously fast trying to meet a deadline when I had months to get ready for this as "outlined by the syllabus".
We've had 10 wonderful years with her. But all of a sudden that feels like only months of milestones, especially when we realize and remember that in 4 years she could be looking at a boy with a head in the clouds and twinkle in her eye. And that is the scariest feeling in the world, when you were just reminding her a few moments ago to cover her mouth when she burps.
I've really been uneasy about the thought of boyfriends/future husbands. Have we taught her by a good godly example?
I don't remember how exactly it came up, but we were on our way to Cookeville. Abigail mentioned something about getting married one day. Louis and I had just the day before, gotten into a deep conversation together about wanting them to hold the highest of standards when it came to choosing a husband. Louis interjected, "Just don't settle". To which Abigail replied, "The Lord will provide".
All of a sudden, she is 3 years shy of being a teenager. She'll hate me. She'll resent me. She'll know everything. I'll know nothing.
She could fall head over heels at 14 for the boy who could be her future husband (like me).
She'll be driving in 6 years. She could be moving out in 8. Married in 9 (like me). Is she ready? Am I?
I know it sounds like I'm panicking. I am.
All of a sudden, I find myself cramming for a final that I'm not prepared for. Sitting in my dorm room typing ridiculously fast trying to meet a deadline when I had months to get ready for this as "outlined by the syllabus".
We've had 10 wonderful years with her. But all of a sudden that feels like only months of milestones, especially when we realize and remember that in 4 years she could be looking at a boy with a head in the clouds and twinkle in her eye. And that is the scariest feeling in the world, when you were just reminding her a few moments ago to cover her mouth when she burps.
I've really been uneasy about the thought of boyfriends/future husbands. Have we taught her by a good godly example?
I don't remember how exactly it came up, but we were on our way to Cookeville. Abigail mentioned something about getting married one day. Louis and I had just the day before, gotten into a deep conversation together about wanting them to hold the highest of standards when it came to choosing a husband. Louis interjected, "Just don't settle". To which Abigail replied, "The Lord will provide".
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
10 Birthday Surprises as our Firstborn enters Double-Digits
10 Birthday Surprises for our 10-year old
June 14, 2013
#1....9:00 p.m.-Trip to Jamestown movie theater to see Epic. It's WAY cheaper to go to Castle Cinemas to see a movie when there's a bunch of you. I only wish our bunch didn't get so car sick on those whirly roads going to Jamestown and home.
June 15, 2013
#2...9:30 a.m.- Picnic breakfast at Dale Hollow Lake. We ate our fruit and muffins then I left and picked up friends, Analese and Sienna to come swim with us. Abigail was so surprised! They all swam, played in the sand, then we dried off, ate a snack, and they played on the playground. Wet suits and sand are ENEMIES in your vehicle. We felt pretty wise to wait 30 minutes after getting out of the water before loading the bus!
#3...1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.- Jr. Ranger Program to learn a little about Astronomy. They learned how to make a sun dial. Our little God-girls were pretty puzzled as to why ANYONE would worship the sun. (So proud of them for their remarks!) Then they did a little activity demonstrating why stars aren't visible during the day, followed by a talk about gravity. (Anything using water balloons is sure to be a winner!) While we were there, Louis was getting our homemade slip n' slide ready.
#4...3:30 p.m. - Putt-Putt and Dessert. Abigail's friend Emma came to church to play putt-putt. She brought a gift which Abigail opened right away, and then Abigail gave Emma the friendship bracelet she asked us to order for them. It was sweet. The two played putt-putt while little sisters played on various holes. Afterwards, we sang "Happy Birthday" eating some delicious Chocolate Éclair!
#5...5pm-ish- Homemade Slip n' Slide. White plastic, baby oil, water hose...then later a blown up raft= nearly 2 hours of fun! I'm sure to spectators we looked pretty goofy, but we all had a blast! Here's a tip: Denim does not get you much distance. Another: Just because you were a pro slip n' slider 20 years ago, doesn't mean you still have it. If you still insist on trying it out, plan to be VERY sore for the next 5 days! I think all agreed that this should make another debut. THEY LOVED it! They showered and got ready for #6.
#6...7ish- Cookout. Louis grilled some delicious Johnsonville Brat Patties and Brats. We scarfed down the "burgers" then started eating brats. After about 4 bites, my mouth was on fire!!! Louis made his delayed declaration, "Oh. I guess that's why they are called New Orleans style." YA THINK!!!!! We laughed and then it hit us: On Father's Day 10 years ago, church friends invited us to their farm for a cookout. Henry mistakenly gave me a hot sausage instead of a polish sausage. The next morning my water broke and Abigail was born that evening, 2 weeks early! So it was some major Deja vu
#7...We gifted her a new bike. We made Abigail go hide out in her room and then Louis pulled it out of the back of then van. She was led out by Aliza. You want a good laugh- you should let a 5 year-old lead out your clumsy nearly 10 yr. old who has her eyes closed! It was hilarious watching them!
#8...8:30 p.m. Ice Cream Treats from Dairy Queen.
Abigail got the new S'Mores mini Blizzard. It was quite good! Anna got Mint Oreo and Aliza got the M&Ms mini Blizzard. Adalyn got a Red/White/Blue star, Louis got Heath Blizzard and I got a caramel sundae. We nervously allowed them to eat them in the van because they started to melt on the way home.
#9...Bonfire and finished our DQ treats. We love sitting around a campfire! We talked about the fun we had and what favorites were up until that point. Anna asked if #10 would be the best and we told her we hoped it would. Luckily the mosquitoes started biting and we turned in for the night. I doubt 5 minutes passed before all eyes were closed.
Sunday, June 16, 2013 (her actual birthday)
#10...Birthday Blessing. After our congregation cleared out of the sanctuary and left for either Sunday School or home, Louis called our girls back into the sanctuary. It was there, we had Abigail kneel down at the altar and all 6 of us laid hands on her. Louis anointed her head with oil and we each went around and prayed aloud for her and her life. Tears welled up in my eyes but didn't fall. I opened my eyes and saw tears falling from Abigail's eyes down her cheeks while her sisters prayed their own blessings over her. It was as if mine fell through hers. It was one of the most precious moments I've ever had as a mother. It was also one of the closest moments I've felt to my husband. Sharing parenthood with him and leaning on the Lord in doing so is my biggest honor.
June 14, 2013
#1....9:00 p.m.-Trip to Jamestown movie theater to see Epic. It's WAY cheaper to go to Castle Cinemas to see a movie when there's a bunch of you. I only wish our bunch didn't get so car sick on those whirly roads going to Jamestown and home.
June 15, 2013
#2...9:30 a.m.- Picnic breakfast at Dale Hollow Lake. We ate our fruit and muffins then I left and picked up friends, Analese and Sienna to come swim with us. Abigail was so surprised! They all swam, played in the sand, then we dried off, ate a snack, and they played on the playground. Wet suits and sand are ENEMIES in your vehicle. We felt pretty wise to wait 30 minutes after getting out of the water before loading the bus!
#3...1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.- Jr. Ranger Program to learn a little about Astronomy. They learned how to make a sun dial. Our little God-girls were pretty puzzled as to why ANYONE would worship the sun. (So proud of them for their remarks!) Then they did a little activity demonstrating why stars aren't visible during the day, followed by a talk about gravity. (Anything using water balloons is sure to be a winner!) While we were there, Louis was getting our homemade slip n' slide ready.
#4...3:30 p.m. - Putt-Putt and Dessert. Abigail's friend Emma came to church to play putt-putt. She brought a gift which Abigail opened right away, and then Abigail gave Emma the friendship bracelet she asked us to order for them. It was sweet. The two played putt-putt while little sisters played on various holes. Afterwards, we sang "Happy Birthday" eating some delicious Chocolate Éclair!
#5...5pm-ish- Homemade Slip n' Slide. White plastic, baby oil, water hose...then later a blown up raft= nearly 2 hours of fun! I'm sure to spectators we looked pretty goofy, but we all had a blast! Here's a tip: Denim does not get you much distance. Another: Just because you were a pro slip n' slider 20 years ago, doesn't mean you still have it. If you still insist on trying it out, plan to be VERY sore for the next 5 days! I think all agreed that this should make another debut. THEY LOVED it! They showered and got ready for #6.
#6...7ish- Cookout. Louis grilled some delicious Johnsonville Brat Patties and Brats. We scarfed down the "burgers" then started eating brats. After about 4 bites, my mouth was on fire!!! Louis made his delayed declaration, "Oh. I guess that's why they are called New Orleans style." YA THINK!!!!! We laughed and then it hit us: On Father's Day 10 years ago, church friends invited us to their farm for a cookout. Henry mistakenly gave me a hot sausage instead of a polish sausage. The next morning my water broke and Abigail was born that evening, 2 weeks early! So it was some major Deja vu
#7...We gifted her a new bike. We made Abigail go hide out in her room and then Louis pulled it out of the back of then van. She was led out by Aliza. You want a good laugh- you should let a 5 year-old lead out your clumsy nearly 10 yr. old who has her eyes closed! It was hilarious watching them!
#8...8:30 p.m. Ice Cream Treats from Dairy Queen.
Abigail got the new S'Mores mini Blizzard. It was quite good! Anna got Mint Oreo and Aliza got the M&Ms mini Blizzard. Adalyn got a Red/White/Blue star, Louis got Heath Blizzard and I got a caramel sundae. We nervously allowed them to eat them in the van because they started to melt on the way home.
#9...Bonfire and finished our DQ treats. We love sitting around a campfire! We talked about the fun we had and what favorites were up until that point. Anna asked if #10 would be the best and we told her we hoped it would. Luckily the mosquitoes started biting and we turned in for the night. I doubt 5 minutes passed before all eyes were closed.
Sunday, June 16, 2013 (her actual birthday)
#10...Birthday Blessing. After our congregation cleared out of the sanctuary and left for either Sunday School or home, Louis called our girls back into the sanctuary. It was there, we had Abigail kneel down at the altar and all 6 of us laid hands on her. Louis anointed her head with oil and we each went around and prayed aloud for her and her life. Tears welled up in my eyes but didn't fall. I opened my eyes and saw tears falling from Abigail's eyes down her cheeks while her sisters prayed their own blessings over her. It was as if mine fell through hers. It was one of the most precious moments I've ever had as a mother. It was also one of the closest moments I've felt to my husband. Sharing parenthood with him and leaning on the Lord in doing so is my biggest honor.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Family Night(mare)
Want to know what could be the worst thing to happen when you're out to eat?
It's three people dressed as Easter Bunnies making rounds to everyone's table during your visit for Family Night. We averaged about 3 minutes between each rabbit.
If only Adalyn didn't feel the need to get out of her chair and run over to get hugs each time one passed, we might not have minded the Bunny Parade as much. As one approached, she'd start, "Here comes the Easter Bunny. Right here. RIGHT HERE!!!" Then it was, "Bye-Bye Easter Bunny. See ya. See ya! SEE YA!"
In her most quiet and soft voice. Is there such a thing in a 3-year-old?
It's three people dressed as Easter Bunnies making rounds to everyone's table during your visit for Family Night. We averaged about 3 minutes between each rabbit.
If only Adalyn didn't feel the need to get out of her chair and run over to get hugs each time one passed, we might not have minded the Bunny Parade as much. As one approached, she'd start, "Here comes the Easter Bunny. Right here. RIGHT HERE!!!" Then it was, "Bye-Bye Easter Bunny. See ya. See ya! SEE YA!"
In her most quiet and soft voice. Is there such a thing in a 3-year-old?
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