Just Fine

So..my babies are all back under the same roof.  The temporary roof, but our home for now. ; )

The house is moving along..slower now because of all the rain we've had!  I have to be thankful for the amazing green grass and lower temperatures in the middle of August though.

 

And y'all..I have to be honest here.  I am feeling super overwhelmed.  The house, school starting, and my kiddos have been s-i-c-k.  That awful four-letter-word that I hate to hate.  I even hate to say I hate it.  The boys have had coxsackie virus.  The ol' hand-foot-mouth disease.  They had fever.  Then two made it to the first day of school, then just one today.  We'll see about tomorrow when it gets here.  Ethan hasn't even been for his first day yet.  I feel sorry for him.  (and they are so excited at that age!!)

 

Anyway, it's tough to balance it all.  No one said four sweet kids was easy, nuh-uh.  They said it was possible.  But thank God, with Him, it's possible.  So, today I did have to drop to my knees to pray for the next hour, and the next minutes of each hour.  It's a hard road (that I've chosen!) to keep everyone on the right track, and make sure they are Godly tracks.  I prayed for wisdom, and grace, and mercy for all those minutes that I might not have the time to stop to pray.

 

All that to say, even in the racing to the school for the first child, then driving to the second school (back on the highway again..), and in front of the school, the little one shows me some dots on his arm.. and we go back home again.

Since Ches didn't have to leave for work until ten, he stayed while I ran Mary Claire's health management plan (for school) to the doctor's office in Bentonville, ran by the plumbing supply house in Springdale to pick out a new bathtub, then to Fayetteville to pick up two prescriptions, then by the school to drop some medicine..then back home knowing I was just beginning the day.

My lighting estimate (for all my indoor and outdoor light fixtures) is over by a wee bit.  (well..maybe a few thousand?) Remember all those gorgeous lights I found in all my research?  Well, they are certainly beautiful.  But the companies actually know it, so they charge more for all that amazingness.  So..I'm back to working on solutions. ; )

 

And thank goodness we have had a good builder..and that all the King's men are so responsive.  ; )  We are seeing work happen, and it's reassuring that they hear us.  Some things got fixed today, and our front doors are installed!  I didn't actually get to see them in the daylight, but they are there.  And we have some door knobs.  The framers are done.  And all the electrical and plumbing is pretty much finished.  The roof is on and shingled. (finally, hurray!)  Now, we await the city's approval to continue..then get insulation and drywall.  Brick begins on Monday, so we are definitely getting closer.

Every night I finish up those unfinished tasks, pray some more, and somehow am granted more mercy (and grace!) to continue the next day.  I'm wondering.  ..when we tell someone that we are just :fine: is it truth?  Does it make them feel like their lives are less than fine?  Does it make our lives sound better than theirs?

I think I'll just tell the truth.  My kids are sick (throats hurt, want to be held..bored at home..need attention), Mary Claire's pump is beeping (Low Reservoir, Low Reservoir), everyone is hungry, I'm pulling a rabbit out of a hat every minute and performing small miracles (maintaining patience at box/fort/house-stealing in the living room, name calling, and tongues touching people) ..but I'm fine.  See?  Not so perfect, so no need to feel less-than me.  Can't get lower than your knees.

 

Hope y'all are more than just fine.  But, just in case..I'll pray for you anyway. ; )

My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.  Psalm 121:2