One Day

While on the phone with my SIL (Pam) two nights ago, she asked me how my day was. Oh my. As if the entire month of April wasn't crazy enough, the last day of April gave new meaning to the term "stay-at-home-mom." I don't think there is such a thing as a stay-at-home-mom anymore. I also rejoiced yesterday when I turned the calendar to the month of May. :) May Day was delightful, but more on that another time.

Once Pam heard all about my busy day, she told me I needed to put it in my blog. For me to remember what just one day in my life looked like. So, here I go. (WARNING...this gets long.)

I knew today would be busy, so I set my alarm clock to wake me up earlier than usual. I don't like waking up early. To be honest, I make a terrible morning person. But today I don't have a choice. When it's time to wake up the boys, I discover one of them wet the bed. Strip the sheets, clean up the mess, get the boys going...all the while I'm thinking to myself, "At least I have 2 hours this morning to make my grocery list and go shopping. The rest of the day is full, but I can get a lot done in the next 2 hours." Braylen's walking out the door for school and he says, "Oh, Mom--I found some strange emails on my iPod this morning. I think someone hacked into my email. Bye!" I take Kaleb and Aaron to school, come home, and spend the next 2 hours cleaning up Braylen's hijacked email account. No groceries or meal plans today. Instead I learn all about email "spoofing" and other current-day lingo pertaining to computer hackers. I send an apology email to everyone on his contact list, change passwords on several accounts, delete emails, contacts, and trash folder, etc...

With 10 minutes before I need to leave for my meeting, I have enough sense to put the washed bedding in the dryer and put a chicken in the crock pot. Thank goodness I bought a chicken last week and never did anything with it. Troubled by the fact that Ginger's not acting like her normal spunky self, and still hasn't eaten her breakfast, I call the vet and set up an appointment for her. Subway has a $2 sub today, so I pack a bag of chips and a drink from home, run in and get my sub for $2.14, and arrive at my meeting only 1 minute late.

This is a women's ministry meeting at church. It passes by in a blur, but I do remember our leader (and very good friend of mine) asking me to share how I sense God leading me in the future of women's ministry. I have no idea what I said. I leave that meeting 30 minutes early, since I'm subbing at school today. I arrive at school and immerse myself in several projects. While visiting with another school employee, I discover she's been friends with my dog's vet since the 7th grade. She also tells me that this is our vet's last week at work, since she's moving out of state. Hmm, that's odd, since I suspect my dog needs surgery and I'm counting on this vet to do the procedure...I file that away for now.

The bell rings and I pass off my crosswalk duty to someone else, since Kaleb and Aaron have piano lessons in 15 minutes. We rush home and the teacher arrives 5 minutes early. Thank goodness for a piano teacher who comes to our house. I scribble out her check, make the boys promise me they'll be good, and take Ginger to her vet appointment. This place is a zoo, crowded with people and pets and just as jumbled as I'm feeling on the inside. They put me in a room with Ginger and we wait. And wait. And I find an issue of People magazine that keeps me blissfully occupied for the long 45 minute wait to see the doctor.

Once she comes in the room and looks at Ginger's fistula, she recommends it be removed through laser surgery. Just what I suspected she'd say. Can I bring her back tomorrow? Dollar signs flash before my eyes but I just want to get this taken care of, so I sign the paperwork and we talk about her upcoming move. Her troubles with her kids. She has some real serious stuff going on with her kids. I "wake up" in that moment and realize this is a Divine appointment. I tell her that my heart goes out to people who struggle, in any way, with their kids. Thanks to our battles with Aaron's epilepsy, I really do have genuine empathy and concern for other parents who just want to do what's best for their kids. She tells me her brother's son has the same kind of epilepsy Aaron has. We talk about anti-seizure meds. I'm thankful God "woke me up" to connect with this dear lady.

I drive home and tell Aaron to get his shoes on, it's time to go to his chiropractor appointment. We don't have a minute to spare, since my visit to the vet took so long. With much whining, he puts on his crocs. Just then my wonderful husband pulls into the driveway, and I realize he's taking Aaron to the doctor. Hallelujah! I have just enough time to put fries in the oven and heat up some frozen green beans. We sit down to eat and have 20 minutes before needing to leave for Cub Scouts.

Tonight we're flying kites at Scouts. I must say, while I'm standing outside in the open field watching dozens of kites fly in the blue sky, I feel a sense of peace wash over me. I did it. I made it through my crazy day. It's over now, and I can enjoy the moment. When the Scout meeting ends, we come home and fly kites in the not-yet-planted cornfield near our house. Even Braylen joins in. Ginger runs through the field fast as lightning, and I wonder how she'll be feeling after her surgery tomorrow.

Aaron flying a kite with Derek. The horse in the background is a nice touch. :)

When the boys are tucked in bed, I sort through backpacks and lunchboxes. I set my DVR for my favorite TV show, "Castle." I call Pam and tell her all about my day...and now I've come full circle with this blog post.

Someday I will miss these days I'm living in. But you know what? I don't think I'll miss this particular day. :)