Week's end

Spent a second day this week (the other one was Monday) helping out a neighbor by watching her two little ones while she had important things to do. (there's a terminally ill grandmother, who's about to go on hospice care, and I'm helping them by watching the kids while they trade off watching the g'mother) I'm whupped! I'm not sure if the 7 month old baby made such a difference, or just spending so much time in someone else's house. It was the same on Monday. Long day.

Our kids were such troopers, though. I can see our house from theirs and it was good to be able to 'sort of' keep an eye on our children while I was gone.

I was there today from 9:30am until nearly 4pm, and I'll tell you, it was so wonderful to walk back home and see our kids. Funny how much I appreciate them when I'm forced to be separated for awhile. Then, after taking a small late lunch break, I went to the grocery with two of the boys....and spent the rest of the evening on auto-pilot...am looking forward to bed, that's for sure. All I'm missing is a juicy book to hide myself in. It's been awhile since I've totally enjoyed a read. Will have to figure out that one---can't go long without a good book.

Oh, and not as an afterthought, but I did want to say that the tobyMac concert last night was choice. We all enjoyed it so much. I'd post some photos, but the lighting was so intense, that my camera caught more glare than people. I'm still a bit wowed that we got to see them. One of our boys was so excited, he said he was looking forward to this concert more than anything else he'd ever done. Glad it measured up. ;) Totally cool, that's for sure.

Looking forward to a quiet weekend. Church tomorrow night, and enjoyment of the 60 degree days we're supposed to be treated with for the next few days. I don't want to 'have to' do anything. Sounds good, yes?!!

All I know...

• Today is our 26th wedding anniversary (yay us!)
  
• Gary gave me a pair of pink flamingos for the front yard---and I named them Fred and Ethel
• Tonight I go with 3 of the older kids to the tobyMac concert
• Must get directions on how to get there
  
• There are sloppy joes for dinner
• And I have to take a nap, 'cause I got up way too early!
  

Today's fuss

I've had the day to myself, leaving the kids at my mom's for lunch and the afternoon. I was noticing how polite the drivers around me seemed to be---letting folks in the flow of traffic, being patient---it was nice to see.

Then I had to stop at the library drive-thru to leave off our pile. I was there maybe a total of about a minute flat. Maybe. Doesn't take much time to grab a few books and toss them down the shoot. When I was about done, a young woman pulled up behind me and I had about 2 more shoves to do ('course she didn't know that) and as I was about to put the last one in the slot (she'd been there, maybe 10 seconds), she got out of her car, walked between my truck and the building, put her own books in the return slot in a not-too-nice manner, which was right beside my window and you could tell she was hacked off. I mean, you can either be nice or not. It really is a choice.

I didn't act too mature myself, saying "s-o-r-r-y" in a sarcastic voice. Not proud of it, but it got my goat her behaving so aggressively. I mean, we're talking about the book return. It never takes folks long, that's why they use it, but my goodness---does everything have to be done so fast? And, really, 'excuse me' isn't hard to say, but folks seem to want the other guy to know when they're hacked off. I admit I did too in the circumstances. Do we have to be in a hurry all the time? Is waiting forbidden? And how can you know when you're following the rule in being fast enough? Truth is, we can't seem to hurry enough, because there's always somebody out there who won't be satisfied. How important are we anyhow?

I do realize that I don't know this woman's story, but the thing is, it makes an impression. I'm sure I made a poor one myself in barking at her, but it is a sad state of affairs when speed seems to be the rule of the world. Politeness does count, and it's getting harder and harder to show it. We're quick to judge and even quicker to shove folks out of the way. Me first isn't the way it's supposed to be, I don't think.

My stinky human side reared its head in response, and I can't excuse my behavior saying it's justified by her reaction, but still....we've got some work to do on this speed issue. Being thoughtful is still important, even in a world that's wound up so tightly. Things need to change. (I was going to say that it needed to change fast, but figured that that was a bit inappropriate considering the subject matter!)

Helped a neighbor today, looking after their 5 year old and baby, while their mom went to help at the house of the grandmother who's now going into hospice care. Seems sort of deja vu-like, after helping out with another neighbor in a similar way, just 2 years ago. Seems I'm destined to be the perennial caregiver to the caregivers. I make sure the ones helping the dying are looking after themselves. Not sure that's a real job description, but it's odd to be talking to someone about hospice care and the like again.

Figured after my neighbor, Lisa who had ALS, died that my role as a helper in that way was over. Or at least that it'd be awhile before it happened before.

I was reminded of how we're the Lord's hands here on earth. Funny, but this is the neighbor who stretches my patience. Seems there's a lesson in this for me. Doesn't really matter what I feel, but I have to adjust my temperament, and be willing.

Thankfully, the kids were great. I felt needed and totally understand these 40-something/50-something grandmothers who get tired after a day of looking after their grandkids. Babies are exhausting, and with our youngest being 6 years old, I'd forgotten. I don't have to tote her all about! Makes all the difference. :)

Tunes

Good song---try it out. The dark-haired guy is Sean Watkins from Nickel Creek, and the blond is Jon Foreman from Switchfoot. Love this tune. They're in a new band called Fiction Family.

Go here to download the song for free!

One more thing. I've been browsing at Nickel Creek's site and the song called 'Jealous of the Moon' is wonderful. Put on your earphones, jack up the sound and enjoy.


*Countdown to---four more days until the tobyMac concert. :) We have to go to Mississippi to see it, but that's OK with us.

Fiction family

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UXQmLuFnC0&eurl=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/videoclips/videos/default.asp?START_LETTER=F&feature=player_embedded

February first

February, one of my favorite-est months. Now we get to not only celebrate Valentine's Day, but my birthday (albeit the fiftieth---ouch), and our anniversary too....26th. And today I began the parade of gifts to my husband. Last year, I gave him one present per day for February, and got a kick out of seeing his startled face everyday when he'd have one more small present to open. I figured with it being 25 years we were celebrating last year, that many little presents were appropriate. But still, he kept being confused. It was so funny.


Today he got an all-day sucker. See, we're not extravagant. Maybe just silly.