There is Nothing to Wear!

This morning, Red got up and I sent him and his sister to get dressed.

He requested pancakes, so I got busy on that.  I was a little short on the Bisquick, so I was digging for some self-rising flour to make up the extra.

I was assessing the amount of oil I might need to add to make up for the shortage when I heard Red stomp to the kitchen disgustedly yelling, uncharacteristically:  “AGH!  I have NOTHING to wear!  None of my clothes are in there!  There is NOTHING to wear!  Mom, there is NOTHING in here that matches.”

I said, “Son, that is impossible.  I just washed everything you own this weekend.  You’ve had clothes to wear all summer.  What’s wrong?”

“There is nothing in there!” he cried, adding some tears and reducing himself to a heap on the floor.

This is not my child who is the first out of bed, and usually the first to get dressed.

I said, “We’ll go check on it together, okay?  Sister, see if you can pull down the top box of his shirts where he can see and see if that helps.”

She tried, bless her heart, but I could hear a small ruckus beginning, so I dropped by pancake ordeal and went in myself.

I soon realized the problem.  Last year, I sorted all his clothes for him by things that went together.  This year, in the new system, all his shorts are in one container, and his shirts in another.  Though there are TONS of clothes, he could not manipulate the sorting and matching.  So…we pulled EVERYTHING out and began pairing things quickly.  I put them together in a new way for him, as a smile began to wash over his face.  “Okay, so…can you find something you like now?  Better?”

He kept working on the leftover things while I finished pancakes.

I just got home and had to rearrange some things where he could now reach them better as well.

I shared with my oldest son, as I will now share with my readers, that my Mom last week was told of a position in Iraq that might suit her, working at the same base as Pop.  Let me just tell you, managing “going back to school”, losing my kids, and the prospect of losing my mom in the same week was quite the act of strength and dignity.  It is the Lord Jesus I serve, and none other, or that week would not have flown.  I basically had to put it on the back burner until I had all the kids settled and tended to on their big week.

We don’t know yet if they will hire her, but her resume has been sent in.

Yesterday in worship, the first song, it was mom and I only in my pew, worshiping together.  The Hub was at work, kids in children’s church.  When we got to “from shore to shore” in the song…that was the last straw.

By greeting time, I lost it.  I saw my SIL, and collapsed on her, not to let go.   I said, “I just don’t think I can do this.”

She ever so eloquently said, “Yeah, you can.  Let me get you out of here.”

Can I just say that I like those two sentences paired together.  Not, “Yeah, you can.  Stop sobbing on me.” or “Yeah, you can, toughen up.”  or “Yeah, you can, now let’s get back to worship.”  Nope, none of that.  “Yeah, you can…let’s get you out of here for a minute.”

We prayed, and she reminded me of all the things I knew, and I straightened up to teach my first new Sunday School class of the season with kid’s expectantly waiting on a teacher to wow then with fun and cheer.

I even had the opportunity at the end of the service to pray for my mom at the altar.  But, by then, I was ready.

Anyway, I woke to another day feeling weighted by this thing way too big for me to even begin to process in any lucid way.  And I walked back in to all the piles needing to be put together understandably for my Red, and I remembered a verse from The Message I read once a long time ago that I liked.  I just sat down to look it up.  It says,

“God, pick up the pieces. Put me back together again. You are my praise!”

Jeremiah 17:14

I know that when I feel squeamish, like Red, and in those times when I am on a heap in the floor insisting nothing goes together, even getting tearful at times, not seeing it all…God is telling me, “But, that can’t be, I have it all ready for you!  I know it’s all there.”  I know He sends other to help me, and that even He himself, My Helper, comes to show me how it all fits together. And I know, that I too, in those moments, will feel a smile wash over me and joy return.  Countless times a day.

Thursday Blog Letter

These posts end up sounding more like a letter to a friend than a blog post.  And perhaps that’s what this is.  Thanks for being “letter writing” sorts of friends.  I wouldn’t take the time to write a letter to just anyone, you know! 

(My Nephew, photo-ed yesterday building a snowman with a “snow man” kit I got him for Christmas a couple years ago.  CUTE!)

Today I upgraded to Internet Explorer 7.0.  I selected for it to “make the text more clear”.  Who wouldn’t like “clearer text”?  However, it’s sort of a blurred bold to me like ink bleeding on an old carbon copy.   If you haven’t upgraded, I’m not sure I’d select that option on install.  Tabbed browsing is nice.  Pics are posting to my blog more easily as well.

(All my nephews are such dolls!)

(Here’s another one…)

(and if this doesn’t just melt your heart a little…)

Yesterday, I started another knitted potholder, not because I need another potholder, but because I like to have identical things in multiples in my shallow towel drawer so that things stack more neatly.  And, I still had some learning to do.  My knitted edges look much better this time.  I’m so pleased with my progress.  (Richard Foster would be proud, no doubt.) 

(My REV version, a 20th Anniversary edition.  You might find it in this cover as well as the last I posted.)

My brother (left) heads out for Iraq waters tomorrow–he has a staff infection in his hand found this week.  He had to have something surgically removed out of his hand, apparently.  I’m a little unclear on the whole thing, but burdened for him. 

My step-Dad is almost back to Iraq.  Stories of road-side bombings in vehicles surrounding his make it harder this time.  Their work is branching out into more dangerous areas outside the protected camp.  Difficult to think about or process in any meaningful way.  The only useful exercise is worship and trust…and knitting. 

(Larry, Christmas in February.)

In other news, I was not a good Mom to my kids last night at church.  Their nitpicking and antagonizing just got the best of me.  Better self control lately with my “bracelet wearing” for attitude, it sticks out like a sore thumb to me today that I lost my cool.  Lord, make me a good Mom to my kids that reflects your heart toward them.  I’m SO stinking at it sometimes, and my time IS limited…

(I love how cute the tops of their heads look when they are playing well together.  The game? ”PERFECTION”).

This weekend, my son goes for his first all-day school bused trip along for an Academic Team meet.  Due to other commitments, it does NOT look like we are going to get to be there at all for his big meet!  Not only that, today I filled out my first paperwork–I had to put on it for next year a different school for him…MIDDLE SCHOOL!  It is naseating at times to see your kids growing to the next phase.  I’m proud…oh, yes!  But, it’s middle school.  He’s probably ready, but I’m not.

 

(I love how they look more alike in black and white photos)

I bought an issue of Family Circle today.  It’s inexpensive, it has lovely spring colors and flowers on it, and really enjoy a few of the back issues I found.  Also, I bought some low calorie Klondike ice cream sandwiches that are rocking my world.  I’ve eaten three.  Mmmmm.  Also, today, I found several second hand lightweight jackets and heavier coats for little Flash when he’s out riding the 4 Wheeler.  The “mud issue” is creating a need for multiple coats and jackets and jeans–the things we do for love.  You just can’t seem to keep from splashing mud when you ride!

Today, I had another special gift.  A friend said as she was driving to work, God told her to come pray with me for a minute. 

She told the Lord she’d be late for work if she did. 

He said, “Well, you can go on and get there on time, but then you’ll just have to turn around and go back.” 

Just take that in.  I still am.   

 

In blog news…I’m thinking about starting a “Meme” for Thursday called “Thursday Thoughts”.  I was thinking we might (whoever wants to or feels like it) try to post a review of a book or a quote from something we’ve been reading on Thursdays.  I’ll try to come up with a graphic button for us to use for it.  You can post other posts on Thursday as well, or book reviews on other days, but I am loving the book quotes and reviews from you guys–just wanted to encourage you to keep them coming!  I may just use this picture above…it seems fitting today.  I’ll add text and get it out today.

Hope you and yours are well.  Write me a letter on your blog if you want to respond, or email me. 

Love,

“Mags”