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Thursday…and a new kind of cocooning:)

So…today was another crazy day–so I tried another day of my new version of cocooning;) (aka survival). I loaded all the kids up in the car and took them to this really fun kid’s place called PLAY here in town. I had never been—and oh my…I can’t believe it’s so close to me and I’ve been all summer without a visit. Isaac Temesgen stayed strapped to me in a wrap–and I was able to jump on the trampoline with Frank and swing him on my legs in the foam pit…while Parker and Laney just ran plum wild. THEN…I realized we’d have to leave for lunch–and we’d still have several hours until Rich got home. SO…instead of making my day easier and running straight home…I took a little inspiration from my crazy friend Kristi who always tells me she couldn’t have cocooned at home all day…and she is all about letting her older ones have some crazy fun. SO…I decided to try some the Johnson method. Which meant ONE stop on our way home. WALMART. And lemme tell ya…if you want water outdoor fun—now is the time to go!!! This is what we got for just $50!

I’m usually very “you can only buy what you have saved your money for” and “you may pick out one thing on the $0.99 aisle“. I wish you could have seen their faces when I started throwing in water guns, a baby pool, water bombs, kites, sidewalk chaulk…they were cracking up! It was actually pretty freeing;). So get this–the water guns that were regular $8 were only $2…the water bombs that were $5 for a huge container were just $1…the list goes on! And we got a whole lot of fun for just $50. That is one Walmart trip I don’t regret!

I wish I could say I just let them run wild right when we came home–but I’m still the nap nazi…so while the babies crashed after our busy morning (I’m liking the Johnson method today;)–the older two came up to read books. Then my precious friend Tricia knocked on my door to check on us. Thank you Tricia. She and my other Bible study girls are such a blessing to us right now. They have set up times to help us with laundry, grocery runs…and I have a horrible problem letting people help–and I am so humbled at their love and care of us. I have to confess these past few days HAVE been hard. I told Tricia I was TRYING to read David Platt’s book “Radical”. I just couldn’t do it though. I kept closing it and getting frustrated with it…and just honestly feeling “I’m tired of radical. Radical isn’t fun. Following God is just really HARD some times.”

I had just read some of the chapter before trying to sleep last night on the Holy Spirit being present and my Guide, my Comfort, my Helper. I know some people some times wonder WHERE IS HE? I mean, I asked the same thing during a sleepless night last night. As I sat down tonight–I looked beside me to see my hymnal opened to “Does Jesus Care?” Oh…the last line in that hymn was perfect for my night “When the days are weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Savior cares. Cast all your cares upon Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

So…last night my prayers were not answered in the form I wanted. My little one didn’t stop crying until 7:30am just in time for the other 3 to wake…and then he was out in a deep sleep until 10am. BUT He did show up today…

…my friend Robin emailed me to tell me she wouldn’t take “no” for an answer…she was going to the grocery/Costco for me. Wasn’t sure how I’d whip up a last minute party for Isaac Temesgen…but I got the cake ordered and Robin is picking up a few things for me to make it easy. It *IS* just family…but this makes it easy! I just couldn’t bare NOT to have a 1st birthday party!!!

…we made it to PLAY where my kids had FUN and Isaac even laughed at Frank

…seriously–Walmart was having a killer sale on water fun! I feel like we have missed summer–June was getting ready to leave…the rest is all a blur. A good blur–but not summer. SO…we will now smash summer fun into next week–and we got what I know must be $200+ in fun for just $50! SO excited:) and so are the kids! We now have entertainment too for the kids and their cousins on Saturday:)

…my friend Tricia randomly felt the urge to come check on us. The kids had just laid down for a nap. There’s nothing like a big hug from a dear friend and someone who understands…who has prayed for you, rejoiced with you and now understand the hard parts too.

…email from Tricia saying our Bible study has set up a laundry train calender…to help just until we start getting sleep again. Seriously? SO hard to accept help…BUT…I’m going to try:)

…email from my dad saying he sent in a letter to take Friday off…his boss approved. THEY ARE HERE NOW!!! I now have babysitters to stay with my kids all day tomorrow so I can take Isaac Temesgen to his physical therapy and my sister doesn’t have to come all this way as planned. DID I MENTION MY PARENTS ARE HERE?!
So…while having my prayers answered last night to have quiet would have been nice—I am SO humbled and thankful for the blessings I received today and such a reminder how my Savior cares. Off to bed…in Laney’s room (Richard is taking over tonight!). Wish you all a wonderful Friday! Can’t wait to fill you in on ITY’s first physical therapy session!!! I’m tellin’ you…it won’t be long and he’ll be running circles around us all!

P.S. On a REALLY funny note—Frank went to bed wearing a Valentine shirt with cupid on it. While I was rocking him tonight, Parker walked in all shakey because it is thundering. I told him the routine I always do–thunder can’t hurt you, there’s nothing to be afraid of…and he left to go back to bed. THEN he came back even more worried.

Parker said, “Mommy, I don’t want to get shot!”

I asked, “WHAT?!”

P: “I don’t want to get shot by the goddess of love.”

ME: “WHAT are you talking about?”

P: “See, he’s right there on Frank’s shirt.”

Oh my. Okay, I had to laugh–and it reminded me how much I love having kids, love being mom–and that it’s these funny little things that get us through the bumps! Have a great weekend!

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Megan - August 6, 2010 - 12:34 am

Okay…just laughed my way through this one! Kids are just a RIOT aren’t they?!? =D I’m sorry for your crazy night but I’m so glad you had such a fun and eventful day. Sometimes being busy makes me forget how tired I am…that is until around 9pm hits! 😉

Megan - August 6, 2010 - 12:34 am

Who am I kidding!?! DINNER TIME sounds more like it 😉

Richita Grace - August 6, 2010 - 1:43 am

praying for you! hoping things will get better soon for your precious family. hang in there mama! we can do it all once we get our sleep!!!!!

Rebecca Harley - August 6, 2010 - 6:51 am

I hope that you slept last night! We have been praying for you guys – I only wish that you lived closer so that we could help out. I, too, have an incredibly hard time asking/accepting help – definitely something that I will have to work on before number 4 comes home:). Praying for a relaxing day for you – yeah for grandparents!!

Kim - August 6, 2010 - 7:28 am

I am a momma of three children and our family is currently waiting for a little girl from Ethiopia. So I LOVE reading your blog because soon, I will be in your shoes. I can so relate to everything you say, no sleep, husband traveling, not being able to accept help easily. It just looks like you are doing such an incredible job. You are in our prayers all the way in Massachusetts!

Robin - August 6, 2010 - 7:57 am

The laundry train is the most thoughtful idea! Tricia is a love 🙂

april - August 6, 2010 - 10:05 am

I love how God provides people that are close to us to help us through transitioning times like this! God just answered a prayer for me, I was praying the other day that He would help me find the time and energy to be able to clean because I’ve been either spending all my time taking care of my Isaac or too tired to do anything so thankfully my 11 year old niece is AMAZING with Isaac and so she wanted to come over and hold him while I clean so I was finally able to clean this morning! YAY!

Shannon - August 6, 2010 - 12:13 pm

I can only imagine their sweet little faces when you started dumping in all those water toys!! Best mama ever! Accept the help….remember it is a blessing for others and they WANT to help. Have a super fun party weekend! Happy Birthday Isaac!

Christy - August 6, 2010 - 4:56 pm

ooooooooh how fun!!!! And how blessed by God to have such great help – so happy for you that you are receiving that for all the sacrifice you are making right now!

kristi johnson - August 8, 2010 - 11:56 pm

so funny…loved it..i can so relate..as i’m typing iwth george asleep across my body..i need a web cam so people could see me typing plus holding a 3 yr. old 🙂 kj