Spring? Cleaning

Spring cleaning in December causes surprise in people. They make comments like, "You are either very early or very late." The truth is I was very late. My spring was quite busy with an online class and a kid's broken head. Then summer came and there were camps and an exchange student. Suddenly it was fall and schedules were busy with school and activities. So December comes with a break and the opportunity to clean. My children do not see the break the same way as their mother. December comes and brings a break, but cleaning is not in any way implied. Here are some comments I heard... "Boy when my friends ask what I did for the holidays I can only say, 'Clean, clean, clean.'" "Don't you understand what "Holiday" means?" And my favorite, "But I don't want to!" The Queen of Clean couldn't keep this joy to her family alone, and so during a birthday party two more rooms were cleaned by the guests. I laid out all of the supplies and ran through the list of jobs to be completed then asked for volunteers. Here is part of the conversation... "So is Spring Cleaning just dusting and sweeping?" asked one friend. "It is deep cleaning. It includes washing the windows and walls..." I explained. "Wash walls! You wash walls?!" interrupted Best Buddy. "We don't wash walls." "Well then I will have to go to your house and teach you how to clean properly." I'm not sure, but I think I saw fear in his eyes. ------------- One of the reasons I love my house is that it has so many windows. I love letting light into a house. I love looking out and watching the animals in the field, the birds on the wire, even the stars at night. What do I not love about my house? The fact that it sits between a dirt road and a dusty field, but for now anyway ALL of the windows are clean. How beautiful. I told Hubby about #1's question, "Do you ever have fun?" I guess the answer depends on your age. Perhaps to a 14 year old, clean windows don't sound fun, but to a 40 year old woman who loves looking out the window they are very fun indeed.

Evolution of a Birthday Party

When my first son was born he would nurse by pushing his perfect little paws against me and kneading my breast like a puppy does its mother. That was how he got the pet name "Puppy". So, of course, for his first birthday it was a puppy theme. We had ham and cheese sandwiches cut with a puppy cookie cutter and puppy plates and napkins. The birthday cake was a homemade carrot cake sweetened with apple juuice. No artificial colors or sweeteners for my baby! Less than two years later we would celebrate the second child's first birthday with snowmen shaped chocolate cupcakes. His first word besides "Mommy" and "Daddy" was "Chocolate". There are many different parties in my memory. The first's third party included pumpkin pie instead of a cake because he much preferred pumpkin pie. The second child's fourth birthday was science themed mixing "potions" outside on the driveway and setting off rockets with alka-seltzer. There was a Cowboy party shooting cans off the fireplace with a dart gun, and the next year's Indian party that included a tipi in the back yard. There was once even a Cat party that included bringing cat toys and pet food to donate to the local animal shelter. We have never been big, expensive party people. The kids have been allowed to have over as many friends as their new age. We would celebrate with those few friends for a couple of hours, and then they would all go home. After the boys were about 10 years old, I told them they could have a few friends over for a sleepover or have the number of friends their age for a few hours. Ever since they have chosen the sleepovers. Sleepovers are not much trouble for me. The kids play, usually outside games like flashlight tag, and when I am ready to go to bed I tell them to stay inside and lock the door. In the morning I give them breakfast and then they leave. No themes, no decorations, just a cake and a couple of presents. My second baby turned 12 yesterday. He had a sleepover. They got up around 9:30 for breakfast, and then I made this announcement. "We are spring cleaning this week. You are welcome to stay all day long if you like, but we have to clean the two front rooms today. If you want to stay, you must first help clean those rooms. I will give you pizza for lunch, too." So they all chipped in and the rooms were done in just over an hour. No fancy decorations or themes, not even a cake since he asked to only have ice cream. Twelve is evidently the year that you learn the world does not revolve around your birth, and dirt must be fought every day of the year. Happy Birthday my Sweet Son!

Is It Clean?

Getting back a day earlier than expected had its benefits. I was able to unpack and rest from the travels a day earlier. That meant that we could start working a day earlier. Hooray!! We are spring cleaning a little early this week, and yesterday was the bedrooms. I made a list of what had to be done in the bedrooms...wash baseboards, dust, sweep, mop, wash windows and walls, change sheets; the normal spring cleaning stuff... and each boy was to do his own room while I did mine. I knew that they wouldn't do it to the specifications I would like, but I deep cleaned their room this past summer, so I was willing to let it go to a little lower standard. While I was cleaning my room I ran across an article by Dave Barry. He was talking about Male Genetic Dirt Blindness. He said that a guy could look at a commode (toilet) and say it was clean enough for heart surgery or slicing meat, while a woman could look at the same commode and not even see a commode but only a swarm of commode-shaped bacteria. I quite agree. #1 came downstairs several times saying his room was finished and I would go upstairs and declare it NOT finished. There would still be dirt on the floor. He mopped around the garbage! He told me he dusted only to have me cover my finger with dust on his dresser. He about had a conniption when I said you actually have to take all of the books off the case to clean it properly. #2 wasn't any better. When I asked if he had dusted he answered yes, but he only has one spot that gets dusty. He has a bookcase, two dressers, a chest, a desk, and a bed...and only ONE SPOT gets dusty? Hello Commode. So last night about 8:00 as I was still working on my to-do list #1 says, "I have been noticing recently that you work an awful lot. What do you do for fun?" The nearly 14 year old son of a mother that has always worked hard has just noticed recently? I think this explains the heart surgery commode. At 10:30 when we headed to bed I realized that I had forgotten to clean the ceiling fan. I mentioned it to Hubby and he asked how would I be able to sleep knowing it was dirty. That wasn't funny. So today before we start on the new day's Spring Cleaning, I have to go back to yesterday's and clean a fan. Perhaps I will do a little heart surgery too.

Rescue

This is just a quick update for those who may be worried. We left WV last night at 9:00. It was a sudden decision, but I think a good one. We didn't have trouble until we got to the NC border. There the snow had been falling for a while and the salt was no longer doing its job on the roads. The snowplow we passed didn't have its blade down; Hubby said he must have been trying to keep control of the "drifts" instead of actually clearing the road. Anyway, we drove all night, got in at 7:00 this morning and fell into bed. The roads are covered, the neighbor is trying to get out of his drive, and I am about to head over with a shovel to help them. We rescued two guys last night, or really early this morning I should say, so I guess it is the season of rescue in more than one way. Thank you God for rescue from bad roads, but especuially from sin and death. Happy Holidays.

Breaking the Fast

So my week of fasting is ended. I have to say that I enjoyed slowing down the stress. I even started knitting again; something I hadn't done in over a year! Friday was a bit stressful if for no other reason than that a kid broke his nose. I had the Envirothon team over for practice, and they always spend part of the time playing football. Friday was no different, but it ended differently for #2's Best Buddy. Another kid was tackled and knocked into Best Buddy breaking his nose and sending forth a great gush of blood. #2 came into the house, not at all upset, and said he thought I might want to come outside because someone was hurt. About halfway out he told me what was going on, and I took off running. All of the other boys were huddled on the ground around him, and there was Best Buddy holding a bloody nose three times its normal size. I called his mother right away to come and get him. He has had three concussions in his lifetime, and I didn't want anything hanging over me. She came right over and took off with him. He was amazingly calm and was asking if he couldn't please stay, but I said, "NO!" That was a case of realizing the importance of urgency and taking care of it right away. --------- Today I am washing laundry, paying bills, and stopping things like the paper so that we can be ready to go to WV for the holiday. That is a true test of deciding what is urgent and what can wait. I feel like it is going well, but not everything is ready to go yet. There might be a mad rush tonight before we pack the van. Hope everyone has a lovely holiday season. Enjoy some quiet time with God and thank Him for those moments of stress-free rest.

Starting Afresh Without Urgency

Yes I am still fasting from urgency. I just read yesterday's newspaper and mail. Actually there is good reason for that. Yesterday we had school all day, and then Hubby and I went out for our anniversary dinner. The day started with snow and slick roads, which was perfect since our wedding started in much the same way. On my way to school we passed a couple of people in the ditches, but this WV girl made it just fine. There were over 100 wrecks in our county yesterday. I had several kids not show for class. The high schoolers all made it there though. They took semester finals yesterday. We covered Romeo and Juliet, and then they took the test in class. I haven't graded them yet, but the kids said they felt good about it. After school I sent the boys home with a friend, and went home to Hubby. He and I went out to a steakhouse for dinner. They overcooked my steak so the manager brought me a new one, which was also overcooked. Then she brought out a third one as I was about done with the rest of my meal. She took my whole meal off the bill, and I brought home the two steaks for today's lunch. It was a bit wedding night reminiscent as we had so much trouble getting to the hotel that the kitchen was closed. They did give us a cheese and cracker tray that night. 21 years later and we still can't get a good meal! After dinner we came home and watched Notting Hill together on the couch. I knitted and Hubby suffered. He had a chunk taken out of his arm in the morning to make sure a spot is ok. We did have a cup of hot cocoa together. Here's to the next 21 years! Actually I told Hubby yesterday morning that I thought I might be having a bad omen. All in one morning I ran out of razor blades, shaving cream, deodorant, shampoo, and hairspray. He said he thought that was a good omen that meant we can always start afresh.

Still Resting

The dog and I are enjoying being near the furnace. Hubby took her out this morning to get the paper and break the ice for the animals. The dog tried several times to get him to come back inside. She is a bit spoiled. I think we will be taking her with us to WV next week. It doesn't look like there will be a break in the temps, and she isn't used to being outside during extreme cold. In WV we can keep her in our parents' garages. I did not finish the laundry yesterday, though I came close. I thought about taking the boys to see a movie, but decided we have plenty of access to movies right here at home, and we stayed in. We watched Home Alone 2. They hadn't seen the Home Alone movies before so it was fun to hear them laugh at the absurdity of it all. This morning Hubby and I read through some devotional things with #1 and answered some questions together. Some of it was on goal-setting, and the differences between Hubby and I are funny. I see goal-setting as boring and stifling because it is setting up rules for myself. Hubby sees it as freeing and energizing because it gives him something to look forward to. I guess in that manner opposites attracted. We aren't very opposite though. Tomorrow we celebrate 21 years of marriage, and I think it is our likenesses that have kept us happily married for so long. So my restfulness continues tomorrow as we go out to dinner and maybe see a movie. I asked if we could go to the grocery, but he said I should try to go today. Where is his romantic side?!

Fasting

The sermon Sunday was from Isaiah on true fasting. It seems the Hebrews were very good at fasting to fulfill requirements, but not good at fasting to be closer to the Lord. Preacher Man always gives us an assignment for the week, and this week it was to identify what is keeping us from the Lord and then to fast from it. I have decided urgency or stress is keeping me from my God. Hubby asked me how I plan to fast from urgency this week, and I told him, "I just am." I am making a conscious effort to not hurry, not be scheduled, not think about what else needs doing. Yesterday it looked like sitting on the couch for several hours and not finishing the laundry. Today it looks like going to a movie with my kids and maybe still not finishing the laundry. Tomorrow I don't know what it will look like since I am not allowed to schedule it. For some that may look like laziness; to me that normally looks like laziness. This week, however, it seems to look like Jubilee. I am not using all of the free time to just sit. I am using the time to worship and meditate. This morning I decided that I should read Psalms about rest. What did I notice? Rest brings great praise to the Father and Creator. So from what will you be fasting? ------------- Some of us would like to be fasting from the cold. I had to use a sledge hammer to break the ice for the animals this morning. When Hubby left for work he had to break it again. The high today is to be 32 degrees! That is February weather! Hopefully it won't last all winter. I lost all of the beautiful tomatoes in the greenhouse. The pea plants are holding on, and some of the lettuce is still ok, but it is not warm enough for anything to grow. Except kids. Just wait, all of my family, when you see us next week you will think I have been feeding the boys Miracle Grow!

Get That Out of the Sink

Remember the days when you argued with a parent, and the parent won? You muttered under your breath, "I'll never say that to my kid." Although there are things you swear you will never say to your kids, there are things you never thought you would have to say to your kids. My favorite is a friend who had to tell her young son, "Don't pee in your cereal bowl!" I am sure that one never made it to my list of things I will never tell my children. Yesterday another one passed over my lips, "Can you please get the bird skull out of the kitchen sink?" The boys dissected owl pellets last week, and they kept the bones they found. #2 also kept the bones from other kids' pellets. (What did those parents have to do to get kids who would NOT keep their pellet remains?) Anyway, the teacher had told the kids if they wanted to keep the remains, they needed to bleach them to get rid of pests and bacteria. The boys put them in the sink to bleach them, and somehow #2's didn't get any farther. The bird skull was actually quite interesting having a 3-4 inch bill still attached. No wonder the owl coughed that up! The bad part, though, was that there were still feathers attached to the skull. #2 had to pluck them out and bleach the skull some more. But with what to pluck the feathers? Hmm. "Can I borrow your tweezers?" So not only are there things you never thought you might say, but there are things you never thought you might do.

Christmas Tacos

We had our first snow this past weekend. The boys were going to a friend's house to go caroling in their neighborhood, and Joyful Noise it snowed! I don't think it has ever snowed in December here, at least not this early. There was enough snow for them to throw some snowballs and a few houses' occupants made little snowmen. By Sunday lunch it was all gone again. So imagine the confusion when I started canning tomatoes last night. My brain doesn't know if it is summer or winter. I must say, however, it is much more comfortable to can in the winter than in the summer. Our greenhouse is turning out to be a good thing. My tomatoes are about done producing, but the ones on the vine are still good and ripening. The lettuce is absolutely gorgeous. We had taco salad last night and my husband's plate looked brilliant. The bright green lettuce and gorgeous red tomatoes mixed with the black beans and white rice made the meal as pretty as any Christmas lights. So perhaps I am mixed up with the seasons, but at least I am still in the Christmas mode.

An Allegory

My first article was "published" last week. I wrote a short article for our homeschool newsletter. I tried to copy and paste here on blogger, but it won't let me. I have to type in everything myself. That frustrates me when I would like to share it with everyone, but know that I need to get lesson plans done this morning. So here is my story typed very quickly... Growing in my kitchen is an avacado tree. It has enjoyed a spot in my window for over a year. Amos was learning about plants for one of his 4H projects, and seed germination was part of the study. We like a good guacamole in this house, and fresh is best, so we happened to have an avocado seed handy. Amos stuck toothpicks in the seed, positioning it in a jar to be halfway in the water. Then we waited. Time passed, and Amos had to turn in the project record, but nothing had happened to the seed. He was ready to throw the seed away since the project was over and he didn't need it anymore, but the guacamole lovers rescued the seed thinking it might be a great experiment to grow the tree and have some free avocados. The seed sat in the window for many months without any signs of growth. Matt and I continued to fill the jar with water as it evaporated, but nothing happened. Then, wonder of wonders, a crack formed in the seed. Great excitement filled the air, only to be replaced with despondency when nothing else happened. Months later a small sprout, barely visible, began to grow from the crack. Well here was some hope, but the water was green and looked disgusting there in the window. The growth was so slow that I considered throwing the whole thing out and just buying avacados. My husband didn't give up hope though, and the seed stayed put in the window. Finally last summer the sprout experienced a growth spurt. It grew toward the light, so we turned it, watered it, and fussed over it. Perhaps our dream of guacamole from our own yard was not in vain! The tree has 7 leaves now and other sprouts have started growing from it. Soon I may have to change the small jar for a larger one, but I am not thinking of throwing it out. Now I consider where we might plant the tree. At some point it will have to go outside. My husband and I will find just the riught spot to help it grow and produce. We will plant it in fertile soil that is well-prepared for our young tree, and then we will watch it grow. It will be a strong tree that produces awesome avocados for great guacamole. _________ I had another thought the other night. I feel like I am planting trees, but several of my friends feel like they are planting seeds. Maybe that is why they have a hard time letting their children go. Perhaps if they had looked at their children as future men instead of current children they wouldn't be having these issues.

Two Weeks in One Post

Everything is turned in!!! WOO HOO!! #1 turned in 6 project records and #2 turned in 8. If they win at the county level it goes on to the district judging that I help with in the spring. #2 just received his check for the two gold projects he won at the district level this past spring. $100 sure makes it feel a lot more worth all of the hassle. He would like to buy an ipod. The play a couple of weeks ago went well. The king was able to recover and medicate himself enough to be at both performances. That was a big relief to #1. He only had to remember his original lines that way. The director did say that #1 got some brownie points for later for stepping up like that. Both sets of parents were here for four days. They rode down together from WV, and helped take care of things while I did make up during the play. We had a nice visit with them. The boys had been counting the days until their grandparents arrived. Now they count the days until they go to WV themselves. We celebrated Thanksgiving with our parents on Monday. They did all of the cooking while I went to the eye doctor. Everything has stayed stable in the last year, and my prescription is the same. I haven't decided yet if I will get the bifocals. I don't have to have them, but I am noticing more and more that it is harder for me to read. Anyway, we ate the feast together, and I didn't have to cook any of it! It was nice to have them here to visit with and to help out. Another friend had her family visiting at the same time, and she was telling me about their strained relationship. She couldn't believe that my husband's parents and mine would actually drive down together and stay for four days. It's nice to have such involved and cooperative grandparents. Since we didn't need to prepare a feast on Thursday I was able to relax on Thanksgiving Day. I decided to rest and use it as a holiday. I sat on the couch and shopped the whole day. I nearly completed my holiday shopping that day! Of course I have been shopping at different times throughout the year and it has all been hidden throughout the house. Now things are wrapped and waiting in the spare room. The boys have already been shaking and feeling things to make their guesses. They are so funny. A few days after the play #1 ended up having the same fever that the King had had. #1 suffered a couple of days with it and then has had a cough since. He always ends fevers with coughs that last a few weeks. That should get him better right before Christmas. Now we have two weeks of school left, and then the holiday season will be in full force. Of course a lot of festivities start now. Tomorrow night the boys are going to a party to sing carols while riding through a neighborhood. Then they head back for hot chocolate and goodies. Hubby and I are planning a quiet evening at home. Sunday evening is our church Holiday Banquest and Talent Show. #2 is planning to juggle and Hubby always writes a story for the event. So that catches you up on the last two weeks. Hope your holidays have been and will continue to be a blessing to you and yours.