Boring Days

Before my ex-husband left, I worked very hard to be at home more than we were in town. It started out as a practical matter. Very often we only had one car. Going to town meant I had to load up the kids to take their dad to work early in the morning. But as I got used to going to town only once or twice a week, I grew to really appreciate my days at home. Days in town were long, usually rushed, and stressful. Days at home were relaxed and happy. The kids called them boring. Silly children!

I really miss my days at home. Since I work now, 5 days a week I have somewhere to go, even if it's only for a short time. I love my job, but it changes the dynamic of our days. The kids have to get up and start their days on their own. And days when we have other things to do around town, it can get downright exhausting. Like yesterday, for example.

I was up at 5 and got to work at 6. On my way home, the van broke down. I walked home, jumped in the shower, and walked to a neighbor's house to get help with the van. He worked on it but couldn't get it running quickly, so he said we could come back to it in the afternoon. The kids and I rushed to a free movie in a borrowed car to celebrate 4 Eyes' birthday, then to the park for a picnic lunch and ice cream. I dropped the kids off at home to clean up the house, picked up a distributor cap and my neighbor, and went back to the van. He got it running, so I went home for a few minutes and checked on the kids' chores. I left to gas up the van, then came home to eat dinner and get another shower. (I was hot and sweaty all day!) The boys had time with a man from church and LMM had a mommy's helper job, so I had a few minutes to myself. I cleaned up the kitchen, searched for and downloaded a song that had been playing in my head all day. I jumped in the shower again, and left about 8 to gas up my friend's car and go to work. Almost there, I had to turn around because I forgot my work keys. After work I drove two hours to pick up my friend at the airport in her car. I got home at 3 am.

That's an extreme example, but days like that make me understand the value of boring days.

All Things Freely Given

I am always amazed at my Abba's remarkable generosity with me. My husband was never a good provider, so when he left our needs were great. They still are. But the Lord's generosity shouldn't surprise me at all. He gave his son for me, my family's earthly needs are meager in comparison, no matter how daunting they seem to me.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32)

Wow! He loves me this much. He wants me to trust him as our source, as the provision for literally every need. So this post, which will be another permanent link on the left, will record praise for every need listed in Current Needs as he answers them.

ALL THINGS FREELY GIVEN

1. Settlement paid off on June 5, 2009 through God's generous body of believers!!!--Please pray for God's intervention on my behalf in a lawsuit in which I'm a defendant. It involves debt that my husband incurred about 6 months before he left. Ask for God to work this situation out for our best, and for peace for me to walk through it. If the bank won't accept a settlement, I'll be in court on May 20th.

2. Taken care of by one of God's faithful--2009/2010 school books--I have not yet planned our curriculum for the upcoming year, but I do have an idea of some things we will need.

3. Taken care of by a dear friend, May 2009--The kids need a few clothes to get them through the summer. We shop thrift stores and the boys have been asking for us to make a trip to Unclaimed Baggage for a couple of months, but I haven't had the money to justify the trip. I've picked up an item here and there, but not all of what they need.

4. June 3, 2009--I didn't even have a chance to post this need. While the kids were sick with the flu, our refrigerator did. I was desperate and had no idea what to do! I called a friend who might know where I could find a free one. Another friend had given her money to pass on to me, and she just hadn't transferred the funds yet. God met the need days before I knew I had one. Hallelujah! You are awesome, God, and your timing is always perfect!

Why can't I get the flu?!

We have a family joke about Mr. Monkey, that his bones are made of rubber. He's been trying to break bones ever since he was a year old. He started on his injury-seeking career by diving out of a grocery cart, landing on his head, and bouncing off the floor. I figured he would have a concussion, or a least a serious knot on his head. Nope, you could barely see where he hit his head. Since then he's attempted everything from rolling four rain barrels over himself to flying headfirst off his bike and landing on his face. Not one broken bone. The latest bone breaking attempt was kicking a tree at our church. He couldn't break his little toe, but at least he managed to dislocate it!

Apparently his immune system is as indestructible as his bones are. Dozer, 4 Eyes and LMM all came down with the flu this week. High fever, chills, aches, headache and cough. They've been miserable, and so has Mr. Monkey. Not because he's sick, but because he never seems to get whatever the rest of them have. Instead, he has the pleasure of taking on extra chores when someone else is ill. So when they're puny, he's wishing he was. No matter how lousy the rest of them feel, he thinks he'd rather be suffering with them than waiting on them. No amount of agony on the part of his siblings can convince him that he's better off. 

Poor guy. I kind of see his perspective. I can't help but feel just a tiny bit sorry for the extra load he's had to carry this week. Not sorry enough to reduce his chores, mind you, but it's the thought that counts.