Today I woke up a little apprehensive about what the day would bring. This second week of summer vacation with four kids at home has including three of the four throwing up and dry heaves for hours. I didn't feel well last night. But I was determined to have a good day. My youngest, who is 2 this month, was very clingy and crying as I was trying to tell the man on the phone that I wanted to return our garbage disposal (with the 2 year warranty) since they weren't available over the weekend and we bought another one of the same brand and type. As my youngest was crying he insured me that since my old one made a humming sound there was still hope for it and he could explain the process to unlock the jam. I asked my 11 year old to help and try to make his brother happy. I stepped outside so I could continue the conversation. So now we have 2 garbage disposals, neither of which can be returned because a man at Lowe's told me, when I asked if I could use their phone to call the company to see if it could be returned, that the garbage disposal company wasn't available on weekends. The helpful man at Lowe's was not so helpful, since the company does take calls on the weekend and he cost me over $100. $100 that we don't have. Should I even try to return it and explain all this? I'm a pretty determined person. I think I have to try.
So as I'm outside I listen for screams coming from the house but all I hear is a inquisitive, "Mom?" I decide to water my garden while I have a chance. I love seeing the new life. Little cantaloupe plants, yellow neck squash and little beautiful frilly lettuce leaves and some I'm not sure what they are. I have to look again at my diagram of the seeds I planted that I inherited from my parents new house. I have 9 tomatoe plants growing in a great tomatoe cage that a good friend gave me who moved away last month. And sugar snap peas blossoming. I wondered if they were ever going to produce any peas.
I was enjoying the peace outside and held my breath as I walked inside wondering if my two year old had calmed down. Well, as I walked in he was dancing and smiling. My eleven year old had turned all the radios in the house to the same station and was playing a song with a great beat - "just dance". It did the trick and everyone was happy and the whole mood had changed. My Mom keeps telling me I need to play more music in the house. I never think of it when things are going crazy. I'm trying to work on creating a home with more order and peace. Now I just need to look to my kids to teach me how (maybe not about the order).
Life really is good. Even during the middle of the song after my 2 year old had one drink of milk and dropped and broke the glass as he had lost his balance, I didn't even miss a beat. It really is all in what you make of it. I told my Mom I've learned to accept that every day I'm going to be crazy busy all day and I just do everything I can one thing at a time (or ten things at a time) and not be hard on myself because I'm not perfect (my sweet 7 year old said, "You are perfect"). See that's why my life is so great. I have such great kids. I can't help but be happy and thankful every day. But life is also meant to be a challenge and a test of our faith and love for eachother. We'll keep praying to do our best and love each other on the way.
