Shredding Carrots

Seriously, it should be a cardinal rule that both parents can not be sick at the same time.  It's AWFUL.  I mean, when in the world are you supposed to take a nap?  Being sick is all about napping and when I was the only sick last time, I slept all day.  It was glorious, except for the being sick part.

I mean really, you should see us.  Both laying on the couch pretending to be asleep when Isabel comes out to announce that the baby has pooped.  Mark kept his eyes closed, I really didn't hear her...and so she was left to figure it out.  I laughed at the crooked diaper later but was still grateful I didn't have to get up and take care of it.  Mark however, faked his way through the ordeal and I'm sure Isabel is going to read this and come out of her room and tell us that we suck.  Oh well, is sucking means I don't have to get up from this comfy couch than suck I must, I guess.

But then it hit me.  Dear God, I have to feed these creatures.  Can't they just eat candy, or fruit by the foot, or some other equally terrible thing that will make them happy?  I mean, how many Dum Dum lollipops does it take to fill a kid up?  12?  I've got that many.  So I plodded off to the grocery store in this miserable Maryland humidity cursing under my breath that people were actually hungry (terrible right?)  and plus I needed more Mucinex, or something to knock my sorry self out tonight.  I made Isabel go with me, cause isn't that why God gave me a 13 year old?  Side bar, I heard her apologize to someone in the aisle cause she was blocking their view and she said, "oh, I'm sorry sir, I'll move over"  and in my sickness I paused to thank God that I had a fantastic kid - even if I do have to feed her. 

(Side note - Charlotte didn't take a nap today and is bugging the daylights out of me as I try to type this.  Right now I am holding about 18 things in my lap, including a doll named Tirzah because somehow this kid thinks I am going to pay with her right now.  Whatever kid. I'll play along.)

So I decided to make spaghetti because it is easy and I have almost everything I need.  So I 'm in the store, getting a few things when the cashier behind starts loudly talking to another cashier about why he can't get someone's WIC card to work.  The customer's eyes begged for him to lower his voice but he continued to announce her financial situation to all of registers 6, 7, and 8.  (And a note to all of my friends who think that WIC is an entitlement program of the government and are getting ready to post something stupid below - stop now.  Some people legitimately need WIC and yes, others might abuse it.  But I ain't debating this now.)  This poor woman looked mortified and I wanted to yank the young cashier to the side and tell him a thing or two.  Cause I am really, really good at telling people a thing or two.  Or three, or five, or ten.  And one day he might need SNAP or WIC or something and be embarrassed and would he want everyone in Giant to know? Could you imagine being the kids with her and worrying that someone from your school might be walking by at the exact moment you are making your announcement to the store?  Cause kids do think like that .  Verbal tenacity is a blessing and a curse I tell you.

Anyhow, I got home and managed to destroy the kitchen and get dinner made, and my reward is sitting here an not cleaning it up.  Well, yet anyhow.  I've got to get it up before I go to bed because the rain has made it impossible for all of my city's ants to live outside so they have taken up residency in my kitchen.  Sigh. 

Olivia is hollering for food and I think Mark may have duct taped Charlotte to the couch in an effort to get her to sleep.  But alas I am wrong and she is according to Mark, "tearing out everything."  And you know what, I don't think I care enough to stop her.

Buried Treasure

I wrote this blog more than a year ago and realized I never published it.  Maybe the friend I wrote it for needs it now more than ever.

 I listen to alot of Christian music in the car.  I listen to it for a lot of reasons....I don't want Isabel in the car listening to Kane on 99.5 - he's gross and likes to exploit all that is wrong with this world for laughs.  It's disgusting.  Anyhow, most of the time I listen to 95.1 or 91.9 because I like it.  Lame Christian radio or not, I still like it.

I was in the car the other day thinking about making myself a modern day mixed tape to give to a friend going through a hard time.  I know that this person doesn't normally listen to this type of music so I was trying to think about all of the songs I love from various artists that I would put on this "mixed tape" that would speak into their situation.  There are so many good artists out there right now...from Mandisa to Natalie Grant to Chris Tomlin and Chris August.  But I remembered a Sanctus Real song that I loved....a specific lyric that I loved that I wanted to share with everyone.

The last album that they came out with had a song on there that was very different from their usual style and it was called, Forgiven.  There is one particular line in this song that I love.  It says, "when I don't measure up to much in this life, I'm a treasure in the arms of Christ."

I love that line.  "when I don't measure up to much in this life, I'm a treasure in the arms of Christ."  No one loves me like He does.  And when my whole world is crashing down around me and my life is falling apart, and I'm facing a mountain I feel I can't climb, this is how I will define myself.