And these kids are still crazy as ever!
Ever had one of those days when you're emotionally drained from the kids' fighting before 8:15am? When the kids have been up for less than an hour? Before your husband has even had the chance to leave for work? =P Today was one of those days. I'm sure it's my emotional state that's the problem, rather than the kids. When I abound in patience, problems don't seem so big.
Take yesterday, for example. Ruby was being disrespectful (yeah, we struggle with that a LOT around here). I sent her for a trip around the basement (punishment for disrespect around these parts since we lost the garden in the move...oh, yeah. We moved since last post. More on that later. Maybe). Oh, wait. It wasn't just A trip. It was 3. Because she was disrespectful x3. So. Off she went. Last week or so, I caught her sitting on the top step to the basement after stomping her feet on the stair (to make it sound like she was going down, I presume?) followed by catching her partway down the stairs when I sent her again. After she finally did her trips that time, I pretty much didn't address it again until bedtime, when I quietly told her that we should always, always, always tell the truth. She seemed responsive. I was hoping the grace of it all worked. Anyways, I thought I'd check in again to see if she EVER does her trips. (I was convinced she was SOMETIMES, because last time, I asked her how she did the trips, and without hesitating, she told me.) So, I watched and watched and watched for her to come around the corner and walk in front of the bottom of the stairs. I watched some more. Eventually, she showed up, grabbed her quilt and pillow that were down there and headed up. I met her at the top like nothing was wrong and asked her to please bring those to her room, which she did. Then I asked her how many trips she had taken. "3", she quickly answered. I informed her that I had watched and not seen her going by the bottom of the stairs (in the middle of the basement) at all. She started to panic, saying that she'd go more times than the 3 she was supposed to. I reminded her of how we had talked just recently about always, always, always telling the truth. I told her she was going to have to have a spanking for lying. She screamed, of course. Strangely, I was completely calm. After the spanking, I held her. She screamed and yelled and screamed some more. She squirmed so much it was hard to hold on to her. She screamed some more. Strangely, I was completely calm, though I must admit, I did giggle a little at how hard it was to hold on to her. This went on for a long time. I don't know - maybe 15 minutes? Eventually, she calmed down, relaxed, and after a while, fell asleep. I woke her up (hey, it wasn't naptime, yet!) and we had a talk. I asked her if her temper scared her. Nope. Though she WAS scared that she might lose her voice! ;P We talked about how I love her all the time. Even when she's screaming and throwing a fit. About how I have yelled when I shouldn't have, but I'm trying to learn to do things Jesus' way. Etc., etc. We talked about how lying is a sin, and we are always happier if we tell the truth. Ruby seemed very receptive. Then I told her I needed her to go for 6 trips around the basement instead of 3 - because lying never pays. And wouldn't you know, the crying started again. Ai yai yai. Still, I was very calm. I held her a little. Sang some songs. She kept on whining. I took her hand and took her to the stairs. She went down and did her trips. And when she came up, she was a new person - kind to Isaac and Jadelyn and willingly helping pick up something she didn't play with. So, I don't get it - why was I so calm yesterday and so irritable today? And how can I get emotionally drained from OTHER people fighting. Oye. =P
Anyways, the kids really had several nice days this week. It was lovely. For David had to work late for 3 days, and yeah....I rely on his back-up when he makes it home, so it was nice to not be so drained. One of the days they even played nicely for like 3 hours (!) straight! =O My deck is a disaster. For they've been playing by bringing sand up and dumping it all over. It was super cute last Friday. They made little "ant hills" ALL over the deck. They wanted to leave them there 'til the next day to see if there would be any ants. I figured it was a good experiment, and then we could talk about how ants make their own hills. But alas, they decided they didn't want a deck full of ants, so they squashed all the "ant hills". ;)
Jadelyn has been a crack-up lately. I really need to start writing things down again. Over the past two days, I tell myself something to the effect of, "remember this to blog about". But do you think I did? Nopers. =P
She DID tell me the other day, "I like you so much that I love you."
David was hanging Ruby upside-down by her ankles and she was like, "look at me, look at me, I'm a bat!" Then David hung Jadelyn upside-down by her ankles, and she was like, "look at me, look at me, I'm a mouse!" Huh. ;)
Oh, good grief! Is that REALLY all I can remember?!?!?!?!?! =O Yes, I MUST start writing things down RIGHT AWAY!!! =P
Okay, for a re-cap of other events in the past 4 months. Ruby readjusted to life in her cast. David got fired. (VERY soon after he confronted his boss for the boss wanting David to lie on several occasions, which he wouldn't. Happenstance? I don't think so. =P) David got a new job. Ruby got her cast off. We stayed home for a week until her intensive physical therapy (2x's a day for 4 days - would've been 5, but some holiday was in there) was done. Said goodbye to our church family and the sweetest neighbors on the planet. Moved north (after MUCH packing help by my parents - thanks, Mom and Dad!). Ruby started walking independently 1 week and 3 days after getting her cast off. Incredible! Have been looking for a house like CRAZY (as in we've driven by well over a hundred houses and went in 20-30 or so? with the realtor) without much luck. We've tried to put bids in on FOUR (yes, count 'em - 1,2,3, FOUR!) houses, to pretty much no stinkin' avail. We've GOT to be our realtors NIGHTMARE. =P Our house in Kentucky hasn't sold yet, either. Which I did NOT anticipate. 'Cause it's the BOMB, and anyone that walks the property should want to plop down some cash and inhabit the place, but you know, to each their own! ;P Anyways, I'm struggling lately with what God's plans are. I know He is in control and He has a plan, but man...He hasn't let me in on that, yet, and I'm floundering. David's job here has been CRAZY and DEMANDING, and well, we miss him. We're renting a house on a lake here, but are pining away to have our own, private place in the country again. I'm trying to learn the whole "peace in the midst of a storm" thing - trusting Jesus though I don't GET IT, and sometimes I think I'm getting there, and then I just start going crazy again - wanting to know the plan so I can work the plan. =P Anyways, I'm trying to calm down and be still and relish the moments. But failing pretty badly, if you must know. =P
OH! On an up-side, I got to have a "girl's-day-out" with my sisters on Sunday. That was nice. Uninterrupted sister-time. Precious. ;) (I figured you'd like that, Smell - "precious!" =P)
Okay, I'm off. I really, REALLY need to do better at writing things down that the kids say/do. OBVIOUSLY my memory STINKS! =O
Adieu!
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