A thought keeps asserting itself in my mind this year. And the thought is that I need to write a book. Obviously I keep pushing the thought away because, really, who has time to write a book? But also because the topic would be, "A Comedy of Errors"... and I'm really truly avoiding the negative here.
But old habits die hard and my sarcastic sense of humor can't help but see the ridiculous in all these things gone wrong. It's hard not to just sit back and laugh (perhaps a little madly) and shake your head. And aside from Covid and the wildfires and natural disasters and the murder hornets and other invading insects, political debacle, and more, all I'm referring to is personal.
Perhaps I should write it, just for my own perusal at a later date--if the world has not ended by then. And then maybe, just maybe, I will laugh and laugh and maybe cry a little for that me of long ago who got so worked up over these things, but also compassionate in remembering the anguish I harbored though it all.
What would I call the book? The Horrible Awful? And the Rains Came? And the Darkness Grasped her Not? Something Biblical sounds appropriate. How about the tirelessly optimistic, A Prelude to Victory?
But I'm rambling.
I see the sunshine today, and I can feel the love of God, and I know it's going to be alright. If it was easy we'd be doing something wrong. I have found the tiny things that help refill my cup so that I don't spill so negatively on those around me. And because of that I've been allowing myself small breaks to do those things, even if it means I am perpetually behind on grading homework.
I'm reading a new book that is...well, amazing so far. Mere Motherhood by Cindy Rollins already has me nodding, laughing, and crying along with the veteran homeschooling mother of 9. Quotes that got me: "And that is how motherhood begins for most of us. We walk into a hospital and walk out with a mewling, puking wonder of the world," and, "Perhaps the greater portion of you are in the middle years. You are just starting to panic a little bit. [A little bit?] You are beginning to realize that tea parties don't cure sin. ...You may miss stamping out a fire or two. ... You are not alone. We who have gone before are still here. We will look you in the eye and say, "Motherhood hurts like hell" but the old dragon skin does peel away," and finally, "We do not write our own stories; we just think we do. My story belongs to Jesus..." Yeah. Yeah.
Gavin is doing this month's family read aloud, "Because of Winn Dixie." He loves to add dramatic flourishes to his stories, which I love about him.
We just wrapped up week 10 of school here. I'm trying to avoid the "just power through" mentality this year in favor of embracing the joy of learning (positivity, ya'll!!!) but, dang. I'm tired. I have to trick my children into doing school. If I sit here like it's my job they flee like game before the hunter. However, if I find a comfy spot to curl up with a book and call out, hey guys, listen to this! Isn't that amazing! and keep reading, more often than not they'll stick around. Oh, snacks help too. Never forget to bait your prey.
Eli has taken a new position at the ethanol plant...one that comes with a regular schedule! It's still new but the move is already paying off. No more shifting from nights to days to nights every two weeks, no more 5 on, 2 off, 2 on, 5 off, every other weekend, no more 12 hour days (unless he wants overtime), and no more sitting in an office. He is active, outside, he's home in the mornings to help reinforce school, and he has weekends off!!! We've already taken advantage of this twice and made plans the last two weekends! I'm just a little excited.
We took a drive last weekend and went up the Mississippi a bit. Peak color week had passed but it was still beautiful. And then I leaned too far out the window with my phone trying to take a picture, and the wind snagged it, and my phone went cartwheeling down the highway at 50 miles an hour. It peeled my "high impact" case off one corner and shattered it, but it still works. It's not like me if my phone doesn't have battle wounds.
Ash is getting huge, and I know this is just the beginning. He is so naughty. It was one thing having a tiny naughty puppy in the house. Nothing is safe anymore. This big, lumbering brute can snag things off tabletops and seems to have a keen sense for when anything drops on the floor. Poor Mojo's favorite thing to do is nap curled up in a fuzzy blanket; Ash's favorite thing to do is snag Mojo's blanket and run. Or put his nose an inch from Mojo and wriggle in delight as Mojo growls and growls. He has trimmed the overhanging leaves from all my houseplants, scalped a bath mat, and shredded countless Lego instructions and pencils. He loves playing tug-of-war and tag and moves furniture when he forgets to watch where he's running. Recently he let himself out the back door when he had to go out by jumping and pulling the door handle.
Last week I brought down Addie's dollhouse from her room. We had finished a small 500 piece puzzle and cleared the end of the dining room table off, so that's where the dollhouse went so she can play down here. It has become the "Calico Cottage" for her Hopscotch rabbit family of Calico Critters, but really, would be more suited as a Calico Orphanage because she could care less about the parent figures. Addie just wants all the babies. They're just so "tute!" I found the dollhouse a couple years ago for $30 on the Facebook Marketplace and my plan was to always fix it up. It's more enjoyable than a puzzle! So far I've put a new wood floor on the front porch, replaced the porch roof, multiple missing pieces of trim, shingles, and blades in the half-timbered design, and rebuilt a few window boxes. I'm also rebuilding the balcony railing. I also got two walls re-wallpapered in the bedroom. Addie's favorite color: PINK.
I picked up a used copy of Alicia Paulson's "Embroidery Companion," some tea towels, and a new embroidery hoop in the hopes that I may start embroidering sometime this winter. Because I don't have enough to do already, you know.
And Ian has his first set of staples...in the back of his head. It was about 10:30 at night, they were all supposed to be in bed, and of course they weren't. One little monkey was jumping on the bed. He fell off and bumped his head. Mama ran to the doctor and the doctor said, "We're gonna staple that shut now, hold still."
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