I was gone for three days this week. I still don’t feel like I’m quite back yet. My head is still in Arkansas but my hands are juggling the chaos of homecoming. It’s been a “mama said there’d by days like this” kinda 36 hours:
Kids that stayed up till I got home and didn’t go to sleep until 11pm were still up at the crack of dawn.
A potty training fail that left a most unappetizing trail of “bread crumbs” up the stairs of my friend Stephanie’s house.
A projectile vomiting incident that taught me to always, always turn the light on before trying to aim your toddler at the toilet bowl.
A parking ticket fine that doubled because I had misread the instructions for when to pay and left it until I returned home.
A cold sore.
A preschool fine for completely and utterly forgetting the one day they closed early this week and turning up a half hour late.
A fish to baby sit.
A blog to tweak and move before my hosting subscription expired.
A preschool teacher to properly thank for 18 of the most beautiful months in my son’s life.
Oh yes, my mama said there’d be days like this.
The thing is, though, the chaos is only on the surface. I feel my core held tight by the strong hard hand of a Carpenter, and I feel His peace. I plan to go climb up into His lap this weekend and let Him rock me for a long while. I plan to let my boys keep on determinedly loving me back into the present. I plan to dwell on the amazing circle we have journeyed this last decade that has brought us back to where it all started – 10 years, 3 continents, and 2 kids ago.
It’s amazing to be back.
In celebration of the occasion and my friend Jenny from Simply Delightful Designs who worked magic to refresh and relocate my blog in 24 hours flat, I brought something for you. Because maybe you’ve had a “mama said there’d be days like this” kind of week too. And you need a reminder:
Thanks to DaySpring for this heart art. Just leave a comment letting me know that you subscribe to my blog {click here to subscribe in a reader or by email} and tell me what your week was like to be entered to win. All welcome; I’ll leave it open until midnight on Wednesday next week.
Happy weekend wanderings to you all. And Jenny? You’re my hero!
Your spruce-up looks great! And I subscribe, of course!
I get your blog on my igoogle home page…is that following in a reader? My problem is that i never believed mom when she said there’d be weeks like this! I’ve had contractors in and out of my house for the past two weeks and unfortunately I think I’ve got another week or two left…ACK! Dry sheetrock mud on every rug, nails in the driveway, every single piece of furniture is not where it belongs, the dang contractors forget to close any backyard gate when they leave so the dogs have been roamin’ the neighborhood (good thing the neighborhood knows the dogs!) To top it all off, the hubs left for France for two weeks this morning, leavin’ me to deal with contractors AND A 15-YEAR-OLD son by my ownself! At least the kid is leaving on Sunday for Young Life camp so I’ll just be stuck with the contractors…but they smoke (only outside, but the new windows are open) and since I just quit in December sometimes it really reeks and sometimes I can barely stop myself from goin out and beggin for a drag! Also? I have a speeding ticket that I need to pay like tomorrow and I can’t find it…I can’t find anything in this house. Everything I put somewhere “safe” becomes lost in the black hole of construction! HELP!!! I’ve also discovered that I’m not quite the laid-back, take-it-in-stride kinda person I thought I was. Construction’ll do that to a girl. Thank the good Lord above for xanax!!
Anywhoo – I’m so glad you made it back safely and that your are again safe in your circle of love!
the site looks great! and yes, I subscribe :)
and my week…haibo…so, so long and it’s been a rough one…
My week has involved a vacation that’s caused me to wonder why in the world I don’t say YES more often!! Making a plan to change some things about My mothering back in the real world.
You know I subscribe! Don’t know what I’d do with out you in My inbox… *blessings*
So glad you made it back safely… although it sounds like you had quite a week. I just posted about all of the silly things I did this week…forgetting my power cord and pedal at a sewing workshop, sending my husband and daughter to violin lesson on the wrong day, forgetting my wallet. Not a good week for my brain. But at least there was no poop or vomit involved. Praise the Lord He loves me even when my head is in the clouds.
I subscribe to your blog!
I subscribe now – lol – I don’t know why I didn’t before. Every morning I would just check to see if you posted something new. Subscribing makes much more sense. My week? Well – while it wasn’t terrible, it was full of little annoyances that added up HUGE. I’m trying to forget it all and prepare for VBS next week. I’m purposing to have a better attitude this next week :)
I definitely subscribe!! Wow, I had a busy week, but nothing compared to yours!! What a week!!! =)
I SUBSCRIBE! Wow, just as you, what a week, whew! Day camp for my son every morning which was followed by Dance Week for my daughter. Rushing back home to try and get something done in the house before jetting off to my daily meeting at 1:00 for my part-time job. On Monday and Wednesday nights, off to the Metroplex (an hours drive away) for a summer class so I can hopefully finish this degree that has been lurking for over a decade now. On the nights I had no class I did the pick-up of the day-camper and the dance princess. On Tuesday night, I was called back into work for a couple of hours (the kiddos had to go with me, no sitter), Thursday was a cook-out with friends at the kick-off of their neighborhood summer BBQ’s, and Friday was Dance team tryouts for the female child. What happened to the lazy days of summer? We slept until 9 this morning, ahhhh!
I subscribe to your blog through an RSS feed. I got hook with your 3 segment story about your eventual move to Michigan. I am from Michigan but am currently living in Indiana. My week was busy but I am an empty nester so I do not have all of the fun kid stuff going on now. It is fun to read and remember those days through your writings. Thanks for sharing.
My week was:
-torn. between caring for my own kids hearts while trying to touch those of 44 little girls.
-tired.
-lonely, but hopeful. met a “cool white chic” at the store, and walked away wtih her email. {i think i’m more excited about that than getting asked to highschool prom}
-connected. with my mom and dad, who’ve chosen to spend money and summer–just to be with us.
-fit (er). officially started, yes, P-90X this week.
-overwhelmed. the needs feel larger than the supply.
Thanks for this post and the chance to look back over my last seven days. Love reading here!
So glad you’re back now, even it you had to have one of “those” days! Can’t wait to hear about your trip next week!!!
welcome home. relax. enjoy. i subscribe via email. thankfully, because i would love the chance to win this cute little reminder!
I subscribed! Welcome back!
Love the look, I subscribe, and WP rocks! My week was uneventful and with very little blogging at that.
Great look!
Gin
Pst – you’re a winner!! This beautiful sign is yours thanks to random integer generator that selected comment number 14. Shoot me your address so I can send this beauty off to you!
I’m glad you’re back and hope next week will be uneventful for you! I subscribe by e-mail; I’m not smart enough to figure out the whole reader thing apparently! :)
My week was a good mommy week–I had more patience and more fun activities planned for the kids–but a horrible week for writing. I’m trying to find the best schedule for me in order to be consistent and productive but not a zombie the next morning. I’ve been waking up early for a few weeks now so that I could read my Bible and write before the kids wake up, but this last week, they woke up early, too. I didn’t even finish one post, which is disappointing. I’ll keep trying, though! Have a good weekend!
Girl – what a week! I hope you find time for some chocolate and girl friends this weekend ;) Ot at the very least, a chick flick on the Hallmark channel!
Oooo, I lived in Indiana too! Go Hoosiers!
I subscribe through google/blogger and I LOVE your writing btw! :)
I have had a busy but gratifying week! VBS this week and 4 precious souls were saved! PRAISE GOD! It was busy, hectic and chaotic but well worth it all! :)
I’m a follower in Google reader…
Let’s see…I organized and planned my 20th high school reunion (from a town away). Dealt with the fact that I am VVEEEERRRYYY much overweight and squished that demon and was in pictures anyway. ;)
Have an oldest daughter (age 8) that is all of a sudden going through a clingy phase and didn’t want to be left with her GRANDPARENTS while her dad and I were at said reunion?! Grandparents left local newspaper out and she read headline that said essentially “Man Convicted of Raping 6 year Old Girl”….she wanted to know what “rape” was….sigh…
So, I think I would like to go back to potty training, please….
Of course I subscribe!!!
You are my most favorite South African in the states… =)
I just signed up to subscribe after seeing this amazing piece by Dayspring. I love it! And I cannot wait to start reading your blog. I just found it today and I’m so glad I did.
My week has been wonderful. I’m enjoying this first week of summer hanging out and playing with my 3 boys. Life is good!
Sounds like a fun few days. Hope the next days are less chaotic for you. I subscribe to your blog via email xxxx
Just testing the comments
Is this thing on? Hoping the threaded replies are now working properly!