Life is never dull

Chris has been working crazy hours. No real surprise. I think he has worked 14-15 days straight now. He leaves at around 5:50 am and gets home around 9 pm. Some days he gets home early (between 7:30-8 pm). I miss him but the show must go on, especially when I am supposed to be raising money (read: last post) and training for a 60 mile walk. (Plus, taxiing Wilson to and from swim lessons, in Bellingham, and keeping up with everything else that being mother entails.) Needless to say, I have felt a bit overwhelmed and unorganized but I’m finally seeing the light. My paper work is getting caught up, the house has been reorganized, and my training is coming along.

Life is a work in progress. 

As far as my training goes, I have been creative. I walk 1-2 times a day, but that is not always ideal when you have two children in a stroller and are attempting to walk/hike for 2+ hours a day. Things can get ugly, which is why I have joined a gym and hired a sitter... 

Yay!! for me.

My first day at the gym (with free child care) is tomorrow but I have had our sitter for a little over a month now. Her name is Mollee. She is great. She is a college student at Western WA and the kids love her. She comes on Saturdays. She gets here at 8 am and I walk for 3-4 hours kid free. It is bliss.

side note: One day I even got some chores caught up. Plus, last week she came over during the week so I could go to the doctor and a movie.  (As far as the doctor goes: I went to the dermatologist. I just found out, from him, that melanoma also has a hereditary component and I will be seeing him again in a year, as I have had two pre-cancer places removed or burnt this year. As far as the movie goes: The Help is fantastic. I cried the whole movie, but still it was so good.)

Back to the sitter--What in the world took me so long to get a regular sitter? I should have done it years ago!!! (fyi - I found her on care.com and would totally recommend the site.) It has been so great having her, but this past weekend I was on my own again because she had to go out of town.

On Sunday I decided walk during Nora's nap. That would maximize the time that I could walk with the kids (actually sitting) in the stroller. (Many times they get bored and want out and it takes me twice as long meet my mileage goal.) I walked a little over one mile with the dogs, then dropped them off and picked up the iPad for Wilson. My hope was that I could listen to music and Wilson could watch a movie while Nora slept. Sweet.

Everything was going according to my plan. Nora looked tired and was singing her sleepy song, and Wilson was happy to be in the stroller. Perfect. I was actually thinking to myself, “Maybe I don’t need to have Mollee EVERY weekend.” until…

•One hour into the walk Nora was still awake. Both kids were happy but restless.

•Two hours into the walk Nora was awake... and screaming. 

•Two hours and 15 minutes later Nora was still awake and still screaming so I detoured to the beach.

•Two hours and 20 minutes later both kids were throwing rocks into the bay and were happy.  

•Three hours later Nora tips the stroller over and screams. The seagulls surround us with concern because she is. just. that. loud. (she was fine. don't worry.) 

•Three and a half hours later the kids are in stroller. Wilson now has phone and Nora is content. 

•Three hours and 45 minutes later my stroller seems off balance. Flat. tire. Ugh. I attempt to move Nora to the non-flat side (of course it is her side that goes flat!). She screams.  My ear drums bleed. Not really, but she is that bleeping loud. "I can do this." I tell myself as I force Nora to sit and smile at Wilson. (He was being so helpful.) 

•Four hours later I call my neighbor Mary. No answer. 

•Four hours and 1 minute later I call Chris. He is still at work... He wants to talk, but I politely tell him the situation and that I have to go. 

•Four hours and 10 minutes later (I told you he wanted to talk.) I phone my other neighbor, Marie. She immediately knows I need help (she says I have a tone when I need something) and says, "What have you gotten yourself into now?" I laugh, then tell her where we are (Near the marina. 2 miles. down. hill. from our house) and ask her if she is able to get my Tahoe and pick us up. Luckily (which is hilarious after last week’s event) I left the keys in the car. 

•Four hours and 30 minutes later we arrive home.

Life is never dull. 

On Star Commercial- Location Smith Driveway

Today Nora got locked in my car.

Like all accidents, it happened in a second.

We were getting ready for Wilson’s swim lessons: Wilson was grabbing some things in the house. I was getting Nora in the car. Then, Wilson asked me something and I remembered that I needed to grab a couple more things. I knew that I would only be a moment so I let Nora climb up in the car and closed the door. Within seconds she climbed to the front and I heard the CLICK.

CRAP!

She just locked the car, and I had just set the keys on the floorboard. (NOT too bright on my part—I know!) That’s okay, I thought, I have a spare… Wait a minute! The spare set is in. the. car! (The day before, when I was heading out I couldn't find my first set of keys, so I grabbed the second set. When I got in the car I found my first set so I put the second set in the console and forgot about them until...)

I stayed calm, smiled at Nora and asked her to push the button. She did a great job.

She pushed. the. LOCK. button. over. and over.

Next, I looked up locksmiths on my iPhone, which was in my hand. The closest was in Bellingham, at least 30 minutes away. I then called my neighbor, Marie. I told her I needed help, explained the situation, and asked for a wire hanger. She was on her way.

Then, Buckeye ran out the door, into the street, down the road and into my neighbor’s garage. What in the hell?!? Who let the dog out?? Seriously?!?

WILSONNNNN!

I walked over to my neighbor’s apologized about Buck and quickly explained that I was not attending to him because my daughter was locked in my car. He suggested I call the police. Great idea. They are closer. They can get here faster.

I walked home. Buck followed. I kicked him in the tail and told him to “GET in the HOUSE.” I then told Wilson to leave the door CLOSED!

Marie was at the window of the car. Nora was in the driver’s seat and happy as ever. I kicked into SLP mode and drew Nora a picture of the lock. I then circled and pointed to the UNlock drawing and requested that she, “find same” and push.




It didn’t work.

I called the police. They would send someone over.

The next 5-10 minutes we straightened the hanger and attempted to break in the car. No such luck. Nora was so happy and calm that I was afraid to try anymore. Not that I wanted to leave her there. More like, I wanted her (and me) to remain calm. I was concerned that our prying and pulling on the car would cause the alarm to sound. That would definitely freak her out.

It was not too hot yet and she was content climbing from seat to seat and front to back.

My neighbors (the ones who Buck greeted earlier) stopped by and complimented me on my calmness (Mom on a mission mode) and then the police showed up. I broke out a “can I hug you?” line and they told me “not yet”.

Not exactly the confidence I wanted to hear, which made me a little nervous.

Nora smiled at the police. And when I asked her to climb to the front and “drive” she did. She then continued to push the LOCK button and made the garage door go up and down.

Ugh... Just. Hit. UNLOCK!

The police called a tow service. They talked about the temperature and how she looked stable. Their comments made me nervous but her behavior calmed me right back down. She was smiling and snacking on old Annie crackers (read: reasons not to clean out your car.). We all had a bit of a laugh…Thank goodness it was only 68 degrees.

Nora kept trying to please us. Pushing buttons and raising and closing the garage door. Then, the tow service arrived. Nora stood up in the seat and seemed to want me. (I don’t blame her as there were now 4 adults plus Wilson staring at her in the car.) She stood on the door and her leg slipped behind the handle on the door.

She was stuck and for the first time… SCARED. Seeing her scared and wanting me and me not being able to get to her was the worst feeling EVER. Luckily, Rico, the tow-man, walked to the passenger-side and went to work.

I attempted to demonstrate to Nora how to pull her leg out, but had no luck.

FINALLY, Rico pried the door open slightly and stuck a metal rod inside. After a few attempts he hit the unlock button. THANK YOU!

I climbed in the back door and freed Nora’s leg from the front door. (She was really stuck.) She held me tight and cried. I almost cried too.

I didn’t realize how scared I was until everything was over.

That was some morning.

Test Me

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Psalm 139:23 NIV

Many of you know that we have been living in limbo for the past four months. We know that with Chris' job we will move often. However, this time our move is "supposed" to be a little closer to home. Literally. We are supposed to move to WV... 45 minutes from where we both grew up...We have held the information in to protect our loved ones from disappointment if the job/move didn't go through... We finally shared our joy as everything looked more certain but we are no longer certain. Funding is an issue and bureaucracy is having its way with us... We are still very optimistic but realize that this might not goes as we had originally hoped. (We thought we would be there by now.) This is trying on Chris and I. We miss our family. I have gotten very excited about the idea that our new normal would be living close to family. In my mind, I have been dreaming of what the new normal would look like... I've pictured myself: helping my brother and sister-in-law (to be) with wedding plans, meeting my sister-in-law (Chris' sister) in Columbus for zoo trips, driving to Zanesville to met my great friend (Lissa) and her kids, flying to Florida to see Carol and have some girl get-away time, riding horses at the farm, driving to D.C. to visit with brother-in-law...

I always look forward to a new transition and opportunity. I am trying to continue to bloom where we are planted. It is beautiful here. I see eagles soaring and snow covered mountain peaks every day. I honestly do LOVE it here... I love the weather (except in June when it is so cold that I need a sweater.). I love the landscape. I need to remember what the Lord is trying to teach me and continue to embrace each day as a gift. I am trying.

I am trying to bloom on my knees and am asking the Lord to help me know where we are meant to be and give me peace in the journey. 

This poem helps me keep perspective. 

By Ruth Bell Graham

Test me, Lord, and give me strength
to meet each test
unflinching, unafraid;
not striving nervously to do my best,
not self-assured, or careless as in
jest but with Your aid.

Purge me, Lord, and give me grace to
bear the heat
of cleansing flame;
not bitter at my lowly lot, but mete
to bear my share of suffering and keep sweet,
in Jesus’ name. 

Ouch!!!!!

Well, Wilson is over his mouth issues, but... he fell face first into the window today and now has a huge bruise on his cheek. Poor guy. He is, without a doubt, my son.

Rotten little guy. Playing peek-a-boo before he got dressed for bed.