Livin' the Dream

Neely is a little obsessed with making her bed. It is rare that a morning will go by without her making it. I don’t just mean straightening out the blankets and such, I mean REALLY makes her bed. Like military style. Takes her at least 10 minutes. She doesn’t like for me to make it anymore because I don’t tuck in the sheets and blanket all around her mattress.

Well, this morning as she was making her bed, Gabe and I happened to be in her room, and she said something profound for a 6 year old. She said “Dad, what the blanket does depends on what the sheet is doing”. Gabe asked her what she meant and she went on to tell us its kindof like our hearts. Our hearts control everything we do…whats on the inside, effects the outside. If the sheet is wrinkled underneath, the blanket will be wrinkled on the outside.

Gabe and I just stared at each other? Seriously? As a 6 year old she gets this?

We’ve been talking to the girls a lot lately about what’s in their hearts. When one gets jealous and complains “what about me”, we ask them what’s in their hearts in that moment, and they tell us what they think it is. When one doesn’t want to share, they respond with selfishness or meanness. When something great happens and they encourage each other, they respond with something like happiness or thankfulness. It is so gratifying and encouraging to see that Neely has really been thinking about this and came up with such a great illustration of this. Maybe she’ll be a teacher one day?

Last Tuesday I had outpatient surgery and from all accounts it went well. My recovery was going like the doctor said to expect and I was thinking I was in the clear. Gabe left for Atlanta to train for the mission trip to Brazil on Thursday, so that was the first night I was on my own since the surgery. I fed the girls, bathed them, did my usual routine…and went to bed at 8pm:). The next morning I wasn’t feeling right so my good friend Norma drove me to the doctor who said the incisions looked good and that I was doing well. So we stopped by a consignment sale, at which I found 4 dresses, including AJ’s easter dress, and decided to stop for lunch before she brought me back home.

I felt kindof funny on the drive to the restaurant, and sure enough, about 5 minutes after we sat down I was in the bathroom throwing up my mexican chicken from the night before. Sorry if that’s too much information. Poor Norma. I felt so bad for her. She got me home, gave me a zofran she had, and the pest control guy showed up to spray our house. By this time I was on the phone with Gabe, who’s flight to Brazil was going to leave at 9pm that night. I was crying and saying I was fine, and the pest control guy was giving me the “it’s OK, I have a wife and understand hormones” look while he sprayed my house in record time. The poor guy was trying to get out of our house fast. I felt bad for him, in hindsight he was probably really trying to decide if AJ was safe to leave in my supervision!

I’m not sure the order of events, but somehow Neely got home from school, I think Norma got her for me, I talked to my doctor and he gave me some phenergan, Katie Underwood moved into my house for the weekend, I cried to my mom because she couldn’t get here (all flights from LA were cancelled due to weather), and Gabe flew to Brazil. Oh, and also, the pest control guy showed back up on my front porch with his card, because of course he is the pastor of a Bible Baptist church down the road, and he wrote his wife’s name and number in case I needed to call her to talk. I said thank you very much and that I just might call her!

It’s really kindof amazing that during all this crazy mess, God was involved and our community of friends really jumped in and took over for me. I honestly don’t know what I would have done otherwise. They’ve stayed at my house with me, completely cared for the girls so I could take my medicine and sleep through the worst of it, brought meals, called to check on us, and prayed for us. It’s really been so amazing to feel so loved and cared for during such a terrible time. Any of these friends that read this blog, THANK YOU!!!

Gabe is having a good time and learning a lot. I’m so glad he went ahead and went. I really miss him. I’ve never really been in a position where I can’t reach him. I mean I really can’t reach him. This has been really hard. He’s my best friend and I don’t remember a time ever before where we’ve had to go a day without talking. He’s called twice and it was so great to hear his voice. So, say a prayer for his work over there, and for my heart that’s hurting from missing him!