A Simile

Setting: Last night. The car-fixer store. The waiting room.

Characters: Me and the 2 youngest. They're the ones who have no earthly idea how to get their homework done without my constant vigilance. For the love of all that's holy, this time of day is so painful, even my teeth hurt.

Plot: We wait for a new car battery to be installed. We use the time to do the 2nd graders homework, and to study for the 6th graders Literary Elements test.

Conflict: The 2nd grader has no concept of handwriting. I make her erase her work 3 different times and write it over. By the third attempt, she is writhing on the floor and moaning that her "teacher taught her to write her 'a' to look like a 'u'!" In between these outbursts, I review the literary elements with the 6th grader for the fifth time. She continues to look at me and say, "Um, I have no idea what that means." I start to consider beating my head against a nearby tire.

Simile: I repeat the definition AGAIN-- A comparison using 'like' or 'as'. Let me give you an example: "Doing homework with your children is like pulling out your eyelashes. Slowly."

Resolution: A nanny.

A Cheerleader

She runs. And she loves it. I like sitting. Like, a lot. It produces less sweat. Sitting is an indoor sport. But running is outside. In 100% humidity. I stand in the shade and watch her and realize she must really love running to endure the Texas elements.


This is cross country season. That just means longer distance to run in the heat. Oh, and you get to wear cuter shoes with spikes on the bottom. I think I could consider running, just for the perky footwear.


From the start of the race, my eyes never leave her. I watch her around every turn and I squint to keep track of her through the distant trees. Half way through, I know she is tired, and I find myself racing to various sections of the trail to cheer her on. In the final stretch, I notice her sisters running along side the path, keeping up with her and yelling words of encouragement. The sight makes my heart heavy with joy.


The longer I watch, the more I learn. Doesn't life feel like a race? Grueling, tiring and lots of hard work? And every runner needs a cheerleader. I am her's. At times, I watch from afar. Letting her work at it on her own. At other times, I stand as close as I can get and I scream so she can hear my voice above all the others. I reassure her that she. can. do. this.

I am her cheerleader, and He is mine. I know He is there, standing on the side lines watching. Ever mindful. Sometimes He even adjusts the course without my consent. But His goal is to lead me to the finish line. And my goal is to follow the path. At the moments I want to quit, His voice rises above all others. You. Can. Do. This.

I cheer for her and He cheers for me. And her, as well. We run together. We match our strides. We finish as One.

Insider Information

Todd has worked in the medical field for-ev-a. Because of that, he has worked with his fair share of nurses, technicians, etc. These people have the best stories ever. I totally majored in the wrong field.

Some of my all time favorites are those he hears from the ultrasound techs. They know the nitty gritty. All those crazy people I see shopping at Walmart? They're also getting ultrasounds. And you can't BELIEVE the stories that have caused them to end up there. I live for these stories. Sad, but true.

This week, a woman Todd works with had a meeting at Baylor. This place teaches doctor stuff. It's a college of medicine. I can't even imagine the good stories lurking in the corners of that place. Anywho, Todd's coworker is waiting for the elevator. It arrives, the chime sounds, and the doors open. And, guess what's inside? A cow. On a gurney. Did you catch that part? A. Cow. On. A. Gurney!

Apparently the Baylor cow had just had a heart transplant. Yup. I'm serious. So what does this woman do? She gets on the elevator. With. The. Cow! The technician escorting the bovine simply tells her, "Sorry, the animal elevator is broken." The doors close and she rode in silence, with a cow that had just emerged from surgery. You simply can't make this stuff up. It's too awesome.

After this story was related, Todd only had one question for this woman. "So, was the cow laying on it's back, with it's feet straight up in the air? Or, on it's side with it's legs hanging over the gurney?"

My life is so darn dull. Moo.

14

Then:

Now:

Happy Birthday to this amazing young woman. I love you with all my heart.

How We Labored This Day

For this holiday, we celebrated (2 days early) this almost 14 yr. old girl. Serious labor. I have one word for you-- teenagers. Lots and lots of teenagers. I comforted myself with large amounts of cake.

Here she is trapped in the flying ticket booth. I looked at this tiny confined space and silently wished for this booth to appear in my family room. There are days where it would be extremely handy.

Why, oh why, do they giggle so much? And it's so loud. Especially when they are grouped together. The more teenage girls you add, the louder it becomes. It's a phenomenon.

Tomorrow I shall rest from my labors and soak up the silence. Until then, I'll eat more cake.

They Continue To Surprise Me

You would think that I was beyond being surprised. I guess I'm not, because I continue to be amazed at the crap my kids do in public.

When I realized Addie was taking far too long in the bathroom during church, I went to extract her. I opened the door to find two girls staring at the stalls with eyes wide and mouths hanging open. I immediately looked at them and asked, "What'd she do?" Once they recovered from their shock, they replied, "she climbed on top of the bathroom stall."


I removed my child from the bathroom and did my best to pretend we are a normal family for the remaining church services. I doubt anyone was convinced.

Once we arrived home, and I forced Addie to sit still long enough to write these sentences and I asked her how she climbed to the stop of the stall to begin with. "I climbed up using those bars that are in there." I have no idea what she is even talking about, nor do I care to verify her answer.

What child, wearing a dress, during church, decides to climb over the top of the bathroom stall?! Apparently, mine. I stand all amazed. Again.

I Found Love At Open House

Yesterday was one of those crazy schedule days. Lots of things squeezed into a small amount of time. By the end of the day, I was rushed to make dinner. I was rushed to get everyone fed. I was rushed out the door to get to the junior high for Open House. I rushed to make sure that two children's schedules and classes were covered.

But then I found myself in Kellie's Language Arts class. The teacher explained that all the kids had written a poem centered on an emotion of their choosing. I searched the wall and located her all familiar hand writing.


Her words stopped me. I found myself squinting my eyes to try and stare at them harder, soaking them through me. I read them again and again. Each time through imprinted it's Love deep in my heart.

So much of parenting is hard work without any applause. Ever. A majority of my time is spent realizing I'm doing it wrong. Those thoughts only solidify every time I open my mouth to yell, scold or question.

Parenting rewards seem to appear in the smallest of moments. Sometimes they are few and far between. Maybe that's what makes them so magical. These moments, these small glimpses in time, are truly the reason we can keep on parenting through all the other yucky stuff.

I did not expect to find Love at Open House. I was far too rushed to get through it all, just like I am with most things. But love found a way to hold me still. It looked straight at me long enough to show me it's truth.

Love is Red. And now it lives in my heart.