It was on a Tuesday.
6am Wake up 3 teens.
6:01 Wake up 3 teens.
6:02 Wake up 3 teens.
Each time I walk into their rooms, I pass 3 trunks, 3 suitcases, and a very special backpack. As if I need a reminder that Liz is leaving Monday, to work in Southeast Asia for 2 years. I wish we had more time together. Then there's Ruth. In 3 months, she will trek out on the World Race. Serving in 11 countries in 11 months. She jokes that someday she'll adopt 11 children. Or maybe she's not joking.
Soon I hear in one ear: "Mom, can you pick me up early?"
And in the other: "Mom, can you pick me up late?"
At 7am, I received a text from a 12 yr old that started out, "I have a friend who needs a place to stay, and you came to mind..." Lord, I haven't even had coffee yet! It ended up being a text about inviting Jesus into our lives. :) Who needs coffee, when you have friends. And family!!!
I got all the kids delivered, then I started on my bookkeeping job (work from home, hired twice this year...don't ask me for a job, y'all :) But as I started printing out the bank statements, I discovered that the new printer was malfunctioning. Our last printer went out, under warranty, and it sounded like a jack hammer was trapped inside of it, trying to get out. Maybe I'll get to talk to the nice gentleman who helped me before. Chances. Are. Not. Not. A. Chance.
I worked on the cash receipts, hoping the printer would repair itself. Then Barry called & asked if I had time for lunch. We went to Fuddruckers. I think I ate. I think it was really delicious. I hardly remember. But I remember the phone calls.
I saw a call coming in on my cell, and answered, only because it was a 641 number. That normally means the nurse is calling. Or one of the kids left their lunch or athletic uniform at home. But this time, it was one of the kids, telling me they got caught texting in class. And he had to put the teacher on the phone. Joy. Joy. At least she has a teen, and knows how I feel. Not that my feelings are all that important. It's not like that. Child will pay the fee to get the phone released. I'm fining Child, too, for the hassle of going to the principal's office. I have my standards!!
Next, a friend called, screaming "There's a bird in my house!" She obviously just wanted to share the moment with me. She didn't appreciate my advice that if she left the doors & windows open, something that likes to eat birds would soon find its way into her house, and the problem would be solved. I thought that's what my Moma would tell her. I even offered to give her Moma's phone number. Oh, well. I tried!
When I got home from lunch, it was back to the books. Still, the printer didn't work. I troubleshooted online. Then the internet went out. So I worked on the cash receipts. Ha. Soon it was time to pick up the kids.
I then received a call from my friend who also has 9 kids. It's been too long since we've seen each other, or even talked! We played phone tag until one of the kids came in, throwing up.
In one ear, I heard "Mom, I'm going to throw up."
In the other, I heard "Mom, why is the internet running so slow?"
I left, to pick up kids from the 3 schools.
I heard the sick child singing in the shower, and knew he was ok :)
Dinner. Um, can we just fend for ourselves tonight?
A little while later, it was "Mom, how do you spell sopapilla?" (that's the nickname for one of our cars!!)
"Mom, I need to go to the store. I have my list from my teacher."
And the list goes on.
I frequently get phone calls asking "Mom, where are you?"
I'm not sure where I am. But I'm smiling.
