Hopes

The kids are all tucked in for the night.

My throat, it feels strained
from all the yelling I did.

I sit, and I dwell on my guilt.

Why all this anger?
I stop and consider.

These children, they belong to the Lord.
If all they have to rely on
Are parents who stumble in
Their every act, thought and word
What a disaster it would be.
All praise to God who sets us free!

Lamentations 3:22-23
"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

My Friend

These tears I cry for you,
These prayers I pray for you,

As left behind
I watch you
getting smaller
in the distance.

It begins to rain
and the teardrops
and raindrops
sweep you farther away.

My eyes see you no longer
But in my heart,

there you are
Grieving, as I am.

Through this pain
We trust and we pray;
God is guiding this flood
He is causing this rain

And only He knows when we
shall see each other again.

To my mother

Dear Mommy,

Where ever you are,
From me it's too far.
(But I've only got myself to blaim for that.)

I love you a tonne
For all the work that you've done
In raising me.

Now that I've got kids of my own
I can't see how it's done
'til my memory

Brings to my mind
How you and dad
With all the strength that you have
Do it all in the LORD.

And I love you some more
For the person you are.
I'm always happy to see
Parts of you come out in me.


Hope you're having a lovely trip!

One WHOLE hour left 'til supper time

We had friends over all day...but then they left. And what does that leave us with now that it's raining and suppertime is an hour (AT LEAST) away.


The after visit blues, the after visit blues!

Nothing left for us to do but remember what's not true.

None of us have had enough sleep.
We're all gonna break down and weep.

I think it's time to to have a fight:

Nathan and Melanie proceed to smack their heads into each other, and complain that there is not enough room.
I point out the following free space available:

but there are no takers.
Sigh.
The after visit blues...

Fortunately, I felt inspired (even if ever so briefly). I hauled out some sheets from the closet and set to work

with a little help.

Now all the dogs

and cats

and other animals
have been set loose from the barnyard.
I imagine this will buy me at least 10 minutes of "no fight time".
Maybe I should have another 5 such activities up my sleeve.

Mostly Munchkin Matthew

Matthew the Munchkin

A smile to cheer up my day,
My baby will give so cheerfully
Any old time I take the effort to play
A silly old game of any old kind. I say,

"Wouldn't you want to join him?"
He'd love to have a companion!
Someone to fill up this empty container
With playdough would win his deep favour.
(For Matthew is feeling a bit hungry again
And it would take the edge off of his stomach pain.)

And what could be the source of this severe hunger?
If it were his first steps, that would be no great wonder.
Unfortunately mister Matthew is not letting go
Of that hand he's desperately holding onto.

At last, an apple to restock a portion of that energy
Required for keeping the position of baby number three.
Number three? So where are the others?
The other two wonder of wonders?

Nathan and Melanie also went to the park,
And enjoyed it all, but the fear of a bark

On a certain particular dark corner of trail
Where they fear the wagging of more than a tail

(That's the wagging of a tongue I'm referring to)
Now my work is long overdue...adieu!

The best of plans...

I was hoping to work on my curtains this afternoon.

But at naptime
Nathan cried (instead of resting quietly)
which woke up his brother MUCH too early
which made him grumpy ALL afternoon
and evening.
Which made me
tired, grumpy, headachey, sore armey, and exhaustedey
and unable to sew.

Now I am happy to no longer see
any outreaching arms
pointing up at me.

I shall have a good rest
And try my very best
On a fresh new day.
Yay!

Good night.

That's how I am feelid

I am now a cool cat
From which we assume that
I am Stuffed and Stupid

Evan is so cool!

We're having our first ever sleepover party
Such a special treat.
We're having a great big super duper party,
Boy is it ever neat!


Can you take a picture of THIS for me "Mommy" Roze?
Anything for you, Evan dear!
Doesn't that beat a pic of cute kids in fancy clothes?
Whatever you say, Evan dear!
[Isn't his artistic taste bang on?]


Can you watch me do this, Super Cool Evan?
I want you to do as I do!

What are you doing down there, Super Cool Evan?
I want to watch all that you do!


(None of us wants to miss any of the action!)


Life with Evan does, however, call for an energy drink to be drunk by the primary caregiver.

p.s.
Thanks so much for the great bread ideas!! Shall try to put them all to good use!!
p.p.s.
Have some family in town, plus a broken washer, so life is busy. May have to wait a few days for the time and enthusiasm to tackle anything other than my basic "fast and familiar" meals.

Conspiracies and stress

Conspiracies and stress are all that are on my mind.

So here is a

Complaining Song.

They are all out to get me
They are all out to get me
Every last one of Them.
Who are They? Ahem.
Them. They are Them.

Stress is going to get to me.
Stress is going to get to me.
Stressin' stressin' stressin
Then will They have won?
I think then They will have won.


(Perhaps even Pooh Bear would be proud of my composition.)

Count your blessings

A poem dedicated to my Grandma, who I really miss.
(Wouldn't I just love to pop by for a hug (but not kiss :p )!)


When life feels rough and things get tough
And things feel like just a little too much

Then sit right down, have a look around
And count those blessings that surround.

One two three:
They are all alive.


One two three:
The are all well
(But maybe not
all feeling swell)


One two three
They are all mine
To have and hold
and teach for a time.


And this young man makes Four
Now who would dare to ask for more?

As a sidetrack, here's a pictorial story which starts with the third picture of this post.

Too early, too early, MUCH much too early.

The morning has come too soon,
I feel so tired I could almost swoon.

I blink
and I peer
I daze
and I stare
Trying to see more than the fuzz of my hair.

A screech
and a scream
a laugh
and a giggle,

Three little children have started to wiggle
and I can hear their little feet
patter.

Nothing for me could be better
Than a restful peaceful morning in bed
Some quiet
a tea
or a coffee
and a book to be read...
THAT is what I could use by my bed.

NOT three little energy-full children.

It does not seem to matter
That I'm in no mood for chatter

Nope, it does not matter at all to them
I feel all of my energy
drained
drained

and then...

All around me the voices have said
"It is time for Mommy to get out of bed!"