On the Bright Side

This has been one of "those" months.  It is one of the hardest months ever...I do believe, ever.  The kids and I are somewhat accustomed to it and know what to do to make it work.  However, when you are tired, you are tired!  I am tired.  On top of that, four of the five of us at home had a fever.  The worst hit Kennedy and Cohen.  Cohen is still recovering with gaining appetite and such back.  David has been interviewing since February and will continue through the end of April.  David is Q4 (call every fourth night) March and April.  He also has three interviews in March and two in April.  The three in March are three weeks in a row and the last two are almost back to back.  I know this is torturous to read.  Basically if he isn't working nights, he is flying to or from an interview (they take up two days).  We have seen him about one night a week.  So a couple of hours for the whole week.  I see him a little more and hear him in the mornings while he gets ready to go to work while the sun is getting up to brighten our day.  Today is near the end.  Thursday night we will sit down for a meal with a family of six...two adults at the table! 

My fuse grows dim at this point.  I try, try, try, but to know avail...my poor children suffer a little bit.  They are tired too and wonder when they will see their Daddy again.  I feel for military families and my sweet friend who has sent her hubby off for four months to do a rotation in Utah.  I cannot complain!  They are saints!  I honestly think Heavenly Father knows they can handle that better than I.

Sooo ON THE BRIGHT SIDE--Things that helped me through the day:

• Not to sound vain; a fantastic eyeliner sharpener.  Seriously, I have been using a very old one.  I won't even mention how old.  Then I turned to the kids' pencil sharpener.  I basically was trying to put eyeliner on with a thick splinter and a thick, disfigured pencil.  Ouch!  Then I went without liner for a wee bit.  It made the world of difference to have this nifty sharpener with neat features..and a nice, fine line on my eyelid, pain free!
• A primary activity that captivate my kids who love to "craft" as much as their mother and create things like their father.  They painted scripture totes.  As much as I wanted to sew one for them that was nice and neat, their individuality shines on each bag.  I enjoyed watching them plan out their project then making it come to life.  Kennedy was receiving compliments on her skill in stencil and staying in the lines.  We do a lot of coloring, cutting, tracing, and stencils at home.  I saw her beginning product and would agree on a job well done.  Her spunky nature was revealed on her final product as the objects were a bit blurred.  She colors that way too.  She starts with great strokes and pays attention to detail, then her motor gets running and the whole page is a solid scribble.  Cohen is meticulous and thoughtful on his work.  I don't always understand it, but he can explain clearly that the critter he drew is a green spotted dog with other unique features.  He was so focused and not a bit distracted by others around him painting, playing ball or eating snacks.  He would be done, when his plan was complete.  Taylin is artistic and declined any stencils.  She chose to go free hand and did a beautiful job.  She got frustrated with a little mistake, but we settled it by adding grass.  She was anxious to let it dry and work on the back.  By the time she could do so, supplies were drying and getting picked up.  She quickly tried to complete the back but ended in a little disappointment that it didn't go like she wanted.  All in all the bags dried and the kiddos have happily filled their scripture bags for tomorrow.  Cohen even planned what he was going to put in his bag, very strategically.  He insisted he had to have 10 things.  I don't know why that number.  I am always trying to think of what one less "thing" I can leave out of the bag.  I am proud of their creations and their excitement to carry their scriptures with such care. 
• Also at the primary activity:  My heart was touched by the service of members of the ward reaching out to these sweet young ladies that the missionaries are working with to get to church.  Their circumstances are saddening.  Those girls seemed so at peace creating their bags.  I can only imagine how chaotic their lives are.  One was in young women's, but came with her younger sister.  They were so friendly and just sweet!  I hope that this is a glimmer of more peace they will find in the near future. 
• The kids willingly did a few house chores.  I can usually count on Taylin with no worries, but I could tell it too has worn on her a little bit to be my go to gal.  Cohen, Kennedy and Teague proudly took on their tasks and completed them without complaint.  Simple, but huge!
• I tried not to shed tears during one of the brightest moments.  Bedtime is my least favorite and most favorite time of the day.  It is sooo difficult to get everyone ready for bed in a timely fashion.  Once they are...ahhh, I just want to sit and read and chat and sing with them all night.  This next "bright side" occurred while changing Teague's diaper and pj's.  You take every precious moment regardless of the circumstances.  I was singing songs to Teague while changing his clothes.  Sometimes he will stop me with, "No..no,no,no," to mean he wants to sing something else or he wants to sing it himself.  We went through a few songs.  Kennedy started "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" and we all sang along(Cohen, Kennedy, Teague and I).  That was over and Kennedy, the self-acclaimed chorister chimed in with "I am a Child of God."  We usually don't go through a singing time without singing it.  The sweetest spirit filled the room.  Such peace.  We sang the second verse first, followed by the first.  When it came to,..."has given me an earthly home, with parents kind and dear," almost on cue as if they had previously planned this, the kids cuddled me, rubbed my arm and Kennedy did this reassuring side hug and look.  I don't know how to describe it, but it was the sweetest moment. 

It is wonderful to know, despite my faults, at the end of the day we are a happy, loving family.  I look forward to Thursday when we will share the beginning of three evenings in a row.  Love this bunch and love my Heavenly Father who knows how much I can handle, when I need help and when a little cheer will help me a few more hours.