Archives for September 2005

I have mentioned here, on several occasions, my propensity to awake in the early hours for no apparent reason and the frustration it causes me.

I forgot to mention that often when I wake it is to pray. Last year God showed me in quite a few really dramatic ways that He was awakening me to pray at key times. I got to the point that I committed if I awoke in the wee hours I would try to listen for any guiding and if I didn’t hear specifics to just offer up my faith and pray without knowing.

The thing is when you wake up between 3 and 4 in the morning, on a consistent basis, you aren’t always so clear…though wide awake. As well, in the past I woke up because I was fretting about something. And then there is the fact that I am a notoriously light sleeper anyway. So I woke up this morning without something pressing on my spirit and I started thinking about some things I am working on, got up grabbed my Bible and journal and made some notes. I worked for a little bit and then I remembered Hurricane Rita.

Helloooo!

I got online (my only news source) and realized I awoke about the time the store hit.

You know that 60’s war song “Where have all the flowers gone?”? Paul and I like to sing the refrain “When will we ever learn” often substituting “we” for “you” at each other and on rarer occasions to ourselves. It is ringing in my head.

I am writing this down to, hopefully, imprint it on my brain and spirit.

Note to Self:

Alison, you are a bit of a twitcher. Anxiety has been your alarm clock on occasion and yes, sometimes you awake when lint is stirred but most of the time you awake for a purpose known or otherwise. When you wake up you are going to pray FIRST even before you try to figure out why you are awake. Maybe in the praying you will know. Regardless you WILL pray. Are we clear?

Clear.

1. I was a flight attendant. (I applied to be a baggage handler, but got an interview for service because I spoke Japanese.)

2. My first assignment was in Memphis. My friend and I were trying to get transferred to Hawaii. In the mean time we decided to apply at Graceland as Japanese tour guides. While we were there filling out applications a call from Colonel Parker came through. After a few days we were asked to interview but we couldn’t because we both got called out on flights and were soon laid off.

3. After I was laid off I used a free flight to go back to Japan and teach English. I really wanted to go to Kindergarten. I figured I would learn a lot and could hold my own. I almost got a job as an iterant Kindergarten English teacher which seemed the best alternative but I needed a car and so I couldn’t take the job. Can you imagine the regret?

My mom and my aunt came over to visit and to do a load of laundry. When Mom transferred her clothing to the dryer she folded a load of my towels that had just dried. Coming out of the laundry room she said, “Honey start bringing all those baskets out and we’ll help you fold the rest.

I looked around.

“Uh Mom, all those loads are dirty.”

Disposable clothing, I’m for it.

I think that is a Birdie exclamation.

Sooooo I’m working out the kinks of home schooling the kids, cleaning the home, feeding the fam, keeping in touch with the outside world and running a ministry at my church – oh and getting by on less than 6 hours sleep a night. Something is always being neglected. But I am moving down the list. The home is in some semblance of order, I have been turning out some excellent food, this morning I cleared out my 24 saved messages and wrote down all the people I need to call and today we kick off our first MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) meeting. I retired after midnight and got up at 5 a.m. making “Getting more sleep” still on the to do list and I just remembered laundry, which I don’t even want to think about. Home schooling over all continues to go well, but yesterday was one of those days I wanted to leave all the kids on someone’s doorstep in a huge basket. I had one of those headaches that just won’t go away as well as a bunch of phone calls to make and several things to write. The big ones were needling each other and I was thinking, “Am I qualified to run a ministry devoted to the nurture and care of young mothers?”

Late afternoon I hustled them all in the van to run to church to make copies for tomorrow. Our church is in the inner city and something was going down. There were police everywhere. I made my copies without incident. Birdie, who is usually quite reliable in professional situations was touching everything and asking, “What’s this?” On the way out Eden spied the water cooler and asked for a drink. Now those of you in the audience who have parented for more than five minutes are shrieking, “Run, Alison, run!” just as you would at a dim witted movie heroine walking down a dark alley, the end of which contains an axe murderer. I stopped at the water cooler…and allowed the baby to depress the lever!

“Those who forget the past are condemned to relive it” Santyana (anyone can jump in on the spelling here)

This was aptly used as the epigram forwarding “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich” It could also preface any book on parenting.

But wait, it gets worse. Since my arms were full of at least a billion papers I didn’t want to sully…I let Beanie carry the cup that contained about 6 oz. of water. I know, I know, why didn’t I just give her acid to tote?

We made it to the front door.

I had stopped in the lobby to call a leader on my steering team to find out if she needed me to pick up the newsletters that were waiting. I had a confusing phone call with her husband because he was anticipating what I was saying incorrectly so I had to repeat myself a few times. Mind you, lights are flashing outside and there are a bevy of police officers running around, I had been sweating for hours, my head was throbbing and I was beginning to get that dry mouth feeling that precipitates throwing up. And then the cup dropped or was thrown “On purpose!” according to Birdie’s account.

I am just thankful I uttered no profanities.

Dear Readers, I don’t talk on a cell phone in public. It is a personal code but there I was seemingly chatting away while my children ran amuck. Eden was standing with that surprised look of someone still testing cause and effect,

“Yet again, I throw the cup and its contents (note:this time water) still fly in every direction. Fascinating. Must try at least one more thousand times preferably with juice – red.”

Birdie was clucking around and castigating her while C. Riley was opening the front door, shutting it, then throwing a magazine through the mail slot. Every time the door opened a bell sounded. He managed to do this several times before I grabbed his arm and firmly shut the door.

I finally ended the call and turned to ask for paper when a support person came out with a roll of towels. Do you even know the sort of mess that 6 ounces of water makes. I only had the brown stuff that has the absorbency of sand paper. All four of us were busily wiping the floor when my pastor walked out. We joked about us all being new volunteers and seeing that the floor needed a good polishing. Birdie let him know the truth, “She threw it ON PURPOSE!” Beanie was on her sweet little knees moving water around and didn’t try to defend herself.

I managed to finish drying the floor, return the roll of paper, collect all my copies and hustle the kids out the door.

“Thanks again!” I called over my shoulder.

“Thank you!” Birdie added.

“Sank you!” Beanie ended.

C. Riley was already running to the car.

God help us we were headed to the zoo for a member picnic.

Paul met us there. We parked together and walked in. I concentrated on not throwing up. We ate first which was a challenge for some as we were sitting on a bench very near where a volunteer stood holding a chinchilla. The meal soon finished we all were able to pet the softest fur. The volunteer told us they came from the Andes. We start a book next week about a little boy from the Andes so I made sure both the big kids heard her. Later I saw a map of South America highlighting the Andes which I pointed out and asked them what animal came from there. Birdie couldn’t remember it’s name but knew. C. Riley said, “Llamas” which was news to me but true. I reminded him that the chinchilla was also from that region. We made our way around the various special and regular exhibits. The kids happily ran from place to place, were gentle to all the animals they were allowed to touch and respectful to the many volunteers. My headache was gone and my stomach felt easy.

It was a really pleasurable evening.

Walking about, Birdie grabbed my hand and said, “Mama, I’m sorry for touching all those things at the office. Will you forgive me?”

Of course I did.

I needed to return to church for a meeting for the prayer ministry. I kissed Paul and each of the children good bye and happily made my way to the car and drove slowly and quietly back to church.

………………………………

All right kids I’m out of here! I have a load of laundry to change. Apparently it doesn’t just wash itself.

Oh Bodder, to quote a Bean.

Not to be confused with being back on the blog simply a smattering of quotes from my peeps.

“I don’t want to freeze to death, because hypothermia is cold.” C. Riley fighting for a blanket to offset the chilliness of the couch.

“I can’t know how da do it,” Beanie regarding I can’t remember what, a rare admission as she is two and therefore at the “I do it!” stage.

“He read the Captain’s blog!” Bird shocked and appalled after reading a fictional journal of a young boy who sailed on the Santa Maria and assisted Columbus whose log he often peeked in.