Happy birthday, Eden Rayne.

Eden’s seven. Seven. How did that happen?
It would seem that, just yesterday, she was tiny and sassy and saying the craziest things.
Today, she’s big. And sassy and saying the craziest things. Ok, so maybe less has changed than I think. It’s just crazy to think she’s seven.
For her birthday, she chose Andes Thin Mint Pie. Ice cream, chocolate, thin mints… it’s a fabulous combo that made headlines in our house… that one’s happening again around here. Mmm.
She got crocheting materials for her gift, among other things. I’m amazed how much I remember when I started trying to teach her. Turns out, it’s like riding a bike.
She’s learning quickly. Now that we’ve covered the proper pronunciation. That was a trip.

It’s the little things.

My washing machine died Thursday. We read reviews, looked at machines, and felt our heads begin to swim. We talked to two companies that sell commercial washing machines and they spun faster.

Finally, I found one. I hope it’s good. With my checklist in hand, it met my criteria. Blaine’s getting it now, at the appliance store that beat everyone’s price.

I saved $70 making phone calls today. Hooray for taking the time and having it paying off!

It better be great. I cannot handle researching another one anytime soon. And my diaper pail is, in Ruby’s words, a tower. First load: diapers. Don’t come to my house until it’s done. The lid no longer fits and the smell is permeating…

In other news, my van has MO plates. Between that and the washer, I’ve spent more money today than I have since we closed on our house. Ouch. Tax refund, hurry along.

Isn’t God good?

I wash a lot of laundry. Today’s diaper rinse water ended up on the laundry room floor. Upon taking apart the machine, Blaine found melted plastic and two holes in the plastic drum and more parts ruined than the washer is worth.

But this didn’t happen 25 loads and three weeks ago, when he had just left for California. It happened the day after he got home. Isn’t God good?

Getting a new washer. I’m thinking steel drum. It cannot melt.

New wheels. Really, really big wheels.

If you’d ever have told me that at age 28

this would be my dream vehicle

I’d have said you were crazy.

But I love it. Three benches, two bucket seats, and seating for 12. It holds five car seats without complaint, (no shoving required!) and Liberty has her choice of five empty seats.

And it handles like… a really big van.

Don’t call me crazy. Just give me ideas. Please?!

If you were in charge of teaching a group of about a dozen three year olds for four hours once a week, what kind of things would you do? How would you deal with keeping attention? With obedience and teaching them respect?

Ideas, anyone?

It’s the new last week.

Today, I went grocery shopping. I took my list, got what was on it, and headed home.

Tonight, cleaning out my jean pockets, I found my grocery list. Except half of what was on it I hadn’t gotten today. Huh. I know I got everything on my list.

Then I found another list in my pocket. THAT was the list I’d shopped off of. An old list.

Last month’s meals are the new this month, I guess. And apparently emptying my pockets should include the extra step of looking at what I’m taking out and putting in, day after day.

Really, now.

I’m feeling so blessed.

Last week a family from church offered to help me with whatever I needed most. Having a hard time knowing what to choose, I decided I’d either polyurethane the stools I’ve been wanting to get done or I’d have them help rearrange my kitchen cabinet contents. As a family of ten, they surely have some great ideas.

Last week they watched the kids so I could work on my stools. They were awesome.

This week, they came over and helped with my kitchen cabinets. I was right; they had great ideas.

Then, they watched the kids so I could get groceries.

Then, I got a haircut. At home, trim the ends; so much better.

It was an awesome day. Let me just throw this out there. If you want to bless someone, volunteer your day for whatever they might need.

Things that have been hanging over me for over a year have been done. The fellowship was sweet, I learned from another, and cannot say thank you enough to dear friends for offering themselves for me and my family today.

Best of all: no judgment. The messy cupboards, the dirty floors, the disorganized mess that was my kitchen – none of it mattered. They just pitched in and helped.

I’m feeling so blessed.