I am Joan

When I was fifteen, I was asked to babysit for a family on our street.  A wonderful Christian family, I might add.  I remember it like it was yesterday.  I walked in the front door and was shocked at what I saw.

Shoes.  Dirty socks.  Toys.  Boys with no shirts catapulting over furniture.  And the kids just seemed to keep coming and coming.  Every time I turned around, there was another one!

I don't remember where the parents were off to, but the I vividly recall what happened as soon as they left...I entered the kitchen and found two of the angels dumping a box of cereal all over the kitchen table.   Oh yes they were.  And having a marvelous time.

Those kids never stayed in one place.  It was impossible to know what they were up to.  Someone was always doing SOMETHING that needed attention.  It took every drop of energy I had to watch those kids...after all, there were FIVE OF THEM.

When the mom came home, she asked how the kids were in her absence.  I told her the truth and refused to babysit again.  True story.  She felt so badly she had her children walk to my house and each one apologized.  She asked again if I would babysit.  I said no.  Again.  For real.

Fast forward oh, 25 years or so.

I am Joan.  Her life is mine.  Not exactly.  But there are FIVE angels living in our home.  And frankly?  There are days I would run out the front door if my kids were dumping cereal, too.  They haven't actually tried it, but it may have to do with the fear of God.  Instilled in them every living hour.

Ok, that part is a joke...but it's a good thing we're Lutheran and saved by GRACE in this home.  Ain't nobody getting into heaven on their works around here.

At this present moment, one child is building robot wings and another must be watched at all times to make sure he doesn't test them out from a bedroom window.  Another is hiding a favorite snack in their room and they think I don't know.  One hangs weapons on their wall.  Explain THAT to the social worker, I dare you.

I used to think perfect parenting equaled a Martha Stewart home and kids in polos quietly reading Hardy Boy books.  Today, I asked my boys to empty and load the dishwasher and came back to find them sword fighting with wooden spoons they found on the top rack.  Later, I was given a much shorter wooden spoon.  "Casualty of war," they said.  "It's all fun and games until someone wants to stir," I replied.  At least they sanded the end for me.

This is my life.  People use it as their hashtag.  I was thinking of having it detailed onto the side of my SUV.

So if I invite you over, don't judge.  Feel the love (and let's be honest, the occasional irritation) between the many, many, many people living within these walls.  But whatever you do...

DON'T babysit.

Return to School

So life has a way of throwing curveballs.  If you would have told me last year after taking our kids out of school that this year they would be back in, I'd be stunned.  And confused.  But then again, I never thought we would be hit by a propane truck, either.  We're five months past the accident and I still have chronic, really painful headaches and they're ridiculously bad if I try to read or do anything remotely intelligent.  In early August, we began to wonder and pray if it was "fair" to the kids to keep them home if school work couldn't happen in the traditional sense.  We were shocked when just a day or so after we began to pray about it, Gabe came to us and asked if he could go to middle school in town.  Remember, this is the kid that BEGGED to homeschool.  He LOVED homeschooling, but something inside him made him want to try school again.  He said he felt ready.  He said he missed seeing his friends.  And the  clincher?  He showed us his Jesus wristband and said, "I love Jesus and I'm not afraid to say it!"  :-)

No, we don't think it will be all sunshine and roses, but we parent with a philosophy that takes what our kids feel seriously.  That don't call all the shots, but we've found that listening to where their heart is at tends to lead to decisions where we are have peace.

So, here is Gabe with a big braces smile.  He even asked if I wanted to walk him to the bus stop so I wouldn't cry.  Sniff sniff.

Noah...the SENIOR.  Incredible.  I remember when I couldn't wait for him to be grown up because he was such an exhausting little boy.  Lord, have mercy.  Now, I beg the second hands to slow down!  He's working at the local Chinese restaurant and finishing up his last courses before college.  Up this year?  Intro to Psych and an awesome class in World Leaders plus the regular core stuff.  One really cool thing we love about his school is how Noah's school incorporates a Christian world view into everything they teach.  This year Noah takes a health class and part of it will focus on his financial health as a young adult...how to budget, etc...and the biblical foundations for stewardship and giving are taught.  Love it!  

"Dad!  Be serious.  This is senior year.  No photo bombing, please."

 And then there are the girls....sigh.  Sweet little Mia headed to 3rd.

And our littlest headed to 2nd. These two were so EASY to have at home.  Sweet and loving and fun...and way ahead in their subjects by the end of the year.  Wonder if they'll be bored at school?

"Is mom already crying?  Can you see her out of the corner of your eye?  Moooom."
"Don't worry, Mom.  We can always hold hands when we see each other.  Just like this!"

The last to take off was Joe Cool.  He's doing Liberty High School Online in the mornings, a Christian virtual academy.  Then four afternoons a week, he heads downtown to study the upright bass.  He's already loving it.  Of course he is.

 

How fast they're growing!  Lord, help them to know your love in a deeper way this year and shine through them to others as they go into the world.  And help Randall and I to trust that you work all things for good....even public school.  :-)