sickness

I couldn’t stop laughing at Kelly’s 2nd Capsule Wardrobe post! There are more funny folks over there, be sure to check it out!

One.

This has been week numero dos for the Great Stomach Bug of 2017. Every time I keep thinking the family is finally through it, somebody else vomits in my car. I was feeling better myself and then, a week later, was sick again. So far, Hubby and Evvie have not gotten it, but the incubation period seems to be about 7 days, so I am sure this time next week I will probably be needing to buy more bleach.

Two.

Hubby and I don’t generally make a big deal out of Valentine’s Day. Hubby also doesn’t generally send me flowers, particularly not for specific holidays – he likes the element of surprise, he says (which, also, he says, has nothing to do with forgetting most of the time). One day I told him, “Gifts are my Love Language. I wish you would think about sending me flowers once in a while” and then the joke became him telling me, “I thought about sending you flowers today.” I would always nod appreciatively and say, “Thanks, It’s the thought that counts!”

In an about face, eschewing just The Thought of Sending Flowers, I received these via delivery on Tuesday. Along with the card (no signature, who could they be from?:-) Which leads us to

Three.

After the delivery guy left, I asked Spike who he thought could have possibly sent me these beautiful flowers.

Spike: I don’t know! The guy that just dropped them off??

Me: But why would he do that?

Spike: ?? Because he loves you??

So, if that is not a testimony to all husbands out there to set an example by sending your wives flowers more often, I don’t know what is. You don’t want the children thinking there are random flower delivery guys who love your wives more than you do!

Four.

I have to remind myself to be grateful for the quiet moments when they are getting along courtesy of Netflix.

Five.

I like to try to make Valentine’s Day special for the kids. This year my goal is to make them hand crafted Valentines, complete with personalized love notes and carefully selected candy. Haha! Just kidding. It is more like I will scatter some Hershey’s kisses on the table Tuesday morning, while scrawling I Love Yous on Post-it Notes. It’s the thought that counts.

Six.

As soon as Hubby gets home from getting a haircut we are planning to do a major Slash and Burn of the kids’ bedrooms. It has gotten Out. Of. Control. They are pits of despair. Well, mainly, dirty laundry, misplaced bric-a-brac, and garbage. Oh the garbage. Apparently the physical act of getting trash into the proper receptacle is lost on my children. Except Bellie. Because, for Bellie, there is no such thing as Trash. It is all art. Or could be used in the future for art. At any rate, it is NOT WORTHY OF BEING THROWN. This is why I need to clean out her room in secret, or if she is at school. Otherwise what generally happens is that she tearfully picks through the garbage bag, taking out every last worksheet and piece of candy wrapper, saying, “Don’t throw away my stuuuuuuuuufffff” It is dramatic. Garbage might just be her Love Language.

Seven.

My library holds quarterly book sales of donated used books and withdrawn library titles. I am mildly obsessed with used books. I honestly have no need for any additional reading material right now. I honestly have no more bookshelf space for any additional reading material right now. But, yet…I am trying to decide if I should head on down to the library this weekend. Just to see. Just to browse. Many books are 50 cents! I am Rebecca and I have a book problem. Anyone else?

Have a fantastic week!

Good day to you! I am sitting at a local coffeeshop – by myself (doesn’t that sound scandalous?) – and I am happy to get my 7QTs in today! See more at Kelly’s!

ONE

Hubby got back from a business trip yesterday. I was really happy to get him back. So were the kids. He was only gone 5 days, but it was a LOOOONNNNNGGGG 5 days. (See below Quick Take)

TWO

Stomach bugs while (temporarily) single parenting suck. Stomach bugs while single parenting especially suck when they only hit said temporarily single parent while the children being parented are their own boisterous, exuberant, curious, and healthy selves. I am glad that I was not having to parent sick kids while being sick myself, but….still. I’m a complainer. Edit: Bellie came home from school sick today….so….this might be the beginning of a fun weekend. At least Hubby is home!

THREE

Six months to EUROPE!!!!!!! I am feeling like everything is falling into place and can barely contain my excitement. I need to work on the guilt feelings, though. I mean, I can hardly sneak off to a coffee shop by myself on a Friday morning for an hour leaving Hubby with the two little ones without feeling like a complete worthless human being who is shirking her family responsibilities! I will have to explore this idea more in future posts.

FOUR

Loving Victoria on Masterpiece. I do think Jenna Coleman is a bit too pretty to play the illustrious queen, but oh well. I am slightly obsessed with the Victorian Era, so the costumes and the hairstyles are completely thrilling to me. Plus I think Victoria (who interestingly enough, was against women’s suffrage) was one of the most influential and fascinating women in the history of our modern world.

embargoed_until_23rd_august_victoria_ep1_-22

Jenna Coleman as Queen Victoria at her coronation. (Courtesy pbs.org)

FIVE

My mom is doing better. She came through her surgery (to repair her leg) just fine, and is currently on the mend. Talking to her on the phone nowadays she seems to be back to her old self. It will still be weeks before she is permitted to put weight on her leg, but she seems to be wheeling herself around her house just fine, and other than being confined to the ground floor of her home, is doing well. I have taken the suggestion to call her often – and I have been touching base with her via text daily, calling every other day. If nothing else, I hope that this whole experience has convinced her that her children really do care about her. We were all forced to break out of our mental business to actually reach out and make an effort to keep in touch.

SIX

I’ve got a dear friend who is going through a divorce.

There has been a group of us who have been friends for a long time. We did a Bible study about Catholic Apologetics several years back together; it was so enlightening and educational for us, plus it brought us closer together as friends. It definitely ranks as one of the best experiences I’ve had, and I have always felt that those of us who participated share a special bond.

Our families have hung out often, our husbands have gone out for beers together and helped each other with home improvement projects. Each year we go to Bear Lake, Utah camping as a group and traditionally spent Super Bowl Sunday together. Our kids are all friends.

Over Christmas, one of the couples split up under tense circumstances. We are friends with both of them. We like and respect both of them and want what is best for their kids, and their family as a whole. But my friends and I are having a hard time wishing them a DIVORCE. Especially in light of Catholic teaching, which we studied together in detail all those years ago. We are not privy to all the information about the circumstances of their separation, of course. There seem to be some seemingly insurmountable obstacles for them to stay together. But….still……ugh.

It’s a sad situation all around. We have tried to be supportive of our friend without bashing her husband. We have been praying for them. A lot. And I truly believe that God has a plan for their family.

Still, anyone have any words of wisdom about supporting a friend (couple?) who is going through a divorce? What are our duties as Christian/ Catholic friends? Friends who believe in and confess the sanctity of marriage, especially when both parties in a divorce proceeding are convinced there is no hope for their marriage? I am struggling here!

SEVEN

Well, as I type this, I can’t avoid the obvious: my cuticles are a horror. Winter wreaks havoc on my hands! The air is so dry here in Idaho that dry skin is a matter of fact, but in winter it takes it up a notch! My poor kids have inherited my problem; Bellie’s hands are dry and red ALL WINTER LONG unless she remembers to always always wear gloves when she goes outside (which doesn’t usually happen). All of my kids seem to suffer from excema (particularly on their cheeks) during the winter. My solution: Eucerin is my friend. I buy an industrial size of the tub at the beginning of the winter.

I hope all of you are keeping warm and protecting your skin this winter! Have a delightful weekend!