The Accidental Pastor's Wife

Momma's sweet girl...two months old.

I was chatting with our most advanced in years church member last week, her children are grown and gone, her husband died. I think I was complaining about how much I had to do and hadn't done yet that day.

And she looked at me and said, "Someday you'll be walking around your house looking for something to clean because nothing will be dirty."

I'm young, healthy, and so are my four beautiful kiddos. It's busy, it's messy, it's stressful...but does it have to be? I was reading over at Preschoolers and Peace a while back and something Kendra said really stuck with me: You shouldn't be so focused on the "HAVE TOs" but should instead embrace the "GET TOs": I get to teach my children to read and all about David Livingstone in Africa and how to write a good book report and how to count by tens to 100. I get to prepare delicious meals for them every day. I get to cuddle them all afternoon on the sofa with a good book or a good PBS kids show. I get to help them learn the skills it takes to run a home. I get to give them warm, positive memories of home. AM I?

I mean, what do I really want anyway? A house that has no evidence of children living it and a bunch of free time to myself? Doesn't the Bible say something about how young women should keep busy so they don't become troublesome gossips? (I need to find that verse, but I have a beautiful sleeping baby on my chest and a 5 year old eating eggos in my bed next to me...)

So my prayer this morning is that I will gratefully embrace the noise, the mess, and the busyness. I hope you can, too.

Baby #4 has pushed me to consider shutting down my blog. While she's the most precious, cuddly little peanut, she also doesn't like to sleep more than two or three hours at night and she's confounded her "veteran" mommy on how to change that. Yep, I've read all the books (Babywise, Happiest Baby on the Block, What To Expect, ETC...) I've even swaddled her in the miracle blanket, to no avail.

So, I'm pretty tired, overwhelmed by the chores before me but thoroughly enjoying this new little one. I just don't find I have much intelligent to say.

I have been watching copious amounts of Food Network and did you know that old episodes of Trading Spaces come on TLC at 4 a.m sometimes?

But I've also found a new favorite author in the midst of the busyness:

Marilynne Robinson

I've read her first novel, Housekeeping, and loved it. I'm halfway through Gilead, which won a Pulitzer Prize, and so far I think it's one of the best books I've ever read.

Check back in sometimes and maybe I'll have something to contribute to the conversation. In the meantime, I'll be nursing, cleaning, teaching and reading, and praying for some sleeping!

I have a new favorite kids' show. I already love most of what PBS Kids produces. I love how you don't have to put up with all the stupid commercials like on Nick Jr. or Disney Channel. Since we have TV now, due to someone's injury a few months ago, I've discovered all kinds of programs out there that really are quality (though I honestly DON'T understand the Hannah Montana obsession).

Sid the Science Kid is a new favorite around here. It's produced by Jim Henson studios and is created using computer animation. The colors are bright and fun, the music is fantastic. It's geared toward preschoolers and helping to develop their interest in science. As a result of the water melting and freezing episode, my five year old became a man obsessed with freezing juice in popsicles and freezing water in plastic cups.

So check your local PBS station to see if they air Sid the Science Kid!

Hey Friends!

My sweet little girl is now one week old and we've been adjusting as best we can. She's not a colicky baby at all, but does love to be held, especially in the middle of the night when her mama would like some blessed sleep.

Her head of dark hair is so soft, her back so furry, her smell so sweet, her hands so tiny, her legs so, uh, "chicken-y" :). She's just a precious, precious girl.

Our 20 month old thinks she's a living, breathing baby doll and tried to body slam her the other day on the couch while I was changing the baby's diaper...

Her older brothers think she's pretty great, too, and beg to hold her (but when told to wash their hands first, decide it's not worth it...stinky little boys!).

Hopefully, I can post a good photo here soon of our new girl. Thanks to all of you who have been checking in on me! I appreciate it :).

If you've been following this blog for a while, you'll know how much I love celebrating the Reformation and last year my posts dealt with the fun ways we've tried to celebrate in the past. There really are lots of great resources out there, so be sure to click the links from my previous Reformation Day posts.

But, you can only swim upstream for so long.

This year I have a ninja, a race car driver, and a butterfly.

We'll go to the neighboring church's harvest festival, drive to some church member's houses to get candy, take some pictures.

*sigh*

Quick update: Monday begins the official checking to see if I'm dialating or not and marks 37 weeks, which is when I delivered baby #3. I'm as big as a house, can hardly put on my socks, and not sleeping so much. This is our last day of homeschooling for a while and we'll focus on playing games, reading books, hanging out...So if I disappear again, you'll know why. :)

I have not fallen off the face of the earth...but here's what I have been doing:

My dear husband broke and dislocated his ankle in September so I've been, uh, pretty busy caring for him, the third grader, the kindergartener, the toddler, and the 34 week old baby still baking in my tummy.

He has about a week and a half more of his Aircast boot thingie then he can attempt to put some weight on it.

I've delivered all my babies around 37/38 weeks. So the question of the hour is: Will he be able to drive me two hours to the hospital to deliver this baby?

I try not to think about it.

But I did want to share a hilarious conversation I had yesterday with my 5 1/2 year old:

Little boy: Are you for that Rock Obama guy?

Me: Well, I'm voting for the other guy, John McCain, I guess.

Little boy: Yeah. That's who I'm for, too. That other guy doesn't want you to have your own money. He wants to give it away.

Maybe we've been watching a little too much Fox News???