Awwwwww!

There is nothing so adorable as seeing your child and a wriggling puppy both looking deliriously happy...even when that child is a lovely grown up young woman and its not her puppy.

For I know the plans I have for you

declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

I was reminded of this verse this week in a very big way. 

It is limbo time here.  Its probably the hardest time a military family endures (other than deployment that is.)  Will we stay?  Will we go?  Where will we go?  What job will MWC have? What will his hours be like?  Will he have to travel a lot?  Should we start getting rid of stuff?  (the answer to that I've decided, moving or not, is ALWAYS yes!)

This time around though its compounded by the limbo of having 2 sons graduating within 6 weeks of each other.  Where will Clone live and get a job? Where will Frog go off to college?  Will we be close enough to the chicks flying on their own to see them easily?

I'm a planner and like to have all my ducks in a row and know exactly what's going on.  You'd think after 20 years of this, I've have given up control by now but its still a battle.  I want to know what God's plans are but even worse, I want to control God's plans.  I want to tell Him where to send me because I know what I want.  I presume to think I know best.

One of the perils of limbo time is the rumors that fly.  Tidbits heard here and there, little hints of what might be coming.  Some good, some bad, some indifferent.  Its very hard to let your mind and heart rest and wait on the Lord.  I've been doing particularly bad at that and have been getting more bitter and sullen about the prospect of an upcoming move.

Then out of the blue, a new rumor.  A rumor of a possible assignment that I NEVER even knew could be a possibility.  I do not know if there is any truth in it or if it will come to pass.  However, this is one rumor that has been good to hear.  If this assignment does come through, it will meet all of my perceived needs and desires for a new assignment. (well except for the desire for a moving fairy who comes in a magically gets everything ready for packers, knows exactly what to get rid of so we downsize sufficiently and who cleans the house to sparkling after we leave)

While my desire is for this latest rumor to be true, even if it is not, it has restored my hope and reminded me that God has a plan for me...a plan for a future and a hope.

All will be well.

But, but, what about me??

Today's guest post brought to you by Clone's crutches.

So I see how it is.  After 5 months, almost to the day, of faithful service, this is the thanks I get?  5 months of being your sole means of getting around.  (Yea, I know you got pretty adept and macho at hopping about on one foot, but really, could you have done that for 5 straight months? I don't think so.)

I have been utterly and totally abandoned..left in the bedroom you have repeatedly said you are not returning to.  You are going to be a big shot college graduate and heading off to live on your own after graduation. Sure you'll come back for a visit, but do you really think your mother is going to let me stay here when she turns your room into her craft room and guest room for others?

Try to see my point of view.  You're not a small guy, in fact you're just downright tall.  I was stretched to the limits to reach your armpits.

Speaking of, I spent 5 months in your armpits.  Nuff said.

I opened doors for the ladies so you could continue to be your gentlemanly self in spite of your injury.

I was passed around from friend to friend and taken on little adventures away from you, wondering if I'd be held responsible for falling down on my job when you couldn't find me and were rendered immobile.

I thought I'd have my freedom in October, but nope, you needed my service longer and I stayed on faithfully in spite of the fact that you seemed none too pleased to extend my presence in your life.  I tried not to take it personally. 

I had the honor of accompanying you and dancing for you on the Homecoming Court..to which I went naked while you got a fancy tuxedo to be nice and spiffy. I didn't complain though.   It was your moment after all.

I had to have my picture taken with soooo many people.  I got used to the life of celebrity and now I am a nobody.

 

I can handle not being a celebrity anymore. After all, it was you I did it all for.  You could have least said thank you and goodbye though before you left.

 

I do find some comfort in the fact that I've only heard "the dump" mentioned in relation to that boot.  I have hopes that I will be passed on to serve someone else,  hopefully one more grateful.

Apparently, they were listening

My older children were raised on a steady diet of no xbox, no playstation, no cable TV, good books, frequent trips to the library, Playmobil toys and lots out outdoor play.  Gameboys were only allowed on long trips (like 8 hour plane rides back to the US from Europe.)

The first crack in our anti-electronics armor was Dance, Dance Revolution and an old used Playstation.  For a long time, we held strong and kept our electronics to a minimum.  Then we moved back to the US and our resolve started to crumble in the face of constant bombardment. (its easy to withstand bombardment when you live in a non-English speaking country and the only Americans around feel the same way you do.)

For the most part, our children only complained a little. Unless you call being called "Amish Rednecks" for our old fashioned backwards way by one child a major complaint.

Then came the little girls into a house with laptops, Internet, and video games.  We have an Xbox, a Wii, more computers than I'll publicly admit, an IPad and multiple IPods.  (we still are cable TV-less, but with Internet that's not that hard).  Add to that an older mom who is more tired and lazier, and their entertainment diet has been way more laden with junk than the older three.

Swan and Clone have let us know their disappointment in this development (respectfully of course and they have valid points I'm ashamed, or proud depending on how you look at it, to say.)

I am proud though that they haven't just voiced their opinions and done nothing.  During time home, Clone has frequently read the girls poetry and good literature.  And over the Christmas break, we broke out the Playmobil castle and set it up. 

The girls are pretty girlie girls though and the dollhouse would have been a better fit.  We never had that but Swan did have most of the sets that go with it.  So one evening, she and MWC got to work and the next morning Sunshine and Sweetness woke up to find this in Swan's room.  Sweetness stayed put for over 2 hours playing happily. (Sunshine lasted an hour before the call of the Wii got too loud.)

So now, Sunshine and Sweetness have decided to use their Christmas money from Grandma to buy Playmobil dollhouse sets....instead of Webkins.

Sweet!!

A Humbling Truth at Our House

Sunshine, yes the youngest of the lot around here, is a Checkers Whiz.  She can be beaten (a few of us can claim that bragging right.)  However its very hard and she can beat many of us...including yours truly.

There's no taking it easy on her when it comes to checkers, its all out war to defend one's honor. I mean, really, who wants to admit being beaten at checkers by a 7 year old.

Today, one of her brother's who shall remain nameless, experienced her checkers prowess.

As Swan and I cheered him on, Swan remarked, "you can't treat her like a little girl. Play Checkers and don't take it easy on her.:  (She knows, as she is one of the victors in a match with Sunshine.)

To which, Sunshine replied, "It's okay, (bigbrotherwhoshallremain nameless) I'll treat you like a little boy."