It's Friday. That means it's the end of the school week and I'm tired. We have a Reformation Party at church which is a great thing and the kids are looking forward to it. But at this point I really just feel like staying home in warm pj's with a glass of wine and a meal I didn't cook. Oh well. Since I've been writing this 4 people have knocked on my door 3 times. Should I just give up yet?
Before I give up all together, I just want to say that I wouldn't trade this ridiculously demanding job of being the homeschooling mama to 8 kids for anything in the world. It's intensely frustrating often and completely exhausting. But also rewarding like nothing else I could imagine. And sanctifying. I think that's the greatest gift of the whole thing. The "thing" being my calling. The Lord is teaching me so much by putting me with a bunch of people. I was never good at having roommates. I remember how relieved I felt when Pete and I got married and I realized I'd never have to live in a house with a bunch of girls again. I am cracking up right now. Because as I write, some of that bunch of girls has knocked THREE more times and one has screamed bloody murder in the hallway. So I live in a house full of girls again! They are wonderful helpers and make my life easier in so many ways. But also? They unarrange things in the kitchen, don't always get the dishes clean when they wash them, and at the moment my living room is "decorated" with a random assortment of socks, books, game and puzzle pieces, a couple sweatshirts, probably a hairbrush, and other evidences of people not always putting their things away. Of course, we can't blame only the girls for these offenses. And some are worse than others. I think what it comes down to is people are messy. We all are. And the more people, the more messy. So I'm learning, very slowly, to love in the midst of the mess. To see the people emerging from those chubby little toddlers I had as really interesting and fun people- even if they do say weird things and have quirky habits. Because we all do, right?
Well, I'm going to go finish making some food for tonight and love my people. Maybe I'll be back in less than eleven months. It sounds like there is a whole CROWD of people hanging out right outside my door so I should probably investigate anyway.