It's amazing what can be accomplished, enjoyed, stressed over and focused on in a day! I even got in a morning nap, thanks to my husband taking Revellie downstairs for her bottle and applesauce. Yeah for an extra hour or two after "night-parenting". Blake was able to spend some cherished time with his buddy and mentor, Dan and I had a refreshing time with my Mom, sharing a salad at Cristiano's and dashing around Safeway for *House of Paine baby shower stuff.
Have you ever noticed that it can be hard to have an adult conversation at home? Well, Blake and I attack this problem by occasionally heading to 88th Plaza Starbucks for some one on one and a little coffee jolt. Works like a charm. A mini date that always serves us well.
Five o'clock hour on Tuesdays always means just one thing: CLEAN THE HOUSE FOR *HOUSE OF PAINE! So clean we did. The kids are great about pitching in and each has his own area of responsibility. Mine is the cooking, Becca does the bathrooms, the boys help in the yard and with the main living spaces and Blake is floors.
Occasionally we will have a special event, a house concert in our converted garage, a birthday party or a baby shower. Last night was a baby shower for the Downey's, a young couple expecting their first child in September. We had a fairly good showing with lots of sweet baby clothes and many diapers for the "Bring a pack of diapers and win a prize" game. This is a tricky maneuver to get plenty-o diapers into the hands of new parents. Kim Loomis walked away with a $15 gift card to Starbucks after picking the winning random number 23. Never know what's going to come your way in the Paine home. Lol.
*House of Paine is a community of young people who meet at our home for a meal most Tuesday nights. I usually cook for about 50 people, but there was a time (summer of 2008) when we had no fewer than 75 people, 10 weeks in a row. Our record attendance was 108 people. Other than dinner at 7, there isn't an agenda for the evening. We will often just sit and visit, listen to or play live music, do art, games, nothing much or celebrate life's anniversaries.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Days Two through Five: Fishing, Cleaning , Marigold and Pixar!
Well, days 2-5 went something like this: Blake, my Dad, and the two older boys (Reuben 16 and Riley 12) headed of to find some sunshine, solitude and some trout! They stayed in Chelan and fished on a lake that is part of the Columbia River (can you say dam?). They had a lovely time and we partook of their fishy friends last night for dinner! Many great conversations were had and Blake even got to meet a man who left his Engineering job several years ago, to pursue full-time ministry. He had some wisdom to share and was an encouraging listener to our dreams and desires.
While the boys were away....no, I did not play, I worked several days decluttering and de-dustbunnying the house. It was nice to have some focused time to get a lot done. My young friend Robyn came over to help me literally unload the Little's bedroom (RaeElise 9 and Reese 7). We took everything out of their bedroom and moved it all into the living room to sort. Then, after vacuuming and dusting, we only moved back into the room the bare minimum. It feels awesome in there now. Very peaceful and uncluttered. The kids loved the fact that they did not have to choose between any of their stuffed friends to say goodbye too, since that is pretty much all I allowed back in there. The before and after shot would have made any cable DIY show proud. Thanks to Robyn for her help and to Ruthie, another mother of six, who stopped by and saw I needed to feed the troops and volunteered to do so for me. She even cleaned my kitchen in a way only she can do!
Sunday I was privileged to put on a baby shower at my soon to be 90 year old grandmother's home. This shower was to honor the most recent baby girl Schoolcraft to arrive on the planet. It's been a number of years since we've seen one of these! The theme was fun, being that her name is Marigold, I had to capitalize on that by potting lots of the little yellow flowers, passing them out as guests left. It was great to see lots of sweet relatives and to make my Granny proud as punch, surrounded by all of her "girls". (She being the mother of four sons, she loves her girly functions).
Monday, it was back to cleaning for me! This time I attacked numerous dust Godzilli residing under my bed, dresser and side tables. I pushed our bed against the wall so I no longer have to fear for Revellie's life when I bring her to bed with us. I do have to crawl in to the bed via it's foot, but it makes me feel young and like I am a resident of a summer camp or something! Parenting isn't for the faint of heart or the fragile of bone. Ha! The highlight of the day, for me, was taking a break to see Toy Story 3 with Rebecca (14), RaeElise and Reese. The Pixar people are brilliant, genius gifts to the planet. What a story!! I cried several times and left the theatre in awe...GO SEE IT, if you haven't.
While the boys were away....no, I did not play, I worked several days decluttering and de-dustbunnying the house. It was nice to have some focused time to get a lot done. My young friend Robyn came over to help me literally unload the Little's bedroom (RaeElise 9 and Reese 7). We took everything out of their bedroom and moved it all into the living room to sort. Then, after vacuuming and dusting, we only moved back into the room the bare minimum. It feels awesome in there now. Very peaceful and uncluttered. The kids loved the fact that they did not have to choose between any of their stuffed friends to say goodbye too, since that is pretty much all I allowed back in there. The before and after shot would have made any cable DIY show proud. Thanks to Robyn for her help and to Ruthie, another mother of six, who stopped by and saw I needed to feed the troops and volunteered to do so for me. She even cleaned my kitchen in a way only she can do!
Sunday I was privileged to put on a baby shower at my soon to be 90 year old grandmother's home. This shower was to honor the most recent baby girl Schoolcraft to arrive on the planet. It's been a number of years since we've seen one of these! The theme was fun, being that her name is Marigold, I had to capitalize on that by potting lots of the little yellow flowers, passing them out as guests left. It was great to see lots of sweet relatives and to make my Granny proud as punch, surrounded by all of her "girls". (She being the mother of four sons, she loves her girly functions).
Monday, it was back to cleaning for me! This time I attacked numerous dust Godzilli residing under my bed, dresser and side tables. I pushed our bed against the wall so I no longer have to fear for Revellie's life when I bring her to bed with us. I do have to crawl in to the bed via it's foot, but it makes me feel young and like I am a resident of a summer camp or something! Parenting isn't for the faint of heart or the fragile of bone. Ha! The highlight of the day, for me, was taking a break to see Toy Story 3 with Rebecca (14), RaeElise and Reese. The Pixar people are brilliant, genius gifts to the planet. What a story!! I cried several times and left the theatre in awe...GO SEE IT, if you haven't.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Day One, Sailing on the Sea of God Only Knows
Well, Blake's last day at Magnolia was yesterday. The cliff has been left behind and we are several feet away from it now, hanging ten in mid-air. We jumped. We are all in. We have shoved off from the Shore of Certainty and are sailing in the Sea of God Only Knows. We are in good company, historically speaking. I don't really think that anything great or worth doing has happened along the cherished "middle" road. So, this blog is for those who want to follow what God is doing in us and through us in our beloved, ragged around the edges, Marysville, as well as for us. We need to have a place to chronicle our journey so that we may duly give credit to the one who gives us breath for each day and so that we may be reminded, in the tough times, what the hell we are doing with our lives.
Thank you for your friendship, interest and encouragement. Partner with us as we see Love transform one Marysvillian at a time.
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