A Day of Moments

I recently heard that the question, "How was your day?" is the question most people desire to be asked.  Interesting, isn't it?  We just want someone to care about our day, a place where we can lay it all down and move on into tomorrow.  So, I'm pretending that someone has just asked me, "JoAnne, how was your day?"

My day, oh my day!  It began so well, the first moments were great.  I was up early with cup of coffee and my Bible, my journal and my "The Power of a Praying Wife" book.  I had a blessed time of reading, praying, and journaling.  It has really been a while since I've had the hour before sunrise to myself like that.  The girls woke up first; Genevieve naked and all smiles, and Elizabeth wearing her brother's batman pajamas, a bit cranky and cold.  My girls usually wake up this way.  We had a sweet moment of cuddling on the love seat before Charlie woke up.  As I nursed him, Elizabeth asked me to read from their Children's Encyclopedia.  I had a fun moment of demonstrating the rotation of the Earth to them.
After breakfast my friend Caroline offered to watch the kids while I went for my daily run.  I took Stevie in the Bob stroller and we started out.  It was a beautiful, windy, cool morning.  About 15 minutes into it I saw something that reminded me of Genna's art class.  I had forgotten Genna's art class!  As I ran home I was so frustrated with myself.  Yesterday we almost missed a housing appointment.  Get it together, JoAnne!  Well we made it to art and back, whew!
I made the kids a snack and while eating a pear Elizabeth lost her first tooth!  I couldn't believe how quickly my little girl was growing up.  She really wanted to be able to tell her Dad, and he happened to call soon after that!  It was great to be able to share the news with him.
As the afternoon went on my day got really difficult.  Stevie wouldn't take a nap, Charlie was crying a lot and I just couldn't figure out why.  All of this distracted me from the girls so they weren't doing their school work.  I felt like I had needs popping up all around me and I couldn't meet them all.  Finally I got Stevie to go down, but Charlie was still crying.  I gave up.  The girls were kind of doing work but I just took Charlie upstairs and got into bed with him.  We both fell asleep.
At some point Elizabeth brought me my phone, covered in gunk from her fingers, telling me someone had called.  Yuck.  It had been plugged in to charge, oh well.  I went back to sleep and Caroline took the girls to the beach encouraging me to come out if I had the energy.
The phone rang, what do you know I had it next to me, it was Steve.  To hear his voice at that moment was like flowers on a bad day.  We shared our rough days with each other, but it couldn't be the same.  I think my favorite part of the day is when Steve comes home and we are able to share, unload the burden of thoughts, feelings, hurts, all things deeply personal, with each other.  Though it wasn't the same as having him home, I was so thankful to get this unexpected call.
The burden of my day was unloaded, but I now had the burden of my dearest one's heart.  I so hate not being with him.  What should I do?  Stevie was waking up, crying and cranky, and Charlie needed to eat soon.  Caroline's encouragement to come out to the beach was on my mind.  Should I, could I?

I did.  The boys and I loaded up and drove out to beautiful waters and the setting sun.  The last moments of my day have been good: praying for my husband, sharing a meal with my family, bathing my rascally toddler, cuddling, singing, reading, kisses good night.

So, how was your day? 

Life Overwhelming

I am amazed at how much time has passed since I last blogged.  I wonder if I'll ever be able to recapture the memories of the last five weeks.  The reason I am sitting here now is because I know the experiences of those last weeks have taught me so much and I don't want to forget.  For a VERY brief overview, here is what has happened:

• My husband deployed in February.
• The engine in our "new" minivan died.
• My fourth child, due to arrive April 11th, was born March 21st, three weeks early.
• An amazing woman of God, Caroline, was staying with us and watched the kids while I was at the hospital.
• My parents dropped everything, changed their flights, and flew in to Honolulu within 36 hours of my calling to tell them Charlie was on his way.
• My dear friends, with families of their own, dropped everything to be at the hospital with me, for a very long 36 hours.
• With the help of my Dad, I bought a new 2012 Toyota Sienna.
• Those in charge of Steve's sub decided that he did not need to fly home since the baby was born and we were both doing well.

What I want to say as I look back over the time that has gone by, is how overwhelming the presence of God has been for me.  If anyone had told me in February exactly what we were about to endure, I would have said, "No, I cannot possibly bear that."  The truth is, I am not really bearing the weight of all that has happened.  From the first bullet point to the last (as goofy as that sounds), I have felt the tangible presence of Jesus in our lives.  When the car died, we were provided with free transportation, for many weeks.  When I began to bleed and needed to go to the hospital at am, a woman my children knew and loved was already staying with us to care for them when they woke up.  When I called my Mom, scared and confused as to what to do, the Spirit guided her words and allowed her and my Dad to jump on an airplane.  Within hours, countless people knew I was in the hospital and began to pray for our safety.  At the birth of my son, women who loved me and have been sisters in Christ for years were there to help through the most difficult labor I've endured.  We have experienced an outpouring of love in the form of phone calls, emails, meals, gifts, cards, shopping trips, encouraging words, and prayers.  When my parents left after their two week trip, the Lord provided the same friend to stay with us and help for two more weeks.  These people are more than supportive, they are the hands and feet of Jesus bringing His love into our world.  We have been overwhelmed by Him.