The Best Laid Plans....

By Amy

As I looked ahead to this week, the week Brad would be gone, Monday - Friday, I made tons of fun plans for me and the kids. I decided that staying busy would help the time pass faster. In our home Brad is definitely the "fun" parent. He chases the kids through the house, carries them on his shoulders, tickles them until they're blue in the face, and is just plain fun. I love my children dearly, but I tend to be more structured which often equals, not as much fun. But this week, I decided to have fun -- structured, planned fun!

There's a new play area near our home, so I thought I'd take the kids over there to check it out one morning (instead of homeschooling.) I also thought it would be really fun to pack a picnic lunch and head to the park one afternoon, if it's not too chilly. Then, maybe we could also meet friends at the new DRIVE THROUGH, huge, really nice, KFC in town (definitely the finest dining establishment we have!) Then, on our times at home, we'd finger paint, make a gingerbread house from scratch, and maybe try making some carmel popcorn balls, all on top of the fun school activities/crafts I had planned.

But... the morning Brad left, Alex and Peter had a fever and complained of a sore throat and ear ache, respectively. So, we stayed around the house and played a bit. That night we enjoyed a candle light dinner, and the kids thought that was pretty fun! Tuesday, both boys were feeling yucky, so we watched a movie (They picked that over finger painting!) I stayed up late baking the walls for our gingerbread house that I was determined to make with them. By Wednesday, we were all beginning to feel a little stir crazy. So, I gave the boys a hardy dose of Motrin and we met Rachel, Emma, and Samantha at the new KFC. Wednesday afternoon, Savannah started complaining of a sore throat, and sure enough, she too was running a fever. But, a little Motrin and hot shower can work wonders. So, after a pancake dinner, we started decorating our gingerbread house. But, we couldn't finish before bedtime, so we finished it up this morning. (more on the house in another post.)

Thursday morning, (this morning) Alex woke up looking and feeling much better; Savannah seemed OK; and Peter looked and felt miserable! He didn't even want to eat cereal -- his all-time-favorite food. And to top it all off, my throat is a little raw and sore feeling today as well.... So, all that to say, Brad comes home tomorrow (hurray!) and we've hardly done any of the fun things I planned. But, even with all the sicknesses, I feel like the week has gone remarkable well. My kids have been really quick to obey; they have not had complaining hearts, and seem to have really enjoyed the few fun things we've been able to do. I feel like my heart has been content and joyful, even after having been the only one "on call" for 24 hours a day. So, if you've been thinking of our family during this week -- thanks! I can tell! Our home has been full of grace and peace (and a few germs.)