During weeks with seven kids, every night there are at least two loads of laundry, sometimes more depending how dirty my husband got at work and how dirty the boys got at play. I’ve taken to only doing darks and lights, and to my husband’s dismay, I don’t do whites. The dark load goes in after all of the kids have bathed and showered so that by the time that there’s enough hot water, that load is finished and ready for the dryer. My husband and I then jump into the shower, and when we’re done, there’s just enough hot water left to wash the light load. Typically by then, the dark load is dry and needs folding. The white load will get put in the dryer before we fall asleep or early in the morning as we all rise and start our day. Two loads a day equals 14 loads a week. That’s a lot of laundry!
On days when I’ve had a particularly exhausting day, the last thing I want to do is laundry and as I sort through the laundry I wonder why the boys can’t seem to pull their socks apart instead of leaving them in balls, why the girls can’t pull their underwear out of their shorts or pants, why they can’t seem to sort dark from lights, WHY ME?! I didn’t ask for this, I didn’t sign up for non stop sorting, washing, drying, and folding!
This is the time when I’m gently reminded that I did sign up for this, I did pray for this and He answered, I did want more children, I did want a husband, and that the laundry is just a small part of the bigger picture. He’s reminding me that my own laundry basket is overflowing with self pity and bitterness when it needs to be overflowing with gratitude that the kids have clothes to wear and don’t have a need for anything. We’ve been abundantly blessed in so many ways that 14 loads is a small “price” to pay for what we’ve been given. As the clothes goes through its heavy cycle so does my attitude. All of the stresses of the work day, of running children around, dinner on the go, house work, church work, schedules, exes, family, etc gets wrung out of me as well.
I’m also reminded that I need to be grateful for a big enough washer and dryer to accommodate all of us, that the kids do bring their clothes down to the laundry rather than leave it laying around the bathroom or in their rooms, and that they do put away their clothes.
At the end of the each day, I take care of the laundry and God takes care of me. Whether it be just allowing me to shed tears for no reason or a gentle reminder that I’m missing out on His purpose for me by focusing on something so inconsequential as laundry. He’s definitely cleansed my heart more than 14 times a week.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Just Do It!
I once heard someone say, “If you want to get something done, go ask a busy person.” How true that is…
When people find out we have seven children, they are often in shock, jaw dropped, and at a loss for words. Then inevitably the question comes, “How do you guys do it?” Our answer mirrors that of the Nike slogan, “Just do it!” There aren’t any other options.
For example, tonight Kimberly has gymnastics from 4:30pm to 7:30pm. Angelina has soccer practice from 6-7pm. I have a meeting at church from 7-10pm. Vinh has scouts from 7 to 8:30pm. And Jaden has soccer practice from 6:30 to 8:00pm.
After Kim is dropped off at gymnastics, Curt and I meet at home for a quick dash through dinner (thank God for crock pots). Curt then takes off with Jaden and Angelina for soccer practice, then I’m off to take Vinh to scouts, and then to my own meeting. Curt has to leave soccer a little early tonight to go pick up Kimberly from gymnastics and Vinh from scouts. Once home, those who hasn’t eaten get fed while the rest jump into the shower to get ready for bed. Some where in all of this we manage to work on homework and to sign off on agendas.
Saturday’s schedule looks something like this:
8am School clean up day (whole family)
9:30am Ami leaves with Angelina for soccer game
11am Ami and Angelina goes back to the school for more clean up
11:30am Curt leaves with Vinh and Jaden for soccer game
1pm Ami leaves school to go pick upVinh and Jaden from soccer game
1:30pm Curt leaves soccer game to drive to Bay Area for Kimberly’s gymnastics meet
5pm Ami to deliver food back to school for volunteer dinner
7pm Grocery shopping
8pm Pick up party invites for farewell picnic
10pm We’re all back under the same roof completely exhausted
How do we do it? I don’t have a pat response nor do I have the answer or a magic formula. However, I find that the calendar is my best friend! It also takes a lot of communication with my husband about schedules. The difficulty in this is that my husband is not good with scheduling so when things get missed or thrown in at the last minute I’m a complete wreck and have to do a lot of juggling which is very difficult for someone like me. I need to plan for spontaneity! However, I’m left with no other option than “Just do it!” I can be mad and fight with him, but what will that accomplish?
Aside from scheduling kids’ activities, I also have to plan for our activities with various church ministries, small group meetings, fundraising events, dinner dates with friends, school vacations, family vacations, the visits from my mom in Minnesota, and then coordinating all of this with the ex spouses!
God answered my prayers when I asked for more children and fulfilled the desires of my heart when He brought Curt into my life. And daily, I’m reminded of the scripture, "God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength but with your testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it" 1 Corinthians 10:13 This Scripture teaches me a powerful principle; if I belong to Him, God will not allow any difficulty to come into my life that I cannot bear.
When people find out we have seven children, they are often in shock, jaw dropped, and at a loss for words. Then inevitably the question comes, “How do you guys do it?” Our answer mirrors that of the Nike slogan, “Just do it!” There aren’t any other options.
For example, tonight Kimberly has gymnastics from 4:30pm to 7:30pm. Angelina has soccer practice from 6-7pm. I have a meeting at church from 7-10pm. Vinh has scouts from 7 to 8:30pm. And Jaden has soccer practice from 6:30 to 8:00pm.
After Kim is dropped off at gymnastics, Curt and I meet at home for a quick dash through dinner (thank God for crock pots). Curt then takes off with Jaden and Angelina for soccer practice, then I’m off to take Vinh to scouts, and then to my own meeting. Curt has to leave soccer a little early tonight to go pick up Kimberly from gymnastics and Vinh from scouts. Once home, those who hasn’t eaten get fed while the rest jump into the shower to get ready for bed. Some where in all of this we manage to work on homework and to sign off on agendas.
Saturday’s schedule looks something like this:
8am School clean up day (whole family)
9:30am Ami leaves with Angelina for soccer game
11am Ami and Angelina goes back to the school for more clean up
11:30am Curt leaves with Vinh and Jaden for soccer game
1pm Ami leaves school to go pick upVinh and Jaden from soccer game
1:30pm Curt leaves soccer game to drive to Bay Area for Kimberly’s gymnastics meet
5pm Ami to deliver food back to school for volunteer dinner
7pm Grocery shopping
8pm Pick up party invites for farewell picnic
10pm We’re all back under the same roof completely exhausted
How do we do it? I don’t have a pat response nor do I have the answer or a magic formula. However, I find that the calendar is my best friend! It also takes a lot of communication with my husband about schedules. The difficulty in this is that my husband is not good with scheduling so when things get missed or thrown in at the last minute I’m a complete wreck and have to do a lot of juggling which is very difficult for someone like me. I need to plan for spontaneity! However, I’m left with no other option than “Just do it!” I can be mad and fight with him, but what will that accomplish?
Aside from scheduling kids’ activities, I also have to plan for our activities with various church ministries, small group meetings, fundraising events, dinner dates with friends, school vacations, family vacations, the visits from my mom in Minnesota, and then coordinating all of this with the ex spouses!
God answered my prayers when I asked for more children and fulfilled the desires of my heart when He brought Curt into my life. And daily, I’m reminded of the scripture, "God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength but with your testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it" 1 Corinthians 10:13 This Scripture teaches me a powerful principle; if I belong to Him, God will not allow any difficulty to come into my life that I cannot bear.
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