A Homeschool Hostage Situation

Yesterday Mr. Baby got his first shots. This week we started homeschool. These two unrelated facts have collided in a very predictable manner today, though I managed to not see this one coming when scheduling the week.

The result is that I am trying to homeschool from the couch with a periodically screaming infant, two very jealous siblings who have decided to revert to earlier stages of development in a misapplied spirit of competition and sportsmanship, and the resulting attention span of a gnat. It has been one of those days where mommy is happy when only one maniacally angry little person is yelling at her.

"Oh good! We are learning to take turns!" I say with no discernible sarcasm whatsoever.

The baby has pinned me to the couch. "Tapping computer keys!" he screams. "You're thinking of getting up to go pee!" he wails. He can only sleep on my chest today. Not in his more portable baby sling, not on my lap, just on mommy's chest. Just like this.

It happens. Poor guy. It's the first time he's ever felt under the weather. Can't really blame the little tyrant for that.

I have a few more nerves left which means it's time for the older three to start guitar practice.

HAPPY FIRST WEEK OF HOMESCHOOL!

Because it is Monday

Something just isn't right...

Why I dropped out for a week and a prayer request

I had a significant allergic reaction and have been sleeping off the powerful antihistamines for the last several days. When I was awake I was still a bit loopy, so I thought it best to keep my foggy brained thoughts to myself. I have another couple of days on the meds, but I'm starting to acclimate to them, if that's the word to choose to describe sleeping only 12 hours a day as opposed to 16 hours. I'll be back regularly when I can keep my eyes open regularly.

Meanwhile, will you pray for a dear friend of mine and her family? She is flying out tomorrow to be with her brother who is in his last days. She and many of her other siblings will be there together, but sadly her mother is unable to make the trip. Keep them all in your prayers, please.

Prayer Like Newsfeeds

When I am going through my day something will happen and I'll think, "That would make a good Facebook status." Sometimes I will even take the moment to log on and post it. It's a way to check in. Like a lot of you, I use Facebook to keep in touch with family and friends. I check in a lot.

Today, as the girls were rolling a mason jar full of cream back and forth to make butter, I thought up a butter churning status update. Since I was also catching up on some baking and pickle making while cooking up dinner, I knew I'd never get around to it before I forgot.

"Too bad," I thought. "My sister would get a kick out of that."

Then I got back to work, but the idea of posting nagged me a little. Cooking is one of those things that busies the hands, and when my hands are busy my mind chases thoughts down their various rabbit holes.

Being a mom of six, let me just tell you how marvelous and luxurious it is to get a chance once in awhile to complete an entire thought. Ahhh....I love cooking thinking.

So, while thinking I thought this today: What if I stayed caught up with God as much as I keep up with Facebook? What would my day be like if I was constantly checking in?

"Look, God. How cute. The girls are dressed up and having their 4th tea party today. Don't they ever get tired of it?"

"I got too much salt in these beans. I know just the fix. Chop in some raw potato to absorb the excess."

I don't mean that I'd replace my regular prayers, but merely supplement it with something more like a friendly check in.

So I tried it and I didn't feel silly or awkward. It was just like composing those Facebook statuses. Instead of sharing them online, I just shared them with God.

I might be on to something here. What do you think? Prayer as social media. Maybe it'll help my prayer life if I pray like God's reading my status updates.

Facebook has trained me to frequently check in. What if I took that habit and made it better? I wonder...

I wonder if maybe I just need more sleep.

Because it is Monday

One does not simply ignore her fangirl friends on a Monday.