Today's Trouble

I had to record this crazy day.  It started last night when we returned from vacation with backpacks, suitcases, rafts, coolers, bikes, laundry, still-wet-swimwear, and etc (the etc. is definitely the worst part) all needing to be sorted out and and put away.  Based on a couple of mid-vacation calls from our landlord, I was expecting to have to show the house today or tomorrow and sure enough, it was today.  Now when we left for this vacation the house was, enh, decent--if you didn't go upstairs.  But when you add post-vacation droppings to an already "enh" house whose upstairs was basically ignored for a homeschooling season, you get a disaster to deal with.   Our work was cut out for us to say the least.

I have "shown" more than my share of houses in my day and my standards are fairly high for that sort of thing.  I especially feel the pressure this time because it is for someone else (landlord) and I want him to be happy with the results (new renter).  I would hope our tenants would do the same for us, but I'm probably delusional since our tenants are 4 guys.  Anyway, I set out to clear the clutter, put away the vacation stuff, vacuum, sweep, make the bathrooms decent, have the boys mow, make the laundry look normal, find the floor in the girls' room,etc, etc.  The kids were very helpful and we divided up the jobs amongst ourselves and conquered...mostly.

Thrown into all the above was a trip to Mt Angel to drop off Savannah for a previously planned time with a friend, a trip to the bank with Jason to cash his check, and a trip to Safeway for milk where I had to play the "because-I-said-so card" and make my boys go in because I hadn't showered yet.

In the midst of all this, Ryan informed me that our Christianity Explored Bible study was indeed a "go" for the evening--in our living room.

In true chaotic fashion, Savannah is delivered home by her friend just as we are welcoming study participants.

And right as study was about to begin, we discovered that our downstairs bathroom ceiling was leaking.  Water was dripping everywhere off the ceiling and trickling down the walls.  Study begins.  Phone rings.  Landlord is coming at 7pm to show the house.  It's like 6pm when we get the call.  People in our living room hearing the gospel.  Punctual landlord.  Study that typically runs over time.  I'm a basket case inside.  I'm picturing all sorts of awkwardness approaching.  Micah uses his Lightening MacQueen riding toy as a rolling stool,breaks into the muffin bowl (fingers right through the saran wrap) and enters study munching on a muffin. Micah drops crumbs all over floor.  I will my backside to the couch--not to pick them up.  The Gospel is more important than crumbs on the floor for a house showing!  I don't want our study participants to feel like we are in a hurry, but I'm in a hurry.

A car alarm starts going off.  It dawns on me that it is OUR car alarm.  I run into the kitchen to find Micah at the window, keys pointed at the car, pushing the panic button.  He shuts it off when he sees me.  Then he turns it on again--get this-- moving to the beat of the horn honks!

We barely finish the study session as our landlord and company step on our porch. I breathe a sigh of relief that the imagined awkwardness was imagined.  I say goodbye to our study guests and snatch the crumbs from the floor, soothing my OCD.

The showing proceeds and concludes at lightening speed.  Our landlord hangs out to check out the water issues.  I order pizza.  Micah declares he wants to potty train.   We take Micah upstairs to try and use the potty.  On his way up, he turns to the siblings behind him and insists they "don't look".   I laugh and shake my head, glad that this day is behind me.  Thankful for the blessings despite my craziness.  Thankful for the reinforcement of Matthew 6:34 in my life: "Therefore, do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own."    Potty training will have to wait.