Nov. 4, 2009 - The Good News, and the Bad News

The good news is very good.  All six of our children have contracted H1N1, and it looks like all will recover without serious complications.  We are truly grateful to God for His goodness, and grateful to all our friends for their prayers.  Angela was the last one to get it 2 days ago and she has spiked some moderate fevers but is not coughing -- at least not yet.  All the other kids seem to be "over the hump."

The bad news is that I think we have a houseful of the grumpiest kids east of the Mississippi River.  Of course, I'm typing that with a smile.  It is always a privilege for me to be around our kids.  But the truth is that they are a little weird right now.  They don't feel well, and they are tired.  Things that usually don't bother them much or at all, bother them in spades now.  It doesn't help that I'm tired too as Angela has been up the last 2 nights with her fever.  So I'm not at my most patient.

I have always been in awe at Jesus on the cross.  Crucifixion is a terribly painful way to die, and He was coping with abandonment by God and man as well.  In the midst of that horrific experience, Jesus was kind and gracious to everyone.  He took time to care for his elderly mother, comforted the thief on the cross, and openly forgave those mocking him in the crowd.

I have been inspired by that example many times, and am trying to do so right now.  Of course, my situation in no way compares!  I'm just thinking again about how moderately difficult times can bring out the best in me or the worst in me.  Only the Holy Spirit can give me the strength to be continually patient with the children, with Kevin, and with myself.  There is NOTHING terrible going on, it is just wearying to be dealing with tantrums and arguments and a 2 year old who wants to be carried around much of the time.

Here are a couple cute vignettes from the last few days.  Miriam, our 3 year old, loves soft, plush objects.  She had a red dress last year that was soft and fuzzy, and she adored it to the point of wearing it whenever it was clean.  (That was on my insistence; she would have been glad to wear it dirty.)  Well, sadly she outgrew it.  And Angela grew into it.  So yesterday I put Angela in that dress.  Miriam was feeling tired and out of sorts, and the dress was an old comfort object.  So whenever she could, she would sidle up to Angela and clutch a fold of it in her hand.  Angela, of course, was tired and out of sorts.  So she didn't want her dress grabbed by Miriam.  Yet more arguments to cope with, but I admit it was rather cute.

The red dress...

   Joseph has been obsessive about spoons.  I've been serving hot cocoa a lot the last few days, and he always wants a special spoon to stir the cocoa, and another spoon for eating.  I've refused since we go through a million spoons anyway and can't afford to have every person using 2 spoons during a meal.  That has caused much wailing and knashing of small teeth.  At times he has refused to eat (temporarily).  I make it a firm policy to NOT give in to whining so he's gone without his extra spoon.  Thankfully, I've mostly found it funny more than anything else.

  This illness, the older kids have gotten excited about a magnet building set that has been lying around for awhile. They've been super creative, which is fun.  The only problem is that there aren't enough pieces for everyone to play at once.  I've dealt with that by only letting 1 or 2 kids play with it at a time.

  Here are the older girls working with the magnet set.

 Here is a "necklace" for Miriam made out of the magnets.

Thanks again for your prayers for us.

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Nov. 4, 2009 - Thank You

Posted by Sheila

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