It was silly to run errands on Friday.
Friday is the only day of the week I have two children in the morning.
Still, Friday was the day the yellow chairs were in the van and so Friday I took them to be cleaned. Friday started out okay.

There was the guy at Woodard who said to me, “What you have here is a light color material and some dark soiling.” Really? See, cause THAT is why I brought them here. I should have gone home after such a statement of the obvious. How could I know the rest of the errands would be more of the same?

Taking children to Michaels is obviously a bad decision. I believe I have said this before, “I will not take my children to Michaels.” The buggies are only large enough for one child, the aisles are SO close together, there is too much temptation to touch pretty things. It is a disaster waiting to happen.

But I was right there! Driving right by! And I had this frame to return and needed to get the right size (to replace the one broken LAST CHRISTMAS!). “It’ll be fine,” I told myself. I lied.

I gave my children a pep talk, “We are going into Michaels for a quick trip. I will need you two to be sweet, obey, and guard your hands. Do you understand?” They said, “Understandju.” They lied.

The return went well. Picking out the new frame was fine. I decided to take advantage of this compliance and take a peek at the fall decor. OBVIOUS mistake. Within minutes we were in line to pay and get the heck out of dodge.

As I got into line a woman said to me, “Isn’t it so nice to have helpers?” (She was referring to my son’s attempts to push KB and the buggy into the $1 ribbon display.) I responded, “Thank you for the reminder and good perspective. That was NOT what I was thinking at the moment.”

I will NOT be taking my children back to Michaels in the next 3-5 years. Obviously.

This was a big weekend for Honey. The new students have arrived for the upcoming semester at the seminary. Last night the President welcomed them with a reception and this morning was orientation and a barbecue.

It has been a hard weekend at home. I have had the kids by myself while Honey worked, of course. Bubba has been in rare form and I can’t figure out what is actually the problem; Little has said, “I don’t WANT to do it!!” and “Get away from me” more times than I can count; KB has said my name an equal amount of times, no doubt. I have been angry to the point of excusing myself from the room and I have used a harsher tone than I care to admit. I fled the scene this afternoon and our “Cushman” (her surname and what the children call her) came to stay with the kids and give me a break to refocus.

Times like this it is easy for me to begin believing lies about what the Father thinks of me. I wonder if He REALLY loves me; if my circumstances are a sick joke.

Just moments ago Honey stopped reading long enough to tell me he discovered today that one of the new seminary students has a son in Little’s new Kindergarten class. Wow! What a joy for me. In that little class there is (at least) one other family that shares our values and convictions. I was hoping for that. Such a sweet reminder that the TRUTH is my God DOES love me. He is working all things together for good. This world is broken but His love is not.