IT’S OKAY!

What a fun week! While Beth and Kim celebrated their birthday in NYC, I spent the week with Miss Carter and Emme.

I’m not sure who had more fun. Okay, it might have been Beth and Kim, but those of you who have g-babies know, they are a blast! Like fireworks, they keep you oooing and ahhing. Smiling and clapping. They make you laugh and melt your heart. What a gift! Always growing and changing. Saying the darnest things. Keeping you on your toes. Counting the minutes until bedtime so you can recoup for the next day.

 

Day 1- Up at the crack of dawn. Beth, packed her suitcase and got ready to fly to NYC. Dressed girls, had breakfast and made lunches. Dropped Carter, off at school. Ran back to load up bags for the airport and get Emme’s backpack and lunchbox. Carter was “Star of the Day” and spoke on the morning announcements and Beth, Emme and I watched from the school foyer. (Carter, you did a great job! You are a natural at public speaking. Your introduction was loud and clear, with confidence. I’m so proud of you. I sent a little video clip to the rest of the family. So they could see what a star you are!) Then it was off to the airport to drop Beth off, where Emme cried for just a few minutes. I popped in my trusty Bluegrass Hymns CD and all of a sudden she was singing Jesus Loves Me. Emerson loves to sing!

After Emme, was happily situated at her school. I took off on a little adventure of my own. First stop Schultz Nursery, were I strolled, enjoyed looking at plants and dreamed up garden plans for my own space back home. Next stop… I really wanted to go to Daily Bread and eat a cinnamon roll but decided that Central Market would be a wiser choice! Yay! I love it when I make good choices.

I’ve always considered shopping at Central Market a treat. It’s a feast for the eyes! I took my time and filled my cart with, Swiss chard, spinach, celery, seedless cucumber, beets, mint, parsley, sweet potatoes, pink lady apples, kale and avocados. I looked for a juice bar and though they had fresh squeezed on ice with one green juice option, I passed, wondering how old it was. I wandered around the self serve prepared food area and settled on black bean soup, which was delicious!

With time running out, I ran into Target to buy some art supplies for the girls. Carter had requested a paint by number by Modern Kids. Which was very cool! In ‘grandmother mode’ with cart stocked with Doug and Melissa watercolor and sticker books and paint by number, I headed for the checkout veering ever so slightly off path to grab a box of orange Pushups when I met the most unsuspecting villain. A box of gingersnaps on clearance for .98. Remembering that Carter likes gingerbread, I tossed them in the cart and proceeded.

What happened next, is still hard to explain. Earlier, I had avoided the delicious cinnamon rolls at Daily Bread and stocked up instead, on veggies from Central Market. In hopes of grabbing my first store bought juice from a juice bar (which I did not get and later found out it was at Whole Foods at the Quarry). By now, it’s been 6 hours since I juiced and I’m in the car with Orange pushups and Gingersnaps. I wish I could tell you that with all of my new found strength, I stared them down and resisted the temptation. After all, I had made it through the bakery cake at the Wildcat Football Banquet and Emerson’s birthday party, but I can’t. The truth is I ate both. One Pushup and SIX, mind you, Gingersnaps! Sigh…and they weren’t even good, for heaven’s sake! It was crazy! I don’t even like Gingersnaps and I sure don’t like store bought Market Pantry Gingersnaps. Big sigh….what to do? I unloaded groceries and drove across town to pick up Emme. She was happy to see me. Back in the car and buckled up, I couldn’t get the car started? What! I tried again. No, go….and again, and again. With only 25 minutes to get across town to pick up Carter, I began to panic. Who could I call for help? Everyone I know in this town is currently, out of town. I called Beth. No answer. I called Nate. No answer. I started to sweat. My throat constricted as I imagined little Carter standing alone at her school. Tears started to collect in my eyes as I shifted the car into neutral, thinking that it might help to roll down the incline I was on to level ground. It didn’t. I shouted out in frustration and heard Emme’s sweet voice say, “ It’s okay, Roxi” and thought ‘be strong’ and couldn’t help wonder if I’d be handling this better if I hadn’t of eaten ice cream and cookies 30 minutes earlier. Suddenly, I remembered, Bryan! Bryan, Kimberly’s fiancé is in town and quickly called. Praise God! He answered and would help! He’d pick up Carter and then drive over and get Emme and I. I called the school to explain. Bryan, would be late but they assured me she’d be fine. I called Coach and had a little meltdown. He ‘coached me up’ and calmed me down. Nate called back. Beth called back. They felt terrible but I told them that everything had worked out and we would be fine.

Emme and I had been sitting in Beth’s stalled car for 20 minutes. I couldn’t resist trying to start it again and as I turned the key I said firmly, “Lord, please start this car, in Jesus name”! And He did. Just like that! I made it all the way to Carter’s school before it died again. The girls seem to enjoy the walk home. We came back later in my truck to get car seats, backpacks and homework.

There was more drama concerning my truck’s gas gauge sitting firmly on E and trying to get Carter to ballet on time but I’m just too tired to tell that story. Back home with homework done, Carter, excitedly tore into her paint by number to find one of the canvas’s covered with colorful molds (fortunately enclosed in plastic). Finally at bedtime, Carter’s little lambie, went MIA. We looked and looked and looked and looked. Carter has spent every night of her life with this furry friend. Sadly, Lambie could be found nowhere! After many tears and phone calls to Mom and Dad, Carter brightened up and said, “ If only I could find something that feels like Lambie”! I suggested a bath mat which made her smile and squeal, I don’t want to sleep with a BATH MAT!

I offer a few other with fluffy options all of which made her laugh and run to her room to find a suitable replacement. Shortly, Carter when she came back to the kitchen with a green frog. Pleased, with the ‘feel’, she snuggled briefly and declared that frog would would work!

We were all so proud of Carter, for adjusting. It’s not easy to sleep with out your favorite Lambie, pillow, pacifier or thumb. Sweet girl, I pray you will discover early in life to trust God with all of your difficulties and disappointments that each and every one will strengthen you faith in Him.

The next morning, while cleaning up the kitchen, I heard Emme’s tiny voice say, “There’s Lambie”! “Where?”, I said. “Outside!”, she said.

I told you grandbabies are a blast! Just look at that face! It’s non stop, constantly something. Falling, fussing, throwing, tearing, running, twirling, climbing, opening, eating, questioning, bumping, bouncing, bruising, hiding, crying, laughing, tickling, sliding, surprising, and smiling.

 

Oh, Emerson! You are so scrump-dily-ump-cious! Thanks for being my juicing buddy. I’m so glad you find it fun. We’ll make more juice soon. I’m imagining us making juice popsicles!

It’s good to be home again. I’ve juiced a pitcher full of green goodness. I’ll share the recipe tomorrow.

DAY 25 – gained 2 lbs. but my resolve is stronger. My desire to be healthy and free. Like Carter, I’m learning to give up things and cheerfully adapt. Trusting God to help me and work out all the details.

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip – He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you – the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm – He will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Psalm 121 (NIV)