summer 2011

summer 2011

Paul and I, all 16 kids and Ashley, Benjamin's wife...Christmas 2012

Paul and I, all 16 kids and Ashley, Benjamin's wife...Christmas 2012
family

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

...and they all just blend together...


The cows down the road, and the horses, and the TRUMP 2020 flag hanging from the barn...what a nice afternoon for a walk.

Now, it's late afternoon coffee time while Jonathan, such a good boy, is grilling burgers.

We had a very busy day. We cleaned out the linen closet in the hallway, AND the laundry room. We sorted and folded and washed and dried, made bags for the thrift store, and for the garbage-io. Shh, there were three strollers in the laundry room. We only saved one. One was an umbrella stroller from when EMILY was a baby, and she's 35.

We found things we didn't know we had, like the copper brownie pan (thank you, Cheryl!), and a bag of goodies and trinkets from the costume jewelry clearance at Kohl's. We found treats, too:

Christmas Reese's trees and miniatures!

Our laundry room is now cleaned and organized. We got rid of the last remaining sock basket, now that all keep their socks in their own drawers in their own rooms. For years and years, the dreaded sock basket sorting was an EEK producing experience. Abigail, Charlotte Claire, and I pulled out the pairs we could match, and actually dumped the rest...years worth of socks from the bottom of the basket, with no matches, into the trash, and please: don't tell me that I could have used them for something. I need LESS stuff!

We're not bored yet. The state has ruled that there will be no April break this year. More packets will be delivered, more school work, which is actually welcome news. The kids have moved along at lightening speed, and getting work done keeps them busy. Anyway, the district is sending out more work, the buses will be stopping at each house, and the superintendent says the kids will also be getting a surprise. I am intrigued, and can't wait to see what it'll be!

Hopefully the weather will warm up and we can get outside more and get the yard nicer. It's actually nice to have the kids here, ready and willing to get things done. It's nice to go on walks with them, and plan meals, watch The Simpsons...they've been playing The Settlers of Catan, I let them order an expansion pack.

Anyway, it's going well here, battling sin, seeking to please God in all the things during the day, and in the night too, when the scary dreams come...

10 comments:

Valerie said...

A teeny venting moment, if you'll allow me: yesterday a dozen eggs sold for $2.55 at Dollar General. Today, same dozen sell for $3.55! I realize it is a smaller store, and even the $2.55 may be normal for other states than Ohio, but the same product to go up an entire dollar in 24 hours? That is the stuff of scary dreams, indeed. Maybe we will finally get some chickens, we have tossed around the idea. Glad you are having happy days with your family!

16 blessings'mom said...

Valerie, that is SO frustrating. My son lives in Virginia, Fairfax, the highest cost of living in the country, I believe. He has noticed the rising prices of food...he works part time at Lowe's while going to college (now online), his wife is finishing her master's in teaching this spring, and works part time at a vet's office...rent is high, life is hard when they can't get the food they need for themselves and their little guy, and then the prices are going up when they CAN find stuff. It is just crazy.
We are having happy days, but the happiness is tempered by the underlying sobering knowledge of the sufferings that are being experienced all around the world. People dying alone, no funerals allowed, people stuck in small apartments, domestic violence, children being neglected and treated terribly, worried parents, the whole lot of healthcare professionals...it's really harsh, and I feel helpless. I can make life good here at home, and I can pray. It doesn't seem like enough.

Cheryl said...

Not to get your hopes up... but I believe the surprise the superintendent is talking about is a puppy, or kitten, for every home, to be delivered by the school buses!! Shhhh!! Don't tell!!

Valerie said...

You are right! I should not complain about eggs I can find and afford. So many bigger issues out thereπŸ™„

16 blessings'mom said...

Valerie, you can still vent. It effects all of us in different ways. I think my son said a grocery worker said the producers have raised prices, so it gets passed on.
Cheryl, the surprise had BETTER be a puppy or a kitten. I'll deliver yours for you, which do you prefer?

Regina said...

I need to clean and organize my laundry room. I never had a laundry room before we bought this house. I know there is junk in there that can be donated to the thrift stores. We were concerned that donations here in Arizona would be temporarily needed to stop due to COVID but so far.
Have a blessed day!

Marilyn said...

Hi Della πŸ‘‹πŸ‘‹ What absolutely beautiful hair you and your girls have..........gorgeous!! We picked up our fur babies this morning. Oh my......they were SOOOOOOOO excited.....so were we πŸ₯°πŸ₯° It’s -12C here at the moment........I’m not impressed, however it can only get better. You and the girls have been busy and have accomplished so much. Good for you. I was up early this morning to go get our pooches and now I’m ready for a nap I think 😴😴 Have a super day!! I’m making Butter Chicken for supper tonight and I’m salivating thinking about it πŸ˜‰

Marilyn from Canada πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦

Linda M. Conley said...

Well...we went to Walmart today for milk. I am glad to see the shelves are restocked (still no tp or paper products of any kind). I dont know how long the virus will last or how long the shelves will be stocked. Oh, here in Hornell, the mayor ordered ALL stay at home now. No exercise out, no walking the dog etc. It is w hat it is, right?

Have a beautiful day and there are a lot of folks here who are flying Trump flags.

Valerie said...

Either the sunshine today, or my husband making an online order at Walmart, or both. Feeling better now πŸ˜‰

Busy Bee Suz said...

I love that you and the family are getting out and exercising. And then organizing/cleaning. How awesome is that? So funny that you had a stroller that long; Do they even make things now that would last that long?
I would trade you 3 rolls of TP for the Christmas reese's. :)