Kelly the Overthinker, Author at My Overthinking

Day 5: Rolling

5.22.12

Got a 20 minute call with Mark this morning which was the highlight of my day.

Things are rolling – the team members are in the classrooms at the university teaching. Friendships are being built. Everyone is learning quite a bit–teachers and students alike, it seems. The students’ English skills aren’t as good as Mark was expecting, and it’s hard. But, he clearly was smiling when he talked with me this morning (which made me smile for most of the day), excited about the opportunities in front of him to both serve the kids there and serve the teachers who are there long term.

And, things are rolling here – another school week began, grocery shopping done, lunches made, homework complete, leftovers on paper plates for dinner, surfing Craigslist for bunk beds (see previous post). Just rolling along.

This, however, is not doing much rolling.

I got a lesson on how to get the thing turned on before Mark left. I mistakenly assumed it would work sort of like a vacuum cleaner that has that nice wheely like thing underneath that makes it sort of move without much effort.

Wrong.

Using this thing is worse than pushing a double stroller with a buggy board around Disney World.

And, my yard is proof of that. I feel like I need to put a yard sign out that says:

NOTE – yard care provider out of the country for a time. Have mercy.

Good news is that I was worried Mark would come home to a wife 5 lbs. heavier after all that yummy carny food from last week. But, I mowed the lawn today, so I think I’m good.

Not good enough though to make myself one of the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup milkshakes I made the 3 big kids tonight.

Yup, still sugaring them up. And, they’re loving it.

Off to watch an old episode of The Guardian which I’m currently hooked on and then get some editing work done before I collapse.

Day 5. Over and out.

I’m done for

5.21.12

When she came downstairs yesterday when she should have been napping, I thought one of the big kids had gotten her out.

When she came in my bed at 6:15 this morning when everyone else was sleeping, I knew I was done for.

Wonderful.

Day 4: Mr. China

5.21.12

My heart was aching for Sunday morning.

It feels like my mission trip on the homefront has been more about running around and way too much sugar than serving with a servant’s heart for His glory. And so, my soul was ready for worship this morning, for refreshment and a reminder–and for a few moments to myself as every child went to his or her perspective Sunday School.

A song, one of my favorites, moved me, broke me.

Where you go, I’ll go.
Where you stay, I’ll stay.
When you move, I’ll move.
I will follow you.
Who you love, I’ll love.
How you serve, I’ll serve.
If this life I lose, I will follow you.
I will follow you.

And, that’s what we’re doing–wanting to do, trying to do, even during hard days.

Where He goes, he’ll go.

Where He stays, I’ll stay.

I got a few minutes late last night on Skype with Mark. I could barely hear him as he tried talking to me in the middle of a crowded apartment and lots going on. After he gave me the details of what they were doing and how things were and what things were like, I asked him how he was really doing. He smiled and said, “It’s uncomfortable.”

Yeah, it is. The work in conversation to understand each other. Being upfront and “on” all the time. The energy required.

But, Mark’s loving and serving and following. And, as uncomfortable as that is, I know–and he knows–it’s right where he should be.

In honor of Ashlyn’s Chinese dance performance this afternoon

which the other children were so excited to be a part of

(I did make them look up during her actual song, promise)

and in honor of our very own Mr. China,

we did dinner in style.

Bet Daddy’s Chinese food today didn’t end with these bad boys though.

My special Cookies and Cream milkshakes which Drew assured me were the best milkshakes I had ever made.

More running around. And, more sugar. But, purpose remembered.

Day 4 done.

Day 3: Life’s a Parade

5.20.12

I’ve said more than once–okay, a lot more than once–that if I don’t do it, it won’t get done. You know, the endless parade of dishes, crumbs under the kitchen table, dirty socks thrown in the corner with the shoes that may lead some to believe I have 7 children or 4 children with more than 2 feet each, beds that need to be made, stacks of mail on the dining room table.

It wasn’t really true.

I’m realizing now that my husband does a whole lot more around here than I recognized. Because on Day 3 of him gone, I can say emphatically that if I don’t do it, it really won’t get done. And, a lot isn’t.

But, that’s okay for now. Because all of my children are sound asleep in their beds right now, beds that may not get made tomorrow. And, I’m in bed early myself, content from a full day of being together including hanging out on the sidelines of the longest parade ever (we’re convinced that the Dogwood parade breaks world records for the longest parade per capita). We didn’t even make it to the end–and I was okay with that.