Lunch with Cady

In the last year I've begun working more...unfortunately. I love teaching, don't mind working, it's the more part that's hard- just more time away from family that's all.

I wish children were born with money so they could pay up for all the meals, diapers and laundry. This would help greatly. Oo, what an idea? Maybe God just designed it so they pay in better ways like kisses and hugs and cute expressions. You know like that "can I pay you in GUM?" commercial....where the electrician is sad cause no one pays him in gum. (side note I tried the gum and it is good but I know of no teenager alive that would go for this, pls send them my way if you do) And you know it's a farce when they put an electrician up there to say that- I am still trying to find out why they aren't all leaving in mansions since our remodel last year.

So where was I.... working...yes, God has been good to provide work. But it takes me away from my big kids in school so today I took Cady to eat lunch. Actually she earned the privilege- 4 100's on spelling tests and we take them to lunch. Celebrate the little things. Cady's an ace on spelling, Silas has really struggled this year on his- he mumbled something about too many kids in a class and cursive writing but I don't know....

So the totegirl went to lunch- I was actually avoiding some other volunteer work. I wish Charis could've taken a picture of me, I had 4 totes around my neck when we came home. It wasn't attractive...

Well we got pizza from E&S. Rural Oklahoman's understand this getting lunch at the convenience store thing. I'd rather fix my own lunch at home but this is supposed to be a treat and going to the convenience store is the treat around here. We have 4 convenience stores, 1 diner and 1 nice restaurant in this town- if you call BBQ nice. But ppl drive from all over to go to it so I call it a nice restaurant.

It was nasty outside so we sat in the car, then she wanted to go back and show off her treat to the other sad 2nd graders eating school lunches.

So I thought I'll eat with her.

A germaphobic I am not, but the cafeteria kinda crept me out.




They looked like they are having fun but the girl in the middle there told me not to touch the tables- she knew about the creepy germs too.

So while Charis was eating a milkshake I chatted with the girls all around us. Turns out they have cute lunch bags!!! Leave it to me...









This one was really cool with shoulder handles- the owner assured me you got them at Walmart but I don't know- looked too designer for Walmart, but hey maybe they had cool stuff back before school started. Her sister walked by later with a polka dotted one.

By then Charis' chin was sticking to her neck so we went to the bath room. Great more germs. And I couldn't turn the water faucet off in the bathroom. Which only made me wonder how the 4 year olds do it...I don't want to think about the other options.

I will picking my kids up more often, I'd take them all out to lunch if they'd let me. 2nd grade lunch was retro and fun until the teacher made us all close our mouths and eat in silence. This was difficult for me. No wonder Ms. teacher had to approach me in the hall about how her excessive talking is disruptive. Maybe she is a little like me.

Was I ever a teacher? This all seems foreign to me. I have been home 10 years now, yikes -10 years since I taught public school. Maybe they'll invent a cure for dirty kids by the time I go back.

My Darlings...and their lunch totes

This is the girl's lunch tote- cute, darling, totally representative of her (if only it talked loudly)


and I have a boy- plain as it gets boy- and this tote also represents him in all his easy going simple being. T-shirt and jeans, hoodie in the winter, same ones every day if I'd let him.

I couldn't keep up with him as a toddler (partly because I was pregnant by the time he could walk). Then he was 2 giving me kisses and then 4 bringing me flowers and the he was 5 walking like his daddy and then he was 7 leaving behind the trains for more complex engineering- legos and then he was 8 talking like his daddy :) And now he's 9 and I don't know if I can say goodbye to his first decade.

Excuse me while I dry my eyes...

Ok, I know God has plans and I know they are good, and I would never want to stand in the way but this is rough and while I could list many reasons why there is only one I want to talk about...

The fact that it's over for me and boys, he has his dad and I am merely a source of food (don't get me wrong we have our hiking and late night talks, I'm not checking out by any means).I feel my future will be the perpetual begging for pink highlights and crying fits over what earrings to wear with which outfits. I have lived my life believing Philippians 4:13 but this seems big and vast and scary -this pink future.

Had I not put 6 years between the ages of my girls this future may not have been so vast, we could've plowed through, learned as we go but as it looks- it looks long, real long, twice as long.

My older daughter got a new fashion doll for Christmas, from a new line called Moxie Girlz- be true be you! I think I needed one- maybe I could throw it out there when I need a little courage to face the unknown world of sleepovers, makeup & fashion, & friendship drama. I was a girl, I know but I have never raised one. And from all accounts I was an easy one to raise...

I set out to write about what a lousy lunch maker I am...I know with all this cooking I'm doing you would've thought I am a pro but no. I am surprised no one from the school has called and asked why I haven't sent a sandwich with my son to school in 5 years? He doesn't eat them, he doesn't eat much of anything and I refuse to waste. (Go green) But these bags represent so much more to me- they represent the little hands , (ok we've moved on to medium hands at this age) that carry them to school and the unique personalities beyond those hands and how extremely daunting the task is to nurture those personalities. So I leave you with this...

Fuel for the future....

I love Joshua 1:9 but I can't leave out v. 8

"Study this book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then will you succeed. I command you- be strong and courageous! (be a moxie girl)Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (even into the vast pink future)"

Thanks for reading, I just needed to get that out.