Playing house again

Did you play house when you were a little girl? I did. 🙂

It is so nice to play house again. 

After more than two years of living with my parents, we’ve been in the new house for about a week and a half now. The last month has been incredibly, blessedly busy. We’ve spent the last few weeks fixing up our house and slowly moving things in, one after-the-kids-are-in-bed minivan load at a time.

It’s been a lot of work, but such happy work. And oh-my-goodness. My husband is the most amazing, hardworking, handy man I’ve ever met. Watching that man throw himself into a project like “provide for my family by preparing new house for the move” will make you want to kick up your own game and stop complaining so much about what you’re already doing.

I have enjoyed the heck out of unpacking boxes of our knickknacks and treasures and Fancy Dishes from Our Wedding and finding special places around the house for them. Making all of the beds for the first time was wonderful. Doing laundry isn’t even a chore yet (did I really just type that?).

Still, it’s been a lot of work, and I have a lot on my plate right now, and I’m really, really tired.

The Lord has given me the wonderful grace to be gentle with myself lately, though. I’ve been feeding my family lots of easy frozen meals and snacks (although, if I’m being honest, that’s kind of been an all-the-time thing for a while now). The kids have watched on Netflix every Air Buddies movie ever made–at least twice. I didn’t make All Saints Day costumes this year, or go to a party, or stress for more than 10 seconds about that decision. I’ve taken a hiatus from homeschooling for a few weeks. I’ve cut down work on the blog and podcast to a minimum. I’ve been going to bed early (and sleeping in a little later) a few days a week. I’ve let the kids play in the rain and the mud–in their clothes–to their hearts’ content so I could get stuff done around the new house.

And peace has reigned in this home (for the most part).

The Lord has been so present during this move. Each need we’ve had has been met–and generously at that. In the last few months, family and friends have given us so many things for the house, from artwork to couches to a kitchen table to beds to a washer. My mom, grandmother and aunts and siblings have been an army of cheerful servants and movers and babysitters and picture-hangers. Friends and neighbors have brought us dinner a few times and have watched the kids for us.

The Franklets are their characteristic happy, flexible selves. Two-and-a-half-year-old Gianna slept in a pack-n-play her entire young life until a week and a half ago. On our first night in the house, she matter-of-factly crawled up into her own little single bed in the precious lavender bedroom she shares with her big sister, and the girl hasn’t looked back.

Michael and I have been in sync through it all lately. I have prayed my heart out that we would work well together through the stress of the move. And we have argued exactly six times. Just kidding. Only a couple of times, and not for long, and over nothing that breaking out the five-pound Sam’s bag of chocolate chips in the freezer couldn’t wrap up pretty quickly.:)

I keep meditating this week on one of my favorite Scripture verses: “Do not grow weary of doing good, for at the proper time you will reap a harvest” (Gal 6:9).

I cannot say that I did not grow weary over the past two years. I remember praying many times: Lord, I am so tired of being strong. Tired of being brave. Tired of trusting. Tired of waiting. Tired of praying for the same thing every single day.

You know what, though? Even just our desire to have a right heart–since we can’t help how we feel–is pleasing to Him. Part of learning to come to God as a little child is learning how to say to Him, “Lord, I’m not big enough to handle this, even though I want so much to be a big girl about this. Please know that, and please help me.”

As we approach Thanksgiving this year, my heart is full to bursting with this harvest.

 

The man behind the boxes works his tail off for our family, and I’m so thankful for him.

Free play in the man-made mud pit on the side of my parents’ house. So momma could cook a few freezer meals that have come in handy lately.

We took a break from moving (just me and the kids, though) for Halloween.

Playing in the rain in their clothes. Because how fun is that when you’re a kid?! And because mommy knew it would buy her an extra 45 minutes of productivity. 🙂

The “baby” of the family, two-and-a-half-year-old Gianna Therese. Not such a baby anymore.

Me and the Humble Handyman.

How do you thank your parents for Everything?

My Aunt Berta is so special to me. And my kids, too.:)

More of my little Gianna, because she is feisty and smart and adorable and most likely quite spoiled. Also, she has gorgeous hair.

Michael and I were discussing some discipline strategies for the kids last week, and I started getting upset and teared up when I realized (and told Michael, who laughed at me) that we only have 11 years left to make a godly, responsible, virtuous, kind man out of this one before he heads off to college. Lord, help me! Mostly by making me who I’m supposed to be so that my mess doesn’t get in Your way where my children’s hearts and souls are concerned!