Funky day

I woke up in a funk, yesterday. We woke up late and that put us in a rush to get to church. The girls both needed showers and they chose this time to really fight with each other. Becca was appalled that Laura's shoes were in the bathroom and Laura had used her "special" shampoo. The shampoo turned out to be shower gel and for the last week, I haven't been able to understand why her hair was so oily. Laura couldn't understand why Becca was so upset. After much consternation, we looked at the clock and found that we were already 20 min. late for church. Then, Tom and I were mad at the girls.

After all the stress, we decided to stay home and watch church on T.V.. There we were. All four of us, ready to go to church. We were completely dressed in front of T.V.. I was mad because of the fighting, so I made the girls sit up, not talk, and pay attention, just as if they were at church. I think they thought I had finally lost it, but they conformed. We watched the local First United Methodist Service, located downtown. I made the girls listen as the minister talked about the Maggi. It was a good service. We talked about who these guys really were and the fact that they didn't come on the night of Christ's birth. They actually came a bit later. The girls learned about Epiphany and how Christmas starts on Dec. 25, Christ's birth, not in September when the stores start bringing things out. We were watching communion, when I recognized a teacher friend of mine. I got a Christmas card from her, but I hadn't talked to her in a long time. I realized I needed to call her.

After the service, we had all calmed down and we had a long family chat about "getting along" with each other. It was a really nice time. All tensions were eased and we came up with some solutions we and the girls could apply to lesson the fighting and increase our "getting ready" efficiency (yes, I made that phrase up). It was really nice and I felt like I had been to church. Maybe, for one day, our message needed to come from the box in our living room. I know God knew we needed to sit down and really listen and communicate with each other. I wish there had been more of that when I grew up.

Later in the day, I called my friend that I had seen on T.V.. I loved catching up with her and we talked for almost an hour. She is teaching elementary music in a very low income school. We talked about her kids. As she talked, I listened and thought about my nephews in Florida. I realized that though I did not report my sister to social services, those boys need some protection in this life. Maybe, someday, that will be revealed and the tensions eased. Perhaps, someday, I can sit down with my family in Florida and we can COMMUNICATE as a family. I told Nancy that she can truly make a difference in those kids lives. She gets frustrated with the parents who don't seem to care, or they are in jail, or they just can't get beyond their own addictions. I told her not to give up. She can't make a difference to all, but there will be one who appreciates what she does. There will be one who grows up to be stronger than the environment from which they come. I know. I was that one that changed because a teacher loved me.

We spent the rest of the day doing little projects and getting ready for the week. The girls didn't fight at all, the whole rest of the day. I took a long bath last night and reflected on the day and my conversation with Nancy. I think God knew I needed to talk to her to give her encouragement as she encouraged me to get out of the funk and move on.