Sometimes life just screams by and sometimes time stands still. It’s been a little of both these past two weeks with my son, daughter-in-law, and three granddaughters.  We’ve stayed busy with virtual school, laundry, housekeeping, negotiating iPad time, enjoying home cooked meals from Emily’s sweet church family, all while trying to keep her on the couch.  It’s hard to stay down with life going on all around.

Life stops for no one. Just when you are trying your best to stay away from the virus and keep everybody safe, somebody gets hurt.

Today, Evelyn (3) had a collision with a sister and took a fingernail to the eyeball, suffering a small scratch.  Grandma and Grandpa H, who have been on call for trips to the ER (Emily) and grocery pick up and general entertainment, heeded the call for the second time today and took Emily and Evelyn to the urgent care.  While at the check-in counter, the medical assistant gave Evelyn her own clipboard and a pen to keep her occupied while Mommy filled out paperwork.  In her most professional 3-year-old voice, she loudly said, “Evelyn…Joy…S*******. New patient. Check.” And from that moment on, the clinic was her stage.  She skipped down the hall to the exam room, threw her arms wide and shouted, “WOW!” when she saw all the posters on the wall of the human body, serenaded whoever passed by with her entire repertoire of songs, and when it was time to get onto the exam table, sang (while dancing on the step stool) “it’s check-up time, check-up time, check-up time!”  All was going well until the doctor shot her in the eye with a little iodine in-between swapping stories. And from that moment forward, she gave him the stink eye.

Also on the home front, for all you virtual schooling moms, I have now experienced what you’ve gone through for the past 10 months and my respect for you has exponentially increased.  Ellie (5^th grade) spends hours daily on homework and is experiencing a slow death by worksheet.  She is a good student, but the amount of work she has to do each day is staggering. She hasn’t been outside to play all week, and that seems a bit criminal to me.

And while we’re here doing life, oblivious to the outside world and waiting for medical appointments next week, a quick look at my phone revealed what was happening today in Washington. What a heartbreak.  What an embarrassment. We are so much better than this. What was to be accomplished by such behavior?  

I look around me, thankful that I didn’t know what was going on today, thankful that I didn’t have my face glued to my phone watching the news sliced and diced and rehashed all day long.  Instead, I spent it surrounded by my three favorite girls in the whole world, doing school and playing Paw Patrol and loving one another.  And while there is much to be processed and said about where we are as a country in this moment, I’m so thankful for family and memories made, and for the joy of it all. Even as we wait for the care Emily needs, I am reminded that no matter what happens we are in God’s hands.

Love,
Gigi

Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.
–Isaiah 64:4 (NIV)