A lot of people around the blogosphere (and gah, how I hate
that word) talk about "a new normal" as they learn to embrace this or
that, an unexpected hand dealt them. I tried to think of a less cliché way to
check in with y'all today than under the pretense of "learning to deal
with our new normal" but I come up empty, so please, forgive the triteness
here, as you also forgive (I hope) my absence lately.
We are learning to deal with our new normal with the
foster babies and the book project, learning to morph what started out as
survival-mode chaos into functional, adapted, thriving life. I am learning how
this thing works and how to roll with the punches around here in the interest
of not-just-getting-by.
I know now how to do dishes and take a shower every once in
awhile without my house being burnt to the ground, and this alone is progress.
I know that shooing them out the door after breakfast to play before the air
gets thick and hot is the key to getting my daily bearings, that a bunch of
stickers and safety scissors and washable markers will get little feet off the
carpet just long enough to vacuum. I know which one gets diarrhea if they drink
apple juice, which ones have seasonal allergies, which ones hit when no one is
looking, and which items around my home are shockingly edible.
I know that (surprise!) the 2-year-old can dress herself
completely and climb up into the car seat all by herself if I can exercise the
patience to let her do so. I'm working on it, and my back is grateful. I don't (apparently) know how to find time to blog or write (yet), but I'm working on that too.
I know
that teeth-brushing time is a highlight of the evening for them and for me. For
them, the splash and giggle and spit business is just too fun to suppress a
squeal and for me, it signals bedtime, which signals breath and Husband and I have
even found time to giggle and watch a movie or two. That feels a lot like my
old normal, and I'm grateful for a few small anchors like that while this ship
spins and swirls, even while we're learning to "Wheeeeee!" about it all the while.
I know, too, that the little one will say, as I close every
storybook's final page, "Amen" instead of "The End" and
that I won't correct her because there are days where this alone keeps me from
unraveling, the tiny, squeaky reminder that every one of these stories is just
a prayer out loud, just living this out loud… Once Upon a Time… Amen.
It's almost like a reorientation. I recently switched from working in the NICU to Labour and Delivery and though my brain was going to explode....from something that had before almost too comfortable to a foreign land. I'm even surprise how quickly this is becoming my "new normal". We always learn a lot when we stretch ourselves...it just takes awhile for that stretch to feel less uncomfortable.
ReplyDeleteAh, yes. May the grace continue to shine through all the cracks and spill out and over and onto all in the way of it. All those little teeth. Love it.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful.
ReplyDeleteHolding this in my heart as I find myself vacillating with this potential SCARY new "normal"...... Jesus, show me your plans and give me strength to walk the path......an extra dump truck of grace too, please!
I love that--these stories, every day, are just a prayer out loud. Our living is worship in the *whirl and twirl*! Rich blessings, friend.
ReplyDeleteOne of my dear friends has foster children who has taught us all lessons about grace. I don't know that I've ever met normal:) enjoyed visiting and reading about your sweet blessings.
ReplyDelete