A day in the life...

Today I got a nice check in the mail, compliments of the Paid Family Leave Act - along with a notice informing me that my benefits are exhausted. Well guess what, Benefits? You're not the only one.

I admit it, I am exhausted. I know I talk a lot about the wonderful things of motherhood and the joys in my life. And you know why? Because, for the most part, life is wonderful. But I am quickly learning that wonderfulness and exhaustion can indeed co-exist. I am at the point where my to-do list is so long I don't even know where to begin. I finally get the kids down for a nap or down for the night and I am either too overwhelmed with what I should get done, or too tired to even begin thinking about it, and the list just gets longer. Perhaps I should lower my expectations. But I don't think ignoring the laundry will really solve anything (trust me, I'm doing that right now and all it's accomplishing is stressing me out knowing that 47 piles of laundry are waiting to be hung up).

Here, to illustrate my point, I'll go ahead and paint you a picture.

GOAL FOR THE MORNING: Go to Costco.

Seems pretty achievable, right? Rrrrighhtt... Here's sort of how it went:

Get dressed

Get Rebekah dressed

Bekah spits up all over her dress (decide to ignore it. after all, she'll just spit up on the next outfit, too)

Get Ezekiel dressed

Bekah spits up again, this time all over my outfit (decide to wipe it up with a burp cloth and hope that my skirt is cute enough to distract from the spit up on my shoulder)

Start packing up the diaper bag

Phone rings, baby cries, Ezekiel bites his sister, time out, give sister kisses, change poopy diaper, shoot... time to feed the baby again

What was I doing again? Oh yeah, pack the diaper bag

Load kids in the car, pull out of driveway (yesss!)

Bummer, forgot my cell (nooo!). Pull back into driveway and run into the house.

We're off!!

Glance at the clock. 30 minutes until naptime. Shoot. No time to make it to Costco. Hit up Henry's instead.

Spend $4 too much on milk. Spend most of my time convincing Ezekiel that he doesn't need a "bite" of everything in our cart. Spend 15 seconds feeling proud when a little grandma tells me "You're a good mother" as we pick out pears. Spend the next 2 minutes dealing with a temper tantrum and experiencing a gigantic decrease of the aforementioned pride.

I have reason to be tired, right? Right?! Other moms? Tell me I am not alone...

PS: In case you're wondering, I went ahead and tackled those pesky loads of laundry before I finished writing this blog.

Changed

3 generations of love - my grandpa, my dad, and my son


The circumstances of the past few weeks have been more joyful, sorrowful, wonderful and sad than I could have ever imagined. And I am not left unchanged.

On March 9, the Lord called my grandma to her long-awaited home in heaven. And, just 7 days later, her one true love - my grandpa - joined her. Wow. To lose two people we love so much in just one week is heartbreaking. Especially when grandpa seemed so strong. As my dad says, "He was a young 90." He was still so full of life and energy, corny jokes and endless stories. And he was a fighter. As a young man sailing the seas, he survived deadly storms by sheer willpower and the desire to live. The same tenacity stayed with him until his final days. Grandpa wanted to live. He wanted to continue experiencing life to the fullest, even if it meant doing so without his true love. But, in our estimation, grandma won this battle. I believe she had God's full attention and pleaded with her Lord to bring grandpa to her. Because, for 70 years, he had always been by her side.

And that is the other side of this story. While heartbreaking, it is also beautiful. For two people to love for 70 years and die just 7 days apart is more than just sweet - it is nearly miraculous. And I believe it is exactly the picture that the Lord intended to paint when he designed marriage. Unfailing, uncompromising, endless love. The kind of love that only exists when Christ is the Lord of your lives. And yet just a glimpse of the perfect love that Jesus has for us - a love unconquerable by even death. As much as grandpa wanted to live, he believed with all his heart that to die was to gain. For departing from this world meant entering an eternity with Jesus -and it is by God's grace that he and grandma met their maker just heavenly moments apart.

As for me, I am changed by the love my grandparents lavished on each other. I am changed by the love of their 6 remaining children - unselfishly poured upon their parents as they tenderly cared for them, and unashamedly displayed to one another as they grieve and rejoice together. And I am changed by the love of grandpa and grandma's greatest legacy - the family they leave behind to bear their name and carry their example. We came together in a time of great need and reminded each other of the things that were the hallmarks of grandma and grandpa's lives - to love the Lord and grow more like Him with each passing year, to love and serve those God puts in our life with generosity and hospitality, and to love passionately the family that He has given us.

By God's grace, may we also be blessed with a life that is a beautiful reflection of His great love for us.





Lou Holbrook, with his true love Molly

Some Happy Things

This week also gave us reasons to celebrate....

On March 3rd, my good friend Jen had her baby boy! Baby Caden Jacob made his appearance Monday evening and I was so happy to be at the hospital to greet him when came into the world! Caden is adorable and perfect and I am chomping at the bit to see him again. Thanking God that Jen's labor went text-book smoothly and that little Caden is here safe and sound. I can't believe my childhood friend and college roommate is a MOM! SO HAPPY for you, Jen!!

Baby Caden just one hour old


And my own babies are giving me plenty of reasons to smile...

Rebekah Jane in her new dress from daddy



"See my pretty dress?"


Her signature smile with her tongue sticking out!


Flowers and babies... doesn't get much better!


Sooo sweet...


Ezekiel looking so grown up!


Ezekiel has been really into oranges lately - and he eats them peel and all!

Saying goodbye...

Grandpa and grandma on Christmas Eve - their 70th wedding anniversary

Today is both a sad and happy day for our family. Sad, because after 88 abundant years on earth, the Lord called my grandma home to be with Him. And happy because we know she is no longer in pain and is rejoicing before her Lord this very day. What a life grandma lived, and what a blessing she was to so many. Grandma had 8 children, 23 grandchildren, and dozens of great-grandchildren. Her 6 living children have lovingly cared for her during her final years on earth, often making enormous personal sacrifices to tend to her needs and simply be by her side. The actions of her children spoke volumes about their love for their mother and the character of the men and women she raised. Since she was a young girl, grandma has had two true loves: Her Lord and Savior Jesus, and grandpa, her handsome husband of 70 years. 70 years! They don't even make Hallmark cards for such an occasion. Love like that is rare and beautiful, and what an example they've set for the generations behind them. I will always remember my grandparents as a couple, sitting side by side holding hands as they did every time I visited them. Even in grandma's failing years, grandpa was by her side holding her hand.

The week ahead will be difficult, and my heart is especially heavy for my dad and my aunts and uncles who lost their mom. But, as I pray for their peace and comfort, I also rejoice in the knowledge that grandma is now able to praise her Lord face to face.

Lotsa Love

Last weekend Kevan's dad, Richard, and his lovely new wife, Gina, flew in from Missouri to meet Rebekah Jane and play with Ezekiel. Being the first girl in a long line of boys on the Plumb side, little Bekah Jane has a special place in her grandpa's heart. And it sure was fun to see him smitten with his new little grandaughter! Both he and Gina doted and loved on the kids for (literally!) every waking moment they were in town. We had such a wonderful visit and I am so thankful for the love they lavished on my kids. Can't wait to see you guys again!

Meeting Bekah Jane for the first time


Three generations hanging out at the park


Shopping with grandpa

Look at my cute new outfit!


Loving on Bekah

Healthy Again!

We are finally back on the radar. Ezekiel was down for the count for over a week with that nasty bug. Just when he started to turn the corner, little Rebekah Jane got a fever of her own. And back to the ER we went. Because she is so young, the doctors don't mess around with fevers and want to rule out anything serious right away. Thankfully, she just had the same flu bug that her brother had and she fought it off like a champ. That litle one never really acted sick, and I am so thankful that it turned out to be nothing for her. And then... Kevan came down with it. AAAGHHHH! Ok, so it was a pretty lousy couple of weeks at our house, but we are all healthy once again and it is so nice to be living life again! For a while there we were simply on survival mode! And, thank you God for keeping me healthy so I could take care of my family!

Not looking so hot...