Laundry 501

After doing laundry for 6 people now for about 3 years, I think I've graduated to a post doctorate level of laundry expertise. As I'm letting go of my illusion of control in many areas, it doesn't surprise me that I'm now at the gown wearing, degree toting level of laundry success.

In the last couple of days, I've noticed that some people (names to remain private) are taking off their clothes and leaving them turned inside out. After doing load after load, I realized that I could expedite the process (to move onto more chores - you thought I was going to say something fun, didn't you?) by not folding every piece of laundry that goes into their basket. I mean, it's still CLEAN, which is the goal, right?!?

I know, go ahead and smile and cheer; Regina has experienced a victory in the world of flexibility. Just because I care how my clothes are put into the laundry basket doesn't mean that most other people care at the same capacity that I do or that they even, quite frankly, care! They just want clean clothing and until they are out of the house and regularly washing, week after week, their own clothes, there will be no parade for the laundry queen.

So, since it's not even a category that I can win in (treasures in heaven, treasures in heaven), I've let go. And this is what you get (see picture above - poor lighting since it's in the basement and I still don't know how to use the flash on my phone camera)...6 baskets, filled with clean laundry; some folded, most not. Socks go in the sock basket so when you have the the need for socks; you know where to find them and have the luxury of matching at your own pace.

It so turns out that this higher level of laundry training feels like love. There's no promise that I'll be around to see everyone I live with through to their older years, therefore it stands to reason that there is a need to teach people to fish or in the case, launder.

As you're reading this, you're likely having one of two thoughts - geesh, what took you so long Regina; this isn't a 500 level course, it's beginner level stuff at best OR you're thinking, way to go gurlfriend, you've cracked the code (well, this one anyway). I'm camping out on the latter of the two, but think what you will I finished another load of folding and sorting clean laundry in under 3 minutes.

Until next time, Professor Regina (aka Laundress Extraordinaire)

Our Kitchen Table

I don't know about yours, but our kitchen table ought to be promoted to the 7th member of our family. So much happens around it and it just adapts. When I took these photos, I initially thought of them as individual posts to the blog, but when uploading them onto the computer, I saw the common theme...the kitchen table. Big deal? Keep reading...

Here is Grandma Pam (far right) stopping over for a quick, post Halloween visit to give the kids a few treats. She MADE chocolate suckers for each of us, brought over SillyBandz of all shapes/themes - if you have kids above 5, you know what we're talking about and just a quick hug, squeeze and smile for all of us. It may seem mellow here, but watching it up close was kind of funny because the kids were bartering and trading and identifying - they were so excited about these tiny, but largely thoughtful gifts. And the table was there.
Take two. This is our kitchen table with a few extra faces. The kids come home from school and everyone works at the kitchen table. With our floor plan, I'm able to manage them and be in the kitchen prepping dinner or cleaning a snack (or sometimes quickly check my FB page). Mark set up a play date for BOTH girls at our house. Here they are attempting to meld into the routine that we've established. Veronica's friend, Jayla, got it, but Sabrina's friend Molly was bound to stay away from the kitchen table and see every other corner of our home.

This is where I started to see stability and routine come to fruition. I've heard people talk about how life changing, family altering decisions happen around the table - this is where I'm beginning to believe that it's true; at least for us. Though our kids' friends wanted to have a full on play date, they sat with our own children for 45 minutes and did homework and worked and read like that's what everybody does (and since everyone here does - it was all good). I am thinking some of my hard work and persistence in expecting the kids to take on work is taking affect; doing some good - could it be long lasting?

But wait! There's more...
Now this, this...is the piece de resistance! My favorite snapshot around the kitchen table this week, but quite honestly, in a long time! I came home from Zumba at around 8:30 p.m. Now for those of you who don't know, I'm a big stickler on bed times. In fact, so much so, that I firmly believe that the bedtime is the time to be IN bed, not preparing to be in bed. My husband, wonderful as he is, does not share this same approach; in fact - it's not really his mindset at all (yes, this has been a hot button in our household) so...

When I walked into the house and Sabrina & Veronica were in bed, resting (not having just turned out the lights hurriedly jumping into bed) and Dylan was resting in bed and, And, AND Mark and Taylor were well into a bible study, well I was just in shock! Good shock! Like, no words. I mean, give me a break - I'd given up on the idea that when I leave that the house would be cleaned (kitchen was clean) kids would be showered and in bed (they were) and that rather than watching television or working out together dad & teen would be bonding around God's word...

ONLY THE POWER OF CHRIST PEOPLE!!! A miracle happened and the timing couldn't have been more perfect.

So I share all of this to introduce a new adage. No longer do I concern myself with the history of the house we live in or the tales of those families that lived before us. No, now I consider the powerful kitchen table. So the next time you sit to eat a meal and think little of your family's table, perhaps you'll take a moment or even a few and ask not what you can do for your kitchen table, but what your kitchen table can do for you!?!

Nawww, joking, got a little carried away. It's still just a table; it's the people and experiences around it that make it special. And I wasn't going to share this, but feel I must. The name of the table, "Regina". I kid you not...this table was a part of the Regina Cherry Wood Collection. Little did I know when I bought over 5 years ago (before I knew Mark even existed) would it grow to mean so much.

Halloween 2010

Yes, that is Sabrina & Veronica on the dance floor!

They are at a Halloween Dance for kids with Down Syndrome. Mark and the three youngest made their debut at the event and had a great time. There was dinner, a DJ and I believe there was a football game on for the conflicted ones who shall not be named. I'm so glad that Mark took the kids, it was such a great time for them!

Oh, before I forget...Sabrina is a modern day Mulan, Veronica is a fairy princess (don't know where her wings are) and Dylan - out of the shot - is performing magic tricks for some of the other attendees as Obewon Kenobe. Mark is the photographer, along for the ride, making sure the kids have as much fun as their little bodies can stand.

Me & Taylor you ask? We're home...chillin', chillaxin', relaxing, mellowed out (get it?!?). We passed on the noise and fun and traded up (in our home body opinions) for a quiet house. Taylor watched tv, checked his facebook page and played the guitar and I finished the final 250 pages of a 750 page book (finally done with the Harry Potter series - and it only took me 5 months). Our costumes were more of the potato resting on a couch in a leisurely manner type of costume:)

It was a great day. Really, it was. Since I was baptized 11 years ago on this day; I find it changes the vibe of Halloween for me. This is the longest I've been committed to ANYTHING. A marriage, a job, a child, one city, a house...I've not done anything that's required the efforts of being a disciple of Christ and I know I have so much more to learn. God taught me that He will always provide what we need and in the crazy of our family, no matter how diverse. We were altogether at church and ate lunch together while watching the Packer game and then it was scattered for the fun. I think that the more I learn about being flexible, the more God is able to meet the vast needs of my family - I just have to lovingly step aside and let Him do His thing; and this Halloween was proof of that.