While the Peter Pan's away the Indians will play

My husband has been out of town for 2 weeks and will be out next week as well. This would not be a problem if I did not have a 4 year old, a 2 year old, and a newborn. And we have no family in town. So I am single parenting and having a time of it. This certainly gives me a renewed respect for all those single parents out there who DON'T have the luxury of another adult to depend on for a little break. And for those parents whose spouses are away in Iraq or other military installations.

This morning I was awakened by a combination of loud giggling and the newborn screaming. I walked out to see what was so funny. The four year old had decided to "feed the hamster" which meant that every food item, snack, or edible product we owned was being dumped into the hamster's cage AND all over the carpet. We aren't talking a light sprinkling here - I mean DUMPED. Of course the hamster thought she had died and gone to hamster paradise, so she was collecting food in her little cheeks and carrying up to her nest in the cage, and storing it. My 4 year old thought it was delightful and was laughing hysterically about the whole thing. The only thing I could think was "how am I going to get all of that out of the carpet?". After the initial interrogation session (WHAT are you doing, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?) I started her on clean up and moved in to retrieve the baby who was ready for her first feeding of the day. Thankfully, she started sleeping 11-12 hours a night about 3 weeks ago.

I only hope that I can keep everyone on track today, INCLUDING myself, and mantain a certain amount of decorum. If the hamster thing is my biggest problem today, I think we will be ok. Well, the little wildwomen are making noise and I think their bedroom has run out of entertainment options, so off I go to prepare lunch.

Thank you, God, for these blessings in pudding splotched containers. Please help me to appreciate thier simple enjoyment and love of all that is new. And please help me not to mess them up too much. You are so good to give such bright little wonders to me. Help me see a little of what they see in all that is wonderful. Keep me from letting the pressure of my own expectations create stress in our home. And lend Your power to my self control so that they will see You inside of me. I love you, Father.