Today is the first day of summer vacation here at home!!! Even though it's raining outside and we are so ready to head to the local pool, it's a good start to a fun summer!!!
The older kids slept in till 11 AM!!! The two youngest were up at 7:15 AM. It's always an adjustment when school lets out. Having all four children at home, every day, makes for a lot more dishes in the sink. More chatter. Different wake up times and extra helping hands to help around the house!!! I love summer time and it's fun with the children being carefree and not having much of a work schedule and homework and sporting events all happening but instead we go to the pool and eat watermelon and sleep in!!! Summer time is just the best!!!
This is the day that I normally pull out the chore sheets and have really good intentions on having the children help me around the house. You see, with all the extra hands, you would think we could conquer a lot of work done in a short amount of time. And sometimes that is true. But sometimes it's stressful if the children complain about having to always do this or do that. It's a work in progress! Sometimes they gravitate way too much to the electronic gadgets. And sometimes my patience gets real thin if it seems like all I get done is wiping and re wiping down counter tops and sweeping the floors and seeing the constant finger prints on the back door and dirty dishes in the sink. BUT ... this year I am going to try to make the best of it!!! Better than previous years!!!
If I am really living out my dream life of being a mom of four beautiful children, which I am, then I why do I get so stressed out so quickly with a little bit of dirt or messy beds or dirty fingers??? It takes a team effort to make a house a clean environment, especially during the summer, and when things are upside down with toys and crayons and clothes strung all about the house, I need to take a deep breathe and thank God for all the craziness a family of six brings about! So, with working together, the chores can and should get done well. The kids need to learn how to fold laundry and sweep floors and wash dishes, so time off of school makes for the best opportunity to let them help me!!!
I find that with a school schedule it seems to be easier to get into a routine and stick with it! They get up. Get dressed. Eat breakfast. Brush teeth. Make beds. Pack up their backpacks. Pray and head off to school. But during the summer months it's easier for them to forget to brush their teeth. Or make their beds. We are going to try to stick to certain routines even while being on summer vacation this year!!!
Normally, I usually pull out the chore charts and get the kids to follow through each new day. But this summer, I'm going to try something different. I told Hadassah and Matthew that they are to come up with some kind of chore chart or schedule for themselves. I think this will bring a new responsibility and they will be in charge of more of their time. I told them they need to write down a few goals and guidelines and I am hoping that this will illuminate me always telling them to turn off the iPad. Or read a book. Or go read their devotions. I want them to learn to monitor their own extra, free time well. I know I will need to help them and remind them at times to look at their goals and go for the achievements but I think it will help keep them from too much boredom and more conscience of how they spend their free, summer time.
So, we made our first library visit this afternoon. Hadassah grabbed a few books. Ashlyn is already enjoying flipping through her borrowed book pages. I picked out a Sugar Creek Gang book for Matthew to read because he stayed home with sleeping Austin. The girls picked out some DVDs too and this will be fun to watch after dark or on a day like today when it's raining outside.
Hadassah is needing a summer job away from home. She enjoyed working at the donut shop but is taking a summer break from those weekend hours from now. I am hoping that she can get hired somewhere soon for a few weekday days. She's fifteen and there is only a certain amount of shopping and lazy time that one mother can handle from a teenager!!! :))) It's important for her to earn some money and keep learning job responsibilities!!! If any of you have suggestions or job openings, please contact me!!!
Matthew plans to spend one day a week at the shop with his dad. This is great for him and really needs a day or two of work also!!!
Summer vacation here at home will be fun!!! We are super excited about lazy mornings, hours at the pool and spending more time together as a family!!!
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An update on Dad Lapp ...
Dad is still so sick and weak. He lays in a hospital bed in their home. Their beautiful sun porch makes such a wonderful, sunny place for him to lay down. He is still taking some pain meds to keep him comfortable. He isn't eating much at all. A few bites of Jello or stewed crackers here and there. He sips on Ensure and water. There is home care nurses that come out and give him bed baths and are helping him stay comfortable. Mom is still doing a wonderful job at helping dad and being there for him!!!
Dad talks in a quiet voice and sometimes in a whisper now. Today, when Austin and I stopped in to say hello, he waved to us and then said goodbye when we left. It's so hard to see him become so sick and weak but we are still believing and praying that if God wants to heal Dad here on this earth, a miracle will happen!
Mom gets visitors often. She loves people and short visits are nice for her. Also, there is someone sleeping each night at Dad's. Mike took his turn there on Friday night. The reason for this is that if Dad would need something during the night, Mom could still get her much needed rest. There is someone with Mom and Dad mostly during the day too. It's a huge blessing to have friends and family to be able to encourage and comfort Mom and us family as we walk through this hard journey.
Thank you everyone for all your kindness and prayers over the past few months!!! Only God can repay you for your thoughtfulness!!! Please keep praying for Dad as he rests. Keep praying for daily strength and joy for Mom as she walks through this hard path in life. And for the Lapp Family ... we all deal with sufferings and hardships differently, so we would ask that you keep us in your prayers!!!
Blessings!!!
Happy Summer!!!
