Comes in Threes

This morning my sister and BIL got on a plane and headed home to Pittsburgh. They've been here since Saturday night, enjoying the kids. The last time we saw each other was the end of January, and we anticipate not seeing one another until sometime after December, probably for Bennett Christmas. The kids have changed so much, and I was so grateful for the extra help.

Monday I ran a load of dishes in the morning to keep up with the extra plates and cups, and afterwards noticed the floor sounded spongy. The good news is I get to have a newer, quieter dishwasher. The bad news is it ruined my parquet hardwood floor. Tuesday morning I spent calling insurance agents, flooring specialists, and the Dodge dealership in Antioch. My minivan's on the fritz too, thankfully the big problems are warranty work with a moderate size deductible. Dad always said, "It comes in threes." Minivan, dishwasher, floor. Yup, Dad, you're still right. We'll know the extent of the damage to the floor and insurance coverage by the end of the week. For now the peaks of wood have crushed into the floor and there's a rug over the worst of it to protect the kids. And I'm admiring my dishpan hands...

I was upset after hearing what it would cost to replace the parquet with ceramic tile. More out of disappointment than despair. But I was able to quiet myself pretty quickly. God was not surprised. He knows our situation, so why panic? The worst case scenario... a big rug for awhile. Not a problem. I have learned over the past year to go against a natural tendency of mine - motion. If something's wrong then you swing into gear, if there's a potential problem then you fuss and stir (waste a lot of energy trying to predict the future). "We must correct this immediately!" No, there's no need to freak out. A lot of times I think that the popular default mode is action, when I believe that scripture teaches us when difficulties arise we should WAIT. If the path is unclear, hold still and wait. If you're not sure that you can afford to wipe out your savings account to correct a problem, then hold on. If you're thinking that God has forgotten you and you need to take matters into your own hands, then you're misled, and potentially creating an even worse situation. Let God play His cards,wait until you feel like you've heard from HIM, and then act. Goes against my nature, that's for sure, but I'm thankful that my neurosis is lifting a little. No need to hurry or fuss, just STOP.

#3's ultrasound Thursday afternoon.