During the season of my life, with all these dear ones in the pew with me, going to church isn’t easy. It’s frustrating. And on some occasions it feels like I’ve gone 12 rounds with Mike Tyson. Wondering what punch are they gonna pull next and do I have enough tricks in my WAY overstuffed diaper bag to pacify the raging bulls!
I can’t really say why I decided it would be okay to take all three babies with us Sunday afternoon to the installation of a new pastor in our circuit. Phil said he could sit with us during most of the service until he went forward for the blessing. I figured we’d do alright. Well…we didn’t do alright.Phil thinks differently but I’ll just give you a quick synopsis of our time in “Reserved” pew #3. That’s in the front of the church, you know, right where everyone can see you?
Let me begin with the premonition I did receive when right out of the car Gerhardt spit up all down my leg and onto my flip flopped toes leaving them soggy and muddy after walking to the church through the dirt parking lot. Not a good omen.
Well, we got to the pew and right away the girls waddled over to the stained glass window at the end of our pew and began banging on it and squeezing between the wall and the pew in front of us. Then they; sucked juice down in 1.5 mins, didn’t want any of the books we brought but definitely had to have more juice, so I opened the cups and let them drink the last tiny bit spilling apple juice on my fingers leaving them nice and sticky. Next Gerhardt tinkled out of his diaper all over my thigh, then spit up again all over himself, my arm and my shirt, by this point my sticky hand was stinking of apple juice and spoiled milk. Then the girls began fighting over the teddy grahams and trying to crawl under the pews.
Lily decided she’d just lay on the floor instead with her legs in the air (in a dress!) and you know what, I didn’t care. I was fine with it, she was QUIET but Clara was enjoying the sound of banging her clodhopper shoes on the wooden floor and throwing books, not quiet.
Then I just happened to see a pearl earring on the floor at my feet and thought “that looks like mine.”Well, it was mine! I picked it up and the post was bent. I was sad but relieved to have seen it! Lily finally managed to wriggle away from me under pew in front of us. Clara began trying it and started responding to my snarls and pop on the bottom with a smirk. I knew it was time to just get out of there. I grabbed her and Gerhardt and walked out leaving Lily by herself a pew in front of us. I couldn’t get to her without causing a bigger scene. And all of this took place with poor pastor M’s family sitting behind us.I think I will have to apologize to her the next time we meet.
Thankfully this behavior isn’t something we fight EVERY Sunday since I do have our friends that help me out during the service. I just really wanted everyone there to know that, especially when the scripture verse about a pastor’s family”He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him” was read….
We left early, as soon as Phil was done and I was exhausted. Next time we’re leaving the kids with a sitter.
Oh, that is painful. You know what? We’ve been there before, and this, too, shall pass. Thanks be to God!
Cecelia told me this was so funny and that it had a picture of two boxers when you open the blog. Well, being the dog lover that I am, I pictured boxers (the dogs like my neighbor used to have) in my mind – and then I opened it up to see the word “Bruno” on one of their shorts, and that was my dog’s name! I’m sorry you had to go through this fiasco, but I sure am glad you have a sense of humor and entertain the rest of us with all the details! Love, Aunt Leah
Oh Aubri, those days are not far from my mind. It is easy to say that it will pass….but while you are in the middle of it, it certainly feels like it will last an eternity. Some families are successful at letting their children sit with other people during church…we never were, my kids never WANTED to go anywhere else….I was just glad to receive the forgiveness of sins and a blessing…KNOWING full well hearing a sermon would be years away. Hang in there Aubri….hang in there…you are doing a great job!!!!
You are a wonderful mom! Writing events down often helped me while I was raising my children. Reminds me of the time Noel crawled under several rows of seats on an airplane, oh I could only imagine what people were thinking of my parenting. Keep up the good work, and keep us posted!