Happy Valentine's Day!!

Well, I knew we were headed to Mansfield for the week so I had done just a tiny little something special for Scott before we had left.  I had also picked up cards and little gifts for the girls and had Scott write each of them a note inside their cards.  Funny...I got a card with a kitty on it for Anna because she loves cats and a card about a "recipe" for Kate because she enjoys cooking with me.  When Scott wrote his notes in the cards he mixed up the cards.  These were priceless to the girls and just like their Mommy, they get so much strength and comfort knowing how much their daddy loves them.  They slept with these cards underneath their pillows every single night while in Mansfield.  We arrived on Sunday night, late.  We had just battled the influenza and precious Kate still had a fever.  All day Sunday I was beside myself with anxiety.  I ended up calling the pediatrician on call to see what she advised.  Luckily, she ended up prescribing an antibiotic for Kate.  I was so incredibly thankful because I didn't want to take her to Urgent Care (dislike these for the most part).  When Scott went into town to pick up the script he decided to pick up some extra LOVE for the girls and bought them new baby dolls and the game LIFE.  Isn't he sweet?  Anyhow, I knew Paige had a very important doctor's appointment bright and early Monday morning.  When I got to her house I became very concerned about her ICY driveway since my car doesn't handle wintery conditions well, at all.  I just kept praying for the Lord to help us, knowing He is always in control.  Sunday night Paige and I stayed up later than we probably should have, giggling and laughing as only sisters can.  It had been a looooooonnnnnnnnggggggg time since we had done that. 

Monday morning.  We are up.  Everyone is ready.  Everyone had breakfast.  Everyone is in the car.  I gave the girls their cards and a little love (Crayola Expressions).  It is 8:15!  This is a huge accomplishment from the girls and I since, well, we just are rarely (mainly me) ready by that time in the morning.   Before backing up, I pray.  As I back up, I pray.  As I pull forward to get up the inclined and icy driveway, I pray.  As we begin to slide backwards because of the ice, I cry.  Then I pray.  We made it this far....

and were then completely stuck.  Paige called the doctor's office.  I prayed.  I took this picture and sent it to Scott and said, "Happy Valentine's Day!"  Yep...I did! 

another picture I took and sent to Scott with the same message

Paige's neighbor Marilyn, who could easily be the real life Maxine from Hallmark, kept offering her tidbits of wisdom as she watched from her window in her leopard print bath robe.  No joke!  She gave us some kitty litter from when she used to have a cat....like 20 years ago.  I so appreciated the gesture but it didn't work.  We used her garden spade to try and break up the ice.  It didn't work.  Paige called AAA.  After waiting for a very, very long time, help arrived....

Yes.  That is a flatbed towing truck.  I have had an unexpected date with one of those before and hoped to never have to see one again...but alas, another date.  Unlike my other date, I didn't have to be pulled up onto the flatbed, just hooked to the chain so he could pull us out.  Another unique part of this story is that Paige's driveway is at the crest of a hill, so when you pull out you pray there are no cars coming.  Yep.  Can you tell that I really, really, really, really dislike her driveway situation for several different reasons?  4 reallys...maybe even 5!  Anywho, he pulls us out and we almost get stuck again, halfway in the road and halfway in the driveway because of the ice still on the driveway near the entrance, but the Lord protected us and we made it!  We sang His praises all the way into taking Paige to the bank, for her first day back to work!!  It is 10:30ish.  Hallejuiah!  (By the way, I sent the picture of the flatbed truck pulling us out to Scott too with the same message and shortly after sent him an actual text that said I would be treating myself to new tires today!)  I forgot to mention that we all stayed in the car this whole entire time.  Paige asked later why we didn't take the kids inside the house.  Ummmm......well, I suppose it was because we just kept trying to get unstuck with kitty litter, hoping and praying for the best, and they seemed content thanks so much to the new DVD player they got for Christmas!  I also told her it would have been very, very dangerous for them to be walking on the sheet of ice that covered the driveway, right?  ;)

After we dropped her off I called my dad, since my loving husband was not responding to my calls or messages so I could get his advice.  My mom answered my dad's cell.  :)  While this made me smile, I was thinking...I called DAD's cell for a reason Mommy dearest!  :)  So I explained to my dad what had happened and asked his advice on whether I should drive home and get the truck or get more salt for the driveway.  He advised to get more salt for the driveway.  The kids and I then headed to Walmart to get Ice Melt.  I had no idea how much it was, I just told the lady, "I want 3 bags!"  She said I could do my other shopping and come back and she would even help me load it in the car!  YEAH!!  We shopped around for the groceries I thought we needed, checked out, and then I had a grandiose idea....WENDY'S!  Oh...I forgot, I also bought a garden spade, not a little one but one with a long handle like a shovel!  So, I went through Wendy's, grabbed lunch for the kiddos, backed into Paige's driveway (praying, praying, praying) onto the tiny, little dry spot, left the car running so the kiddos could eat their lunch and yes, watch more movies, while I set about de-icing the driveway with Ice Melt and my new garden spade.  (Yes, I have a picture of this too that I had Kate take and send to her Daddy with the same message but it didn't turn out very good.)   It is 12:30ish! 

I worked and worked on that driveway for at least an hour to hour and a half.  As each car and truck passed by I couldn't help but wonder what everyone else was doing.  I did think about all anger and frustration I could have been feeling but just kept talking to the Lord, praying for His strength to get the job done.  I kept thanking him for the men in my life who are always there to help me, to keep me safe, who usually are available to do these jobs that I do not like to do.  I kept thinking to myself, "Wow girl...did you know you had it in you to get this accomplished?"  Then I remembered to thank the Lord for His strength because He helped me.  Although I keep mentioning I sent those texts to Scott and while it may come across as though I was angry, I really wasn't.  No joke that I was frustrated and feeling helpless, I really did try to keep the perspective that at least we were safe, the kids were taken care of, the car was safe, Paige was working!!!, my mom and dad were on a much needed WARM vacation in Florida, this is all about service, Paige's neighbor did try to help, I am stronger than I think I am, when push comes to shove I can git-r-dun, I can't allow this to set the tone for the rest of the week, and thanking the Lord over and over again for His strength and grace!  I actually had fun (but don't want to admit it too loudly) breaking up that ice and spreading salt everywhere.  Even though I felt I had conquered the world, in all acutality I had cleared a safe walkway to the steps so we could get in and out of the house, and closed the icy gap between the road and her pavement to only 1 foot instead of 3 feet. 

Once I felt as though my hands and arms would fall off and my back would break, I hopped in the car and we headed to Krogers for the final groceries needed that weren't at Walmart.  We bought some special things to help us celebrate Valentine's day like ice cream and sparkling grape juice then headed out to pick up Paige from work.  Once home, Paige put Isaac down for a nap and we were just hanging out in the basement when we heard a huge THUD upstairs.  Seriously?  Isaac had climbed out of and then fallen out of his crib.  After realizing he was okay, since he laughed when the girls and I rushed into the room, Paige and I set about lowering his mattress.  We just laughed and laughed about our terrible day!  :)

For dinner that night I had talked Paige into trying spaghetti squash with roasted tomatoes, fresh basil, garlicky olive oil, and parm cheese topped with baked balsamic chicken.  Low carb!!  The girls decorated, signed Paige's V-day card, set the table, and got the fancy glasses ready while I cooked.  Unfortunately, no one besides me, really cared for the spaghetti squash substitute.  I think I just missed something in my prep...like more salt, more cheese, more garlic or something....that would have made it better.   Oh well, we turned the whole day into a day full of laughs, hugs, and love as it ended with these sweet girls putting on a "show" for us with these loving words for their daddy....