How I Raised Them

I've become a rather lousy blogger and I apologize. Allow me to share a few excuses. ::snort:: The holidays were tough following the anniversary of Josiah's loss, I've been processing the whole political season local and national, and I have also been processing broken and lost relationships... That covers Nov - January.  February arrived with the trial and THAT sort of processing...the long and short of it is I'm finding my way back to a new normal. This is not to say I have "moved on," rather I am learning how to travel well with my new companion named "grief."  

My counselor pointed out I'm starting to do "things" again, and they are brining joy rather than exhaustion. Michael and I have begun planning for a couple parenting workshops we have been invited to facilitate.  We are attending a local care group. I have begun attending a Ladies Bible study at Wasilla Community Church, the church Cory pastors. This has given me the joy of not only attending Bible study with a great group of ladies but also being able to sit under our daughter, Arielle's, ministry. Good stuff. 

Since it seems grief isn't going anywhere far, it is time for me to learn to blog with that tenacious companion. 

Here goes!!!! Today, Krista and I met at that favorite of all shopping places - Costco. Many were there to stock up against the impending eruption of Mt. Spurr.  We were there to purchase a couch for KrUke to take with them when they move.  Their unaccompanied baggage will be packed out in April, so it was time. It makes me sad as I'm about to lose THIS Costco buddy. 

Krista treated me to an "80% less sugar" iced chai and lunch at Yak and Yetti. YUMMM - Nepalese food. 

We fought through the Costco crowds and finally checked out with a full CART of groceries, and two flatbed carts loaded with three big boxes containing their couch. We had thought we could load them into her jeep and my mini-van, I brought Mike's truck "just in case." By this time, we realized it was a good thing I had brought the truck.  We were told associates would help us load the truck. We TOLD him the taller, square boxes should be on the bottom in Mike's truck and the long, thinner box on the top. He refused. 

I really think these should go in first!

I kept offering helpful comments such as, "This does NOT look good." Krista offered physical assistance. 

No, I DON'T feel good about this.

He threw the boxes up there and ran for the hills. He said he couldn't help with strapping them down. We threw a couple of straps on, and Krista did the snap, "That's not going anywhere" test Mike is famous for, I snapped a photo and texted Michael. Michael began blowing up our phones. At this point we agreed there was NO WAY I was driving THIS back to the valley on the HIGHWAY. 

Can you even imagine?

We discovered none of the boxes were small enough yo fit in Krista's Jeep, so she went to base to get Luke's truck. AND here is the point of this story. 

I raised my boys (girls too come to think of it) to offer assistance when you see it may be needed. I am amazed at how many men walked or drove by laughing and making silly comments but not offering to HELP us move these three heavy boxes. One even said, "You were loading those an hour ago when I went in." Krista laughed and said, "Yes, yes we were."

I raised my girls to figure out how to get the job done if no one offers assistance. 

 First, we began sliding and dropping boxes from the truck bed onto carefully positioned carts. 

Krista corralled a man walking past and asked him to please help us with just the one long box. He helped get it into the back of Luke's truck. We only had to slide it in...Krista pulled and guided, I pushed....

Our next challenge was getting Krista out of the truck. 

We lifted the other boxes back into Mike's truck and strapped them down. It was a much better solution than the original leaning tower. Krista followed me out to the Valley. 

Alex and Nolan met us at home, and they made short work of unloading into KrUke's storage shed. We're all ready for the packers. 

Stacia is house-sitting and dropped by about the time Allie got home from work. We played 30 minutes of "Tell me without Telling Me,"  before the girls disappeared. GG went to bed. Michael and I spent a delightful evening in the hot tub.