(More than) Fourinarow.net

The Good:

The doorbell rang late this morning – right around lunchtime – and I was delightfully surprised to see a flower delivery person standing on my doorstep with a beautiful bouquet of flowers.  My first thought, of course, was that they were for the neighbors.  But when the man used my name, I knew they were for me.  Whoopeeee!

I thought, “could these be from Dan?!?” but I dismissed that idea pretty quickly because a) he really doesn’t do that kind of thing; and b) it wasn’t a special occasion of any kind.

When I read the card I was surprised and thrilled to see that they were from my sister – just because!  How wonderful is that?  How can that not make you smile?

After emailing a “thank you” to my sis, I texted Dan.  Because, you know, I can’t resist a little needling.  I texted him that I’d received flowers today… had thought for a moment that they might be from him, but, alas, they weren’t.

He texted me back, “you won’t believe me, but I have flowers [for you] in my car right now.”  He was right, I didn’t believe him.  Later this evening, however, I discovered that he had, in fact, brought home some beautiful giant sunflowers.  (Whether he bought them before or after my text, we’ll never know for sure.  But, I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt.)

Never have I received two bouquets of flowers in one day.  (Okay, except may right after the birth of my first child).

More of The Good:

My dear friend Kristina called this afternoon and asked if Dan and I would be interested in being her soon-to-be-born baby girl’s Godparents.  Would we ever!?!  I was stunned and thrilled to be asked.  Truth be told, I have been praying for this baby waaaayyyyy before she was even a gleen in her daddy’s eye.  Kristina has wanted another baby practically since her now-4-year-old was weaned.  And, despite being a very happy boy mom, I’ve always known she’d be thrilled to have a baby girl.  Back in Clarksville, she was Maria’s surrogate mother, constantly showering her with girly things.

Anyway, not only have I been praying for this baby before she existed, but my children and I have been praying nightly for her since we knew she was on her way.  I cannot tell you how thrilled I am that the de Leeuws are adding to their family and that it’s a girl.  And to be the Godfamily?  It’s just icing on the cake.  Our family cannot wait to shower this new baby with love and fruffy things.  I only wish we were still living close together.

The Bad:

Running late for Karate (as usual) this afternoon, I quickly discovered that SOMEone (or ones) had left lights on in the van for oh, the last 12-18 hours or so.  So, for the second time in the last 5 days, I had to jump start the car.  Thankfully, our other vehicle was parked right next to the van and the jumper cables were within easy reach.  It only took a few minutes of connecting and disconnecting (and me shoving emerging kids back into the car) before we were on our way.

I got my workout in (love that free childcare!) while Jack had his class and then we headed for home.

Or tried to.  The van was dead again.

I called Dan to find out if he was home yet and to report our status.  He was just leaving the office.  (On most days, he’d be home or close to it by that time, but not today.)  Thankfully, there is a playground across the parking lot from the gym and we went over there while we waited it out.  About an hour later, Dan showed up, jumped the van and then he and Jack took off for Dan’s softball game.  Thinking that the van had died a second time because I hadn’t run it long enough on the way to Karate, I thought I should drive around a bit, despite the late hour.  “How about if we go get milkshakes at McDonald’s?”  I asked the kids, thinking a chocolate shake might help me drown my sorrows.

After receiving some sort of positive and deafening response, I turned the van around and headed to a McDonald’s that was a little out of the way.  I pulled to the window, ordered 4 chocolate shakes (yum!), pulled to the first window and paid.  It was less than I had expected, but then I’m no math wizard, so I paid and pulled up to the next window.

More of The Bad… and The Fattening

…where I was handed four hot fudge sundaes.

“That’s okay!” Luke announced when I expressed my dismay.  So, in the interest of efficiency, I sucked it up, said nothing and accepted the ice cream.  As I passed them out to the kids, I warned them to be careful.  (Whatever.  I have to at least try!)

We ate the sundaes as we drove home (yes, me too) and arrived in a somewhat more satisfied state than when we left.  At least, the kids were more satisfied.  Me?  If I’m going to pack on the pounds, I’d like it to be with something I really want.  And, I really wanted a chocolate shake, dammit.  Not a fudge sundae.

Oh, well.  There’s beer in the house.