SAHM I Am
Page 22
Dulcie
* * *
From:
J. Huckleberry
To:
Dulcie Huckleberry
Subject:
Re: Wedding question
* * *
Dulcie dear, don’t worry. I have that all taken care of. You remember Diana, Tom’s cousin? Well, she’s coming and she said she’d be delighted to take care of your children while you’re busy.
I’ll send you a schedule of everything in a few weeks. We have to have the ceremony early enough on Saturday morning so that they can set up for the matinee show. And then, I just confirmed the booking for White Water for our reception! Won’t a water theme park for a reception be fun? We can all run around in our bathing suits and play, if it’s warm enough. I’m going to have a special bridal swimsuit made. Would you and Becky like bridesmaid swimsuits, too?
Oh, and one more thing—for the bridal processional, since Morris is coming in on a horse, I thought it would be fun to do something a little different for us gals. So instead of walking down the aisle, we’re going to be let down from the ceiling! You and Becky will have beautiful sparkling stars, and I’m going to have a crescent moon twined with flowers. Unique, don’t you think?
Gotta go—meeting with the photographer later this afternoon! TTFN (that means “Ta-Ta For Now,” like Tigger, get it?).
Mom
* * *
From:
Dulcie Huckleberry
To:
“Green Eggs and Ham”
Subject:
I’ve been trapped–
* * *
—into being my MIL’s wedding coordinator! And it’s going to be a nightmare. I *should* just give up and sell you all tickets. At least I’d make some money off my utter degradation and humiliation. Did I tell you she decided that Becky and I will be lowered onto the stage from sparkly stars? What if I break the cable? I’d just die of embarrassment….
Dulcie
* * *
From:
VIM
To:
Rosalyn Ebberly
Subject:
Easter is such a pain
* * *
Ros, darlin’, I am a Mother—no quotes necessary! As far as religion, well, Frank got it in his head that we need to go to church on Easter Sunday. But there’s a big egg hunt for the kids that morning, and I don’t want to waste a perfectly good morning sitting in church just to appease his conscience. I know I won’t get any sympathy from you, since you think warming a pew and listening to a sermon is the most fun a person could possibly have, but since you asked what our plans are, I guess you can put up with my griping. :) I don’t see why we even celebrate Easter—church, eggs, bunnies. It’s ridiculous. But the kids love their Easter baskets, so I guess as long as somebody is having fun…There ya go.
VIM
* * *
From:
Rosalyn Ebberly
To:
SAHM I Am
Subject:
[SAHM I AM] TOTW March 21: Keeping Holy Week Holy
* * *
Beloved Believers,
Is there any time of year that is as sacred and wonderful as Holy Week? The blessed week we set aside to remember our Lord’s great sacrifice for us. The world has tried its best to turn this wonderful celebration into a carnal, materialistic excuse to consume chocolate bunnies, but I know that all of you strive to keep the focus on our resurrected Savior.
Let’s talk about the special things you do in your family to commemorate this highest of all holidays.
We make resurrection cookies. I’ve attached the recipe and instructions/symbolism to this e-mail. Every ingredient and even the order of making the cookies is all symbolic of the events of the crucifixion and resurrection. My children love making them every year, and they are an easy and wonderful treat.
May you each be blessed by His resurrection,
Rosalyn Ebberly
SAHM I Am Loop Moderator
“She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.”
Proverbs 31:27 (NASB)
* * *
From:
Brenna L.
To:
“Green Eggs and Ham”
Subject:
Guess what???
* * *
Sometimes God speaks through little kids! Madeline came home from school today, said hello to me, and went straight to Darren, who’d just come in for a mid-afternoon snack. (The guy eats more than our cattle!) She looked up at him with her big brown eyes and said, “Guess what, Daddy?”
He squatted down, elbows on knees, and said, “What, Squirt?”
“We read a really cool story in school today.”
“Yeah?”
“Uh-huh. It was about a family who adopted a new kid. Adoption is when you make a kid part of your family even though they were born in another family.”
I didn’t even dare look at Darren’s face. I figured he’d accuse me of setting him up for this. He didn’t say anything for a second, and then asked, “So what’d you like about it?” His voice sounded sort of tense.
Madeline didn’t notice. “Well, I was thinking on the bus about it. And it’s sort of like God, you know?”
“God? In what way, Squirt?”
“Well, you know, like how God made us part of His family—when we’re born again. That’s what they say at church. So, are we adopted, Daddy? Are we?”
I could hear Darren blow out his breath, like he’d just put a newborn calf on his back. “I guess so, Squirt.”
She ran off squealing and jumping. “Yay! We’re adopted! We’re adopted!” Then she ran back to Darren. “We should adopt some kids, you know, Daddy. A whole bunch. Then maybe God can adopt them, too.” Then she was off again, singing some made-up song about how God adopts everybody. Funky theology aside, it was pretty cute. :)
Darren stood up and went back outside without saying anything. But now this evening, he’s still really quiet, and he has that look on his face that he always gets when something is eating at him.
So pray, please. I think God might be doing something here.
Brenna
* * *
From:
Zelia Muzuwa
To:
“Green Eggs and Ham”
Subject:
Re: Guess what???
* * *
Oh my goodness, Brenna, that made me bawl my eyes out! I’m going to print out the e-mail and tape it up by our desk. You don’t mind, do you? Tristan is working late tonight, but I’m going to show it to him when he gets home. He’s worked late almost every evening the past two weeks. I hate tax season!
We have our home visit coming up in two weeks—it’s the last step before our social worker writes the home-study report. I can’t believe it! It feels like we’re moving along so quickly, until I look at how far we have to go. But it’s an incredible adventure. I’m going to pray for your family, Brenna, that you will adopt a “whole bunch of kids.” I haven’t even completed one adoption yet, and I think I’m already hooked.
Z
* * *
From:
Dulcie Huckleberry
To:
“Green Eggs and Ham”
Subject:
Re: Guess what???
* * *
Yes! Yes! Yes! Madeline got it! She understands! What a smart little cookie. I wish everyone was as astute as her. Everyone in God’s family got there by adoption. Why can’t more people understand
this? Wow, it’s just amazing she figured that out all by herself. I think the Lord must be speaking to your little girl, Bren.
Keep me up-to-date on what happens, okay?
Dulcie
* * *
From:
The Millards
To:
“Green Eggs and Ham”
Subject:
Tyler, again
* * *
It’s been an awful week, and it’s only Wednesday. Just when we thought Tyler was really improving, he got worse again. He’s so stiff and sore in the morning that he doesn’t even want to get out of bed. And he won’t hardly eat anything! The doctors say it’s a “flare.” We were hoping for a remission, but I guess maybe it’s too soon to expect anything like that. So they prescribed him stronger medication to control the pain, and the physical therapist is going to give him some more exercises to do.
I hate the exercises! Especially when Tyler’s not doing so well. He cries and cries because it hurts. So I cry, right along with him. It makes me so angry sometimes—how could God let something like this happen to a little kid? We keep having him prayed for at church. I know in my head that God does love Tyler, and us, but my heart is having a hard time believing it. I don’t want to get bitter!
It seems like our whole life is starting to revolve around Tyler’s arthritis. Medication schedule, exercises, waiting on him when he’s too tired or in too much pain to move off the couch, encouraging him to not get depressed. Nine-year-olds should not be dealing with depression!
I’m tired. And discouraged. I feel like I’m ignoring the other kids, and Shane and I haven’t spent much time together, either. My entire life feels out of control, and I don’t know how to regain control. None of us are really in a mood to celebrate Easter this week. I thought part of the purpose of Christ’s death was to “heal our diseases.” So why not Tyler’s? I’m going to squeeze in a nap.
Jocelyn
P.S. Just so you know, I decided to go “no-mail” on SAHM I Am for a while. I just can’t keep up, and I can’t handle Rosalyn’s attitude right now. I know I’ll get mad and take it out on the loop. But I want you all to stay in touch, please!
* * *
From:
Dulcie Huckleberry
To:
The Millards
Subject:
Re: Tyler, again
* * *
Oh, Jocelyn! I wish there was something I could do to help you. I will pray, though. You sound as discouraged as I was when I was pregnant with the twins and puking every day. I felt so guilty for ignoring poor McKenzie, and I was mad at God for making pregnancy so horrible. And some days, I was even mad at the twins for being so much trouble. Plus, you have the additional pain of seeing your son hurting. My heart aches for you! Please know you can always vent on me, and I’ll still love you—just like Jesus does. He really does. I don’t understand why He lets things like this happen, but I do know He cries when we cry. Just like you did with Tyler—’cause you’re a loving parent.
Love,
Dulcie
* * *
From:
P. Lorimer
To:
“Green Eggs and Ham”
Subject:
Our…“church”
* * *
It’s 11:45 p.m. on Thursday. I’ve been crying for about three hours now, and I’m exhausted. I’d like to go to bed, but there’s too much to do. We have to pack up and get ready to move out on Monday. They (the oh-so-Godly “elders”) have fired my husband and demanded we vacate the parsonage by midnight Monday. They came over unannounced this evening to deliver the news.
On what charge? “Willful deception.” About Julia. Which is ridiculous because we never deceived anybody! The issue of Julia’s birth came up in our talk with the departing pastor during Jonathan’s interview. We explained it, and the pastor was okay with it and told us he would let the elders know. They claim he never mentioned it to them, so I have no idea what really happened. All I know is that we’re being dismissed and they are using this as the excuse. Apparently, they figured it out when the secretary went to compile our anniversary and birthday dates to send us cards.
I knew it! I just knew somebody, sometime was going to condemn us for what we did.
They have the nerve to stand in our living room and give us the news, right in front of Julia! Then, they tell Jonathan he is still expected to preach on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, where he will then announce his resignation. I was so proud of Jonathan. He stood nose to nose with them and said, “After you barge into our home and humiliate us, you expect me to still do the Easter services? I don’t think so, gentlemen.” And he showed them the door and locked it behind them.
But I can tell he is just crushed. He’s such a good pastor, and he’s been so conscientious. All that, and he gets fired for this! I’m so angry, I’d like to physically hurt them. I never knew I had such a violent streak. I know I’ll have to repent for that, but I can’t honestly say I feel repentant at the moment. I’m just so mad! And hurt. This is the type of thing that made me worried about being a pastor’s wife to begin with.
We don’t know what we’re going to do. I’m not welcome at Jonathan’s parents’ house, and my mom and dad don’t have the space for our whole family and our stuff. My brother lives in a tiny apartment in New Jersey, with his girlfriend. Jonathan’s two sisters are missionaries in Pakistan. Monday, we’re going to be homeless and unemployed. I should be scared, but I’m too overwhelmed to feel even one more emotion.
Back to packing,
Phyllis
* * *
From:
Zelia Muzuwa
To:
P. Lorimer
Subject:
Re: Our…“church”
* * *
Phyllis,
I can’t believe they did that to you! That’s horrible. I’m so, so sorry. You can come stay with us, if you want. We don’t have a huge house or anything, but we have a guest room and a mostly finished basement. And you could put your things in the basement and the garage—we don’t keep too much in the garage. I bet McKenzie and Julia would have a lot of fun playing together. Please don’t feel hopeless. I know God hasn’t abandoned you.
Love,
Dulcie
* * *
From:
Dulcie Huckleberry
To:
P. Lorimer
Subject:
Re: Our…“church”
* * *
Boy, that’s about enough to make me embarrassed to be labeled a Christian! No wonder non-Christians aren’t exactly flocking to our churches. Makes me sick!
Listen, honey, you just come on over to Baltimore. We have an apartment over our garage that we’re just using for storage. It’s supposed to be an art studio for me—like I ever have time for that! Anyway, it’s just one bedroom, and a living-kitchen area, but I could look around and find a daybed/trundle thing for the kids to sleep on. Don’t worry about a thing, okay?
Love,
Z
* * *
From:
The Millards
To:
P. Lorimer
Subject:
Re: Our…“church”
* * *
Ooh, that makes me so mad for you, Phyllis! Shame on them! I can’t imagine how frightening that would be. Why don’t you come to Colorado for a nice visit in the mountains? You can have Shane’s and my master suite—we’ll bunk in the basement or move Audra into Cassia and Evelyn’s room and take that one. The suite is almost like a mini apartment—bathroom, bedroom, sitting room (with fireplace, I might add), private deck. The only thing would be the kitchen, but you could just eat with us if you want.
You are going to need time to
relax and get back on your feet after this blow. I can’t think of a prettier place to do it than Colorado Springs. What do you say?
Love,
Jocelyn
* * *
From:
Brenna L.
To:
P. Lorimer
Subject:
Re: Our…“church”