Thursday, January 3, 2013

Outnumbered


I stood in my kitchen today staring at my hands held out in front of me. Long, slender hands. Piano hands. But just two of them. Today I really needed four, or six. 

In the span of 60 seconds, Marlee threw up all over me and the couch and Jacob came running in crying because he fell over near the dog and landed in...poop. I didn't know which mess to start with. 

But we got it cleaned up, tears wiped, clothes changed, hands sanitized, couch...well, the couch is forever changed. Thank goodness they are still the $200 couches Tony bought when we got married. 

Two hands, but I really need more. 

Laundry washing, laundry drying. Supper cooking. Diaper changing. Book reading. Baseball playing. Hi ho cheerio! Sick baby, busy boy, the middle singing to one and fighting the other. 

Staring again at my hands, I realize that today, I did have extra hands. The loving hands of my mom who gave up her time to watch my children while I took the baby to the doctor. Long, slender hands like mine. Willing hands. 

Larger, rougher hands also reached towards me today. Holding our sick tiny daughter, helping Jacob, loving on Kaylen. Strong hands, secure hands. How I love those hands. 

Two hands to care for three small children just isn't quite enough, until you realize all the other hands you really do have. 



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