Great Expectations

My life has been rather busy of late and I've been reminded that I'm neglecting my blog a bit. Okay, a lot. Perhaps given my long list of things to do and places to be, you might be inclined to understand this morning. I know better, though. How many times must I be reminded? Really.

It started out well. The girls had planned ahead so that all the chores and pet sitting got done before they were to report for duty this morning, 8 a.m. sharp, as group leaders at vacation bible school. I planned to keep Wm with me, knowing how he did not enjoy the one day he'd attended last year before becoming a vacation bible school drop-out. Yet, as we neared the school, he said he really wanted to go.

Moms reading this will understand that my mind began a dangerous journey. With all of my kids gone, I could really get some things done. I could run errands, do the laundry, grocery shopping, get up to top speed and efficiency and, gasp! I could maybe have some time alone!!!
I could ride my horse.... I commited my self-named cardinal sin of "expectations".

Well, we arrived, and in my dream-induced psychosis, I bought the t-shirt. Wm was signed up. We found his group, he sat down smiling. I moved to the back of the auditorium and made mistake number two - I paused to see that he was okay. As I turned to leave, I caught the tell-tale red face, vigorous rubbing of eyes, and knew that I'd done it now. He was bawling.

I spent the rest of the morning helping preschoolers, who couldn't thread a rope through a tire, try to string pony beads on a piece of flimsy yarn. (Have I mentioned before I hate crafts?) Next on to making snacks for the whole VBS. My stomach turned a bit to watch them alternate filling baggies with pretzels and picking their noses.

Likely, Wm will not be going back, unless Anna can convince him to stay with her in her group. Myself, I hold no expectations.

And speaking of expecting, you might remember Maggie the Miniature Horse from last year. (See about April of 2006 in the archives.) We are again a Miniature Horse Birthing Center, helping Maggie during her confinement. She is "waxing" as of yesterday, and birth is imminent. She's "dropped" and we are losing sleep checking on her during the night. Make that "I" am checking on her in the night. The world is very quiet at 3 a.m.