The Dishes Must Be Done!

My girls love to do dishes. That trait must skip a generation because I definitely do not possess it, although dishes were my main chore when I was a little girl. I was probably seven when I was given the responsibility of cleaning up after supper (that's dinner in south Alabama). 


When I first started washing them by myself I knew exactly how it was supposed to be done because I had helped my mother every evening. But, I was pretty lazy and just kind of flopped through it. One evening my Daddy came outside to where I was playing and informed me that if I did not start washing the dishes the proper way I was going to be in BIG trouble. That's all it took because I knew he meant what he said and I was really grateful that I got a warning. Never again did I rush through my task and to this day I'm extremely OCD about my dishes! What a valuable lesson I had learned!


Here are my two Matties washing dishes the old fashioned way at my parents' house. (In case you didn't know, Mattie is named after my mother who was named after her grandmother! It is not short for anything.)

Look at little Mattie on her tip-toes! Big Mattie was thrilled beyond description that her little helper was there!

Here's Macie at our house doing what she thinks is her part. She must take after me more than Mattie because she is all about the dishwasher! Want to know how my mother uses her dishwasher? She keeps her trash bags, foil, plastic wrap, and storage baggies in it! It's just another cabinet to her!

I think Paul says it best...

Colossians 3:23 - 24 (NIV) Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, ²⁴ since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Did you have chores when you were a child? What were they and how old were you? 

An all nighter

Darryl and I have been parents for three years and five months.  After two baby girls we thought we had this thing pretty much figured out.  Then, Monday night happened.  It was a special initiation that was lurking and waiting for when we least expected it.


Mattie vomited for the first time in her life.  In a restaurant.  Across the table from our friends.  She continued to vomit in the car and after we arrived home.  She settled down around 11:00.  Then I heard Macie coughing.  I immediately smelled the reason why when I opened the door. After her midnight bath I held her for the rest of the night. Never has she been so listless.  She didn't even want to nurse.  Nursing is her favorite. 


All was pretty much back to normal by the next afternoon. Lysol and Tide were my best friends. Everything had been washed and sanitized. And I mean everything.  Clothes, coat, boots, towels, bibs, sheets, bumper pads, blankets, car seat cover, toys, even the highchair cover Mattie had to use in the car as a blanket after everything else had been....contaminated.  


I really have felt like a mother since Mattie was born. But, now.....I'm bona fide. Staying up taking care of sick babies. Sacrificing sleep.  Checking on every little whimper and sniffle.  There should be an official certificate that we can frame and hang in the living room.  Guess I'll settle for the little plaque hanging in my mind.  Reminding me that we've been there, done that, and lived to blog about it.    


Just for fun....I quoted two of my favorite movies in this post.  Know which ones?  If I had more than three readers and some sponsors I'd give away a prize. You'll have to settle for two thumbs up and my admiration!   


Speaking of favorites.....    

Update:  After the girls were better guess who got sick?  Good thing they both wanted to sleep most of the day.