4 years 7 months 13 days

Day 1686. On Friday the kids went to kindergarten in the morning, while I had a student. And I had three more hours of teaching to do in the afternoon. The kids didn't have anywhere to go, so they went downstairs to play, with Randy.

On Saturday Tammy and Emmy had piano class at 10:30. Randy took them there, while I stayed home with Sammy. I was cooking lunch, so that it was ready by the time they came home at noon. After a break, where I tried to take a nap, we left the house at 3:15 and took the 3:30 train, then the subway for a few stops. We hadn't been at church there in a while for various reasons, so it was high time, and I got to speak for a few minutes.

We got there just after the service had started and went into the sanctuary. A lady told me they were taking the kids to a nearby playground for kids' church, as it was a nice day and the first hot day of the year (setting a heat record). I was surprised how early they left; the kids hadn't even been in worship for one song. So Randy and the kids left with the group, while I stayed in the sanctuary.

I enjoyed the time of worship, then announcements, then it was my turn to talk for 10 minutes and give an update on Mali. I shared about the two recent attacks on our villages and our need for new tires and of course for prayer covering for Paul. Then the pastor prayed for me/us and took an offering. I sat back down and then got to enjoy the sermon - a rare treat. Randy never texted me to come join them, which meant the kids were alright without me.

Just before the end of the service I did get the text that Sammy was crying for me. It was time to go to our product table anyway. I took Sammy and had fun with him for some time. Once the service ended, I needed to talk to a few people who came to our table. And it took a while, but then Emmy and Tammy came back as well. They had watched a video and done some drawing after the playground and wanted to finish their drawings before coming. They were playing really well with a girl from their group. After some time we decided it was time to go home, so we packed up and left.

This morning we had to get up and get ready to leave the house at 9:15. It was going to be another hot day, and so we didn't even need jackets in the morning. We took the 9:30 train and then the tram and walked to the swimming pool. In March they only had one swim class, so it felt like it had been a long time since the last one.

When we walked to the pool, the teacher was already doing the greeting song with everyone. Now that there is no 9:20 for four months, we sure miss those few extra minutes. She did the song with our kids, then the class started. Once again she worked on them learning to swim, focusing on the arm movements. They did pretty well, Emmy better than Tammy, and they had fun. Once the half-hour class was over, we went to the other half of the pool and continued having fun there, then in the baby pool. Then we left.

We got dressed and left the pool. While we were waiting for Randy, they were looking at the drinks machine and looking inside at the people who were swimming. We walked to the tram stop and rode it for four stops, then we walked to McDonald's. We had a good time there, and the kids ate well. Sammy ate a whole cheeseburger (without bread) and a chicken nugget, therefore eating the most of the three of them. After we were done, we went to the train station and got on the 12:23 train home, so that we were back just after 12:30 pm.

I was really tired and just wanted a nap. I closed all the curtains and asked the kids to go to their beds to rest, even with their tablets. I closed our bedroom doors and soon lay down for a nap. And I finally did fall asleep, which I needed very much. I was rudely awakened, when Randy plopped Sammy next to me. I was pretty annoyed as I really needed that sleep bad. It seemed that I wasn't just tired but also still stick. 

It wasn't long until we were all ready and left the house around 2:30 pm. It was time to visit our friend in hospital again, as we hadn't been there in two weeks. I was such a mess I could barely open my eyes the whole time, and my friend also noticed. We took the subway and then the train and then walked to the hospital. It was unusual that we were  the only visitors today, as there had always been other people there. It gave us the chance to really catch up with our friend. We hung out for about an hour, and also prayed for her. It's always Sammy who initiates us praying. And today he really impressed with the way he kept saying "amen" while Randy was praying. That was a first!

We left at 4 pm, bought some great icecream, and got on the train again that took us to the subway. By 4:40 pm we were back home, where we all had some icecream. Then Randy took them downstairs to play, while I went to work on the computer. An hour later they were already back upstairs. They watched some stuff with me on my computer, then at 6:30 pm they sat down at the dining room table, while I went to the kitchen to make dinner for them. Everyone ate, then they went into the bathtub, where they continued eating. Then we got them ready for bed. I prayed for Sammy and put him to bed, then lay down with the others for some bedtime stories. Randy was getting ready to leave the house to go pick up my key I had left at church yesterday, as my USB stick with pictures was attacked to it. After reading the stories, I prayed for the other two kids who then went to bed. Sammy was not happy that Daddy was leaving. It was close to 8:30 pm, when he did, and Sammy started crying because of it. Normally he's fast asleep by that time. Tammy and Emmy were soon fast asleep, but whatever I was saying and trying to calm Sammy down, he continued crying for Daddy. There was nothing I could do. Calling Daddy didn't help at all. I walked away, made myself something to eat, and as he was still crying, I sat down by him again and again tried to comfort him. By 9:40 he was finally slowing down and then fell asleep. That was about time! It was after 10 pm before Randy came back home. Now it's after midnight, and I'm the only one left who's not sleeping. I need to clean up the kitchen and then go to sleep as well.