Mentioning Miscellaneous Minor Miracles

We've had a mild shift in the direction of the wind of late and I thought that I'd acknowledge it. My realization that something was working in our favor started out this week as everything going apparently wrong. We had some pretty bad weather in NJ on Thursday into Friday and then again Saturday into Sunday. My mother-in-law had gone home early on Thursday night to avoid the mayhem and was planning to come back Sunday morning to take the three older kids to a local presentation of the Nutcracker ballet.

In the meantime, we have been battling for literally years over our on again off again refrigerator, which of late had been off again (to colorize this thing, it should have come in yellow). Long story short they had ordered a part to 'fix' it and the part was no where on the planet and the fridge had developed new symptoms and was just plain not 'fridging' our food. On a tip from a soon to be sainted customer service rep, we got a number to call to request a replacement fridge. Just like that, we are given the green light for a brandy new fridge to replace our 5 year old, been through a move and the wringer falling apart one. The delivery date: Sunday.

Now the two stories collide as we have a 12:30 to 3 delivery time and a 2:00 appointment with Godfather Grosseimeyer and the Rat King. We're tearing apart the kitchen to make way for the new fridge, when we get the call from mom that she's running late. She was supposed to have been taking the kids to the Nutcracker; now I was going to have to step in as the understudy. Off come the sweats, on go the dress casuals, and off we fly, 15 minutes short of arriving at the 2:00 deadline. Fortunately, the Sugar Plum Fairy was dancing 15 minutes late and we arrive at our seats just as the lights go down; we even had a spare minute to allow Aly to hit the restrooms.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Linda looks out the window and sees the truck pull up minutes after we leave, still no mom. She turns to see a stark naked Gracie and a bottomless Livie. She scrambles to make them Rated G just as they ring the doorbell. Mom arrives just a minute or two after they do and they can tag team the dynamic duo while the gentlemen install the brand new beauty.

I have to admit, I got the better end of the deal today. I got out of the house, saw a great ballet, had a blast goofing with the kids to and from the show, and did a command performance of the Angry German Kid Drives a Car on the way home. It was amazing to me that not only we got there on time, but we also got along under pressure. Linda had a more stressful time, but when we got home, that fridge was beautifully cooling down in it's new home.

We've had other near great things happen to us in this magical month of December. My brother-in-law, near-fresh out of Columbia nursing, got a job in a hospital near him. We got our first check for a grant to cover off on Livie's OT therapy. Last but certainly not least, Livie, over the past few days has taken to INDEPENDENTLY taking herself into the bathroom and taking care of business. We have stopped her bathroom schedule and are keeping closer eye on her cues. Now if we could only get her to stop playing in the tub and the shower, we'd be in like Flynn.

If I were a God fearin' man, I'd see a buncha miracles that I'd be thanking Him for all the great things He has moved for me. But, they're all not really miracles, we've worked tirelessly at all these things from pushing for the fridge, to the potty to my BIL's incessant search for a job, it's just the season that allows you to appreciate these things when they happen at this time. Although I think, along with a wry sense of humor, God also has an impeccable sense of timing!



I've had this song running through my head as a result of all this good fortune, it's a non-sequitor except for the chorus:

Something Goes Right: Paul Simon

You've got the cool water

When the fever runs high
You've got the look of love
lightin your eyes
And I was in crazy motion
Til you calmed me down
It took a little time
But you calmed me down


CHORUS
When something goes wrong
I'm the first to admit it
I'm the first to admit it
But the last one to know
when something goes right
Well it's likely to lose me
It's apt to confuse me
It's such an unusual sight
I can't get used to something so right
Something so right


They've got a wall in China
It's a thousand miles long
To keep out the foreigners
They made it strong
I've got a wall around me
You can't even see
It took a little time
To get to me


Chorus


Some people never say the words
I love you
It's not their style to be so bold
Some people never say those words
I love you
But like a child they're longing to be told


Chorus