Reality Check

So, as it turns out, it's not enough to have a chore chart.  You have to actually look at it and then DO IT!  I think we stuck to it for one blessed week and I was so excited and thought, "Wow, this is really working."  I don't know what happened.  Life I guess.  We still try and I guess the benefit is that it got us all thinking that chores are not just for Saturdays anymore.  Overall, I'd say the house is staying cleaner, but I was hoping we'd stick to it long enough that it would become a habit.  Still striving; haven't given up yet!!

Our recent excitement has been a third dog.  Our son, Martin, found a stray and brought him home.  He is a pit bull and after referring to him as "the dog," I finally started calling him Bullet.  He had a wound that looked like he may have been hit by a bullet and he had been cared for but somehow gotten loose.  He was not micro chipped.  It's been a little traumatic.  We all fell in love with him; so sweet and gentle.  Our two dogs (both males) loved him as well which is miraculous, really.  Manny, our older dog, is the dominant one and loves other dogs, but Rocky does not like other dogs.  Rocky took to Bullet right away, though.  He was just SO BIG!  Marty and I prayed about it and both discussed ways we could make it work.  We kept him in the basement and hooked him up outside as often as possible.  It's funny how God answers prayers sometimes.  Over the last weekend, I just kept thinking, "I can't see this dog in my house.  It would be a train wreck." and went to bed Sunday night (early) praying about and thinking that we had to let him go.  Monday morning, as Marty was saying goodbye to go to work he said, "I think we need to take Bullet to a shelter."  I agreed.  Later that day, about lunch time, I get a call from the girls.  They are both upset, Ruth is crying.  Apparently, Bullet chewed up some stuff in the basement and peed in the basement (first time that had happened).  He also broke the lead in the backyard and the girls were beside themselves about what to do.  Marty went home to deal with the situation and calm the girls down, but boy, that made it abundantly clear that it just wasn't working.  Marty and Ruth took Bullet to a shelter that night.  It was difficult for all of us.  We had him just 10 days and we all loved him, but the reality was that we were not the best place for him. 

Co-op is going well.  I enjoy the classes I teach and the girls seem to enjoy their classes, too.  Ruth loves her art class and tells me I'm doing great with English and Geography (okay, she finds geography boring, but she said she is having "fun" in english!).  Jane loves her Geometry and Literature; not so fond of Chemistry!  I told her that's perfectly normal for most of us, just get through it.  I still struggle with whether co-op is helping more than it is hindering.  I guess the reality is that the girls enjoy it and especially for Jane, it is very helpful with her high school level courses.  I really enjoy learning along side her, but not having all the weight on my shoulders.  I guide her when she's stuck and help her to discern when it is time to ask the teacher for help.

Facing reality helps us to put aside what we want so we can see what is best.  I would love a cleaner, neater house, but the reality is that life is messy and it's not time for that right now so why stress about it.  We just keep trying to stay on top of it.  We all wanted to be the family that kept Bullet, but the reality is that would not have been in Bullet's best interest.  We did the right thing by that dog and often that is the hard, selfless thing to do.  Boy, wouldn't I love to not go to co-op on Fridays, but the reality is that it is good for all of us and we make good contributions there; so we go.  It's good to do a reality check when things are not working or when things feel uncomfortable.  Wishing you peace amidst your reality!!