Tyrants and such

The earth is the Lord's, and all it's fullness. Psalm 24:1

So far I've spent the last few days catching up from a week of potty training and a week of being sick. Glad to be over the worst of both. The older kids are tapering off in their kleenex usage, but I'm afraid Little T is just now succumbing. I'm heading to bed with the knowledge that he may be up a few times in the night.

Spent the last 2 hours ironing my husband's dress shirts and pants. I'm really grateful for his new job and he seems to be prospering and enjoying it. But I miss the construction worker attire. After reading Keeping House I've been more motivated to iron my clothes (occasionally). Sometimes this strikes me as funny considering the fact that I leave the house about once a week. It's not like I'm wearing pantyhose and heels (more like tights and my lovely boiled wool slippers). But I am learning to appreciate a well-ironed shirt (about once a week). So some days my skirt is ironed but I realize around 10am that I haven't brushed my hair yet. I'm still working on the whole picture.

I watched the Wal-mart documentary on Netflix while I ironed. Seen it? Thoughts? I have a family member who doesn't buy anything made in China, which I completely understand, but how do you insure working conditions/workers rights, etc. in all the other third world countries. It's something I need to think through a little more.

I'm trying to finish up the New Kings of Non-Fiction so I can pass it on to my brother. I read a fascinating piece on Saddam Hussein and his life as a tyrant. It would seem that his mind was so warped from his own belief in the superiority of his clan that he was willing to sacrifice anything that would get in the way of securing more power for himself and his family. It made me want to question my own actions with my "people" and ask: Am I doing this for my own good and comfort or for theirs? It's very easy to feel like I am giving my whole life as a mother to these children and yet actually do my acts of service to them with horrible motives. I'm trying to be more aware of esteeming them more highly than myself. Which sometimes means getting their juice before my coffee. Although sometimes it means getting my coffee first, so that I can hand them their juice with a pleasant look on my face. It's the "put your own gas mask on first before you save the others" mentality.

We did haircuts today and while my optimistic personality does lend itself to thinking, "Maybe THIS time I will give the guys a decent haircut" I still lack a system (which my husband informs me is an impediment to my progress- how can one improve unless one perfects the system?) and I think I need to find a YouTube video on it. I watched a few clips that really helped me cut Sweet A's hair into a bob. That said, I think they look respectable.

Lastly, I had Chicken Pot Pie on the menu for today, but since we are doing our main meal at lunch it seems like I have less time to prepare "dinner." Chicken pot pie from scratch can be labor intensive, and I found this perfect substitute on another blog I like to visit. It was a great meal for a cold and rainy Wednesday. Who knew whole wheat biscuits with olive oil could be so good?