...

Look at this face.

I just can't even.

I get to hang out with this cutie and also relax and try to finally kick this illness that has knocked me down this whole past week. Spending time in the Word with some coffee in hand is just what I need today. So...

...don't mind if I do.

magic's gone

Jeff's been gone for 6 days now (hunting, remember?) and I haven't talked to him once (they're in the middle of no where and there's no cell service...kind of like where we actually live).

Anyway the no-contact thing sucks. Obviously.

Couple that with me being sick the whole time he's been gone and I'm sooooooo ready for him to be home!

The fact that we've had next to zero contact might be good though because it's kept me from, you know, saying all the words that I can't take back in the not so rare moments of frustration I've had this week of flying solo around here except not solo because we have a third of a dozen kids {whom I adore...obviously}.

I might be annoyed that I haven't been able to breathe out of my nose in almost a week, my eyes haven't stopped watering, I've sneezed no less than 75 times each day (I usually sneeze in threes - fun fact for the day...you're welcome), and my throat has felt like it got rubbed on a cheese grater and you know what? Sometimes I just want a back rub. But, nonetheless, he's not here and I can't complain to him bless his heart, so I'm putting on my big girl panties and taking things one tissue at a time and complaining to you instead because I'm mature like that.

Two more days (at the most!) and he'll be back. {That's 32 kid length Netflix movies if that's all we did from now until him getting home not that I'd ever do something like that. ::side eye::}

If nothing else (like, if there's no elk), at the very least this week I've grown to appreciate having my husband here even more than I already did (which was A LOT).

But seriously - GET HERE FASTER, husband of mine!!! Pretty please?

daddy huntin'?

Jeff's gone hunting all week so it's just the kids and I. This means a few things.

1) Nothing can break. {If something does break - it stays broken until he gets back unless I get fed up and throw it away and buy a new one. I'm completely useless when it comes to "fixing" things like that.}

2) We're eating a lot of "easy" food {the kids may or may not refer to this as "Dad's-gone-food". Grilled cheese. Granola. Pancakes. The kind of food that on normal days wouldn't be classified (or qualify in my brain) as "dinner" choices, but we're making this week fun. :)

3) I have someone different in my bed every night (no, not that kind!). It's been Fischer for the past 2 nights, but towards the end of the week I have a feeling the other kids are going to start asking to take turns sleeping in my bed too. {I'm not going to lie, I love it.}

4) We watch more movies. Snuggling on the couch and sitting so close that we're all touching just seems to be more of a necessity when Jeff's gone. It's like we all subconsciously bond together and like little groupies we watch Curious George and Finding Nemo like we haven't seen them a bazillion times already. {Whatever it takes to keep Fischer from asking again, "Why Dada huntin'? Daddy home?"}

I never love it when Jeff's gone. We're a team and when he's out of town I feel like I'm pulling the weight for both of us, but the kids and I always have a good time you know...most of the time. I do love that I know he's in his element. He's out in the wilderness, sleeping in a tent with his best friends, hiking mountains and (hopefully!) shooting an elk! :)

That being said... T minus 5 days until he's home!

even if our eyes can't see

"But it's too wonderful!" Abraham said. "How can it be true?"
"Is anything too good to be true?" God asked. "Is anything too wonderful for me?"
So Abraham trusted what God said more than what his eyes could see. And he believed.

- From Jesus Storybook Bible

{Nothing is too good to be true. Nothing is too wonderful for God. So we're going to trust - we're going to believe - even if our eyes can't see.}

teeny tiny town

I got a call today while I was at work (at the teeny tiny post office in our teeny tiny town). The call was from the manager of all the buses/bus drivers up at the teeny tiny charter school that our kids go to. This is literally what he said:

"Karey! I'm in desperate need for more bus drivers this afternoon. I know you're at the post office right now and that your Dad is babysitting Fischer but I was wondering what you'd think about me sending Amy Rose {his recently-graduated-from-high-school daughter} over to your parents' house to babysit Fischer until you get done with work so that your current babysitter can come and drive bus?"

I love small town living. :)

{And everything worked out because my Mom got home from town in time to watch Fischer so my Dad could drive bus but still - it just cracks me up how our town pulls together to make stuff work.}