Who said stay-at-home moms have it easy? Who said it doesn't take the best and the brightest and the toughest? Someone not too smart, I'd say. Read about Amy's Tuesday. When she said all of this, I was joking with her, saying, "When are you going to quit sitting around and do something?" I then said, "Can you write all of this down?" Check it out. This is not an atypical day. If the vision of Karis continues to flourish, it's a) due to God's Spirit, and b) due to Amy's love.

• Up at 7:00 a.m.
• Fed and readied 3 children four and under
• Left at 8:20
• Dropped Hadley off at preschool
• With Melia (2) and Kylen (8 mos), visited:
  • the bank
  • Aldi to stock up on a month's food
  • Moser's to grab other groceries
• Came home and then unloaded all of that, of course putting it in its proper place carefully
• Then went to Toys R US to return a broken toy
• Then visited Wal-Mart to get some stuff not carried at either store (paint, tools, etc.)
• Picked Hadley up at school early at 11:25 (Have you done that much before 11:25? I haven't.)
• Came home to feed the kids lunch (again three of them under 4!)
• Made stew in crockpot for the evening meal
• Fixed bathroom doorknob
• Touch-up painted the kitchen chairs and Melia's bed (she decided to chew on it)
• Checked and sent emails to Mom's Club people, Karis folks, etc.
• Printed Mom's Club business meeting stuff
• Played Legos with the kids
• Put two kids down for nap
• During nap time, made banana bread for Wednesday Mom's Club meeting
• Folded 2 loads of laundry
• Balanced checkbook
• Read Bible
• Did outline for Elders' Wives meeting that night
• Called Mediacom and complained about their rising prices and saved us $30 a month
• Put together Mom's Club secretary notebook
• Somewhere in the course of this, got up kids from nap
• Taught through the ABCs of God study from Children Desiring God with the three kids
• I arrive home for dinner at 5:30
• We eat stew, clean up together
• Played with kids, caught up with me
• Put kids to bed at 8:00 p.m.
• Elders' wives arrive at 8:25 to talk through book, pray together (while I'm at elders' meeting downtown at 8:15 p.m.)
• Checks kids at 10:30 after wives leave
• "Makes silly list of daily tasks for cute husband"
• Goes to bed at 11:00 p.m.

(And to add something I forgot in the first edition: she wrote, "In all of this, diaper-changing, fight-stopping, toy-helping, and phone-call making.")

Dude!

This is my lovely, intelligent wife who could have done anything with her life-- medical school, Air Force officer, whatever-- taking seriously the highest calling of all! What a joy to see a woman throw down narcissistic, individualistic ways and labor for the kingdom. And she's mine!

Proverbs 31:10 An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. 11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. 12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. 13 She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. 14 She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. 15 She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. 16 She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. 17 She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. 18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. 19 She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. 20 She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. 22 She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land. 24 She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant. 25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. 26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. 27 She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all." 30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.