Grocery Shrink

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How many times can I say no before giving into His handsome face? I started to think about all the things I plan to ask for this year and felt myself softening up.  His little boy pleading eyes were too much for me this time as he anounced that he found his dream bike.  So I said, “Yes.  But please don’t die. There aren’t a lot of men standing in line for your job of daddy to 6 ready made babies. We need you.”

He said, “I’ll be safe.  I promise.  Think about all the money we’ll save on gas.  Think about how much fun we’ll have riding together.  The weather is so nice right now.  I’ll take a safety class.”

Now I pray a little more than I did before.

Don’t forget to enter our giveaway here. The winner will be chosen Friday, May 4th.

I’ve been sewing for 20 years…or maybe a little longer.  So I was as shocked as anyone when I made a huge safety mistake with my sewing machine.

I haven’t volunteered much up at the kid’s new school.  I sent the kids there to help with my overhwelming home circumstances. Beyond sending up food now and then, didn’t feel up to much more.  So when the music teacher asked me to make a whale out of a hula hoop–I wanted to say, NO.  But instead I said, “Can I think about it?”

Thinking about it meant beating myself up for not being more involved.  Telling myself it was the least I could do.  And wondering if I didn’t, who else would or could?  But honestly, I didn’t really know HOW to make a whale out of a hula hoop.  That didn’t stop me from telling them I would.

So I thought about it for a really long time.  Then finally, I called my mother, who knows everything. And she came up with an elaborate plan with a hinged mouth and pully system.  Which I eventually scrapped–but at least it got me started, lol.

Finally, I procrastinated long enough that other projects were piling up.  I set a short deadline and went for it.  With 15 minutes left to work, I figured I could have it finsihed in time to pick up the children from school and drop off the whale to enjoy a nice stress free weekend.  But instead, I reached for a stray pin, while lifting my foot off the foot control.  I was unaware that the foot control was wedged under the leg of the sewing table keeping it on even while my foot was off.  I sewed all the way through my right index finger and the needle broke off inside.

Yikes!  It was time to go pick up the kids, the whale wasn’t done, and now this. Neither end of the needle was visible, but I knew it was in there.  I worked at it for a few minutes, but couldn’t take care of the problem with my left hand.  I called my husband for help, who suggested I go to the hospital.  I didn’t want to do that.  Instead I drove up to the school to ask the nurse for help.  She had gone home for the day, but there were lots of parents there with medical backgrounds.

Not one of them could even look at it.  They pretty much said, “You did what?!!!”  Then held up their hands to block the sight and suggested I go to the hospital.

I was unaware that my oldest daughter, Heidi, was at home calling all sorts of people to help.  When I headed back to my car to make a new plan, my mom drove up and insisted I get in her van and go to the hospital.  I gave in.

They treated me very well there.  Ushered me right back and acted like I had a real injury, lol. Even gave me a prescription for a pain pill for the healing period, Bwa ha ha ha! (I did not fill that.) Within an hour I was on my way back home, but lost all interest in sewing.  I told my mom that was the most expensive sewing project I’ve ever made (when you figure in the medical expense) and I’d might as well start buying everything.  She laughed and said, “Probably right, but where are you going to buy a whale made from a hula hoop and a bedsheet?”

So I hopped back on the horse and started sewing again.

It turned out pretty cute and can actually swallow Jonah :).