WEIRD Things are Going On!

I’m going to assume that every single person who reads this blog is already subscribed to the infrequent, humorous Ashberry Lane Newsletter. If you’re not, why not?? The sixth edition hit inboxes around the world on Tuesday at noon. In case you missed it, here’s the main jest of the latest issue: WE’VE BEEN TO PUBLISHING COMMITTEE!! (You have to scroll down a screen to see the newsletter on that link.)

The awesome thing is that at the very moment the newsletter went out, I was ordering pizza at the zoo! Yes, I took all four kids. I can’t include many of the awesome pictures I took because they show the foster boys. How I wish I could show you all the one of them peeking out of the back window of the “safari” jeep in the Africa section.

But before I sound incredibly brave/foolish, I also took Grandma and Great-Grandpa. Four generations staring at bears, cheetahs, a VERY pregnant elephant doing it’s exercises, … We had a great time. The little boys didn’t nap at all, even though we took the double stroller along.

Strangely, this was not our only crazy excursion. In the last week and a half, we’ve been to an amusement park, a free carnival put on by our church in the town’s park, a summer conference planning meeting for next year, and tonight they’ll be in the town’s parade as part of the AWANA float!

How does all of the above related to WEIRD things? I guess I didn’t really know if I could do the “normal” summer things with four kids instead of two.

Weirdest things found in the hamper: a sippy cup of curdled milk and a bike helmet. (FC #3 loves to put things in the hamper.) Most things I find quickly; these two almost made it into the washing machine.

Weirdest balancing act: I was sweeping up the crumbs after dinner the other night. I let go of the broom, thinking it would fall into the crook of my arm while I stood with the dust pan. Um … it stood straight up. Weird!

Lest you think there are hidden wires or other chicanery, I took a pic from another angle.

Weirdest way to live: Constantly waiting for the phone to ring.

I’m on my third day of this and the only thing I can compare it to is when you really, really have to go to the bathroom, but you’ve got one last thing you HAVE to do first. (Or am I the only one who tries to read one more email before racing to the potty room?)

Except this feeling never gets relief. I woke up Wednesday morning with the phrase committee, committee running through my head. We figured the meeting would probably be in the morning, and since the publishing house is located in a state with an hour’s time difference, we thought we’d hear before 4 PM.

Ha! We called our agent around 5 and talked for about twenty minutes. His agency has done quite a few deals with this house lately, and he told us that it usually takes a day or two to get the results.

Logically, I’m convincing myself, rejection letters don’t take much time to send. Acceptance phone calls and contract offers take longer to get ready. Maybe this lag in hearing the results is a good thing. BUT, if the phone doesn’t ring in the next hour, we’ll have to suffer through the WHOLE weekend!

The other phone call I’m waiting for is the adoption committee’s decision of which family would be best for the two foster boys. Last night, FC #2 woke at midnight with a 102.5 degree fever. As I rocked him to sleep again, I couldn’t help but wonder at the fact that his forever mother was being chosen within hours and would most likely be the one to take care of him during his next sickness. Holding his hot little body close to mine, I realized that the adoption committee’s decision was of much more consequence than the publication committee’s decision. How can a book deal compare with a precious soul?

Of course, I still MUST know ASAP!