Stay

Survival is the name of the game this week. With an adenoidectomy and a myringotomy surgery scheduled for Monday, Karis is under strict orders by the doctor to avoid other children, public play areas, and the church nursery. She's technically already sick right now, go figure, and we're desperately trying to avoid piling on any other illnesses to this one so that we don't have to reschedule the surgery. Allow me to summarize what I just shared: doctor's orders = isolation = survival mode.

Here's the thing...I like to go. I like to go out. I like to go over to friends' homes. I like to go into restaurants and eat. I like going. With our eyes on Karis' health, going has taken a hit and staying has become the norm. Stay home. Stay healthy. Stay sane.

Apparently cooking is a bit of a survival technique for me, something that treats boredom and listlessness. Today has found me puttering around the kitchen quite a bit. With Karis standing on a chair looking over my shoulder, I've cooked and/or prepared the following items: oatmeal and fresh squeezed orange juice for breakfast, grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup for lunch, cranberry apple butter...because it sounds amazing (thanks, Kate!), and I'm marinating top round roast for dinner, served alongside kohlrabi au gratin and mashed rutabaga.

Karis thinks she has found her own method of survival as well. At one point in the day, I sent her to her room for not listening. When I went in to discipline her, she abruptly cried out, "Christopher Robin, save me!" Forget Jesus, God, or Mary. My child shuttles her prayers off to the fictitious characters of the Hundred Acre Wood. (Sigh) I've got some work to do...that is if I can get out of the kitchen long enough to do it.