3 years 10 days

Day 1105. Having taught 11 hours in 2.5 days, I was really looking forward to Sunday and a day off. Of course, I usually catch up on office work, but today I knew that I needed rest more than anything. It was close to 3 am before I fell asleep last night. And so I was in no rush to get up this morning. Emmy was up early, as usual, but I let them watch Kasperl and went back to bed. That way we had some extra minutes of quietness. It was 9 am before we got up.

After breakfast I took them downstairs, where we read a Bible story together. They wanted to draw, and so I gave them paper and crayons. Then I went upstairs. It was already 10 am, so I did not have much time to do anything. At 11:15 I went to the kitchen to start cooking, and at noon we sat down to eat. They all ate everything on their plate and then had icecream.  Then I put them into the bathtub, where they had fun while getting clean. We got them back out, and they all went into Emmy's bed to watch a video on the Alexa device. At 1:15 they went to bed for their nap. I sat down by them and walked away around 1:30, when they were all asleep.

And I went straight to bed myself and slept for 90 minutes, which is longer than usual. The boys were up first, and then the girl as well. I finally made myself get up as well and started making their dinner-to-go boxes. I also picked out their church clothes, and at 4:15 we left the house. We walked to the train station and took the train with steps - for the last time, thank God. Then we walked to the tram station. Something was wrong, and so we had to wait for 20 minutes before the tram came. We ended up getting to church later than ever, half an hour into the service, at the time we usually already go upstairs.

The kids went straight to the front and started picking up fabric and streamers. I had Sammy. After 15 minutes we all went upstairs to the toddler room, where we were the first ones to arrive. The kids immediately ran to play with the cars, as there were new tracks there. I left them there and returned to the sanctuary, as it was my week to enjoy the service. Thankfully there were a few minutes of worship left, and I enjoyed God's presence. A girl came up to me and told me she saw Jesus washing my feet. Then I got communion and sat back down in my seat, enjoying sweet communion with the Lover of my soul. It was a precious few minutes that have become way too rare for me. His presence and peace was just washing over me and filling me with joy.

At 6:45 I left during the sermon to go back upstairs. Randy had Sammy standing at the play kitchen, and I took his place so he could go change Emmy's diaper. After a few minutes it was time to put their shoes back on and return to the sanctuary. I was carrying Sammy who was already calling out Anna's name. I'm sure everyone at church has heard him call her name at some point, as we walk down the stairs. And there she was, picking up an excited Sammy. Tammy got some streamers again, and she and Emmy were running around having fun. I finally took them back, we put their coats on, and at 7:10 pm we left church to go home.

It really wasn't that cold tonight, so that I never put my coat on. We walked to the tram stop, where the kids sat down to eat and watch Paw Patrol, but then the tram already arrived before we could get started. And so they ate and watched on the tram, then waiting for the train, and then on the train. They ended up eating everything in their box. If only they ate that much at home. It was 8:20, when we arrived back home. I let them watch the last few minutes there to finish the episode, then we got them ready for bed. After some cake and milk they were finally in bed. I sat down by them. Sammy was asleep pretty fast, then Emmy fell asleep, and Tammy always needs a while and keeps talking until she sleeps. After I walked away she was still calling my name for a while before falling asleep. I got myself something to eat, and then started working again. I'm hoping to go to church at a normal time of midnight tonight. Tomorrow I have 5 hours to teach, which is a lot.