When it rains.....

Last week I watched 2 of my nephews, while there parents went away for a few days. They did great. I can't remember one fight in the four days they were here. On the third day they were here I decided to walk to the store and pay rent with all seven of the kids. 

We started the .75 mile walk in high spirits havering fun and making jokes. When we got to the busy part of the walk I had them walk in "marching order", from oldest to youngest. The order was 10, 10, 8, 6, 6, 3, and 1 years old. I had the 3 and 1 year olds in a double stroller.

In front of the store we stopped to drink some water that I had brought with us. We stood under trees and talked for a few minutes. I asked the kids to get in "marching order" when something hit my arm. I thought one of the kids had thrown something on me. Upon closer inspection I found a bird had left its mark. 

We hurried into the store so I could wash my arm off. After drying my arm off we went through the store getting a few things we needed for dinner. The kids did GREAT. When we checked out I withdrew the money needed for rent and left the store.

We walked a block and a half to the company that owns our house to pay rent. I left all the kids outside and went in to pay. The lady at the counter was nice and helpful. I had 2 dollars over what the rent was and thought it wouldn't be a problem... Boy was I wrong.

The lady told me that she couldn't get into the cash box and that I needed to change the money to finish paying my rent. I went to the store next to it and asked if they could change a $20. He boy at 
   the counter said he was out of ones and his dad had gone to the bank and would be back in a few
 minutes with some. 

I wated outside with the kids for 20 minutes and he hadn't returned, so I went to the stores around the corner and tried them. No one had change. I then crossed the street to a bank and asked if they could change a $20. To my amazement she told me I had to have an account to do that.

As I was leaving she said she was sorry, I not feeling so nice replayed that every one was. Not a moment I a proud of and would change if I could. I was near tears as I crossed the street. It was hot and we had been walking or outside for over two hours.

I went in to the building to pay rent one last time. I told her I had tried five places and no one could change the money, and to just take the money, I didn't care about the two dollars. I just wanted to be done with it. She took the money and we were on our way again.

We were headed to the school by we're we live to have lunch, they have a free summer lunch program for kids. We made it about half way there when I found Seth only had one shoe. We had bought the shoes a week earlier and I was not about to have to get new ones.

I sent all the kids but those in the stroller to the school while I turned around to look for the shoe. We tried every place on the way back through that I could think of with no shoe. I decided we better meet  with the kids at the school and started there when a gar ray bag broke. I started to tear up. Then sucked it up and walked as fast as I could to the school to get the kids.

They were amazing. They had eaten and were playing outside. I gathered them together and we headed for home. We made it back home just over three hours latter. I put Anna to bed and went back for Seth, who was asleep and found the shoe under him.










I said a prayer of thanks. How could I not when all the kids were safe and the shoe was found, rent was payed. 

Th