After adjusting schedule for a spontaneous and lovely visit with good ole Dad, I began the frantic frenzy of evening-time that comes so often with a home full of children. Just when I thought I was getting things rocking again and dinner just about served, the bathroom backed-up. Water coming out the bottom of the toilet. Water coming up out of the bathtub. Water coming out the walls in the hall. Of course I have no idea what to do, I can't get through to the husband at work, and end up interrupting good ole Dad's 42nd anniversary dinner with good ole Mom for Dad's assistance. The quick answer was: don't use any water- looks like a main line problem. Easy enough to do. Singing to myself keeps the panic away, so when the water drip of pesky problems begins to wear me thin, the music starts. When peace like a river attendeth my way; When sorrows like sea billows roll. Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say "It is Well With My Soul." My all purpose get-me-through-this moment-with-grace song. I have to tell my heart what to do in stress moments, and it will praise the Lord.
Living the supernatural peace that passes understanding, I was all proud of myself for the state of the union at the moment despite it all. We proceeded with dinner and the recesses of my mind knew that I would have to figure out how to clean those dishes without using the water. Shoving these thoughts aside, I made happy haste to the barn after dinner to milk before Patrick got home. Since he will bear the weight of the plumbing problem after a 12 hour work day, I wanted the home in as calm and peaceful an order as can be managed. Having become quite the proficient milkmaid now, I flew through milking the first goat (with the assistance of Supergirl #3). And, then we milked Lily. Or, at least we tried. Normally she is milked out within about 2-3 minutes. Not today. The minute Lulu touched her right teat she liked to have grown wings and flew off the milk stand right through the roof. Super Lulu couldn't even touch the right teat- period. Taking over while praying it wasn't mastitis, I discovered a dandy little injury on her little teat- just in the spot for milking. I commenced singing about sea billows again, applied some Lavender and Pan-away to the teat, and Peace and Calming to Lily's spine. Fortunately, it didn't take long to help. With a bit of coaxing, she quickly settled enough to let me carefully milk her out, but not before Patrick arrived to more of a battle-zone than a happy haven.