For those who are not familiar with double wide purchasing process, I am here to enlighten you. After you purchase your brand-spanking new home and settle in, the manufacturer sends a carpenter to do some finishing work, because inevitably when your house has to be driven down the highway shift happens.
Yesterday, our finisher came to begin the process. Every crack, every scrap, every lopsided toilet gets replaced, repainted, redone. All free of charge to the owner. It's a slamming bonus.
Yesterday, was just a normal day in the life of Sara Littlejohn. AJ and I had a play date with our Josiah, we had tea with a neighbor, Grandma came for a chat, and the girls came busting through the door from school at 3 with two extra friends in tow. Every one needed a snack and some uninterrupted eye time. Five little girls, all with a short order for the cook, all needing to complete their word count for the day. Don't hear what I am not saying, this is one of the highlights of my day! Between chats, I was sustaining the running of the house with the never ending house chores; laundry, sweeping, dishes, toy dispersion, and dinner prep. Again, nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing that every other mother doesn't do everyday. Nothing extraordinary.
In the midst of this day, Mr. Mike, our carpenter, quietly, contently, uninvadingly (not a word, but what I'm trying to say is that he didn't invade upon our day or routine) and with such a kind spirit fixed up all the little messes in our house.
Towards the end of the day, as I was beginning to start the chore list AGAIN, Mr. Mike walked through the living room where I was embarking upon 6 loads of unfolded laundry while simultaneously putting out Wii fires, giving strict instructions to the two girls who were going on a walk around town, zipping up Buzz Light Year costumes, and stepping smack dab in the middle of an ice pile on the floor with my socks on. Mr Mike, in his sweet, smooth, southern accent, lifted up his head, made eye contact with me and said, "You have a full time job Ma'am, a FULL. TIME. JOB!"
Tears formed in the bottom of my eyes, a lump formed in my throat, and I squeaked out, "it is, it is indeed!"
Mr. Mike, who drove hours from his home, to work for days on my home, whom exudes every characteristic of a hard working man, stepped out of his role for 10 seconds and gave me one of the greatest compliments of my life.
If you follow us on facebook you will remember that just two days ago I was having one of those days when I really needed to talk to my mom. My mom excelled in the encouragement department. During the early days of my motherhood my mom was one of my main sources for affirmation. She offered counsel when needed, a listening ear when needed, and most times a funny memory of her own motherhood journey that made everything feel lighter and more doable. She knew my heart, the areas that I would instinctively struggle with as a mom, the guilt I would struggle through, the insecurity I would have to sort out. She knew because she had walked through it herself.
Just hours after expressing the impossible; needing to sort through some motherhood junk with my Mama, a stranger (a CARPENTER no less) came into my household craziness and in eleven short words delivered a message that I am 100% sure I would have found in that conversation with my mom; validation, affirmation, kindness, and encouragement!
Mr. Mike, I know you came expecting to fix the external messes in my home, but really you fixed some internal messes. You offered me a great gift, one that I will tuck away for some time to come.
Here's to double wides, and all the sucker punches they pack!
~S
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