I vowed to never complain in these blogs . . .

So I hope that this doesn’t sound like a complaint, but I had a nuts couple of hours this afternoon!What do an unmotivated attitude to begin with, one sleeping baby, two kids, the library, no cell phone in my purse and a dead car battery all have in common? TODAY!We got done at the library, I had taken too long as I’m much inclined to do at that wonderful, blissful place (shopping Thomas Merton, Anne Lamott . . .). Out to the car, nursed June, she fell asleep. Got her back to sleep and all snug in her car seat. Big kids buckled in. Momma enjoys her ritual of the plopped-down-into-the driver’s-seat-sigh, since the driver’s seat is a very calming place for a momma . . . and then the car didn’t start. I didn’t cry, even after I realized that I didn’t have my phone with me. I knew the library folk would allow me use of their tele, but how was I going to get in there with my buckled-in sleeping baby? How was I going to get to the car battery, which is under the back seat, which is under multiple car seats (with children buckled into them)? Who would give us a jump? Alright, so as I said to Jonny, “We need a plan,” we needed a plan.I can’t keep this entertaining (was it ever?) I know tons of other mommas that have days, predicaments just like this or much, much worse. I just felt like some kind of super hero that I kept my cool, had the kids convinced that this was an adventure (in response to their worry that we were going to have to spend the night at the library), devised a plan, carried it out and got my brood to safety. There’s no crying in full-time mothering (remember Tom Hanks in A League of Their Own?) when a crisis presents itself. It’s merely a puzzle.So I feel a little triumphant today because I remember a former version of Jennifer that would have folded under the stress of the events that occured today (yes, I was a wimp, absolutely, I’ll never deny it). But here I am, new and improved Jennifer, Mother Jennifer, for He who began a good work in me has been faithful to continue that good work through infinite chores, three homebirths, husband’s emergency surgery and subsequent hospital stay while 38 weeks pregnant (and contracting), coming up on 5+ years of breastfeeding, myriad obstacles, 11 years of marriage and multiple trials. And some day it’s going to be complete! Bring it on world! I am Momma! I will not rest until my children are safe, fed, bathed and snuggled! Well, maybe not bathed.Praise God that we don’t have to mother as our former selves!And so in the wake of my triumph (and since my husband works late into the night), I celebrated by “taking the night off.” Which in full-time mommy land means a dinner of frozen pizza, Ratatouille DVD for the children and my library books for me. Skirt the dishes, delay the laundry, no tidying this night. No ma’am.My library list (children’s book favorites list coming soon)*Mothering as a Spiritual Journey by Ann Tremaine Linthorst (of Orange, California coincidentally)-I started it tonight, good so far! Here’s a quote, “One of my teachers once commented that he knew of only one group of people that were motivated to become enlightened for the sake of others– and that was mothers, for their children.”*The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri J. M. Nouwen*Heroin by Sandra Lee Smith from the Drug Abuse Prevention Library*How Al-Anon Works for Families and Friends of Alcoholics by The Al-Anon Family GroupsOver and out.