“Step one. Step two, Oh man, I have to pick up Noah, I don’t want him to trip while I am on the third floor and I know he will take 30 minutes to get to the top. “
“Come here buddy, up you go. Hold on to mommy.”
How much does this kid weigh again? Hmmm, maybe 28 pounds now; this has to be a good workout, right? OK I can do this, Noah in one arm and a package weighing 20 lbs from the post office in the other. Oh! I almost dropped the box. I got it.
OK. Step 36, third floor and half way. I don’t even have to look up to see the number, because Alleyah has pointed out so many times the white paint spot on the ground. For some reason she wants to make sure we step on it every time. So, if I made it this far caring an extra 40 plus lbs, I can make it the rest of the way. Wait maybe Alleyah can carry it.
“Alleyah can you carry the box?”
Alleyah “Mom, I am tired, my hands are full!”
Lori, “You are caring an empty water bottle?”
Well, maybe this is too heavy for her anyway. OK, OK, step 48, fourth floor, two more floors. Well, at least I am getting a workout, though I’d rather be in a gym overlooking the Pismo Beach ocean, where my kids are far from me while I escape to some TV show, but this works.
“Only one more day Alleyah, one more day!”
Alleyah, “Then we will be on the 1st floor right, mommy?”
Lori, “Yep, I can’t wait.” (Breathing harder.)
Step 56 only 9 more steps to the top.
“Noah, you can make it from here buddy, come on hold on to the sides.”
Oh, man, this 7,500 feet elevation makes me feel out of shape.
(Almost out of breath.) “Alleyah, are you coming?”
Alleyah, “Yeah, I am on the fourth floor!”
Lori, “Ok, I am shutting the inside door, you can do it” (I don’t want the cats to get out.)
Step 65, MADE IT. (Out of breath.)
Lori “Noah take off your shoes, don’t let the cats out….Alleyah? Are you Ok?”
Alleyah, “I am taking a break on the fifth floor.”
Lori, “OK, baby, you got it!”
Knock at the door ”Who is it?”
“Me!”
About 9 months ago we started this everyday adventure to our 6th floor apartment. Now that we are moving to a 1st floor apartment in only one day, it seems every time I do this, I am so done. I realized that God gave us so much grace for 9 months to climb these stairs. Anytime someone comes to visit, after catching their breath they wonder how we do it everyday, AND WITH KIDS?
Grace, He gives us what we can handle, He gives us strength sometimes without even knowing we need it. I guess I feel a little impatient every time we come home, waiting for July to roll around. But, through this experience, I realize just how much God gives us the ability to face the challenges before us. I know we can climb these stairs for one more day, but if it were to be longer, I know God would give us grace for that too. Hope you can see where God is carrying you to the top today in your life!
Blessings,
The Joneses
