The Exodus

JULY 26

I gave Estelle a steam shower in the morning to help her chest cold. While I was occupied, Mackenzie took the kids for snack time at the school. Upon their return, my jaw dropped. Naomi was still in her nightgown! She’d walked two blocks and sat with the entire crew in her PJ’s. Mackenzie apparently didn’t even notice when they left, but she said Naomi got a compliment on her pretty ‘dress.’

Keegan continued on the drywall, and Bronwyn and two other girls blew insulation in the attic. Bronwyn said it was the most uncomfortable she’s felt in her whole life. She was itchy and sweaty, working under a hot tin roof (It was 24 degrees). Ike said it was a tough, dirty job and was impressed with their effort. When she came to eat, her clothing was covered in fiberglass. Ezra saw her, and ran to her with open arms. I said, a little too insistently, “Ezra, don’t touch her!” Bronwyn joked with me later. “What am I? A leper? Don’t touch! Unclean! Unclean!”

There was an exodus of volunteers after lunch, with only a handful remaining. Lynn turned to me and said, “Well, I guess it’s just you and me, Elaine.” With all our kids, there were still over 20 people for supper, but it sure felt a lot quieter. I packed Estelle around, trying to be helpful, without much success. At least her cough seemed a bit better, but she does want her mommy.

Mackenzie and Josiah played with Ezra, Evangeline, Naomi, and Diana in the school gym all day. Lynn’s mother, Muriel, built a fort out of blue gym mats and chairs. They had a ball with Judah-Ben, Jesse, and Jadynn. Jesses attached several bungee cords together, pulled them way back, then sat on a flat cart and let the bungee cord zip him along the gym floor. The kids all got in on the action. Diana played with Estelle on a blue gym mat, and later on Estelle had a nap on one of the exercise mats. Ezra adores Jesse and follows him around like a lost puppy. Naomi’s enthusiasm waned so she chose to draw pictures instead, and that kept her occupied for two hours!

Bronwyn is in her glory. The girls have been doing the lunch dishes everyday and it takes them a very long time because they sing the entire time. Bronwyn taught them a new song and they practice and practice and practice. The girls also learned a rhythm at camp. They beat it out with their arms and feet at every meal and their table shakes when they pound it out.

Keegan went biking with Joel and then headed right to bed, so I know very little about his day, except that he expressed an interest in learning the guitar. Kurt will be glad to hear that. Bronwyn and Mackenzie sat and gabbed with me in the evening, which is the only reason I can give you the details of their day.