I don’t brag about my wife nearly enough, but it’s time that I did.

Last week, my wife Dawn went for four days to visit our daughter Kimberly and her husband Tim in Utah.  Dawn was just a little bit worried about leaving me with a busy church schedule and responsibilities for the rest of the children.  I told her repeatedly that the kids and I could handle things.  “No problem.  I’ve done it before and I can do it again.  Piece of cake.  We’ve got this under control.  Have fun.  You deserve some time away.”

I should have looked more carefully at the skeptical eyes of our kids as they wondered about my cooking, my ability to get them on time to all of their activities, and my ability to coordinate a busy household for four days.  My confidence convinced me, but it never really convinced them.  

“Dad, did you forget to get my lunch money?  Who is taking us to choir retreat?  Who is taking us to piano lessons?  What about basketball tryouts?  Did you remember that we were going to the football game?  And that my friends are coming over this afternoon to practice a song?  And if you go early to church like you usually do on Sunday morning, who is taking us?  What’s for dinner?  Don’t forget that I have to be at church early this afternoon because I’m helping with the sound system.  When does Mom come home?”

Relax, kids.  I only forgot about half of those things. 

How does Dawn keep track of all these details while maintaining her calm composure?  And how does she manage to do this while working full time as an excellent RN?  And how does she find the time to still teach Sunday School and volunteer a couple of shifts a month at Mission of Mercy?  And go to choir practice?  And do a thousand big and small things for me?  And still be romantic and cuddly when she probably just wants to take a nap?

I managed, finally, to get most everyone where they needed to be (with my daughter Angela’s help, but that’s another blog), but without the steady and calm presence that my wife provides.  And though the kids all managed to get where they needed to be (more-or-less on time), some household details were apparently forgotten in the meantime.

“Hey, dad, I don’t think anyone let the dog out today . . . so watch out where you step.  And, dad, who was supposed to take out the garbage?  ‘Cause the kitchen really smells.  How come we’re out of milk?”

There were forgotton details, but there was one thing I didn’t forget.  Dawn came back into town at 8:41 pm Sunday evening on a flight from Salt Lake City.  I was there at the airport.  Early.  Real early.

My wife is back.  And life is somehow back to normal, and I’ve been reminded once again to thank God for an excellent wife!