The cat we took to the vet the other day is doing better. Yesterday we let him back outside and he disappeared for a couple of hours. He came back in the afternoon and I let him back in. He slept inside last night again and then went back outside again today. Lately another one of the outside cats has been inside more to sleep on the couch. It’s actually pretty embarrassing how many cats we have in the house, which is why I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned the actual number.

But if you include the three outside cats, there are eight. There are times that I could be standing in the living room hallway, and from where I am standing have five different cats around in my view. The biggest problem I have with them is the smell, that sometimes I feel is much worse at certain times than others. Sometimes I walk into the house and I immediately smell animal. Other times I walk in and it doesn’t smell like anything. It’s a little bit ridiculous but this is what it is.

Tonight Dad and the kids walked out to the new property to see where all the giant logs used to be. The tree harvester people came and picked them all up today. Casper ran out and followed them and it was sweet to see him healing and well and in the middle of things. Today at supper we passed out our cleaning cards. After our brain storming session the other night, Josh came home and wrote out cards for the kids. I was amazed by how quickly he came up something that organized.

Everyone has 10 minutes of cleaning and tidying in their room (if needed), and then 15 minutes cleaning whatever area of the house is on their card for that day. Today’s big thing was going to the grocery store. It really is better if someone comes with me, but I can do it. I came home and cleaned out the fridge, the kind where you’re taking out the shelves and washing them in the sink. After that I was pretty tired and ready for a break. My sister called and we talked for a while.

I’m on the schedule to work the Summer wing day shift tomorrow. I haven’t worked since completing training, so it was getting to be about that time. Josh and I were working at the table yesterday morning, he on the taxes and me filling in all the things in my calendar. The track meets. The weekend things. My homework assignments, which is the only thing I highlight. While I was doing that, work texted with a list of open shifts, wondering which ones, if any, I was able to fill.

Because I am PRN I am not necessarily on the regular schedule. From what I understand, PRN is short for a Latin term that when translated to English means “as needed”. But the expectation, and the requirement, is that I pick up at least my required number of shifts. I feel like these people have been so understanding, so patient with me and flexible, that it’s time for me to start coming through. It is literally my job now to get on the schedule and help them out.

And almost every day there are texts that come. The normal texts from the server that come right to your phone. And the more personal texts from the scheduler that come when someone has called off or when the broader texts haven’t gotten enough results. And even a few direct texts from workers trying to find their own replacements. I really don’t mind it but it can be hard to have to tell someone no, and equally hard to tell them yes, knowing this means I’m committing my day.

So after the thinking and wondering I finally prayed last night, “Lord, give me the wisdom to know when to say yes and when to say no.” I’d already committed to going to church and told myself I wasn’t ready for evenings yet. And I was tired yesterday, and knew I needed today to still be a little more of a nurturing day, folding some laundry, getting the food done. I found two dates on the calendar that I could fill in for. I typed out my reply, stared at the text for a time, then hit send.