One week a month & the benefits of doing laundry

I've decided a new goal for our family should be that at least one week of the month, everyone is home. Even though this week, Cas was only gone one night, we haven't had a week in Feb where no one is traveling, and I'm craving a "normal" week.

Another unusual aspect of the start of this week was the loss of my cell phone. The Apple iPhone and I have had a rocky start. Within a week of receiving my first one, I smashed it under the trunk door of my car. Number two has served me pretty well, being particularly valued in line at the DMV with access to games and the internet. Recently I've become a twitter follower of Matt Chandler and John Piper and am spiritually encouraged throughout the day. Before I choose my clothes, I check my weather app, and while I'm waiting at long stoplights, I may on occasion hit up Facebook. All that to say my phone has become an integral part of my day.

On Sunday morning my iPhone alarm went off. I was already up with Collin and Cas turned it off. After deciding our box-of-Kleenex-a-day cold from Collin made us unattractive as a pew neighbor, we decided to keep our germs at home and skip church. My parents and GGB came over to play with Collin. I didn't leave the house the entire day.

Sunday night I realized I couldn't find my cell phone. After finding a home phone inside one of Collin's walkers, I feared it was unintentionally hidden by a 13-month-old. Collin goes to bed and Cas joins me in the house search. I finally call my parents in hopes that they saw Collin playing with it somewhere odd. Nope, but my mom recommends calling it. As if that wouldn't have been the first thing we tried. After another hour of searching, I surrender, going to bed still mentally searching the house.

Monday my hopes were dashed when Salvadora, who cleans our home, didn't see it. She did helpfully suggest that we call the phone and even further explained to Cas that we'd be able to locate it when we heard the ring! Now our whole house is clean and the cell phone is still missing. We resume our search, with Cas asking every 5 minutes, "Have you called the phone?"

Getting more desperate, I strap on the headlamp and search the front and backyard, even though I don't remember going outside with my phone on Sunday. And then the dreaded task on my search list - going through the trash. It was the instance where I was most thankful for my cold which prevented me from smelling anything. All fruitless efforts.

Tuesday I go to work feeling as though we will never find my phone. My glimmer of hope is that the battery will last until Sunday and the weekly alarm will sound, but that's asking a lot of an iPhone battery. I intended to send an email out to friends and family with my work cell number, but the day got away from me.

Tuesday night Cas is out of town. When I took Collin to his room to strip him down for his bath, I realize there's a week's worth of laundry on his bed. I am the worst about putting away his laundry because I normally do chores like that when he's asleep, and that timing obviously conflicts with providing a quiet and dark sleep environment. So I let Collin destroy his room, pulling every book off his shelves, while I put away his clothes.
And what was hidden amongst his clothes but my iPhone - with about 35 missed calls from our home phone! Hallelujah! I am feeling whole again and hopefully will stay inspired to keep up with laundry!