Feb
03
I can’t possibly write anything deep right now, because I’m on PINS and NEEDLES. Someone I know just may be having a baby sometime really, really soon. And I’m pretty sure they don’t want it announced HERE on the INTERNET before they get the chance to tell people, so forget I said anything.
EDIT (7:10am): Meet Mia Noelle (and her mommy Stephanie)! Born at 2:21am on 2/03/10. 7lb 15oz, 19in. I can’t wait to meet you Mia! Aunt Marla looooooves you!
Let’s talk about dishwashers. Do you have one? Do you like it? Has it made your life easier?
I used to love my dishwasher. Until it quit working on July 28, 2008. On August 6 (2008), I wrote this on my blog, “This zoo thing is so much fun. I’ve even decided to wash dishes by hand for awhile longer, because I’d rather go see a zoo than replace our dishwasher.”
Does 524 days (and counting) constitute “awhile longer?”
Here’s what I wrote on October 15, 2008, “My fingers are all wrinkly from doing dishes. Ugh. I hate that feeling. I know, I should wear gloves. But I don’t like that either. I’ll just wait for a new dishwasher.”
December 17, 2008? “No motivation. Mad that I don’t have a dishwasher. Ticked that I have to go to Livi’s Christmas/Kwanzaa/Hanukkah/Los Posados program at 7:00. Irritated that I thought I had a whole box of pasta and didn’t.” It goes on and on and on. I’ll spare you.
Skipping ahead to November 10, 2009, “Today I grumbled while I washed dishes for the second time in five hours. Because no one should have to go without a dishwasher for 1 year, 3 months, 2 weeks and a day.” This was tongue-in-cheek, and I said something really profound after it. You’ll just have to take my word for it.
I’ll tell you what. It’s actually not the end of the world not having a dishwasher. In fact, I’ll bet there are a handful of things that are even worse. I’ll even bet that some of you haven’t had a dishwasher in YEARS. Or maybe one or two of you have NEVER HAD ONE.
Maybe in some countries they barely have enough to thinly line their hungry bellies, let alone have a dish to wash.
And I know one thing. Little Miss Fill-Her-Plate-Too-Full-and-Multi-Task-to-Her-Own-Detriment (me) has benefited greatly from having to stand in one place and wash one dish at a time.
Changing the World One Stupid Plastic Tumbler At a Time. (I don’t really use the word “tumbler,” but isn’t it fun?)
And I’ve learned some other things too. That getting what I want right when I want it isn’t always the best thing for my spiritual growth. (It mostly NEVER is, unfortunately.)
Dish-washing time is also good for talking to God. I’ve brought lots of your names up to Him over a sink full of suds.
So, tell me: what’s the longest you’ve gone without a dishwasher? And what great life lessons have you learned while standing at the kitchen sink?
First off congratulations-what a sweet picture!!
I went about 7/8 months without a dishwasher when my hubby and I were first married!
I’ll never forget cutting my finger on a chipped corelle wear lid that was hidden underneath the suds of Dawn dish soap! We were Newlyweds at that time and had no money-so my hubby (who was in Chiropractic school) decided to glue my gaping wound closed. Being the submissive new bride that I was-I let him! It did work, but I have the scar to prove it! I was so mad at him!
After that incident I decided it was high time I saved my hard earned money and buy us (me) a portable dishwasher!
And so I did a few months later.
So what did I learn?
That dishwashers save fingers and marriages!
Oh about half my married life.Which would be around 18 years. And I am fine without one. But I love having one too. Mostly cuz it gets the dishes cleaner most the time.
When I was a freshman in high school my parents’ dishwasher died and my dad’s favorite saying after that was “do you wanna go to college or do you want a dishwasher?!” They finally got a new one at the end of my senior year. When they knew I’d be 3000 miles away and unable to do the dishes for them. I still hate doing dishes. I load everything I possibly can in mine, save for the sharp knives, and try to hand wash as little as possible.
That experience didn’t leave me bitter or anything. Not at all
Oh, Denise. Spoiled milk in the sippy is THE WORST.
I went a year. when Drew and I moved in with his parents in Buffalo we didn’t have one. I got used to washing the dishes…it really didn’t bother me because out the window I could watch birds and squirrels and the occasional deer out the window.
I think that living in an apt, now that I couldn’t handle it without a dishwasher. It’s one thing to have a nice house, plenty of space, but when your apartment is cluttered and has seen the toddler tornado, it’s kind of nice to go do the dishes quickly. Esp. since it’s a tiny kitchen.
What I have learned that’s profound – how about don’t leave spoiled milk in your son’s sippy cup….just sayin’
First of all, congrats on the new niece!!
Secondly, I’ve gone about 2 or 3 months without a dishwasher … and I hated it
Thankfully my hubby does dishes. 
I also got a rebate to replace our dishwasher since the old one died after barely 1 year of owning it. Here’s what I had to say about the whole dishwasher saga: http://thehutchhaus.blogspot.com/2009/03/more-than-just-dishwasher-story.html
Look at that precious baby looking at her sweet mama!! Congratulations to you all!
I don’t think our first house in Hawaii had a dishwasher. I don’t mind washing dishes that much. I like that you get immediate results from your efforts and I like the warm, sudsy water. Dishwashers do make life easier though. I’ll remember that the next time I complain about unloading ours.
i went 11 years without one. had one for 4 months and am currently without, although just temporary. here are my thoughts:
at first i was annoyed because i grew up with a dishwasher – hubby did not, therefore he did not see the need. annoyed because there was one in my kitchen, it just didn’t work. but then i learned to enjoy that time – we did dishes together and i believe sex does begin in the kitchen. then i had kids and the only place in my house where i could see nothing else was my kitchen sink. so i did dishes alone, twice a day and loved every moment. even when hubby would offer, i’d do them. that time alone was my prayer time and sanity. nothing but me, suds, and a kithchen window. then the kids were old enough to play alone after dinner….hubby returned beside me and that is where we connected after his day at work and mine at home. it was such a sweet time..this fall i was given my parents dishwasher and i was thrilled to use it. to teach my kids to load it, well kind of, i am a bit of a control freak about dishwashwers. now we moved and have NO kitchen, but one in is in the plan.
so all in all…i think the slowing down of washing dishes is an amazing opportunity to discover yourself again. to enjoy God’s love for you and to get yourself centered again on him. to pray for the those who dirtied the dishes and to be present in the moment….
First of all – CONGRATS ALL AROUND. Beauty and celebration.
Secondly – “And I know one thing. Little Miss Fill-Her-Plate-Too-Full-and-Multi-Task-to-Her-Own-Detriment (me) has benefited greatly from having to stand in one place and wash one dish at a time.” Yes, yes, yes.
We’ve had a dishwasher less years than we haven’t had a dishwasher since we’ve been married. I actually kind of not having one now because I HATE unloading dishwashers. I can get my little dish drainer unloaded in under two minutes and I love that.
But yeah. It’s great praying and reflecting time. Also great “on the phone” time, too, because sometimes I just cannot help but to multitask.
O–you’re so welcome. And I use your real name when I pray for you.
When you said ” I’ve brought many of your names up over a sink full of suds” My eyes instantly got full of tears. I felt that, Thank you.
I grew up WITHOUT a dishwasher.
I had one for 2 years while living in apartments on my own.
The first 11 years of our marriage were spent WITHOUT a dishwasher.
We have one now, but I have been known to wash by hand, I guess it’s just part of who I am.
Bethany, you little devil! Congratulations on being an aunt for the 25th time (or something like that)!
Welcome baby Mia! We love you!!!
We had a dishwasher when I was younger, but I don’t remember when it stopped working. As far as married life–we went without one for 4 1/2 years. Then we moved into a house that already had one! Wow! It is amazing! I still wash my pots and pans by hand, though.
I wrote in my journal that my husband came on to me while I was washing dishes in our apartment one Friday evening and 9 months later we had baby Isabelle!
I’ve read through the comments and now I realize that I’m a little bit spoiled. The only time we’ve been without a dishwasher was in our first duplex when we were early married. There were only two of us so it wasn’t too bad, but when I was big and pregnant and couldn’t reach into the sink b/c my belly stuck out too far I was pretty miserable. I remember crying about it, actually. If my dishwasher broke now I would lose my mind. I run it everyday and still have plenty of dishes to handwash. There I go feeling sorry for myself again:)
Mia is gorgeous!! I bet you are the funnest aunt!
I had one for all 11 years that I lived on my own, but I barely used it. I always ran out of dishes before it was full. Now that I’m married, we don’t have one, and wouldn’t have room in our kitchen for one anyway. But I’m amazed at how two people produce way more dishes than one. The number of dishes didn’t double, it grew way out of proportion to the number of people. How does that happen?
We’ve “had” one since we got married, but neither the one in the apartment nor the one in the house really works. So I’ve been handwashing/drying for 2 years and 11 months.
I do that too, Deanna! Sorry about your luck, but I’m washing the dishes!
I’ve had a dishwasher all of my married life (except for the 8 months we rented while waiting on our house), and they are GLAM…. until they stop working!
My current dishwasher played out on us about 4 months ago. But so far I haven’t minded washing the dishes (EXCEPT FOR THANKSGIVING DAY, I so didn’t want to do the dishes that day!) because it reminds me of when I was younger and living with my parents. Doing the dishes was always my chore. Plus, now, I use washing dishes as my excuse for alone time. When my child or husband wants something I just say “Can’t….I’m washing the dishes.” and leave it at that!
Congrats to your sister! What a beautiful picture! I was dishwasherless for about 3 years. I would sometimes use my time in the suds singing praise songs. I do love that we have a dishwasher though (even if it is a used cheapy one off craigslist)
Ok. I was all set to click over here and post about dishwashers and dishes and gloves and messed up fingernails and……and then I saw that picture of a precious baby girl meeting her mommy. To beautiful and inspiring to rant and rave about all the time I spend with my hands in the sink now. In fact, that beautiful photo of your sister and her new baby just reminds me why it’s worth it to get my hands wet a dozen times each day. Puts it all in perspective huh?
Blessings to your family as you celebrate this lovely miracle!