Not letting the joy leak out with the water

Some days are harder than others, but the harder the day, the more grace is given! We are without water. Somehow, some where, a pipe under the concrete slap of our home is broken badly. Our entire water storage tank empited somewhere under our home. That isn't good...it could be pretty bad. Thankfully, we can hear at least some of it run into the sewage pipes. Not sure why or how ??? But we do know we have a big leak!
Actually, we emptied the 2,500 liter tank out twice as the first time I found it was empty, I just assumed that water hadn't arrived during the day to fill it as is often the case. When I heard the water start going in, I let it fill back up and then turned back on the pump so I could wash dishes. Daniel got home from teaching the men of the church and so I decided the dishes could wait while I served my hubby his supper and sat down with him to visit while he ate. By the time we finished visiting, it was late, and Daniel went over to help me with the dishes when he discovered there was no water. The tank was completely empty again. And after some investigation, we found there must be a big leak somewhere.
So we turned off the water to the house and all day today, Daniel has been pounding away at concrete with a sledge hammer and chisel trying to find where the leak is. As I type, he's trying our 3rd guess. :)
It's tough for a family our size to be without running water and the job of pounding away at cement has taken a toll on Daniel's muscles and hands.
But it is times like these that I am so thankful for the husband I have. How patiently he just plugs away at the job. Little ones curious to see what Daddy is doing, wanting to be the first to spot the leak with Daddy...I haven't heard him once tire at their questions or presence. He only has them stay away when it is for their safety.
Last night, I cried. It had been a tough week and then, while I've been without water before and survived just fine, just the first thought of the extra work it would make brought the tears. Daniel was quick to hold me, encourage me, and when I felt better, he prayed with me.
Then, in the morning, he went to the parts store to get something he needed so I could have a spigot of running water outside. He connected a hose which I can bring through the kitchen window to wash dishes or through the bathroom window to shower. And then, even my biggest concern was taken care of. He and Timothy moved my washing machine outside near the spigot near a sweep so I could fill it up with the hose and drain it into the outside and keep up with the laundry.
Daniel told me to go ahead and start school so we could keep on schedule as much as possible and he washed huge stack of dishes that were unable to be done the night before. Yes, he is for real :).
And all day long, he would comment from time to time telling me what he thought the Lord was teaching him through this. And here it is, about 9 pm...about 12 hours from when he first started pounding...no leak found yet...and when I go outside to rub his back, he just gives me a smile.
I'm so quick sometimes to worry and complain. When I woke up late this morning (as Daniel and I were up until after 1 am working on the situation), I heard the children laughing and giddy with excitment to be hauling in water for brushing teeth, cleaning chores, and drinking. It was another big, exciting adventure to add to their memories. :)
And I thought how the Lord wants me to be like a little child sometimes. They don't worry...they know they are taken care of...and they make the best of whatever comes their way even finding joy in it.
So that is what I set out to do today. And it was a wonderful day...really!
At lunch today, before we prayed for the meal, I told the children we needed to keep praying that the Lord would help Daddy to find the problem, Timothy added, "And we need to thank the Lord for the problem too." That's right, Timothy! So they really do listen to what we teach them sometimes :) The Lord is so faithful and good!