Bummer.

Cowboys lost to the Houston 'Losers.' 28-16

No news is good news!

Ok, well I haven't been doing my blogging homework...
It just so happens that my life has picked up a bit.
Or maybe life has picked me up...

Either way, God has really been doing a great work!
It has taken me a long time to
'put on my big girl panties and deal with things'
and I have not been disappointed!
My expectations have been met and exceeded!
I am so grateful for a God who cares enough about the goings-on in our world to bring a revolution!
It couldn't hurt that I took a long hard look in the mirror...
God has shown me things I have been hiding from myself,
and now that it's out in the open, I can clean house!

What a journey still lies ahead in this path to becoming:
A woman after God's heart.
A person of depth and breadth, created to praise and adore a deserving God.
A loving, supportive, and respectful wife.
A patient, consistent, and tender momma.
A genuine, honest, and devoted daughter.
A considerate, accepting, and loyal sister.
A caring, attentive, and generous friend.

These are traits that I have been praying for - not this list specifically - but a version of it from one prayer to the next.

Many days, I fall short;
But my God is no small God.

It's unreal, the stuff that Satan hurls at you, when you are making your most concerted effort to become everything you can become in God.
Especially from the angles that you have left unguarded...
But at long last, I am compelled.
Compelled by a desire birthed from deep within,
not of myself - but of God.
A sense of urgency drives me further into the process that burns away that which cannot abide in the presence of a holy God.
A process that I don't particularly enjoy, with it's inherent scrapes and bruises.
It, however, is a process that has become increasingly necessary for this crawl to become a 'walk.'
And then for my walk to more closely resemble my Saviour's.

It's for your own good.

La, I got your comment.
Boy, did I ever get your comment?!?!?!?!
It is a matter of your protection that I did not post it.
As a result, it will never see the light of day.
You can thank me later!
Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!

Yay to me!

Hunny's home.
Burns are not too bad.
He's lying there on our couch asleep, cuddling a pillow, looking so cute.
I'd take a pic, but you know I would so pay for that...
I have felt so bad for him. No one should have to work such long hours. Seriously.
This is the never-ending week for him - but tomorrow is Friday.
He's here. He's ok. He's getting some much needed rest.
Yay!

Debbie Downer...

Okay - it's time for a new thought on this page.
I have been so down the last few posts. Sorry.

When my kids jump on a bed, my first instinct is to jump with them.
No cuter thing can I picture than the two of them jumping with all their might on my bed.
It is cuteness defined. The only thing that is even cuter is when they giggle too.
It is so hard for me to overcome the kid in me sometimes.
I'm glad for that.
But there are also days when it's too hard to overlook the responsible adult.
I always end up telling them that they cannot jump on the bed, but only after a few minutes of pure, precious bed-jumping fun...
Mixed message? NAAHHHHHHHH>>>>>>>

I'm fighting anger here.

It's not fair, for the first time in a really long time, I had an unusual excitement over Chris's day off.
I was looking forward to it for many reasons, not the least of which is the fact that it was our last day off together before I go back to work.
During the school year, it is as if we don't see each other for days at a time because we arrange our work schedules for childcare.
I am really upset. Really, really upset.
I NEEDED him to be off work today.
Do you realize that I have not been up to my classroom yet?
I don't even know if hurricane sunday school or tropical storm vacation Bible school has left it unrecognizable as my music classroom...
I have found it to be futile to take the kids and expect to get anything done up there.
So I NEEDED him to be off today.
But I also Wanted him to be off.
It was his day off. The fact that he is up there means that his miserable 70+ hour work week will likely end up being more like 75-80.
He figuratively and now literally puts out fires that others start for a living...
I think it was close to 3AM before he got home after the disaster and he was gone again by 8AM.
Poor, poor hunny...
I am really trying to fight back the 'mad' here...

Pray.

Yes, I know.
10 minutes ago everything was coming up roses.
My hunny just called.
There was an accident at work.
He and an employee have been burned.
The employee might need to go to the hospital he said. (No, meems - not that employee)
There is damage in his kitchen due to a fire.
Their efforts to extinguish it caused a bit of a "backdraft" as he put it.
He is coming off of a more than 16 hour shift - which, due to recent events, will likely be more like 18. If everything goes ok from here on out.
he's tired.
he's burned.
he needs our prayers.
Tomorrow was supposed to be his day off.
It has been snatched away from him. He has to go back up there for cleanup.
They can't open tomorrow.
Too much mess from fire and extinguishers.
Poor hunny.

Things that happened today...

1. I was pleasantly surprised by a visit from my daddy first thing this morning.
2. I had not one, but 2 cups of coffee. The best part of waking up. Two cup days are usually good, but not nearly as good as 4 cup days.
3. The kids got to play at the park. That is always fun! They played themselves into a dither!
4. J. decided that he does like pizza. I have dreamt for this day. Can you say, Digiorno?
5. My parents were in-town today and we spent some time this afternoon with them. The kids are always glad to see their grandparents. My mom tried to give the kids ice cream and their evil mom said NO... Poor kids... Poor grandmamma... :(
6. My son begged and begged me to let him mop. Yes, really.
7. My daughter morphed into a two-year old, finally. She's always been so perfect, now, at 2 and 3/4 years old, she got the memo... I think an extended 3 month timeout should do...
8. I cooked a dinner that both kids ate. It was evidently scrumptious.
9. We got to go to church. Rainbows, specifically. I cannot explain to you how much this means to the kids. It is as if they would do anything I asked them to just so they can go, (pick up toys, eat their 'growing food') It's magical. J. knows he gets 'points' if he brings his Bible, so at like 3PM he started carrying it with him everywhere... so sweet.
10. I saw Marme's 30 year set. Good job, Pastor. And Marms, you're gonna have to get a sling to hold your arm up before too long. I'll say - if that's what 30 years earns me, I'm in...
11. Rainbows went well, until Julia got a present for earning 500 points, and A. did not get the same special present. She cried real big tears, for a really long time. So heart-broken. These outbursts are so foreign coming from A. that I don't really know what to do with myself when it happens. I guess I will do what every other mom does; grin sheepishly and make an escape... In her defense, she's been positively perfect, until lately...
12. We went by Daddy's work to kiss him goodnight. Given A's foul mood today, I should have known better. She covered her mouth as we walked in. I asked her why she was covering her mouth and she snarled, "I don't want to give kisses." And she quickly covered her mouth up again.
13. The much anticipated moment arrived at bedtime tonight. I told J. that if he had a good bedtime last night, and he ate and behaved well today, he would get to sleep with his favorite Buzz Lightyear Toy. A moment I have dreaded because I knew he would keep himself awake with it. He tried so hard today. He was agreeable, sweet, he ate, he did everything I asked him to. He was just perfect. So tonight at bedtime, I told him he had definitely earned a night with Buzz. Those eyes just lit up. It was wonderful! He could not have been more pleased. And I could not have been any more proud. We have had our moments, me and that boy - but tonight he was so big, so tender, so excited, so everything a momma dreams of. He went straight to sleep.

What a gift! We are so blessed!

Even the days that don't seem to have a real definite purpose are blessings!

Thank you Lord for a great day with my babies!

Nothing Compares...

Cruel child labor?

I know they set those child labor laws into motion for a reason.
But who am I to rob my son of his joy?
Yesterday, it would seem my son began what I hope is a lasting love affair with mopping.
Today he begged me to let him mop the kitchen floor.
I 'reluctantly' agreed. HA!
I got out the Pine-sol and told him to get after it!
He is a really great mopper!
When he finished, the floors in my kitchen and dining room were super-sparkly! I just went on and on about it!
He wanted to do more.
What kind of mother would I be if I denied him his good, clean fun? (drumroll)
I said, "you can go do your bathroom..." He just gushed with happiness.
He came back, practically skipping all the way. I will say, I know just how to brag on that boy to keep him coming back for more!! Like father, like son.
He asked if he HAD to quit.
I suggested he go mop the entry way. He was elated!!!
Man! What a humdinger of a deal!
I got to prepare dinner and avoid major catastrophe.
Normally, while I cook or clean or try to do ANYTHING other than invest 100% of myself into them - I can be guaranteed a catastrophe.
Momma learned a new trick. Give him something really helpful to do. He loves being a part. He absolutely eats it up!
And now I get to relax in my perfectly clean house, well at least until 8:15 tomorrow morning...