Game Day Cuties!

I actually took this picture with them all suited up last week but I didn't have the heart to post about the Cowboys after their romping by the Patriots. Truth be told, we're fans no matter whether they win or lose. (It's just a wee bit easier to sport the jersey after a win...)

Before and After shots.

Here are the before and after pics of the living room. They aren't that different, unless you ask me.
It better look WAAAAAYYY different after all the stinkin work it turned out to be. I have already had this conversation with some of you but I want to explain my complaining...
The reason it was so much work is not because I'm a wuss. I'm not. I just had to do everything in teensy spurts, which, in turn, ended up seeming like a lot more work.
I would put in a full day at work and with the kids, then after putting them to bed, I would get out all the painting stuff and tape and paint for a bit. I would then stop so that I could spend the time it took to do the clean-up and still get to bed at a semi-reasonable hour.
It took forever. I am a big fan of the grandparent takes the kids so you can work non-stop till it's done approach.
Mom, are you reading this? hehehehe
(My parents are awesome and would take the kids anytime I asked. In fact, they're always looking for a chance to take them... And who can blame them? My kids are awesome!!)

At any rate, that's the reason for all the complaining. I never could finish the job in one fell swoop. It was a work in progress for a looooooong time.

Also, I can think of no reason that all of you couldn't come see me at my house - well, except for the out-of-towners - but those of you in town gals have a standing invitation.
Especially for Nov. 6th. That's when meems is having silpada at my house. Come one, come all.

Tagged and bagged.

Seven things you never knew about me and now wish you didn't. or as you put it...seven strange/weird/crazy things about me. (this is really out of my comfort zone. You people are going to think I'm nuts.)

ok - so bacamama, crys, and kdp tagged me.
Do I have to find 21 weird things about me?
I am certain that there are at least that many...

• I count E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G!!! I count letters in the words I speak as I speak them. There are 16 ceiling fans, 36 pots lights, 28 can lights in our sanctuary at church (sorry pastor... I really DO pay attention) My laundry baskets have 72 holes in them.... I never stop counting. never.
• I slice 7 slices of tomato. Seven. Always. If I run out of tomato on slice #6, there's a problem.
• If I have an extra sock leftover after laundry folding, it goes in the trash... Wasteful, I know, but I do keep cool socks... If you have a sock left, you're not finished. I have to finish. And yes, I do realize I am perpetuating a problem here...
• The sound of football games on Sunday is one of the most tranquilizing sounds I can think of. Yes, really. Even if I don't care for the teams playing, I keep the tv on for the background noise.
• I cannot listen to music without analyzing chord progressions and trying to identify each individual instrument used to make each song.
• I have a major peeve when it comes to people singing. It really bothers me when people start words that begin with vowels with an "H" sound. ( and becomes "hand" - totally bugs me)
• The things that bothered me when I was pregnant and had very young babies are the very things that I find myself doing to other young mothers, like petting their pregnant bellies, telling them their child has lost a shoe, etc.
• I am not organized. At all. This may come as a shock to some of you. If you were to look in my closet (ahem, la) or my cabinets, you would realize how bad it is... I get really nervous before large gatherings at my house that someone will see how messy I am behind closed doors...

I think that was eight. You got a freebee.

I tag scraps and A's rich life.

And for my second tagging: I tag camezi and esther.

And for my third: La and cg

________________________________________________

Here is an adendum.

• I am terrified of water that I cannot see to the bottom of. Bathwater's ok. The ocean, not a chance - I will literally have a panic attack.
• I like to look at people's hands. Creepy.
• I don't think there is an existing bra size that will fit me perfectly.
• Once I woke up and there was the impression of a footprint on my face. I was sleeping alone. I wake up often with a footprint or handprint pressed to a weird place on my body. Limber Lucy...
• I really could go on and on - but who has the time to read a post that includes every single weird thing I can think of.

It is finished.

My living room is completely painted!
That is all.

Baby Bible.

So a month or so ago, my mom bought J. a Bible. His first.
He loved his Bible so much that it lasted oh about 15 minutes.
It was a hardback and the cover was ripped off by bedtime: Day 1.
I've been making him carry it all shredded up and talking to him about how we treat the Word of God.
Last Saturday, after he prayed THE PRAYER, I thought I should look into the possibility of getting him a 'big boy' Bible.
So I did and I gave it to him about 30 minutes before church on Wednesday night.
I told him to be very gentle with it, like it was a baby.
It was a fancy soft cover one.
We got in the van, drove to church, and started to go into the building.
I heard a thud followed by, "Oh, sorry baby."
Yep, he dropped his Bible.

Peace, love and afro-grease.

Can I say that?

This morning my hair was uber-frizzy after drying it.
One of the 'perks' of this amazing weather, I guess...
So I had to put some anti-frizz/smoothing cream in it - only I was distracted while I squeezed the bottle - (Let's not talk about what the distraction was...) so I squeezed too much into my hand.
That stuff isn't free and I'm not one to waste - so I had a choice to make: Wash money down the drain or apply it all to my hair.
I'm cheap. Into the hair it went.
By 3 pm, I was regretting the decision.
Now I look like someone could fry bacon on my head.
So if you ever find yourself in a similar situation, my suggestion is to say goodbye to your beloved excess smoothing cream - or you could rub it into your crusty elbows...
Just a thought...

bleh.

I told you in the title what this post is about so be forewarned.

I am so frustrated.
It seems that every time things are really getting revved up with me spiritually and I really feel like I could reach out and touch the heart of God I'm so near to Him, something happens.
Something rolls up and rear-ends or sideswipes me.
It isn't the fact that there are things that come up that bothers me.
I know Satan goes around seeking whom he may devour, I even expect the war to be waged.
What bothers me is that I know that something is likely coming down the hatch, there have been times, like this one, that God even prepares me for what is coming - and even with all this knowledge I still get knocked off course.
I want to stay the course.
I don't want to be unstable.
Everything in me wants to experience a day in the life without the roller coaster ride. I want a steady stream of God.
God's love never changes. His schedule never gets too crowded to squeeze me in.
My schedule is so packed that I can't squeeze me in. I am the reason for the ups and downs, not Him.
But lately, I'm not gonna lie, God has been sharing time with me in the shower and during car rides. Ha! Car rides with 2 pre-schoolers...
He patiently and persistently waits for that moment that we can steal away together.
It bothers me that He's the most important thing going on in my life right now and silly things like cars that won't start, and sickness, and sleep deprivation, and lesson plans, and grocery shopping, bill paying, house cleaning, are all getting in the way of that.

My children are watching my relationship with my heavenly Father.
My husband is watching too.
There is nothing that is paramount to them seeing me love God. And to really, really worship Him. And for me to lead a life that glorifies and edifies and is real beyond any doubt.

But I'm so overwhelmed.
I've been knocked off course.
Life has overtaken me.
I want to take it back.
I'm going to bed early tonight.
I'm going to wake up early tomorrow.
I have a date with my Maker.
(No, not THAT date.)
We're going to enjoy one another.
Me, God, and my cup of jo on the back porch tomorrow morning.
Maybe I'll find that path I had been on.
I was created to worship.
I want to be whole-hearted and clear-minded before the King, giving Him the best of me.
Morning breath and all.

Twitchy-McTwitch-face...

The dreaded eyeball twitch is here!
My eye has been twitching all day.
I need an eyepatch or something.
Geez!

Hide and seek.

I am sharing because someday this will be funnier than it was today...

5:12pm > I have to be at school for an open house by 5:30pm.
We are frantically getting ready. The kids are finishing up their SECOND dinner because the first was unacceptable... (Don't ask me why I gave in, I just needed things to go smoothly and I couldn't find my taser.)
I told J. to change his clothes because he looked like a "ragamuffin." I neatly laid out his clothes on the living room floor for him.
I told him more times than a proud parent will admit readily. It must have been like the fourth or fifth time that I told him to get his hands and face washed, and get his clothes changed...
But it was more like, "GET YOUR HANDS AND FACE WASHED AND GET YOUR CLOTHES CHANGED..." (from across the house while I reassembled pigtails for the elevendy-millionth time)
I said, "Did you hear me?"
No answer.
I start shuffling through the house looking for him while still getting ready.
"J. this isn't funny!!! If you can hear me say, 'I'm here'..."
No response.
5:18pm
Checking his bedroom.
Checking closets.
"Oh God, Where are you?"
"J. You have to answer me..."
"WHERE ARE YOU? THIS IS NOT A GAME!!! J. MOMMA'S WORRIED!!!"
5:20ish> I'm running around outside shouting at the top of my lungs, in a dress, with no shoes on, in an absolute frenzy...
"J. Where are you?"
"Please, please Where ARE YOU???"
5:2-something...>
Back inside.
Still looking in every crack and crevasse for my precious.
I start looking in places that I have already looked once.
"If you are hiding from me , when I find you........ AAARRRRGGGGHHHHH!
So help me, J. I am so scared. WHERE ARE YOU??????"
I went back to my bedroom and then the bathroom.
I looked in my shower for the THIRD time...
There he was.
Laughing.

5:28pm>
This is the exact moment of indescribable relief and anger that overtakes every atom of a mother upon discovery of the unsolicited game of hide and seek they have come to realize they were playing...

He laughed. It. was. the. greatest. thing.----EVER!
I began to explain in my crazy person voice all the reasons it was not funny.
#1 being: What if you had been kidnapped?
#2: What if you had been dragged away by tigers? (a mother must always include tiger mauling as a derogatory consequence for various mal-acts)
#3: I am late to the open house and you are standing here in Superman underwear with syrup all in your hair and laughing???
Oh no you don't... That's it. That's the last straw...Come here...

I was still ranting about 5 minutes later when the doorbell rang.
I cannot tell you all the reasons I knew who it was.
Every mother must have that sense of dread... Being caught in their weakest and most insane moment.
I just knew it was CPS.
They had to have heard my shrieks of terror and then ANGER BEYOND ANGER.
They were coming to take them away...

I went to the door and it was the Kirby people.
Stupid Kirby salespeople.
Oh Thank God, it was the Kirby people.

5:34pm> We're in the car.

5:37pm> We're at school. All polished up. Like nothing ever happened...

Light the darkness.

When I was in the fifth grade I had an awesome teacher, Mrs. Almond.
She taught my homeroom and English.
She was incredible!
She was a Christian and she knew I was too - so she would talk to me about God.
I always felt so significant when I spoke with her.

One thing she told me has really stayed with me.
Occasionally I will drift into negative thinking and I almost always remember these words she spoke to me more than 15 years ago:


We all have a choice to make in life.
We can either light a candle, or we can curse the darkness.


I want to be the type of person that sheds a positive light on things. Even those things that seem dark. But especially, ESPECIALLY, I want to always be the type of person that edifies with my words and my actions. I do not ever want to be a nay-sayer or endeavor to take anyone's joy away.

I know how hard it can be to look on the bright side, but there are so many things worth praising Him over!
I cling to the words in Philippians 4 - even in the face of adversity.
I will focus on the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.