Politically Incorrect.

My son has been learning about all the planets. He has also been taught that Pluto is now classified as a "Dwarf Planet" (to appease all of us who learned in grade school it was the ninth planet in our solar system.)
We were driving in the van the other day when he asked, "Is Pluto where all the dwarf's have to live?"
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As we walked toward our car after leaving the grocery store yesterday, the sun had begun its setting phase and my shadow was stretched out across the parking lot.
A. looked at my extremely long (and wide) shadow and gasped, "Momma, You're the biggest Mommy in the whole world! You're even bigger than that truck!"

If you're bored and have nothing better to do, try this:
1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME (first pet, current car): Lady Windstar
2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME (fave ice cream flavor, favorite type of shoe): Vanilla Bean Barefoot
3. YOUR NATIVE AMERICAN NAME (favorite color, favorite animal): Brown Dog
4. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME (middle name, city where you were born): Nicole Lewisville
5. YOUR STAR WARS NAME (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 of your first name):Ochan
6. SUPERHERO NAME (2nd favorite color, favorite drink): Red Zero
7. NASCAR NAME (the first names of your grandfathers): Bill Dick
8. STRIPPER NAME ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent,favorite candy): Joop Snickers
9. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME (your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter): Almond Atlanta
10. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower): Autumn Ranunculus
11. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing rightnow): Banana Beater
12. HIPPIE NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree): Coffee Oak

"My pleasure"

My parents closed on their new house a week ago today. In one week's time, they have taken the entire interior from circa 1976 to Barney Rubble. They have done almost every kind of demolition you can imagine. Yes, really. Layer upon layer of wallpaper, a 'rude' wall (as my mom said it), carpet, the previous owner's crud (don't get me started), rafters, texture off the ceiling, light fixtures, ancient tile set in concrete, kitchen cabinet/breakfast bar, old appliances...
A total do-over.
I have been spending as much time as I can over there helping out and letting my son, who can think of nothing better than building stuff, help out as well.
On Monday, my parents let him help knock out the offending wall they had planned to remove with a hammer. Boy was he on cloud 9!
I kept saying, "J. if you would rather go play out in the backyard, you can go right on ahead..."
Then he would swing his hammer again and say breathlessly, "No Momma, this is really my pleasure to help you get this wall out."
Ever so often, he would reiterate that this was his "pleasure."
He loves to build so much.
In fact, my parents hired a carpenter to help with a lot of the attic work because my dad is still recovering from a knee replacement. J. looked up at the carpenter and asked awestruck, "Is THIS what you do for a job?" I guess little J. couldn't think of any better job in the world than swingin' a hammer.
He's so into carpentry, in fact, he may be the only 4-year old child I have ever known who can not only identify a Philips head and flat head screwdriver, but also point out that the tool I had in my hand was NOT really an oscillating sander (as I mistakenly called it), but an orbital sander instead.
What a cutie pie tool guy!

Bling.

As far as my daughter is concerned, the bigger the bling - the better.

It is not an unusual occurrence to find her making "jewelry" out of various household items.

When she saw THIS beautiful, shiny toe ring, she giggled and went right to work putting it on...

Coffee.

It occurred to me today that my daughter thinks coffee is something you drink to get rid of a cough.
Aren't kids the cutest?

4 years ago today.

I took my second ever positive pregnancy test.
It was one of the best unplanned things that ever happened to me.
Right alongside her brother's positive pregnancy test, that is.

At this point in my life, I cannot imagine that there was ever a time that a positive result could have ever been anything other than pure bliss - but neither of my 'positive test experiences' were any kind of bliss.

I think I will always regret that.
I wish I could have clicked my heels a little more.
How precious and how very planned by God those little lives were.
At the time, I just couldn't see it.

But now I see it.
And I am so glad for them both.
Thank You Father for knowing exactly what I needed, even when I couldn't begin to understand. I love You.

Better Thoughts.

Anyone reading my posts lately must be getting dragged down. Sorry about that.
I guess there are times for all seasons.
Grief. Joy. Abundance. Lack.
Regardless of the season or the circumstances surrounding them, God is God.

Although there are things that are weighty going on, there are also things that bring my spirit into a season of thankfulness.

My children are healthy, brilliant, and crave learning about God.
They are the sparkle in my eye and the bounce in my step.
They absolutely engulf my thoughts and keep a smile on my face.
I love them so.

My husband is turning into a softy in his old age. :)
He is being quite tender with all of us these days. No doubt the realization that life is short and we all are subject to death has been ringing through his thoughts. I don't think you can be faced with the death of a close friend or co-worker and come away without being reminded of the temporal nature of life on this earth. It is never easy though, to let go.
My husband is a good, good man.
I love him so.

My parents are daily coming into town to remodel their new house. I wish I could say that they were living here already, but there is much work to be done before that can happen. They always buy fixer-uppers and each one turns out more beautiful than the one before.
I guess that's why I have never been afraid of hard work. I have seen my parents work hard their whole life. It not only increases your knowledge, by learning how to work with your hands, but it also builds your character and cultivates a sense of accomplishment and makes you appreciate what you have. I don't think God could have given me better parents. They are absolutely wonderful.
I love them so.

My sister is a faithful friend. There have been many days in my life that I have not been the better person in our relationship. She is ever patient, forgiving, and ever waiting for an opportunity to share time with me. I have been blessed to have her as a sister, a friend, and a spiritual mentor.
You don't always get the whole package in a sister. I was blessed with a wonderful sister.
I love her so.

My brother has been going through a phase of growth in his life that many of us have been praying for for a long, long time. He has re-committed his life to God, found a very special little lady, and has found favor and success in his field of employment. I look forward to our conversations. Each time I speak to him, it seems like he gets sweeter and happier. I enjoy spending time with my brother, my friend.
I love him so.

My God has been a constant, faithful friend and a reminder of the unfailing acceptance I have sought for so long. He has taken me and pulled out of me things I didn't know were there. Thoughts that are bigger than my thoughts, He has placed in my mind. Desires that are more selfless than my own desires, He has given me. He refreshes me and causes each day to be new.
I love Him so.

Our friend who had the stroke passed away today.

My closest friend at work (my son's teacher) was taken out of her classroom today and told that her father had just been killed in an accident. I could hear her wailing from shock and grief down the hall.

Tonight, we had planned a party to celebrate her birthday.

It seems like everything changes so drastically, so quickly sometimes.
My heart aches for her today.

Lord, Please comfort my friend.

highly trained horticulturist

I went to home depot.
My shrubbery was sick.
I needed advice.
I am now a highly trained and qualified horticulturist on the matter of Indian Hawthornes and fungus.
Who knew?
Who knew keeping a yard healthy would be harder than raising two children from infancy?

1. As I see it, if I do what the plant lady told me, I'll have to wake up early in the morning to water. Hmmmm... An early morning feeding... just like a baby. (Watering at night can aggravate the fungus.)
2. I'll also have to carefully measure this liquid medicine for my shrubs, not unlike measuring Tylenol for small sick children.
3. Then, if the medicine does the trick, I'll have to continue to treat the soil for fungus to ensure that it doesn't return. Roughly akin to the 10-day rule for kid antibiotics.
4. If I am able to get one shrub well, but not the others - the cycle may perpetuate itself - unless I can manage to effectively prune the shrubs so that no part of them touch the others. Yeah - passing sickness through your whole home, the only way to stop it is to quarantine everyone and make the password to exit or enter any room: LYSOL.

I simply did not sign up for another needy anything.
Those poor, poor Indian Hawthornes - they didn't get to choose who their Momma is.
Maybe they'll make it, despite of the odds stacked heavily against them.