Labor Day

This entry is for all of you moms who sometimes think you aren't worth a flip!  After reading this you will say, "Wow, at least I'm better than she is."

Labor Day with my fellow chix and a few other families.  Shall I set the stage???  Swimming pool, lake to fish, Bobcats to drive, lots of land to run free-you get the idea.  Well, not 5 minutes after we arrived, I got all of my clothes soaked jumping in the pool to rescue my 3 year old.  Then, 15 minutes after that I see something brown at the bottom of the steps and the bottom of the shallow end of the pool.  What was it????  POOP!!!!  Seriously, can this be happening to me? She had on a swim diaper.  I proceed to get that big 20 ft. long net to "fish it out" without everyone knowing what was going on.  However, my 10 yr. old and J's 10 yr. old begin the chant,  EWWWWW, GROSSSSS, that is so NASTY, etc.  I am mortified and L calls her husband from the lake to help.  He sees me and says," Get in the pool right now."  He and I jump in and he swims to all of the people on the side of the pool not going in or letting their children in the water and gets a huge mouthful of pool water and spits and.  He says, " Were good, get in the pool."  

Can I tell you how much I love L's husband?  That was classic.  Also, another friend's husband said later, " Hey, some people eat that stuff to survive when out in the middle of nowhere."

I tell you, men are so great when women freak!!!

Anyway, I'm better now.  Should I mention this is the 2nd time this has happened to me with the POOP?  Maybe not.

~A

When You Marry A Hunter....

You do things you never thought you'd do.

Like pulling dead, bloody birds from your 8-year-old daughter's hunting vest and storing them in ziploc bags in your refrigerator.

Because she killed them and is proud.

That is all I am saying.

L

Seriously

Seriously you cannot make up the stuff that happens during my days. Often I am convinced there is a hidden camera somewhere and that any minute somebody will junp out and say "Gotcha!" But it hasn't happened yet so it must just be me.

So today was going pretty well early this morning when I got everybody off to school, including S who started preschool today (can anybody say "PRAISE THE LORD?") and went and worked out. I was proud to fit that in because I have really been making an effort in that area. After working out I volunteered at the elementary school where my oldest child did not speak to me when she saw me and my middle child chose to be in another line from mine when given the option during a vision/hearing screen. So glad I gave up my free time to hang with the girls. Oh well, at least they are independent.

Then I busted into tears while talking to my friend in front of a room full of suburban housewives because I saw three girls (B, S and P for those of you who know that story)who have been mean to my daughter and I wanted to choke them all. Apparently I had some hidden emotional crisis and just decided to let it all out in the middle of asking 4622 children which car had the broken wheel. Who knew?

Then as I was rushing to pick up S from preschool, I was extremely convicted to go buy lunch for a homeless man on the side of the road. "OK, Lord," I thought, "I will be obedient to Your Spirit and buy this man some lunch." So as soon as the lady in the drive-through handed me his drink the cup busted all over me and the car and the seat and the floor and the 4622 items that were in the car and on the seat and on the floor. Oh well, I tried. And did I mention that it was a very large drink? So I drove back to the man and handed him the food and a bottle of water I had gotten at the vision screening that I may or may not have taken a sip out of. I couldn't remember, but I figured some water was better than no drink, right?

Then I picked up S and couldn't wait to see her and hear about her day. Absence truly does make the heart grow fonder. However, she screamed all the way home about how hungry she was so I finally gave in and gave her some applesauce. This was not a good idea. And by the way, the reason that the applesauce was still in her lunchbox was because I am apparently not allowed to bring spoon-fed items to school, only finger foods. But don't worry, because I got a cute little reminder note from the teacher letting me know exactly what to pack in her lunch "next time" since I apparently did not listen during the parent meeting, nor did I read the handbook that I signed and returned today saying "Yes, I have read the handbook and understand what is expected of me." I am a train wreck.

So anyway, the applesauce being the messy item that it was ended up all over S's night-night, baby doll and dress. So I, while trying to navigate the exit ramp onto I-459, am holding the applesauce while trying to find a napkin for her that has only been used one or two times. Meanhwhile, I hit a bump and the applesauce ends up inside my make-up case which is always in the car because I never have time to put make-up on at home.

So by the time we get home and I have finished trying to wipe smeared applesauce from the lip gloss tube, I am done. Wiped out. Over it. Ready to take a break. But instead I chase S around the kitchen while she is screaming "NOT TAKE A NAP NOT TIRED HUNGRY NOT NAP MAMA" 4622 times. So here I sit, blogging, even though I have a 47-page theology chapter to read by 8:00 tonight and two other kids who will be home any minute. And by the way, I hear S throwing things out of her bed, but I am not going up there, no I am not.

L

What A Weekend

I feel like I need to write but I don't know if I can put what I need to say into words. Anybody ever feel that way? Have you ever had an experience so incredible that you feel like anything you say about it won't do it justice? That's how I feel today.

This past weekend, my fellow chix, along with about 20 other ladies from our area, traveled to San Antonio, Texas for the Living Proof Live Conference and Siesta Fiesta event. It was a weekend that I will not soon forget. The worship and teaching were absolutely incredible, as I expected them to be. But the element of the weekend that I did not expect was the amount of fellowship and relationship-building that happened with the women from my church, as well as their friends and family that came with us.

As relational creatures, we women desire intimacy in our relationships. And developing that intimacy is a good thing. It gives us the communication we crave, builds us up, and helps us to build others. It helps us learn, grow and expand our horizons. In short, it is important to invest in people's lives and spend time with them. I know for me, there are days when I would much rather curl up with a good book and not answer the phone than make a phone call to a friend or check in on someone who may need a personal touch. Now of course there is nothing wrong with that every once in a while! But as believers, we are called to be relational. And you know why? It's because our precious heavenly Father is the most relational of ALL! He craves relationships with us, desires to spend time with us and wants to be involved in every aspect of our lives. So as His children created in His image, it is important for us to do the same.

One of the most precious times that was spent this weekend was an impromptu gathering of us all in a hotel conference room just talking and sharing and getting advice from each other. Some of the ladies who came were a few steps beyond most of us in their parenting and life experiences, and they spent sweet, precious time sharing their wisdom and encouraging us in our journeys. It was a true example of an investment with unlimited returns.

It was also wonderful to spend time with ladies from different circles and get to know new friends. We talked about how important unity within the body of Christ is, and how we need to get to know each other at deeper levels rather than just surface "hellos" at church. In short, we NEED each other and I am so thankful that I now have a wider circle that I feel close to and can share this life with.

Lastly, I just had an awesome time with my Lord this weekend. He wrapped his arms around me and blessed me over and over. I needed it. I am refreshed and overwhelmed and thankful and emotionally spent all at the same time! My heart's desire is to know Him more and to spend my life giving glory and honor to His precious name. I want to dig so deep into His word that I can't ever climb out. I want to be a light to those around me.

And I know that anything else I pursue pales in comparison.

L

Hairy Day

Those of you that know me know that I'm a "hair" girl.  I love hair!  Therefore, I change my style up a lot.  I change my color every 3 months.  Well, the first day of school was my recent change in hair color. He put in shades of really blonde, brown, and almost jet black.

 Looking back...not the best day for a change!  My oldest just started 5th grade and will be 11 yrs. old in 3 weeks.  Needless to say...I think she may be close to...DUH,DUH, DUH...

THE CHANGE!!!!  Anyway, she returns from the "worst day of her life" and sees my hair.  Her response was priceless.  "Mom, you look goth. I need for you to have your hair changed back to the other color by the time I get home from school tomorrow or I'll be the most embarrassed person in the world."

Whatever!!!  I at least thought I had until she was 13 until I embarrassed her.  And anyway, I thought I was cool!  Oh well, I guess I should just welcome my "goth" self to the not so popular role of raising a preteen!

~A

Happy Back-To-School

Today was a bittersweet day for many Moms in my little corner of the world. Today was a day for rejoicing mixed with sorrow. Tears mixed with sighs of relief. The first day of school was today, and with it came a variety of mixed emotions.

We have had a great summer. My family has gone to the beach several times, the pool a LOT of times, and simply spent good, quality time together. Well, except for the day I told S that I was going to smash the DVD player in the car with a baseball bat if she asked me if we could watch a movie in the car one more time. That probably wasn't the best example of quality time, but we'll just forgive and forget. (By the way, she responded, "Dat makes me SO MAD when you say dat Mommy!"At least the girl is in touch with her inner emotions)

So today as I sent my oldest to 3rd grade and my middle daughter to Kindergarten, I was happy for them, but sad for me. I am going to miss the flexibility of summer schedules, not having set bedtimes and homework deadlines, and being able to stay in pajamas as long as we want to. And I have to admit that the thought of S and I having an entire month alone with no sisters to play with and no preschool scares me A LOT.

But as I was thinking about all of this today, I ran into a Mom who reminisced with me about her youngest child's first day of school. She remembers vividly calling a friend when he got on the bus and saying cheerfully, "Do you know what today is??? The FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!" She was so excited to have everybody in school she didn't know what to do. And then she looked at me and said, "Seems like just yesterday." Then she asked me, "Do you know what today is? Today is his last day at home. He leaves for college tomorrow." As we wiped our tears we were reminded how swiftly time passes and how precious each day is.

So happy-back-to school for all you readers out there. It's a wonderful time to reflect on the new beginnings we have each day with our sweet Savior. Take time to reflect on memories made, and ones yet to come.

And for all you Moms w/preschoolers still at home just counting the minutes until Labor Day because PRESCHOOL STARTS THE NEXT DAY, hang in there and know that I feel your pain. I especially felt it when S took the new shampoo bottle and "washed" her hair with it in the den this afternoon. But just remember that all too soon, we'll have clean houses, new-looking furniture, peace and quiet.....and we'll be looking back on these school days and wishing we had just a few more.


L

THE TALK

Well, I did it...I had "The Talk" with my daughters. I knew this would be the summer it would have to be done. My oldest daughter (10 1/2) is starting 5th grade this year (well really, this week) and she'll be watching the Health video and I knew I wanted to talk to her before that, so I did it. I also ended up talking to my youngest daughter (almost 9) too, because I knew that the info she got from her big sister would be a little confusing, so I talked to them together. We were on the way to Target when the "sex" questions started...I wasn't exactly prepared. I just prayed and thought that I would just answer questions until they stopped asking. I wasn't sure exactly how far the questions would go, but I would just let the questions and conversations dictate how far into the explanation we'd end up going. The answer to that is...ALL THE WAY! Now, I need to give a little background...most of my closest friends know this, but it does need to be explained for this topic. I've always been a mom who has used the atomically correct words when talking about our body parts...we don't have nicknames or say things like "front bottom and back bottom". An elbow is an elbow...you get it. Most of my friends cannot stand it; which to be totally honest probably just encourages me to say it more...but I digress... So I started to answer the questions and really talked a lot about sex being a gift from God meant for marriage...Adam and Eve...How the world will try to tell us things that are different, but we need to look at what God's Word tells us. It was really an amazing conversation. They were interested, appropriate, and kept the conversation going. I used as little actual explanation as was necessary and then if they asked a specific question or needed details I would fill in the blank...at some point my oldest daughter looked puzzled and then asked me the question I was dreading the most...and I quote from her, "But, where does the hotdog go?" and I answered her as with as much grace as I could muster on the spot..."Into the bun." Not my proudest moment, but she got the point. The conversation progressed and was met with all the expected "EWWW" and "That's Gross!"... All the way to how mommy got pregnant and that's where babies come from! Whew! I told my husband later that day that I had "the talk" with the girls...he said that he knew, our oldest had told him and that she was planning to adopt!

J