HOME AGAIN HOME AGAIN...

Well, we have returned from the far west! My mom asked me how my visit was at Aunt Bootie's - BUMPY mom- BUMPY! We had a good visit with the extended family at Aunt Bumpy's house. Can I just say I have never seen a house with so much storage in all my livin' days! She had more storage spots in one bathroom than I have in my entire house. Ok that may be a bit of an overstatement but not much. The men children were in heaven. Tractors and dirt abounded and we loved every minute of it. And windmills - my word. They were everywhere! Those things are huge and marvels to look at. Every morning man child 2 rushed out to see them. The windmills blink red at night. Does kinda ruin the night sky but come December they could hook up some Christmas songs and make a killing!
The West Texas relatives have a varied selection of animals. We saw lamas, goats, miniature horses, and these three:

May I introduce Ellie Mae, Sugar and Booger. They live with (and by with I mean in the house) Jamie and Greg (sorry they have no cool nicknames yet). To say these dogs slobber a tiny bit would do them a huge injustice, but we loved them! We are still missing them.

As I stated, tractors were plentiful under the big West Texas sky. It became apparent as we traveled back east that tractors were becoming scarce when we had the following conversation:

Me: MC 2 look out the window and tell me what you see.

MC2: Not tractors.

Sorry buddy.

This week we are back in the routine. Dentist's appointments, bible study and mounds of laundry. Hopefully a little more focused than I have been the past few weeks. Maybe actually get some things accomplished! I did mow the yard yesterday so that should count for something!

Have an awesome day!

LOAD 'EM UP, MOVE 'EM OUT......

One of things I had to adjust to when HH & I married was the fact that few people on his side of the family went by their God-given names. So please don't be surprised when I say that the men children and I will load up today with Nanny & Tutu to head west to RaRa's (or RahRah's) house. Susu & Dude have already headed west and MooMoo can't go. We will visit at Aunt Bumpy's for some family time and then return with HH (he got a head start). Hope you have a great weekend!

THE HUNT

THE HUNT
Starring: Andy as the prey
MC as the hunter
*No animals were hurt or endangered during this chase.



The prey has been spotted ......



and now realizes it has no chance of escape......

and gives up in submission to the stiff arm of the hunter.

It really is tough to be the cat in the house.

IN REVIEW

* Update on the swimming lessons:
MC 1 LOVED IT! Was absolutely beside himself that we had to leave. TOTALLY unfair that the lifeguards get to stay & swim ALL DAY!
MC 2 lasted about 40 minutes which is 10x his attention span. He had to sit with me & I made him wait till brother was done for snack, which did not make him a happy camper.
All was well till the very end when MC 2 made a break for the deep end when mom was gathering up the stuff! Fun tomorrow:)

WEEKEND RUN DOWN

Friday evening

• spent waiting for the UPS guy to bring HH a gift


• two very tired men children resulting in TWO very long emotional meltdowns

Saturday

• trip to local drum store for HH


• trip to pet store upon which man child 1 informs me (loudly) that his daddy said he would pay him $2o if he ate the big fish and $5 for each goldfish he could eat. (Combined with the last trip I am pretty sure they are gonna ban us)


• trip to tractor store at which time man child 2 locked his arms around the shelving and through his tears was able to tell me HE WAS NOT LEAVING HIS TRACTORS!


• birthday party - 2+ hours of kids running and jumping and screaming and THEN we gave them cupcakes with icing?????


• home to leggos and pretend grilling


• spent the remainder of the night watching HH and some of the bloodiest UFC fights I have seen in a long time. HH was literally jumping up and yelling at the TV.

Sunday

• visited a local church. Heard a wonderful message on Eph. 6:1-4 regarding fatherhood. Good lunch with friends & family. Home to FINALLY watch the season finale of LOST (UGH!)That show will drive me insane!Then dinner with friends and family again!

Today we start swimming lessons. Oh the fun. I am really hoping to get some reading done while they swim. One hour of leisure - I don't know who is more excited - me or them!

DEVASTATED? REALLY?

Our Deeper Still study yesterday had Beth Moore talking about moving on from our devastation with God. Using David as the example she discussed when David was angry at & afraid of God because He had stuck down Uzzah when he tried to steady the ark (2 Samuel 6). Her point was that David was devastated at that point, but he moved on with God. Many of us get devastated by the actions or inactions of God and we go nowhere.
Got me thinking about how many times I had actually been "devastated". Or am I more like a hormonal teenager that when anything goes awry it is the absolute end of the world! How may times have I been "devastated" because someone looked at me wrong or hurt my feelings or didn't compliment me. Devastated because I did not get the perfect job with the perfect kids and the perfect hubs all living in the perfect house. How many times has HH been devastated because he did not get it either? How many tiny things have caused me to fuzz up at the Lord God of Hosts and demand an answer? Or demand He act like I wanted Him to?
There have been legitimate things that have devastated me and those close to me- loss of a child (in utero and out), loss of a parent, infidelity by a spouse. All of those things can hold us in the grip of despair and devastation if we allow them to. But I know for me there have been a whole lot of little things where I behaved like an impatient toddler going "' BUT WWHHYY DADDY - WWWWHHHHYYYY!" and have been very ticked off that I did not get an answer.
The sad part is realizing how much those little temper tantrums cost me. I don't know that I grew (or grow because sometimes they are still happen) a whole lot in those fits because I wasn't listening to Him. I think in those times of real devastation, you listen because you have nowhere else to go. In those fits though- you listen to yourself, your friends, your enemy- any one else but Him.
Here is just a thought. In times of devastation, Christ brings comfort. He heals our broken and shattered hearts and minds and tells us of His undying love & tender mercies. In times of my temper tantrums that I call "devastation", Christ brings correction. Not fun! Not fun at all. However, I am no longer a teenager and at this point in my walk, some types of behavior are not to be tolerated by my Father any longer. Now sometimes the correction comes as a disappointed but soft & loving " Rhonda, you knew better", other times it is a much needed swat on the backside. The joyous hope in both- is that He does it because He loves me. He loves ME! Loves me enough bust through and destroy the darkness of my real devastation. Loves me enough to correct me and grow me into the woman He (God Himself) means for me to be. To show me that with Him and in Him and through Him I am a much tougher gal than I thought. That if I so choose, I can stand of solid ground and not let every wave that comes at me knock me off my feet.
And as many of you who read this (I say many like there is a lot hahahahahahaha) hopefully know- He loves you too! All that He says He is to me He is to you. All the love He has for me, He has for you. Yes we are all at different stages. Some of us babes in Christ, some in our terrible two's, some in Kindergarten where we are learning and exploring and whatever our teacher says is law. Some have passed into the rebellious teenage years where it is all about us and some have graduated and left our "spiritual homes" to learn from the Teacher Himself. The awesome thing is He can, wants to and will handle all of us! He is a big enough God to be up in all our individual stuff, all our darknesses and all our tantrums. He is never where He can't be found, and we are never so far gone He can't find us.
All I can say to that is Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Have a great weekend!

I GOT NUTHIN'

Sadly I have nothing today. I spent yesterday trying not to be bossy, apparently even to myself, so I got very little accomplished. Kinda a downer. So today I've decided I can boss myself all I want to so I have cleaned out a closet & got laundry going. Men children are trapped inside due to some weed killer on the grass today (HH is OBSESSED with removing any sign of Bermuda grass). Speaking of HH, he showed his true fashionisto self the other day. We had the honor & the privilege of dining with Mr. Shaun Groves and his parents. We visited for a couple of hours and then it was time to part ways. Of all the questions to ask Shaun, who has seen poverty at its worst, studied biblical history, got some theological ideas that are great, of all the things to ask- this is where HH goes:
"How do you get your hair to do that?"
I love him, but that is seriously what he asked.
Shaun's response: "Well, I am holier than you so my hair wakes up praising the Lord."
Enough said.

SURVEY SAYS.....

So while I was cleaning (and by cleaning I mean sorting my paper work into piles), I came across a Spiritual Gifts form that I had partially filled out. Well, of course, seeing as how important my spirituality is to me - I sat right down & finished that bad boy. No, it had nothing to do with my dislike for cleaning and willingness to ditch that activity whenever the opportunity arises.
Now I have completed one of those forms before but I can honestly say I have no clue as to what the "answers" were. Over the past several years, it has become very clear to me that I have the gift of administration. I am very good at instructing others as to what to do to carry out the plans I have made.
Okay, so I finished the 80 question form and answered to the best of my ability. Signed on the line that states " to the best of my knowledge, the information provided is true and accurate and if not my teaching certificate may be revoked". (Just kidding - there was no line like that on this form. Perhaps left over from too many years of signing my life over to administer a state test for the public school.)
Started adding up the numbers. I really think that mad math skillz should be listed as a spiritual gift. Goodness me! I almost quit after I added up administration - 18 glorious points! (Of course it was only the 2nd one listed and leadership was first- a whopping 18 on that as well- I mean I already knew all that). But I felt convicted to finish a least ONE thing today- so I added up the other 14 totals (really put math in the line-up!) and survey says...

NOT ADMINISTRATION!

NOT LEADERSHIP!

I know. You need a few moments to collect yourself from the shock. I did too. Go ahead. I'll wait.

.............

The winner weighing in with a total of 22 points (out of 30 which is only like a 73% just in case I start getting proud)...

knowledge (had to stifle a laugh didn't you)

It gets better - second runner up... 21 points total.....

faith

pick up your jaw now. I am thinking - do the makers of the test even READ this blog because if they did they would laugh out loud.

Tying for 3rd ---- grand total of 19 points (hold onto you hat:)

teaching & prophecy! ( Teaching I could see - prophecy - I don't even know what to say to that.)

So needless to say my desire to clean has been totally washed away by my desire to figure all this out. I have not touched the piles of paperwork yet.
Administration & leadership did round out the top five. According to the form you only focus on the top three though.
Do you want to know the really sad part is - now I can no longer claim administration as my gift. Now, I just have to admit that I am, do I dare say the words, bossy.
Yep, you heard it here first- I am bossy and that is not a spiritual gift. Admitting that you have a problem is the first step right.
Okay now go away and let me figure out how to not be so bossy. Come back tomorrow. (Of course my prophetic gift already tells me you will:)

*Seriously - I only poke fun at myself because I know myself. The questions I am asking myself now are:

What does the gift of faith look like?

What does the "gift of prophecy" really mean? Fortune telling like we in the charismatic world have made it in to - or is it simply proclaiming the word of God and the Truth of Christ?

This simple inventory has rocked me a bit so I will spend some time researching and digging into the spiritual gifts. I am SURE I will be posting more on this.

Have a great day! Remember you choose!

WEEKEND WARRIORS

You will be glad to know that HH returned home safely Friday and had stayed within the confines of the US. Apparently he needed the passport for some type of id thing - work related - blah blah blah blah.
The men children & I are enjoying staying home as much as possible. I did not leave the house Saturday at all. Of course, Saturday was UFC 99 so we had a UFC dinner night with some friends (started to put good friends - but is there any other kind? Who wants bad friends?). All I can say is "Way to go Rich Franklin"! From one former teacher to another - you made us proud. I would have loved to have taught with you. Knowing that you could have put a kid in an arm bar and made him tap would have come in very handy during some classes!
Sunday we went to my sister's church to hear Shaun Groves. Man child 1 adopted his very first Compassion child. Then we went to lunch with Shaun & his parents. Conversation ranged from which Compassion trip affected him the most to how to bake an armadillo. Don't ask- you guys already know we are redneck & well Mr. Groves being from our neck of the woods has a bit in him too.
Okay off to do my Anointed, Transformed & Redeemed study and plan for the week. Gotta take MC 2 out to spend some birthday money.
If you have the time, say a pray for my grandfather. At the very fine age of 92 he is getting an eye lift today! He won't look a day over 80 when they are done with him!

HONEY- WHERE IS MY PASSPORT?

Okay- he did not exactly ask it like that. It was more like:

Flick on the lights in the bedroom (while I am still sleeping)

Hey - do you know where my passport is?

Try that drawer over there (while I roll over and begin fumbling through the other drawer. I actually found it 3x but apparently the brain and the hand coordination are not that good when YOU ARE STILL ASLEEP!)

Okay thanks. Go back to sleep now. (Yeah right) The kids are still sleeping.

(As he walked out the door) - Are you leaving me? (Because I am thinking why does he need his passport? He works in the same country we live in? Abruptly being awaken from sleep can cause some serious confusion.)
I still don't know why he needed the passport. Heck, I don't even know if he is still in the same country. Last I heard he and baby brother were headed south - how far I don't know. Baby brother left his truck though so at least he will be back.
Had a good day yesterday. Started Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed with some ladies at a local church. Really looking forward to it. Doesn't hurt that my good friend Casey & I actually get to do a bible study together. It has been WAY, WAY too long. We are still visiting churches. This week I get to hang out with my sis and her family at her church with... Shaun Groves. Very stoked about that! HH is getting a good dose of denominations (2 Baptists churches in 2 weeks). I am enjoying a tad of the familiar (although I grew up Methodist- the tradition of long standing denominations is comforting in this season).
Guess that is it. Time to play Where in the world is HH? (You wanted to say Carmen Sandiego didn't you?)
Hope you have a great weekend!

OUR EXPANDING HOUSEHOLD

May I introduce you to the newest member of our household:

Andy. He is our cat-in-law. He is staying temporarily while sis in law gets settled. He spent the first week hiding. The men children can be a bit intimidating. Now - he is brazen and brave. He has with him all the comforts of home: food box, water, bed, automatic litter box, and somewhere a blanket that I think man child 2 has stolen. He has discovered we have lots of room and he is everywhere. He used to come out only at night but now he knows no fear.

It has taken some getting used to. His comforts of home are in our master bathroom and he lives in our room. Let's just say that during some of the more private times between a married couple - a cat litter box going off tends to scare the dickens out of HH. And then there was the whole stepping on the cat in the middle of the night- when they both shrieked in fear. Yeah - it was funny & I am blogging about it!

But we are all adjusted now. Andy is learning to love the animals on our walls and has figured out how to get away from man child 2 (the boy is like a pit bull- relentless!) Sis in law comes and takes care of the litter box. All the perks of a cat - none of the responsibility!

On this animal farm- my mom calls today and-

"Do you have any advice for how to treat a dog with heat exhaustion?"

"What? Who?"

"Molly". Ahh Molly. My sister's vertically challenged-horizontally blessed brown lab. She breaks a sweat just sitting up. Apparently she forgot that she was fat or she thought she was on a fat farm and needed to exercise because she thought she could go to the back forty with the rest of the pack.

Apparently not. Mom had to put her in the club car, which in itself is no small feat because I know Molly out weighs mom. Drove her back to the house, began cooling her off and providing controlled amounts of water. At last check Molly was on the rode to recovery and seemed fine. However, I doubt she will be following the crowd any longer, and I know she will be glad to see her owners so she can return to her lifestyle of eating like a star athlete and exercising like a rock.

If you gonna run with the bog dogs you gotta get off the porch, unless it is gonna give you heat exhaustion in which case keep your tail end where you are:)

DAY ONE OF VA-CA!

Day 1 of summer vacation has come & gone & it was a good one.
But first,let's deal with the elephant in the room - the previous post. To say it has been a rough few weeks would be putting it mildly. If you have read some of the previous posts then you know that we made the painful yet peaceful decision to leave our church of 10+ years. What was attempted as a graceful exit due to a difference of opinion took a more personal turn before it was all over. That both saddened me & angered me. However, after much prayer (and if you were praying - THANK YOU!) I can honestly say there is no malice. This blog is called I Choose for a reason. I have said it many times and will keep saying it - I get to choose - how I will respond- how I will act - how I will allow Christ to be glorified- I choose. And through this all, at the end, I choose forgiveness because I have been forgiven. Now don't be fooled- I have been fleshy at times. Down rite spiteful in my thoughts and HH has heard more than his fair share of witty comebacks and "I should have done or said ...". Thankfully the Lord has provided sound wisdom through various avenues and has kept us on track. The times when we were about to respond in the flesh He has graciously pulled us back - mainly me because I am way more fleshy than HH. Any way - enough of that chapter. We are on the road to new things and we are excited and humbled and thankful to Christ Jesus. I will share that during all this, one day something was brought to my attention and I literally felt joy in my spirit for the revelation Christ brought from it. I was so thankful & humbled & felt the overwhelming desire to fall flat on face in gratitude to Christ. That was a nice place to be - one I had not been in for what seems like a long time.
Okay - on with today. Today I was the best mommy & teacher ever. MC 1 was all about helping today. He asked me if I remembered in his old life when he was mean because now in his new life he wants to be nice. We cleaned the porch. We rearranged their room, at their requests and how they wanted it. I did laundry and dishes. Best of all - we went NO WHERE! MC 2 could not have been happier! It was a good day. One of many to come I pray (& know).
Hope you all had a great Monday.
Thanks for reading.
It may not always be pretty, but I pray it is always real.

WANT REAL?

The goal of this blog is the bring glory to Christ while living out my very real life. I am in a real moment right now. I am mad. Now there are those that argue Christians should never get mad. Maybe true; maybe not- maybe somewhere in between. I will not try to pretend it is a "righteous anger" at all the injustices in the world. Nope- more like a flesh anger. Someone has ticked me off. How does that bring glory to Christ? The anger probably doesn't. However, how I handle it does. When I woke up this morning still mad, I again began praying. Lord I don't want to have all this in me. I want to deal with this in a gracious and loving and TRUTHFUL way. Help me Holy Spirit. Give me wisdom and peace.
So - today - you can pray for this very real woman who has a a very real temper and sometimes a very real sense of being mad.

Side note - it is not HH. AND today is my last day of work with students:)

AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE

Ah - the last weekend before school is officially out. It was nice- not as nice as next weekend will be - but nice. They say when you marry you can not expect to change your spouse. I would beg to differ. I have effectively turned HH to into a new man- a new Chick-Fil-A man! That is right gals - eat your hearts out- my man likes CFA breakfast minis and treated us to such on Saturday AM. They were divine. Of course, HH is also a germ freak at times so the men children were properly sanitized before we left because

" what do they have some kind of Lysol bomb to clean that playroom. No, I do not think so."

Whatever you say dear. We then ventured over to SAM's club and did some shopping. We went on the premise of finding a desk. We walked out with taco seasoning and some new plaid shorts for HH for, you guessed it - G-O-L-F. And some mini Gatorade's. I am sensing a trend- a mini one - bit a trend never the less.

Upon arrival back at the Clampett house, we all crashed for naps. I had to run back into town and got to go solo! Sweet escape. As I was browsing the local aisles, an overwhelming urge hit me - for chocolate. I bought OREOES (which I typically don't like), Cookie Brownie Bar mix (thanks Amanda) and just straight up brownie mix. Chocolate could not make it into my basket fast enough. Did I mention that when I am stressed I like carbs & chocolate? A two for one deal can not be passed on.

HH had to go to town later on. He came back with 2 movies and you guessed it - chocolate. Whoppers & M&M's.

We are living proof of Genesis 2:24

"Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh."


Our flesh likes chocolate!
Have a good night:)