WALKING IN HER SHOES

This is my dad's family, many years ago.
Imagine growing up with all those boys.
All that wrestling.
All that food.
All that milk.


Combined, my dad and his siblings have cranked out over 40 grandkids, with lots of boys in the mix. When we were growing up, and would go visit my grandmother, many, MANY times she would end up saying one of the following:

"Boys! Get out of my kitchen!"

"Take it outside boys!"

"Get out of the refrigerator boys!"

I never really got why she got so upset about it.
After all I grew up in a house full of girls.
I totally get it now.

IT'S LIVE BOYS

DVR has changed the way my kids watch TV. Me too, but it really shows up in them. They keep wanting me to fast forward through the commercials of live TV. When we go to Audie's house they want to rewind her shows. (Audie is DVR less...poor thing).
I keep telling them,
"It's live TV boys, you can't fast forward that."
Now what I am about to say is nowhere near a novel idea. Just my two cents worth.
This morning as we were watching X-Men Revolution, live, and another request to fast forward was denied, I thought how many times I have asked God to fast forward, and rewind, and pause, and occasionally delete, and keep times in my life.
Times when I would like to hurry up and get to the part where it is all better.
Times when I would like to go back to when it was all good.
Times when I want to pause and just stay in the moments,
and those moments I wish were never even given the time.
And many times, my DVR life request is denied.
Why?
Cause it's LIVE boys!
We are called to live it. Today. In the now.
Not in the past, although we remember it and learn from it.
Not worrying about the future, although we plan for it and pray for it.
Not deleting the things we wished had never happened, because given over to Him they are turned for His glory and we are restored.
Not even the times we want to pause and relish this life for an unhealthy period of time, lest we loose focus of Who should be our focus.
Nope- can't DVR this thing called life.
What we can do is live it.
To the fullest.
We choose.
You choose.
I choose.
Because He chose.

MCKMAMA

Great post by MckMama.
Worth the read.
(If it wasn't I would not have put it on here).
Have a great Wednesday!

HE CAME... I WILL....

We sang a song in church Sunday that has stuck with me. The chorus goes like this...

He came and He healed me.
He came and refreshed me.
He came and washed my sins away.

I will rejoice.
I will rejoice, and be glad.

That pretty much sums it up. I will leave it alone and let it sit on you for a bit.
Bet it makes you smile.

WHATEVER MARTHA!

I love Martha Stewart. I do.

Prison time and all, I still love her.

As much as I love her, I could never be her.

As was evidenced by the cookies we made Saturday.

HH was off riding his motorbikey thingy with some motorbikey peeps.

The men children and I were going to make pumpkin cut out cookies.

It is one of the main reasons I decided to stay home this year.

To bake cookies.

I had every intention of doing the whole PW thing and taking multiple pics of the progress.

Every intention.
Then the men children got involved.

And I got this instead.

We did a couple of good ones out.

We did get flour all over my non-existent floor.

We did have a grand ole time eating them up.

I have decided at Thanksgiving, Mommy will make the cookies at night

and the men children can decorate.

Yes.

I think that will be much better.

Saturday night brought the UFC.

And Bob.

Who brought some of the best brownies EVER!

He could give Martha a run for her money!

I LIKE HELPING YOU MAMA

I long for the day.

I really, really do.

When MC 2 will not hold my rear end

while I am doing kicks for

Jillian and Biggest Loser Boot Camp and say

"I am helping you mama".

Jiggle control.

That is his job.

Have a great weekend!

PS - Honestly- I will miss this time together terribly.

All too soon my men children will be men and will be gone.

They need to stick around.

The jiggles can go away any time though.

MISCOMMUNICATION

Apparently when I said go clean your room, what I really meant was go do some body art...

This is Wolverine...

This is I got there just in the nick of time!

(they were working on a full body rendering of Iron Man. Yes I know Iron Man is red, they just called him " Green Iron Man ")

Those would be call sleeves in the tattoo world (both arms done up to elbow).

How do I know this?

I blame HH and his shoulder to shoulder tat.

ACCOUNTABLE OR REBEL-A-BLE?

Yes, I know rebelable is not a real word. I also know the hyphens are wrong , but I needed the dramatic effect. (I needed it, doesn't mean you did, but hey, it's my blog).
I had an interesting turn of events the other night. I battle my weight and have for many years. Some years I am very successful and some years not so much. We are in the not so much season right now. The other night HH weighed himself and somehow that lead into a guessing game about mine. When he hit the magic number, he was disturbed by it. He made some truthful all though not so graceful remarks about it. My response, "I don't need a lecture on it." Some of you may think it horrible that he did not say he would love me regardless of how high my weight got. First, rest assured he still loves me. Second, a comment like that would be a get out of jail free card for me and my brownie craving. I need him to hold me accountable, and I need to watch that I do not become rebelable. I hate, let me say HATE, being told what to do by others. I really, really do. That is the rebellion part. I like being in control. Hence the food problem. I may not be able to control anything else in my world, but I will control what goes in my mouth and it better taste good and make me happy, ie brownies. And don't you dare try to tell me what to eat and when.
I know the spiritual implications are jumping off the page, and I (and He) are working through them. Control, pride, self-discipline, submission, honoring the temple, trust, it goes on and on. Now I could get down on myself and say what a failure I am, because in this area I have failed. However, because I have failed does not mean I have to become a failure, if that makes sense. It is my choice. Same as I choose whether or not I will smoke too much or drink too much or lie to much. It's all the same. The issues are still the same.
I am accountable to my husband. Not because he is the food police or because he needs a skinny thang on his arm (cause that probably ain't going to happen), but because he signed on for the long haul. Because we have kids together and we need to rear them together. Because we said till death do us part and I don't need to speed up that process.
More than that, I am accountable to God on this. Those issues need to be dealt with now, so this situation and learning point can be used for His glory for someone else.
I have to tell you, I am kind of excited right now. I know that Him having me go through this, and working this all out, is part of His plan for me. To get get me from point A to point B, and I finally feel like I am walking the right direction. I know it won't be a perfect walk, without distractions (hello - the holidays are coming up), but it is a walk Christ and I will be on together. A walk where He will be light before me and the light anyone sees around me.
So having told you all of that, you will be glad to know for the past 3 mornings I have worked out before 6 and monitored my eating more closely. Small steps but steps none the less. I have also been less rebel-able and more accountable in other areas as well. The less rebel-able part is what I am most proud of (proud with all humility because I know it is only through Jesus).
So this is where I am now. Hopefully this is not where I will be for long:)
Have a blessed day!

SKILLZ!

This is MC 1's Jack-O-Lantern.

He designed, I cut.

It is Wolverine, from the X-Men.

He was supposed to have 2 fangs, but he had a loose tooth and Saber Tooth knocked it out.

That is totally our story and we are sticking to it.

The slashes on the sides are actually Wolverine's claws.

He is ever so gently framing his face with them.

Awwwww....sweet isn't it?

It was this or a vampire.

I know.

You will all be calling me to do yours.

Unfortunately my carving skillz will not be available.

I'll be too busy learning the newest Fresh Beat band song and awaiting the newest Avatar.

And if you have kids over 12 you won't understand a word of that last sentence.

Unless you live with a grown man who would be delighted to get the entire series of Avatar on DVD for Christmas.

That or the O.C.

It's a toss up.

But I am not judging.

Because I would sit with him and enjoy them both:)

Have a great day!

NEPHEW # 7

* Correction - it was Wednesday, not Tuesday.
Tuesday was planned to be boring. Really it was. Take MC 1 to school. Run some errands. Come home and crash. That all happened and then the fun started.
Let me tell you now the hand of God was all over this situation.
My SIL was 35 weeks pregnant on Tuesday when her water broke with lots of blood. She was at home with her 4 year old son alone. My MIL is a teacher, but it just so happened that she did not have any kids on Tuesday due to classes being cancelled. So as soon as SIL called her she was able to leave. I had walked in the door 5 minutes before she called me to come pick up my nephew. Remember I have no cell phone so her catching me at home was a miracle no doubt. While I am meeting them at the hospital, SIL calls to say they have put her in a room. Within minutes the doctor ordered an emergency c-section and within 10 minutes of going to sleep (they did not have time to numb her) SIL had another boy. I kept nephew over night, mom and baby are recovering well, and what could have been a horrible tragedy was turned around by the Mighty Lord God of Hosts to be a blessing and a huge testament of His faithfulness!
In the words of my Esther study- that is a reversal of destiny!
Waiting to hold you Gunner! (HH is seriously gonna love that name!)

REED

Update on Reed (the snake bite boy).

TIME OUT

This is one of my favorite pictures of MC 2.

First, he is still.

Second, he is where he loves to be.

What you can't see are the rest of the boys playing off to the side. MC 2 is just observing.

I must say I have caught myself feeling that way a lot lately.

That I am just on the outskirts watching others play.

Not necessarily a bad thing.

Definitely a different thing.

Can also be a peaceful thing.

Sophie posted about God entrusting us with these times.

Puts a new spin on it.

I am not on the sidelines now because God was caught off guard and did not know what to do with me.

I am not on the sidelines because He found someone who had it more together so she got substituted in for me.

I am sitting on the outskirts because God in His infinite wisdom and love has determined that it is what I need to do.

He has entrusted me with this time so that He and His Son Jesus Christ may be glorified.

Yes mam - puts a entirely new spin on it.

Because during this time,

I am still,

and I am where I love to be.

WILD HAWGS

I am 36. I am too old to start attending pasture parties and too young to start being called some one's "old lady". The first happened this weekend, the second is a long way off.
HH & I attended a motorcycle rally in Jefferson this weekend (a work thing). Our accommodations?
See below...
Yes, you are correct! That is a horse trailer. I have been accused of being a horse's rear a time or two, but this was too much. Wanna see inside?

I know what you are thinking.

Why is she holding the camera that way?

I am not. The trailer slanted that way. To the point that our pasture camp mates informed me which side to sleep on so HH would not roll over and squish this delicate flower of a wife. Of course they failed to mention the closeness of the bed and that when HH stretched his arm in his sleep he would punch me in the face. Yep - left that part out.

All in all is was not a bad trip. If you take out the rain and the cold and the mud, it was great! We did see awesome bikes though.

If this motorcycle thing is gonna last, I am definitely getting one of these!

Could that be any cuter? I may get one just to wear! Hope you have a great day!

PRAYERS NEEDED

Please go to my friend Jenn's blog to read this story (involves a small child and a rattlesnake) and pray.
Have a great weekend! Don't forget the LPL girls in Memphis!

BEDTIME STORIES

I have been trying all week to up the men children's bedtime in order to up mine. The twitching left eye has been a clue I needed more sleep. We now eat before 6, bath at 6:30 and aim to be in bed by 8. In that time frame is also a half-hour game of touch football/tickle fest/chase the dog and some serious flossing and fluoridating because I have paid good money for those silver teeth and I want them taken care of.
It has actually gone pretty well this week. The only kink has been MC 2 who REFUSES to sleep all through out the night.
Last night HH has to work late. I get the kids in bed and ASLEEP by 8:20. Thinking that HH will be home around 9ish and we can go to bed.
Conspirator #1 - HH is not able to get home till 11.
We go to bed and I think great I can get 6 hours of solid sleep.
Conspirator #2 - MC 1 (YES MC 1) gets up 2 hours later and can't sleep.
Really?
Really?
The one kid who always sleeps all night gets up and MC 2 is out like a log.
So, I am still a little twitchy, although it is much better.
Any tips on getting them to sleep all night would be welcome:)
Have a great weekend!
I will have some stories to tell you when I get back next week;)

BOW SEASON DAY 1

It's Christmas time at our house! Not really, but it feels like it to Hunter Hub's because bow season has started. My pocket book looks like it is Christmas, but we will leave that one alone. He did not get hunt in the morning because MC 1 had a rodeo.

Goat roping (and pretend branding)

But after a good nap, he was ready for Saturday evening. Now people may think that as HH's wife, when it is hunting season I have nothing to do. Not true my friends. Not true. When I was big and pregnant with MC 1 I was out in the field helping load up a deer in the back of the truck. I have spent many a nights helping clean up the "cleaning" mess. How many trips have I made to the meat processor to pick up said wild game? So Saturday was no different.

See this...

It is up there...

and needs to go down there....

and guess who got to help carry it?

Should have dropped it when he said

"You need to start working out",

but in all honesty, Bob would have been disappointed in my cardio.

The end result is this...

a very happy HH (who saw N-O-T-H-I-N-G!).

All in a day's work gals.

All in a day's work.

WE ARE FREE!

We have been officially unstuck for 2 days now. Here is baby brother (HH's not mine):

He is a very popular young man. Always in demand. We were lucky he graced us with his presence. (Yeah right)

Here is how bad it was. Front tire B-U-R-I-E-D!

Directions....

and we are out!
Nice huh?
Special thanks to HH for working so diligently to clean up his mess (mistake was too strong)... I mean get the trucks out. He did an awesome job!

I'M STUCK

So my phone is still lost.

My attitude is better though.
Which is good...

because this happened on Sunday -

"We" got my truck stuck up to the running boards. I say "we" to be diplomatic because by "we" I mean "HH".

However, I could not get really mad at him.

Why you ask?

This -

That is his truck buried up to the running boards. It went down first.

My attitude did not even flare up when he got sassy when I was trying to help him.

"What can I do to help?"

"Get me a round shovel." (as he is shoveling with a square shovel)

"A round shovel?" (to confirm)

HH stops. Flips the square shovel over and proceeds with this -

"Yes r-o-u-n-d. The opposite of this." (and does his best Vanna point to the tip).

Sassy.

Nothin' but.

So we will spend Monday trying to get unstuck.

And by we I mean HH and HH's baby brother.

I'D CALL 911 BUT....

Phone still MIA. I think we have now moved into a recovery mission. My attitude - according to HH - not so good. Which is probably true-ish. If this a "how do you handle this" test I probably failed. Not because of the phone as much as everything else and the phone on TOP of that. So I have no cell phone and a bad attitude. I will spend today looking for said phone again and getting my attitude lined back out.
Maybe.
Or maybe not.
No I will.
I choose to do so.
I hate when my words come back to get me.
Have a great weekend. If I don't call, well you know why. And if my attitude stays bad you won't want me to anyway.

BECAUSE I HAVE ALL THIS FREE TIME

Yesterday was a busy day. MC 2 had his last trip to the dentist's office (and hopefully all of ours for a while). I was a little nervous because last time was a bit tough. Sedation does not go over well with him. Second only to fasting, which he hates. The child gets up at dawn and utters "I'm hungry...I want to watch tb". Phonics are our downfall but that is another post.
All went well and we came home and slept, both of us.
Then off to pick up MC 1 and do some ranchin'. My parents needed someone to feed their cows yesterday, and being as how I am the lone "someone" who is unemployed I was offered the gig and took it. I knew it would be late when we started because I had to wait for MC 2 to sober up. Long story short, we found a dead heifer (which MC 2 promptly touched...gross!), fed the cows, lost a mailbox key, found a mailbox key, removed dead heifer from premises, checked on newborn calf, lost cell phone, searched for said cell phone, stopped by McDonald's, and finally made it home about 8:45pm.
Tired just reading it aren't you?
Thinking you would like to stay home and rest today after all that right?
No rest for the weary my friends.
Today, Mc 2 and I will return to the pasture lands to search for the cell phone. Praying I find it quickly.
Because I am tired.
This whole not working gig is about to wear me out.
I need a nap.
* I had pictures of my little cowboys working. Yep- all on the cell phone.