ROAD SIGNS

We were driving into town the other day and I saw the strangest road sign.

It read "Incident Ahead".

Never have I seen one like that.

I wished I had snapped a photo of it,

but I am pretty sure slamming in my brakes at 70 mph

would have prompted the need for another road sign.

How much easier would life be if we had signs like that.

Drama ahead

Hormones ahead (for you men to read)

Emotionally strung out child ahead

What signs would you like to see?

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

From my turkeys to yours,

Have a very Happy Thanksgiving:)

Psalm 100

A Psalm of Thanksgiving

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all ye lands!

Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.

Know that the Lord, He is God;

It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;

We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.

Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting,

And His truth endures to all generations.

NKJV

WHOLE AGAIN

Remember this debacle?

I know you have been wondering.

I know your nights have been spent anxiously awaiting any update.

I know it, I just know it.

Well, today, is your lucky day.

Here is the completed project.

Glued down for safety (aka MC 2 proofing).

THE WINDS OF CHANGE ARE BLOWING...

Hunter Hubs was gone last week on a hunting trip. We have survived many weeks of HH being gone. Weeks to Colorado, weeks to West Texas, weeks to South Texas. Normally, the boys do good until about 2/3 of the way through. By then we are all tired and missing daddy. It is usually then when they start to cry for him. Not last week. Last week, we started crying on Day 1. It is as if they suddenly remembered they had a daddy and he was missing. This is new for me. I knew it would come someday. I knew they would start to identify with HH, want to be with HH, want to imitate HH. I just did not think it would be until they were like 21. No seriously, I knew and I am glad. It is part of it. A good healthy part. So when my men children shun me (as MC 1 did at his school Thanksgiving dinner - not a word people... NOT...A...WORD..) for their daddy I will gladly let them go.

Besides about dark time they will be wanting their mama back;)

ETERNAL FRIENDSHIP

I did something yesterday that was completely out of character for me. I opened up to a complete stranger (live and in person) and cracked the door for a new friendship. Completely out of character for me, especially live and in the flesh. It was almost like someone else was sitting there and talking for me. I tend to be a very guarded person. Bloggy stuff is easier because I don't see you. You can't hurt me and I can't hurt you. Now there have been a few bloggies get by. Keri is one of them. I have never laid eyes on Keri and she has never laid eyes on me. Yet, we have established a friendship. We email, we facebook, we blog. I look forward to the day (which is coming soon I hope) when we can hug each other's necks in the flesh. When what I am sure will be an ugly cry will come upon me just from the sheer joy of seeing my friend in flesh and blood.
In my inner circle (immediate family excluded), I have Casey. Casey who I have known for nearly a decade. Casey who has seen me at my worst and who has seen glimpses of my best. Casey, who endured our strained friendship when we went our separate ways for a season. Casey who accepts my apologies when I realize I have been insensitive and who laughs with me at my silliness.
God ordained friendships, which I believe both these to be, are a sweet and precious thing. Some friendships are ordained only for a season. I have seen those come and go, as recent as this year. Some are ordained for a lifetime. There is only one that is God ordained for eternity.

"Let your heart not be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."

John 14:1-3 NKJV

ONE DOWN, 1998 TO GO

A couple of years ago I started a puzzle for my dad. It is of a John Deere tractor scene. Short version goes like this - I finished the puzzle but had lost one piece in the middle. Thought okay no problem, I'll just get another one and put that piece in. Purchased said other puzzle and set it aside. In the mean time MC 2 discovered the completed puzzle and in one fell swoop demolished it. Then he opened the other puzzle resulting in this finished product.

1999 glorious pieces.

So I thought to myself, no problem.

I will just start putting it together and get rid of the extra stuff.
Here is a bit of trivia for you.

Did you know that even though it is the EXACT same picture,

the puzzles are NOT cut the same?

That is right guys and gals,

the pieces don't match!

Resulting in this:

Yes, I now have two puzzles to put together and no real way to tell the pieces apart. I also have a man child who wants to help desperately bad and keeps asking mama if she is done yet. No, mama is not done yet. Meantime, MC 2 has been busy with this:

Because every good farm has a polar bear and a camel penned together. Maybe he could go work for Marlboro Man. Anyone who can pen a polar bear, a camel, a tiger and some cows together should be able to handle it. Right?

Should you need me today, I'll be trying to figure out which of these is not like the other with my puzzle.

HUM DRUM.....

Hopefully someone is reading this today. Judging by the lack if comments yesterday, you may be totally repulsed and never coming back.
Sadly, that experience has been the most blogable thing that has happened lately.
Seriously.
Have been a hermit for the last couple of weeks so I have no exciting stories to tell you.
We went to an open house last night.
For a child who claims to have no friends, MC 1 sure knew a lot of people.
Came home.
Had some chili.
Watched TV.
Went to bed.
See...nothing exciting.
Walking by faith right now...some serious walking.
Can't see a darned thing.
The light unto my path is literally one foot in front of the other.
No more info than that.
Trying to make sure I keep unbelief at bay.
That I finish this portion faithful.

NEW POST

FINISH FAITHFUL

MAMA...

*VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED*
You have been warned.
MC 2 loves his mama.
He needs his mama.
Daily he tells his mama he loves her.
Daily he is sweet to his mama, and showers her with hugs and kisses.
Which is good for his mama when there are moments of all gross boyhood like yesterday.

Mama, I love you.
I love you too, baby.
Come on give me a hug.
((HUGS))
Mama, smell my hand.
SNIFF SNIFF
I don't smell anything baby.
I put my finger in my butt.

Excuse me I need to go find someone's finger to pull before I wash SUCKER off my forehead.

I'M GOING TO PUNT....

Due to a lack of sleep and electrical power at all hours of the night,

I am going to punt to

The Preacher's Wife this am.

Lisa's post is awesome and required reading for all us gals.

It goes right along with I CHOOSE!

Enjoy!

SOMETHING FOR NOTHING

I was not made in the image of nothing.

I was not created for nothing.

I am not called to nothing.

All of creation does not declare the glory of nothing.

I am not saved from nothing.

Christ did not die for nothing.

God sent His Something

to die for this nothing I would be without Him

to allow me to become the something

He dreamed and created me to be.

That is worthy of praise.

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;

let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

Psalm 95:1

LEST YOU BE JUDGED

I know we are taught to not judge people, in or out of church.

However, I think we can and do judge their actions.

I will let you judge this one for yourself.

No.

This is not HH's truck.

For fear of the "foreverness" of blog posts,

I have no words.

However, if I EVER do this to my vehicle,

please judge me and do it quickly.

OPENING WEEKEND

MC 1 & HH's matching "head lamps".

THE SHALLOW END OF THE KIDDIE POOL...

My toddler is not in a hospital in Boston fighting for his very life like MckMama, while the rest of my family is miles away. I tucked them in and prayed with them last night - both of them. My husband is not fighting for his life or lost over the ocean. He was safe in our bed last night, pulling covers and stealing pillows. I have not been battling cancer for years like my sweet friend Nikita or months like Bev. My husband does not leave for weeks on end, except for the occasional hunting trip. We have not had to file bankruptcy and we don't battle mental illness in our marriage.
Yet last night and this morning I am sad. Hormones? Possibly. Maybe a crack that I have let the enemy see because I am tired....

of being fat

of being on a budget and going over

of constantly fighting something (real or imagined) in my life.

I don't know what for sure.
Could I use a good cry - yes I could.
Am I entitled to it as these people are- probably not.
Does it mean it won't happen - doubtful.
But here is what I do know.
In the shallowness of my kiddie pool of sadness (and it is very shallow I know) or the depths of their oceans of despair these words are true...

For the Lord is good;

His mercy is everlasting,

And His truth endures to all generations.

Pslam 100:5 (NKJV)

Praise be His holy name!

HUT!HUT!

The men children and I have started a semi-nightly ritual of playing a game of football each night. MC 1 has an Aggie helmet and uniform he suits up in. MC 2 has nothing. We play catch, we tackle and tickle, we punt and kick and work on diving catches. MC 2 (my goodness I accidentally typed MC 3 -prophetic? HH hopes not!) gets so excited when we go out to play. He desperately wants to be a part of the game. He coaches us on our three-point stance. He pleads for us to give him the ball and then does his best hut hut.
HOWEVER,
when he sees MC 1 or myself running toward him to tackle him, he throws the ball away and falls down in a fetal position on the ground screaming NO! NO!
I really don't know why he does this other than the obvious -he doesn't want to get hit (For the record we don't hit. We gently pull to the ground). He has no problems jumping on one of us, but no contact sport for this little stinker.
Go with me now. Remember this is my blog so I am gonna talk about what applies to me, and hope it makes sense. There are things in life I want to do and be a part of. I bet you do to. Whether it is working in ministry, or a job you think you are called to and would love, or going back to school, or being a stay-at-home mom, or all of that, I want to play in the game. Things where I desperately plead with God to throw me the ball - let me get involved. I am excited and nervous and ready to play all at the same time, just like MC 2.
The Lord graciously throws me the ball, I take off running, and then the potential for some contact shows up. The enemy tries to tackle me. More times than I would like to count, and more recent that I want to admit, I have also done like MC 2. I have chunked the ball as far from me as possible, curled up in a fetal position and cried NO!NO!
I want to play the game, I just don't want to get hit. Now granted I don't think many people want to get hit. I know I don't, but the risk and reality of it comes with the territory. If I am going to play the game, I am going to be under the threat of getting hit often, and will get hit a few times. It's not like I am not equipped to get hit, I have, after all, a very powerful armor and a sword to defend myself. Honestly, though, the mere thought of taking a hit can cause me to chunk what God has placed in my hands. Just the thought.
I don't want to be like that. I want to be a "grid iron" warrior. I want to take on the opponent. Take the hits as they come. Get up and do it again. I don't want to curl up in the fetal position anymore. As scared as I am, and that is pretty scared for some of this, I want tuck the ball Christ has given me and run for the end zone! Some things may be a sprint and a touchdown. Some may be a war on the line, inch by inch, yard by yard. Some will be a three and out, because God just wanted to see if I had the courage to play the game.
See, I, we, have to play in the game. That is the only way we will see victory. You don't win if you don't play. Lying in a fetal position crying NO! NO! brings no glory to Christ Jesus. Makes me no stronger, just paralyzed with fear. Like a player on the field who does not block or run or move period. I want to suit up, get the play call from the sidelines, and PLAY BALL! I want to see the following:

We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up banners of in the name of our God.

(portion of Psalm 20:5 NIV)

I want to see the same for you. If you have been lying in the fetal position, it is time to get up. Time to dust off the dirt, re-adjust that mouth guard, get the next play, grab that ball and run. You have an entire crowd of encouragers. A entire stadium of witnesses waiting to raise banners in the name of our God. Today hit those knees in your three-point stance and get ready.
The snap is coming and the hand-off is to you.
HUT! HUT!

THIS IS WHY I DON'T COOK

First, just put up a new post on Deliberately Delivered. Click on the shackles to jump on over.
Second, my lack of cooking knowledge shown through this morning. I was making some scrambled egg whites for my breakfast burrito I had been dreaming about. MC 2 wanted to help, so I gave him a whisk-y type utensil. Anyone want to guess what you get when you whisk egg whites?
You are half way to meringue.
So my burrito was a little fluffy today.
This is why I don't cook.
Which is not completely true because I do, just not very well.
After reading this is there any wonder why?

I'M A REAL BOY

Last night the boys were grounded from TV until after supper. As a result they ate dinner at the kitchen table. The following dialogue occurred after we sat at the table:
MC 1 : This is like a real family.
Me: That is because we are a real family.
MC 1 : No. Like a real, real , REAL family, with manners.
We try.

AWAKE

So I have been reading Jennifer Rothschild Self-Talk, Soul Talk. Last night was the chapter on the phrase "awake , oh my soul, awake." My soul has been awake since 3:30 am. Totally NOT what I think she meant. However, my soul has some thinking and tending too that needs to occur. Got some relationships that I am not sure what to do with. Got some relationships that are frustrating the heck outta me right now. Got some that I just want to scream at them and say "HOW DO YOU NOT GET THIS? SERIOUSLY? H-O-W?!!" . Yes, I would like to scream in all caps. Trying to figure out how to make the mula last longer than it appears to want to. How to minimize my trip to the store today. Lots of worry knocking on my thought closet door. Plus I have been avoiding Bob for about 4 days now, so that does not make me feel any better.
However, as I have said so many times, and many of you have been quick to remind me, I get to choose what comes in that thought closet and what gets checked at the door. As BM said in Esther, God knows the how. Oh how He knows the how.
So, to change the subject in a blog full of links, here is another one. Boo Mama wrote a great post about Steven Curtis Chapman and his new CD. Plus, Mr. Chapman is having a chat on Facebook tonight and Boo has the link for that.
Hope you guys have a great Tuesday!
And the mouse lives to fight another day.

OF MICE AND MEN

We have a mouse in our house. You will recall here my last run in with them. I hate mice. HATE them. They are dirty and sneaky and dirty, and I can not stand them. I told HH about him a couple of weeks ago. He said set some traps, blah blah blah. It is clear now that he did not believe me. Even last week when I saw the mouse run across the floor, he still did not believe me.
Much like our own lives, the truth always comes out. SOOOOO when the mouse skirted across the floor LAST night and HH SAW him, he sprang into action. Suddenly there was a battle plan...more traps..more peanut butter and cheese.... basically MORE.
He even rearranged my traps (which I had asked him to set out) last night.
The mouse is still free today but his days are numbered.
To just 1 I hope.