PARTY OVER HERE!

Another New Year's Eve!

One of the things I looked forward to the most about

being married were all those romantic NYEs

we would be spending together.

Fancy dinners.....

Couple's parties with favors and stellar appetizers.....

That movie perfect kiss right at the stroke of midnight.....

Like when Ryan reached Marissa just in time.....

(Sorry, residual flashback from HH's obsession with The O.C.)

Seems I will be welcoming in 2011 hanging out at my mama's house,

in bed probably by ten,

with some MC's foot probably in my back,

while HH and the other MC rest up for the last weekend of hunting.

I wouldn't trade that for all the fancy parties in the world...

Happy New Year to you all!

May the love of Christ Jesus mark every one of your days

and may you choose to love Him back even more.

SUPERHERO MODE

The MCs were blessed with a large amount of costumes for Christmas.

Today we have been Batman.

We watched Batman Begins this morning.

We found a secret lair under mama's magnolia tree.

Right now,

we have swords made out of markers,

and are fighting our way through the sands of time with Dastan.

Overall, a pretty good day.

COMING INTO THIER OWN...

Where did we leave off?

Oh, that's right....a bird in my truck.

We spent Saturday evening putting up the Christmas tree.

I tried to have some order to the decorating, but it fell on deaf ears.

Much like the

"I wish TuTu and MooMoo were here to do this.

They could do it much better.",

and the

"You should see Nanny's tree. It is AWESOME!"

comments I heard.

My confidence is in Christ Jesus.....My confidence is in Christ Jesus....

The past week has gone by quickly.

The MCs are coming into their boyhood together and it's a bit overwhelming.

They witnessed Bella kill a possum in the woods,

while they held her by a leash,

and drag it up to the front yard.

They let a baby snake go right by my front door

and took turns picking it up.

There are army men EVERYWHERE!

A fist fight or two may have broken out.

I don't know.

I just don't know.

Hope you had a Merry Christmas.

We ate too much,

slept too little,

and have the trashed out house to prove it.

I hear ManTracker in the background.

MCs have control of the remote.

I am off to regain control of my house.

And hopefully my waistline!

Have a great week!

A BIRD IN THE TRUCK IS WORTH A LOT OF POO...

The past weekend HH abandoned us for the call of the great outdoors.

Really it was the call of his daddy and baby brother, but referring to it as the "call of the great outdoors" seems more masculine.
Friday was party central at the MCs school. MC 1 had a PJ & Polar Express party, a movie I am pretty sure shows up in the TEKS somewhere. (Texas Education joke. It's funny.... I promise). MC 1 had pancakes and sausage. Trust me, that is his kind of party. All the fun wrapped up and we were all home by 10 AM. Yes, I had to entertain my kids ALL DAY. We watched movies. The they cleaned their room. That took 2+ hours. They finished just in time for us to go watch my sister coach her basketball team. We don't want to talk about it. Moving on to Saturday. Around 10ish I was looking out the kitchen window, talking to MC 1, when I noticed a bird around my truck. Looking closer, it appeared the bird was trapped IN my truck. MC 1 and I go to check it out, and yep, there is a darling little blue bird in my cab. It is obvious he has been there awhile. Someone left a window cracked. You would think if he could get in through the window, he could get out. Not true. There we were out in the pasture, I in my robe and MC 1 in his pj's, trying to set the caged bird free. I open the driver side doors, and the bird does what you would expect. He goes to the other side. I tell MC 1 to open the passenger back door, which he does, and the bird goes to the front of the passenger side. I now understand why he was trapped. This bird is an idiot. The dogs had followed us out to the truck, and it was about this time that Bella spotted Mr. Bird. Next thing I know she has jumped in the front floorboard of the truck and is trying to navigate around the steering wheel to get a snack. I go into yell mode.

MC 1 Open the door! Open the door!

For some odd reason MC 1 began to panic and froze up. Not the kid I need in an emergency.

I am yelling OPEN THE DOOR! whilst having visions of the carnage in my truck should Bella actually get to the bird.

MC 1 is trying to be brave and open the door.

Bella is trying to navigate my front seat.

I know the neighbors wonder about us.

I know they do.

Finally, MC 1 gets the door open and Mr. Bird flies away, just as Bella breaks free from the steering wheel.

Then we came back inside.

How was your Saturday morning?

A CLICK AWAY

Today, I wrote over here.
I hope you will go read.
I pray the Lord speaks to you.
Have a great weekend!

THAT THING CALLED PECKING ORDER...

This is the MCs tree.

I decorated it for them.

Someone has redecorated it.

Notice the location of the cowboy ornament.

Now notice the location of the tractor ornament.
Someone desires to establish the pecking order.
In my best Chandler Bing impression,

Could it BE any lower?

I actually have video of the culprit.
However, he is sporting his undies only
and dancing to The Carol of the Bells as he decorates.
It really is funny, but he would hate me in a few years,
and the Bible clearly says not to provoke your children to wrath.
This would.
However, if I see you in person,
and I have my camera,
feel free to ask me and I'll show it to you then.

OFF PART 2

I blogged about feeling OFF the other day.

Today I came across this scripture.

Fits the idea even better.

"...Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness,

and let us put on the armor of light.

Let us walk properly, as in the day,

not in revelry and drunkenness,

not in lewdness and lust,

not in strife and envy.

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ,

and make no provision for the flesh,

to fulfill its lusts."

Romans 13:12-14 (NKJV)

THEY AND US

Compassion International has great gifts you can bless others with.

They matter to them.

They should matter to us.

Whether you give internationally or in your local neighborhood,

take some time, some cash, and some coinage and be a blessing to others.

They need to not only know Jesus,

they need to feel Him.

They need to see Him in action.

Church ... that is us.

1st

This has been a week of firsts...

MC 2 took his first (and seemingly his last until 20-15) hunting trip.

HH decide to bathe the cat in my kitchen sink for the first (and last time).

Seems Boudreaux is a tad psycho.

MC 1 is going to his first "school-friend" sleep over with people

we have not known for over a decade.

Any firsts for you this week?

BREAKING DAWN...

Boys have been up since 4:30-4:40ish.

HH opened their bedroom door and responded with
Uh-uh...put that up....you are not tying up the cat.

MC 2 came to me in commando.
Dude, why did you take you underwear off?

I didn't wear any underwear last night.

MC 1's response: And you laid NEXT to me?

All before 6:30 am.

Have a great Tuesday!

OFF

That is how I have felt over the last couple of weeks.

Off.

Many things felt off.

Marriage...off

Kids...off

Exercise routine ....off

Eating right...off

Extra pounds... firmly on.

I sat in my bathtub yesterday morning

and rattled off a good list of what was wrong,

what I didn't have,

and who I didn't have.

No tears.

Even my sensitivity seemed to be off.

Ever felt that way?

That life is just off?

I think for me,

when I begin to feel that things are off,

it is because I have put too much on.

Too much of what the world thinks.

Too much of what people say or don't.

Too much flesh (figuratively and literally).

I let too much cling to me or I cling to it.

By putting all that on,

the things I am called to have on,

as a believer in Jesus Christ,

get crowded out.

So today,

it is time to be off with the worldly stuff sticking to me.

Off with the random thoughts and imaginations.

Off with the fears.

Time to let the love and confidence of Jesus get on again.

Time to get my faith on.

Get my peace on.

My shoes on,

(figuratively and literally),

and run.

"Therefore,

since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,

let us throw off everything that hinders

and the sin that so easily entangles.

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,"

Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)

LEST I FEEL PUFFED...

I hung out with fifth graders today.

I had lunch in the teacher's lounge.

I proceeded to dump my entire drink

on my shirt right in front of

every single teacher MC 1 has.

Yep....humility....deflates you every time.

THE EARLY BIRD GETS NO GLORY...

I have been up since 4.

I am attempting pancakes this morning.

I know.

Audie makes the best.

I have already told my self-esteem there will be no glory this a.m.

A Martha Heart is running a series of Heart Prompts.

Short and sweet encouragements for this season.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

MONDAY MULLINGS....

I now understand why our mama was so glad for us to get back to school after a holiday.

I am pretty sure I was in a vegetative state for most of the morning.

I LOVE Command (totally trademarked) hooks.

The Blue Bomber is back from the shop.

Seems someone took it for a test drive and dug through all my stuff.

I parked it out in the yard in case it decides to give up the ghost.

MC 1 is recovering well from his infirmity.

MC 2 fell asleep in the shower last night.

Very disconcerting when I saw him.

Yes - I checked for blood.

Yes - I checked for consciousness.

My house is pretty much decorated for Christmas.

First time EVER.

Seems HH likes it that way.

12 years later he decides to share.

Not decorate....but share.

And we're done...

BEWTWEEN...

ER visits....

and

more ER visits.....

and

up all night with a
"my tummy hurts"

kiddo.....

I am tuckered out.

Have a great Monday!

PRAYER WORKS!!!!

The Aggies WON!

MC 1's arm looks much better!

THE AGGIES WON!

IN AUSTIN!

AND ARE STILL RANKED!

Seriously, MC 1's arm looks 100 times better.

Now to reign in the what if thoughts.

Wishing the doc had never mentioned the words "heart valves".

I was thinking about my Wounded post the other day.

Worrying that in my moment of honesty,

someone might think that Jesus somehow failed me,

and would fail them.

Worried that the misconception

(one we Christians have often perpetuated),

that life is all roses with Jesus and

no trouble ever comes our way,

might win over the saving grace of Christ.

Life is not all roses.

Trouble comes to us all.

ALL.

The difference is that with Christ and in Christ,

I have someone to lay my troubles on who can actually do something about them.

I have someone who can handle my "wounded"ness and work with it.

I have the One who can heal those wounds and if nothing else,

can change me,

which is worth it all.

So please,

if that was even a thought that ran through your head,

that somehow Jesus has failed me because I hurt,

throw it out.

It is a lie of the devil himself.

The failure would be to not have Jesus.

Then my wounds would gape openly.

Would get infected.

Would never heal.

Christ knows what it is to be wounded.

He chose to be wounded for you and for me.

He also knows what it is to make and be made whole again.

He has not failed me.

He will not fail me.

Same goes for you.

Whatever you have going on,

whether you know Jesus as your Savior or not,

you can today choose Him.

THANKSGIVING DAY

Thankful for discernment as to what to do.
Thankful we walked out.

Please pray for MC 1 as he battles a staph infection.

PRAYER VIGIL....

Today will be spent in prayer and fasting for my Aggies.

(Not really...ok...maybe a little prayer but I am pretty sure no fasting)

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

WOUNDED

My heart hurts Lord.

It has been wounded.

I try to heal it Lord.

I really try.

But today I find it weeping once again.

Pain and hurt.

Loss and anger.

What ifs finding their way out.

I want it to stop hurting.

I want it to be healed.

Whole once again.

Trusting once again.

Loving once again.

The sad part is it's not even a big wound.

Not now.

It was.

You have healed so much of it.

But that little piece that won't heal.

Or can't because I keep at it...

That part hurts today.

The hurt brings the tears,

and the tears sting.

Use them Lord to cleanse the wound.

Capture them in Your hand and wash me with them.

Today I am broken hearted.

Bind it up Jesus.

It is what You came to do.

It is what You choose to do.

I choose to let You.

POT MEET KETTLE

Why did you get on orange?

MC 2: Because I didn't mind.

I think you need to go to your room and no snack.

MC 2: Noooooooooo!!!!

Sorry buddy, but you are going to learn to mind.

MC 2: BUT I DON'T WANT TO!

Pretty sure the Lord and I have had a similar conversation recently.

Pretty sure I was sent to my room and did not get a snack either......

....FOR $500 PLEASE ALEC

Question:

What is standing by older women as they look (not glance) at a calendar full of shirtless firemen while keeping a running commentary?

Answer:

A...W...K...W...A...R...D...

WHAT ELSE?

I am sitting at my mama's house waiting for her to come on so we can go get some Christmas joy in our lives.

After this past weekend, I need me some.

I am still reeling from being assaulted by MC 1 and his arrow shot.

HH is home.

Oh yeah, HH was gone.

Hunting.

He seems to like it a little bit.

Shocked aren't you?

It's like saying Paula Deen likes a little butter in her food.

(If my mama doesn't come on her supplies or Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash and Sugar Free Brownies are going to be sadly diminished).

Watched Charlie St. Cloud last night.

I thought it was good.

I cried.

Nobody said anything about crying when you watched it.

Thought Zac carried the movie well.

Uhm....what else?

MC 2 got a sad face yesterday, as everyone who works the car rider line can tell you.

He proclaims his fate to me as he is walking toward the car.

MC 1 swapped 2 fuzzy silly bands for a Diary of a Wimpy Kid book.

Future businessman I believe.

Got my hair did.

Then undid as I checked HH game cameras.

I declare if I ever meet Mrs. Primos or Mrs. Waddell,

I am going to ask them how many game cameras they check.

Going over to make PW's cinnamon rolls at a friend's house tonight.

Picking up the rental car as the blue smoke machine is now in the shop.

And that is a Tuesday for you.

OH wait.....HH did kill a buck.

Seems there is one inch of our wall that still needed covering.

Ok.

I'm done.

Holler!

TO QUOTE THE SPORTS GUY....

What a difference a change in quarterback can make.

Have you seen the Aggies play lately?

My goodness!

Where has this team been all year?

Not that is at all one persons fault.

But the change seems to have shaken them up.

Friday the MCs and I went with the in-laws to a local playoff game.

First game I had been to like that in about 5 years.

It rained.

The entire first half.

It stopped during half-time.

It rained the entire second half.

By the time we left, we were soaking wet, but we have a story to tell now.

Saturday we went and picked up MC 1's deer meat.

Then MC 1 shot me in the leg with his bow and arrow.

To say grounded would be such an understatement.

I have never in a ll my life had to control the words about to fly out of my mouth as I did then.

I cried I was so mad.

I decided we needed a change in location to we headed to the grandparents house early.

Every year their church has a fall celebration at my folks place.

There is a hayride, a bonfire, and great food.

Except this year because someone who shall remain nameless (MOM) forgot to tell the girl that makes the Oreo cookie balls TO MAKE the Oreo cookie balls.

So she didn't.

I think she got distracted by that good looking young man hanging out with her.

I bet he would have liked some Oreo cookie balls too.

Oh...the girl... not Mom...was distracted by the young man child.

Goodness that would get stories going wouldn't it.

I don't know we get all excited about the fall celebration.

I mean it is not like we couldn't do that ANY GIVEN WEEKEND we go out there.

But we do.

There was even a hay maze.

It is the delight of men children's souls.

Sunday off to church, and then a birthday party.

A boys birthday party.

With lots of other little boys.

With putters and golf balls.

Imagine the rest.

It was good to watch though.

Like a compact version of The Sandlot.

Then home where we watched The Karate Kid.

I have to say I was pleased.

I was not sure about them touching my sacred Daniel-son, but they treated him right.

Today... check-up where the doc actually said are you monitoring your diet?

Clearly that is a no.

Have a great Monday!

SHUNNED

Yesterday was the Thanksgiving Dinner at the MC's place of higher education.
First up was MC 2.
10:30.
Turkey and dressing and all the fixings at 10:30.
A.M.
If MC 2 said 5 words to me he said 1.
He didn't.
Without the occasional prodded question from me, we would have sat in silence.
I guess he was to busy eating his carbs and chocolate cake.
I did have a nice visit with the other parents, as their children shunned them as well.
I broke up a fight in the line.
It's the teacher in me.
I can't help it.
Verbal confrontations between small MC's are so intense.
I helped one young man put back one of the two desserts he had loaded up on.
I also tried to ignore the fact that I was 99% sure he had licked his fingers and dipped them in both.

MC 1's time was more reasonable.
The shunning was not.
Not a word.
Carbs and chocolate cake.
We are all about the carbs and chocolate cake.
MC 1 did have the decency not to abandon me for the playground until after I was done.
I will wait until you finish before I leave.
Thank you son.
Unlike our table mates.
Or mate, as the dad ended up eating alone when the kid ditched him.
After the kid had sugared up on fruit salad, chocolate pie, and pumpkin pie.
The playground requires sustenance.
Tried to get pics but the dern camera on my phone doesn't want to talk to my email.
I know how it feels.
So have a great Friday!

AS I...

put the gravy and the biscuits on the table...

MC 2: Did you put pepper in the gravy?

Yes....

MC 2: Did you put salt?

Yes....

MC 2: Did you put flour?

Y...E...S... Is there anything else Grandpa uses that I needed?

MC 2: Milk?Did you put milk?

Yes I did (you little food critic you).

As I brought the bacon over....

MC 1: YEA! Not burnt ones!

Anyone want to cook for a couple of MCs for awhile.
I am about to go on strike.

ANSWERING THE DISTRESS CALL

Last night the MCs and I read our most recent letters from Shery, our Compassion child.

One letter was a thank you for a gift we had sent. I'll be honest, I vaguely remember sending a small gift for something, but I cannot tell you what. Included in the letter was a picture of Shery with her new clothes on holding her family's new goat on a leash. Our small gift also provided food for her family. I tell you this not to brag on us, but to encourage you that a small gift can go so far to a Compassion kid and his or her family. Sponsor one!

As I was reading the letter I started crying. Tears rolled and my voice broke and it went from there....



MC 1: Mom? Are you crying?

Yes I am.

MC 1: (running away screaming) MAYDAY! MAYDAY! CRYING ALARM! CRYING ALARM! I CAN'T LOOK!



It was too funny. He totally hates for me to cry. It makes him "uncomfortable" and "embarrasses him" (or so he said the one time it was just he and I in the car and I cried. Dude...nobody else was around!)

All that to say, your little gift goes a long way to help someone. Nothing is too small. People are in great distress and we are called to answer. They are crying out for someone, anyone, to help them. Even the smallest gift can make a great impact. You can answer their distress call.
And if in doing so you get a letter that makes someone sound the crying alarm and yell mayday mayday as they run through the house, so be it. That is a distress call I can live with.

HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION

How firm a foundation, yea saints of the Lord,

Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!

What more can He say than to you He hath said-

To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled.

"Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed,

For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;

I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,

Upheld by My gracious, omnipotent hand.

"When through the deep waters I call thee to go,

The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;

For I will be with thee thy trouble to bless.

And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

"When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,

My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;

The flame shall not harm thee; I only design

Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.

"The soul that on Jesus doth lean for repose,

I will not, I will not, desert to his foes;

That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,

I'll never, no never, no never forsake."

John Keith, 1787.

We sang this hymn at my parent's church Sunday morning.

I stood there, trying to control my self and not bursting out into tears, just reading the words. It had been an emotional weekend.

I attended the funeral of a young man, a young husband, a young father, who was called to Heaven sooner than anyone expected.

I sat there with tears rolling down my face as my heart broke for his wife and his children. For both his extended family and his church family.

I thought to myself how tired I was of going to funerals for people leaving behind small kids. For godly people who loved Jesus.

Young people who had so much life left to live.

I hurt to see so many I used to go to church with.

The very phrase still breaks my heart to this day.

I felt I had failed for not knowing he and his family better and

was mad at myself for missing the chance.

Wondering what I would do if I were her with three kids to raise and a life to go on living.

These words were never truer for me than on Sunday morning.

Not just for me, but for all of us who have suffered loss.

Or who don't understand why this is happening to us.

Or why we are here, now.

Clueless as to where we are headed.

I encourage you to day, reread them.

Find the song on the Internet and just listen to it.

Let it's truth minister to you.

Let Jesus love on you.

He so chooses you.

LISTEN GOOD...

On Wednesday, I dropped the boys off at school and headed to my discipleship class at church. I had about an hour and a half to kill, so I decided to treat myself to some chicken minis. When I went back out to the truck, I noticed my rear lights were still on. I was confident I had turned them all off and was aggravated that I might have a dead battery on my hands.

If only...

I open the driver's door and smoke came billowing out like I was a student at Ridgemont High.

The cab was engulfed and some motor was running.

A policeman was walking out of the establishment (like you don't know where chicken minis come from) and I had him assist me. He called in the troops.

They found the problem...

When I was driving into town, I had to pass by another chicken minis store and my original intent was to stop there. The little voice (aka Holy Spirit) urged me to drive on.

I debated.

Drive on to the next one. What if something happens?

What is going to happen?

Drive on.

Okay fine I will.

The point...listen good to the still small voice as He gently nudges you and guides you.

There may not have been a policeman coming out just as I was discovering the fire.

My mama may not have been able to run over to get me right then.

Who knows?

He does.

I am glad I chose to listen good then.

I choose to do so today.

OH NO HE DID'NT....

WHAT A WEEK

Let me tell you....
last week was a hot mess around here.
I don't even remember what happened on Monday because the rest of the week trumped it.
Early Tuesday morning found MC 2 throwing up on the couch. I know it is not the end of the world, but HH had his neurology appointment that day and I was planning on sitting in.
So off to the neurologist he went alone while I nursed MC 2 back to health.
HH has migraines.
Wednesday, HH left us for the bright lights and big city.
Thursday I helped mom work cows. I wish I had my camera where I could have used it. You would have loved to have seen the two that tried to jump the corral panels. Not to mention the one who, after we got her in the squeeze shoot but not quite in the head gate, decided she would try to go out the top. I honestly do not think I have ever seen a full grown cow stand up on her hind legs, with her head and front legs sticking out the top of a squeeze shoot, like that in my life.
Thursday I also helped decorate for the MC's fall festival at school.
MC 1 went to spend the night with his grandparents. He was leaving early Friday to join HH for some hunting.
Until Friday morning when my SIL called and said he was throwing up.
So after I dropped MC 2 off at school I went and grabbed the puny one.
No fall carnival for me either.
The hunting bug had bitten HH and Papa, so knowing the stomach virus was only good for about 24 hours, we loaded up the sickly child and sent him packing west.
That is right.
Friday thru Sunday found me alone with MC 2.
That is work people.
We helped with cows Saturday morning.
We shopped for groceries.
We went by the hospital to see Dude and Jesi and wait for WC 1.
We came home.
We went back to see WC 1 make her entrance.
We came home and crashed again.
We got up Sunday and went back to see WC 1.
(We finally did on Sunday, but only through the nursery glass).
Church and then lunch at our favorite restaurant.
Home by mid-afternoon and awaited the hunters return.
Tired just reading it aren't you.
So needless to say I was eager for Monday to come.
We all had a great week/weekend.
We are so thankful for the healthy arrival of WC 1.
Thankful for a successful hunt.
Glad everyone is home.
HH has pictures somewhere.
He said he would get them to me so I could "blog, or facebook, or whatever it is I do."
I am pretty sure he NEVER reads this.
He also asked me to come check on him in an hour to make sure he was still breathing after he took some meds last night.
See what I live with....see?
I wouldn't live this out with any other though.
I chose.

HOW...

vulnerable do I want to be today?
First, The MC's have a new cousin. A woman child, to borrow the phrase from Mrs. Moore. The first in a line of men children. Blessings and well wishes to Dude and Jesi and WC 1:)
As happens to most of us, being at the hospital brought back a flood of memories. It was the same hospital where I had MC 1. I could not help but remember how the day went. The people who came and loved on us while we waited. It made me a little sad. Why? Some of those people are no longer in the same position in my life, our lives, as they were then. I miss them. I miss the people we were then. At times. For a while we had a lot of fun. Good, clean fun. We were challenging each other in our walks with the Lord. We were having babies together, doing life together, growing up together. The last one is what got us. We grew up, and in doing so, we grew apart. We had different views on what should and shouldn't be. Not fundamentally bad, just not compatible. As fond as I am of those memories, seen with rose colored glasses I am sure, I know we can't go back. Any of us. I don't really want to. I like who I am now a whole lot better than who I was then. Do I wish we could be compatible again? Some days. More than that, I pray the Lord restores those relationships that need restoring and removes those that don't.
I pray my flesh stays out of it.
That seems to be the harder part.
To stop looking back over my shoulder.
To take the memories for what they are, enjoy them, and keep moving forward.
Which means looking forward, lest I fall.
Ugh.....so melancholy for a Monday.
Must be the weather.
Or a severe sugar crash from all the candy I consumed over the weekend.
Feel free to comment and let me know I am not alone on this one.
Please.....
Have a great Monday!

TWINS...

THEN I REMEBER....

Some days I forget that I have little boys.

I know I have little kids,

but some days I forget how much they are little boys.

Then things happen to remind me.

Things like this.

May I introduce....

CoCo (belonging to MC 2)

and

Romo (belonging to MC 1)

We came home from school Monday and they spotted these critters.

To my surprise,

they both caught their respective "pets" by the tails

and put them in jars.

Yesterday, when MC 2 was alone with HH at the house, he caught another one.

Our guess is MC 2 put him down, thinking Mr. Lizard would go nowhere, while he tried to open the jar to add him to his collection.

CoCo needs a friend.

CoCo's friend, however,

made a break for it,

which explains why I had a lizard over the door to my bathroom this morning.

Yes, some days I forget,

then I remember,

S...M...I...L...E

and check for vermin.

AT HOME ON THE RANGE

This is Pete and his arch nemesis...the tire.

Pretty much every day Pete lives is one day longer then he has been expected to.

The tire has won a time or two and Pete's mental ability is proof.

You will, however, never find a sweeter dog.

He is a great respecter of personal space and ever so gently woos you into petting him.

This is the cemetery on my parents farm.

Graves here go back to the 1800's.

My grandmother is buried here, as will my grandfather be.

Grandad takes great care of it and is proud of it.

The beasts.....

How the hay was supposed to work...

How it ended up....

I can get it mama!

I can do it!

Day 1 wipeout!

RANCH HANDS

We spent this past weekend at my parent's house cow sitting. Mom and Dad decided on a trip to Arkansas, and cows don't feed themselves. I was really hoping for a better result that last time. We went out Thursday night because the MC's were out of school Friday and it is a closer drive to work for HH. Which was a good thing since that is all he did. He hunted one time. ONE TIME. Grandpa put us straight to work on Thursday evening setting out hay for the herd. He envisioned a great plan of stacking 2 bales together inside the hay ring. It was a good plan. Until Friday morning, when 4 of the 5 rings were flipped over and hay was all over the ground. The MC's and I checked for trapped cattle, and then went off to feed the rest at various pastures. We also picked up the duty of replacing game camera cartridges. Needless to say there was much club car driving by MC 1, gate opening by MC 2, and Sit down! shouts by mama. By Friday afternoon they (the boys not the cows) were passed out asleep. Saturday was a repeat of the same thing. Sunday we joined my grandfather for church and lunch at the local DQ. FYI if you like pumpkin pie you must try the pumpkin pie blizzard they have. Fab -U- Lous! When we got home Sunday I saw buzzards in the pasture. Never a good thing. Sure enough, a calf had been killed by something. Looked like it came right out of a nature show when the lions take down the gazelle. The MC's and I removed it from the pasture. Bless its poor mama's heart she followed up the whole way talking to it. Sunday afternoon found the MC's and HH fishing. Then off to stock the deer feeders and reset all the game cameras. We rounded out the night by drving home with intense storms all around and some very serious lightening.
I am going to try to get some pics up today.
There is our weekend recap.
Hope you had a good one:)

TRADITION....

One of the things I learned early on in life was that my father could not tolerate loose teeth just hanging out in your mouth.

Ever.

Remotely loose....needs to come out.

It seemed to me his argument was purely financial.

He maintained that if we left them in there too long,

it would mess up our other teeth,

and then we would have to get braces, etc. etc. etc.

So out they came.

I learned quickly to pull my own if I could.

However, occasionally he would catch wind of one

and felt it was his mission to remove it.

We have done the whole string to the doorknob thing.

I would be lying if I said pliers perhaps were never involved.

Regardless, my teeth came out and no braces required.

When you are a kid and you learn this little tidbit about you father,

you only feel it is fair to pass it along to you siblings.

When S1 started loosing teeth, I would tell her not to let dad look.

By the time S2 started loosing teeth we double teamed dad.

It was all out war with S3.

Run sister! Run!

May have been yelled a time or two.

Now because my dad is a man of great integrity,

if he said,"I won't pull it",

he didn't.

The trick was in getting him to say that.

Usually he lured us in by saying,

"Come here and let me see how loose it is."

Which is exactly what he said to MC 2 last night.

MC 2 proudly walked up to Grandpa and said,

"Look I have a loose tooth."

Moth to a flame people... moth to a flame.

As soon as MC 2 did that I left the room.

I was transported back to being 7 and watching it all play out.

I had to restrain myself from yelling

Run baby! Run!

The extraction wasn't immediate, for Grandpa was previously engaged,but as soon as his hands were free

"Boy come here and let me see how loose that tooth is."

The tradition lives on.

(and I have no idea why this is formatting like it is and am in no mood to fight it so...uhm...there you go.)

I AM PRETTY SURE HE MEANS ME...

I recently started the bible study entitled One in a Million by Priscilla Shirer. As of today I am exactly three weeks into it. To be honest, I was not fired up about it. Not because of the author, for I do so love Priscilla Shirer. Just nothing in my flesh was fascinated by the topic. (That should have been clue number one). I actually won this book from LifeWay Women on Facebook. (Clue #2). I had been doing my own reading and was really enjoying the Old Testament. Jeremiah chapter 42 struck a nerve. The entire chapter is God telling the people not to go back to Egypt.

I know you are scared.

I know it looks bad.

I know.

Do not go back to Egypt.

How it spoke volumes to me.

I know, you peeps that have already done One in a Million are beginning to giggle because you see it coming.

Guess what the first 3 weeks of the study have been on?

Getting out of Egypt.

Staying out of Egypt.

Making the most of the wilderness time.

Coincidence - not from my deliberate God.

This is purposeful and strategic in His timetable.

I find myself in a wilderness of sorts.

I left the work force, with God's blessing.

What I thought would be a quick journey to something else hasn't been.

What I thought would be a suitable back-up plan has not happened.

So I am out here in the middle of uncharted territory.

In the middle of my wilderness.

Having started the bible study has given me perspective.

Maybe renewed my perspective, because deep down I already knew this.

My wilderness time is not punishment.

My wilderness time is for Him.

To show Himself faithful.

To get the glory.

To draw me in.

To get the Egypt out of me.

So that I will know He is Lord.

Whatever comes.

Be encouraged if you find yourself in a wilderness time.

It is for a reason.

It is appointed.

It has been chosen for this time.

Because you are chosen.

Choose Him back.

Lay it all at His feet.

Choose to trust Him.

Choose to believe Him.

Choose to glorify Him.

Choose.

I am pretty sure He means you, too.

HE PERPLEXES ME...

I had a completely different post in mind until HH came home yesterday.

I told him to his face he provides a great deal of blog material should anyone ever fear this well should run dry.

He showed up yesterday with this.

Admittedly, I thought it was for me at first, and was completely perplexed by the fashion selection.

Then I turned it around and for the briefest of moments was really confused, and a little scared for the general public.

Then I saw the paw.

He bought it for Zoey.

He feels bad for her in the mornings.

Zoey.

The one dog they have to muzzle, and at times sedate, to groom.

And we are going to get that over her head and on her legs.

And then I am to get it off again in the mornings.

Me's thinks not.

He also showed up with this.

Meet Cooper.

Or Bubba.

Or Kitty Kitty.

This is what happens when he goes to the pet store unattended.

I ask you,

Who is this HH?

PLANNED

This past week has been a flurry of stuff.

Some expected.

Some not.

I did not plan on going to the dentist Tuesday with MC 1 after MC 2 threw something and chipped MC1's front tooth Monday night.

I did not plan on not being able to move on Friday after being hired out as farm hand on Thursday by my mama.

I did plan on a conference with MC 2's teacher this week.

I did not mean to crush MC 1 when I missed the cake ceremony after he was honored for being on the honor roll (a first for him).

Moms In Touch - planned.

Birthday parties - on the calendar.

Duck Commander - totally planned.

Just a great deal of stuff.

Life stuff.

Good stuff.

I did plan on taking pictures.

As you can see I didn't.

Hope you had a great week full of good life stuff.

THE DEATHSTAR OF ARLINGTON

I got a call last Wednesday from a person wanting to know

if I had any interest in attending the A&M vs. Arkansas game

on Saturday at Cowboy Stadium.

Let me think.......

Do I have any interest in breathing?

Yes please.

So Friday I picked up 4 tickets to the quote "Death star of Arlington" according Jay.

Saturday we loaded up the MC's and headed to the big D.

Said person felt confident the tickets were on the Aggie side,

which would have been perfect.

Said person was wrong.

Said person is a graduate of the University of Arkansas.

Said person thinks he is funny.

MC 2 and I sat amidst a sea of red in our maroon

and were proud to do it.

Maybe not MC 2.

He kept crying

I don't want to sit with the pigs!

I want to sit with the Aggies.

The Hog fans surrounding us were gracious.

The two very sweet ladies who sat in front of me

kept asking about our Aggie traditions,

and I was happy to convert...I mean oblige.

We had a great time.

HH, who could care less about football,

really enjoyed the stadium.

So to said person, we say thanks.

And Gig 'em:)