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!