Luke 12:28-30

If then God so clothes the grass,

which today is in the field

and tomorrow is thrown into the oven,

how much more will He clothe you,

O you of little faith?

And do not seek what you should eat or drink,

nor have an anxious mind.

For all these things the nations of the world seek after,

and your Father knows you need these things.

NKJV

WELL...

HH hurt his back.
Bad.
So bad that he spent Tuesday and Wednesday at home with myself and MC 2.
He is on the mend, but still in some pain.
Having said that, then you with husbands know that my week did not go as planned.
However, I am not sure there ever was a real plan, but had there been one, his injury would have set it back.
Tuesday night was a rough one. HH self-medicated. I don't know and I didn't ask how. I just checked for a pulse and breathing. His "meds" made him not sleepy, so we stayed up past 11. Finally I said night night only to be awoken at 2am by MC 1 having a bad dream. He saw slug in the kitchen and it triggered a nightmare about an army of slugs getting on him. Gross, I know. So off to the mattress I go. He finally went back to sleep but appeared to tag MC 2 so he could now be it. Up at 3am with tummy ache and spent 2 hours sleeping on the bathroom floor. No other actual symptoms, but with him you can never be to sure. I got 4 days worth of scripture reading done so that was a plus. All are well now and mommy almost got a full night of rest.
This weekend the sisters and I are seeing, as HH referred to he last night, "that woman they like to listen to." That would be Beth Moore. I am sure she has never been paid such a high compliment. We will have some girl time and probably make Chuckie wish he had gone away for the weekend.
So, I hope you have a great day. Pray you blessed, that you have eyes to see it and ears to hear it, and that you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that your God, my God, our God loves you.

I LOVE YOU BUT STOP TOUCHING ME!

The men children have slept together since we moved back in after the fire. When they were smaller it was fine. In the past few months, as they have grown, things were not going so well. MC 2 needs to touch - your face, your feet, your head - with his feet. MC 1 CAN NOT STAND TO BE TOUCHED. Especially his feet. So this is their new arrangement.

We tried them with one on the bed and one on the couch, but they missed each other. MC 1 claims the couch, MC 2 roams all over the mattress. *Note - this is not the position or the end he started on. They don't want to be touching, but they don't want to be apart. They want to know the other one is close if need be, but not too close. We thought about bunk beds, but then there was ... you know...MC 2, so we decided to pass on those. Which was probably a good call since I walked past their room in time to hear MC 1 tell MC 2 "Why? You won't die." Looked in to catch them with above mattress standing up tall and appearing to prepare themselves to ride it down. Yep - good no-go on the bunk beds. So for now, this works. They are happy. They read to each other, tattoo each other, argue, giggle loudly, pretty much act like brothers. As much as it drives me crazy, I know they need that. They need to bond. They need to disagree. They need to love.

I gotta think that's how Christ sees us sometimes. As brothers and sisters, we need to bond. As brothers and sisters, we need to disagree. As brothers and sisters, we need to love. It is what draws us in. It is what challenges us and solidifies our faith. It is what picks us up when we are down.

I am going to be real honest right now...I am struggling with "church". It has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with the church we go to and EVERYTHING to do with me. Because honestly, it would not matter which church I went to. It is stuff in me that needs working out. Right now, I don't want church touching me too much, but I love the church so I want to know it is there close by. How messed up is that? The church and I are sleeping in the same room - one on the couch and one on the floor. Not sure who is where. Pretty sure I need to hit the floor. As much of a struggle it is right now, I know I need the church. Just like my men children need each other. I know I love the church. I know the church will help solidify me in my faith. I know the church is what will encourage me and pick me up.

So what's a girl to do? She is to keep going. She is to lay her heart before the Lord and ask Him to heal the broken pieces that are protruding out. The pieces that cut not only her but those around her if she is not careful. She is to love the church even when she doesn't "feel" it. She is to choose.

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

Hebrews 10:25 (KJV)

LITERALLY

I laid in bed and said to myself,

It is not true or real.

It is not true or real.

Over and over in my head.

Thank you Elizabeth George.

MC 2 is allowed to play outside with me checking him every 30 sec. or so.

Yesterday I got distracted and missed my appointed check time.

When I did check, I looked out my drive to see a van parked at the end of my gate, and MC 2 walking back.

What are you doing?

I was talking to her.

You were what?

I was talking to her.

YOU DO NOT talk to strangers!

The entire time the van never moves and the person in the van never moves.

DO NOT talk to strangers. They could hurt you.

She didn't.

DO NOT TALK TO STRANGERS.

I had made my way to the gate, and the person emerged.

Turned out to be a census worker.

She complimented on how pretty MC 2 was and how well mannered.

She asked a few questions and went on her way.

She had census stuff on her car and id badge, so I am pretty sure she was who she said she was.

MC 2 had a long discussion about strangers hurting you.

About being polite in the store when mama is with you versus going out on you own.

And then I called HH and demanded a chain, a harness and a stake in the yard to hook MC 2 to.

Then I laid in bed and recalled all the kidnapping movies I had seen and pictured my kid in it.

Then I said over and over,

It is not true.

It is not real.

The truth was Christ protected my kid.

Which is a good thing because apparently I can't.

Perhaps I should have prayed,

Be cowardly and shy

instead of be strong and courageous.

But I don't really want him to be cowardly and shy.

I want his courage and strength to be used for the Lord.

With that he will do things his mama never would have dreamed of.

So if God is going to take advantage of that,

He is going to have help me out.

Which He does.

Literally.

OVER THERE

NOTHING

HIGHLIGHTS, AND NOT THE BLONDE KIND

Mundane, but true, these are some of the highlights of my week:

1. Figured out that the pointy end of the spatula can be used to get all the stuff out of the measuring cup. I have a vague recollection of this information somewhere in my head...

2. Made PW's White Chicken Enchiladas. HH loved them. Ok, maybe he just really liked them. Now I have a carton of heavy whipping cream that I need to do something with.

3. Made Rachel Ray's Black Bean Burrito Burgers. Different but good.

4. Rescued Bella from the top of our previous water heater that is 4 feet tall. Apparently in her weakened condition she was able to leap a tall building in a single bound and get up there herself. Or so says MC 2.

5. Got caught up on laundry.

And for the higher highlights

6. Was witness to the Lord God rebuking the devourer for my sake and sat in awe while it happened.

7. Got to meet some ladies from the church we have been going to.

I am too tired today to link all the sites, so Google Pioneer Woman and Rachel Ray to get the recipes.

Hope you have a great weekend!

...AND PUPPY DOG TAILS, THAT'S WHAT LITTLE BOYS ARE MADE OF

Bella is recovering from her Parvo nicely. She is wagging that tail and tried to chew my foot today...all puppy. Which will be cute until she is at 100 lbs. Then not so much.
MC 1 had an audiological screening today.
He passed.
So he can no longer say "I didn't hear you."
While returning him to school and locating his class, I stepped back into the hall just in time to see a little MC 2 hand, fingers ready, inching up toward the pretty red box on the wall that has a pull switch. AKA THE FIRE ALARM!
Stern words nipped that in the bud.
And to think I am going to send him to school in a few short months.
Lord, please be with his teacher. Prepare her heart NOW! She needs all the head start she can get. Or he. A guy might be good for him. Hhhmmmm.
Appears Buddy is afraid of gunshots.
Some went off in the neighborhood. I saw MC 2 come from outside, but missed the yellow golden retriever with him. Next thing I know I see both dog and man child walking through our hall. I tried to call him out, Buddy, not MC 2. He wasn't falling for it.
Then I tried to drag him out by his collar that his OWNERS have apparently put on him. He back pedaled and the collar came right off. End result I had to use the rope MC 2 got when he went to the tractor show with Audie and Grandpa, lasso the dog and drag, D-R-A-G him people, drag him out and literally put my body on him to get him out the door.
So good times here in I choose land. Good times:)