BEAUTY OF RANDOMNESS

1. Want a chance to win Priscilla Shirer's new study, go here.

2. Was surprised at how much Kelly Minter's study on Ruth spoke to exactly where I am. Pleasantly, but surprised.

3. Have no idea how to explain to MC 1 that the "chicken nuggets" he loved so at his Papa's house were actually calf fries.

I think it might damage his bleeding-heart, animal-loving psyche to know how those were harvested.

That and make him want to sleep wearing a cup for the next few months.

I don't need that drama.

4. Seems because I did not want to take the men children to the Harley shop I

"don't have motorcycles in my heart",

and that is apparently a bad thing.

I LOVE MY MAMA BUT...

if my kids don't lay off comparing my cooking to hers it is about to be on!
It started a few weeks ago when I was making pancakes. MC 2 was in the kitchen helping me.

MC 2 : You don't make the best pancakes mom.
Me: I don't?
MC 2: Nope. Laudie does. (Laudie is his way of saying Audie).

Okay. So the next morning I was making eggs.

Me: MC 2 do you want some eggs?
MC 2 : Nope. You don't make the best eggs.
Me: I don't?
MC 2: Nope. Laudie does.

Fast forward a couple of weeks. I made pancakes again. Now mind you I have been making pancakes my entire life. Yes, I have messed them up at times, but most of the time I do just fine. MC 2 did not eat all his.

Me: MC 2 did you eat all your breakfast?
MC 2 : Noooooooo.....
MC 1: He said they weren't as good as Audie's.

This past weekend the men children stayed with Audie and Grandpa. On the way over, MC 1 and I were discussing various topics and Audie comes up again.

MC 1: You know mom, when we get up in the morning, Audie is cooking for us. You're not cooking for us when you get up.
Me: We all get up at the same time dude.
MC 1: Yeah but you're still not cooking for us.
Me: First of all, Audie only cooks one day a week. (I have been corrected- she cooks twice a week). You just luck out to be there on that day. Second of all, I poured you a bowl of cereal today.
MC 1: Well, she still cooks for us.

Seems they shared with mom last night how awesome her pancakes were. Mind you ....IT'S A MIX! The generic store brand mix. But a mix full of AWESOMENESS.
Today they should have biscuits and eggs, gravy and sausage.
I can't top that. I do have an ace in the hole though.
The Donut Store!

I KNOW WHAT I WANT TO SAY...

but not sure how to make it sound "pretty" ...so I'll just dive in.
Obviously, I have been thinking a lot about my friend Niki Jackson. One of the most beloved things about Niki was the freedom she expressed in her praise of the Lord. She praised like no one else I know. I loved watching her, listening to her, standing with her.
I believed her, know what I mean?
She never did it for show.
She could care less what you thought.
She was always respectful.
But what I admired even more I think was her authenticity when she was broken before the Lord. As real as she was with her praise, she was just as real with her desperation for the Lord.
And that impressed me even more.
Because that took humility. It took surrender. It took faith.
Faith that her brokenness would be handled with care.
Faith that He would be faithful.
He would be tender.
He would hold her.
He would heal that broken vessel.
He did.
He has.
He will.
Hers.
Mine.
And yours.

...Heart-shattered lives ready for love don't for a moment escape God's notice.
Psalm 51:17 (The Message)

BECAUSE IT'S WHAT BROTHERS DO...

JOY COMPLETED...

The last time I spoke with Niki

she talked about getting her joy back.

The cancer had been vicious

and was taking it's toll on her.

She stood in the church bookstore telling

MIL and myself how she had become

determined in getting her joy back.

She was deliberate.

She was intentional.

She was choosing.

Yesterday, her joy was completed when she entered into the presence of the Lord.

You will show me the path of life;
In your presence is fullness of joy;
At your right hand are pleasures forevermore
Psalm 16:11

A princess with her King.

Whom I have no doubt heard these words....

Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. Matthew 25:21

And while my heart aches and hurts, my joy is found in Christ Jesus as well, for it is what He came to do.

To console those who mourn in Zion,to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord that He may be glorified. Isaiah 61:3

May You alone be glorified in this Christ Jesus.

My friend, our friend, would have wanted nothing more.

Jesus alone.

SCRAPPING THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL

I spent yesterday trying to recover from a mad dash trip to Hot Springs, Arkansas, for my cousin's wedding. I would recount the events, but it would make you feel bad. Because if anything could go wrong it went wrong with us. Hotel room assigned - already occupied. Toilet in new room - broke. Hot water - MIA. On the positive side the wedding was stunning.
Sunday morning marked the second week that the MCs and I attended Sunday School. HH and I had tried once before but then there was this "episode" at the church (you know... people leaving) so we had not been back. The MCs were resistant, as they are every Sunday, but I just ignored them. When I picked up MC 1 he could not wait to tell me about his class. MC 2 chewed me out for picking him too early. Seems they were not quite done with a particular praise and worship song that he LOVES. Does not matter that it was his second time through praise and worship.
My friend Keri hopped on a big ole jet plane with her men children and hubs yesterday. My heart did ache a little when I saw the picture.
The tadpoles are deceased. Seems MC 2 thought they could sit in the strainer on the counter while we were gone to town. MC 1 will have to find something else to save.
Maybe I will be profound later today....maybe tomorrow.
Or maybe the tank has run dry.

C-YA!

I can not seem to pull together anything that resembles an organized post. The ramblings going on upstairs above this pretty little face are wearing me out. I mean do people really want to read more about MC 2 and how he has now decided he wants to live with either one or both sets of his grandparents for the rest of the summer and how we all K-N-O-W that ain't happening.
Or that my humanitarian MC 1 now has two tadpoles in a flower vase to occupy his bleeding heart since the Lucky's have passed on to ...dirt.
I will be back Monday with an organized post full of shocking and profound brilliance.
Maybe.
I will try to be back Monday?
Til then ...
C-YA!