I WASN'T THAT PARENT...

The game came and went, with a notch in the W column. HH and I behaved ourselves. I was tempted to go at little cra-cra when it was obvious that MC 1 was embarrassed that we were even breathing. I mean, if he was going to be embarrassed, I should at least make it worth my while, right?
We have had two meals at the table this weekend, AND the table is clear for the start of the week.
Also, I made a pork tenderloin recipe from the three ring binder which passed muster with the Y chromosome bearers in my house.
See...progress in the right direction.
Christmas decorations are down, with vows and notes on how to do it better next year. Like so many of you, the holidays always seem to go by without me taking it in as much as I would like. Can anyone else relate?
The main part of the house is clean, the dishes are washed, and I have an overall plan for the week.
A pretty good way to start.
Hope you have a great week.
We can choose to.

BECAUSE WE NEED TO REMEMBER HE MEANS US...

Ephesians 2 (NKJV)

By Grace Through Faith

2 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, ² in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, ³ among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), ⁶ and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Brought Near by His Blood

¹¹ Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— ¹² that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Christ Our Peace

¹⁴ For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, ¹⁵ having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶ and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. ¹⁷ And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. ¹⁸ For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

Christ Our Cornerstone

¹⁹ Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, ²⁰ having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, ²¹ in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, ²² in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

SPOILED SLEEPERS

The MCs are what I call spoiled sleepers. As we speak, they have a lamp on, Christmas lights on, Toby Mac playing and a sound machine pretending it is raining. On their beds are their comforters, their regular pillows, their "mommy" pillows, at least 2 stuffed animals with MC 2 and one with MC 1, and most likely an extra blanket. When we travel, they try their hardest to take it all with them. They get it from HH. He sleeps with at least 2 pillows and probably more if I would let him.
I sleep with a pillow. Singular.
Are your kids that way? Do they have a ton of stuff they must have in order to sleep? What about your spouse? Does he/she travel with a noise machine? A fan? A certain pillow? What about you?

WHICH PARENT ARE YOU?

The meal "planning" was successful.
The meal "purchasing" is a different story. Actually, there is no story because I haven't even been to the store long enough to buy groceries.
The clean kitchen table, well, it's the sequel to the store story.


MC 1 woke up the day after his first practice and informed me that his whole body hurt.
Welcome to the world of athletics son.
HH and I have managed to stay out of the amateur elementary athletic ring up until now. Granted we did some time as soccer parents, but it's soccer. At this age you're just glad if your kid runs the right way and doesn't spend his time chasing his own shadow. HH is very competitive. Not at all into athletics, but if he is forced to participate, he wants to win. He already has a list of things that MC 1 needs to work on that he shared with me. I keep saying, "It's little league. It's Pee-Wee. Chill out." A good line to hold to, but I am afraid it may fall apart when it's game time. See- I love basketball. I LOVE BASKETBALL. I know basketball. I have a coach's voice. It carries well. I am a little concerned that I may lose all restraint once MC 1 hits the hardwood. And, please, heaven help me if someone hurts my baby on purpose. This mama can clear some bleachers - don't you worry. I come from a family of bench clearers and bleacher hoppers. When I was in junior high, my dad went toe-to-toe with a little league coach who screamed at me during a game (and I was just keeping the books), and my sister Casey cleared a bench when some girl hit sister Becca in the face with a ball during one of their summer league games. We. Do. Not. Play.
I almost typed "ain't nobody got time for that" just for my SIL but felt it might be in bad taste. But she'll read this and laugh so mission accomplished.
My prayer, and seriously I have been praying, is that I remain calm, encouraging, and free of foul words and sarcastic remarks for the officiating crew.
Which made me curious- what kind of bleacher parent are you?
Nice, quiet, just watching....I have heard those exist.
Are the bleacher coach?
Are you the one giving encouragement and clapping loudly at anything anyone does well?
Are you the trash talker?
Have you ever been kicked out of a game?
Received a warning from the official?
Perhaps even been T'd up?
Be honest.
No judgement here.
I reserve that right until AFTER the first game.

WELL..............

What to say....what to say. I don't really feel like you want to hear about my mini-shutdown last night. We could talk about Bama's shut down of Notre Dame, but I felt bad for the Irish, so let's not kick 'em when they are down. We could talk about the article I read that suggested you NOT use sarcasm when dealing with high school students. Which basically means I, personally, should probably never speak to them again.
Christmas decorations? Are yours still up? Ours are. Partially. The MCs wanted to leave the tree up until our neighbor kids came to visit, so today marks its last day. The rest are scattered on my kitchen floor.
I did cook last night- a chicken and dumplings-ish meal. Made the Dead Sea look like fresh water with all the salt that was in it. The MCs and HH didn't like it anyway so that recipe is a no.
I have not joined the ranks of Downton Abbey viewers. I am not sure I can convince HH it is worth his time. I have decided I want to watch all episodes of Friday Night Lights on NetFlix. Just not when the MCs are around.
MC 1 starts little league basketball this week, which is apparently a direct line to the NBA and therefore requires practice at 8:00 o'clock at night....for ELEMENTARY kids.
Okay, well, that's about all I have for today.
Have a great Tuesday!

A LITTLE REMINDER....

from Galations 3.

Have a great week!

FOOTBALL TRAINING CAMP

is what it feels like I have been running this Christmas break. With all the bowl games and NFL playoff games on TV, I have been schooling the MCs in the vernacular surrounding the pigskin. You would think HH would handle that, but no. Mainly because he doesn't care. And he doesn't know. But mostly he doesn't care. Maybe if the were camo uniforms and got to stalk their prey before they tackled people he'd be a bit more with the program. He has improved since we got married, just as I have in my knowledge of grunts, bleets, and the arts of odor removing and scent blocking.
I have explained offensive and defensive pass interference.
I have explained the difference between offsides & a false start.
We have delved into the difference between offensive linemen, tight ends, and receivers, and explored which position each MC would be best suited for.
I have explained mascots and helmet designs.
How the Florida St. Seminoles are not the same as the Washington Redskins.
I have answered a million times when the Aggies play and have debated why the BCS has to be so complicated.
I have recalled my Senior year of high school when my dad and I went to every high school football game my beloved Bobcats played.
I have remembered the 12th man and how proudly I stood.
I have envisioned my babies suited up.
I have realized I am most likely going to have to buy some form of bling to accessorize my Friday night attire.
And I am grateful.
To have the chance to train them.
To give them the memories of mama watching football with them.
To be able to relate to them where they are.
To pass on my love for the game and my Aggies.
But this is not my greatest training camp.
That one happens every minute of everyday.
May I choose to train them well.

2 Timothy 1:5

New King James Version (NKJV)

when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.