MISCOMMUNICATION

Apparently when I said go clean your room, what I really meant was go do some body art...

This is Wolverine...

This is I got there just in the nick of time!

(they were working on a full body rendering of Iron Man. Yes I know Iron Man is red, they just called him " Green Iron Man ")

Those would be call sleeves in the tattoo world (both arms done up to elbow).

How do I know this?

I blame HH and his shoulder to shoulder tat.

ACCOUNTABLE OR REBEL-A-BLE?

Yes, I know rebelable is not a real word. I also know the hyphens are wrong , but I needed the dramatic effect. (I needed it, doesn't mean you did, but hey, it's my blog).
I had an interesting turn of events the other night. I battle my weight and have for many years. Some years I am very successful and some years not so much. We are in the not so much season right now. The other night HH weighed himself and somehow that lead into a guessing game about mine. When he hit the magic number, he was disturbed by it. He made some truthful all though not so graceful remarks about it. My response, "I don't need a lecture on it." Some of you may think it horrible that he did not say he would love me regardless of how high my weight got. First, rest assured he still loves me. Second, a comment like that would be a get out of jail free card for me and my brownie craving. I need him to hold me accountable, and I need to watch that I do not become rebelable. I hate, let me say HATE, being told what to do by others. I really, really do. That is the rebellion part. I like being in control. Hence the food problem. I may not be able to control anything else in my world, but I will control what goes in my mouth and it better taste good and make me happy, ie brownies. And don't you dare try to tell me what to eat and when.
I know the spiritual implications are jumping off the page, and I (and He) are working through them. Control, pride, self-discipline, submission, honoring the temple, trust, it goes on and on. Now I could get down on myself and say what a failure I am, because in this area I have failed. However, because I have failed does not mean I have to become a failure, if that makes sense. It is my choice. Same as I choose whether or not I will smoke too much or drink too much or lie to much. It's all the same. The issues are still the same.
I am accountable to my husband. Not because he is the food police or because he needs a skinny thang on his arm (cause that probably ain't going to happen), but because he signed on for the long haul. Because we have kids together and we need to rear them together. Because we said till death do us part and I don't need to speed up that process.
More than that, I am accountable to God on this. Those issues need to be dealt with now, so this situation and learning point can be used for His glory for someone else.
I have to tell you, I am kind of excited right now. I know that Him having me go through this, and working this all out, is part of His plan for me. To get get me from point A to point B, and I finally feel like I am walking the right direction. I know it won't be a perfect walk, without distractions (hello - the holidays are coming up), but it is a walk Christ and I will be on together. A walk where He will be light before me and the light anyone sees around me.
So having told you all of that, you will be glad to know for the past 3 mornings I have worked out before 6 and monitored my eating more closely. Small steps but steps none the less. I have also been less rebel-able and more accountable in other areas as well. The less rebel-able part is what I am most proud of (proud with all humility because I know it is only through Jesus).
So this is where I am now. Hopefully this is not where I will be for long:)
Have a blessed day!

SKILLZ!

This is MC 1's Jack-O-Lantern.

He designed, I cut.

It is Wolverine, from the X-Men.

He was supposed to have 2 fangs, but he had a loose tooth and Saber Tooth knocked it out.

That is totally our story and we are sticking to it.

The slashes on the sides are actually Wolverine's claws.

He is ever so gently framing his face with them.

Awwwww....sweet isn't it?

It was this or a vampire.

I know.

You will all be calling me to do yours.

Unfortunately my carving skillz will not be available.

I'll be too busy learning the newest Fresh Beat band song and awaiting the newest Avatar.

And if you have kids over 12 you won't understand a word of that last sentence.

Unless you live with a grown man who would be delighted to get the entire series of Avatar on DVD for Christmas.

That or the O.C.

It's a toss up.

But I am not judging.

Because I would sit with him and enjoy them both:)

Have a great day!

NEPHEW # 7

* Correction - it was Wednesday, not Tuesday.
Tuesday was planned to be boring. Really it was. Take MC 1 to school. Run some errands. Come home and crash. That all happened and then the fun started.
Let me tell you now the hand of God was all over this situation.
My SIL was 35 weeks pregnant on Tuesday when her water broke with lots of blood. She was at home with her 4 year old son alone. My MIL is a teacher, but it just so happened that she did not have any kids on Tuesday due to classes being cancelled. So as soon as SIL called her she was able to leave. I had walked in the door 5 minutes before she called me to come pick up my nephew. Remember I have no cell phone so her catching me at home was a miracle no doubt. While I am meeting them at the hospital, SIL calls to say they have put her in a room. Within minutes the doctor ordered an emergency c-section and within 10 minutes of going to sleep (they did not have time to numb her) SIL had another boy. I kept nephew over night, mom and baby are recovering well, and what could have been a horrible tragedy was turned around by the Mighty Lord God of Hosts to be a blessing and a huge testament of His faithfulness!
In the words of my Esther study- that is a reversal of destiny!
Waiting to hold you Gunner! (HH is seriously gonna love that name!)

REED

Update on Reed (the snake bite boy).

TIME OUT

This is one of my favorite pictures of MC 2.

First, he is still.

Second, he is where he loves to be.

What you can't see are the rest of the boys playing off to the side. MC 2 is just observing.

I must say I have caught myself feeling that way a lot lately.

That I am just on the outskirts watching others play.

Not necessarily a bad thing.

Definitely a different thing.

Can also be a peaceful thing.

Sophie posted about God entrusting us with these times.

Puts a new spin on it.

I am not on the sidelines now because God was caught off guard and did not know what to do with me.

I am not on the sidelines because He found someone who had it more together so she got substituted in for me.

I am sitting on the outskirts because God in His infinite wisdom and love has determined that it is what I need to do.

He has entrusted me with this time so that He and His Son Jesus Christ may be glorified.

Yes mam - puts a entirely new spin on it.

Because during this time,

I am still,

and I am where I love to be.

WILD HAWGS

I am 36. I am too old to start attending pasture parties and too young to start being called some one's "old lady". The first happened this weekend, the second is a long way off.
HH & I attended a motorcycle rally in Jefferson this weekend (a work thing). Our accommodations?
See below...
Yes, you are correct! That is a horse trailer. I have been accused of being a horse's rear a time or two, but this was too much. Wanna see inside?

I know what you are thinking.

Why is she holding the camera that way?

I am not. The trailer slanted that way. To the point that our pasture camp mates informed me which side to sleep on so HH would not roll over and squish this delicate flower of a wife. Of course they failed to mention the closeness of the bed and that when HH stretched his arm in his sleep he would punch me in the face. Yep - left that part out.

All in all is was not a bad trip. If you take out the rain and the cold and the mud, it was great! We did see awesome bikes though.

If this motorcycle thing is gonna last, I am definitely getting one of these!

Could that be any cuter? I may get one just to wear! Hope you have a great day!