SCARED A BIT

I received wonderful Christmas presents this year. A great new pair of black boots that would make Big Mama proud. A fantastic brown jacket. A Scentsy that matches our home decor. The John MacArthur Bible Commentary. However, I received one gifts that scares me. To the point I have avoided it as long as possible. I have actually tried it once, but quit soon after. The culprit... Breaking Free by Beth Moore. Yes, I am afraid of it a tiny bit. When people who have done the study say things to you like,

"If something ever happens to me make sure that

study gets burned BEFORE anyone reads it",

well, it makes you a little leery. I know, thousands of women have done it and been blessed beyond belief. I also know it has a way of getting all up in my business and rocking my world. To the very core. Which is kinda the point, but scary still. It is really a silly fear and a complete work of the enemy, but a fear that is still there.
What is even more frightening is what will be missed if I don't do it. The only way I am going to fulfill all God has and wants for me is to let Him get all up in my business. To allow Him to reach into the very core and start from there. I must admit I am a bit ashamed that I am even telling you I have been dodging it. Almost like I have failed you. Truth be told though, if I have failed anyone, I would be me and Him. It would be easy to let that condemnation monkey jump on my back. I won't. For I know this as well, God's timing is perfect. Perfect. He knew exactly when I would be willing, if not totally ready, and willing I am.
I have not started it yet, but next week when we get back to our regularly scheduled lives I will. I go into it with great expectancy. If what I expect to happen happens, my regularly scheduled life is no more.
Praise the Lord!
P-r-a-i-s-e t-h-e L-o-r-d.

COMMANDO CONTAGIOUSO...

So yesterday I made mention of MC 1 going commando all day Christmas Day.

I did not realize this condition was contagious until bath time last night.

After an afternoon of going to various stores and playing outside,

it was time for MC 2 to get cleaned up.

MC 2 take you clothes off and get in the shower.

MC 2 strips down and gets in the shower.

As I am picking up, I notice the orange sweat pants

he was wearing were laying on the floor,

underwear in absentia.

Dude, where is your underwear?

I don't know.

Did you wear any today?

Uhm..nope.

G-R-E-A-T.

So now underwear confirmation has been bumped

to the top of my daily to do list.

I hope HH doesn't catch it.

TMI... I know;)

AND THEN THERE WERE TWO...

Did you spot it?

Our first causality from the bow and arrow set MC 1 got for Christmas.

Granted they were suction cup arrows, so I really did not think they could do too much harm.

I did not take into account MC 2.

Apparently the wise man was eyeballin' him the wrong way.

MC 1 - Mom! MC 2 broke on of your guys!

Me - What? Why? How?

MC 2 - It was an accident Mommy! It was an accident!

MC 1- Yeah right. Mom when he did it he pulled his arm in and said Y-E-S!

Me- Dude that is not an accident when you celebrate.

MC 2 - Uh huh Mommy. It was an accident.

Accidents do happen Mommy. They do.

In their defense, they did have all the visible pieces picked up and thrown away before I even came in.

Ahhh...life with men children.

Oh and did I tell you MC 1 went commando ALL DAY LONG Christmas day.

Yes mam. Did not find out until one of his cousins ratted him out at grandma's house.

Yep...good times;)

RELOAD!

You good Ag's will recognize that sentiment! My Ags's face the Dawgs of Georgia today. We pray for a good showing.
This week we are literally reloading. Reloading the house after Christmas '09. Reloading the washing machine and dryer for the ump-teenth millionth time. Reloading the fridge. All in preparation for 2010.
Christmas Eve we went to our church's candlelight service. I would love to tell you how great it was, but MC 2 was still being beastly, so I missed most of it. We did get to see some huge snowflakes though. That was neat.
Christmas was surprisingly great. To be honest I was a little concerned about the men children. They each only received 2 gifts at the house, one Santa and one mom and dad (and that one was homemade). I was concerned they would be upset and throwing fits. Much to my delight, not a cross word was said. They did not care one bit. (Makes me think how much money I could have saved in Christmases past). They were thrilled with their toys and homemade gifts and we really had a great day. We moved from our house to my parent's house. Again, the homemade gifts were a hit. I had made my two nieces bags and the boys "interest appropriate" pillows with their initials one them. Sisters were very impressed. We are already planning for next year's homemade make - off. To say we are a bit competitive is putting it lightly. After lunch and a few naps, we migrated to MIL's. I will say I did have to finish some of the presents on the way. Again, the men children were delighted with all the things they received.
So now we recover.
We reload.
Gig 'em Ags! Beat the heck outta Georgia!

I WIN! YOU OWE ME!

CHRISTMAS EVE GIFT!

Merry Christmas

to you and yours

from me and mine.

"LINE"!

First, let me preface this post by saying I am not well. But I am not super sick either. Nothing hurts, I just have a nasty cough that has not left me yet. I mean nasty. The kind that when a bad one hits you it takes your breath away. Having said that, you will hopefully understand if I seem a bit raw in this one.
I love Christmas time. It is beyond a shadow of a doubt my favorite "time" of the year. One of the regrets I had from working was that I did not get to fully do Christmas like I wanted to, for me or the kids. I was super excited about this one because I knew I would have the time to do all the things I wanted to for me and for them. I was looking forward to going to the local nursery and buying a poinsettia and seeing all the decorations. I was excited about taking us all to the local Bass Pro Shop for Santa's Workshop and our FREE pictures with the big man himself. I would be going to man child 1's music program and party. We would make candy, cookies and baked goods to take to our friends. We would attend a local live Nativity. My house would be decorated by the first week of December. We would spend Christmas Eve decorating the tree. I had it all planned out.
Guess what?
You already know don't you.
With the exception of the party, NONE OF THAT HAS HAPPENED OR WILL.
Some I am responsible for; some were unavoidable; some just did not pan out.
How was I to know that MC 2 would puke as we were getting in the car to go to the music program or that I would be sick 3 days before the day.
To say I am disappointed would be an understatement. Yes I know what Christmas is about...yes Jesus is the reason for the season... Yes I am trying to refocus. I have to tell you, though, my flesh is highly disappointed. HIGHLY. I caught the tail end of the a Brady Christmas special and actually teared up. (Thank goodness it wasn't Little House on the Prairie for I would have been a goner for sure).
My flesh quickly cried out, "Why can't my life be like that!"
My spirit man quickly replied, " Because your life is not a script. Your life is REAL."
VERY.
My life has very real financial constraints. My life has a very real man child who was an absolute horror while HH was away on a hunting trip. My life has two men children in it who got in a shoving match at Wal-Mart, after they had fought with the purchases I had made. My life has a very real woman smack dab in the center of it who is reading a book about grace and discovering she grapples with it. My life is real.
So is yours. You have your very real stuff as well.
As I am working this out, even as I write and between coughing fits and a man child telling me to go to the doctor, this thought comes to mind.
Just as my life is real, so is my God.
Amen!
Can I get an amen?!
He is not made of stone. He is not carved of ivory or jade. He is not embodied in an animal. He is very real. Sitting on His very real throne by His very real Son who is making very real intercession for me at this very moment.
I can make all kinds of memories with my kids, but if those memories don't focus on the real Son of God who came to dwell among us, then I have failed. If they don't know that the real Son of God who came to Earth as a baby is coming back as King, I have missed the boat. Truth be told, my kids aren't missing the "stuff" I wanted to do. The stuff has no eternal impact on their lives. What will is mama getting her priorities refocused on the real reason for the Christmas celebration. So she will, real fast.
Thanks for listening while I work this out. I feel better already, spiritually anyway. Physically may take a bit.

NIGHT AWAY

HH and I got the chance to go away for a night this past weekend for some work related thing for him (because as he so often points out I am unemployed). Of course I am not sure I would call sitting in a fine eating/drinking establishment for 6+ hours and watching "da' BOYZ" beat the Saints work related, but what do I know...I'm unemployed (and quite happy about it!).

I digress.

Anyway, in the spirit of PW's book tour I thought I would take pictures of our historic hotel.

Now picture in your mind all the fancy rooms PW has stayed in.

Got 'em?

Good.

Now completely erase those thoughts.

Here is the room/bedroom.

Here is the bathroom.

THE END.