“Nathan do you still have a girlfriend?” “Mom!, I don’t want to talk about it!”
So the story is this, I don’t know if Mackenzie is still in his life or not, it might have been that he was just feeling grumpy when I asked him. More on this later.
Don’t you wish you lived in my house? Hahahaha!
“Mom, I’ve got a girlfriend!” These are the words that every mother dreads to hear from her son. Now you know that a mother and her son have a special bond that really is like no other. I am supposed to be the ONLY “woman” in their life until the day that I approve of a girl for them to marry.
I am the mother of 2 boys who have not expressed one bit of interest in the opposite sex at all. I am the only one that gets their hugs and kisses, as it should be. I should not have to share my love with some “little” girl who can never love them the way that I do! 
Sadly though, it would seem that I have been replaced by…Mackenzie! Yes you heard me, Mackenzie! To make matters worse she is 8! I am talking about my youngest son, Nathan who just turned 9, two weeks ago today has a “girl” in his life named Mackenzie! Now what business does a 9 year old have with a “girlfriend”?
Yesterday he informed me that he and another boy in his class were competing for her at school and that the winner was going to get to kiss her and go on a date! I asked him what he meant by “competing”. So at the dinner table last night he tells John and I about why and how he is trying to “win” the girl.
See Mackenzie is fickle and isn’t sure if she like Nathan more or the other boy. So my brilliant son said that he suggested that they have a competition for her. So on the playground yesterday they ran laps around the field to see who was fastest, climbed the monkey bars, and “you know mom, swing and jump out to see who gets the farthest”! Now I want you to know that John and I are busting a gut at this point because he is explaining everything so, matter of factly! It was all we could do, to keep it together as he explained that they had had a tie for the day and that tomorrow they would know who won!
Now Jonathan is listening to all of this and he is wanting to know all the details about the “prize”. Where are you going on your date? (”school”) Where are you going to kiss her? (”I don’t know”) So on and so on. Meanwhile I am explaining to Nathan that I had already told him that he wasn’t allowed to have a girlfriend until college (one can hope) and that if he got caught kissing her at school he could get suspended from school or worse. (Scare tactics where in full effect.)
My one glimmer of hope was placed on the other boy…Lord please let him win! Sadly, Nathan informed me of his victory today. A moment of pride in his success was quickly squashed by this new found “woman” in his life. Here’s hoping that they break up on Monday.
I just know that that little girl better not call my house, lest she get a lecture from me about how “nice girls don’t call boys”. That’s what my momma always told me and dag gone it, she’s gonna hear it too, whether she wants to or not!
I am sure there will be more on this another day!
Aaahh…the sounds of running water through the pipes of the house, banging of wood and sound of a wireless screwdriver around a door frame, sizzle of food cooking, John shouting “BOYS!”, the dryers buzzer ringing 4 times in a row, the tapping of fingernails on a keyboard, this is a good life.
The water is from the outside hose that the boys have rigged up to run through the metal tubing that was once the safety net around our trampoline. (A hurricane destroyed it). The pipe runs across the backyard and up into a tree.
I know what you are thinking, what smart, creative boys you have. Here is what I think, what a muddy mess they are going to be when I call them in for dinner! I am going to have to hose them down before they step a foot through the door and lets not even talk about the muddy clothes that I have to wash! Alas, this is also why John is shouting!
The best news of the day comes in the form of noise around the door frame to my kitchen door. John and I usually get a tax refund every year and with it we usually pay off debt and buy one thing usually for the house. Last year it was a grill and the year before that a set of furniture for the deck. This year I finally have a storm door to the deck, complete with hide-a-way screen! I can open my kitchen door and enjoy the spring breeze. So the sounds of screwdrivers and banging is a welcome noise!
Dinner is on the stove and in the oven, Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo, Jordan’s favorite is almost done.
The dryer is hollaring at me to come and unload and reload. How does the laundry get so piled up? I know that there is a sock monster, but there has to be a grunge monster too. Then again now that I think about it the monster has two names, Jonathan and Nathan!
My fingernails need clipping but they remind me that I am having a moment to myself as I blog. This is a good life, although sometimes it is hectic, it is good. Full of a great family, wonderful in-laws, a handy ”HOT” husband, food to eat, dryers that dry, doors that let in a breeze, water that cleans as well as it makes mud, and fantastic friends! Thank you Jesus!
You know there are days when life is easy, there are no bumps, no hiccups, nothing that stands in your way and it is so easy to love Jesus and follow Him and know that He is in control. Then there are days when every speed bump, every obstacle, every hateful, hurtful thing trips you up. Those are the days when you wonder where Jesus is in the midst of it all.
I know that you know what I am talking about. Good days and bad, easy days and tough days, hope days and despair days; we all know which we prefer. I am usually a “good, easy, hope, kinda girl and it is rare for me to have the other kinds of days, but I have experienced them. It is those days that cause us to wonder about God’s plan for our lives. In the end I know He is in control and that He is holding me in the midst of my struggles. Sometimes though it is hard to feel His arms around me.
But let me point this out; when the days are good we might know that God is in control but does it cause us to seek Him? I know that on the tough days I am up in His face saying, “You have got to see me through this!” Shouldn’t we be up in His face everyday thanking Him for whatever the day is bringing? You know its true. You know you are as guilty as I am.
Makes you wonder why sometimes everything is rough, hmmm. Might it be He just needs to know we still think of Him, need Him, want to talk to Him? Maybe that messes with what you think God is about. I don’t think He is “making things happen to me”, but I do think that in the things that He allows, He must find great joy and pleasure in our reaching out to Him. So maybe we should remember Him in all things, but especially on the good days!
Oh, just for the record, I am having a good day, so worry not about me!
Ok, I took my Grandma Nell to the beauty parlor yesterday and while she was having her hair done I went to Sam’s Club to get a couple of things that I needed. I spent a leisurely time wandering the aisles, sampling the foods on display, and of course buying a few things that I didn’t know I needed, which for the record means “wow that looks good I should buy that”. I finished shopping and headed to the checkout line.
Now when I go to Sam’s the best part for me is the frozen Coke that I get when I leave. It takes me back to childhood when my mother would torture my brother Johnny and I by making us wait for her in Dannomins fabric store. We would spend what seemed like hours looking at patterns and fabric. My family didn’t have a lot of money and mom sewed most of our clothes so this was a big deal to her, but awful for 2 small kids. The one thing that we knew was that if we were good when we left, we would hit the Orange Julius stand and get a frozen Coke with a spoon straw and a pretzel to share. This was a big deal since soda was not something we really had often, it was a huge treat. So when I go to Sam’s I have to have one because they are not only yummy but they bring back so many memories.
So I got my frozen Coke and headed towards the door to have my receipt marked and then go get Grandma. As I walked towards the door a large man with a dark suit and gray hair cut me off to get to the receipt lady. I decided that it wasn’t worth getting grumpy over so I smiled and had a look at his large, flatbed, cart. This is what he had: 18 gallon’s of Clorox, 8 gallon’s of cleaning solution, and some other things that I didn’t notice because I was too distracted by the crime scene cleanup materials! Yes, I know you thought it as you read it! All I could think was that this man had committed murder and he had a major clean up job to do! I thought about joking with him about where the murder happened but then thought, what if he really did, I might be next! I know I need help!
To add to my amusement, I watched him walk to his truck and load it up only to discover that he had probably 20 portable oxygen tanks! Oh yeah, my twisted mind went at it again and I was convinced that he was headed off to clean up and then blow the joint up to completely cover the murder! Help me Jesus, I called John to share my encounter and the minute I told him about all the Clorox he said, “He’s cleaning up a murder scene!” Anyway, I guess we are both twisted. Let’s hope that I am not the only eye witness to a murderer!
What do you write when the blog hasn’t had an update in forever?! I have experienced a lot since my last post including the following:
1. Getting sicker than I can ever remember being, I couldn’t taste or smell anything for 3 weeks and still, 6 weeks later don’t have all of my singing voice back.
2. Pulling off a surprise 90th birthday for my Granny Hobbs (with help from friends and family) that was a blessing to her and to those of us who had the privilege of attending.
3. Having the youth leader at church quit and then leave the church, so… attending a youth conference because I am going to take over the youth program (I know what you are thinking, yes I am nuts).
4. Having a tooth pulled (that still is bothering me and makes me wonder why that didn’t fix the ouch).
5. Having a panic attack in the dentist chair which required a little “humble pie” and hand holding to help me through.
6. Making a scrapbook of Granny’s party pictures, which I have covered the kitchen table with, which has required all family dinners to happen in front of the t.v.
7. Putting on the very first talent show (Red Hawk Idol) at the boys elementary school, which was crazy successful and everyone loved, way to go Mary C. Williams Elementary, PTA!
8. Mediating an argument between Jordan and her BFF over something really stinky, that Jordan was way wrong in doing.
9. Trying to survive “the boy” and the “attitude” that comes with the “No you can’t go there with him”.
10. Trying to survive the financial strain at church and home, but amazed at how God has been provision.
11. Finding old friends on Facebook, when time allows, and connecting with “kids” from our youth group in Georgia ( I love you Mike and am so proud of you!).
12. Suffering for the last month with a familiar unpleasant thing called panic, over dumb stuff too!
Oh the list could go on and on, but I am so glad to have the privilege of loving Jesus in the midst of all of the struggles of life, even when it seems that I don’t know what else I can handle. You know it never ceases to amaze me what I can survive and how God has equipped me to handle those “yucky” things. Sometimes I forget what I’m supposed to do to handle things and then suffer needlessly, but He is so faithful to love me through and help me remember.
When all else fails, praying in the Spirit is always a winner and worshipping Him through the songs that He given me always seems to pull me through. Something else that I did in the midst of this time has been to pray a prayer of thanks, where I did nothing but thank Him for all that He has given me and what He is going to be giving me. What joy it brought to my heart in the midst of my struggles. Even when I couldn’t see some things yet, I knew that the thanks were for what was to come.
If you find that your situation is tough, busy, hurtful, frustrating, humbling, whatever; He is there just waiting for us to act. So give my 3 things a try: Pray in the Spirit, Worship Him, Thank Him! It may make all the difference.
For those of you unaware, Jordan now has her drivers permit. I know it is a shocker that my baby girl now has the legal right to drive down the highway with my constant instruction and observant eyes on everything that she does.
So far it has been a good, although at times a nerve racking experience. The day that we got her permit I handed her the keys and she was confident that she would wreck the car on the way out of the parking spot at DMV. I assured her that she could do it, even if I wasn’t sure that I believed myself. Up to this point I had only allowed her to drive in our neighborhood. This was a whole new world driving down the 4 lane road with my inexperienced 15 year old.
Jordan is sadly demonstrating some of my driving habits. I am what you might call an “aggressive” driver. I am also vocal with all of the cars that I travel along with. Lots of “what are you thinking!”, “this is my lane why are you driving so slowly in it!”, “seriously, you are going to pull out in front of me?!” I know that I am probably in need of some kind of road rage support group, but in my defense I haven’t had a speeding ticket since 2 weeks before my 18th birthday, nor an accident since I was 19 (wasn’t my fault). So for the last 20+ years I have been a cautious, safe, albeit loud driver.
I have been talking to Jordan for a long time about being aware of what is around you at all times, and the importance of using your rear view mirror as much as you look out your windshield. I am hoping to instill in her the need to be looking ahead of where you are and trying to anticipate other drivers intentions.
Well, Thursday evening she wanted to go to Young Life so I handed her the keys and we headed out the door to drive after dark for the first time. She did great, although her main concern was whether she could hear her music or not, and that I talk to much to her about what she is doing. We picked up a van full of kids and then headed to the church. Jordan realized that she was going to have to drive into the parking lot in front of a ton of students from the high school and she started to beg me to drive into the parking lot for her. I told her no that she had to learn at some point, just to take her time.
As we arrived there were a ton of kids standing in the parking lot, so I told her to stop and wait for them to move. She however decided to “go around” them and as she did I knew what was coming and I yelled to stop. Too late…she hit the landscape pilings that stood 2 feet high and drug the entire passenger side of my car along the piling! Yep, in front of all of the students and in front of a car full kids. Needless to say the kids in the parking lot yelled out a collective, “OOOOHHH!” I know that she was dying of embarrassment, but I was really ticked off!
I didn’t do much but to walk straight into the church and kept my mouth shut. When the meeting was over she informs me that “the scratch wipes off with spit”. I told her that it was more than a scratch, that there was a dent the length of the side of the car. Not only did she catch the passenger door, but she drug my poor car all the way down to the rim of the back tire!
When I got home and told John, he of course got out the flashlight and went right out to examine the damage. He told me that he thought that it would be about a $1000 to repair. So we asked Jordan what she thought the repairs would cost. She said, “I think it will cost $200.”
On Friday we took my precious mini van to the body repair shop and were given an estimate of $1,728.76! Yep, Jordan was way off. Needless to say we won’t be turning in the repair to the insurance company, I don’t want to pay more than I already do. I can’t afford to pay it out of pocket, so I guess my van will have to stay this way. The only good thing going for me is that my brother is a body-man and can fix my van when I can make the time to go to Delaware and stay for at least a week.
We told Jordan in hopes of helping her to understand the magnitude of her responsiblity when she gets behind the wheel of the car. We also told her that this was her “freeby”. The next car damage will come out of her pocket. What a hard, expensive, lesson for her to learn and for us to bear. Dang, I love my van too!
New news:
Jordan has a boyfriend and we are learning to deal with the wonderful world of boys, boys that aren’t ignoring the fact that she is beautiful. This is the same girl who has been told since she could understand, “all boys are evil”. When did she grow up? When did she discover that boys aren’t quite the evil deviants that we tried to convince her they were. I guess in the end it really was about trying to keep her safe from boys and the evil things that they might think about my baby girl!
She chose pretty well, he is really nice and really is just like her. I have never heard a 15 year old boy sing to the top of his lungs in a van full of girls without any hesitation. He is as goofy as Jordan and I get why she likes him. He is her!
It reminds me of the boy that I dated in high school for 2 years. He made me laugh and I had fun with him. Here’s hoping this is just a fun relationship.
Oh, and for those of you who might know Big John, Jordan’s Grand-daddy; he is handling this better than her dad is. Go figure, but then again Grand-daddy hasn’t met the boy yet. I feel for him when that day comes.
This has been a better week although it has been an exhausting week. For example: Jesus cut my hair this week, I got an encouraging note in the mail that included another “gift of love” from someone that I haven’t seen in a long while. This person said that the Lord had really laid us on her heart and that she didn’t know what was going on but that God wanted to encourage us. I got to celebrate someones birthday at the fondue restaurant and someone picked up the tab for all of us. And God is continuing to meet our financial needs in many different ways. Some of those ways are hard to accept when you have been the one who likes to give, but pride takes a back seat to humility in times like these.
It just goes to show you and me that He has things well in hand. Who am I to even try to understand the mess that the flesh sees. I have to see with His eyes even when it is hard to focus. I know all of these things but it’s easy to forget sometimes. But He doesn’t love me less when I can’t remember what I should, He just continues to show me that He has my back, and sometimes in very unexpected ways.
So for those of you who might have been shocked at my rant, well, I’m sorry that you were shocked, but I am not sorry that I felt a better in the writing. I am usually one that swallows my hurt, anger, sadness, whatever and doesn’t share any of it with anyone outside of my “family”. As you can see, I have recovered quite nicely and am back to the Amy that you know and love.
I am on an emotional roller coaster again. I don’t know which one is the most perdominant. Could be anger, immense sadness, hurt, relief, betrayal, desertion, embarrassment, I don’t know what I feel other then just confused.
I had the whole Hobbs family at church this Sunday and I absolutely despised that they all got in the car and went home to Delaware and South Carolina. Having them around at least made me feel a bit more secure and I had no doubts that they loved me and had my back. I can’t say that for most of the other people at church. I know that there are a few but when you walk through the door and see that for yet another week so and so is missing again. What the heck?! It’s like being kicked while you are down and then left to bleed to death.
I am so ready for the ride to stop, cause I want off! I can’t even begin to fully communicate my feelings other then to say that they are all over the place.
I got an anonymous post card in the mail with this one statement on the back. “be still and know that I am God”. Well, duh! I do know and I have been still but I found no peace in the sentiment. Is the card from one of the many recently departed people who want to find a way to encourage me or was it from someone who I don’t know well, who heard of what I was going through and thought that it might be a word that I needed to hear. I don’t know but it left me wondering. Maybe my anger is showing itself. Maybe it is just the deep hurt that I feel with people that I have poured so much of my life into, who choose to forget the investment and then only focus on the offense or irritation.
Could it be that the reason people are leaving is because they feel like they are on a sinking boat and heaven forbid they go down with the ship or even be associated with what they view as a failure. Well let me help you, this ship is just dumping its waste and God is the one pulling the lever that gets the “crap” out!
I think that is where I experience the relief, cause I know in the end this ride will end in victory, peace, growth, joy, and a deepened relationship with the lever puller!
Pull on God, pull on! Just hurry it up please!
