It’s a good life! March 30, 2009

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!

What kind of day is it for you, today? March 23, 2009

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!

Am I an eye witness??? March 20, 2009

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!

The latest… March 18, 2009

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.