Archive for August, 2011

My Achy Head

Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011

Ever have one of those days….where you feel like your head may explode? Well, I’ve been having one for the last 4 days. My sinus’ and throat are working against me. It’s apparent that the two of them have serious plans to destroy anything good and happy about my work week.

I’m totally miserable!

If you have a magical treatment that doesn’t involve taking antibiotics….let me know. I’d be willing to give it a try. At this point, I’d even get crazy and attempt to use a NetiPot.

See? Mama is stuffed up and aching!

Hope this pretty almost fall day (wherever you are) is amazing. Remember, this is the day that the Lord has made…let us rejoice and be glad in it. Even with a sinus infection and a sore throat! πŸ˜‰

No looking back

Monday, August 22nd, 2011

It’s that time. In just a few hours my girl begins her college days. Even though she’ll be living at home this first year (or semester) it’s still a big deal. I remember my own walk onto new school turf way back when. My commute was over an hour, hers won’t be quite that long. Still, it was scary and new–so I felt anxious.

She hasn’t mentioned any of that yet. I’m assuming that since her big brother is going to take classes at the same school with some of the same classes…she’s feeling ok with everything ahead. That could be pretty comforting, huh?

I’m really excited for her. It’s a new step towards her future that I know she’s happy to take. God has been pretty lavish with blessing our family especially when it comes to college and costs. Soon, she will be getting a car (hello, school loan!!) and then her freedom will feel real. Go girl!

My prayers are that she will find what it is she’s looking for. I know what it’s like to be her age and clueless about what you want out of life. I was stumbling around myself back then. Now that I think I have my dream figured out….I have to stumble even more to make it happen. But God…He knows just what she needs and me too.

Do you remember being 18 and facing the future? How’d you handle it? Did your dreams come true? Has life gone the way you imagined? It’s been a complete surprise for me. I’m so glad I surrendered my life to Him. By far, the best decision I’ve ever made.

Here’s to you Ally. Live your dreams, girl! I will always be here cheering you on. Lead…..in everyway.

Move Ya, Movie!

Thursday, August 18th, 2011

Last summer, I checked out a book from the library that I noticed a few other bloggers talking about. I’m not a huge fiction fan, really. Call me a book snob….I don’t mind. So, I didn’t give it much hope to be anything special. Matter of fact, I thought surely I’d ditch it after a few chapters of it’s fiction nonsense make-believe!

Truth is. I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!

I cried, I laughed. I tried to do my housework and life. But this book….it wouldn’t let me put it down (for long)! I think I finished it in just a few days. It was by far one of my favorite reads in a long time. Recently, I read that the author {Kathryn Stockett} was turned down 66 times by publishers before she found someone to take a chance on her little book about maids in Mississippi!

Girlfriend! God bless you!

I’m not sure if you can even imagine my excitement when I saw the first advertisement of THE MOVIE?!!! Holy Batman….I may have even squealed! All summer I’ve patiently waited for it to hit the theatre. It happened to debut while I was at the beach. Everyone encouraged me to go while I was there but I knew it was something I needed to do after I made it back home.

I’m so glad I did.

This last Saturday (the end of my summer break weekend) hubby and I were out grocery shopping when he said….”Let’s go see your movie!”. It didn’t take me long to hand that mixed greens salad mix back to the cashier and run out of Sam’s Club. We even swung by Coldstone Creamery on our way to the movie (I mean, if you’re going to live it up…..do it right!).

All I can say is GO SEE IT!!!! GO GO GO!

Oh and let me know….if you wanted to slap Miss Hilly as badly as I did? I’m still cringing! This will definitely be in my top list of favorite movies. It’s going to be a big deal. Just wait and see. πŸ˜‰

Reality or Not

Wednesday, August 17th, 2011

Why is there such a fascination in our country to watch reality shows? What does it say about us as people? It seems the edgier the participants of the show the more popular they are. Uhh, hello Jersey Shore! Most of these shows are filled with nudity, heavy drinking and no big deal hooking up! We the cable paying public keep these people going.

Sad, huh?

I’m not trying to be a bonafied fuddy-dud, really. I love to watch tv. Matter of fact, my whole family would rather stay home and hog up tv time than do most anything else. Lame! We like being home and tv is crucial to the mix. I tend to watch the same stuff just not on a regular basis. Reality shows aren’t part of that lineup either. Except, I have been known to watch the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, New Jersey, & Orange County. Just not regularly.

Yesterday, I read the sad news that a husband from RH of BH committed suicide. The story is so sad. These are real people with real lives and real problems. Maybe we watch them because it’s an escape from our reality. We size up their problems and compare ours to theirs then justify our behavior based on what we see them do. Never have I heard anyone profess Christ on either of the shows or act like they have a relationship with God. Usually it’s just trainwreck petty behaviors riddled with shallowness and snobbery.

But–we watch anyway! πŸ™

I’ve broken my own arm patting myself on the back (in my sick self-righteousness) regarding the many raunchy reality shows I DON’T watch. Yea, I’m one of those Miss Goody-Two-Shoes! If I think it’s sleazy and disgusting (Uhh, hello again…Jersey Shore) I refuse to watch it. See how I manipulate my own mind into believing I’m holding onto my holiness? Twisted, that’s me.

This latest sad truth reminds me that parading your life before America can end in tragedy. Families fall apart (mmm, Jon & Kate), privileged children run wild (mmm, Hulk Hogan’s kids), rich girls have no respect for common people (err, Paris & Nicole) and sadly….true love isn’t found in a tv matchmaker series (oh Bachelor/Bachelorette)! Real life doesn’t deserve to be exploited for money.

Tell me….do you think reality shows are harmless? Or am I being too harsh and judgemental?

“Create in me a pure heart O God and renew a right spirit within me” Ps 51:10

A Book Run

Tuesday, August 16th, 2011

We are book people. If it has words that equal a good story we are like a moth to the flame. We must read it. Unfortunately, we tend to collect more books than our 2400 square foot house can hold. It’s sinful, period! Pray for us!

Not only do we like to collect book books. Somehow, my “guys” end up with tons of college books. My garage is so full of hubby’s seminary books we could start our own Baptist library. These (I’m told) are invaluable resources and can’t just be “gotten rid of”. He could need one of them and then what? So, they stay in their many boxes piled up high to the top of our garage. When the doors open up…the world can see who we really are, packrats! πŸ˜‰

Since my sweetboy has moved home (a pile of stuff at a time) finding a place to put all of his things has been tricky. We’ve weeded out closets, drawers and once again resorted to stacking stuff up. It’s so annoying. I hate the clutter like I hate peeling potatoes (and baby, I hate peeling potatoes!!). So if you can imagine the mixture of items packed all willy-nilly–think about trying to find something important. It’s impossible!

So the big kahuna of MUST FINDS this week has been two very important books. Not just any old books either…..oh no, we don’t work that way. We like to live right on the edge of hysteria and madness.

These dudes—–>

Only one of them could be found. Not good. The owner, a very important AP Physics teacher next door to me (at school) needed them ASAP!! I was at work feeling a little stressed that the missing one would never be seen again. So, I did what any frazzled mama would do….I prayed. Then I sent him a final message that said, “Find it, YOU HAVE NO CHOICE!!”.

Minutes later, he sends me the news that he has located the very lost and important book. It’s in Bloomington!

Good thing he’s a college dude and has nothing but time and money, huh? πŸ™‚
A lesson for him. A blessing for us both.

Thank you Lord. You care about things that we goof up and I’m forever grateful!
Amen

Sick Day, Already?

Monday, August 15th, 2011

Waking up at the evil early hour of 6:30am after a summer of sleepin’ in sure can wreck a person’s positive attitude! I did it, but I didn’t want to. I’m really not a lazy mama….I just don’t like an alarm clock bossing me around. Ya know?

We buzzed on to school and wouldn’t you know…the traffic jam problems? Still there. It reminded me how much I loathe the drive to school each day. Blek! It’s a test of the highest kind…..I catch myself whispering, “Hold it together Mama, WWJD?”. But man, I want to honk my horn! Hehe. [picture, twisty mouth]

Everything was going fairly smooth until lunchtime when the main office called me on my cellphone. I hadn’t been near the thing all day. I was sitting at my desk eating a salad when the call came. It was a medical emergency and they couldn’t “find” me. Huh? What? I’m where the bosses scheduled me to be. You can’t find me? Come on now!

My poor baby was in the school nurse. My kids never go to the nurse, ever. Unless it’s with me, for something specific. I headed down to find her writhing in pain (Hello, mother nature!!!! You cruel beast! On the first day of school? Seriously!) and begging for something, anything to make it stop. Poor kid. I’ve been there…..more than once.

Lucky for me, I have a college age son at home who could run up and pick up the patient. So, there you have it. Gates takes her first day of school and uses up 1/2 of it for a sick day. Hopefully, she’ll be feeling awesome tomorrow and I won’t get any wacky calls on my cell.

Yea, school is officially a fun buster! And obviously, not the best place for a bout of the cramps!

Get well soon, my baby! We’re a team, remember? I can’t go without you & that’s final!