Queenies Little Kingdom

I knew it was coming….

Remember my hot tub bird watching?

This morning as I swigged down my delicous coffee in the hot tub….I noticed Mama bird sitting on the fence (giving me the stank eye) with a nice juicy breakfast hanging out of her mouth.

Since I am married to the bravest man ever……I had him take a new picture – just to see if there were really babies in that nest.  Ya know?  For curiosity sake, really!

And would you looky there!  Four healthy grandbirds!

I wonder just how long before Mama starts trying to scratch my eyes out as I lay in my hot tub?  Also, how long is this nursery life?  I'm not interested in giving up my whole summer for some little squeakers but since I am a PRO LIFE human….I can't think of putting them in danger or death.

So, I'll just be over here like…..I have no backyard.  It's a home to a hostage birdy take-over!

Help…

The first one to call me mom celebrated turning 24 years old yesterday.  He spent the day with friends on his motorcycle, just the way he wanted.  I've never missed a birthday with any of my kids until this one.  He was up early and gone before I could hug him HAPPY BIRTHDAY and then he didn't return home until I was already in bed.  I heard him talking with his dad, so I snuck down and gave him the mama birthday love I missed giving all day long.

I would get all mushy and sentimental about how fast 24 years have flown by but I know I don't have to do that.  Everyone knows, especially mothers….that the days seem long but the years shorter.  Time has a way of zinging right by us, stealing our youth and turning our babies into adults.

That's life. 

Okay, so my boy is 24! 

He's still my favorite boy in the whole world.  Everything about him (even the annoying stuff) is precious to my heart.  I love him and I'm proud of him.  Together, we have fun.  We laugh about crazy things and can always find interesting topics to discuss, passionately!  He's so much like me and still every bit as similar to his dad.  I like to think that he got what was best from both of us. 

Ya know, a total package! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GAVIN!

I know I took a bit of a "detour" in my school year.  Maybe it's even safe to say that I took a hiatus.  Either way, tomorrow is the official last day of school for the 2013-2014 year and I'm excited!

Just because I didn't work in January or February doesn't mean I don't have all those "school's out" feelings.  I love summer!  It's like my world opens up to all sorts of possibilities and the best part….NO ALARM CLOCK! 

I'm also excited because tomorrow my hubby comes home from Texas.  It's lonely when he's away.  I miss him and I love having him around!

Even after 25 years…

Last Friday I was assigned to sub in the afternoon.  Since it was for the same teacher who I recieved the "discuss some issues" call…..I made certain that I was early and at her door.  Only, when I walked in….she made a heavy sighing noise and said, "Did I need you?".

Confusion.  Frustration.  Aggravation.  Is this really happening?  All swished through my mind.  I'll even take it one step further and say I thought, "Is this lady FOR REAL?"!

She makes a complaint about me and she doesn't have any idea if she put in for a sub?!  Come on, lady!

Long story short.  She "thought" she had cancelled her need for a sub, but hadn't.  She did not need me and I could leave.  Now that wouldn't have been so frustrating had I not felt so cruddy that morning.  I wanted more than anything to stay home and NOT GET DRESSED.  But, since it was "this" particular teacher….there was no way I was cancelling the job.  I would've worked with my eyes bleeding!

So, I huffed my way back to the front office which was nothing short of hussle and chaos.  When I arrived to work earlier there were literally ZERO parking spaces.  Not one single sliver of space to park my boat.  So, I pulled onto the grass and hoped for the best (not to get towed)!  The reason?

Rachael Fiege's first week lecture.  Rachael was a beautiful 19 year old freshman at IU who fell down a flight of stairs after only being at college for 2 days.  Her friends had no idea how injured she was and helped her to a couch to lay down only to realize many hours later that she was in dire consequences.  Too late.  She was a Zionsville HS graduate and beloved in this community.  Her mother (Angi) has wrangled her emotions and love for Rachael into a program to help other students and this was the day of her event.  The school was packed!  And it was B U S Y!!

I have thought and prayed for this mother many times.  My heart couldn't help but feel empathy for her and all that she must be going through.  Nothing can change or take away the pain of losing a child, ever.

While I was talking to the secratary regarding the teacher NOT NEEDING me….I felt someone walk up beside me (which was strange because people were crawling all over us) and I stopped talking and looked over…..to see Angi Fiege right beside me.  I could see the weight of the day heavy in her eyes.  Her shoulders were sagging with grief and she looked like she could use some love.  It was at that moment that I knew why I was there.  I was supposed to hold her up with encouraging words and a touch.

I looked at her and spoke, "I want you to know that I'm praying for you!".  She moved in and wrapped her arms around me and we hugged for a moment.  I could feel her ache but I could also feel the power she recieved from knowing someone was holding her up to God without ever having to ask for it.

My head got the message immediately from the heart.  I wasn't supposed to ever sub that day…..but I was supposed to share God's love with a hurting mother.

I left thanking God for the opportunity to help in some tiny little small way.  I also apologized for grumbling about my circumstance.  I'll gladly be inconvenienced any day to be the hands & feet of God.

MORE ON RACHAEL's STORY

Ever feel put out by a situation that you can't control?

Look for whatever it is that God possibly had appointed for you to do instead!

Well, Pinterest got me again!  You'd think I was a Pinter-holic with all the projects I talk my hubby into but I'm not.  Really.  I don't have the mental energy to try EVERYTHING I find on there but every once in a while…..I come across something that I have to try and my hubby, IS THE MAN with the plan when it comes to building stuff!

All I have to do is ask….and he is usually on board.  He's always so good at being a YES guy.  I like that about him.

This past weekend we were at Lowe's in the garden center and I happened to see they were getting a truckload of new flowers in (which made me excited too) and I noticed the wood pallets piling up.  I tried to find someone NOT BUSY to ask if I could buy or have a few of them from the pile.  I couldn't find anyone so as we were driving out, I asked hubby to pull over there so I could ask one of the guys outside.  He hesitated because he hates that kind of thing….but he pulled around anyway.  I asked one of the guys unloading and he told me I would have to ask a manager (who happened to walk right up as we were talking).  The manager told me that they recycle them but I could have a couple if I wanted.

Duh, I want!  So, we loaded up two pallets and brought them home. 

They were not pretty pallets either.  They were rough, ugly and full of the hardest to deal with nails you could imagine.  Hubby soldiered on cause he's awesome like that.  I showed him a bench that I wanted for my front porch and he hammered, sawed and pulled all day long to put together my Pinterest dreams!

Gosh, I love him!

Look at him work!  He's a building machine!  What you can't tell is how hot it is and how frustrated he is with trying to get the devil nails out of the pallet wood.  They really make those suckers to take a lot of weight and abuse, I suppose.

Anyway, he built.  I painted and stained it.  I have to tell you, I am addicted to painting!  I'm not picky either….it can be spray painting, staining wood, or mixing things up with fun paints.  I WANT TO PAINT EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME!!!

I wish I had taken more photos to give you a real tutorial but I think you get the jist of how it all went down.  Right?  I love the finished product!  It is perfect!

If you'll excuse me now….I have to go outside to sit on my porch before I head to school. 

Don't misunderstand.  I'm not REPLACING any of my awesome friends.  I just think enough time has gone by here in my NEW LIFE that I should be making some forever new friends.

What is wrong with me?

Last night, my hubby had a meeting with someone from south Indiana in our home.  I felt so excited you'd have thought someone was coming to visit ME!  I thought about it later and the reality of my loneliness really bothered me.

Why do we put so much emphasis on friendships?

I believe that having friends is very important, especially to God.  His word tells us; love others, help those who need it, pay attention to people and what they're going through….iron sharpens iron!  Each of us NEEDS friendship.  It makes us better people.  I've been around long enough to know, people also mess up relationships with sin.  That's not the way God designed it….but still, everyone is human and jealousy, bitterness and meanness can creep into each of our lives at some time or another.

I am diligently looking for my next new best friends.  I'm opening my heart to someone – anyone that God might have in store just for me.  Over the years, I've acquired some of the most amazing friends and all of them were strategically placed in my life by GOD!  I know this because each one of them are unique and different …. than me.  I am overwhelmed by the specialness of each friend. 

I would NEVER be able to replace who they are in my life and I wouldn't even think of trying.  However, it is time.

Time for me to spread my wings….and find my new friends!

Lord,

I'm not afraid of new friendships.  But I am afraid of never finding them.  Help me be a friend to find a friend.

Amen