Conversation With God, continued from yesterday

So I push on, and . . .

there it is again,

forgive.

Let me do it.  In my own time, in my own way.

My child, are you listening?

I love you.

Still I push on, 'cause like I said, I'm like that. 

I can help.  Don't you want me to do this, or this?  How about this?  Have you forgotten . . .

If I need you daughter, I'll let you know. 

I will reveal myself to you.

But,

not until you forgive.

I love you.

Trust me.

"Those who trust God's action in them find that God's Spirit is in them - living and breathing God!  Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life.  Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God."  Romans 8:5-6, The Message

I'm learning a lesson, the same old lesson - again.  Really good thing He never gives up on me.

Forgive me.

I love you too, Father.

I love you more.

That God, He always gets the last word.

I'm Working On It - A Conversation with God

I lost something recently that was important to me.  I was not ready to give it up.  I was getting ready.  I had already made the decision to walk away from it and spend the time I dedicate to it on something else - like maybe my mop.

But my hand was forced, and even though the decision was mine, I still had it taken from me.  Understand?

Harmony.  It's a beautiful word. It rolls off the tounge and causes visions of people working side by side for a greater purpose than themselves.  Equal.  That's another beautiful word.  Say it.  It sounds strong. 

Agenda.  Rules.  No exceptions.  Deceit.

Those are ugly words.  Shame-on-you words. Shame-on-me words.

Forgiveness, now that's a fine word.  It's beautiful and strong, but there is a problem with it.  It can be a hard pill to swallow.  I'm still working on it, and I have moments where I am aching to strike back, but instead . . .

"The answer, thank God, is Jesus Christ.  He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different."  Romans 7:25, The Message

there He is, gently whispering,

 forgive. 

Quietly whispering, 

 forgive.

How do I do it?  How do I stand up for what is right silently?  How will they see, how will they know?

There it is again,

 forgive. 

Then the greatest power of all says one more thing.  Quietly, so quietly that I can drown it out with anger if I try.

My Child, let me do it.  In my own time, in my own way.

This isn't the first time He has said this to me.  When will I learn?

But I am still not satisfied.  Why?  Because I want to do it.  I want to fix it.  I am a fixer - which is what gets me into most of my trouble, including this.

So God and I had a conversation. All day, every day, for several days. I raise my voice. I do that. Ask, let's see, oh yeah - anyone that knows me. I am a voice raiser. He listens, over an over, and then He gently says . . .

You got it. But come back tomorrow and I'll tell you what I said. I'm not finished. Thankfully, He gets me and He deals with me.

tomorrow here

What the Word? Wednesday

Welcome Back.  It's that fun time of the week that jump starts hump-day.  And this one is . . .

tough.

What the Word? Wednesday and Maxster are back. 

Brace yourself.




Yes, he snorts at the end; but the question is, what are the first two words he says before he embarrasses his mama on the web?

The snort doesn't really have anything to do with the answer.  It's not Sally the pig or anything like that.  Maybe that's 'cause we don't know a pig named Sally, if we did . . .

It's tough.

Yep, he says that's silly.  Sandra and Emily got it first, but everyone got it right.  Looks like I'll never stump y'all again.

See 'ya next week.  I've got a lot of work to do on the perfect word.

Speak, Max, Speak.  Did you know that Max is the number one dog name in the U. S.?  Has been for years.

Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window...

it's still cold and slightly cloudy.  I'm hoping March comes in like a lion, 'cause I've got outside plans the last weekend of it.

I am thinking...

about the Wonderful Weekend at our church planned for this weekend.  I am praying for God-filled results and blessings on all who attend.  I'm also thinking about the thirty phone calls I have to make.

I am thankful for...

$4 prescription medicine.

From the learning rooms...

We start a new book today, Seabird, by Mr. Holling C. Holling and we will be backtracking on a little bit of math Izzy is struggling with.

From the kitchen...

Shelby and I will be experimenting with a sweet potato chip recipe, also making bread today.  He's Too Good To Me's doctor's appointment yesterday has led us to some discussion on food to help his high blood pressure.  Shelby's home today and we might be looking a few things up.  Supper is still up in the air.

I am creating...

still working on those old photos getting organized.  Izzy has begun a new quilted wall hanging of a flag.  She and I tea-dyed some fabric last night for it.

I am going...

as usual, Tuesdays are piano days.  A trip to the grocery store sometime today.

I am reading...

this I'm missing.  I haven't found any time to read. 

I am hoping...

for that $4 prescription medicine to yield us great results on his blood pressure.  Still working on that forgiveness issue.

I am hearing...

Shelby slicing sweet potatoes in the kitchen.  The dryer. 

Around the house...

there's always so much going on around here with four children.  The age ranges of twenty down to three make for a wide variety of happenings.  Right now it is quiet and surprisingly clean.  Max is still sleeping - that's why.  I love that boy.

One of my favorite things...

hearing Shelby in the kitchen.

A few plans for the rest of the week:

Keeper's on Wednesday, we will be decoupaging.  It's messy, your fingers stick together, and Izzy loves it.

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing:

I think he's a combination of Spiderman, the Lone Ranger, and his favorite, ScaryMan.

Get 'em Straight

Priorities.

Pray for Layla.

He Knew

Before Christ died on that cross for me He knew I would have this week.  He knew I would feel the pain of someone's lies, or misleadings, or whatever the proper word for a lie is when you don't want to call it a lie.

He also knew I would handle some of it gracefully, but most of it badly.  He knew I would rehash it over and over in my mind, dwelling on the ugliness of it instead of moving on.  He knew my heart would want to forgive but my mind wouldn't be ready. 

Pain is hard, whether we are on the receiving end or the giving end of it.  I know because I have experienced both.  We all have.  Guilty.

Most importantly though, my Savior knew I would be caught off guard this week.  Unprepared for the pain and disillusionment.  So ahead of time He made plans to be here, to rescue me.  He penciled me in - with blood.  He knew I would need to be carried.

He carried a cross then so He could carry me now.

Happy Birthday, Susie Chris

My niece, Susan, makes our family proud.  She started out as an adorable little cutie like this . . .

and has grown into a lovely young woman.  A young woman who has a heart for the Lord and seeks to hide away treasures in her heart and abilities in her being that will honor the home she will one day create.  She has big dreams and hopes and plans.  What a beautiful world this would be if there were more hearts in it like hers. She is already a young Proverbs 31 woman.

Today is her birthday.  She was due to be born on February 14, 1995, but she came five days late.  I choose to believe God blessed us with two Valentine Days that year.  Below is the speech that she presented at her regional 4H competition.  I am inserting some photos of the quilts she speaks of.  Enjoy.

Have you ever made anything? You know, created or designed something special. Maybe you’ve made a science project for your school, or created something yummy to eat from a recipe, or maybe you have just made a mess in your room. Well, have you ever made or wanted to make a quilt? I have, and today I am going to talk to you about this wonderful form of folk art.

First, let’s look at some quilt history. When you think of quilts you might imagine several elderly ladies at a quilting bee. Yes, that is how quilts were sometimes put together long ago but that is not all there is to quilts. Quilts not only provided a time of fellowship for ladies, they also provided protection, warmth, and decoration. I bet you didn’t know that the first American pioneers hung quilts over the openings of their wagons to deflect Indian arrows. Pioneer women also made quilts to provide warmth for their families during the long cold winters out west. A beautiful pieced quilt would also have provided color in a dark and dreary log cabin.

Quilts didn’t originate during the pioneer times though. The first quilts can be traced all the way back to Egypt. Then when the pilgrims came over to America from Europe they brought this skill with them to the new world. Immigrants in the 1800s also used quilts as a way to carry their belongings. Just as there are many uses for quilts, there are many different quilt designs as well. I find almost all of them to be interesting and beautiful.

Second, let’s look at some of my favorite quilts that have been designed by some special, loving people. The first is my Mom and Dad’s wedding quilt. It is called a double wedding ring quilt because it looks like two rings interlocked. My Dad’s grandmother made it for them. I have fond memories of waking up early to crawl into my parent’s bed and sleep the last few moments before morning with them under that quilt.

Another favorite of mine is MY wedding quilt. No, I am not engaged or planning to get married in the next 6 months, but I do already have a wedding quilt. My mom asked my great granny to make me one a few years ago. They were concerned that she might not be able to make me one when I get married someday. She hand quilted appliquéd hearts over the entire quilt.

Every spring when my mom and I take it out of the closet to dust it off, I think of my great granny and how she put love into every stitch that she sewed. I pray that my marriage and family will be full of love too.

Speaking of love, another favorite quilt of mine was given to me out of love even though it was not sewn with me in mind. I have an elderly friend at my church named Ms. Janie.

She doesn’t quilt anymore, but she wanted me to have one of her quilts. So, she embroidered my name on the corner of one of her old quilts and gave it to me for a Christmas present a few years ago. Since it is a thin quilt, I use it to sleep under during the summer. Each time I do, I remember Ms. Janie with love.

I also really like a quilt that my great granny designed for me when I was only about 2 years old. It was my first big girl quilt for my big girl bed. It has colonial dolls appliquéd on it in pretty shades of pink, blue, and yellow. My mom says that when Great Granny gave it to me I immediately laid it on the floor and curled up on it. This made my great granny smile.

Not all of my favorite quilts have been made by someone else. Some are not even finished yet, like the one my mom and I are working on right now. It is called a disappearing nine-patch.

We bought enough fabric to make 2 complete quilts, one for her and one for me. When we finish sewing all of the blocks, we will quilt them together so that each of our quilts will be made up of some of her blocks and some of mine as well.

Last, but not least, is a quilt that I will probably never see again. That is because my local 4H club and a few ladies at my church got together to help make a quilt for a homeless child in Michigan this Christmas. Everyone brought together blocks made out of scrap material from different things they had made before. I would have loved to hear all the stories that each of those pieces of fabric could have told if they could talk.

As I was working on the quilt using some of the sewing skills I have learned in 4H, I felt that I was really putting to use what our 4H pledge states—use my hands for larger service for my club, my community, my country, and my world.

In conclusion, let’s look at each of these quilts. The common thread running through them is that each was designed. Someone took time out of their life to design and quilt them, whether long ago or here in the present. That reminds me how an Almighty God took time to be my creator and design me before I was even born. The Bible tell us in Psalm 139:13, “For you formed my inward parts; you wove me in my mother’s womb.” My mom has told me before how her grandmother use to make quilts out of nothing but rags. She used pieces of fabric from old dresses, feed sacks, and lots of other things.

Even though her quilts did not start out very fancy, she still put time and love into designing and sewing each piece and the result was beautiful and unique. I think that is how the Lord God transforms us. If we are willing to place the pieces of our lives in His masterful hands he will turn them into a beautiful, unique work of art, just like my great grandmother use to do.

I would like to close with this verse that follows the one I quoted earlier. “I will give thanks to you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works and my soul knows it well.” Thank you.

My beautiful niece . . .

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

She placed first in her county competition and fifth in the Eastern Tennessee Regional competition. 
 
Happy Birthday, Susie Chris, I love you.
 

Where Have the Years Gone?

Where, oh where, have the years gone?

Thirteen years passed from when that picture was taken and July, 2005.  It had been a hard year.  2004 had become a year to not remember, and 2005 was becoming a close second.   He's Too Good To Me and I, along with his parents, had been carefully guarding a secret from my oldest baby girl.  Sweet Sixteen she was turning.

Secrets are hard to keep in my home.  Because I homeschool and my kids think everything is their business, little seems to get by them.  I knew she was very wise and had caught on to this secret - a car for her sixteenth birthday.

Let me back up a bit.  In March my mama had a stroke.  That's a story that stands alone and one day I'll tell it to you.  Devastating. 

On this hot July day mama had only been speaking again for a month or so, her mind was still child-like, and one could never tell what she might do.

Telephone rings and my mama tells my birthday girl . . .

When you get your car tonight bring it over and let me see it.

Secret, which probably wasn't a secret anymore anyway, was now out.  I began to cry.  I can be a pretty good actress if I put my mind to it.  I begged my child to forgive me for what my mama had said.  I told her we tried, we had tried hard, but we just couldn't manage to get her a car.  Y'all, I cried good, I cried hard - I was good.

Secret once again was tucked right where it belonged - away from her.  She completely believed me.  She kept hugging me and telling me it was okay, she had not expected a car.  But I knew differently, I knew her heart was disappointed. 

This is when she opened her card an hour later and the secret became a surprise. Thank you, Mama, without you that look would not have been possible.

 

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for helping us with this dream.

Now, almost five years later, that cute, sporty gift is what I not-so-lovingly refer to as a piece of junk.

Back to present day. This is her face the other day when she found her new car and told us about it.  She has been car shopping for a couple of weeks, all the while bumming her sister's for school and work.

Her old piece of junk sold and she set her sights on this beauty, which she drove home today.

It has a small payment attached - most dreams do.  She works two jobs and goes to school, so more power to her. 

2005 was a bad year.  The other tears I shed that year were not an act, and all the while I was desperately trying to recover from the pain of 2004.  But then there was this . . .

And now there is this . .

Unless something drastic happens in our future that changes the ordinary life we live here I will never be able to give her a gift again that can match that sweet sixteen birthday.  Really good thing none of these "things" matter anyway.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor urst destroys, and where theives do not break in or steal;  for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."  Matthew 6:19-21

It's the joy of secrets and surprises and the glory of watching your child become a young woman that tugs at your heart and causes a new and different kind of tears.

Where, oh where, have the years gone?

What the Word? Wednesday

What the Word? Wednesday is tough this week.

You are going to need a prayer and a row-boat.  I actually dare any of you to get it.

From Maxster to you all, he loves . . .





As always, comment your guesses and check back on this same post tomorrow for the answer.

I thought that one was hard but I can't stump some of you.  Yes, it is sugar cookies.  Donna was first again. 

The end got her, though.  He is saying, I wa it on the puter - which translates to I watch it on the computer.

Because of the Snow I Have a New Name, Again

I'm not crazy about getting on the world wide web and listing my faults.  But, I am crazy happy when God gives me a revelation about myself. When my Lord takes the time to chastice me and uses His beautiful creation as a teaching point.

We they panic a little around here when snow is in the forecast.  You couldn't even buy a bell pepper at our local Wal-Mart by ten o'clock Wednesday evening - almost forty-eight hours before it was to snow.  Items fly off the shelves at record speeds.  You never know - we might get snowed in or under here in the deep south.

I say they panic because I don't.  Believe me, I'm not bragging, because there are times when my lack of preparation is shameful.  I don't even think of stocking up on the basics.  It was Thursday morning at a meeting with other moms when I learned of the lack of bell peppers, which I really didn't care about, but I felt that familiar nudge on my heart that I was once again unprepared.  Maybe I should have bought some milk or bread, not because we would be snowed in, but because now there wasn't any.  I did manage to find one loaf of light bread.  Yuck.  No milk.

It was Friday morning before I put much thought into it, but once I got quiet and still and stood watching glorious snow fall from the sky God gently impressed upon my heart His word.  Specifically these verses -

“She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.”
Prov 31:21
“Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.”
Prov 31:25

I am not a Proverbs 31 woman.  I want to be.  I long for it as deeply as I long to be a Mary and not a Martha.  The capacity to be this is in my DNA.  I was created for it.  I am capable - He tells me so.  But I manage to fail so often that I feel I need to go out back and cut a switch and meet God out behind the woodshed. 

These verses show that a godly woman is prepared for the things to come, she can laugh in the face of uncertainty for she is not caught off guard.  Snow is as unpredictable around here as a financial crisis or an illness or any emergency.  It can be as simple as me not having showered for two days and my two year old falls off a trailer and cuts his head open, 911 is called, and I spend the afternoon at the hospital in holey sweats and greasy hair.  Hypothetically, of course.

As I stood watching the snow gracefully fall -  getting all caught up in its beauty and cleanness - I felt that joy of a fresh start again, like the ones He gives me so often.  I drank my hot chocolate and recited these verses and prayed for another chance to prove my worth as a wife and mother, but more importantly, as a Christian woman. 

Thankfully, snow is sure to fall again.  I am sure to fail again.  He is sure to forgive again.  But, in the meantime, God is working on changing my name, slowly but surely.

No More Lists . . .

Valentines and twenty-one reasons, actually eighty-four
Our list of should nots (in which he lies)
There are a million more

Before you read this one, read the three above for the whole story.

It is Valentines Day and there are no more lists of should or should nots. They don't matter anyway.  What matters is that before he or I were knitted together in the womb we each had a purpose planned by our Creator, and that purpose included one another.

Something has held us together all these years.  It has not been our own strength, for it was not strong enough to prevent the months apart due to an angry heart who gave up and moved out, twice.

It has not been our own wisdom, for we were not wise enough to know the answers to the questions that tore us apart and left us defeated, lonely, and apart.

It was love.  But not just ours alone.  It included and was led by a greater love that stretched out over us, covered us, and commanded of us that we keep putting one foot in front of the other till we got to the other side of the pain.

God's love.  His love can rescue and restore, soothe and heal, and rise above all sin and ignorance.  It can give us the power to forgive. 

Each of us was created by God with a supreme purpose for our lives.  That purpose includes those we love, especially the one that was created to be our love.

On Valentine's Day I hope you marvel in the beauty of your mate.  If you are single or alone, I hope you marvel in the beauty of God's perfect plan for your life and the people He has placed in it that love you.  Either way, may you rest in the knowledge that His love surpasses all others - and births all others.

To Gregg, the love of my life, thank you.  This relationship we have is an earthly example of the love relationship God wants with each of us.  The friendship and companionship, the romance and love.

He knew it would be you.

Psalm 23, The greatest love story of all.

"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me. 
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever."

There are a million more . . .

If you've been keeping up, you know He's Too Good To Me and I are celebrating our twenty-first Valentine's together.  We have both created our own list of twenty-one reasons why we should not love each other, and twenty-one reasons why we do. 

Yesterday I posted the twenty-one reasons why we shouldn't.  If you missed it, go here before you read on.

So today, in honor of Valentine's Day, I will tell you  twenty one reasons why we do love each other.

His list comes first.

#21 - she is right most of the time.  did you catch the irony from #2 on his list yesterday?

#20 - she likes to wear my shirts.

#19 - she is a good teacher.

#18 - she is a good cook.

#17 - she will go see an action/sci-fi movie with me.

#16 - she is tolerant.

#15 - she doesn't do anything half-way.

#14 - because I don't deserve her.

#13 - she is my best friend.

#12 - she is not materialistic.

#11 - she is frugal.

#10 - she is beautiful.

#9  -  she always finds a way for me to pursue my hobbies.

#8  -  she is forgiving.

#7  -  she likes the outdoors.

#6  -  she is a great mother.

#5  -  she is a great wife.

#4  -  she is a wonderful lover.

#3  -  she loves the Lord.

#2  -  because she loves me.

and his #1 reason for loving me, which is so simple that it made me cry, is

#1  -  because it took me ten times longer to write the should not list than it did this one.

It is my turn.  His was straight to the point, but forgive me while I ramble.

#21 - he has never forgotten an anniversary or my birthday.  He forgives me when I forget his.

#20 - he carries all my heavy pots full of water.  nobody said the list had to make a whole lot of sense.

#19 - he reaches all the stuff on high shelves for me.

#18 - he has absolutely beautiful crows feet, which really turns me on.

#17 - you know the guys that work the hardest and never complain about it?  I got me one.  Thank you, honey.

#16 - he patiently does all my VBS decorating every year, and is a genius with ideas.

#15 - he winks at me when I catch his eye - no matter when, no matter where, no matter who sees.

#14 - he is never embarrassed when I go to the store in my slippers.

#13 - he is never embarrassed that I carry a blanket into the movie theater.

#12 - he remembers my red heels.  see pillow talk here.

#11 - he doesn't try to fix me - and, oh, there is so much to fix.

#10 - he doesn't mind my cold feet squishing their way between his legs.

#9  -  he has this little vein under his right eye.  oh, my.

#8  -  he never needs directions - well, most of the time.

#7  -  and the private stuff, well, let's just say he doesn't need any how-to books.

#6  -  good, kind, honest, generous, . . .

#5  -  when I was a little girl and played make believe house, he is the kind of daddy that came home every pretend night and loved my pretend babies and me.  A dream come true.

Coming up with the top reason why I love him was hard. There were three tight runners for the number one spot - with him being handsome a close fourth.

Second runner up. He has never, and I mean never, criticized me. Not for my clothes, or my hair, or my weight, or the house, or any of the other gazillion things he could criticize me for. Never. That's one in a million to me.

Runner-up. He loves me. For me. Not for the me I let others see, or the me you see here, or the me I want to be. He loves me for the me I would never ever let you see. The other me. The ugly, sinful, hateful, mean, spiteful, remembering me. That melts me.

Winner. A forgiveness he granted me at one in the morning on January 11, 2009. A forgiveness I did not deserve. Forgiveness for a secret I had kept far too long. Icing on my cake - never, ever has he mentioned it since. That's sexy and romantic and melts me and is far more than one in a million to me. Far, far more.

Our List of Should Not's (in which he lies)

First of all, let me repeat how I ended yesterday's post.

He's Too Good To Me and I have been through some deep valleys together - really deep. One day I'm gonna tell you all about it, I'm still working on my nerve - and telling my children first. 

Just saying that so you know that these reasons we shouldn't love one another - they don't hold a candle to the reasons we do.

His list comes first.  It is my right and prerogative as a woman, and the owner of this blog, to put it in any order I want - and I choose for you to see all his bad stuff last so you will forget about all my bad stuff. There, that's done.

His twenty-one reasons why he should not love me.  He gets straight to the point.

#1  -  she makes me write on her blog.

#2  -  she thinks she is right all of the time.  Be sure to check in tomorrow to his list and catch the irony.

#3  -  she kicks me out of bed for snoring.

#4  -  she is not a morning person.  And that, my friends, is an understatement. 

#5  -  she has no patience.  And that, my friends, is an understatement.

#6  -  she never just sits and does nothing.

#7  -  she forgets my birthday.

#8  -  she doesn't want me to have short hair.  come on baby, tell the truth, you mean shaved hair.

#9  -  she laughed when I asked her to marry me.

#10 - she stays at home too much.

#11 - she doesn't think my IPhone is cool.  refer to rie's #15.

#12 - she won't go to the doctor.

#13 - she hogs most all of the bed.

#14 - she thinks everything is too expensive.

#15 - she does not keep the interior of her car clean. 

#16 - she thinks she has the memory of an elephant.

#17 - she has a ridiculously bad sense of timing - especially when it comes to her memory.

#18 - she makes me carry an icechest to put her blizzards in - which she makes me go get.

#19 - N/A

#20 - N/A

#21 - N/A

excuse me y'all, while I go smooch my husband.

Now my list, and as usual, I'll ramble.

Twenty-one reasons why I should not love him.  In no particular order.

#1  -  he lied about his age. right. up. until. the. moment. we. got. our. marriage. license. the kicker - he only told the truth then because his parents had to sign for him.  the double kicker - his mom had to tell me.

#2  -  he doesn't have any gray hair that shows (excluding his beard) - which makes him look ten years (instead of the two he is)  younger than me when I forget or am too lazy to color and my hair gets all nappy and wirey and gray.

#3  -  he cannot spell - which means he asks me - which means I must admit ever so often to not knowing everything - which goes against the natural grain of my being.

#4  -  he snores. 'Nuff said there, right ladies?  Squoosh on over here and let's talk about how bad our men snore.
 
#5  -  he does not like chicken.
 
#6  -  he won't eat my chicken, in spite of #5.
 
#7  -  he won't fix the backdoor.
 
#8  -  he won't watch Turner Classic Movies with me late at night - which means I don't get to take Cary Grant or William Holden or Jimmy Stewart to bed with me.
 
#9  -  he rarely does anything the first time he is told asked.
 
#10 - he doesn't like to grill - I thought all men liked to grill.
 
#11 - he falls asleep while I'm talking - go figure.
 
#12 - he forgets to pump my gas so I don't have to - they really should rewrite the marriage vows, Wilt thou love, honor, obey, and pump her gas for her so she doesn't have to?
 
#13 - he doesn't have stretch marks, cellulite, or a fallen butt.
 
#14 - he hates to read.
 
#15 - he plays with his IPhone too much, especially when I'm rambling about something.
 
#16 - he won't put me up a new mailbox.
 
#17 - he procrastinates - which explains the back door, and the mailbox, and . . .
 
#18 - he has a metabolism that works - compared to mine that retired years ago.
 
#19 - I believe you can build a new shed out back out of anything old laying around or any old torn down buildings you see.  I call it recycling.  He calls it impossible.
 
#20 - he rarely does anything the first time he is told asked.  I know, I've already said that, but it bears repeating.
 
#21 - he can't be fixed.

But . . .

who cares?

Valentines and Twenty-One Reasons, actually eighty-four

Are you geared up for Valentine's Day yet?  Have you made plans, checked and double-checked a babysitter, changed the sheets, and showered?

Valentines has never been a big deal around here for He's Too Good To Me and me.  When you have three girls like he does, getting them a little something always seems more important than the two of us celebrating it.  You know the whole Dads-love-your-daughters-like-princesses-so-they-don't-love-boys-too-young kind of thing.

Just a little sugar has always been enough to satisfy me.

This is our twenty-first Valentine's together.  In celebration I thought I'd list twenty-one reasons why I love him and twenty-one reasons why I shouldn't.  The fun part for me - he gets to create the same list about me.

We have spit and shook hands, sealed it with a smooch, and promised no hard feelings.  Good fun like this is free and keeps the spark alive - along with a shower and a changing of the sheets now and then.

Come back tomorrow and check out the reasons we shouldn't love each other.

Here's a little teaser on the shouldn't's till tomorrow -

My #1 reason - he lied about his age.  right. up. until. the. moment. we. got. our. marriage. license.  the kicker - he only told the truth then because his parents had to sign for him.  the double kicker - his mom had to tell me.

His #1 reason - I make him write for my blog.

By the way, he and I have been through some deep valleys together - really deep. One day I'm gonna tell you all about it, I'm still working on my nerve - and telling my children first.

Just saying that so you know that these reasons we shouldn't love one another - they don't hold a candle to the reasons we do.

What the Word? Wednesday

What the Word? Wednesday welcomes you back with a wish from a sleepy Maxster.




Post all guesses and check back tomorrow, right here on this same post, for the answer. 

This wish is from all of my family to yours.

Sister Penny and my precious neices and nephews win.  Happy Valentine's Day.

 It wasn't exactly fair, though.  I had some complaints from folks that checked in bright and early this morning and found no Maxster video.  Sorry, I was late today.

On top of that, my head must have been screwed on wrong cause I posted the comments too early.

My favorite - Patty hearing Have a belly nice day.

Change My Heart

Have you ever given Satan a victory?  Have you ever handed him a win on a golden platter? 

I have.  As recently as yesterday, probably even today, but that one may not hit me until tomorrow.

Many times when I pray I ask for what I want.  I ask God to fix things, and I often ask him to fix people.  Then I throw in those famous words, you know the ones, if it be Your will, or Your will be done, or according to Your will.  As if by saying that I have made my prayers holy.

Life delivered me a devastating blow in 2004.  There are no words, and never will be, to describe the pain and despair.  I feel like I must go on to make you totally understand how torn and shattered my world was.  But like I said, there are no words. 

Some days now, six years later, I feel that I will never move past it, and I know this side of heaven I will never understand it.  God did not fix it - not to my satisfaction. But He got me through it.

In ways He fixed me through that hurt and pain and grief and despair.  He taught me a lesson that I still sometimes forget, but one that I have tried hard to remember and consider and change myself through.  It is not people or situations that I need Him to fix - it is me I need Him to fix.  It is my love that needs to grow and be shared.  It is me that needs to be understanding.  It is my heart that needs to change.

My prayers were not centered on God but they were centered on me and what I wanted.  I was not always covering the people or situation in prayer, I was often seeking something for myself.

The things I prayed for were good things, but I cared more for myself than I did about His timing or what He was seeking to accomplish.

Any - I said any - circumstance I find myself in can be used for God's glory.  I can be changed through it - changed for the better, I can become more Christ-like.  I can feel deeper and love stronger and understand more - as Christ would - if I let Him change my heart.  Not someone else's.

Spiritual warfare bombards my life.  Satan and his demons hover over me, seeking to crush me here and there and everywhere.  And sometimes they win. 

And then I remember, and God rescues me and soothes me and restores me.  He is good and understanding and forgiving.  But, He is demanding.  He is demanding that I learn.  He is demanding that I grow.  He is demanding that I work to let Him change my heart and my desires and to center and focus myself on Him.

I need to love stronger when there is reason to not love at all.  I need to stomp out bitterness, believe I do not know the whole story, and change myself.

Bottom line, I need God.  Only He can give me victory over Satan.  I need to walk beside God instead of running ahead of Him.

You know that victory I gave Satan yesterday?  And probaby today?  It's only temporary.  All of his victories are.  They are as fleeting as an echo in the wind. 

That pain and grief and despair?  It haunts me ever so often.  It still influences my life.  But it is also fleeting, as all pain is.  For one day I shall stand on the shores of Glory and realize, once and for all, His perfect timing and His perfect ways.

And then I shall understand it all.

Only on a Monday . . .

Monday is the root of all evil.

You know me and Monday.  But not today, something happened today that caused so much laughter around here it would be hard to hate the day.

It was middle morning, around tenish.  I was helping Izzy with probability in math while Max watched his favorite show, which stars his best friend, Calliou.

Partner this up.  Little boy watching favorite TV show of little bald boy. Pair of scissors innocently lying on cocktail table.  Mama in next room.

What is the probability of little boy deciding the scissors could help him look like best friend Calliou?

Short while later.

Mama sweeping floor to discover . . .

little boy's hair.  Mama gasping at rooster crown and bald spot on top of little boy's head. 

Mama screams - Max, did you cut your hair?

Proud little boy beams -  I look li Ci-oo.

Isabela laughed and laughed.  Then I pulled these babies out.

At around twenty months she played the probability game.  Innocent scissors, mama in next room.  What are the chances baby girl will chop huge hunks of her hair off and need an unexpected trip to the beauty shop?

gotta love those cheeks.

Finally, a decent Monday.