My Mom Is Here!

My Mom is visiting!

She’s here until Tuesday.

She’s already helped me with the plants that the base planted in my yard. One of those plants turned out to be a giant weed. Um, oops. It looked like a regular plant to me. I had been proudly watering it and everything.

Then Mom found out that the base planted a rose bush on top of a thistle.

“Is that bad?” I asked and then thought to myself, “Thistle is a fun word to say.” That’s probably why I suck with plants, because I can’t focus long enough to understand how to take care of them.

(Putting a plant on top of a thistle is not a good thing, FYI. Mom managed to clip it away from the plant.)

She’ll also be a welcome help with Natalie, whose moods can go from this:



To this:



To this:



To this:



To this:



(After rudely eating MY chocolate!)

To this:



Catch my drift?

Happy 40th Birthday, Eric!

Today is my son's 40th birthday.  He will probably never see this post....but today, as he turns 40...there are just so many feelings I want to express.  Eric did not grow under my heart...he grew in it.  I married his father when he was just 4 and I was 21.  He stole my heart from the first moment I ever met him.  He was all boy....I grew up with Eric.  I was barely 16 years older than he was.  I had a lot to learn as a parent.  I know throughout his life I made mistakes....cause parenthood does not come with a manual.  I made sure they went to church.....and every single VBS in town.  I remember one time...his dad was not going to church with us.....he was BASS fishing on Sundays....and I got Eric up....and he informed me that he "could not wait to be big like his daddy so he would not have to go to church anymore."  Ronnie went to church after that.  He was so much fun.  He loved swimming in the lake, he loved when I pulled out my guitar, he loved life.  I remember the last time I spanked him...he was 9....and he had messed with his grandmother's quilting stuff.  I popped his seat with my hand...one time....he had a back pocket full of matchbox cars and I ended up with a busted blood vessel in my hand.  Eric was not a perfect child...but he was a much loved one.  From the time he became a teen....I thought of him as my friend....not just my son.  I was married to his father for over 20 years....I cried the day he left for boot camp as though someone had ripped my heart out, I sang at his first wedding, and cried when his marriage fell apart.  I attended his wedding to Roulain....and loved her...and her girls.  He was now a father....and I knew he would be a good one...because he had such a gentle heart.  I was there...and cried tears of joy when Hayden was born.  He is the child who will make sure Eric pays for every bad thing he did when he was a child....I adore him.  Hayden is Down's Syndrome...and believe you me....nobody loves you like Hayden does.

 He is precious.  I was there barely nine months later when Hannah was born way to early.  I spent many days and nights in Birmingham with them....praying for this precious baby to fight....and fight she did.  She is a princess.

 In 2000 when I divorced his father....Eric and I tried to maintain the status quo...but it was not easy.  I know he is there....anytime I have needed him....I have called and he has been there....if he could.  Today....this precious boy child I fell in love with over 30 years ago...is 40.  I am so proud of what he has become and who he is.

 I love him today....just like I did when I first met him at age 3.  You can't help but love him.  He is something else.  Happy birthday Eric.  Here is to many many more.

Count Your Many Blessings...Name them One By One.

I had a sad day today.....and when I came home I found a DVD out of place and went to pick it up and there it was...."White Christmas"....and all of a sudden I knew what my post was going to be about today....My blessings.  I began to think about all of mine....and before I knew it I was feeling pretty sassy again.  God is so good!  I have received so many blessings in my life and they never seem to cease…and I have two very special ones that I cannot choose between so I am going to both of them with you tonight. Blessing number 1 was when Mary Rachel (one of my former students) encouraged my daughter Kathryn and me to do ASP with the church. I honestly don’t like to get dirty and know even less about construction work. I signed up…thinking I would do Back Yard Bible Study or Soup Kitchen detail. I was so wrong. I was on Willie Lemmond’s team and we were going to put a roof on a house. Now that was a riot. You see....I am terrified of heights. Willie was not bothered by that…he made me the shingle cutter and the driver on the ground. What a blessing he and the kids were to me…and what a blessing we were to the Weidenhoft family from Tazewell. I still hear from this family at Christmas….and because someone blessed me….I was able to bless others. BTW....by the last day I had actually climbed the ladder all the way to the top.  ASP was one of the greatest blessings I have ever received.  I went for four years and would not take anything for the time I spent helping others. The second blessing I want to share happened when Rev. Don Cross and Rev. Keith Elder talked to me about being part of the Arbor Service that was being formed. He asked me if I was interested and if I was would I show up at an informal practice and meet with Blue Vardaman, the man who was going to be the leader. I did…and was hooked. My original role in the band was as a guitar player. I never planned to sing. I just wanted to be a part. Shortly after we started practicing, Joy Roberson, the then youth leader’s wife, moved to Texas with her husband so he could enter seminary and since we both sang alto…I stepped into the role of harmonizer and guitar player. I cannot express to you how privileged and blessed I felt each Sunday when I stepped up on that stage and shared God’s word in music. It blessed me more and more each Sunday. The church blessed me by allowing me to be part of this great ministry. I felt I paid it forward each and every Sunday by singing my heart out for my God and church family. I was devastated when Frank was going to be moved to another church.  I thought my world was going to come to an end....and believe me...I would be lying to you right now if I said I didn't miss the Arbor....I do.  I miss Rita, Rhonda, Debbie, Blue, Brian, Steve, David, Robert (x2), Bill, Sherry....Gloria, Greg....I miss the congregation.....those were my people....but Rock Mills has been a new blessing.  I have met some really loving Christian people and they have made a place for me in their hearts.  I have actually come to enjoy sitting out on the patio in the evenings and listening to the crickets and other critters.  I have enjoyed slowing down a bit....oh....don't get me wrong....I miss my Alex City life....but I am finding blessings in Rock Mills every day.  God is so good and He always seems to fill voids in my life with wonderful things.  I am glad I am a Christian. Do you have a blessing you would like to share with me?  I would love for you to leave one in the comment section.  It does my heart good to hear of other peoples fortunes and blessings.  God Bless You all tonight.  Hope you have a great Friday!

Inside Natalie's Closet: Gymboree!

It’s no secret that I love to buy my children clothes. So I’ll occasionally post about the latest outfit that I purchased.

The outfit that I’m going to share is from Gymboree’s Smart Girls Rock line. This will be one of Natalie’s preschool outfits.



“Hey Natalie, want to take some pictures?”



“You can act like a model!”









Those socks are supposed to be knee high socks but Natalie is short so they basically cover her entire leg.

Natalie sometimes likes to make faces at the camera.

Here’s her impersonation of an uptight rich woman.



Her reaction to Real Housewives of New Jersey Danielle Staub. (I know sweets, she scares me too.)



And this is Natalie wondering what in the world happened to Mel Gibson?



Then I ran into the side of the house, because this always makes Natalie laugh.









*Shirt change*

So when it starts to get cold, and it will since we’re in Wyoming, I also got a long sleeved top to go with the skirt.







Everything went well at first.

But then Natalie spotted a moth.



She did not like said moth.



Then she did an impression of John Mayer singing.



Smiled for me when I ran into the house.



And decided to carry a rock around on a spoon. (For some reason when I asked her if she wanted to take pictures she went, “Yes, can my spoon come?” Um. Okay?)



Then I told her I’d be taking one last photo so she waved for the camera.



Goodbye blog readers!

My Pet Monster

She didn’t like him at first.

No, in fact she downright hated him.

She’d yell at me to take him out of her room, that he scared her, that she didn’t like his oversized teeth.

“But Natalie,” I said. “He’s friendly. He wouldn’t hurt you.”

“I don’t YIKE him,” Natalie argued.

So I’d scoop him up and take him away. I’d sit him down on the floor in the living room. In the morning I’d watch Natalie check him out. She’d poke his nose, pat his fur, and squeeze his foot.

And then one day it happened:

“I yike him now,” Natalie said proudly. She carried him in his arms, a big smile on her face.

I smiled down at the thing that used to be my friend when I was a little girl. (Yup. I remember begging my parents for him.)



“Isn’t he great?” I asked.

“Yup,” Natalie agreed. “But he still can’t sleep in my room.”

Oh well. Baby steps.



(And please tell me that people remember this monster. He’s from a show that aired in the 80s called My Pet Monster.)

Clothed in Grace?

Most of my life I have felt  uncomfortable about myself? How about you?  I have thought many times that perhaps it was something I had done or said. Or just 'one of those days' when there seemed to be something about me that just wasn't right. My 'body language' said . . . 'I'm a mess." And anyone who cared to notice would have easily known I was not a happy camper.  Usually when I start a day out like this I am fortunate to run into a good friend. The first thing she would say was, "I have always loved that dress. It makes you look just terrific!" Terrific? Me? Her words, so full of friendship, made me stand a little taller. She was happy to see me. Just being with her made me feel better . . . and when I walked on, my mood and my day had definitely changed.  I have to ask myself though....why does it take someone else to make me believe these things about myself?  I know that God is like that friend. Grace is the dress that makes me 'look terrific'. I cannot put on that dress, unless I choose to go into my closet and take it from the hanger. Slip it on. And go out into the world clothed in grace. I seem to love hanging out in the dark places. I tend to love wearing the shabby, torn garments of sin. And then one day, a package arrived – Special Delivery! For me? I tear into it and there it will be . . . the most beautiful garment I've ever seen. Just exactly my size. Perfect for me in every way. The enclosed card said . . . Paid in full. Nothing is due.  That is the moment I think,"I love you so much, God." That is GRACE. It's tailor-made just for me....and for you too if you want it. It covers all of my 'sinful lumps and bumps' (and believe me....I have a few after Sunday's little spill)– and you know....I have never felt or looked as good. There is no other one like it, for it is mine.....all mine. Every single day it is renewed . . . as fresh as the day it arrived. Clothed in its beauty, I can  walk continuously in grace. Forgiven completely. The rag-tag garments of sin are no longer are stuffed into the dark recesses of my closet. Next time I go shopping.....and am tempted to buy something 'On Sale' . . . I only need to think of how it will look hanging next to the 'garment of grace.' I am notorious for keeping things that no longer fit.... do you? What keeps me....us from tossing them away? Could we be thinking that one day we might again want to put them on? Oh, I do hope not. I am really liking my new Garment of Grace.....Note to self: Clean Out Your Closet Girlfriend!  I feel like a song today.....I am going to put on my Garment...and I am going to Praise Him for all he has done for me.  Thank you Jesus!

Another Day Bites the Dust

Day two for the students....but Day one for me.  I was met at my parking space by Danny, the custodian....with a wheelchair.  Hard as I tried to fight him and tell him I was not getting in the thing...the quicker he seemed to hem me up in it.  I quit fighting and he gave me a royal escort to my room.  I had a good day....the ankle and knee only hurt a couple of times.  I used the walker...and stayed off the foot as much as I could.  I was so glad when they day was over...my foot felt like it belonged to Neanderthal man.  It was huge.  I went by the drug store to pick up a perscription....drive through....and then went to see my mom.  The walk from my car to her room was agonizing.  By the time I got to her room....and it literally took me 15 minutes to walk there...I wanted to cry.  Melissa, one of the Adam's staff members...saw that my walker was too short....so she took it while I visited with momma and adjusted it.  I sat and visited for about 20-25 minutes and then made my way back to the car.  Wow...what a difference 3 inches makes.  It only took me 9 minutes to get back to the car.  The ride home was pleasant and I am glad to be resting now.  I have the foot up and am chilling waiting for Frank to get home from a meeting and fix supper.  Ok...so I am going to ride my pity pony a little more.  LOL!  I hope tomorrow goes better as far as my stamina....I was beat by 3:30 today.  Ahhh...those first days of school.  And I wanted to go back to school because why?  Have a great rest of your day and I will see you on Wednesday!  Toodles!