Why church?

Now that’s something that we’ve been asked a bit around the blogdom. So then this can be an easy one for us to talk about.


Today as I came down from the booth I spotted a man who seemed a bit lost so I greeted him and asked if I could help him. He seemed to force a smile and responded with shrinkage. I explained that we weren’t about filling a building and he responded by telling me who we were. We weren’t as big as he remembered. I came back with We aren’t about filling a building. His response is like so many others I've encountered. We aren’t? What are we about? My responses We are about worshiping God not filling a building. My worship leader overhearing parts responded with Just filling a building that’s not good, not at all. I smiled and walked away.


So you know he didn’t stomp off at that conversation infact he waved at me later when I was in the fish bowl. (A place where I work at church. . . ok more like play at)

As I was walking in for worship one of the men stopped me. I was so glad to see him because he gave us a bit of a scare, he became ill and was thought to have GBS. He still has a bit to go but is in good spirits. He tells me he has been worried and thinking of me every day. Insert me teary eyed. As we were talking another man who had been rather close to my almost X came over and hugged me and had some very kind words. Ok now I’m holding back my tears.


Come on Milly get to the chairs, that’s all that you have to do find your children and get to the chairs. You know I was stopped by a sister who wanted a hug and to introduce me to another sister who has gone through a divorce. We talked about her first date and laughed a bit. I hope to get to know her better because she seemed like a nice lady. I found my kids and was able to focus on God instead of me.

Why church?

Milly thinks God deserves our attention. We need a place to focus. We need to be told about Him. And for me this week I needed to feel loved by those brothers and sisters. We need to be reminded how very far church has come with divorce and support does just that. No filling that building isn’t important God and His love is. No matter the size or place it’s about HIM.

Free three

On the a free day would be spent post Mark commented

a pub, a book, a beer

I know Mark and if he weren’t with his wife and my niece that’s where he’d want to be and what he’d want to be doing.

My free day if not with my kids

A friend, Panera Bread, an unsweetened iced tea

What are your three?

to note. . .

An honest man's word is his bond.

A half truth is a whole lie. ~Yiddish Proverb

A lie may take care of the present, but it has no future. ~Author Unknown

We tell lies when we are afraid... afraid of what we don't know, afraid of what others will think, afraid of what will be found out about us. But every time we tell a lie, the thing that we fear grows stronger. ~Tad Williams

When a man lies, he murders some part of the world. ~Rospo Pallenberg and John Boorman, Excalibur, based on Le Morte d'Arthur by Thomas Malory


When you lie everything you’ve ever said is taken in as suspect.~Milly

It's a sick game sir to lie for your own amusement and a game not well played at that.

A free day would be spent. . .

Have you ever wanted to wonder why but just couldn’t find the time or the real motivation?

Is that laziness or being too busy or just not giving a damn?

So there you are laying in the clover patch thinking why can’t I wonder why and it hits you. . . a honey bee right between the eyes.

Are you allergic. I’m not.

I can pick them up and move them over for you.

If I a butterfly landed on your nose would you hold your breath and enjoy the moment?
I would.

I wonder where the nearest clover patch is.

Want to meet me there?

God works in some interesting ways

As I drove to the hospital I began to think about a conversation I had with a coworker. He and I talked about how God works in our lives. Several things had happened to those he loved including death, he was angry with God for the happenings so he went mountain climbing. We do that metaphorically but he actually did it, once he reached the top he began yelling at God. “Is that all you’ve got!” he spent a bit of time yelling at God. It came to him that God was there the he wasn’t alone and that no matter what He would be there for him and there is nothing that he can’t handle because God wouldn’t let go of Him.

So here I was driving to the hospital worried about my dad thinking that I once again had one of those conversations. All I could think was “God is preparing me again, He did with my mom, my uncle, and now He was doing it again.” Don’t get me started on the music that was playing on the radio The Dance golly gee way to get to me.

I have to say that my dad is a tough guy. Several months ago he passed out backing his boat in the water and ended up knee deep in the lake H20. That’s knee deep inside the truck. The doctor thought it was a medication. This time was a big red flag with a flashing light and a loud alarm, he blacked out again in Canada. He went to fish, he loves fishing. They had the chopper on the way he refused to go to the hospital after they revived him. I offered to drive him to the doctor but he refused. They sent him to a specialist, they immediately walked him to the OR. Here’s where he becomes the talked about patient of the day people to whom have a heart rate of thirty are usually brought in to the ER or rushed into a doctor’s office looking very ill. My dad had driven several miles and walked in on his own.

As for fishing well he took second in the tournament and says that he would have taken first had he fished all the days. And yes he says it with a big o’ smile on his face.

I spent the night watching my dad remembering times of a younger stronger man. My dad came in the door ready to love his family that’s why we rushed to be with him. He saw the blessings in his life. Whenever we were sick my dad was soft and gentle he spoke softly to us. I remember how he would move my hair out of my face. My dad had seemed to be invincible when I was a kid and there he was in a bed, in pain, looking so different. Still he’s the best dad in the world and my family and I will now take care of him. (Like it or not. . . he grumbles a bit at us. )

He is so grounded!
No fishing for a while!

with the kids . . .car conversations are so priceless

Miss Littles: Mom we watched a show about a man who lives with bears

The boy spoke up saying something about it being dangerous

Mom: I saw a show about a man who lived with wolves and when the wolves peed around the tent he peed around the tent.



The boy: They were marking their territory.



Mom: Chicks would move the tent

The Boy: They were marking their territory.

Mom: Still. . .Ick!

The Boy: They were marking their territory it's what they do.

Mom: I’m just saying I would move the tent rather than pee around my tent

The Boy: They were marking their territory!

Mom: I'm just saying. . .

The Boy: They were marking the territory!

Mom: It's gross that's all.

The Boy: They were marking their territory!

Mom: Chicks don’t do stuff like that

The Boy: They were marking their territory!

Mom: Is that what you are doing at home because. . . ick. . . and I see no need to do that.

The Boy:MOM!!!!
Miss Littles giggles from the back seat

See priceless!

BAM!

Don’t you hate it when you get sucker punched!

There you are and then BAM you’re on the floor!

Words folks!

Think before you speak!

Prayers

• Please add Preacherman and his family to your prayer list. He’s ill again.

The sun brings a new day as one ends

I’ve made a little change on my header as you may have noted. It’s a picture that I took while riding in a boat at Disney World in Florida.

I chose this one because it’s not only pretty to look at but it also shows a phase in my life. The vacation was without the man that I was married to for 20 years. He wasn’t invited to join us and I made that very clear. I remember sitting on that boat watching the sun give way to night thinking that it was an ending of a life I know.

I haven’t gone into the divorce without knowing that we will be pain. I was afraid of what it would do to my children. I was afraid of what it would do financially. I was afraid to stay with this man.

I also know that with each sunset is a sunrise and I’m ready to see the beginning of a new day.

God paints the sky and I am blessed

PS Miss Littles has a great cake recipe on her site http://littlesworld-milly.blogspot.com/

As in my life. . . . . .

The boy and I went to see Get Smart today. It’s not for young kids due to the language and stuff but it was a funny movie. I enjoyed the music and the references to the original show. The movie wasn’t too much like the show but gave us old folks enough to smile at.

My daughter’s new favorite movie is The Spiderwick Chronicles. I enjoyed the movie each time I had to watch it. I loved the flower fairies such a pretty fantasy. Miss Littles has professed to me that she sees fairies in her room and once in awhile throughout the house. We’re sure to invite them along when we move. She has wonderful delights about how they play about and tells me that some aren’t so nice. I suppose the fairy world isn’t that far from ours.

At church folks are full of concern for us. It’s appreciated and I do feel the love and blessings but it’s as if someone is around every corner. I spoke with a sister today and shocked her by telling her what had been going on. I had assumed most of those who know us knew.

The boy and I are watching the news. It’s always a fun thing for me to do because he’s so smart and has lots of opinions. Miss Littles watches the local news every morning and will have a cake recipe for ya’ll posted soon. I’ve tasted it and think you should make yourself one.

Things around here have been a bit off to say the least. Mediation went well enough and I’m processing what was said.

Last night I spent some time talking with a friend after work. I’ll have some views on what we talked about sometime. I’ve always tried to see things in different shoes and she certainly showed me a different sneaker.


God is my sanctuary

I have a prayer request for my friends in Blog Land.

I want to tell you about my friend, she’s one of those people that I was just drawn to. Honestly, she had me at hello and I suppose I had her also. We’ve spent hours talking about life, God, kids, marriage, and nothing at all. We’ve laughed and cried together and I’d honestly cut my right arm off to save her life.

When I told her what was going on in my life and that I was divorcing my husband she yelled at me for not calling her for support. She was loud about it. She was also right I do need her. I called her just the other night to vent about something to find that she was recovering from surgery. I knew that she needed it but didn’t know when she was going in. My sorry self has been so consumed with me and the kids that I have neglected others.

Tonight I smiled when my phone rang her ring tone, that smile left my face when she told me that they found cancer.

CANCER!

She’s reassured me that she’s fine and that this one has a high cure rate. I looked it up because that’s how us bloggers roll. It's about a 96% cure rate.

Still. . .
I worry. . .
She’s worried about me and how mediation is going to go so she's is calling me Thursday on her way to tell her mom and the kids.

She’s worried about me!

She has CANCER and she’s ready to cut her right arm off for me!

That's why God gave us friends.

We talked tonight about how we didn’t need anyone else but God and yet He gave us friends.

Thanks God!

PS Call a friend this week just to talk

Not gonna let the apple hit me again

I love the song below and at first I didn’t get why, read the words.

I Move on like a sinner's prayer

Lettin' go like a levee brakes

Walk away as if I don’t care

Learn to shoulder my mistakes

I'm built to fade like your favorite song

Get reckless when there’s no need

Laugh as your stories ramble on

Break my heart, but it won’t bleed

My only friends are pirates

It’s just who I am

I’m better as a memory

Than as your man

Never sure when the truth won’t do

I'm pretty good on a lonely night

I move on the way the storm blows through

I never stay but then again I might

I struggle sometimes to find the words

Always sure until I doubt

Walk a line until it blurs

Build walls too high to clime out

But I'm honest to a fault

It’s just who I am

I'm better as a memory

Than as you man

I see you leaning

You’re bound to fall

I don’t want to be that mistake

I’m just a dreamer

Nothing more

You should know it before it gets too late

'Cause Goodbyes are like a roulette wheel

You never know where they're gonna land

First you’re spinning then your standin' still

Left holdin' A losing hand

One day your gonna find someone

Right away you'll know it’s true

That all of your seekin's done

It’s just a part of the passing through

Right there in that moment

You'll finally understand

That I was better as a memory than as your man

Better as a memory than as your man

By Kenny Chesney

It hit me like a ton of apples the other day as I was singing along. This bad boy is being decent and that is why we girls took a bite of the forbidden fruit! He is telling us what he knew we’d fall for. Not me never ever again . . . I still like the song but I will keep Eve close to me. I wonder if she prayed for her sisters. I wonder if she hoped that no woman would ever trust the serpent and take the bite of forbidden fruit.

I hope a pray that we can walk away from that bad boy no matter how sweet that fruit looks.

Littles World

Miss Littles has a request on her blog.

http://littlesworld-milly.blogspot.com/

She's speaking from a eight year old's heart.

Love socks of monkey

Monday I wore my sock monkey socks so you know all went well.

On my dashboard I placed the picture K gave me when we visited OKC and something Miss Littles gave me from church. I read a few lines from the book I was reading while listening to the local Christian station. Talked to God and went into the office. We walked across the street talking all the way about life, changes, and just stuff.

What I heard was heartbreaking and soon in will come to pass.

I wore my Sock Monkey socks that G gave me so you know I had love at my feet.

God is sending me those who will give love and prayers.

Thank you Mark, K, and G love ya!

Thank you to all who are pray'n

On my reading to do list is

Mike Mullane was signing copies of his book Riding Rockets at the Kennedy Space Center so we took the opportunity to take a picture of him with my son and have a few things autographed. He let people know as they purchased the book that it was not for youngsters. "This is not a kids book." because of life stuff I haven’t had the wanted time to read but I’m a bit of the way in and I have to agree that it isn’t for the young adventures. It’s been good so far and it’s left me wanting to keep reading even when I know the 4:21 am alarm is going to be hard on me. Here’s what he wrote in my book.

My real name here

Dream Big!
Mike Mullane
515,41D,27,36 (some of these numbers might be wrong. Sorry Mike if they are.)
5/31/08

I just don’t have big dreams right now. I want my kids to be ok and I want to be able to put them in a safe home. I want more for them than anything. I want them to know that God and mom are right here for them.

I guess these are big enough dreams for a mom.

The boy glows

Please hold my son in your prayers as he learns to be the hands and feet of Christ.

He’s on a mission trip again and as some of you might remember last year he landed in the hospital. My son in the glow of the fireworks at Disney World.

I was just thinking and wondering if. . . .&. . . Why. . .

If God isn’t sending anyone to hell then is everyone going to Heaven?

Even those who don’t want God?

What about those fallen angels?

Where are the ones who will turn away going?

Why does it say that we will face judgement if we have no consequences?

Anyway just think'n today, even in the fog of vacation messes, just think'n.

Home is where the mess is!

We are home!

The Space Shuttle is an amazing wonderment. I’d recommend going to anyone who is interested in space exploration. My son was so delighted by this event.




Cocoa beach didn’t seem to have a Jennie in a bottle for us to find but it did have a tremendous amount of family fun. My children could spend days playing on the beach. I’m still finding sand in things.

Mickey Mouse Land was wonderful and exhausting. I loved looking around the worlds in Epcot. Although I did speak to a lady working there about the trolls. She told me that they aren’t the things that they have everywhere in her country, they only have them in the story books. Gee do you think that we Americanized the countries? ;-}

France is a great place to have a treat. Yummy!

We had breakfast with Mickey, Pluto, Lilo and Stitch. Stitch sat in my chair and drank my juice. The kids were tickled.

Miss Littles and I had dinner one evening in Cinderella’s castle. It was quite an affair. The Fairy Godmother put her hands on my shoulders and spoke to me during the performance. I was thrilled! I played her in a high school production.

The coolest characters for me to see were Eeyore and Snow White. I gave Eeyore a big hug. Snow was so pretty. She’s the prettiest of them all.

I’m up to my eyes in laundry, need to make something for dinner, and I feel as if I’m about to drop. I’ll be talking with you all later.

Vacation update

I’m using the condo computer so not much information today.

My little beach bums were happy to be back in the water. We didn’t find a Jennie on Cocoa Beach

The space shuttle launch was amazing!

I can’t wait to share photos with you folks.

I'm getting ready for Mickey World.

Almost Time!

10

9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1 Then. . .

Have you ever felt that God was yelling at you?

I was late last Sunday for church. I had a good reason I worked all day and night Saturday then came home to put slides together, they were sent late so I had little time to pull it together. I had to sleep because I had to be at work again Sunday afternoon. With the kids with my dad I could hit the snooze and snooze.

I checked on some of my friends to make sure they were doing well and then found my sister and son. I have to admit I came in rather late for the sermon but boy was he speaking to me. I have to tell the elders and it seems that I have to do it rather soon. I think sooner than rumors is a good idea still it will be difficult to tell those around me how crushed things are. I might have taken the whole thing out of context. I might be looking for a way to turn away from what He wants for me to do.

I was sitting today at my desk I decided to listen to a sermon from a minister of one of one of my fellow bloggers. I’ve been freaked about several things money being a big one. I need to be able to take care of my children. Guess what the sermon was about? You got it. . . Money

I’ve been blessed to have a home for two years in a neighborhood that a lot of people I know couldn’t afford. Sure it’s stressed our budget but God has been good to us.

Our lives are about to change still I have God.

In my times of freaking out He stands solid and waits for me to listen. Some times He has to take my hand and yell in my ear. I'm such a child at times. I turn my head. I wander off. I try to control it all.

Once He told me and I took control then He yelled so loud that it took me to my knees.

He yells at me in different ways.

It reads from the heart of a distant friend. . .it sounds like the voice of a minister. . .it whispers in the wind. . .it’s the touch of a caring heart. . . It’s the faint sound of butterfly wings and the loudness of thunder rolling in my heart.. . It’s God

Boy have I neglected life in blogville lately!

Here’s what’s happening in our part of the world.

Mother’s Day brought me breakfast in bed along with a bog old head banger. I went to church to find my sidekick also had one and we were a man down, it was time to see what Milly is made of. Thankfully it wasn’t my breakfast. I had to pitch in and help with worship. At one point I said "I don’t know how to do this because I stupid." That brought a smile to sidekick’s face and he showed me how. Miss Littles did a great job with the Mother’s day song and telling the church how she feels about her mom. She loves to sing in front of everyone.

I was taken out for lunch by my children and sister then rushed off for work. Thank you crazy man for yelling at me. I loved the way you fabricated the truth. I love working in the area that I’m in now except for those who yell, threaten, and break stuff when we say no. I do in fact make up the rules. Yes that’s right they let little old me make up the rules for this huge company.
We are buzzing about trying to get ready for our vacation. The kids and I are so excited. I’m so not ready and in need of several items before we go.

I’m thrilled to be able to see a shuttle launch. Anyone want me to call them so that they can hear it live? I promise to have pictures to post.

Oklahoma is trying to recover from the storms. Please pray for those devastated by them.
One small town called Pitcher is almost completely gone now. 295 homes that were destroyed by Saturday's tornado and th e death count is 7.

Keep'n them safe

My son and I worked late into the night and me into the morning on a DFY project. (Drug Free Youth.) OOPS government class project. It’s an important project so I was glad to lend a hand. This one isn’t just a cool thing for him to do this is life and it’s for you and essential your children. Staying up late to put words with his video was necessity.

I pray that it saves lives.

I’d love to put the video on this site but I don’t have permission to do so.

Cody’s Law

On September 19, 2004 a 16 year old Cody Greenhaw died from a methadone overdose. He was given the drugs from the parents of his friend. They willingly gave him drugs and alcohol. He was encouraged to score for them. Did his parents see it? Yes they found the marijuana in his truck and did what most of us would do. They took away privileges and made him take regular drug tests. He passed over and over again so when he asked to spend time with his friend they gave in, after all he was doing well. He asked again, it was a birthday party so they gave in.

I can’t imagine what it was like to have police officers show up in church to tell you that your son is dead. The parents never called to tell them that they found him dead in their home.
Yes Cody had chosen to do drugs but they were given to him while the parents watched.

My son’s class decided to raise awareness and work towards strengthening the bill. They took first in the region for some of the work that they’ve done but that isn’t the true goal. They want the bill to make parents responsible for their children and your children when they are in our homes.

This one hit my heart. These kids are just like your kids. Some of the quotes are things that I’d say about my son. He was a good boy who made a bad friend. But here’s where it really hits us as parents WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT HAPPENS IN OUR HOMES! I have pain killers in my house. My husband has alcohol on occasion. Right now I wouldn’t be responsible if a kid overdosed without my knowledge. Look folks all that we would need to is put those items where they can’t get to them before we go for the pizza for our video playing kids. Before we leave the house with someone else’s child in it, a child that you don’t really know, put it away. Be the cool parent and keep them safe. You wouldn't put a loaded gun on your bathroom counter. Or do you?

Another thing check out who they are hanging out with. Don’t be afraid to drop by to meet the parents and don’t be afraid to see the house where they live. If it feels off it most likely is.

I kept looking at my son and saying this could be any of you.

This could be you.

He was a kind, sensitive and caring kid.

Cody’s mom Sareva Greenhaw about her son

It was not uncommon to hear from other parents that he was their favorite among their kids' friends.

He was the boy next door.

He was a good student and he was involved in athletics and church,

He was also involved in drugs,

Cody’s mom

The hardest thing you'll ever have to do is close the lid on your child's casket, and we don't want to see another family endure thistragedy.

Mark Greenhaw Cody’s dad.

PRAYING FOR DRUG FREE KIDS

DFY

Tooth fairy where are you?

Cheetah by Miss Littles

Today I got the pleasure of spending two hours in the dentist chair. Yea! I took two breaks for air and to move around. Am I finished with this adventure? No I’m not. This was the third appointment and I have one more to go on this side then when I can spend more cash I get to start on the other side. I can’t wait!

I’m having two baby teeth taken care of. Yes I still have some in the back. Kids take care of those choppers you may need them at the age of forty-six.

Brush and floss folks your dentist will thank you.

On whose clock shall our time on this realm end?

If it shall end sooner than later what shall you be doing to pass your short life away?

Will you worry about what they believe?

Will you try to persuade them?

How wrong they are, you know you are ever so right.

Aren’t you?

So when the trumpets blast will you be the one on bended knees or will you be the one waving your arms about in pride to show how right you are?

Who shall hear the words from you today?

Where is Christ in you?

Your heart or your prideful self?

Where is Christ in you?

Miss Littles has questions for you folks out in the blog world.

What is our Lord's favorite food?

Why did an angel tell Mary she was going to have a baby?


Why did the angel tell her that she would have to name Him Jesus?


Please answer on her site

http://littlesworld-milly.blogspot.com/

How's it going?

I was thinking about you and wondering how you were doing.

The right to be angry

We agree that anger is ok. I believe that all of us have been angry at some time in our lives. Some of us more times than others.

So let me tell a few little stories.

Sarah called her husband Dan as she loaded the children into the car. He gave her several things to purchase at the store and a warning that the money in the check book was low. She managed to buckle her daughter into the car seat. Something Houdini couldn’t have done while on the cell phone. She hung up and convinced her eight year old son it get in the car with a promise that it would be a short trip to the store. As she drove she told herself both kids will be in school next fall and she will be able to shop alone. She smile at the thought of not listening to her son tell her how board he was over and over again. She won’t have to worry that when she turns her head her escape artist child will be climbing out of the cart. She almost giggled at the thought of having lunch with her girl friends in a restaurant with that doesn’t have Mc something or a toy and play area. She was suddenly snapped into the real world when she heard the screeching sound. The nest call that her husband received wasn’t that from her bride to tell him how things went at the store and how she spent too much money it was from the police.

Everything in his life has now been changed.


The noise woke Molly from her sleep. She sat up quickly confused as to why she had a horrible feeling in the depths of her heart. BANG! A second gun shot. Confusion and panic overcame her as she rushed outside. Dear God why!!!! she screamed as she fell to the ground next to her son. He is just a boy my little boy.


The police seemed not to care about her feelings as they questioned her. Father, no, no father he split after my son was born. I’ve raised Jordan and his brother by myself. Drugs? No. She shook her head as she tried to comprehend what was happening. She watched while they took photographs of her son, his life blood on the street.

A case of mistaken identity. The shooter was wrong he chose the wrong young man and her life forever changed.

Will joined the military although it must have been a hard thing for a young gay man to do. He found solacement in the arms of strangers. When the doctor told him that the lingering virus wasn’t going to ever go away because he’s HIV positive his life forever changed.

Bobby’s great with children. He loves them. When his sister called with the news that his niece wasn’t breathing he rushed to the hospital. Blunt force trauma. She died from blunt force trauma. How does a two year old. . .the boy friend? His sister? The baby sitter? Their lives forever changed.

She tries to pretend she asleep so that he won’t come into the room. She tries her best to please him but always falls short. He works hard to make a living for them, it’s not enough.


Car wrecks. . .gun shots. . .diseases. . .murder. . .hurt. . .pain. . . death. . .anguish. . . .and . . . .and . . and. . .

I know some of the people who have stories like these. Some will find God. Some found forgiveness giving us an example of how loving our Lord is. Some don’t know God and if that’s what you people think He is then no thank you.


I’m blessed because I have never been angry with God. I’ve never lost a child. I’ve never been told that the illness is going to kill me. I’ve been in a bubble of a life and I’m blessed.
Others have fallen to there knees and asked God why. They have felt the burning anger and they have a right to be angry.


She was told that he wouldn’t live but a few short days after birth and at twenty two God called him home in a car wreck. His mother smiles as she tells of her loving son. He touched others lives and led them to God. She doesn’t question Him she thanks Him.


Not easy when you hold them so close. She’d have a right to be angry, she isn’t.


Is anger productive?


Yes it is!


When you hear that a man in your neighborhood grabbed a little girl. You begin to look for her, any car a bush you look at ever stranger. It could be him. When the little one is found naked and dripping with blood you get angry. You drop to your knees and pray. You drop some cash in a bucket to help the little one who will no longer be able to have children. Your anger stays because she is forever changed.


John Walsh was angry. MADD is angry. DVIS is angry.


A woman was constantly being abused by her husband, after the divorce he kept at her. The police did nothing to help her. When the cop received the call he stopped to go to the bathroom and then drove over to find her exhusband stabbing her. He took the knife away and walked to his car, unlocked the trunk and put the knife away while the exhusband stomped on her. She got angry. . .laws get changed from anger.


If we are to get angry with God then we must get up and be productive.

I pray for those of you who are hurting. I don’t know how it feels to be like you but God does and He is waiting for you to grab onto Him.

Peace Be With You.

I dropped the hook and now I'm waiting with my mocha cappa something

Ya’ll may remember how I enjoy fishing. I was fishing when I asked and I’m working on a post on this question Is it alright to be angry with God? I know what my answer is and I kind of knew what most of you were going to say.

Today I stared working on the worship slides and found this song.

I think it's fitting to start with.


My eyes are dry

By Keith Green

My eyes are dry
my faith is old
My heart is hard
my prayers are cold

And I know how
I ought to be
Alive to You
and dead to me

What can be done
With an old heart
like mine

Soften it up
with oil and wine
The oil is You
Your Spirit of love

Please wash
me anew

In the wine
of Your blood

My eyes are dry
my faith is old
My heart is hard
my prayers are cold

And I know how
I ought to be
Alive to You
and dead to me

What can be done
With an old heart
like mine

Soften it up
with oil and wine
The oil is You
Your Spirit of love

Please wash
me anew
In the wine
of Your blood

Grab a cup of coffee and share.

I want you to feel free to tell your story.
You can do it anonymously if you’d like.
I’m a firm believer that by sharing your story with others you are helping someone.

So here it is:

Is it alright to be angry with God?

Tagged from Bob and Meg

What was I doing 10 years ago?
1. Trying to live without my mom
2. Preparing my son for kindergarten
3. Attending church without my husband and involved in a great class for women
4. I was self employed
5. Gee wizzzz that was ten years ago I'm not sure what else that ya'll might find interesting.

5 things on my to-do list today:
1. Laundry
2. Go to bed early
3. Spend quiet time with God
4. Tidy up the house
5. Worship slides if needed

Snacks I enjoy
1. Cashews
2. BBQ chips
3. Fresh fruit
4. Chocolate chip cookies
5. Crackers

Things I would do if I were a billionaire
1. Help Hope Harbor children’s home
2. Pave a friend's driveway
3. Help family and friends in need
4. Probably travel more & visit my blog friends (Sounds good to me Bob)
5. College for my children and niece

Five of my bad habits
1. Stress eating
2. Putting stuff that I don’t want to do off
3. Making jokes when things get to intense
4. Talking too much (One of two or ya know that already)
5. I have no other habits that are bad. ;-}

Five places I have lived
1. Tulsa Ok
2. Minnesota
3. Owasso Ok
4. Miami Ok
5. Broken Arrow Ok

I’m a true Okie

Five jobs I've had
1. Truck Stop waitress/ It was about the only place to work at fifteen
2. Puppeteer assistant
3. Meat Cutter in a steak house/ I was a vegetarian at the time.
4. In home therapist for autistic children/self employed with my own house keeping business
5. Home improvement store cashier/ that's right living the dream folks.

Four TV shows that I watch:
1. Men in Trees
2. Grey’s Anatomy
3. Top Chef
4. Project Runway

Four movies I would watch over and over:
1. Imitation of Life
2. Braveheart
3. Finding Nemo (My son's idea for me)
4. I’d like to see Juno again

Four places I would rather be right now:

1. San Francisco
2. Hanging out with blogger friends
3. I’m rather happy hanging out with my son tonight
4. In bed

Four places I have been:

1. Hawaii
2. San Francisco
3. Canada
4. New Mexico
. . . .But I’ve never been to Boston in the fall

Four of my favorite foods:

1. Steak
2. Baked potatoes
3. Pizza-brick oven from Zarino’s
4. Soup


Four people who e-mail me (regularly, and non-work related):
1. Kimbo
2. Shawn
3.My family
4. Several friends

Things that I am looking forward to this year:
1.Life

Have you ever prayed a prayer that you knew wouldn’t get the answer you wanted?

I’m sure you have if you’ve spent any time on your knees.

As I grow older I find myself asking for things that I’m sure I won’t get and yet I think I need. I want things to be different I want the people I love to be closer to me. I want my dad’s lungs to heal. Forget that the man smoked at an early age and it was a bit late when he finally gave it up.

I want

I want

I want

I need at times and I don’t always seem to get that or so I think.

Something is hurting me deep, I ask for a hardened heart. God has done it before so why not for me?

He just will not do it so I go on hurting. But hurt has it befits. We learn from the mistakes that lead us to pain.

When I was growing up we had a floor furnaces. My siblings and I learned a bit from this furnaces. Ok my brother and I taught mom a thing or two from them. Mark taught her that if you pee on it steam will rise. I showed how hard it is to clean puke out of the thing during a bout with the flue. God bless her. We all most likely learned by touch how hot it would get. I remember on cold mornings trying to hover over the thing to get warm and not get so close to get burned.

Burns hurt and they scar. I know that first hand, rather first leg. When I was young a hot pot of coffee was spilled onto my nylon pant wearing leg. Now those of you who know a bit about things that melt know what happens to nylon. I ended up with third degree burns. I don’t really have a scar on the outside but I did hold on to one for a while on the inside. I thought that the darker line would show and that everyone would see that I was scared. I know now that people have real scars that show and if they have the courage to show them then I shouldn’t worry about mine.

We could go our whole lives without a scar but it’s not the way God made us. I believe he wants us to feel pain. I think He hasn’t hardened my heart because He knows I need my heart. I need to feel the pain as it happens so that I can better deal with all of what life is going to give me. If you stuff it all away then when you find it you’ll most likely try to take it all at once. That’s a breakdown in the making.

Instead of a hardened heart He’s given me people at my church, friends with the wisdom of what I’m dealing with, family to cling to, my loving children, and a steady ground to stand on.

I thank God for unanswered prayers.

I thank God for wisdom beyond me.

Just wonder'n about the bunny

As it is almost Easter I want to know. . . . . .how do you eat your chocolate bunny?

Ears first?

Tail first?

Feet first?

Well how do you do it?

http://www.bewarethecheese.com/chocobunny.htm

Click around on the bunny it's funny.

Thank you!

To those of you who have sent me gifts like a cross for me to carry in my pocket and socks to show off at work and warm my feet and cards and well wishes and prayer and tons of love I just want to say

Y

THANK YOU!

Y

I LOVE YOU!

Y

How Do We Communion?

Is it to be a celebration or a mirthless occasion?

I’ve been told both.I started to think of that "Last Supper"What was the mood like?Could you feel a shift in the air?Did Jesus show any signs as to what was about to come?And as I often do I made it my ownI began to think of what it might be like walking into that home for that meal.Judas like a thief trying to hide what he had done. He stopped to look at his reflection in pool of water, he couldn’t help but see his treachery. Satan had been talking to him all along and now he has won. What was it inside him that made him give Jesus away for only a few pieces of silver? He tries to justify it as he walks in, look at Him always so perfect. He straitened himself and moved to his place.

Jesus washed their feet.

That’s a big thing.

Take the time to really read it, give it time to roll around in your mind.

Have you ever walked into a room to have a meal with your friends and been surprised by having your feet washed?

I haven't

I realize that some of you know how I feel about feet so you might think sure Milly thinks it’s huge she wouldn’t do it. You know I don’t know now. I really gave this some thought. He not only washed their feet he washed the feet of those who would hurt him later and He knew it. He told them.Now here’s the part where we are so set apart from Jesus. If those who were hurting me were about to have a meal I’d most likely not want to touch their dirty feet but if I did and I knew that they were going to betray me I’d have a bit of sarcasm in my tone when I spoke of some still being unclean. I might even smirk and look see if they might confess. I don’t believe that Jesus did such, it wasn’t in His heart. He knew that they were fulfilling the prophecy.When He told them at that meal what they were going to do only one wasn’t surprise, he had already set the wheels in motion.

I wonder if fear or anger gripped Judas?

Hatred?

What ever it was could it have been an emotion that he could hide?

A sociopath could hide it, I don’t think he was one.

The others might have sensed something in Judas except that Jesus was different that night. His words were cause for concern.Did they look at each other thinking "It has to be him not me"

I doubt the mood was the usual one of talk of the day and listening to Jesus teach.

This meal was different.

To celebrate or to mourn?

Still I don’t know.

Jesus gave His life for us for our sins His beautiful life. Jesus came to this earth knowing He’d go through all of it for us.Humbled for sure.Honored.Unworthy I don’t like thinking that because it almost feels like we don’t get it we don’t deserve Him and yet we don’t.So I have no real words for the feeling that I feel that I should have for this moment. I do know that at times I make that meal of the Lord about me. For me. How can I make it about what it should be when I can’t put a word on it? It’s almost like trying to say YHWH you have to let the air out to say it. You have to let your breath of life out to say YHWH and breathe in new air, new life.

Celebrate?

It’s a moment of giving, Jesus gave to us so we should celebrate His gift of life to us through His death.I asked my son what he thought and being a wise young person who gives most things a bit of thought he said this about communion:

"All of God’s glory doesn't take place on the cross you need to focus on Jesus, on the examples He set for us."

"This Sunday I will focus on what a gift I am receiving from Jesus not just from the cross but in all of God's glory.

. . . .And so I had more thoughts.

I think I have a bit of an obsession with Judas. Actually after I posted on communion and had time to proof it a bit. I know I do that backwards but my time doesn’t always allow that. I sat back and realized that I have a bit of an obsession with Judas.Could it be that I feel sorry for this guy?

It was prophesied that he would do this he anguished over what he had doneJesus said that he would.

Did he do something that the weaker me might have done?

I’d like to think no way no how.

Was he possessed?

I wonder if he felt that he was always on the outside of the group.

Was he that tag along guy?

What makes a man betray his friend for a few pieces of silver?

Faith Incredible Faith

She was exhausted all the time. The pain was unbearable yet the worst was the shunning. Was it her illness that zapped her energy or the painful loneliness?She spent her days trapped in her home, a home that she had loved at one time it now was the prison walls that held her.She longed to be with people. Hugs, smiles, real smiles, not the passer by who fakes it she could see the pity in their eyes as the walked past her door. She longed to be touched by loving hands.Twelve years, twelve long agenizing years. She had seen all the healers and none of them helped her.

She wondered how much longer. . . . how much?

When she heard the talk of a great healer, of this Jesus, she knew that He was the one. He could heal her. She dressed as not to be recognized. Carefully making her way through the crowd her heart raced. Maybe just to see Him. I could possibly ask Him if I could get close enough. He will heal me she thought with all her heart. Her hand trembled as she reached through the crowd for Him. She touched His robe. Just a touch is all I needed she thought as she felt her body grow stronger.

At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?""You see the people crowding against you," his disciples answered, "and yet you can ask, 'Who touched me?' "But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."

He knew before He turned who had touched Him, He freed her from the painful bondage of her illness. She was no longer unclean.

I can’t read this without falling in love with her. Her faith amazes me.She had lived in seclusion for twelve years. We all need our quiet moments at times but twelve years of life alone is maddening.

Her only hope must have been that the next painful cure would work until. . .Jesus.

Keep your dukes up.

I had a conversation with a man who told me from the get go that he’s a Christian. That was cool. He and I talked about our moms and how we miss them. At one point he said something about having my mom. . . he trailed off realizing what he had just said then he looked thoughtful and smile “Oh that’s right our moms are together in heaven now. “ He and I then began to talk of human nature to live. We fight to stay alive. Even when we know it’s the end we still fight knowing full well that heaven is grander than here.

God gave that to us.

It’s built into us by his hands.

My brother and I as almost all siblings had a fight or two. I remember the last time I nailed him and hard. It stopped him from trying to keep me from decking him. Mark wasn’t a sister hitter once he got past the young brat stage. So he wasn’t hitting me. I was hitting him. I’m a fighter I always have been and always will be. It seems that when I’m pushed down I fight harder to get up, as Mark knows. I’m thankful that we’ve grown out of those silly fights and now have each other to lean on. Yes he can actually lean on the top of my head. I’m strong because God gave me fight and fight I will when I’m called to do so.



If you’ve every truly choked on anything or almost drowned then you understand the fight.
It’s cool to me that God gave us that. He gave us fight so that when the doctor tells us we have a disease we pull ourselves up and fight.

Fight makes us better warriors. It makes us better parents, and friends. Most of all, It makes us better Christians we want to live and tell those around us how great our God is.

Keep up the good fight!

S A T U R D AY Ahhhhhhhh! SUNDAY!

I had a rather long Saturday up at 4:25 am for work. Then Easter dress shopping with Miss Littles. For those of you who don’t have little girls, this is a big deal. For those of you who have eight year old little girls I wonder if you are thinking what I was. "What on earth has happened to the sweet little Easter dresses!?" We struggled to find a dress that didn’t scream "Hey sailor in town for long? or Here’s to you Mrs. Robinson." After a long process of trying on several preselected dresses, my sister had started shopping with Miss L. an hour before I clocked out, and was more than disappointed with the selection. Miss L. was all over some of the "Oh Heck No dresses" I’m soooo not hip and she let me know that she doesn’t want to be a baby anymore she wants to grow up. I’m all for it except grown ups don’t have to look like that either. It seems to be harder and harder to explain why I am opposed to things that make my daughter look like a streetwalker. I might kind of be hyperbolize’n a bit here but those were some kind of wrong dresses. We also had to shoe shop. I hate shoe shopping with a passion. No I am not the kind of woman who thinks spending a ton of cash on shoes is needed to survive. I don’t like to look or touch feet ever, except for little baby feet. I wash my hands after putting on my shoes or touching my feet. Other people trying on shoes icks me out and the thought that they put the shoes on that I was about to try on is a nightmare.


After dinner at the mall we then started looking for dress shoes. Apparently those pretty shoes to go with the pretty dresses aren’t "IN" because we traveled from store to store. On a whim my sis suggested the Disney store so off we trekked to the Mecca of Mickey. Thank goodness for the nice lady who was willing to climb up to the mannequin to check to see if the shoes were her size. I was a long day of shopping but well worth the trip. Next year I’ll have to yield to a more grown up dress. This year is mine white gloves and all.


By the time we got home from the shopping expedition it was late and all I wanted to do was shower and sleep instead I put the worship slides together.


Sunday morning was a flurry of rushing kids to church. Nothing different I wake them make breakfast get me looking ok wake the boy again remind him to brush stuff he never looks as if he has but I try not to argue because we need to go I remind Miss L to brush her hair and pack for the day I remind her again and again I find myself sitting in the car making sure I’ve brushed things and packed for the day.


This morning I made a point to sit in the front row at church. Do folks sit in your front row? I wanted to keep an eye on how the pictures look on the slides. It’s what I do and I think it’s rather important to be sure that they aren’t going to mess anyone up. Sometimes the backgrounds can be a bit much and we’ve adjusted the screens.


You know how you sometimes listen to something and other times hear it. Today I heard it! My minister nailed it and nailed good. This one was from God and loud. I shed a few tears and had goose bumps. If you listen to him this one will get you. Too bad you can’t see it because the visual was dead on. If you know who he is and want a copy let me know I’ll send you the DVD.
For those who might be wondering if I’m staying at my church the answer is yes. My son’s youth minister let me know that she can’t bear to see him go. He came home from John 3:16 mission charged up. One of the women who volunteers had some great things to say about his work with the mission. These are my brothers and sisters and they may have hurt me but I owe them grace and forgiveness. These are people who care and I need to be cared for.

Let it soar

Kate sat quietly in her closet trying to find peace amongst the clothing. She tried to force the events of her day from her thoughts. She loved her children and enjoyed spending time talking and laughing with them. She loved her job taking every new challenge head on. Today was the usual rush of work and children. She came home to the usual needs and wants, nothing new to her life. She loved it. A smile grew on her face at the sight of her home.

After she had tucked the children in she took time for herself. As she sat alone in the darkness she began to attempt to dismiss all of the day, some of the events were harder to let go of than others. Still she needed peace, tonight she was going to try to get it. Taking in a deep breath of the closet air she closed her eyes and thought of peace. Her mind quickly went back to the events of the day. Stop it, stop thinking of today. Move on. Her mind then played a trick as if a child had just been clued in on how to tease its parent into giving them exactly what he wanted. She began to think of tomorrow. Damn, she whispered, damn, why can’t I just let go and do this? Trying again she took in a breath and slowly released it. Just pray Kate just give it up and pray. Dear God thank you for the day please watch over my children keep us safe hold fast to us forgive me of my sins I need for my car to run a bit longer and a raise would be great. Amen.


I so phoned that in. Gee Kate way to talk to God!


Why can’t I just let go? Why God can’t I just give up control? Why is this so hard for me? Why am I not getting it?

Shhhhhhhh!

Listen!

Let your spirit soar!

I want my spirit to soar!

Bev Doolittle

I know this one, we sing it in church

If you read Codepoke you'll know that he and I love this woman and her words.

*

Eliz­a­beth P. Pren­tiss, 1856. Pren­tiss wrote these words dur­ing a per­i­od of ill­ness, but kept them to her­self. When she showed them to her hus­band 13 years lat­er, he en­cour­aged her to pub­lish them. How­ard Doane saw the re­sult­ing pamph­let, and wrote mu­sic for the words.

*

*

More love to Thee, O Christ, more love to Thee!

Hear Thou the prayer I make on bended knee.

This is my earnest plea:

More love, O Christ, to Thee;

More love to Thee, more love to Thee!
Once earthly joy I craved, sought peace and rest;

Now Thee alone I seek, give what is best.

This all my prayer shall be:

More love, O Christ to Thee;

More love to Thee, more love to Thee!
Let sorrow do its work, come grief or pain;

Sweet are Thy messengers, sweet their refrain,

When they can sing with me: More love, O Christ, to Thee;

More love to Thee, more love to Thee!
Then shall my latest breath whisper Thy praise;

This be the parting cry my heart shall raise;

This still its prayer shall be: More love, O Christ to Thee;

More love to Thee, more love to Thee!

Yes I said purses

I decided to clean a few purses out tonight while waiting on the washer and reading your words.

I had to laugh at myself for accumulating so much junk in these bags here’s a bit of a list:

a deck of cards You never know
mints Got to have nice breath
a Pinocchio watch
two measuring tapes Because I need them
award cards, patches and vender pins from work I roll like that
Blog posts that were longer and needed more time from me to read I want to enjoy what you've written, no matter how long and you know who you are.
a bottle cap that has a saying in it. A new chapter in your life is being written.
a rock with a cross on it
a puzzle piece, because we are all part of the puzzle that make up life
three boxes of dental floss Do I need to explain?
a jasmine tea bag I need peace
diaper pin I have no idea
paper clip
a large clip
an out of date Zyrtec Now in the trash
a piece of leather From scout days
receipts from lots of places
a pay stub from church
a Tinker Bell patch
a blue ribbon pin to remind you dudes-I have one on with my flair at work.
Several notes from my kid’s doctor
an address book Old school
swimming ribbons
a change order for the bank
PTA ink pins
gift cards I need to shop
a Serenity prayer card It rocks
a Tulsa street guide I hate being late
photos of my kids
tissues
napkins
church bulletins
clothes pin From my chips at lunch
eye drops I was on a med that gave me dry eyes
hand lotion I like soft hands
ink pens
hair stuff
church keys
nail files
velcro One never knows
Sharpies
a marble I haven't lost mine yet
a paint can opener I need to open the can
a book of matches from Pat O’Brien’s Honeymoon
notes from my husband Stuff to do and an I love you note
some jewelry things with the words-love, trust, imagine, and believe. I'm not sure

Why do we women have these bags?
Because you dudes won’t carry the man bag.

Now if you’ll excuse me I have a bucket of trash to empty.

Just another day in the life of a Milly

I was a team motivator today. I scored for our side and worked on teasing the others into working a bit harder. I think I’ll be pulling most of the weight tomorrow. No worries I love it.

I took some time to talk to one of my new bosses while sitting at the table, my knee is letting me know the weather is cold and damp. She recently got the promotion and at times is overwhelmed. We started talking of death, her father and son died a few days apart not long ago. I lost two uncles and a mom in a very short time. One thing that we both agree on is that while those are hard things others have worse and that we are blessed.


One of my co-workers heard me singing to the other about her name. I laughed and asked if she had heard it before, she rolled her eyes at me. I then went on to explain who the woman in the Bible was that held her name. She and I talked of her.


I was later asked by a single mom who works with me if I could help her. We parents have so much love for our children. I could feel the emotion as she explained how much her daughter missed her being home on weekends. The poor little thing cries for her momma. I almost did just talking to her. I can relate because my kids miss me when I’m at work. She asked one simple request if I could do something for her little one using the meaning of her name. What a grand request. I will delight in making Savanna the loveliest name in the world for a little girl.
Please feel free to add suggestions for this little one. Her momma is a single parent with very little to spend but her love for this princess is deep.

We may face some hard times but God has us in His hands.
. . . .plus my friends and family have my back. :-}

Lental thoughts

We are now well into Lent and I have yet to give up anything. Some of the folks at work have given up stuff like caffeine and attempted to give up smoking. My reaction to the giving of caffeine was "Dear God why on earth would I try to do that right now!" I offered to give up smoking but they pointed out that I don’t smoke. I offered to give up cussing but I don’t cuss. I offered to give up drinking but I don’t drink. So I offered to pick those bad habits up for Lent and they laughed at me. I have enough stress in my life without having to give up something. One year I gave up saying negative things about "W" that was a long forty days. This is a political year so ummm NO! And to be honest I had forgotten that it was forty days until my sister said I should give up chocolate for forty days. My reaction was just this "So I can stab someone!" What part of I have enough stress in my life without having to give up the stuff that keeps me from running around in circles yelling "The cheese curls are alive!"

I brought Lent up to the family and we giggled at what we could give up. I know we should take it more seriously. We did just that we decided to study something from the Bible. My son wants Revelation my daughter wants Ruth. Because Miss Littles is prone to nightmares we stuck with Ruth. She had a nightmare after a history talk at he dinner table. BTW I hear the book The Boy In The Striped Pajamas is a good read. My son highly recommends it. Note that it’s a hard subject and not for small children.

As for Ruth

If any of you folks have some insight into the story of this lovely woman and her mother-in-law please feel free to comment.

Chicks rule in Okie land

We picked a woman!

Way to go Oklahoma!

I loved getting to vote today and a big part of making me smile was that us Dems made history on this Tuesday.

No matter who you voted for today you should take a good look at the changes in the wind.

LET IT SNOW!!!!!

Only make the kids go to school.

I have work and stuff.

Pink bear, dead rat, shoes, pasta, and pink feathers.

Things in my home have been tense and without a doubt my children know it. I’ve just come off of seven days without a day off and my daughter has hit the wall. She didn’t ask for a mother and daughter day out she demanded it. So with cash and gift cards we hit the stores. Our first stop was Michael’s, they were having a great sale on Christmas decorations. We couldn’t resist stopping, when we got out of the car Miss Littles eeeeewed I looked over to see a stiff dead rat feet out, and on its side on the bumper of a truck. Okies! We talked about how gross it was as we walked in. We scoped out the sale. After purchasing several stems for the cemetery for next year, two pots of poinsettias for the pots on the porch, and a pink feather Christmas tree (Yes a pink feather pre-lit Christmas tree on sale for about $4.00 from about $40.00. We’re chicks) when we arrived at the momcar with a cart full of Christmas bargains we found Mr. Dead Rat by the back wheel. Now I think that I thought the same thing that most of us would think. I don’t want to touch it with anything to try to move it and I don’t want to run over it. Now I didn’t want to run over the thing not because I was afraid I’d kill it again but because that’s gross. And I was not touching it with any part of my body, shoes included. In fact you could put me in a hazmat suit and I’d still not want to move the thing. I fear the plague. Or I fear the reoccurrence of a rat being in my home looking at me with those yellow eyes in the dark. I know this time my dad wouldn’t come rushing in with a shot gun. He shot it and we promised mom that we wouldn't tell anyone. We were kids so we announced it to all that would listen. I was trying to fall asleep and I thought my sister was making noise and moving stuff around on the night stand so I told her to stop it and she said it wasn’t her it was me and that I should stop it and I said no it isn’t and for her to stop it and then she said that I should stop it and I saw the yellow eyes looking at me very close to my face and dad yelled “girls” they did that almost every night because we were always doing stuff before we fell asleep and we yelled back that something was in our room and daddy came running in with his gun and shot the rat in his underwear and killed it and our dresser. We had icky blood on stuff. My mom is shaking her head right now from Heaven and trying to explain how clean the house was. So I backed out carefully hoping not to rekill the dead rat. We laughed at me for looking back to make sure that I had missed it. How gross it would have been if I hadn’t. We then made our way to Target to check out music, movies, toys, shoes and girl stuff like pink things to wear. We purchased new shoes and beads for her door. Now if you know me you know that it was a big step for me to hang in the shoe department while my daughter tried on several pairs of shoes. After Target we headed for a nice lunch at Macaroni’s. It was nice to have a moment to sit and talk about stuff. She told me what had been bothering her lately. I’m doing a long stretch of nights because my husband changed jobs. She misses me. We then went home to relax until the Radio Disney event started. Nope we didn’t win tickets to see the Hanna Montana movie. After that we hit the mall she wanted to make a bear and Build-A-Bear was the place to go. She selected a pink bear and we both put a heart in it. I love that you can do that. If you haven’t gone to this place you should. They let you put a heart in it. I always pray for Miss Littles into the heart. It would be a cool gift to give a kid. If you don’t live near them you can sent a gift card with the heart from you so that when they make the bear they can place your heart in it. This bear also needed clothes to wear. Now I’m broke and ready to go home. She was ready to hit Wal-Mart. I so love her because I so hate walmouthofhell-mart. She picked out a new head band and some rings. I chose the new Cowboys and Indians magazine and the Veggie Tales CD. It rocks and so did my day, rat and all.

It's open mic time here.

Prayer requests
Please pray for us and feel free to add yours I'll update as I can

My marriage-We are so far away from each other right now
My children-Trying to figure this word out
My dad-The man is in his seventies and smoked a large part of those years
My job-They want me to take on a new job position that was just created. It comes with quotas.
Kevin-Still feeling the illness
Bob-He and his wife need our prayers
Preacherman-His health
Barbara-She is taking on some heavy hearted stuff. She's taking a med that isn't too safe.

From Bob-Some of the most difficult things that combat soldiers deal with is the loss of their comrades . Please don't forget to pray for those who unselfishly serve freedom!

The Man Rules­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

I jacked this from Journeyman. Dudes now I get it.

http://journeyman-justpassingthrough.blogspot.com

Saturday, January 12, 2008
The Man Rules­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ - For my 100th post


At last a guy has taken the time to write this all down

These are our rules!Please note.. these are all numbered "1 " ON PURPOSE!

1. Men are NOT mind readers.
1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.
1. Sunday sports It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.
1. Crying is blackmail.
1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it!
1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.
1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.
1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become Null and void after 7 Days.
1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us.
1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one
1. You can either ask us to do something, or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.
1. Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to say during commercials.
1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.
1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not A color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.
1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.
1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," We will act like nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.
1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, Expect an answer you don't want to hear.
1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine... Really .
1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as football or rugby.
1. You have enough clothes.
1. You have too many shoes.
1. I am in shape. Round IS a shape!
1. Thank you for reading this.Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight; But did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping.

As the famous saying goes... "it's funny 'cos it's true".

Music makes me feel so good

Watch and listen to these two videos and enjoy.

I Believe

"We're going to hear God putting a talent in a voice. . . "

A clown’s heart

I’ve never been afraid of clowns.

Some people are.

I think it could be because they know they are hiding something.

We hide our fear and pain.

When things are said and done that break our hearts we paint a smile upon our faces.

The makeup only covers the face it doesn’t cover our hearts.

So that you can’t see our sorrow.

We hide behind the mask of greasepaint

We use acting so that you think that everything in our lives is copacetic.

We deny that you can read how we feel.

We work hard to push you away.

You aren’t allowed to see the truth.

If you do we have failed our task.

If you see the truth then we have to feel it.

Littles 8

Happy Birthday Miss Littles!

The Big 8

We cherished the breath you took right before they were about to take you to NICU.

We loved that you were mad and tried to crawl away that night, we loved your fight to live and be with us.

It seems as if you’ve always had a fight to live life. Keep it up.

I’ll have grey hairs but your spirit touches those around you.

January 12 brought us a bright spot in our lives.

In the running of political posts

Over at the Thinklings they are in discussion about Hillary. Take a look. She’s being criticized because she’s showing some emotion. If a man had shown that side of himself he would have been praised for being a real man and showing his honest side. It would have been “Real” of him. Why can’t women be strong and have emotions? God made us like this. Men put their fists through walls or play some kind of sport. We have a release, a God given release, and tears come with it. Men cry. If you’ve spent any real time in the blog world you know it because you dudes are great at letting us know about the release of tears.

Sure we don’t want our leaders to cry while negotiating something important. She didn’t do that. I don’t think she will do that. She talked about the fear of someone else winning. I have that fear. We can’t do more time under a Bush like establishment. Take the time to really look at the way things have been. We need a new person in office and we have to have change. Bush led us to a horrible place and given four more years we would no longer be a great nation. Thankfully he’s going away.

Don’t worry about saying what you want to say I can take it.
Mark these folks can take you saying what you want to say also.

I do ask that you folks show respect then again I know that our little blog family will.

Fah! For making me post this boys!

Just looked up Fah and this is what I found.

FAH
Degrees Fahrenheit
FAH
Federation of American Hospitals
FAH
Filter, Air, HEPA
FAH
Fine Arts and Humanities
FAH
Fixing A Hole (Beatles song)
FAH
Fly Away Home (movie)
FAH
Folding At Home
FAH
Foreign Affairs Handbook (US Department of State)
FAH
Forward Airhead
FAH
Fuerza Aerea Hondureña (Honduran Air Force)
FAH
Funky And How

This is my favorite one.

FAH
Future Attack Helicopter

Fah doesn't fit so I shake my fist to you darn kids!

Her Heart

I thought I take a look at this one again. I hope you like it.

I’m not so sure that I truly understood the pain that she must have felt while watching Him travel from place to place being treated as a criminal and as a star, so to speak, until I gave birth to my son. He was a surprise, a big surprise. I remember looking in the mirror after the second test thinking huh?. . . . Me . . .Us . . . We can’t do this. I remember the sound of the receptionist’s voice when she said "Congratulations" and I said "A . . . sure" she responded with "Oh" I then began to try to redeem myself with "No. . . no . . . I’m happy".

What did she feel? Was she as afraid as I was?
More so I think.

My pregnancy was great, my friends and family were happy, my husband was a proud father to be.

I couldn’t seem to stop smiling.
Did she keep a smile on her face?
I think she must have.

How did he feel when she told him?
Did he look shocked?
Most fathers do the first time.

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about:
His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

I wonder if she talked to Him before he was born?
Did she put her hand on her tummy to feel His kicks?
She must have.

When my son was born I sat in the hospital bed looking down at this small being wondering what to do.
How I loved him so much.
I could hardly take my eyes from him.
She must have been as fascinated.

I remember standing at the window of my son’s room looking out at the moon, so big and silver. It looked as if you could touch it.
I remember as I stood with my sleeping baby, worried as all new mothers worry about the things that could take this little one away, I remember thinking God how hard to send Him here to die.
I couldn’t let my child go to the cross.
I turned and looked at my sleeping boy safe and warm.
I truly know the sacrifice that mother made for us.
She carried a child for us.
She nurtured a child for us.
She watched as they beat, mocked, tortured, and one by one drove nails into Him.
After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him.
Then they led him away to crucify him.

My son had three stitches above his eye I wanted to take his pain away and I felt like hitting the doctor when he rushed not making sure it was numb.
Only three tiny stitshes went through my heart.

Did it feel as if those nails were going into her heart each one more painful than the other?
How broken she must have felt as she watched her son die a horrible and painful death.
Was she relieved when He took His last breath?

No more pain.

Now it’s done.

How hard it must have been to hold her son knowing He wouldn’t smile at her on this earth again.

Was she comforted by the knowledge that He Was, Is, And Will Always Be?
I know a mother’s heart. She must have hurt so much for Him.
I know that God gave her comfort through it all.
I am so grateful for Mary.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it" (John 3:16-17).

Wishing For The Road

The road looks good from this side of the fence.

I could get into my mom car and drive until my mind can’t grasp another moment of the path. I could drive far away in hopes that the hard parts of life fall away.

I’ll instead go back to work longing to be outside in that beautiful sunrise wishing for the road.