I am not a Bobber...

photo: courtesy of flickr

Some of you folks out there like bobbing for apples.

Some of you, like me, freak out and want to run away when you hear the words, "Bobbing for apples."

I feel like I am drowning when I have to stick my face in cold nasty water.  

What if you aren't the first bobber?  Then, you are bobbing in other people's spit.  I know what you are thinking: you don't spit when you bob.  Oh yes you do; little streaks of saliva come out when you open your mouth so wide to get an apple.  

Nasty.

For the love people, stay away from bobbing barrels.

I'm Back

I have missed you.

I am too busy lately.

We have something almost every night.

You know those weeks, don't you?

I was up last night with David.  He wasn't feeling great.

My kids at school are really wired.

My kids at home are too.

Benjamin told me my pimple looked like a shooting star.

Nice.

SOOOOOO busy!

Yikes.  Today is so busy.  I have a lot to do this afternoon. 

*Lesson plans for next week

*Grade papers

*Get dinner

*Bike ride with the family

*Laundry

*Chill

*Visit with some old neighborhood & beyond pals

Yesterday, I got to polish my silver.  I always try to do it before the holidays!  I am so excited to have it done.  I need something "fall" to put on my mailbox.  Any suggestions?   Needs to be economical too.  

Beach pictures are coming when I get a chance to download from the camera.

Sick

Benjamin is sick.  He threw up today and has a fever.  He told us when we drove up at home he didn't feel well.  I told him to drink some water and he'd be fine.  Boy, do I feel bad.  

We had a great vacation!  Ben even got to join us LATE Thursday night at the beach.  We had a wonderful time.

I was looking forward to heading back to work tomorrow.  You know getting back into the "routine."  Tomorrow will look different from what I planned.  I will be trying to ease the discomfort of my little guy-what a joy to get to be with him when he needs me.  

Please pray that all of the children don't get it and that Benjamin would heal quickly.

I hear someone special cleaning up dinner dishes. 

I am off to put on my fairy wings.  ;)

I am on VACATION!!!!!!!!!!

I am on vacation. I am tending to important business matters.
*coffee in my pjs
*having lunch with the Bham buds
*having dinner with a childhood friend that I adore and love!
*going to the zoo
*watching the stock market soar
*violating promise to self to not pay attention to the stock market
*relishing the victory of Operation Macchiato C
*looking forward to another Macchiato on the way to the beach WEDS.
*hanging out with big Ben and the boys
*enjoying the time of rest
Happy FALL!

No MACCHIATO!!!!!!!!

Last night I planned my trip to get my Carmel Macchiato.  We'll call it Operation Macchiato B. The one I planned to get Thursday morning (Operation Macchiato A) failed.  

I thought the heavens smiled on the idea as I FOUND $5 in a pocket of my jeans I laundered this morning.

I was so thankful I didn't have to count quarters.

Guess what.  Luke melted down at loading time this morning.  I didn't get the macchiato.   

Question-Way off the subject.  I like the line you bloggers make through words.  I like that kind of humor.  How do you do it?  

We met some friends at McDonald's today and took a trip to the Children's Library.  You won't believe it.  The librarian told me I had an overdue book.  That is not the shocker....brace yourself.  She left her station and went to MAKE SURE IT WASN'T ON THE SHELF!!!!!!!  She was very helpful today.  That was going out of her way.  She must have heard that I have started  Library Anonymous.  It is a grassroots effort to support all of us "needy library" users.  

I saved my $5 and think I will try yet again for a Carmel Macchiato.  I might need to put that $5 under my mattress, but I won't go there today.  

Delight

Today my Fairy came to visit.  She had this place sparkling when we got home.  She even called to make sure everything was to my liking.  :)  She went the extra mile and boy am I thankful she was able to come and sprinkle cleaning dust.  

I didn't get my Carmel machiato today.  That was alright because I got to sleep about 30 minutes longer this morning.  So, tomorrow I will fetch my special drink.  Doesn't that sound like a fun Happy Fall Friday?

Guess what?  I have Fall Break next week.  

I hope to spend time with Big Ben and the boys.  Have fun with the gals in Bham.  Enjoy the beach.  RELAX.

I will be spending my time ignoring the economy.  I am trying not to be an alarmist.  I have loved ones who have a significant amount invested in stocks.  They have worked, saved, and wisely invested only to see much of it decline drastically over the last few days.  

I think I will read People on the beach.  I will not follow the political scene because that is making my acid reflux go haywire.  I will also paint my nails.  No, not on the beach silly. That would get too messy.  I'll paint them before I get out there.

The Day.

We are so happy that Mama Sue is here visiting.

Tonight, I backed into Mama Sue's car.

Today, I made a pumpkin cheesecake.  

It took a long time.

I forgot the sugar.

Once again, the boys aren't listening.

I feel like the operator on Charlie Brown.

Waaa, Waa, Wa.

I am that woman.

Let's sum it up.

It has been one of those days.

Tomorrow is a new day.

I think I'll get a caramel machiatto.  Or however you spell it.

I am going to leave extra early and indulge.  I'll clean out my change drawer.

Ben has asked a fairy to come by tomorrow.

Her name is Fairy Clean.

She is going to sprinkle cleaning dust throughout the house while I am at work.

It gives me warm fuzzies. 

In fact, I think I can muster the energy to face the Library since I don't have to clean on Friday.

I do believe I have talked (typed) my way into a good mood.

Yes, tomorrow holds promise to be a great day!

photo: compliments of flickr-funkatronic

Leaf People

I teach Kindergarten.

I have cut out Leaf People for hours today.

What are Leaf People?

They are weird.

They are cute too.

It's one of those things that you can't really think about.  But I am tired and found Leaf People amusing at this very present moment.  

Leaf People?  I am going to bed.

Crisis

There are several heartaches in my circle.

I am distressed at the quantity of issues that some friends have to deal with.  I like Andi Land.  I wish I could stay in Happyville and pretend there weren't problems.

Why do my friends have to experience such heartbreak?

I don't like seeing them hurt.  Loss is terrible.

The only thing that can fill a void is Jesus.

What if they don't see Jesus?

My friend Pam says, "If we can't see His hand, we can trust His heart."

You are my friend too.  I am not naive enough to think your life is a walk in the park.  It might be, sometimes.  But I bet you are hurting in one way or another.

I hope you can see His hand today.  I hope my hurting friends will see Jesus today and feel Him in a way they never have before. 

Brothers

Ben and Luke enjoy playing soccer together!  That is Luke scoring a goal with Ben at his side!

Ben 

"We are but a band of brothers."  Shakespeare

Awww Man!

Okay.  Confessions of a saint.  That is a bit of a paradox isn't it?  I am not a saint, I am a sinner.

I just get to be called a saint because I love Jesus.

I posted last on not being served, but serving.

Today:

I yelled at Benjamin and he cried, "You are scaring me to death."

I replied, "If you don't stop, I'll give you something to be scared about."

 

Tonight:

I yelled to Ben  (a.k.a. Precious husband who has been extremely occupied at work) that he needed to attend to ME!!!!  That wasn't all, but I have great respect for him and I was clearly in the wrong so I'll leave it at that.  Aghhhhh, I desire to encourage him.  Sometimes I wish my mouth was duck taped.  The worst part is he quietly let me rant and rave so I really looked psycho after I hung up on him.  Let's see what was the part about serving...

Thank you Lord for loving this saint; the one that needs duck tape.

I am so glad that You are honored in my repentance.

Because not much of anything I said today was honoring to You.

I am to serve....

Reminder to self:

I am here to serve, not be served.

What does this look like?

When I don't want to clean, I do it anyway.

When I don't want to put away laundry, I choose to get it in those drawers.

When my children want a story read and I simply don't know if I have the energy to get the words out, I read it.

When they need a little extra snuggle time, I put my bath off until later.

When they need discipline, even though I am weary and would like to overlook the offense, I address it calmly, but with authority.

I am a woman, a child of the King.  He does not need my service.  I am not in debt to Him.  If I were in debt, we would be bartering grace for good works.  No, I am given grace freely.  He doesn't need my works, but He loves me.  He wants me and by His mercy, I have Him.  I can trust Him, He just wants me to keep my eyes up.  He wants my heart-all of it.  From this, will come the peace I desire, imperfect as it is this side of heaven.  It is the calm of knowing, I can rest in Him as I go about my day.  Yep, even when I choose to serve myself, I desire more and more to confess and move on.  Viewing each activity as allowed by Him, either a divine appointment or an opportunity to serve myself.  

This goes against my core.  We are taught that we "deserve" something.  Fill in the blank.  Your deepest hurts come from a rooted thought of self deserving something.  Mine do.  We deserve HELL.  Yep.  You, me, whoever is reading this blog and those that aren't.  That is what we deserve.  But God, in His divine plan, provided a Redeemer for you and me.  Jesus Christ.  He was either a crazy man, or truly the VERY Son of The Living God.  I believe that He was and is who He claimed.  He died on the cross that I might have that which I do NOT deserve, heaven.  There is nothing good about me, nothing "heaven" worthy.  Except, that I have placed my faith in Jesus. He came to serve, not be served.  The very Sunrise of Heaven dwelt among us........

As you go about your day tomorrow and I go about mine, may we remember the Sunrise of Heaven and serve, not out of debt-we cannot repay that which has been given(it cost Him his life), but out of FREEDOM!