Honoring Stay At Home Moms

I did not realize when I said that innocent comment to Kerry that I would be setting myself up for failure most of the day.  I am enjoying my last day of "vacation" - stuck in the middle of a work week before I begin a full time job on Monday with the contractor.  I will be doing the exact same work - sitting at the exact same desk but without the benefits of accrued sick and vacation time.  I am grateful - I am thankful but I will miss the benefits of being a state employee.  So I have today to enjoy......

So I said to Kerry as he was leaving.....I sure wish I would have enjoyed being a stay at home mom a few years ago when I had about 5 months to enjoy it. I would like that opportunity now.

So my day began.....

*Cook Hunter's dog food (we make our own....)
*Edit a book for a friend
*Send an email to a friend about a college plan for her
*Take comforters to be washed (laundry attendant wasn't there so that one did not work)
*Cook pork roast
*blah, blah, blah - there are several more things that I wanted to get done - much more than the 12 hours or so that I had to actually work)


So - our security fire alarm works.

Nephew Three called and wanted me to pick him up from workout - the office called and I needed to reboot the server for our computers.  I put Hunter out, set the alarm, walked out the door - drove down the street......

Came home.  Alarm is going off - Kerry is calling me - house is filled with smoke.

Item #1 - Cook Hunter's food.  Now it was scrape Hunter's food off the bottom of the pan - open the house - let the smoke out.  Cancel the fire department - it was just smoke.

I had started cooking Hunter's food - did not remember that - so I did not turn off the stove.  When I texted Kerry and told him, he responded, Bad form.

This blog entry would be entirely too long if I shared all the things that I have started and forgotten about today (including the pork cooking on the grill - but that one I salvaged).

Hunter

For today I am reminded that I am really better when I am working.  Or at least that is the attitude I will have for the next 10 years or so.  I am thankful that during this time of being in the hallway (blog from 4/22/13 Two Letters - One Message) - I have found a job and will have the schedule that I have found that works for me.  It is not always convenient but it is what our family needs and for that - 

Thankful I Am.  He has provided - once again.

Always, May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14.

Wallendas.......?

Sometimes I fail to connect all the pieces - and while I read a bunch now as an adult, I certainly did not growing up.  Which is kind of strange in and of itself.  My mom is a reader, she was not only my first grade teacher - but she was a Librarian too.  She reads constantly and I guess I have decided that reading is just as enjoyable as she thinks.  I told a friend just today that I am a "book-aholic".

My mom & me - Mother's Day 2013

So while I am watching the ridiculous walk across the Grand Canyon on the Discovery Channel - I did not realize just who the "Wallenda" family is - it really never entered my mind until we were at my mom's.  Kerry and I were telling them about the event - switched the TV over and Kerry said, "oh she will recognize the name."  And sure enough - my well read mother remembered this name from years gone back - so even though we did not have the Discovery Channel, internet, and instant access news - my mother still knew of "The Flying Wallendas".

I don't know if this is an actual picture or maybe a picture from the movie - but nonetheless - The Flying Wallendas....

I did not realize that I should know the name when Kerry was telling me about this amazing feat that was going to be aired on Live TV but it seems as if others knew the name....

I saw a Facebook post from a friend:

Kelly Strickland Green

Oh, please! Not another rain delay! I really don't want to watch Nick Wallenda walk across the Grand Canyon.

I can agree with Kelly - the walk across was just almost more than I could stand - in fact I missed the ending because I was talking on the phone - that was planned - I did not want to watch.  But I did record the event so that when he was successful I could go back and watch.

Nik kneels to steady himself - gain control - rest while the wind current whirled around him.  A newspaper account of the event stated, "Twice he stopped. Kneeling to regain his composure and steady the wire quivering beneath his feet."

There are just a couple of things I want to recall - and quite honestly - I want to never forget.....

****The affirmations that Nik shared as he was on the wire.
****Kneeling to gain control
****Remember the Name

Affirmations - While Nik was "doing his job" last night - in front of that crowd on the reservation and in front of all of us watching on The Discovery Channel - he continually spoke to God - of God - and acknowledged His power.  Am I willing to affirm God in all of the settings I am in?  Yes my world might not appear to be as dangerous as what Nik was doing - but isn't this life all about the dangers and the more we affirm Jesus and His power - perhaps our walk across will be more successful?

Kneeling - Nik kneeled to regain his composure - perhaps to focus and get some control.  The wire was quivering beneath him.  Reminds me of life....how often am I willing to kneel?

Remembering a Name -  Not knowing The Wallendas was not such a big deal - but remembering the Name that Nik remembered while walking across is certainly valuable.  My mom knows both names - her well read knowledge never ceases to amaze me but her faith has been the real example to me for always.

One more thought......

The text from Son Two as Nik finished - and watching (the recorded version of course!) creates a huge smile....

He ran!

There's surely more parallels we could make with that remembrance.

Hebrews 12:1-2

New International Version (NIV)

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus,the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Always, May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14.

A West Texas Hotel

Nephew Three's comment was timely, "I love this place." The wind was blowing - the breeze was cool - and one could see as much as they desire to the south, west, east, and north. We were on a mountain - at a friend's house - in West Texas.

I'm not much for being away from home - and I really don't like to stay with others if a hotel is near. I just really hate to impose. But I knew if I didn't stay at this "west Texas hotel" of sorts - I would forever be in trouble.

My dear friends have a home on top of a West Texas mountain near Abilene. It has been our hotel while Nephew Three attended Air It Out football camp. My friends were out of town - but we enjoyed the accommodations!

You have probably seen my friends on TV (if you watch college football...) or at least have seen their oldest son.

But my friends are so much more than parents to those three great men - they are the example of a couple who works every day to live as God wants them to live. They are not perfect - but they strive to live as Jesus.

I love how she has decorated their home. The room I stayed in has this print:

Another I found -

My friend was right - this is better than a hotel. This is a place where one feels love - From my Friends but also from the One they serve.






Always, May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14.

Life Long & Relatively Recent Friends....

I grew up in a little, little town.  I can remember making the drag when I first got my license.  Around the school parking lot, turn left, turn right at 2210, down to the Baptist church parking lot, turn around and back again. If I wanted to make the long drag - then we would turn right out of the school parking lot, go down to this road (which actually leads to the land I now have in Perrin), then to 2210 and take a right, Baptist church, and back again.

Across from that Baptist church parking lot was a sweet home inhabited by a grandmother.  I don't remember much about the grandmother except she had the most wonderful "thing" I could think of when I was growing up....

A granddaughter named Cheryl.

If I was as good as keeping up with stuff as my mom - I would be able to take a picture of my address book from those early days - and show you Cheryl Franklin's address.

She went to school with me when she would come to visit.

We wrote letters - just like pen pals.

Then as time continued - somewhere along the way we stopped writing.  (Side note: that's one reason I LOVE facebook- email and such.  There is less room to drop out of touch.)

Facebook - oh yes I love how I can find people!

Here's my message to her when I came upon her name on Facebook:

Roll Tide

Oh you must accept my friend request (here's hoping you remember me!) and tell me about your connection to the University of Alabama... I have a son who is living in Montgomery and we figured out real quick one had to pick between the 2 major universities in Alabama and we rolled with the Tide. Hope to hear from you....

February 21, 2011 9:21 pm

Here is part of her response:


Oh my goodness! As in the Cheryl Cannon from Perrin that I used to tag along to school with?? Oh I can't believe this!! And an Alabama connection at that?? How did you know we were Alabama fans? Actually to say that would be a huge understatement-haha!



Fast forward 2 years from that Facebook exchange....

I met her at a Barnes & Noble in Arlington - I told her "I am obvious" to describe how she would remember me!  I had to wear the Alabama shirt....

Cheryl & her husband lived in Alabama for 10 years and even got to attend games in Tuscaloosa (I am jealous....) - her father in law played for Bear Bryant at Texas A&M.  After visiting with Cheryl in Arlington - I suspect that Alabama still holds a dear place in her heart.  (that state has a way of doing that to the least expecting people....)

I did leave that meeting a bit heart broken.

It seems that Cheryl's family traveled & lived a bunch between those going to school days with me and college for her in Brownwood.  She even moved to a place about 10 minutes from where I was living.  She finished her last year and a half of high school - 15 minutes from me.  It wasn't so great for her - and you can imagine..... moving to a new high school the last year and a half of school in a state you had not lived in before - with zero connections......

We would have been the best of friends - forever without the break in time... so ....

Now we pick back up - we text during college football season - and she visits her parents up this direction - and I think I should visit her near her home - down by the coast....

Thankful I found Cheryl  -my life long friend - just relatively recent all over again...

Roll Tide

Always, May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14.

Transaction Failed....

Have you mis - swiped your credit card - tried to cancel and start again only to realize you caused a TRANSACTION FAILED message?

I looked at Kristen and mentioned what I was reading on the screen - she simply said "Did you push the red button?"  I had to respond with "yes" - then she said - "oh we can fix that in just a minute...."

I get the

TRANSACTION FAILED message all the time in life..... The red button I push has many different forms:

driving too fast 
take the wrong road (when I don't listen to the GPS)
eat some gluten
argue with my children
buy a shirt that doesn't really fit because I did not try it on!
smart off to my husband, friend - whomever....
fail to show Jesus' love in the moment when he expects me to

I am thankful that the "Kristen" in my daily life is a Man who hung on the cross for me (and you) - the Man who really did not even wait for me to tell him what I did -  just fixed it all anyway.

Today was a day that I needed that "oh we can fix that in just a minute...."

***a sweet man that I have worked with (okay he's really not sweet but I just adore him) .... I have worked with him since 2006 will now be working at another non-profit organization as their custodian.  It wasn't my decision however I feel a bit responsible (oh because I am one of those people who feels responsible for things that really aren't my cause....).  Anyway - seeing him with tears in his eyes just hurts a bit.  He will be missed for lots of reasons - and one can only imagine how much I did not enjoy cleaning our restrooms this afternoon!

***Our computers acted very strange today - I don't think I should even be specific but I take a certain amount of Pride in being able to troubleshoot a bit of technology and this one has baffled me.  Certainly not a big deal but one that has kind of weighed heavy on my mind.

***Then there's the whole job setting and whether or not I have one story....

***Then there's Son Two who is hurt - but finally on the mend.  No we don't know what happened but  his back was tired of moving!

***Nephew Three is getting ready for camp plus we have some school paper work to finalize with him for next year

***Son One and I continue to have a conversation that is going nowhere but we both cannot quit - we both need to Give that to Jesus (see below....)

***Husband has been working about 14 hour days for about a month - worry about him might just be on my plate too...

At the end of this work day.... I found myself feeling that headache that radiates coming on ...

But the reminder in the grocery store - was enough.



He does fix it all.

I don't even have to tell him that the TRANSACTION FAILED.

He knows.

When I was younger - much - I played the piano and sang in church.  One of my songs was "Give Them All to Jesus".  The words are perfect.

Here's a recording - you will be able to tell just how old the song is.....

Give Them All to Jesus by Evie

I am tired and oh how I dislike starting the Monday at tired.  But that is already passed and now I can start Monday evening - and Tuesday morning - reminding myself that I Gave it All to Jesus many years ago....

Lyrics:

Are you tired of chasing pretty rainbows?
Are you tired of spinning 'round and 'round?
Wrap up all the shattered dreams of your life,
And at the feet of Jesus lay them down.

Give the all,
Give them all, 
Give them all to Jesus:  shattered dreams, wounded hearts, broken toys.
Give the all,
Give them all,
Give them all to Jesus and He will turn your sorrow into joy.

He never said you'd only see sunshine.
He never said there'd be no rain.
He only promised a heart full of singing,
at the very thing that once brought pain.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Side note:  as I am writing this entry - a text message exchange changes so many things that I have been worried about... I am not going to be blind to the fact that they message came through after I was willing to think about Giving It All to Jesus.  





Always, May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14.