Flower, Canyons, and Recovery!

Saturday morning I woke up bright and early. Actually, I woke up so early there was no bright about it...it was still pitch dark outside. I filled up my coffee cup, and set out to the Palo Duro Canyon to meet Flower and her step mom! I was so excited! I had to set my cruise control to keep from speeding to get there. I had a two hour drive in front of me to get to the Canyon, and I was alone. I turned on some praise music and turned it up pretty loudly.  I stopped on the side of the road to take this picture, right before it started to rain.

I left my window rolled down, could smell the wonderful fragrance of the rain, and was admiring the beautiful West Texas sunrise.  The beauty of the Canyon was just coming into sight.  I was singing along to the worship music, and knew I was about to see the biggest blessing God has ever given me.  I was simply overwhelmed by the awesomeness of God.

I reached the starting line of the Palo Duro Hot Dog Race, and was there just a little bit before my sweet girl got there.  When she did, we both ran over to each other.  That was the best hug I have had in a long time!  Honestly, I immediately started crying!  I was so excited to see my baby's face I couldn't help it!

Flower and I helped transport the racers to and from where they needed to be, and cheered her step-mom on as she ran the second leg of the relay (you can run the whole race, but they also have relay teams).  Then, we went up to the top of the hill known as "The Lookout" and waited at the finished line with Flower's step-mom and step-sister.  I was so amazed at how quickly some of the runners were able to finish the race.  They made it look so easy!

The hardest part of the race is the final hill to the finish point.  In that picture, we are at the finish line....don't the runner look small?  It is a pretty big hill!

Flower and I left, and went to visit my parents.  Flower is incredibly close to them, and she wanted to go see them.  We went to lunch, then killed time.  I had a surprise party planned for Flower, so we couldn't be home until 6:30!

I'm so thankful for Barb Wire Man, our bestest of friends, and my parents.  While we were out wasting time, they were at my house decorating, and setting out food for the party.  When we pulled into the driveway of our house, and she saw the "welcome home" sign, she was shocked!  She had no idea, and could hardly believe it!

Once she saw Barb Wire Man, we could hardly pry her off of him!  Then, she saw Little Man, and her best friend.  Little Man wouldn't let her out of his sight!  I think he was happier than anyone that she was home!

We had a great party, but that day was so...incredibly....long.  I ended up being awake for 21 hours.  On Sunday, Little Man woke us up around 7AM.  We came into the living room, and Flower and I fell back asleep on the couch!  Barb Wire Man came into the living room at some point, and fell back asleep on the floor!  Little Man was the only one who did not fall back asleep, so the kids ate a quick bite for lunch and he went to take a nap.  Flower and I went into my room to watch Mirror Mirror and guess what?  I fell back asleep, and so did Flower.  Barb Wire Man fell back asleep on the couch while watching Nascar!  (I'm telling you, we were all exhausted!  We woke up around 5PM, and ate supper.  By 9:00, both of the kids were already in bed, and fell asleep within minutes.  We weren't too far behind!  Our bodies apparently needed the rest!

I thank God that my baby girl is home, and my family is all together.  The sweetest thing was waking up, and being able to snuggle with both of my children on Sunday morning.  I have been blessed beyond belief.  I have an amazing family.  Nothing compares to that.  Period.

Be blessed today!

Of All the Mommy Jobs I Hate...

In my years as a Mama (9 and counting with my own children, plus all my pseudo-kids at the daycare), I have had to clean up poop, pee, puke, and Lord knows what else.

Still, the "mommy-job" I hate the worst is folding laundry.  Seriously.  I hate folding laundry.  "Hate" is not nearly a strong enough word.  I don't mind washing it.  I actually enjoy carting it out to the backyard to hang it on the line and taking it down, because I get to be outside.  But folding it just....sucks.

I can't just turn the dryer back on, because I line-dry my clothes (except in the winter).  So they sit on my couch, waiting to be folded.  The clothes that I do dry, like, "unmentionables" sit in the dryer, lonely.  And in the meantime, the wrinkle so badly that its almost a good enough reason to re-wash them.  Which, frankly, is more pleasant than folding.

Last night, my poor Barb Wire Man opened his drawer and asked where all his underwear went.  I told him they were all still in the dryer.  He reminded me that they had been in the dryer for several days, and wondered if I was ever going to fold them.  I told him I would, and I did.  I folded the underwear from last week.  The ones I washed today are still in the damn dryer.  Come next week, when he is out of undies, the same scenario will unfold.  I think after 8 years he has learned that this is just something he will have to accept about me.

I hate folding laundry.  What is your least favorite household chore?

Be blessed!

My God Amazes.

From the day I found out I was pregnant with my first child, Flower, I had two prayers: that they would be healthy, and that they would love the Lord, listen to what He tells them, and be willing to serve Him.

Numerous times, they have shown me that they are listening to Him, and it always starts when they are quite young.

Yes, I do take my children to church, but honestly, we don't  go on a regular basis (and there are several reasons for this I won't go into).  At home, I do teach my children about God.  We red the Bible together.  We pray together.  But several times Flower has come up to me and told me that God told her something...and I know it is something we haven't discussed together.  But it is always totally, Biblically correct.  I'm always astonished by her knowledge, and willingness to listen to the Lord.

Yesterday, it was Little Man's turn. We were outside; I was sitting just inside the garage, knitting, and Little Man was riding his tricycle.  He rode out to the mailbox, and just stopped and sat there for several minutes.  Then, he started yelling "MOMMA!!  MOMMA!!", and pedaled his little trike over to me as fast as he could.  He said "Mom, Jesus told me my heart was dead.  But he fixed it now, and it's 'live again cuz a Him! Did you know that mom?  Your heart's 'live too, Mom.  It is.  Jesus told me dat, Mom."

Wow.

Now, my Little Man is only three.  I haven't exactly gone over the "Plan of Salvation" with him.  We sing about how Jesus loves us, and how we love Him.  We talk about Jesus making the sun come up in the mornings, and the strawberries grow on mommy's plants.  But I've never told my son that his heart is dead and Jesus makes it "'live".  Honestly, I'm not ever sure that I have ever told him that Jesus talks to us.

How was my rough and tough, three year old little boy able to completely explain God's gift of His son to us in the most basic of ways?  Anyone could understand that.  Is there more to it?  Sure.  But God's love for us boils down to this one thing: that we are dead inside, and until he accept His son we will remain that way.  Only after we accept His son will we be truly alive.

I think there is only one explanation.  I prayed that God would speak to my children, that they would listen, and be willing to be used by Him.

I, for one, believe God did answer my prayer, and that it is just the first of many times that it will happen.

1 Samuel 3:10b "Speak Lord, for your servant is listening."

Be blessed today!