Don't Roll Your Eyes at Me (aka Why I Like Mike)

The other day at Target, I was supposed to go to the Customer Service desk and pay my bill. I didn't bring the bill in with me, so I stepped out of line just as the worker lady was summoning me to come to the counter to call my husband on my cellular telephone. I stepped aside and told the man behind me that he could go because I think it is rude to be on the phone when you are conducting business with someone else. The obviously really joyfilled worker lady gave me the dirtiest look, rolled her eyes, and shook her head over what I can only interpret as her inability to understand what courtesy is. My answer was to point at her with my arm extended and say to Isabelle in a loud voice, "Izzy, do you see that lady? Now, I was trying to be considerate and let the man behind us go so I didn't have to talk on the phone while she was helping us, and because she is small minded, she rolled her eyes and gave me a dirty look instead of giving me the benefit of the doubt. That, Isabelle, is very rude behavior. Please do not grow up to act like that." While I was saying all of this, my husband had picked up his end of the telephone and listened quietly. Then HE said, "oh my gosh, can that lady hear what you are saying? You are so rude. Please stop talking." To which I cracked right up in laughter.

A super fast update

Not really an update at all.Just a quick note to say I got home a few hours ago from visiting the fam and I am tired. Also, I feel like a schmuck because I was supposed to work in the nursery this morning, only I was stuck in an airport and couldn't get home. awesome. Dana, if you are reading this, I am more sorry than I can say. I left Virginia yesterday morning at 11:02 and though I was supposed to arrive to my door around 7 last night, I got in at 5 this afternoon. awesomer. My trip was great. I am still working at taming my hair from the humidity, but I am oh so glad to be home. I missed The Man the most because he worked a ton before I left and then I was gone. He is downstairs vegging out his brain from the chaos that is five children and an only parent. That means I get to check blogs. :) I am beyond exhausted.

TwoGive and FourGet

Forgiveness is such a tricky thing. We all have to do it at some point, and we all beg for it at other times. Sometimes we aren't literally on our knees begging, but we can become consumed with needing or giving forgiveness. We dread our next meeting, we worry about running into that someone unexpectedly, we constantly play and replay the incident in our minds until we have either justified our actions or added more dramatic flair than a scene from Hairspray the musical. Or, if you are like me, you have sarcastic lines ready for anything the wrong-doer throws at you. I don't think this is how God intended me to use my gift of wit, but it happens. It then becomes up to me alone to choose my path. Both paths lead to the inevitable end where I meet Jesus, but one will take me the long way around (thanks for this phrasing Tom). I will have to crawl under things, over bumps, around rotten logs, maneuver over missing pieces in the path, and most likely stumble more than if I were on the path God originally intended for me. The good route sure may still be a little bumpy, and the Bible ensures me I will stumble at times, but this path is concise and close to God. The chances of me hearing God are far greater because there are less distractions. The path on the left offers serenity, whereas the path on the right offers obstacles. I am a great multi-tasker, but I will no doubt have a hard time focusing on God's still small voice while I am busy mumbling swears about the struggles I am going through. Okay, I am not really a swearer, but you know what I mean.
This Sunday we had a guest speaker. He isn't a guest really, but a guy who goes to our church every Sunday. I love that our Pastor chooses people like this when he is away because when you are part of the community you are speeching to, you know better what that community is going through. No vague sermon necessary. This one was all about prayer; a teaching I have heard various ways and times through my 27 years of attempting to be a Christian. My favorite part was the side bar.
Tom spoke of the Hebrews and their grumbling. The word he used is 'murmuring.' To put it not mildly, our church has been experiencing some changes and there is much murmur which, in my mind, leaves little room for prayers. Exodus tells us~ "And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD hears your murmurings which you murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD." ew. ouch. dang it. That means when we gripe rather than pray, especially about our Pastor or church happenings, we aren't really grumbling about them at all. So every time I have complained about something my church is or isn't doing, every time I think of how much better I could be doing things, and every time I sit around with my friends and roll my eyes at how much the church spent on fill in the blank, I am really saying, "God, you seriously suck at this; I could do such a better job." Pride can be so big it hurts sometimes, huh?
For weeks I have been digesting the changes and the areas that sometimes bug me at church. I felt badly at first, but then someone wise reminded me questions aren't sinful. Doubting isn't even sinful. But what I do with it can be. Another dig into my giant pride again. Sucky. I am not through this trial. I am really in the middle of it, but I am past the deciding what to do phase and on to the start-moving stage. This seems to be the one that hurts the most. But I feel in order to keep my mind focused on being a non-grumbler and support my church, God is asking me to serve more. He said I am part of the problem because I am not part of the solution. To that I roll my eyes and say whatever, because I like to pout before I obey. Now that that is done, I am going to give a little more of myself to my church through prayer, participation, and leading where God wants me. Lucky for me, my pastor is out of town so I have a few days to stew over it before I really get started.

Deep Thoughts Not at All by Jack Handy

Layla Grace is getting to be so beautiful. She has always been striking, but now that she is getting a little older, I find I can't take my eyes off that girl. My favorite part is what a total smarty pants she is. The boys aren't going to know if they love her more for her looks or her brains. Because she has done so well in her schooling at home, we had her tested for grade placement for her start in public school next month. She breezed through the first grade assessments, and the teacher said she would do great as a 2nd grader. We prayed and prayed about the right decision. God gave us our clear answer when we called the school district and they informed us she has to be seven years old before she is allowed to skip a grade. That is fine. I am grateful for the pros of her staying put. I am still worried she will be bored in first grade, but I am trusting God to place her with a challenging teacher.

My husband, the hottest fire fighter this city has ever seen has been working like crazy. I feel blessed for the overtime and the opportunity to make money when so many people are struggling, but is it selfish to just want my man home?

My little son Samuel is upstairs sleeping in his very own big boy bed. :( sniff. I can't even believe he is old enough for that, but it has been killing him not to do EVERYthing just like his big brother. Sigh. I love it, it scares me, and makes me sad all at the same time.

I get to go see my nephews in a couple of days. I would put both of them on here, but I only have the one picture of the one nephew, so for now you get to look at the greatest Sanjaya look alike EVER.
UPDATE!! I got a new picture of the boys. Here are my cutie nephews, Adam and Noah.

Under Construction

So, obviously things are spelled more wronger around here and you can't see my cute background as much as you want to heh heh. BUT Nonsense at its Finest is under construction, so bare with us. We will get things going shortly.

Such Little Faith

So, my oldest child has finally admitted she doesn't believe in our favorite, fictional, childhood characters. (Sad Sigh)No more Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, Santa, none of it. And because Elijah has been ridiculously logical his entire life, I stopped beating around the bush when he asked again.

E- Mommy, tell me the truth this time. Is the Easter Bunny real?
M- What do you think?
E- That it seems not very possible that a bunny the size of a man would sneak in just to bring us candy.
M- ahahahahaa. Okay, don't hate me. The Easter Bunny is Daddy. He dresses up in a bunny costume every year and brings us candy and toys. He also sometimes works at the mall.
E- :/ What?
M- haha never mind. Are you mad that we told you he was real?
E- I haven't believed for years. I bet the tooth fairy and Santa aren't real either. You even told me magic isn't real, and if magic isn't real then Santa's sleigh can't fly and the reindeer aren't real. I believe you and you never lie to me. (death stare)
M- (mumble mumble) Daaaaadddyyyy, Eli is pressuring me!



In the end, I confessed to that tiny interrogator. We confessed everything but left Santa up to them. Layla is the only one who really believes in Santa. Eli said he will still say he believes in case Santa decides not to bring him presents lol.

Why Mike Like's Me

I got an invite to my friend's husband's 40th birthday party. As soon as I found out the theme was the 80s, I headed to Savers. awesome. obviously, you can see that I was the best dressed Jane Fonda at the party. I even won a prize. OBVIOUSLY!

TOOOO SOUR!!

AHAAAHHAA This picture was followed by the world's biggest shudder. Eli was trying out these crazy sour candies. I tried one because I love and tolerate sour candy well and couldn't finish it. Well, he is a boy and had to be the winner so he grabbed the blue ones, which are the worst. In fact, there is so much sour seasoning on them, they taste terrible. I didn't get a picture of Mike's grandma trying hers, but it was priceless.