I meant to…

Scenario…You are at Target (yes, AGAIN).  In the shoe department you see a friend you have not seen in a really long time.  The conversation goes a little like this:

You: Hi!! It has been so long, how are you?

Friend:  Good, how are you?

You: We have been so busy, you know, baseball, soccer, swimming.  We really need to get together and catch  up!

Friend: Yes we do, text me when you can grab coffee!

You: Yes! I will.  Maybe next week?!

Friend: sounds good, see ya soon!

You: Bye!

Three months pass and you still haven't texted your friend.  I am totally guilty… Multiple offenses!!

Why?  Why do we let other stuff get in the way of our friendships?  Oh, wait, I know… We are moms juggling  a million things. One more thing, will throw the balls out of balance and we are left picking the mess up off the floor.  

Stop… Stop juggling!

I am totally included in this.  I have told a million people that I will call them so we could catch up.  Come on Sistas let's finally agree that we have a lot going on, and that we are all really busy………. but….wait for it….. sisterhood, fellowship, friendship, relations are REALLY IMPORTANT TOO!

We, as women, need to be in fellowship with one another.  We need to support one another.  We need to lean on each other.

Hebrews 10:24-25 states:
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

See, even back in Jesus' time the ladies were too busy shopping at Target and not taking time to hang out with one another.  

One of the greatest inventions of all time is when Target added Starbucks!  Hello!  It was meant for women to come, gather, break bread, and sip on a latte and buy scarves!

So, this week ladies, I challenge you to call that friend.  Call her, even though your bathrooms are dirty.  Call her, even though you haven't showered in 2 days.  Call her, even though your to do list is getting longer by the minute.  Because chances are she is in the same boat as you.  She needs you as much as you need her.  

Your to do list will always be long, your bathrooms will continue to get dirty, but your friendships will last a lifetime.  They will nourish you and help you get through the mess.  

Call your friends, spend time together, be real with each other.  Learn how to grow as Godly friends leaning on each other and the Word!

Train Tracks

I need to start off by saying I am a great mom.  I would never intentionally put my kids in harms way, unless, perhaps, there was this one time… hypothetically, of course. 

Every morning during the school year it is the same routine.  Wake up, wake up kids, start coffee, wake up kids again, then fix breakfast.  Then there is that period of time in the morning that the kids are eating, and I am in the background making lunches, guzzling coffee, and fetching the things they have forgotten.  

The last 15 minutes before we leave the house is also straight up chaotic!  I have tried so hard to not make it so crazy, but it usually turns out the same.  Me yelling, the kids grabbing their book bags, and shoes and heading to the car.  We drive out of the neighborhood while the kids are still getting strapped in. 

Our commute in the morning is about 30 minutes one way.  If we don't leave the house at exactly 7:25 am, then we will be 10 minutes late to school because of all the traffic.  This particular morning we left at 7:30, so I was trying my hardest to make up for the time.  

The light turned red.  I inched forward, I knew better… NEVER stop on a railroad track.  I am usually so careful.  But, I thought, we're running behind, I need to pull up and try to make it through the next light.    

That's when the unexpected happened!

The railroad lights started blinking, the bells started ringing.  Sheer panic overcame me.  The arms of the railroad gate came crashing down ON my car!!

Ya'll I would like to tell you  I responded differently.  I would like to tell you that I did not panic, that I kept cool, calm and level headed.  
Folks…. I FREAKED!

I froze.  I tried to backup… but there was a car in my way.  I could see the train lights coming around the bend.  The conductor was blowing his horn.  I unbuckled my seat belt.  I looked at my kids, I looked around at the other cars just staring at me.  I felt trapped…  I felt stuck… I made a bad decision that was going to put my whole family in danger.  

That's when, by the grace of God, I managed to get control over my self, and the situation.  I still had a few moments before the train was going to hit.  I calmly put my car in drive and pulled across the tracks.  

It was that easy.  There was a big enough space for me to pull through the crossing arms and be safely on the other side.  I parked the car in the nearest lot.  I was shaking, half crying, and thanking Jesus for His protection!!!

Meanwhile the other cars around me were staring at me like I was a complete idiot!!  And I was!

Doesn't this happen all the time.  Well, hopefully not literally.  But we are constantly getting stopped in the tracks of life.  Fear takes over, we complicate things.  When we can't go backwards and fix something we have done, we panic.  We freeze.  Then sweet Jesus comes in and shows us a path that is not complicated.  He guides us through the crossing arms to  safely rest on the other side.  

Thank you Jesus for keeping us safe that day.  I learned not only never ever never stop on the train tracks, but also not to look behind me at the past. 

 My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence.  I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.

2 Samuel 22:3-4

Seriously? I need to clear something up

Y'all, I was just looking through Facebook, you know that place you go to when you have nothing else to do, aka, all the time!

I came across an article title which read,  12 Pinterest Trends that need to go Away.  I was amused, because quite frankly I love me some Pinterest!  As I read the list I came to the eighth trend listed, and I stopped in my tracks… Pinterest parenting advice, especially "mommy blogs".  Wait… What?  Are you talking about me?

I have a "mommy blog"….  Then I kept reading.  They are talking about the mommy's who give advice and whose kids are dressed in matching clothes.  You know the ones I'm talking about!  They have super cute craft ideas, like building the Eieffel Tower out of toothpicks, or use wooden pallets to create a couch.  They are well versed, fully manicured and volunteer at every school function.

Well, Let me clear something up before you get the wrong idea.  I am NOT like that!  I am completely honest about the mess of a family we are.

Although, sometimes we do crafts from Pinterest.  They usually end up messy, completely unrecognizable and someone is always crying at the end, (Most of the time its me.)

There was this one time I volunteered to be room mom for my son's preschool, yeah, I showed up to the party a half an hour later.  I was in charge.  You know, craft, snack, drink, book…yup…LATE!

There was this other time I told my son's teacher that I could come every. single. week to read to the class.  I came three times! THREE TIMES!!  I am a really good beginning of the year mom, but sometime around Halloween I just can't take it.

The matching clothes.  I got that one covered…My kids totally match.  At least I am sure they have something that matched in their drawer somewhere, they may not be wearing it together at that moment, but, sure they totally match.  Seriously, half the time their hair isn't brushed, one is wearing cowboy boots with shorts in 90 degree heat, and the other one wants to wear nothing but camouflage!

I am not THAT mom.  I will not pretend to have it all together, because, no one ever really does.  It might look good on the outside, but there is something messy.  I am proud of my messes.  I like that my kids eat spaghettio's for breakfast.  It's ok! The food police did not knock on my door and arrest me.  My kids were not hungry, and a fight was diverted.

When I am messy, that is when God can move around.  That is when I need him, when I call on him.

So, I am rejoicing that I am not one of those moms… You can come sit a spell at my sticky kitchen table and I will tell you all about it.  Or just hang out in my little corner of blog world, and maybe you can appreciate that you my sweet messy friend, you are not alone!

Preschool mommas, HOLLA!

This is for all of those Preschool mommas out there…

I saw you.  You had a cheerful smile on your face, a Starbucks in your hand and a pep in your step.  I was there too…  Ahhh, TARGET WITHOUT kids.  Its like a mini vacation!

We were able to look at every single scarf.  We looked at all of the cute new fall fashions, maxi skirts and funky Tee's.  The best part was I actually got to try on clothes!  (I did, I tried on two dresses, a top, and a pair of shorts.)  It was glorious!  No one was peaking under the dressing room door, no one was saying, "mom your belly looks weird", no one asking to play my phone, and fighting with their brother.

Glorious, Pure Glorious I say!!

It didn't stop there.  I tried shoes on.  Even the really high heels that I would never wear.  Why?  Because I could!  I did not even look at the kid shoes.  Glorious!

You didn't stop there did you mommas?  Nope, you walked through every single aisle!  You wandered through the lamps, daydreamed about a new duvet cover, and relished in the mirrors.  Did you see that Target has pretty new paint colors?  Yup, It was right beside the peel and stick wall paper.  I know, Right?  Totally cute.  Did you stand there like me, wandering where you could stick up that bad boy?  Yep!  Glorious!

Ya'll, did you see the pillows?  Super cute!  Did you wander through the makeup aisle?  Yeah, that was pretty awesome too.  We even had time to look at the clearance jewelry.  Yes, that blue beaded long necklace was ahhmazing… It was tempting!  

Target is a magical place.  Walking the "loop" is like walking into Narnia.  A magical world  filled with  enchanting maxi skirts and chambray shirts.  Cute flats and metallic belts.  Flowery scarves and chevron pillows.  

Mommas, I hope you enjoyed your magical land of Target.  Drink up that Carmel Frappuccino and add the whip.  Here's a toast to you!  You deserve it!   Bask in the Gloriousiness of the glossy aisles!!

Yup! Glorious!

( P.S. See ya tomorrow!  I mean, we have 4 hours a day, and we have to get groceries, right?)

A trash can saved my son: Trash to Treasure!

We have been packing boxes for weeks! We've cleaned out closets and cabinets.  Boxed up winter clothes, boots, and toys.  But there was one dreaded area that we did not want to mess with.

The attic!
This is where we have stored the crib, Christmas decorations and unwanted furniture.  Honestly, I have opened the door thrown a bag of clothes in and closed it quickly.  I mean, it wasn't a place we hung out.

Since we are moving, we needed to get in there and clean, organize and move everything out.  We managed very successfully to get all of the junk, important boxes into the garage. The last thing was a twin mattress that was perched precariously on the rafters.  The Hubs, pulled and pushed and huffed and puffed but it wasn't budging.

My eight year old decided that he could help with his brut strength to shimmy it.  He pulled, pushed and stepped.  One minute he was standing in the attic, the next minute he was falling through the sheet rock!

The Hubs hollered, I screamed and we ran down the stairs excepting to find the worst.  My husband was yelling call 911!  I was in shock and the Little's were running in circles.

 There STANDING in the kitchen was Tyler!

He had fallen 13 feet and was now STANDING in front of us.  He was shaking like a leaf in a hurricane, crying and slightly hyperventilating, But he was not in a million pieces, nor bleeding from head to toe.  He was visibly OK!!!

My husband rushed him to the emergency room.  His wrist looked bruised and had a knot forming, and, did I mention he had just FALLEN 13 FEET, so he needed to be checked out.  After a few x-rays, everything checked out.  Did you hear that?  He was totally fine!!  Nothing broken!!!

Looking through the attic.

The ceiling in the garage.

Unbelievable!

He fell 13 feet… straight through the sheetrock… falling.  My son landed on a flimsy plastic trash can.  Thank you Jesus! That plastic trash can saved my son from serious injuries.  He was protected. It is absolutely amazing! God protects.

Throughout the day we prayed a prayer of thanksgiving, and pure joy.  We thanked God for His provision, for his angels, for his love.

Psalm 121:1-8

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—

he who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, he who watches over Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you—

the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm—

he will watch over your life;

the Lord will watch over your coming and going

both now and forevermore.

Boxes Galore!

There's a lot going on around here!

This is the house we have lived in for 9 amazing years!

Yup, that's right... we are MOVING!  We are so excited!  We bought a house a few miles down the road in a fabulous neighbor.  We move in less than ONE week!!

So what does that mean for me....Well, I have turned into a crazy stressed out lady.
This is hard stuff!  I have packed, and wrapped, and trashed, and moved a million boxes, and we haven't even left our current house yet!  What gives? I thought moving was supposed to be fun and magical, and this incredible family bonding time!
(I can hear y'all laughing at me)

I have learned a few things over the past several weeks.

1) Packing is not magical!!  Unless, of course digging through your closet and finally finding the match to the other shoe that you just threw away 6 months ago.  OK,... still not magical.

2) My kids have not missed the toys I packed up weeks ago.  Does this mean I should just throw them away?  Nope, they have compensated the lack of toys with TV.  I have totally used the TV as a "sitter" the last couple of weeks.  I know... Horrible mom!

3) When you move, you even have to clean out the junk drawer.

4) Books are heavy!

5) I have not cooked in a week, and no one is complaining.

6) We own a lot of pillows.  Why?

7) I have secretly bought random items for the new house and stashed them in a box.  And by random I mean; deer antlers, bowling pins, and tacky paintings.  Can't wait for hubby to see it.  Let's just say, he doesn't always share my quirky taste!

8) Goodwill and Craigslist are awesome!

9)  Did you know that you have to clean your empty house after you leave?  I mean, I barely cleaned when we lived here.

10) It's sad to see your whole life for the past 9 years packed up in boxes stacked on top of each other in the garage.

This is our "formal" living room.  It's nice a cozy, don't ya think?

Boxes for daze!

The three car garage is totally packed to the gills!

The kids have enjoyed sleeping on the floor the last few days.

Don't judge the unmade beds, we're moving!

All in all, we are going to miss this house.  This is the first house that Hubby and I actually felt like home.  We brought all three baby boys home to this house.  We have hosted birthday parties, life groups, baby showers, bible studies,  get togethers and cook outs here.  This house has been well loved! We built this house together, picking out all the finishes.  We have grown into this house, and have loved being in this neighborhood.

We will be saying goodbye to this chapter, to this house, and looking forward to our new house and a new adventure.

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven"

Ecclesiastes 3:1

* I'll post pictures of the new house soon! Woot Woot!!

Dear friendly motorist

Dear Motorist,
I just wanted you to know that I am sorry I didn't let you cut in front of me.  It would have been the nice Christian thing to do.  You see, I had a car full of boy!

Mr. Motorist I just endured a trip to the Walmart with my three boys.  It was in the Walmart that I had to keep myself under control. I mean, after all, it is a respectable place of business.  While in the Walmart I had several people give me looks that could only mean I was doing a GREAT job at being a parent.  You know, the unwanted glares of judgment from random strangers. 

 I had a few polite people that told me I had my hands full.  Yes, polite citizen, I do have my hands full, do you have an extra arm or two you would be willing to share?

One women told me that it will go really fast.  Well, that may be true.  I will look back at the precious sweet times and think, wow, they grow up fast.  But, I am pretty sure that I will not look back fondly on the screaming tantrum moments in the Walmart.  Just Saying!

 Another random women actually reached into my buggy and tickled my child.  Not sure why she thought that was a good idea, I mean she totally freaked little man out.  All I could do was laugh nervously and push the buggy in the opposite direction. 

To keep my boys occupied I gave them cowboy hats to play with while looking through the t shirts.  The boys knew I was not going to buy them.  But, thanks to an average Walmart shopper who politely said, "wow, you have to buy that for them.  They look great!" Ummm, no, I don't have to buy it.  They are $15.00 a piece!  Do the math.  Do you want to pitch in?

Mr. Motorist, I did not get everything on my list.  I ended up buying random stuff that we will never need.  For example, three American flags.  Two of which broke while still in the Walmart.

So, Mr. Motorist, by the time I saw you, I was DONE.  One boy was playing air guitar very loudly, another boy was playing drums on the dash board, and the third was singing 'LALALALA', over, and over, and over, and over, and over again.  When I saw you wanted to pull in front of me I was fearful.  Fearful that I might not make it through the green light.  If I didn't make it through the light, then I would have definitely lost all remaining sanity.  All I wanted to do was get home as quickly at possible.

So, to sum this up I should never go to the Walmart! It only causes trauma, and traffic violations. 

Sincerely, 
the crazy lady in the minivan

(p.s. It has been a long summer day!)