yummy

We all love strawberries! Today we went out to farm and picked our own. The kids loved it. We went early before it got hot. They taste as good as they look.

never a grandmother

#2 ... What will you become once I have a baby?

Me ... A grandmother

#2 ... No, I don't want you to be a grandmother

Me ... Why?

#2 ... Cause I want you to be a Mommy

Me ... I will still be your mommy.

#2 ... No, I only want you to be a mommy

Me ... No matter how old you are, I will always be you mommy

#2 ... When will babies start coming out of my tummy?

Me ... When you and your husband get married (To myself: hopefully)

#2 ... I don't want any babies.

Me ... Why?

#2 ... Cause I don't want you to be a grandmother

Me ... Okay, when you get older you may change you mind.

#2 ... I just want you to be my mommy, forever.

precious thoughts

I am trying to go to sleep but my mind wants to linger on little tid bits from my day.

Like the sweet ruby red lips of #3 that pronounce the cutest little words my ears have ever heard. #2's big wide eyes and gentle face framed by beautiful sandy blonde hair. The way she pulls me close every night as I tuck her in and as her sweet little nose rubs mine, makes me thankful I am her mommy forever. The boyish grin and deep brown eyes of #1 that melt my heart every day. My man's broad strong shoulders and loving arms that wrap around me. I wouldn't be the woman I am today without his strength and encouragement. I never imagined I could feel love like this. It humbles me. And in a silent loud way, it makes me shout HIS praise. For I did nothing to deserve any of this.

shopping for a new vac

It is no big secret that I hate my vacuum cleaner. It's a Hoover bagless. I thought it was so so cool to have a bagless cleaner. I loved seeing all the junk I was picking up from my carpet and wood floors. It was gratifying to know and see I am making a difference in my home every time I use it. Well that feeling faded quickly. Once you suck up one too many Legos or a small pebble from outside you might as well throw the whole thing in the trash. The inside canister is made of plastic, and it's not even thick plastic. It has two chambers. One for the Hepa filter and one to hold all the crap. Hard items crack the inside allowing the trash side to flow all into the hepa filter side. I tried my hardest to "jimmy rig" it with duct tape. But that did not last long. It smells dusty every time you use it. Then I hate cleaning out the canister. I have to go outside and beat the hepa filter on the ground to get all the dust out. Dust flies everywhere. It is a messy experience. So all this to say that when it died last week, I was happy. I am shopping for a new one. I know for sure I don't want a bagless. I have read lots of reviews about the Eureka Boss SmartVac 4870DT Vacuum. I think this might be it. Never had a Eureka before. Anybody got a vacuum they could recommend?

stench of death ... part 2

Both girls cried out last night. As I headed down the hall to check on them I got slapped in the face with the stench of death. No amount of foam was going to stop it from growing. So the first thing this morning I get out the phone book to search for someone who can save us. First guy I get, he is a trapper. He quotes me $250 ... uh no. Second guy is a regular exterminator. He says he'll come and get it for $150. Nah. So the third guy I get is with Dynamic Exterminators. He says $150. Then he decides he is going to give me the ... looked them up the yellow pages and called them even though they did not have an ad like all the others ... discount. $135 was his lowest offer. I will pay that. He was true to his word and he arrived in less than an hour. He armed himself with just coveralls, a baseball cap, a flash light and one black garbage bag. I was thinking ... Don't you have a mask or something? I know how bad it is up here. I'd hate to smell it from down there. (Well of course I don't that's why we hired someone else to smell it for us, I just thought a pro would have some sort of mask). He heads for the crawl space door and I can see the dread on his face as he peeks in. It takes him awhile to maneuver around all the pipes under the house. Finally from the kitchen we can hear him bellow us. We can hear him trying to grab the thing. We can even hear his disgusted sighs. Once he is out he identifies the body as a possum. #1 jumps around and says ... "I knew it! I said it was a possum." My bet was a raccoon. I am shocked #1 did not ask to see it. Probably because the smell was still oozing from the black plastic bag. The man also added that the possum was covered in camel crickets. Any one who goes underneath our house always likes to mention that it's a camel cricket breeding ground under there. It's kinda icky when you stop to think what is under your feet every day as you walk, sit and lay around your house. I can handle a lot of bugs, but camel crickets are psycho. They jump so stinkin high and in a direction you have no idea where they are going to land. Yikes. So anyway, I was happy to pay the "Dynamic Exterminator", give him a glass of water and see him off. I opened the doors and some windows and finally around lunch our house smelt like home again.

stench of death and lost keys

This morning I opened our pantry door, I knew something had died in there. Cleaned everything out, could not find a thing. Got down on the floor, could smell death coming up from the cracks on the floor. (We have a real old house with large crawl space. Probably a raccoon or something is dead under the house.) Closet next to it had the same odor. Cleaned it out too, found nothing. So I foamed in the cracks but I had to leave the house before I could put everything back together. We spent to rest of the day in Atlanta. First at my church helping get ready for Married Life event. Then we met one of my best friends and her kids at Chick-fil-A. We let the kids play for over 2 hours. It was so nice sitting there in the air conditioning, watching our kids run around like crazy apes, appreciating the thick glass that gave us peace and quiet. Two women sharing life stories. It was my favorite thing that happened today.

LOTS of traffic on the way home, but I decide to stop off at Old Navy. You know I always have a return of two. Spend some time looking around and headed to the check out to make the return. Get out to the car, I can't find my keys. I have a numeral key pad on the door, so I could get in but with no keys, we were stuck. I searched that car over and over ... no keys. We searched Old Navy over and over ... no keys. Head back out to the smoldering car, the kids decided they need to help. We were all climbing all over each other, still no keys. I am praying, God PLEASE protect us. I know we are perfect targets for bad guys right now. In and out of the car, looking under, in the trunk, which when I opened and food co-op food falls and spills all on the asphalt. Suddenly I look up and I recognize a women walking through the parking lot, leaving Old Navy. She was in line in front of we when I checked out an hour ago. She looked at me and said, "I am so sorry but I took your keys by accident. I got all the way home and realized it." Thank you Jesus. I am not as crazy as I thought.




After a few more stops we made it home, right before bedtime. Walking through the door I am welcomed with folded laundry still sitting on the couch from yesterday, dishes from breakfast and dinner last night are still on the counters, All my cleaning supplies, laundry baskets, misc, crap from the utility closet and pantry are blocking the hallway to the bedrooms. Oh, and then I spot my piece of crap vacuum and remember, it's broken. It wouldn't even suck up a dry piece of catfood today. And just now sitting here a beetle flew into my hair right at my ear! NICE! I am going to veg out on the TV, tomorrow is another day. Praise God for all my blessings. I here the rain. I love it. Wash away the crap of the day. Lord give me motivation to attack all this junk tomorrow. I want to have a smile on my face, and glorify you in all that I do, even the stinky, nitty, gritty things. Good night.

dirty

The kids had the best time yesterday with the water hose. It's one of the best and cheapest toys we own. They had mud in their ears, hair, nose, crack, everywhere. We they had their fill, the girls were shivering. #1 kept on going, hosing himself and everything around him down. Then he rode is bike sopping wet. Yuck!
Nice outfit there #2!!

"... drama, you don't want no drama"

I am sitting here at the computer. BLAH! That is what I feel. Grocery sacks line my kitchen counters and I just don't care! The kids are hosing each other down outside. I hear their squeals. I love that happy sound. I hear the words of conflict running like a broken tape in my head. Drama. You know ... life is drama. Whether you like it or not. When you care about people, truly love and care, there is guaranteed drama. It really sucks right now, but I can look ahead and give a smile. God really wants me to grow. In some twisted weird way, I feel honored that He is allowing me to go through this trial. I will and can stand with His strength. I will know myself better and recognize even more just how in need I am of His grace.

I think I will go tackle the groceries. God has touched me. He will NEVER forsake me. These crappy moments are so brief in His perception of time. Eternity with Him is what I have to gain.

my Easter

So I spent the majority of my Easter with inner turmoil. Got back in town and got hit with a problem i hadn't had to seriously deal with in a long time. We did make it to church today. It was craziness. Complete craziness. We thought by getting there 10 minutes early we'd be safe. Uh... no. It thrilled my heart to see so many people there, but in some strange way it felt kind of empty. Afterwards we hung out with the family, my side. I offended my mom and I am praying through how to deal with it. So after the kids went to bed, I felt like ... was this just Easter? I mean .... if's one of the most significant days of my faith. I knew then, I needed to watch The Passion of the Christ.

Now I am sitting alone in the dark, listening to the music of the credits and i am, you know I am not even sure just how to describe what I am feeling. How do you bottle up the emotion from a film like that and put it into words? What do I really want to say? ... Jesus is truly God's son. His eyes pierced straight to the heart of you. His love is like those eyes. They see through all the phony crap we put on to make us look like good people. We are never good enough. Never! I spent years and years trying, never feeling like i was good enough. I never ever will be. Grace has been extended to me and to everyone. His blood stained hand is and will always reach out to me. God hates my sin. I was reminded of that with every slap of the whip and with every kick to his side. There is sin I am harboring in my heart. It is comfortable personally for me to keep it there. It separates me from my Creator. I want to be in His lap, not chatting with Him from across the room. To do that I have to get uncomfortable and ask for His forgiveness. I want to continue to remember those eyes, those tears, that brow, that road, that burden, that sacrifice he made for me. I want it to burn within me. I want it to drive me to my knees, praying for those who have yet to taste of this sweet consuming love. I want to be filled with His gracious spirit. I want Him to mold my will to His. I want to wake up tomorrow and be different.

fun far away friends

Hanging out with our west coast best friends.

It was awesome. My tummy was hurting from laughing so hard. I treasure every minute we get to spend with Carlos and Heather. I love you guys!

big A sunglasses

I never wear sunglasses. I never like the way they look on me. On this trip I have been the only one without them. Well yesterday everyone shopped for sunglasses for me. This is what was picked. They are HUGE. But big is in. I am still not 100% sure about them. The best thing is the price.. only 10 bucks! What ya think?

its amazing

We are still out in Palm Desert CA and there are several things I am amazed at.

1. Right across the street from the main entrance to our resort is a big empty lot. It looks barren, ugly, lifeless. You drive into our resort and it is like paradise. It's crazy how they take this ugly piece of almost nothing and turn it into a slice of heaven. Reminds me of how God can transform my sinful, selfish, harden heart and by his grace, he redeems and tranforms me into something new.
(Those are snow capped mountains in the distance!)


2. All the windmills. Never seen this before.


3. We went to the Joshua Tree National Park yesterday. The trees were so unique. Never seen anything quite like it.


4. Now THIS really BLOWS my mind. These rock formations. It is like God was playing with playdough, and stacked all his pieces up in hundreds of different piles. I felt like we were on another planet. The mountains and boulders were like nothing I have ever seen before. We had the best time hiking and exploring. It was amazing.

palm desert here we are!

This was my world before I left.........


They & the house are covered in shaving cream.





This is my world now! We're having a great time with my in-laws!

stay calm

Okay, so this morning we start out pretty early to go get doughnuts and then head to the grocery store thinking we'll only be gone an hour and a 1/2. I needed to run to Publix, not my normal Kroger. (I hate that one store does not carry all the items I need!) So, made it to Dunkin Donuts. It must be under new management. See after they finally convinced me to buy a whole dozen instead of a half, the guy gave me at least 10 free munkins, for the kids. Of course I would not have bought a dozen if I had known we'd get the free ones, but I was VERY thankful. Afterwards the kids and I came up with a plan to get rid of the rest. (I did not want them coming home. I will eat them!) So we then go to my mom's office which is right around the corner to pass them out. We stayed there forever. I did however enjoy it. I got to see a new friend of mine that works with her. She's a real hoot.

So the day is going well, I am feeling behind but, I still am easy going. Next we head to Publix. I get the kids out and head toward the store and it is CLOSED. Sign has been taken down and everything. What the heck? Loading up again we begin to head across town. Spot Old Navy on the way, of course I have a return or two. (#1 used to say ... Do we have to go into Old Lady today?) The kids start off running through the store. I quickly put the mean stern face on and begin to list the consequences they would suffer if they did not stay with me. Then the usual began. I don't know why I have a hard time "controlling" my kids in a store. They are just so darn curious. They camp out and hide up inside the clothing racks, they lay down on shelves. Two mannequins were standing as displays on the floor. The girls were being real cute and dancing with one, then her overalls fell off (not my girls) and they almost knocked her over trying to redress her. Then next mannequin got his arm chopped off by #3. It was dangling down to his ankle. Took me a while to figure out how to fix that one. Then it is also the touching all the clothes. Especially #3. You turn you head and she has a hand full of items she is carrying from the all over the store. I am happy to say though, I stayed so so calm. I can see through it all they are just enjoying the world that surrounds them. They will make the most boring place into like a "carnival" of sorts to entertain themselves. I like that.

Next we went through the drive thru at Blimpie. Our most favorite place to eat out. We went to a little park. #2 our slowest eater only got 5 minutes of play ground play. She whined and complained through out the entire meal. Her eating habits almost drive me crazy. She cried b/c everyone got to play, she cried b/c #1 would not wait for her to finish eating, she cried b/c I would not sit with her, instead I pushed #3 on the swing. I sure we looked like a real stable family. Mean mom forces her child to eat while siblings get to play. The child is distraught and where is the mom .. she is swinging the sister. How pitiful. Anyways, we finally made it to the grocery store. #2 and I snuggled while she sat in the front of the buggy. We are home now. Both girls as asleep but it took two tantrums to get there. We did not do school yesterday, doubt it will get done today. I have a million things to do to get ready to leave town Saturday for a week. Why am I blogging instead. Because I WANT to. I feel better. So I am off to unload groceries now.

Thanks God for granting me patience today. I asked you this morning to guide me I praise you for answering my prayer. Please continue to give me wisdom to be the mom you desire me to be, and give me the heart to ask their forgiveness when I fail.

what I am crazy about

Here are a few random things I am just crazy about right now:

1. Hobby Lobby. I love love love that store.

2. Avocados. At my local grocery store they have been $0.50 a piece. Whoo HOO! I have been eating one a day mixed up in a salad. One morning I even ate a salad for breakfast b/c I was craving one so bad.

3. My new hair cut. (Yes honey can you believe I am happy with it.) I am a typical woman who always complains about her hair. I got it cut last week. It is not very different but it fixes just the way I like it.

4. Spring time weather. I love not being freezing cold all day long. I can finally but away my fleece robe for a while.

5. The view out my kitchen window. While I wash my dishes I get to admire many blooms of spring.

Delirium & the Pastor

Just got home from a serious heroin trip shared with a couple 1000 other people. Well, not really, I mean I have never tried any recreation drugs, but if I did, I would have to imagine it would be similar to Cirque du Soleil's Delirium. My man has ALWAYS been fascinated by their performances. Like glued to the TV, muttering ... SHUT UP, NO way, that is UNBELIEVABLE ... at their mind boggling "stunts". I am impressed but my excitement no where near reaches the magnitude of that of my husbands. So for his birthday I bought tickets to see one of their shows. This one was more musical. Nitzi, some chick with one of the best vocals I have ever ever heard opened the show. Watching her dance and sing on stage, for a moment I longed to be able to express myself as she was. I said a silent prayer ... God when I get to heaven, please give me a voice like that so that I can sing your praises. (I am not a great singer!) Then began the show. It was wild, exotic, impressive, marvelous, crazy, weird. It was a trip.

One more thing happened that made the night even more interesting. We were sitting there waiting for the show to start. Of course we were 30 minutes early, just the way he likes it. There we were all alone on our row when we heard someone, turned around and there stood the pastor Andy Stanley. He is the pastor at our "Mother Church" Northpoint. With churches our size, it's like a crazy chance that you actually get to meet the man. See, I watch him every week allow God use him to change 1000's of lives. I feel dorky saying this but it was really like meeting a celebrity. Someone I admire and respect as much as the president of the United States. We quickly introduced ourselves and stated we were members of Buckhead Church. In just those few minutes, a 100 thoughts ran through my mind. It is ridiculous how many letters I have started (never completed) to Andy. I want express my deep felt gratitude for his willingness to be used by God in such a radical and dynamic way to communicate God's unchanging love for the people He created. So tonight I will finally do something about it. I am going to write that letter.

It was memorable night. My love for my man, it ... truly blows my mind. I love how real I feel with him. How safe, respected, admired and loved I feel. He is amazing.

God, you truly answer prayers. You are so completely real. I can't explain you and I so glad you reach beyond my comprehension. Use every part of me to glorify you. Thank you for saving me.

Here is us on our date night.

butter lover

After breakfast this morning, #3 came through the kitchen with a big smile on her face. She had dressed herself. Her outfit cracked me up. Tacky hand-me-down shorts, with both legs in the same hole. I went to go grab the camera and when I came back I found her with the butter tub licking her fingers. She didn't give it up without a fight. The second picture is her trying to regain control of the situation by taking the tub off the counter again.

Later #1 decided to be a secret spy. This is his one of a kind original spy shirt. Check out all the special gadgets. He even drew a rare green crystal. He said he stole it from a museum. I guess I need to address that one. Anyways. Hope you enjoy this post MeMe. #3 prays every night at dinner that you come soon. See you Friday.


The shorts were so tight around her leg, like a tight mini-skirt and then the extra leg hole was bunched up around her booty.

At this point she has added 3 more shirts and one more pair of pants.