Hermit crab update

Okay.  This is crazy.  But remember how I posted waaaaay back in JULY about "Hermie" (Puddin' Pie's BFF's hermit crab) making the big escape while we were crab sitting?  Well, you just aren't gonna believe it.  I know I sure didn't.  But darn if that crab didn't just show up in my bathroom, all strutting crawling around like nobodies business.  He was all like "What? Did you miss me?"  Miss him?!?  Uh, yeah.  I mean I normally don't like wallowing in guiltsville for letting a pet disappear on my watch.   So, to put it mildly, I was stunned and amazed that he was alive.  And that he didn't look any worse for the wear for being without food or water for a couple months.  Here I had been waiting for a nasty smell to come emanating from some unsearched crevice, to finally announce poor Hermie's final location.  Instead we very happily toted him across the street for a joyful reunion with Ev and Hermie 2 (the replacement we bought so there would at least be a crab in the pot, so to speak). 

Who'd have thunk it so?  I was just so relieved not to have the slow demise of Hermie on my conscience any longer.  Even though I know he is "just" a little hermit crab, he is Ev's pet.  Ev trusted us to take care of him.  And having to explain to him what happened on our watch was a tough lesson for Puddin' and Wou (and me too).  Although, with the faith that only kids have, Puddin' stayed convinced, convicted even, that Hermie 1 would return.  After all, he prayed for him.  Every day.  So when he oh. so. happily. returned Hermie 1, he made it known that God had answered his prayers.  The look on his face was priceless.  The joy in his heart was palpable.

Wow.  What a lesson for me.  That the God who will look after a lost hermit crab and uphold a little boy's prayers is also the very same God who looks after me.  Every single time I get lost.  And sometimes, that happens more times in a day than I can count.  And I'm just one of an uncountable number that He looks after.  Unfailingly.  Unceasingly.  Even when we choose the path that we know will get us lost.  My God, who even looks out for lost hermit crabs, surely looks out for ALL of us.  I'll leave with these words from Luke 19:10   "For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”   Amen.

When things don't go well

Oy.  I sit here and start to type and wonder how I'm going to get all of the stress that is in my head and my heart out, out, out.  I won't go into great details (yeah, right) but I need an outlet and since I don't have a therapist (are there any therapists that do midnight appointments? just wondering) and my BFF is hopefully sound asleep in her bed, I will write.

Why do relationships have to be a struggle?  Why does communicating with a person you've been married to for 21 years have to be so difficult?  How is it that you can think that you know a person, I mean REALLY know them, and find out you don't really know them at all?  Yes, these are kind of hypothetical questions, but I would love to get answers.  Instead of answers though, all I can think about is the crazy version of the song "You Always Hurt the One You Love" by Spike Jones.  The lyrics are so true, "You always hurt the one you love, the one you shouldn't hurt at all" but his version takes it a whole 'nother level by adding crazy sounds (screaming, dogs howling, gun shots, glass breaking).  That version of the song is how I feel right now.  Yeah, welcome to my world.  Laugh.

Seriously though, I hate fussing.  I hate fighting (verbal...no physical stuff).  I hate arguing.  I hate hearing people yell.  I've had (and done) enough of it in my life that if I NEVER got in an argument or disagreement again, I'd be a happy camper.  Could that be one of my wishes if I ever find that bottle with Robin Williams, oops, I mean the Genie in it?  Here's how I see that conversation...(cue fake smoke and Genie music)  Okay, my first wish is that everyone in the world will always have enough food to eat and clean water to drink (I'm hoping I can lump that in to one wish, although I guess its technically two, but it's my fantasy, so one wish it is).  Two, that every child in the world has someone who loves them and keeps them safe (there I go again with the two for one deal...hopefully my Genie isn't too bright).  And finally, three, that I don't ever have to be a part of an argument or disagreement ever again.

While I'm sure the wish maker would be all over requests one and two, he'd probably laugh off the third one.  I mean, humans have argued since we were created.  Look at Adam and Eve.  Oh yeah, they argued.  And even though the story doesn't give details on their later years, how many times do you think Eve had to hear about taking that fruit?  Or how many times did Adam get it thrown at him about not keeping the snakes out of the garden?  When things got tough, when they were picking through the thorns for food, or when Eve was all PMS'ing I am SO betting that they fussed.  It doesn't just stop with them.  The Bible is full of fussers.  Cain and Abel (they take it to a terrible level of no return), Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Esau...I mean even the disciples argued about who Jesus loved best. 

As much as I long to escape it, I also realize that not all disagreement is a bad thing.  There are many times in my life where an initial disagreement led me to examine myself and make some good and necessary changes.  Some of my best friendships got even better because an argument made us look at why we were friends to begin with.  So my husband and I arguing isn't anything special, nothing to write home about or stop the presses for.  However, it still hurts.  It hurts me anyway.  He would probably never admit if it bothers him or not.  Communication is not his strong suite.  Over communication is definitely mine.  Just those two characteristics alone combine to make a petri dish agar ripe for growth of discord. 

Now, I have to take that growth of discord and find the antidote.  It won't come from a Genie.  It won't come from continuing the fussing.  It will only come from me stepping away from my hurt and my pride and trying to see past the words flung in anger and haste.  I have to put on my "Grace Goggles".  Even if you've never heard of them, you know what they are.  It's when you are able to move away from a painful moment or situation and look at it through the eyes of faith and God's grace.

Maybe I need to change my third wish to having "Grace Goggle" permanent vision instead.  That way, in times of arguing or hurtful words, I would be able to see beyond it and know that even in disagreements, God is there.  To keep me moving in that direction, I'm reminding myself of the words in Ephesians 4, verses 31 and 32   "Get rid of all bitterness, passion, and anger. No more shouting or insults, no more hateful feelings of any sort.  Instead, be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ." 

What a great outlet indeed.  Thanks for reading my friends.

Bloggy giveaway goodness

Okay, ya'll check the almanac.  Two posts in one day from me is unheard of.  I'm lucky to get in two posts a quarter.  But I'm trying to be better.  Lisa, blogger and amazing jewelry artist at Keefer STYLE Creations is offering one lucky reader $20 to use toward a purchase at her Etsy shop.  She makes every piece by hand and they are all gorgeous.  While I want to be a winner, winner chicken dinner, I also want to spread the word about Lisa.  She uses the proceeds from her jewelry sales to fund her mission trips to Haiti (the next of which is taking place in August).

Now Lisa doesn't know me from Adam, so I'm not getting any kind of kick back or reward for this post.  Just trying to help a sister out.  So please, go enter the contest.  Read her blog.  Buy some pretties.  Pray for her and her trip.  Pray for Haiti.  A little can go an amazingly long way.

This is my fave...a sweet little Momma birdie with her eggs

How is it almost August?

Wow. I just looked at the calendar and did y'all know it is already July 29? Obviously, time is zipping right on by me. If I more than a day off (in a row) from work, I tend to forget what the date is. It's Thursday and I haven't worked since Monday. That 'splains it. I work tomorrow so I better get reoriented. And Sunday is August 1. I repeat, Wow.

I apologize in advance for the randomness that will be this post but I haven't written in a while and I have a lot on my mind.

First off...today we got RAIN! A whole hour's worth of pouring, lovely, thunder and lightning filled, wet rain. It's still raining on and off even as I type. There has been no moisture to speak of since the beginning of June. Add in all the runs of 100+ degree days we've had and lemme tell ya, things here were dry, dry, dry. It will be nice not to have to water the plants tonight (we never water the grass...our weeds are very drought tolerant and tend to stay green even without help). The only downfall to the rain is that the Peninsula Pilots' baseball game the taters and I have been looking forward to all day was, yep you guessed it, rained out. Although, like little troopers, they are surviving the disappointment by watching old "Pink Panther" cartoons on a VHS tape no less and drinking Coca-Cola. Fun times. Fun times.

Speaking of "Pink Panther"...it amazes me how much my kids love those cartoons. They would rather watch that old VCR tape than any new cartoon that's on. That tickles me. Pink even. Hehe. Seriously though, I loved the Panther when I was a kid. And the Anteater and the Ant? Funny. And they're still funny today. Same goes for all the great "Looney Tunes" shows, except I haven't had any garage sale scores on those tapes yet. I'll keep looking though.

On a whole 'nother subject, we are entering week three with our Fresh Air Fund punkin, Jaybird. This is uncharted waters for us, as when he made his first visit last summer, it was just two weeks. FAF doesn't require you to be a host for four weeks, but they do make it an option if a FAF host family and a FAF kid have made a good match. For the most part, things are going pretty well. Puddin' Pie has gotten a little snappy at times (no surprise there), and even declared dramatically that he is "sooooo glad" he doesn't have a big brother. I told him that now he knows how his poor little sister feels. However, that did a fly by as empathy is not his strong suite...the good Lord knows that we are sure working on it though. I will take a second though to encourage anyone living within a few states of NY to take a gander at the FAF site. It is an awesome organization that has been helping NYC kids get a summer break since the 1800's. I'd be happy to share our story and experience with anyone interested...just ask.

Final random thought. Has anyone ever had any luck catching a rogue hermit crab? We are crabsitting Hermie this week. He belongs to Puddin' Pie's BFF Evster. Hermie is a wild thing, what with his black shell painted with flames. All he's missing are eight tiny black biker boots and the little tough guy spiky things on his shell. Even sans spikes he's so tough that when one of our rotten cats got the top off his habitat during the night, he made a run for it and is MIA. We have searched everywhere (and remember kids, my house is teeny tiny, ~850sqft) and there aren't even any hints of him. I don't think he's been eaten made anyone's entree because I'd at least find remnants of the fancy shell. I'm just hoping he shows up before rigor mortis sets in. My guess is if that happens, we won't have any trouble finding him then. However, the kids have been praying that God will help us find Hermie. I'm hoping He will too. God even cares about little, missing hermit crabs. Amen and amen.

20 Questions

Okay, on one of the blogs I love to read http://www.booshay.blogspot.com/ Miz Booshay answers these questions, then encourages us, her readers, to answer along. So here it goes

20 questions...

1. when you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
oh i am SO glad i cut all my hair off-short hair is definitely for me

2. do you miss anyone right now?
my dad. twenty four years have passed but the ache and missing him are still there.

3. if you could move anywhere else, would you?
only if it kept me close to the beach. i can't be too far from the water.

4. if you could choose, what would your last meal be?
a big ole greek salad with grilled chicken, sweet tea and my granny's chocolate meringue pie.

5. what famous person, dead or alive, would you want to have lunch with?
mother teresa. what an amazing soul she was.

6. what was the last book you read?
"goodnight goon" (a silly play on "goodnight moon" that my sweet hanna-lynn just loves)

7. what was the last movie you watched?
we saw "shrek forever after" friday night. it was a good one. puss as a fat house cat was just too funny.

8. what was the last song you heard?
"perfect people" by natalie grant. i love listening to klove online.

9. what is your dream vacation?
every vacation is a dream (no work, no responsibilities...ahhhh) but i'd love to go to paris.

10. what is the next trip you will take?
we are heading down to south carolina for my sweet niece jessica's wedding in a couple weeks.

11. did you ever go to camp?
i got to go to ga (girls in action, a baptist girls' mission group)camp, camp piankatank, several times and just loved everything about it. i still know the camp song and sing it to make my kids laugh.

12. have you ever been in love?
oh yeah, and after 21 years, i still am. pretty amazing and scary.

13. what do you want to know about the future?
i would just like to know that my kids are going to be okay.

14. where is your best friend?
my man is at the fire station and bff sherry is hard at work in the cath lab.

15. how is your best friend?
robert is good but bummed to be back at work after taking off for 2 weeks. sherry is stressed but hanging in there. i'm amazed at her strength during trials.

16. who is the biggest gossiper you know?
the surgeons at work. i never knew grown men loved gossip more than women...laugh

17. what does your last text message say?
"oh. i stay confused."

18. what are 3 things you've always wanted to do, that you still plan to accomplish?
learn to play piano; get my yard looking gorgeous; go on a mission trip

19. what is one thing you learned from your parents?
trust in and love God, everything else will work out.

20. what is one thing you hope to teach to your own children?
to grow and be the amazing person that God designed them to be.

Okay. That was fun and made me think a bit, which is always good on a pseudo Monday morning. Play along and let me know if you post so I can come read them.

Have a Happy Day!

Changing one cell at a time

I got to go see Beth Moore live via satellite last Saturday at a local church. I'm still trying to process what all she talked about, but I have to say it was a moving thing for me. I've read some of her books but have never heard her speak. And even though she was down in Hotlanta, at what looked to be a GIANORMOUS church, and I was up here in Virginny with about 100 women, she was easy to listen to and connect with. As a child born in 1967, technology still amazes me. I mean, we had a black and white TV till I was like ten, and I didn't have a TV with a remote until I got married. Yeah, I'm the mom that is already driving my kids crazy with stories about having to wait a whole HOUR for a TV dinner to cook. I'm also the crazy lady who thinks the invention of the microwave started society on a terrible downhill slide into that awful place known as instant gratification/no patience land, but I digress.

So there is Mrs. Moore on the 20 foot screen, hanging from the ceiling, being beamed live (by a SATELLITE...IN OUTER SPACE...I'M A NERD), to 300,000 women from Alaska to the Bahamas! All to talk to us about insecurity. Oh I needed to hear what she had to say. I haven't even read the book yet "So Long Insecurity" but am eagerly awaiting it's arrival via USPS in the next couple of days.

As the youngest of four girls, I learned early on how to be heard, how to get attention. That has been both a blessing and a curse, depending on the situation. Another trick I learned over the years was how to put on a facade. I doubt many people who know me would use the word insecure to describe me. Immature? Sure. Incorrigible? Maybe. Obnoxious? Hmm, depends on the person being asked. But insecure? Nah. Yet I am full on, eat up with it. I worry and fret about everything- about me and around me- not being good enough. And seriously, I don't think there are too many of us out here on this globe that don't share at least a little of this insecurity stuff.

You don't even have to open your eyes to see it EVERYWHERE. On billboards, magazine ads, TV commercials, TV shows, movies, at schools, in neighborhoods, in families, even at church sometimes, we are bombarded with what someone else has decided is the "Ideal" or the "Standard" for what "We" are supposed to be, wear, think, drive, sing, look like even. And if we don't meet these unwritten, often unspoken, always changing guidelines, the insecurity creeps in.

Beth really hits home with tying in insecurity to unbelief, to bondage, to something that absolutely keeps us from God. Boy, does that resonate with my soul! I highly recommend you log on her site and read her blog. Or buy the book. The DVD of the telecast will be available in July. Yeah, I'll be ordering that, even though I got to hear it the first time. Some things get better and sink in the second (or third or tenth) time around. If anyone reads this and either got to see her speak or has read the book, puhlease, email me/comment/carrier pigeon me and tell me how (if) it affected you and what changes you are making to kick insecurity to the curb.

For me there are so many blocks, boulders really, mountains even, on my spiritual walk because of my insecurities. But I am working on it. Daily, hourly, minutely, secondly. God's abundant grace can and will release me from my insecurities. Even if it is only one cell at a time. I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength. Amen.

Just another day at the asylum

First off, this picture really makes me laugh. I love the whole idea of taking those wholesome looking ads from the fifties and adding modern titles. I've seen some that cross the line and get pretty gross, but this one is right up my alley.

Being on the coast, we get weird weather. It's nothing to have a super cold snap, followed by 60 degree days followed by a Nor'easter followed by a super cold snap, and so on. Having lived here all of my life, I'm used to it. In fact, I'd have a hard time living somewhere with "normal" weather. However, I don't think I'd have a hard time living somewhere with a School Board that isn't afraid to send kids to school on rainy days. Seriously.

Last night we had snow. Big, mushy, heavy snow. It was falling fast and hard. It was also 37 degrees. It had also rained first. So, the snow was NOT sticking (except to windshields a little). This weather was brought via a quick moving Nor'easter. Quick. Blew through. Dropped some wicked wind, rain and snow, then moved on. No icy roads, no power outages. Nada. Not even any mad runs to the Walmarts to stock up on all those necessary provisions. But school was still cancelled today. Oy vey.

I was notified of this by a friendly, chirpy even, recorded message at 5:24am. WTH? I had to look out of my window because I was sure I must have slept through some other sneaky storm that managed to get past all of the Super Doppler, Mega Viiper, Jumbo Whatever radar that all of the local T.V. stations use to keep us up-to-date on when and where the next cumulonimbus cloud is going to form. All a saw was my swamp (formerly know as my backyard) and what I swore were some alligators checking out their next hot property.

Don't get me wrong. I lerb my kids. Adore them. Can't imagine what my life was like before them. However, today was supposed to be MY day. Hubster is on duty at the Fire Station. Wou-wou had lunch bunch and gymnastics after preschool-which means a 2pm pick up versus the normal noon time. And Puddin' Pie doesn't normally get picked up til 2:10. So, it was my day. I had a coupon from my favorite fat girl place, Lane Bryant , burning a hole in my pocket. I had plans for a Goodwill run. And maybe even lunch at one of my fave places ever, The Grey Goose (the "Jiggedy Jog" sandwich is to die for). But ohhhh nooo. Instead, I have had the joy of a snow day sans snow.

After packing them up and heading out for a Starbucks fix, we came home to the asylum. Let the pandemonium begin baby. I'm caffeined, mochaed and sugared up, ready to take on whatever the day brings. The bright side is, even if there is some other weather fluke tonight that cancels tomorrow, I'll be okay. Cause Big Daddy will get to be warden while Momma goes to play nurse. Who'd have ever thought work could be a happy diversion?

Happy Thursday Y'all, whatever your weather is!

Woo hoo! More snow!

First of all, I'm going to admit that I like snow. Really. Even though we only get it, like, once every five years or so. In fact, I used to love to ski way back when there wasn't so much of me to send careening down icy hills on two pieces of fiberglass. Then I married Big Daddy and his South Carolina raised self had NO interest in trying anything that even resembled a winter/snow based activity. If we were going to spend money on going somewhere, it sure wasn't going to be somewhere where we went out and got cold. On purpose. I finally gave my ski boots and poles (I never did invest in the skis) to the Goodwill a few years ago. Although I swear I am going to take my kids at least once before I die, just so they can give it a try. I am sure that I will probably break something, but that's one of the perks of being an O.R. nurse-I know which ortho surgeon to go to...laugh.

Anywho, it is snowing today. Again. After it rained (poured really) all night. And the wind is whipping with 40mph gusts. Our sky high, pencil thin pine trees look like they are NOT enjoying this latest weather change. Limbs are cracking and I'm expecting one to come through the roof anytime now. At least the kids are at school and I'll be smushed to pieces all by myself while listening to my I-pod. And the kids will never get to ski. Nothing like a sweet snowy day reverie to boost my SAD (seasonal affective disorder) self.

Seriously though, I am ready for Spring. For warm, dry days. For a yard that isn't eight inches of mud. Everywhere. For not having to give the dogs a bath everyday because of the afore mentioned mud. For not having the kids trapped in the house. Aie, ie, ie...

However, in all of this I MUST remain grateful. Grateful that we have a yard, mud and all. That we have a warm house to drive each other crazy in. That I have a pot of amazing zucchini soup on the stove. With so many people struggling and suffering right now, my snow blahs are so minor and silly. It is easy for me to forget the big picture sometime.

So, instead of whining and waiting for the trees to fall, I am going to stomp around in the snow and mud and be thankful for all this day has to offer. I hope your day will be full of good things too!

Happy New Year (and it's only 18 days late!)

Sweet mercy. Why did I even think about starting a blog? I've made all of five posts (maybe four, I didn't check before I started this one) and my most recent one was back in October. Good thing my word for 2009 was consistency. Laugh.

Today I had some time to check in on some of my fave blogs that I lurk around and I continue to be amazed by what y'all do out there in internet world. Blogging regularly. Posting pictures. Doing projects that you blog regularly about AND post pictures of. Sheesh. Makes me feel way inadequate. But I also L.O.V.E. it because I get so inspired from all that is out there. It gives me hope, that maybe, just maybe, I can repaint some of my sad old furniture or whip up something yummy (which I actually did do last week with the P.W.'s awesomeness that is Cauliflower Soup-click here and make up a pot http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/01/cauliflower-soup/ ). Y'all even give me hope that I might find myself able to blog more than once a quarter. Ah hope...it springs eternal in the heart of this middle aged fat chick. (Is 42 middle aged? but I digress in parentheses)

Sooooo, we have entered a new year. A new decade. My fervent hope is that I learn to make the most of it. Every single second. My word for this year is "FOCUS". I want to be in the moment for each and every thing I do. Whether it is doing laundry, taking care of a patient, laughing at my kids or trying to stretch a budget that is already more stretched out than a ten year old pair of grandma's britches. ~I digress again, but typing that reminded me of a game my sister and I used to play where we would each go back and forth saying "grandma's britches". The rule was you couldn't laugh or even crack a smile. You had to do it with a totally straight and serious face. The even better part was that our grandma's britches were what my daddy used to call Spanish flags (no offense meant towards Spain or any of its what I'm sure are lovely flags). They were real big, knee length, white nylon loveliness that she hung on the clothesline WITHOUT shame. My Granny Ruby was awesome. Truly. Anywho, the first one of us who smiled or giggled while saying "grandma's britches" was the loser and would have to do some task or such for the winner. Considering the fact that I'm laughing like an idiot just typing this, you can rest assured that I was never, ever able to win at that game.

See now why my 2010 word is focus? I can't even stay on track during my writing. But I did for that minute focus on some pretty fun memories of my childhood and both my Granny and my Daddy who have been gone from world this for a terribly long time. So maybe I can find focus in this ADD/brain pinging/typing that I call blogging. We'll see. Thanks for reading along.