How to Get a Keurig

The day has come that my husband has gone to the dark side. Why did he have to give me this news on a Friday morning, when I am heading out to work and had not had yet one sip of coffee? I can think of no other reason other than pure evilness. I wanted to crush him, how dare him? It will consume my thoughts all day at work. As he was making my morning coffee, he nonchalantly proclaimed that he was going to stop drinking coffee for the month of February and replace it with green tea. 

This is him handing me my cup of coffee; okay maybe not him, but this is how I envision it.

This is not only un-American, but not humane! What was my reply as he handed me MY cup of coffee? It was very spiritual, “Well I am NOT going to do that, because I haven’t prayed about it yet!” Then I went on to defend my only vice! “I don’t drink, smoke, or chew or run with those that do!” and I still have not warmed up to the idea; so “Good for you!” and off to work I went singing these boots were made for walking.

Till death do us part….

As I drove to work with my commuter buddy Matt Chandler from the Village Church, I begin justifying my love for coffee, at least I don’t drink it all day like I did in college…at least I don’t drink four cups a day anymore like I did a couple of years ago…at least…at least…at least…then Matt said he, too, was doing a coffee fast, as they prayed as a church about expanding and building a larger facility so they could get away from doing nine, yes nine services! The only coffee fast I want to engage in is finding coffee fast! After all, I was reminded by Pinterest and courtesy of I Love Lucy, that most of the world problems can be solved over a cup of coffee.

See you can tell world problems are being solved here

I am blaming Facebook for this coffee fast; after all, it is where I am pretty sure he read an article from there that said drinking coffee is unhealthy. So what does one do when they want to defend their position they go to Google, these were my favorite.

One opinion (not scientific), against any and all caffeine, evil…evil…evil:

http://www.fastmetabolismdiet.com/but-i-need-my-coffee/ 

Another opinion (not scientific) for benefits with really cool pictures of coffee, I almost thought I could taste and smell it brewing (see I am an addict; however, I prefer the term “devoted”):

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/17/coffee-health-benefits_n_4102133.html  

Mayo Clinic – finally someone with some sense:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/coffee-and-health/expert-answers/faq-20058339

 

After reading a few more scientific studies and articles, I warmed up to “maybe I could just cut down to one cup a day; instead of the two I currently drink”. Then the enemy said, “Do you really want to brew a pot of coffee for just one measly cup?” Yes, he used the word “measly”, and I agreed and said, “That is why we need a Keurig.” See how a woman’s mind works? A woman highly stimulated on two cups of java?

Could I do just one cup a day? With a Keurig I could…and my conniving husband could have his green tea too! This friends, is how we got our Keurig.

It's been a beautiful experience!

And so my final decision for myself is what the Mayo Clinic article refers to as “everything in moderation” (except for smoking, don’t smoke) so then one would have to define “moderation”. After all, everything I have read about coffee it is a great source of antioxidants and may cut down Parkinson Disease risk. In this article that list out the caffeine content for coffee, tea and soda. It recommends cutting back if you consume more than 500 mg a day; and currently with my two cups of generic brewed coffee I am consuming about 190 to 400 mg a day. I will define that as moderation. So boom! I am okay and I still get a Keurig!

  

There is something about holding a hot drink in my hand and the warmth the sliding down my throat to my belly that makes me have such strong attachment. I can’t get this verse out of my mind that says, “Then I will open the windows of heaven and flood you with cup after cup of java [emphasis mine], okay so it doesn’t say that, but it does say “flood you with blessing after blessing”, same thing, right? 

My all-time favorite coffee cup

Do you drink coffee? If so, how much? Do you have a Keurig? If so, what is your favorite drink? Do you have a favorite coffee cup? What is it? 

For sin shall not have dominion over you;

for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Romans 6:14

Senor the Golf Dog

Today after church I was totally lazy and enjoyed a day watching the Masters. Something that my dad did every year, not the lazy part, but watching the Masters. He always wanted to go, but now he is with the MASTER, and I am pretty sure it is way better. But today, in memory and honor of my dad, I watched the final day in it's entirety. I watched the moments unfold, like watching "professionals" hitting out of the woods, out of the rough, the deep sand bunkers, from out behind trees and from on top of sticks. I. love. golf. Golf is one sport that keeps a person humble. Dad use to say, if you do bad in golf, you have no one else to blame. True. Tough stuff, but oh so much fun, because I love a challenge.

So here I sit on top of my comfy bed watching professionals under pressure trying to keep their feet on the wet ground when I realized that Mr. Senor Harjo was missing out on the action.

So I invited him up on my nice comfy bed since Darryl isn't here..shhhhhh....don't tell Darryl...but you see Senor Harjo is 12 years old, almost 13 and his eye sight isn't what it used to be and those golf balls are small! Just like a kid to get right in your line of vision. "Hey! Mister....down in front, your big ears are blocking that one corner of my view!" I say.

One of the things I love about Senor Harjo is his ears. Perky. Tall. Alert. It is what makes him CHIHUAHUA. But don't tell him, he thinks he is Mr. Senor Harjo, Head of Household (don't tell Darryl either). Plus those ears landed him the title of President of the Neighborhood Watch Program. He's famous. He gives lessons. He gives autographs.

Senor loves golf too. I think it is because he is so mellow. He probably dreams of running free on the nice shaved grass and marking every flag pole. Hey, a dog can dream right? I think he likes golf because it is a quiet game, no loud bells, whistles or buzzers, just hushes, soft golf claps and soft voices of English commentators saying things like, "he is like a weary old fox". No Senor he isn't speaking of you, lay down and watch. It's Sudden Death! So he lays down and I don't have the heart to tell him his back side is bigger than his ears. Oh well.

EEEEeeekkk! I am soooo excited! Sudden death! Extra holes. Senor Harjo is obviously not excited as I am. They are perfectly matched. I didn't really care who won. I loved the father/son combination of Angel Cabrera, but I also loved the chance to see Adam Scott win the first green jacket for Australia. The country I almost became a citizen of when I did a TDY tour there...another story...a love story.

Truth be told...

Alrighty. I have a big announcement to make. Darryl and I are the proud parents of a brand new young girl.

 

Her name is Saralyn, she is 12 years old from the community Napaod in the Philippines.  Truth be told I have to stop going to Christian concerts or we will be parents of an entire country.  Actually truth be told we don’t adopt to make us feel better, but because God commands us to care for the orphans and widows in their distress. We adopt because Jesus says that to whom much has been given, much will be required.  And finally…adoption is at the heart of God. I am so thankful.

Truth be told, the entire night was a night to remember. My original plan was to go alone, because I didn’t want to drag my two biological children to yet another event they didn’t want to attend. Everyone else I knew would be at Bible Study or Church; but then, I got a text from my big sis asking me if I wanted to go the Three in One tour. YES! Next thing I know I am surrounded by good friends and an 8 year old boy doing an interpretative dance the entire concert and in a Baptist church!

Truth be told, I love to dance and I wanted to join the boy in my own interpretative dance. Actually, I wanted to be the blonde on stage who danced alongside Mandisa. Since she wasn’t singing, I thought I could do that. So far, my dream hasn’t materialized, except for in my front room with the Xbox 360 Just Dance 4 Kinect.

 

Truth be told, my big sis was adding her own lyrics to Brandon Heath’s “The Light in Me” The light, You put the light in me JESUS…You put the light, the light, You put the light in me JESUS… You put the light, the light, You put the light in me JESUS… You put the light, the light, You put the light in me JESUS…but you can’t go wrong adding the name of JESUS to anything.

Truth be told, I was mesmerized by the lady in front of me that had the rhythm to clap her hands on beat and do a pop and lock with her head and shoulders. I wanted to ask her can you teach me that, but I am pretty sure despite being a Christian, she would have given me the look. You know the look you give your kids when you want them to stop or leave you alone.

Truth be told, you are never too old to photo bomb or push your friend to photo bomb. The hand to the left of the lady was the photo bomb bully, but the photo bomb lady was a nice photo bomber as she smiled. I can hear her friend now, "If you don’t photo bomb this picture you are walking home!" Then there is me with what I will call “the under conviction face”. That is because God was telling me to raise my hand and get a card to adopt another child, but I didn’t. It’s an ugly face and place to be, I know.

But after the concert, I did, I got a card with a beautiful young girl and God willing we will meet her one day. Plus, I could not imagine walking around with my face stuck like that forever. And BONUS, we received Mandisa's new CD.

 

Finally, truth be told, after the concert we had dinner at Louie’s and had a great time of catching up. A night to remember for sure.

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:

to look after orphans and widows in their distress…" James 1:27 (NIV)

Going for the Gold...It's Serious Business

I don’t know if you have been watching the Olympics, but we have been trying to catch some of it here and there. Not only are we watching the Olympics, but we are having our own Olympic Games XBOX 360 Kinect Style. You should see the world-class athletes in action on my living room floor; the athletic abilities are flying off the couches!

It's true the Lord gifts all of us in different ways, and after careful consideration of our God-given talents, I do think that there are several areas where our family could possibly compete on an Olympic level:

1. Darryl – the amount of loaded grocery bags he can carry from the car to the kitchen table in one swoop – Gold Medalist!
2. Darya – mispronouncing American words and names.  It all began when we were singing at church “He is risen!” and she was shouting at the top of her lungs, “He is freezing!” In her world  KFC is known as Kifs and most recently she thought a lady on the Olympic’s name was Camel, not Camille.
3.  Jayden – eating pizza playing Halo Reach and impersonations, there are Jayden’s Gold, Silver and Bronze.
4. Bryleigh – Counting her rice grains up to ten.
5. Maddex – Olympic napping!
6. Me - Googling on YouTube, I know it is a rare talent, but I have it!

Future Rice Counting Gold Medalist

In training for Olympic Napping

A disclaimer: we have not consulted with any professionals (yet), but we are certainly willing to consider additional training under the supervision of a serious coach and/or mentor. The Harjo’s are going for the GOLD! What would you receive your Gold Medal in?

The Long Lost Posts of 2011

Yes, I wimped out of blogging the entire month of December.

It’s been a long while since I’ve visited the pages of this blog, so long I had to go look up my password, but if it counts I have thought about blogging often. Now that the busyness of Christmas and the New Year is over, the empty pages are calling my fingers. I don’t know if there is any merit in looking back on those half-baked posts that I started but didn’t finish, but I do think I will mention a few that I don’t want to forget.

Like the terrifying night when my nine year old son ran away from home at 10 pm at night, but thankfully the police found him safely, but to our shock it was approximately four miles away from our home. Scary.

The day God physically confirmed in my heart, mind and soul that my husband and I are truly one flesh.

The joy of watching God using my husband to minister to the youth and college/career kids at our church. I know what a gem I have in him, now others are seeing the heart he has for God too.

Youth & College/Career Christmas Party

The day I learned that my dad has melanoma and myeloma cancer.

The excitement of Darya’s science fair project being selected for districts which I failed to get a picture of her with her board. Bad...bad...momma!

Not all condiments are created equal

My annual Black Friday shopping experience this year with Terri, Brittany and her sister Mindi, and finishing up 12 hours later with my sister Gaye and Jennifer. I know you are really sad that I didn't give you all my black belt shopping tips, maybe next year.

Ready to take on the crowds!

Waiting for the BX to open

At this point Jennifer was holding me up.

Also, I should also point out I failed at my “attitude of gratitude” blog experience by only making 19 out of my 30 posts. That's what happens when you have lots of cooking and baking to do, family meals to attend, homework to help with, gifts to wrap, band concerts, church activities, light shows to see, birthdays to celebrate, etc....etc....life to live.

Finally, I witnessed the ending of a breaking and entering during broad daylight in our neighborhood, complete with a police chase and all that it lacked was the recording of it for prime time TV.

There were other things, not major life changing things, but random things that made me want to blog. Like ketchup. Or reflecting on how life would have been different in my family if my Uncle Felix would have lived a longer life. But life happens. Blogs don’t get written. But God remains faithful.

In October 2010 I begin blogging and finished with 23 blogs. This past year I managed 77 blogs. So as I raise my shot of Nyquil for this annoying cough…here is to a new year of blogging! Cheers!

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 22 - Draft Posts

So it has been a crazy busy day with work, rush hour traffic, Indian taco dinner time with family, shopping and then cooking a meal for work tomorrow, leaving me wondering what will I post? Then I saw this "draft post" hanging out. Today on this weary day that is almost tomorrow, I am thankful for my job. Thankful for time with my family at our Indian Taco dinner tonight, but most of all on this weary night I am thankful for this "draft post" that I started back at the beginning of summer. It is now serving as a fill in for my lack of being able to post something/anything of gratitude today.

The High School Basketball Coaches and Players hosted a 3 on 3 Fundraiser Basketball Tournament this past weekend. You make up your own team and your own shirts, Darya got a group of girls together to play. I was thinking 3 on 3 GIRLS basketball tournament, when we arrived we saw nothing but BOYS! Of course, Darya's team had the best looking shirts thanks to Bridgette's mom. They lost both games, but the last one they only lost by 1 point. Check out  Darya's FROG form of shooting below. I guess it worked for her, she scored all the points.

The shot below is of her stealing the ball from the "Thunder Dude". He was trying to pass it to the guy to the right of Darya and she stole it and I am pretty sure she said, "Thanks that's my ball!" as she smoked past him. I am actually glad they didn't win because I had to see boys cry.

Darryl worked on the pool this past week and had it open by Friday. Just so you know a freezing ice cold water swim is a must, because by mid-June the water will be like a nice warm bath and by July it will be more like a hot tub than a swimming pool.

These were the yummiest stuffed green bell peppers I have ever had! I reviewed some online recipes and then combined what I like out of about three different ones to come up with these and they were especially yummy!

This is what I call my Pink Pee Wee Herman bike. I love it because it is so pretty and has a nice, big comfy seat, but it is a one speed bike meaning "old-granny" speed. This granny needs some gears because I have a need for speed. Anyone want to buy it? I purchased it at Al's Bicycle, may need to go trade it in.

Oh, how I wished I had the posture of Bryleigh, she sits up sooo straight! Look at that perfect shaped head, the cute little ears, the non fat thighs, the baby soft skin, the....

BIG BROWN eyes...okay I couldn't resist throwing one more picture in.

This is my SUPER smart, very generous, big hearted Sister-in-Law/Sister-in-Christ, who happens to be a NURSE and fellow U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Officer. I am so proud of her, she not only finished her RN program but followed it up with a Masters in Nursing! She is always volunteering and helping any way she can, she has a true servant's heart. Here she is working an immunization booth at the Moore Community Center and she don't even live in Moore!

Here is another baby that I love much and could spend hours watching her cute, chubby self exploring. She has sooo much energy, it was difficult to catch her in any photos. She wanted Darya to read to her and almost to the second after Darya sat her down and started to show her the book, I snapped this picture than she was gone off to a new adventure.

The funny thing is once she found her cell phone it was glued to her ear. I am sure hoping her momma has unlimited minutes because she talked all night.

A few seconds here, a few seconds there she was every where! In case you were wondering the best way to teeter totter, stick up your feet, stick out your tongue and begin rocking.

Happy Blog Birthday to Me!!

Happy One Year Blogging to me! I was sitting here wondering when did I officially switch from my Green Book Blogging to Electronic Blogging so I looked and my first post was 10/14/10. If I would have been really on top of things I would have started on 10/10/10, but that is never the case anymore.

Three hundred and forty-one days, plus 79 posts later who knew I had so much to say? Although, in reality 79 posts in about a year's time is really not that much compared to other bloggers, who commit and post a new blog each day. I probably would join them if I required less sleep.

I am happy that I have made it a year even though my blogging is sporadic, it serves a great way to practice my hobby of writing, capturing memories and hopefully within these random ramblings and reports of mine may somehow encourage others, make them laugh, and hopefully exalt the Lord Jesus Christ.

Yes, I am still wimpy and still proud of that truth! In that when I am weak, He is strong (2 Corin 12:10).  In fact, just this week Darryl left the house and left me alone with the kids. Which I hate to be left alone. See. Wimpy.

Darya and I had just returned from her medical testing. I had just prepared her lunch (actual Darryl made the infamous Ramen Noodles) and I supplemented it with a grilled lactose filled sandwich. I had just sat down to eat my brunch when...knock...knock... Grrrr....see failure. Don't get between me and a hot meal especially when I am hungry. At the door stood a kid who looked a little older than my 9 year old son announcing he was here to spray our house inside and out for pest. "Does that include you?" No, I did not say that, I may have thought it but I didn't say it. I did grill him over who hired him to come and was he at the right house. I am pretty sure he was ready to high tail it out of there because he asked, "Is this not a good time?" I wanted to say "Scat!" but instead I was nice and said, "no it is fine come on in".

Next he went outside to spray the perimeter of the house. I almost made it back to the chair when...knock....knock.... does this kid not know that I am trying to eat? So I went to the door and the pest control guy says, "I found a creature on the side of your house. I am not sure what it is, but it isn't a rodent...and it is alive." Okay, my mind instantly flashes back to my husband telling me that our neighbors seen a rat the size of cat in our neighborhood. So being brave and all, I waved my hand at the guy telling him, "just take care of it." He proceeded to tell me they aren't allowed to take live animals off people's property. I won't tell. Really. Then he asked if I wanted to see it? So after I decided if tall leather boots or running shoes be better I followed him around the house; all the while his professional experienced words echoed in my mind..."creature... I am not sure what it is...creature....alive...." plus the rat the size of cat story didn't help - then add on top of all this - the "professional pest control" guy doesn't know what it is. I was totally expecting to see something that I have read about in Revelations, something with five eyes, six arms and two heads!

As we rounded the corner of the house I was cringing as to what I was going to see. When nothing of creature proportion size stood out I asked this professional, "where is it?" He said, "it is right over here by the fence line". I know I am maturing and I no longer have 20/20 vision and all, but I didn't see the creature I had conjured up in my mind. When we go to the fence line what I saw was what I think was a baby mouse or mole. The kid picks it up and places it in the palm of his bare hand to show me that it was still alive. He told me he couldn't take it, so I told him just put it back where it was then and I'd have my fearless husband take care of it. He suggested I call the City Animal Control. I did only to amuse the staff there. Which they laughed too and told me to wait for it to expire then use a baggy to pick it up and put in another bag, set on the edge of the curb and call them and they would come pick it up.

The kid then comes back in the house to give me the paperwork; when he asked if school was out. I told him no that we home school. He said, "oh yeah, 'home school' I know some people who home school and the kids can barely read or write" Oh yeah, buddy? Those are fighting words! Not only can our son read and write, he knows the difference between a rodent and a creature! Jayden said I want to go see it! I said you can go look but don't touch it or pick it up those "creatures" can carry diseases. Immediately the "pest control professional" said, "Do you mind if I wash my hands?"

Actually, it looked more like a mouse than a mole.

As my introduction of my blog says: "It's my desire you will see that Jesus indeed is real and alive. I hope to capture all the "abouts" of my life...about my failures and His redeeming power...about my weaknesses and His all consuming power...about my uncertainties and His perfect assurances...about how God can take our imperfections and transform them into something beautiful, if we let Him. So instead of the 'cheese touch', I hope to share a Jesus Touch with you and it will spread in a positive way! It's not a diary...it's my life."

Today I think...I know it's a dangerous task for me.

If you blog, do you ever think I should blog about that and that and…that! Then when faced with the white blank page you sit there wondering what you should blog? Or am I the only one? Today I have alot on my heart and mind and thought I would share those with you.

Today I am thinking.....about a co-worker who lost his house yesterday in the wildfires that spread throughout Oklahoma. As well as all the firefighters who risked their lives to save life and property. Also reflecting on the devastation in Japan, shocked and humbled knowing that is only a fraction of the Lord's power. Indeed. It boggles my mind.

Our new Fire Department in Moore! No. 1 to be exact. Today they rest.

Today I am thinking....about my week off for Spring Break. This time last year we were trekking the grounds of the nation’s capitol. I have been to Washington, DC at least 20 times over the past 15 years and to be able to show my family the Mall, the monuments, the museums that I have had the privilege of seeing, my favorite restaurants, and the excitement of riding the Metro was thrilling for me. I loved sharing a piece of my life with my family.

The Lincoln Memorial

Chop't Salad - My all time favorite fast food place! Darya agreed.

Jayden and I riding the Metro. Can you see the speed at which we were moving?

Today I am thinking.....how different our Spring Break will look this year. Different but not in a bad way – we will still be discovering NEW things. I am excited even though it involves Spring cleaning.

Today I am thinking.....WHAT was I thinking when I decided to sign up to “coach” YMCA Volleyball. My volleyball skills and experience come from family picnics, where you feel like a star even though you aren’t. Can you believe they gave me a bright orange shirt that says “COACH” on it? I wear it proud even though I’ve been replaced by a teenager coach. Gladly replaced I must proclaim! Our first game was a bad news bears kind of game and in a matter of minutes between our next game, my new teenage coach (Amanda's sister) taught the girls some simple techniques and much improvement was seen in game two, can't you tell by the smiles on those girls?

Today I am thinking.....July 24 could hurry up and get here because the new Target opens in Moore!

But today more than anything I am thinking......about the promises of God. Last July God begin preparing me to face trials. Preparing my heart. My mind. My faith. Over the past nine months He has been faithful to secure His love for me within my heart, mind and soul. He has increased my faith. He has been faithful in letting me know that perfect love cast out all fear and because I am perfectly loved I need not fear what is to come. Finding security and comfort in His sovereignty. Confident that He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that I could ask or think and because He is good and works all things together according to His will for my good and for His glory. Because He never fails I can rest in the midst of uncertain times. God is working in many ways in our family and I hope soon I will be able to share the unabridged version of His greatness. His power. His love. Stay tuned.

Randomness

Do you ever read something in the Bible and then begin to go the wonder path? I followed that path this morning during my Bible study, I read in RED, and you know what red represents? That’s right the words of Christ. In John 14:30 He says to the disciples, “I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.” As I read that I wondered if the disciples really understand that soon He would physically be gone? If they did understand, did they hang on every word He spoke? Did they grasp that? Do I grasp that the written Word of God is alive and available to me today in many forms? I hope I do.

Today was Jayden’s first Upwards basketball game. This year he is playing at First Baptist Church in Moore and its co-ed! The last experience we had with co-ed sports, Jayden (age 5) walked off the soccer field, threw up his hands in disgust and proclaimed, “I’m done!” with the coach running behind him yelling, “Jayden! Where you going? You just can’t walk off the field!” It was so funny, but we learned something very important things that day about Jayden.

This was later in the season when he had more practices under his belt.

We learned that he would just as soon quit, than play against girls, especially those that outrun or take the ball away from him. We learned that he strives for perfection and if can’t accomplish it, then he will be very upset with himself. Thank God, that through prayers he is maturing. He is learning that we don’t always succeed the first time we try. He also learned to start what he finishes.

However, when I found out he was playing co-ed I cringed thinking here we go again! I hope he doesn’t walk off the court. So this mamma prayed! I prayed this morning that God would give him a good attitude and game, that he would be encouraged and not discouraged, I prayed that some girl wouldn’t take the ball from him or run faster than him. Just teasing, I didn’t pray that last bit (at least not out loud), but I did pray!

God answered. We saw progress! He did get frustrated once during the game and yes a girl was involved, but he didn’t quit. In fact, he scored 8 points! We noticed he was a little timid when it came to defending the girl as opposed to when he was matched up with a boy.

The girl behind him is the one he had to guard.

Right before the game a lady came up to Darryl and I and asked us if we used to do Upwards at Graceway and we said yes. She then asked Darryl if he gave a testimony there and he said yes. She went on to tell us that her husband came in half way through the testimony and was touched by it and wished that he had heard the entire testimony. So she asked if we had it written down and we don’t, except for the letter I wrote to Darryl that God used to make that change in his heart. So we told her we could share that with her and that Darryl would write down his testimony with it. It is so powerful what God did for us in our marriage in 2005 and it is going to be a privilege to write it down and share with this family.

My husband sharing a testimony at Upwards last year.
He asked me to stand by his side, I was happy and honored to!

Then Brandon, Bridgette and Bryleigh made a visit. I seen some pictures my sister-in-law send me on email by Adele Enersen. This bored mother/photographer on maternity leave, creates dream worlds around her sleeping baby and then captures them on film. Her dream photography inspired me to try some with Bryleigh. All of the images in Adele Enersen’s dream photography are created from clothing and fabric; they include typical dream clichés as well as some abstract visions. Check out my dream photography attempts below, except our baby wasn’t sleeping so it might be more appropriately titled Awake Photography.

Bryleigh hanging out under the mushroom.

Our Artist - Get your masterpiece soon!

Just out for a leisurely stroll with her dog.

Then we had to try and take some sitting up.

She loves her hands!

Finally we end the day with a Paez boy sleepover, so say prayer that we can get them all down and out by 10 pm!

Well if you are still hanging with me listening to my rambling about our ordinary day, all this randomness proves one thing: I am but a common, ordinary wife and mother with a simple, ordinary - yet FULL life. Really, my only ambition is this: to love the Lord Jesus with everything in me, exalting Him as my greatest Treasure and fullest joy.

Would you like some buttery flavored, chocolate covered crackers with that whine?

Warning: This post is obnoxiously nothing but rambling. I recommend reading it when you are trying to go to sleep, it should work better than counting sheep.

Woke up fighting allergies this morning and ending it fighting knee pain. So I took a day of sick leave and stayed home and worked. Cleaned out my emails, organized my work folders, attended a Health Literacy Webinar and finished it off with a Diabetes Education Workgroup conference call. So there you go, a day of sick leave…working. I know that is crazy, but that is how I roll. I have learned from experience that even if you are off work you might as well work, because it will just pile up and you will have more work later, which means you will stay late working. The only good thing about taking a day of sick leave and working is that you get to “see” your family, you can wear comfy clothes and put your knees up!

After AWANAs Jayden declared his injustice of the evening and that is that the girl AWANA class gets snacks and the boys don’t! That is SOOOO unfair! Which means when he gets home he gets a snack! He chose mom made chocolate covered butter flavored crackers. I know I am a gourmet creator! After all I am created in the likeness of my Father and I think He did an amazing job at creating this planet we live on! Let me share with you something I read the other day in Psalms, that has stuck with me all week and I just love! It’s about the voice of God. His voice is powerful! It is full of majesty. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars, divides the flames of fire, shakes the wilderness and even makes the deer give birth (29:3-9)! Isn’t that amazing?

Don't mind our new family members in the frames in the background. They all look the same don't they?

Back to those buttery flavored, chocolate covered crackers, I became slightly distracted by even a greater creator! Since I am a mom with compassion, I have promised snacks for his next AWANA class. I had big dreams of making something really cool that would go along with the Fall weather, like the cute little acorns made out of donut holes, with a little peanut butter spread on the top with sprinkled pieces of peanuts and a broken pretzel for it’s stem. Then after I promised snacks (the week after Dr. Carlson comes), I realized that I will be in the hospital recovery from my knee surgery. Gee, I’m good! The good thing is I didn’t tell him what kind of snack, so as long as I deliver something, I should be good. Aren’t you glad that our Father in Heaven never breaks promises? Never over commits Himself? Never has to back paddle? I am!