Time Out

I never subscribed to the whole Time Out thing when my boys were young. I don't necesarily have anything against it, I just didn't do it very much.

I do, however, totally believe in taking Time Outs myself. Putting myself in Time Out saves my little family from all kinds of grief. I go, sit on the chair in my room, and think about my actions. I don't get to come out until my attitude has changed and usually there is someone I have to apologize to for acting like a maniac.

There's been a lot going on lately around our house. I have tried several times to write this post and am very sensitive about not coming across as a spoiled brat. Yes, my children and husband are healthy. No, we are not in danger of losing our home. Yes, I am blessed to have the kind of job that allows me to help out financially right now. No, my man's job loss has not driven us apart. We are truly blessed.

In spite of the blessings, it has been an overwhelming 8 or 9 weeks. In the last week, my mood has been all over the place (thank you hormones). Needless to say, the chair in my room was not far enough away for mom's Time Out this time.

Thank you frequent flier miles........I am visiting a friend in Tampa for a couple of days. Honestly? I got off the plane feeling refreshed.......as long as the people wearing masks didn't allow my mind to go nuts over the swine flu thing.

Many times God has put me in Time Out Himself. I usually go to the chair pouting and throwing a tantrum. Sit there with my arms crossed not willing to admit that I need some discipline. He usually keeps me there until I have an attitude adjustment and can behave like a child of God. I can almost hear Him saying what we, as parents, have said a thousand times, "When will she ever learn?".

I am thankful for the short time away. Thankful for a husband that encouraged me to go (you should have seen how quickly he loaded my suitcase into the car), and kids that still miss me when I'm gone even though I've been cranky lately!

Friend Making Monday

I have been taking myself WAAAAY too serious lately.  In an effort to lighten the mood around here, I'm going to participate in Friend Making Monday, thanks to Kasey!  Never mind that I think this is a super fun topic!!

(Please know that if you never hear from me again after this, it's because I was either electrocuted by my computer in this torrential rain, or our house floated away.  It is CRAZY storming outside right now!!)

We are taking all 5 senses and naming 4 things about each that we love and 1 that we dislike.

TASTE:

I love Cheese Chile Rellenos from Chuy's with creamy jalapeno sauce poured on top.  It is heavenly.........

I love Diet Coke.  If I'm splurging, I get a large Diet Coke with Lime from Sonic.  

I love popcorn with M&Ms thrown in.  

I love birthday cake.......buttercream frosting only, please.  I'll take the corner piece with the huge flower on it.  

(Notice not a veggie or fruit in the list.........that may explain the extra 20 pounds I'm carrying around in the form of a muffin top.  For the record, I do love a good salad, and almost every kind of fruit there is.  I'm just being honest here.....)

I dislike mystery meat.  That means any kind of meat that is brown when it could be white (chicken) or parts of the animal that could be donated to a fellow animal in the organ donor program (no livers or hearts for me.....UGH).  I don't like shredded chicken, ground round (what part of the cow is the Round?), meat with fat still on it, ligaments, or veins still attached.  All of it is mystery meat to me.

HEAR:

I love the sound of my boys laughing.  This usually means someone in the near vicinity has burped or pooted, but I love it all the same.

I love 80's rock and good praise and worship music.......all kinds! 

As a Speech Therapist, I love hearing a patient speak when they have been robbed of their communication by an injury.  More than once, I've had the privilege of calling a wife or husband on the phone and holding it up to my patient so they can utter one or two words.  

I love silence.  When I'm home alone, I don't have the TV on....rarely do I have music on.  I just like the quiet.

I dislike the sound of parents ridiculing or humiliating their children.

SEE:

I love to see my boy's faces when they are sleeping.  

I love to see a boarding pass in my hand.  That means I'm going somewhere and that makes me happy!

I love to see my house clean.  When I tell you that I come unraveled when it's messy, I mean completely UNDONE!!!  That would partially be the reason for the 20 min crying session in my closet this past Sunday.  Throw in some hormones and feeling overwhelmed and it was ugly...

I love to see storm clouds rolling in for a chance at a good stormy day!

I dislike seeing any movie that involves war of any kind.

TOUCH:

I love the feel of my mom's hand or cheek on my face.  There's just nothing like it.

I love the way clean sheets together with freshly shaved legs feel.  HEAVEN!!

I love the cracking open of a spine when starting a new book.

I love feeling two arms wrapped around me......whoever those arms might belong to!

I dislike touching bugs of every single kind.

SMELL:

I love the smell of a pot roast in the crock pot.

I love the smell of newborn babies.

I love the smell of fresh off the beach.

I love the way my man smells.........ooohh baby!

I hate the smell of poop.

Ok, there it is.  I will think of all kinds of different things tonight that I didn't think of while sitting here wondering how I'm going to get my boy's home when our street is flooding........hmmmm.

Victory

C3 was amazing!!

We had over 300 women total at the event and the entire evening flowed smoothly.  We were in awe as women poured into the building for an evening of fellowship and fun.  Never mind the incredible cupcakes we serve.  They are just ridiculous!

Kelly Minter spoke.  If you have never heard of her, she wrote the study No Other Gods.  You must get a group of friends together and do this study.  It is published by Lifeway and even has recipes at the end of each week that you can prepare for when you get together for group discussion.  This study will rock you to your core.......what things do you have in your life that you look to for fulfillment?  Those things are gods.....plain and simple, because you are not looking for fulfillment in the one true God.  

We have a committee of about 25 women and they all work their hineys off to make this event possible.  It is an incredibly cohesive group and I don't take that for granted, at all.  We were all tired and frustrated by the time we got together last night, but we stood in the entryway to the room that would hold all of those women, and we held hands and prayed as a group.  Then we prayed over every table because we knew God wanted to do an incredible work in the lives of the women there that night.  

Bottom line, what we knew all along was correct.  God was victorious.  He was honored.  He deserves all the praise. 

I love that I don't have to skip to the last page in these chapters in my life to see who wins.   I can fight the good fight, maybe come out with a couple bumps and bruises, but I know who the ultimate victor is going to be.  Even with the knowing, life can be a nail biter.  Thank God for faith and trust!

Now, I'm going to take about a week and do nothing but sleep..........yeah, right.

War

I am at war.

Not with anything in this world.  It is much scarier than that.

I have never personally fought in a war, but I know enough to understand the constant need to be on your guard.  How tense your body can be when anticipating an ambush.  The complete focus it takes to escape unscathed.  The incredible loyalty bubbling up within you that drives you day after day to be victorious.  

Tonight is C3.  A women's twice yearly event at our church that God has entrusted to me to lead.  There is a ton of planning and prayer that goes into an event like this, and most of the time, it's a lot of fun.  Until several days before the event and satan starts implementing every scheme he can think of to discourage, frustrate, irritate, and annoy me and my team.  

I remember the first time I read This Present Darkness.  It completely changed the way I prayed.  It made the reality of spiritual warfare very concrete for me.  As Christians, we do have an enemy.  There are many who don't like to talk about satan and his schemes - it seems too "out there".  That's like walking into a war and having no idea who you are fighting, what kind of weapons they use, or their plan of attack.  

I am just flat out tired of him.  I get so mad at myself when he is victorious in manipulating my thoughts.  I get mad when I allow him to use circumstances to frustrate and discourage me.  I am mad.

Let this post serve as a warning.  I already know Who is the ultimate Victor.  HE wins........every.single.time.

God gave me armor and it's up to me to put it on.  I can cry out all I want about feeling defeated, but if I choose to not put on the armor, I only have myself to blame.

Breastplate:  I will put on the breastplate of righteousness because it is what protects my heart.  The place where my security rests.

Belt:  I will put on the belt of truth because it will hold the breastplate in place.  The Truth will conquer all that threatens my security. 

Footwear:  I will put on footwear so I am ready to go where God leads me.  Anywhere, anytime, I am willing to be moved.

Shield:  I will hold up my shield of faith.  It is my unwavering belief that anything thrown at me meant for harm, will falter.  I will be protected.

Sword:  I will fight with the sword of the Spirit which is God's word.  Nothing will cut down my enemies like speaking the word of God.  I can claim His promises as my own and remind satan who is the true victor and Lord of my life.

Helmet:  I will put on the helmet of salvation.  It protects my mind from self-doubt in who I am as a child of God.  I belong to Him and Him alone!!

Bring.......It.........On

Conspiracy Theory

**Update**

Scot's interview went great!  He was there until well after 6 (the interview started at 2:30) and will be traveling to New Orleans next week for round 2.  Unless there's another employee death of some kind............

Thank you all for your prayers!

Today is Scot's interview. He received a phone call from the HR Director of the company yesterday letting him know that he didn't need to fly to New Orleans for his interview. There had been an employee death, and the President of the company would be here in Houston to take care of arrangements surrounding The Death, and Scot would meet him here.

All I heard was "employee death" and "arrangements". I immediately start asking Scot questions......why is the President flying in for that? Did the guy die on the job? Is is a cover-up of some kind? Is this place even safe? Was it some kind of conspiracy? Do the "arrangements" involved concrete blocks, a bridge, and some deep water?

Noone has ever accused me of NOT having an active imagination, and a love for the dramatic.

Scot said , "Maybe it was just someone that was well loved in the company and the President is the kind of man that felt it was important to come pay his respects."

Oh.......ok, then. Good luck baby!

I am praying that God will speak clearly to Scot. That he will know when he leaves the interview if this is a good fit for him. I pray that Scot will find honor among men.

Rhonda, a shout out to you, my bloggy friend, for your sweet note this morning. Thank you for taking such good care of my family during your prayer time!

Schizophrenic Hair, Mowing, and Being Lost

We had a beautiful weekend here in Houston.  Saturday it poured down rain all day long.  It was dark and stormy - perfect for procrastinating and curling up in bed with a book.  My problem is that I am currently trying to work my way through a very long Russian novel and kept falling asleep, but it was glorious!  

Sunday it was all sunshine - no humidity.  That means I got to morph from curly hair on Saturday to straight on Sunday.  I love it when the weather allows me to have schizophrenic hair.  

Sunday was also a right of passage day for G, our 10 year old.  He officially mowed the yard, front and back, for the first time under the watchful eye of his dad.  It was not completely voluntary since he is working off what he owes Scot for losing some of his tools.  

Apparently one day, the empty field near our house was calling G's name so he gathered up a gaggle of friends, some of Scot's tools, and off they went to play their own version of Mythbusters.  Can you really dig a hole to China??   Um, yeah, they made a gallant effort, but much to their dismay, there was no sign of a rickshaw at the bottom of that hole.  Unfortunately, the project was abandoned before tools were returned to the garage so now G is faced with the reality of paying his dad back.  I tend to have a much softer heart for these kinds of things so I had to back off and let Scot deal with it.  Now, leave a bunch of dirty socks and underwear on the floor?  That's when the curly haired me comes out.........watch out!

We seem to have a new member of our family.  At least temporarily.  There was a very sweet dog wandering around Saturday night.  She was still outside yesterday and spent all day playing with the neighborhood kids.  We ended up volunteering to keep her in our backyard until we could find her owners.  As we were walking the dog to her temporary digs, it was all my neighbors could do to not start chanting, "Dead dog walking".  Some of you may remember Buddy and his ultimate demise.   I promised that this sweet dog, that has been named Abby by my youngest, would live to see tomorrow.  Help me Jesus.  

If you have been reading this blog for anytime at all, you know that I just flat out can not help but read into every day situations.  Be grateful you don't live in my head......it can be an incredibly noisy place!

My heart just bleeds for these animals that are lost or orphaned.  I have felt the same way so many times.  Wandering around from place to place, trying to fit in and look cute, just so someone will choose me.  Take care of me.  Love on me just a little bit.  I spent years looking for my security in everyone's approval of me.  I don't like conflict and even surrounded by friends, my day can be ruined by one person's disapproval of me.  

It was about a year and a half ago that I got a real talkin' to.  

When will I be enough for you?

That one question continues to resonate in my head.  Is He really enough for me?  If all my friends turned their back on me tomorrow, would I wander around hoping someone would take me in or would I know that He is enough for me.

My sweet Jesus, you are my portion and my strength.  You are enough for me.

Next Thursday

A week from today, Scot will be in New Orleans interviewing for a new job.  The job is located here in Houston, which makes this girl VERY happy.

The funny thing is that none of us in our little family of 4 are jumping up and down over it.  Don't get me wrong, we are excited that an opportunity has presented itself, but we have loved having Scot home.  It is a job that would require international travel, which Scot has a ton of experience in.  In fact, he's a member of Continental's Million Miler Club.  

I can honestly say that we have found joy in this trial.  We had to go looking for that joy, it did not come naturally, but we did find it.  It will be 7 weeks tomorrow since Scot lost his job.  We have watched in awe as God has provided for us.  I had recently given up my Tuesday/Thursday job at the hospital and the speech therapist that took those days over, generously gave them back to me indefinitely.  Amazingly enough, we are getting a good size refund on our taxes this year.  We have even received a Free Pizza coupon in the mail from Dominos.  Every one of those things are examples of God's provision.

Please pray for Scot next week.  Pray that he will find favor with the President of this new company.  Pray that God will speak clearly to both of us about Scot's next step.  Pray that we can persevere so that God can grow us through our circumstances.  

I thank each and every one of you for your love and support!!!