Bacon Makes A Family Happy

There are days when I enjoy my kids, and then there are days when I really enjoy my kids. Today was one of those days.

The middle swept up cat food without being asked, although we still have no idea why the young cat freaked out and made the mess that she did. The oldest met us for lunch and made the three complete as they made me laugh with their view on life as they know it. The youngest randomly put her arm around me in the middle of the grocery store and said she had really enjoyed her day with me.

The beauty of that last line? We had been to the mall and I didn't buy her a thing. So like I said, there are good days, and then there are really good days. For supper, I cooked 'em all two packages of bacon and made their day complete.

Life really isn't all that complicated.

Eat More Chicken! (Or At Least Learn A Lesson From A Couple Of Cats)

I'll tell you, people never run out of having something to talk about complain about, that is. Between the on-going headlines about the tragedy in Colorado (is anyone else sick of seeing that bright orange hair?) to the recent back-and-forth about Chick-fil-A and their stance on biblical values (including valued opinions [HA!] from Miley Cyrus and the Kardashian clan), I am weary of clicking on any online news link. For that matter, my own facebook page is driving me insane. Come on, people, even my cats get along. They don't always agree... like who should have dibs on the food bowl first... but the older one will wait patiently why the younger, more immature one has her turn. When the more feisty, young one (with claws, mind you) pesters the more laid-back, been around the block more than once, older cat (without claws), the old just watches the young with little interest waiting for her to run out of steam.

Call me crazy, but I think there's a lesson there.

And this entry was just interrupted by my daughter's alarm. She's not even here and yet the sound of "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" was playing from her room. I'll have to ask her about that one later. I can never figure out her alarm to turn it off, but I can figure out the yanking of the batteries. I've never been a fan of Christmas in July.

Back to business, though. There is real life happening out there, remember? A good friend of mine had a scare yesterday with her grandbaby-to-be. My husband's grandma is still recovering from a car accident that happened over a month ago. Drought-stricken states are arguing with government agencies about whether or not they can use what corn they do have for food or fuel. Regardless of what mainstream media polls or a late-night-show-hopping president has to say, unemployment is still a big problem. And on a more pressing note, we are having issues with ants and other creepy crawlies in the house. A woman can only take so much, you know.

Meanwhile, families in Colorado are learning what life is like when the cameras and reporters turn their attention to the Olympics and what Team USA will be wearing while they are still minus one at the dinner table. And when it comes down to it, does anyone really care where you get your next chicken sandwich at anyway? I mean, I'm all for Chick-fil-A, hands down. I've always admired their company and Closed On Sunday policy (much like Hobby Lobby), but the real reason I go there is for the service (and well, they do have the BEST chocolate chip cookie ever). I'll be there next Wednesday for the big appreciation day, but I'm there at least one day out of the week anyway. I also like KFC for my Sunday after-church dinner and Wendy's new almond-chicken-berry salad any day of the week.

Yes. I just like chicken.
I also like rainbows in the sky.
And cats that play nice.

Happy Thursday!

"I've Got This, Mom."

So those words were spoken to me last night. The oldest came home from work with tales of an injured hand of which no great concern was raised until late in the evening when he began to complain of his fingers hurting. As he painfully peeled back his bandages for me to inspect, I must have uttered a gasp of some sort. He looked at me with the faintest hint of alarm and asked if there was a problem.

"You probably should've went to the doctor with that."

The middle, whose experience with cuts and gashes and overall bloodiness has left him somewhat of an expert in the area of messed-up hands, immediately stepped up to the plate, assessed the situation, and pretty much took over. While I gathered what bandaids I could find and located our capless bottle of hydrogen peroxide, a bowl of water and washcloth had already been produced with instructions from the younger brother to the older brother on the importance of properly cleaning a wound. I realized I was nothing more than IN THE WAY when a question was asked in which I gave a ridiculous answer and was rewarded with a you've-got-to-be-kidding look. I took the hint and took a seat. Picking up my nook to read, I let the brothers know that I was just going to stay out of their way and not say a word.

To which I promptly heard, "Betcha ten bucks she says a word."

I looked up to see the oldest peering around the corner at me smiling and realized then and there that yes, they did indeed have the situation covered. I wanted to laugh. I wanted to cry. I wanted to just plain out stop time.

I am blessed.

Making My Heart Laugh

A few days ago, the middle went to our state's capital city and visited an attraction or two. While looking at some pictures from his fun-filled day, one in particular caught my eye. He was standing by his girlfriend on the capitol steps smiling proudly. No doubt it was because she was beside him and not the geographical location of where he was at... unlike me, that boy cares little for history. That photo, though, took me back in time and prompted me to share one of my favorite pictures with you.

Three kids. One very long field trip to another state capitol years ago. If you know my family at all, then you know this moment captured in time speaks volumes of truth. One will play nice. One will fake nice. And one will let you know how he really feels.

You know what?

 I wouldn't change a thing.

Not My Plan

(This post was originally written yesterday morning and saved as a draft

 so I could have time to think... never a bad idea on my part.)

Last night I lay in bed and contemplated giving it all up. Packing it in. Enough's enough. I am tired of opportunity ringing and doors slamming shut. It seems like I catch a glimpse of something that looks promising only to get smacked in the face with the sharp sting of reality.

Such is life.

This morning I decided I needed coffee first. I cannot seriously ponder the slow demise of my dreams on zero caffeine. Now, one cup later, I am forcing myself to take stock of what I do have. I'd go down the list, but it wouldn't be anything that we all wouldn't recognize. We know we've got it good.

As for me, I'll snap out of it. My heart knows this particular ache of disappointment well. Thank God my spirit knows the promise of hope. You want to know the irony of all this? My husband is officially back on a payroll. That's right. One year and exactly one day after learning he no longer had a steady paycheck, he now does.

And you're thinking,
Is this woman ever happy?
Yeah. Even I don't get me.

Except if it helps make sense of all this nonsense, then let me say this,

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. (from Isaiah 55).

Okay. So technically I didn't say that, but you get the idea. I thought I was working it out, but once again, He proved to me that I am not the one in charge here. I suppose when you look at it that way, I am in pretty good hands. That helps ease my hurt ego.

Sheesh. One of these days I am going to learn to keep my apron on and stop chasing after jobs nine hundred miles away. Home for me will always be where my mom is, but home for my family will always be where I am. Such is the role of the mother.

I'm gonna go do some housework.
Maybe bake something. Definitely more coffee.
There is reason to celebrate. Enough gloom, right?

It never was my plan to begin with.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

So that was yesterday. This is today. I was much too busy for my pity party to continue. Besides, my daughter accused me of being selfish. Whatever. I made dinner, cleaned the kitchen, and tackled laundry. The husband hugged me and said he appreciates everything I do.

Flattery is a welcome thing around here.

Winding Down

Well, this past week we had a chance to put miles of pavement on our odometer and cross more than a few state lines in the process. We traded triple-digit heat for triple-digit heat, scoped out a few houses for sale, spent quality time with family and friends, and fixed a flat. Not bad for a whirlwind of a week.

I always dread the drive back and the world to which that takes us. It's nice to be in the place I think we should have never left to begin with, but that's an old story. We had a nice break anyway. This trip was a little bit different because the oldest was not with us. He's a working man, you know.

I guess I don't have any room to complain. The fellowship was great. The food was fantastic. The coffee reigned supreme (a plug for THE best coffee shop east or west of the Mississippi). I do feel recharged and ready to go back and face whatever may come. Besides, there might be something brewing.

In the meantime, I'll go back to doing what I do best.

Holding the fort together.
Reading way too much.
And taking up space in the shade.

At least I got that road trip out of my system.

Teenage Daughters

My daughter and I debating the appropriate length of a skirt...

I 

Absolutely

Positively

LOVE THAT GIRL.