Good times

Hailey is getting out the ingredients.

Tonight it begins.

The Great Cookie Bake '09.

Actually, there will be cookies and candies, but who's judging? We're making pineapple cookies, sugar cookies, peanut butter cookies (with peanut butter this time), mounds bars, peppermint patties, orange creams, strawberry creams, coconut creams, fudge, peppermint fudge, and gumdrop fudge.

Two of my nieces will be joining the fun in the morning.

Memories will be made.

Sugar comas will be induced.

Bring it on.

The Clever Disguise

I don't think anyone will ever guess my secret. Of course, now I am revealing it, but if I weren't revealing it, no one would ever guess it, that's for sure!

I'm sure we all have them: those tiny details about ourselves which we hide under clothing, make-up, the cover of night, etc.

No one would ever know by looking at me that I have red blotchy skin, which I cleverly cover with fabulous foundation.

No one would ever know that I am a closet control freak, but I panic under pressure to run the show.

No one would guess that I am feeding my family a vegetable tonight for dinner which is brilliantly masquerading as a pasta.

At least I hope they don't!

Frantic furballs fearlessly face fourteen fuzzy foragers

As of right now, there are no less than fourteen squirrels creeping about my back lawn, doing whatever it is that squirrels do this time of year.

I have two very indignant Yorkies who feel it is their obligation to run these tiny furry beasts off.

I had to call them in and close the doggie door, so they would stop barking and ruining my relationship with the neighborhood.

This did NOT stop the barking.

Pass the cotton balls, please.

Unexpected blessings

It was shaping up to be a pretty crappy day, and I was really bummed. Nobody should have a yucky Thanksgiving Day.

Nothing terrible or tragic, mind you, just that dinner was moved to Saturday, and that meant Thursday would just be another day.

So, at the suggestion of my sister, I made a big breakfast, planned to put up the Christmas tree, and then go see a movie in the afternoon. But, then I decided to buy a new tree the next day, so after the decorations came down from the attic, we were left trying to figure out what to do for the next few hours.

Then it happened.

The phone rang.

It was the family we adopted where we used to live. You know, the one two doors down...

"Dinner's at 5. You're coming over, right?"

No expectation to bring anything, although we brought a pie and some drinks...

We went after the movie.

I can't ever remember a family gathering that I enjoyed more. Sitting around, laughing together, talking, taking pictures, laughing some more, seeing my husband fit in like one of the kids, just having a good time...

I'm so thankful!

Life lessons

From the gas station:

The sign says NO SMOKING! We can see and smell the smoke wafting from your palm where you nestle a cigarette inside your curled fingers. And we DON'T WANT TO DIE IN A GASOLINE FIRE because you refused to obey the rules.



If you had to wait in line before you even got to the pump, and the line continues to pile up behind you, HANG UP YOUR PHONE WHEN YOU ACTUALLY GET TO THE PUMP. We don't really want to continue waiting in line for you to even BEGIN to pump gas!

From the lawn mower:

Sometimes God does something to get your attention just to say, "You don't belong here! Go someplace else!" It would be wise to listen. And during the instructions, if the message comes in the form of a rock hurled at your leg at mach 1, don't scream. Just turn around quickly and exit. Be thankful it wasn't your child that was hit. Or your face.

V

They're not exactly from outer space, but we definitely have visitors.
And not the invited kind, either.
Although I am intrigued by them when they visit my husband's workshop, I am NOT, I repeat NOT as casual about when they visit MY workshop. As in kitchen, folks.
Yesterday we found, er, evidence of their presence in the silverware drawers.
I didn't waste any time picking up some wack-em-dead traps. As my sister recently discovered, it is much more humane, and even a little satisfying, to kill them quickly instead of torturing the little boogers. They like peanut butter, so it makes a great bait.
I got home, set the traps carefully in drawers I knew they had recently visited, and before I was even in bed, I had caught two.

Passing seasons

Sometimes God has a really great sense of humor.
And timing.
Sometimes He strikes a longing in your heart that can't be naturally filled.
Just so you'll go looking for a supernatural filling.

It makes me wonder what He's trying to say to me.

Once upon a time we decided what would be best for our family, and made decisions that impacted the rest of our lives. We believed that we were doing the right thing. We have believed it for years. Suddenly and recently I'm not so sure. Suddenly and recently, I wish we had chosen differently. But what's done is done, right?

But that doesn't stop the longing. Knowing that it's too late doesn't stop me from praying for a miracle.

Meanwhile, He has been reminding me that there is a season for everything. So what season am I enjoying today?

I am teaching a fourth and a sixth grader.

I am struggling with a pre-teen daughter who is feeling unexpected bouts of moody rage.

I am studying about purity, in preparation for teaching my budding pre-teens God's plan for their lives.

I am being reminded to fall on my face before the Lord when I don't know what to do.

I am spending time praying for friends and family in their daily stuff.

I am learning to be thankful for this season, and not long for one that may be in the past for me.