Sample Spot

A few weeks ago, I heard about a Target Deal called the Sample Spot.  I clicked over, impressed at the offering...a free beauty bag with a bunch of samples.  I typed in my info...and the computer froze up.  I figured I would not be one of the lucky to receive the bag.

Today I opened our mailbox and found this:

I squealed.  Such a silly thing to be excited about.  The kids squealed with me..and we all started to jig around the house.  This is what I found inside:

Pretty little bag, and some really nice samples!  Ponds cleansing towelettes, three separate shampoo/conditioner samples...Loreal Youth Code Day/Night cream...Burts Bees Day Lotion...and 20 bucks worth of beauty coupons. 

Thanks, Target!  You made my day!

Thousand Gifts

I have neglected my list...and should not be...
Remaining thankful in the midst of the madness!

171.  Silence. 

172.  Two napping yahoos when you desperately need them to nap.

173.  Incredibly upbeat, caring Doctors who call you right back!

174.  Just the right words at just the right time from just the right soul to yours.

175.  Linus and the great pumpkin.

pic from here.

176.  Fresh paint for today, and bright hope for tomorrow....

177.  Eccl. 7:13...Consider the work of God:
         For who is able to straighten what He has bent?

178.  Psalm 86: 11...Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth!

179.  Yes, that is what I said, Fresh paint for today...and bright hope for tomorrow!


180.  Blessings all mine..and ten thousand beside!

Sunday Night

I was sitting with my bed buddy, Jasmine Kitty, browsing through some of my favorite blogs, and blogger buddy Deborah had this sweet Sunday Evening idea...so I thought I would join her!  A good way to start the week!

1. Name someone with the same birthday as you. 
Mama Fox.  My Epiphany sister.  Love you, Mama Fox!

2. What has been your favorite age so far? 
 Ask me in another 20 yrs!

3. Where did you meet your husband?
  During a singles meet up at church.  He just would not stop following me around.  Go figure!

4. How many children do you have?
 Four yahoos made especially for us!

5. Have you ever sung in front of a large number of people?
 Yes, when I was young and foolish.  Never to be repeated again.

6. What’s the first thing you notice about the opposite gender?
I noticed Jeff's eyes, and his permanent smile...his lips curve up at the corners. Yum!

7. What really turns you off? 
One time wonders who try to make a comeback.  Seriously...get over it!

8. What do you order at Starbucks?
Hot Chocolate  Yeah, I know, pathetic.  Not a coffee drinker...but give me a fancy cup of coco any day.

9. What is your biggest mistake? 
Attempting to watch my first episode of Dr. Who mid season/story.  Totally overwhelmed, lost and            a bit freaked out!

10. As a child, what did you want to grow up to be?
I really don't remember.  I was too busy wondering if I would...grow....up.

11. Say something totally random about yourself.
I am fascinated by Brangelina.  It's an illness, I know.
I have been seeking treatment, but so far, nothing has worked.

12. Do you still watch kiddie movies or TV shows?
Um yeah.  All.The.Time.
Jeff and I used to watch Speed Racer together.
He still loves to watch Leave it Beaver!

13. Did you have braces?
Unfortunately...no.  Desperately need them.  Will never have them.

14. Favorite Social Network?  
 fb..I have tried to give it up...but the cooler months suck me back in.

15. What is the most romantic thing someone has done for you?
Jeff, New Years Eve, 1994.  At midnight, he told me he did not want to start the New Year without being sure we were gonna be together forever.  Had no idea he was going to pop the question.  Hands down best moment of my life.

16. When do you know when it’s love? 
When you still like him after 16 yrs of marriage!

17. Do you speak any other languages? 
Yes, we have a secret language we all use around here.  If I told you what it was...I would have to kill you.

18. Have you ever been to a tanning salon?
Unfortunately, yes.  Fair freckled skin and tanning salons do not mix.

19. What magazines do you read?
Family Fun.  World.  InStyle...just to be sure I am behind the times.

20. What is playing on your iPod right now? 
I will rise...out of the ashes... rise.... gee, what is that guys name?

21. Have you ever ridden in a limo?
Yep.  Made out in one, too!

22. Has anyone you were really close to passed away? 
Yes.  Jeff's father left us a year ago...Nov. 30th.

23. Do you watch MTV?
 Last time I watched it was when MJ died.  Billie Jean's not my lover...
All time favorite video....Take On Me!

24. What’s something that really annoys you? 
Blogger.  The never ending saga of signing in...trying to leave a comment...and not being able to do so.

25. Which television show were you sad to say goodbye to? 
This is why I love re-runs.  We don't have to say goodbye.

26. Can you dance? 
Nope.  Not. At. All.  Do I like to dance?  Yep.  Just call me the world's most embarrassing mom.

27. What’s your favorite place in the world? 
My bed.  Enough said. 

28. Have you ever been rushed by an ambulance into the emergency room?  Nope.

29. If you could meet anyone (dead or alive) who would it be? 
Mother Theresa. 'cause I wish I was more like her... George W Bush.. 'cause I have lots of questions and I just feel the need to chat.  My Grandpa Jim....'cause I never met him and I am incredibly curious about what he was really like.  And so help me, I had better meet my buddy,  Tanya someday...soon.

30. If you could change one thing in the world for your child, what would it be?  Honestly...that my kids would be somehow biologically connected to us.  There is nothing I could ever do to truly relieve the anguish that they feel from that disconnect.  I thank God every day for who they are, and how He made them, and how He knit us together, how He will use these things in their life somehow...and that we are spiritually, eternally one in Christ!  But how I wish I could ease their pain...somehow.

Wanna play along?  Leave me a comment and let me know....I'd love to learn more about you!

Sunday Morning Mess

My 8 year old daughter, Mae, fell apart today. 

 She could not get her shoes laced through...

and was waiting for someone to help her. 

 The house was in a flurry...

Trying to get four girls out the door early on Sunday morning,

My four girls, out the door...is quite the circus. 

It does not happen easily. 

Some one always seems to become a victim.

At any rate, my Mae fell apart. 

No one was tending to her quick enough,

In her fragile emotional state,

she quite literally fell apart...

Clothes came off...

body flailing...

She ended up in a wet, sloppy pile on her bed.

Sure the world was going to come to an end.

What to do? 

Three other girls wanting to get to church...

What do we do?

Wait for her to get it together...

or send the rest onward...

and deal with the consequences?

Jeff let her know her options...

and in the end he left..

 without her.

It broke her heart.

It broke his heart.

As I sat with Mae later,

arms wrapped around her,

her fuzzy, long hair tickling my nose,

she poured out her grieving broken heart. 

We wept over her fears of never being safe,

never being completely loved and cherished.

God came to her in her anguish. 

Her anguish,

that we have all felt before,

unloved,

 unsafe,

that deep, dark hole we cannot ever fill...

Mae got a chance to see that reality,

as an 8 yr old girl...

and the amazing treasure of an inheritance in Christ. 

The only place to ever feel complete,

and safe,

and cherished,

is that priceless gift of salvation. 

She understands the gospel,

but now she is grasping the significance of how it plays out in our everyday life.   

What a joy, to be there with her in the midst of it..

that bittersweet reality of living out this earthly life.

Today Mae needed to become a mess first,

 for God to start the process of healing her heart.

And so did Jeff.

Jeff left completely wounded...and afraid. 

 Leaving his girl behind, and worried that he had caused her such pain. 

 Jeff is a fixer,

he cannot handle seeing any of his girls unhappy....

it is so hard for him to hand out a consequence

and then see it through. 

He wanted her to bounce back out of her mood

and go to church,

crisis averted,

instead of allowing her to fall to pieces. 

And I think he kind of fell to pieces,

as he watched her head that way. 

 But he got the rest of the yahoos into the car and left....

....and thank God he did.

Jeff came home, hours later, a changed man. 

He was quiet. 

Calm. 

A bit emotional. 

 He called the girls to come sit with me. 

He had something he needed to say.

He talked with us about how God had come to him during church.

How God had challenged his heart. 

Had called him to serve his family. 

Had convicted him to forgive,

to walk away from that anger,

and embrace the life God had given him.

He admitted how he himself was struggling to forgive, 

struggling to move beyond his hurt and confusion.

He confessed that he was not serving his own family...

and that God was calling him to do just that. 

 Serve. His. Family. 

The whole messy lot of us.

God is so good.

  Life is such a mess, and God is so good. 

In the middle of the mess, God was there. 

And I really believe the only way we could have ever experienced God,

was to be in the middle of the mess. 

If Mae had slipped on her shoes,

and jumped into the car...

none of this would have happened today. 

The real pain and struggle would still be there,

under the surface,

being avoided or ignored....

Embracing the mess means trusting the Lord. 

Do you know what I mean? 

We try to run away from the mess. 

Hide from it. 

Or clean it up ourselves and fix it. 

 Instead of allowing God to do the work He intends to do...

 in the midst of the mess. 

Household Cents Giveaway

My friend Tanya, is having a wonderful giveaway over at her blog...Household Cents.

It is for a copy of the book, The Magic Warble.

If you are looking for a good read aloud for your kiddos....head over to Household Cents

and check it out!