The Tale of the Ring Pop, An Egg-Crate Jesus and Dryer Sheet Robes

Oh dear me!  I feel like a kid in a candy store! I'm so very excited to 1) be sitting in absolute quiet at the present moment 2) drink a huge cup of decaf w/ almond milk 3) BLOG...my soul just aches to WRITE! 4) did I already mention the whole sitting in absolute quiet thing?? 

There are so many times I just wanna park myself at the keyboard and write to my hearts content.  I find much solace in journaling.  I always have.  I currently have 3 journals in my night stand that go back all the way to 1996.  (WHOA!  Doesn't that sound ANCIENT???) I have a couple of diaries that I wrote in every day as a kid.  There are 2 things that "de-stress" me on a practical level...writing and jogging.  It clears my head, puts things in perspective, and both allow me to either hash things out w/ God or just praise Him because of who He is.  However, I am finding that squeezing in the time to journal (and jog, for that matter) is getting very difficult.  A girl can only do so much in a day, for cryin' out loud. Let's face it all you parents out there, some things we just have to SHELVE for the common good of the family, right?  And I do so w/ all the cheerfulness a girl can muster and would never, EVER, go back to life B.C. (before Charlee...and of course, Sam Watson)  So it is with great excitement that I find myself where I am right at this moment.  Easter Eve.  2011.  I'm feeling a bit long-winded tonight and my fingers are going 100 mph, so you might wanna get comfy, grab a coffee, sit back and relax because I ain't goin' anywhere anytime soon.

Tonight's focus is on...well...hmm....hold on...I'm searching for the right words...Ok, ok.  Tonights focus is on what Easter is really all about.  No, scratch that.  Tonights blog focus is on parenting.  Oh no, totally scratch that.  Ooo, I got it.    Tonight's focus is on a mother's reality and just doing the best she can on a day to day basis.  Perfecto.

A week ago Charlee and I had "girlz nite out".  She and I went to an Easter party w/ some very dear friends of ours.  One of her BFF's introduced Charlee to her very first ever RingPop.  You should have seen her put it on her finger and hold it up like it was the most prized possession.  I kept telling her she could EAT the Ring Pop but something about it made her want to preserve all of it's greatness.

Charlee had just met her magnificent obsession.  (For future reference I will abbreviate this by typing "M.O.")

C's "M.O."

 You should have seen the way she stared at her M.O.  She reminded me of Gollum in Lord of the Rings... remember how he caressed the ring between his fingers, completely infatuated? Yep, that pretty much sums up Charlee and her RingPop.  I thought it cute.  Normal.  Fun.  Although I did laugh at myself as I pictured her in my mind stroking it while saying, "My Precious..."

This is actually a pretty good representation of C's first experience w/ a Ring Pop.

As soon as we got home she showed her Daddy.  She looked at herself in the mirror wearing it and giggled.  Still, I'm thinking maybe a tad strange at the total OCD-ishness of it all, but not too concerned.

And then it happened.  She hit her RingPop on the table and it broke into several pieces and before any of us could do anything, Harry (our 90 lb Golen Retriever) gobbled it up.  I was ready for major drama to unfold so to "downplay" it, I say casually, "No worries, Charlee.  I bet the Easter bunny will bring you one!"

And so it began.  Any time anyone dared mention the word "Easter" to Charlee, all I would hear about was how the rabbit would bring her a Ring Pop.  Her M.O.

Now, some of you might be asking yourself, "What's the big deal?"  Hmmm...let me see here.  Where do I start?

Me: Charlee, let's read your book about Jesus!  He died for you and me, but God raised Him from the dead...(interrupted)

Charlee: RingPop, Momma!

Me: Yes, hunny, but the real reason we celebrate Easter is b/c...(interrupted again)

C:  Bunny bring me a RingPop, Momma!

Me: he just might, but God raised Jesus from the dead and that's why..(interrupted yet again)

C: I get a RingPop, Momma!

Me:  **sigh**

Now, this conversation has happened EVERY SINGLE DAY.  So today, after it happening yet again, while C was napping I pulled out the big guns.  CRAFTS.

I could almost hear my close friends/family gasp as they read that.  Yep, it's down in ink, folks!  I, Misty, actually attempted at a craft today!  I said "ATTEMPTED" so don't get your hopes up too high.

It was time to take matters into my own hands.  This child would learn about Jesus, His death, and His resurrection even if it killed me! (Pardon the pun) I got all my supplies ready and was just waiting for her to wake up so we could begin our first "lesson" on Easter.  First, I need a Jesus and a cross.

cut out of old egg carton

Next, Jesus needs to get dressed.  Hmmm...what to use?  I didn't exactly prepare for this...(rumage through cabinets)...Old Dryer Sheet.  Perfect.  Some string for the belt and botta-bing-botta-bo I's got me a Jesus!

Should I draw a smiley face on Him?  Since we'll be crucifying Him I'll opt out of any facial expressions. A few other supplies and I was set and ready.

small nails I found amongst Jim's tools

Red fingerpaint!

When Charlee woke up I ran into her room, so very excited to be "crafy" w/ her...but mostly because I KNEW this would do the trick.  We made ourselves comfortable at the kitchen table and I started by just showing her Jesus.  Then I explained how religious leaders felt very threatened by Him so they nailed Him to a cross, even though He had done nothing wrong.  (I was hoping to find some thumb tacks, but no luck so we used real nails)  She helped me "pierce" his hands/feet onto the cross.  I told her how He suffered and bled.  We grabbed paintbrushes and painted red on Jesus' nice white clothes.  Then we talked about the crown of thorns and she helped me place it on His head. (which was actually just grape stems)

Charlee checks out the cross

Charlee adding "blood"

Nails in hands/feet

Jesus complete w/ a Crown of Thorns...hmmm...the smile tells me she doesn't quite get that we just crucified Jesus...

I told her that is was a sad day for many people, but they didn't understand that it MUST be done...and Jesus died. 

Charlee's expression after talking about His death on the cross

Some of His friends gingerly took His body off the cross and wrapped it up lovingly.  They even put beautiful smelling perfume all over His body b/c that was a symbol of royalty...& that showed He was extra special.

"Perfume" was body spray. Joint Tape from Jim's workshop was the wrapping.

And then they placed His body in a tomb.  It was covered w/ a large rock.

Charlee chose the burial spot

Covering the "tomb" w/ a large rock

She kept patting the rock

 Now up to this point you'd think, Wow, things are going really well!  I think she's actually getting it!  Until we put Jesus in His tomb.  My plan was to leave Him there until Easter morning and I imagined us running out together and looking under the rock only to discover HE WAS GONE! and then I was going to hide Him somewhere inside in a really philosophical place like..oh, I dunno...in a lamp and then i could say something like, "Look!  There is Jesus! On the light! He's alive and you know what else??  He's the Light of the World!"  You know...something like that.

But there was a kink in the plans, peeps.  While C and I are having a "moment" Sam Watson strolls by me and I got a whiff of straight poop.  As I turned to look at him, poo was dripping down his pant legs and over his socks.  So I had to leave Charlee at the "tomb" so I could hose down my son in the bathtub.  Then I looked at the clock and realized we had to get dressed and out the door ASAP b/c the plan was for us to go to Saturday night Easter service at church.  And you might wonder where Jim is during all of this?  Puking his head off upstairs w/ the stomach flu.

I stood in the front door and saw Charlee patting the large rock covering the tomb w/ one hand while the other hand held the cross.  I told her to come inside so we could start getting ready for church...and she refused to come in.  In the mean time, Sam is buck naked and I have poop all over my arm.  I tell her again to come in...but again, she would not obey.  Finally, after starting to get really irritated I went to the doorway ready to discipline her for disobedience until I saw her sweet little face.  She wasn't disobeying from a heart of rebellion...she was heart-broken.  I know my daughter...I know her facial expressions as well as I know my own.

Watching Charlee from our doorway

I asked if she would like to open the tomb and bring Jesus inside w/ her.  That was all it took.  Before she could even say, "yes" the rock was out of the way and she was marching up the steps w/ Jesus in tow.  I had a tinge of frustration flow through me because this was "messing up" my plans!!  I had it all mapped out!  Easter would be ruined!  Woe is me!

Do you want to take Jesus to church w/ you, Charlee?

And my heart stopped in my chest.  It was a moment I never EVER want to get out of my mind.  All she wanted was Jesus.  The very thought of leaving Him in that tomb was completely unacceptable to her.  And ya know...it was completely unacceptable to HIM, too.

Needless to say, Egg-Crate Jesus (now naked once again b/c Charlee unravelled his wrappings) went to church w/ us.  As soon as we got home she wanted a snack and asked for Jesus to sit next to her on the table.  And then He went to bed w/ Charlee as I read them books and prayed w/ her, and kissed her goodnight.  Jesus was tucked safely beside her pillow.


As I turned off her lamp and blew her a kiss, it dawned on me that my 3 year old daughter taught ME about Easter instead.

And now it is Easter Eve, exactly 10:44pm.  I just snuck into her room to get Jesus.  He was a little wrinkly.  His arms had been severed from His body and one leg was broken.   He'd obviously been "tampered with" after I left the room earlier.  Guess it just adds an element of reality.

Arms severed and broken leg

I put His NEW clothes on (a brand new, clean dryer sheet to represent His new glorified body!) and I decided I WILL go ahead and hide Him somewhere inside the house...I want her to understand that He IS alive, He DIDN'T stay dead, broken, bloody and bruised in that tomb.

The question remains...where to hide Him?


Ahhh...I got it.  He'll go right back where He belongs.  The perfect place...Jesus will be exactly where He last was.  Tucked safely next to Charlee's pillow.  Only this time He'll be WHOLE once again...complete w/ a brand new clean outfit!  And while I'm at it...let's add that smiley face.

Resurrected Jesus! See the nail marks in his hands?

And that M.O. we discussed earlier?  Well, let's just say that's what Grandma's are for! 

EASTER MORNING UPDATE... When I went into C's room this morning I opened her door to see she was still snuggled under all her blankets but her head popped up and you wanna know the FIRST WORD out of her mouth?  "JESUS!"  She whipped out of bed and the pitter patter of her feet told me she was headed to the front door.  I ran behind her, tickled pink that even though she had physically removed Jesus from the tomb, she still couldn't wait to run and see if He was still there! I wondered if that is how Mary felt as she, too, ran to an empty tomb.  Even though it was very cold, Charlee didn't hesitate to walk barefoot in the cold grass...she could barely contain her excitment.  Jim and I smiled at each other as we watched her "roll" the stone away. 

Are you there Jesus?

BUT THE TOMB WAS EMPTY!

This picture captures Charlee initial face expression when she didn't see Jesus.  It was more like, "Huh?"

We clapped our hands and shouted, "Hosanna!" as we ran back inside to find where He was.

Back into her room she ran.  She lifted the pillow to find a new, glorified Jesus in His resurrected body, complete w/ a smiley face. 

Jesus! You're alive!

A very excited little girl...

Can I put him in my pocket, momma?

Of course we still did our Easter egg hunt, but I couldn't believe she didn't mention her M.O. even once this morning.

Jesus has done lots of stuff w/ us today.  We danced w/ Him while listening to praise music.  He went to WalMart w/ Charlee and I and, according to my daughter, He preferred to ride in the buggy w/ Charlee.  On the way home his head came off, but nothing a little spiritual scotch tape can't fix!  HA!

He's currently taking a nap w/ Charlee...and guess where she put Him?  Tucked safely under her pillow once again.

Looks like C has a new M.O.  And this momma couldn't be happier.

 HAPPY EASTER!

ERRRrrrr!!

America, WAKE UP AND GET OVER YOURSELVES! Seriously...I'm about to erupt.  I can only take so much.  I've held my tongue but tonight...I'm ready to get off my chest something that has vexed me since the day I got back from Ghana.  I simply cannot sit idle any longer.  I've had it.  Now, I know I'm FAR from perfection...in fact, the 1 thing that has kept me from saying anything thus far is that exact reason.  Who am I?  I'm like everyone else...a sinner.  Saved by grace.  But still, a sinner.  I have never, nor will I ever, claim to be anywhere CLOSE to perfect.  I have many MANY faults (just ask my husband and kids!) I, too, am a "work in progress"...

Maybe I'm just in a mood.  Maybe this is a pet pieve.  Maybe I'm a nutcase.  But maybe, just maybe, I'M ANGRY for a reason...so listen up.

What, you ask, am I so upset over?

AMERICAN'S and their NEED TO COMPLAIN.  And let me get even MORE specific and say...CHRISTIAN AMERICAN'S and their need to complain.

Since I've been back from Africa, my time on facebook has diminished DRAMATICALLY.  There are several factors going into this.  1. I don't have time. 2. I have more important issues to devote my time to. 3. My babies need their mother.  4. All of the above are basically saying the same thing but w/ a different angle.  5. I CAN'T HANDLE THE COMPLAINING AND WHINING!!!

If I hear 1 more person whine about their kids, whine about their dog, whine about the cold, whine about the hot, whine about their jobs, whine about their TV being broken, or their cell phone being outdated, or the weeds in their lawn, or the sales clerk messing up their purchase, or the parking lot being crowded...I will seriously burst a blood vessel.  But you know what?  If I do, I will PRAISE GOD that there are hospitals close by with doctors and nurses who have my well-being as a priority.  I will praise God for a car that gets me to the hospital.  I will praise God for shoes that I can wear to the hospital.  And if my aneurysm causes me to drop dead on the floor, then I'll praise God He took me home so I can STOP HEARING ALL THE WHINING!!!

I swear "Christian" America...you've turned into the Isrealites when they left Egypt.  God did all this totally amazing stuff for them, but all they can focus on is what they don't have.   I expect whining from people who haven't been rescued from the pit of hell.  But dear Christian, you KNOW what you've been delivered from.  You KNOW how much Christ loves you.  You KNOW His ways are Sovereign.  You SAY one thing but you ACT another.  And quite honestly, it makes me ill.

All I'm getting at is...how about instead of posting NEGATIVE, WHINY STATUS UPDATES, here's a new thought:   EDIFY.  Every time you post your status, just ask a simple question..."Does this EDIFY?"

DEFINITION OF 'EDIFY': Instruct or improve (someone) morally or intellectually.

I Thess 5:11 says, "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up,..."

Here's another thought.  The next time you are about to complain for all the world to see, think to yourself, "Would they feel the same way about this in Africa?"  Cuz you know what??...I'm thinking the waitress you just yelled at b/c they brought you the wrong cheeseburger would be a completely different outcome if you ever went to a 3rd world country.  You just might walk away telling her how grateful you are for her hard work in doing her best to take care of you.

Just sayin'.

Which makes me wonder?  Can any of us go 7 days without complaining? 4 days? 2?  I really wonder how many Americans could even go 1 DAY without complaining.  

And you know what I just realized?  I'm whining about whining. Great.  Just great.  Now look what you made me do.  sigh.  Thanks a LOT, America.

Ephesians 4:29 

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Fresh Asparagus Salad or PB&J?

Date night.  Just me and my man.  It's been a loooooong time comin', baby.  All week I've been looking forward to it.  Should we make reservations somewhere and get all dolled up?  Or go a little more casual w/ a relaxed atmosphere?  Saturday couldn't get here fast enough!

Yesterday I finally decided on "the place" for us to go...in Overland Park, KS...great food, relaxed atmosphere where Jim could wear his jeans and boots and get away w/ it...just our style.  Or was it?  Cuz today came and as the weather continued to get better and better all I could think about was how much I wanted to be outside!

When Jim walked in the door (he had to work today) I asked him if he would be terribly disappointed if we changed our plans.  "What do you have in mind?" he asked me.  "Fishin'.  I wanna go fishin'. and a joggin'. and eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in the grass...and then maybe get some custard before heading home."  His eyes lit up like a kid in a candy store. 

So that's exactly we did.  And had the best date EVER.  Jim fished his heart away and not once did I have to worry about one of my kids falling in the pond and drowning.  I got to go jogging...w/o a stroller in tow...just me, my feet, and  the wind at my back urging me on. It was pure delight, I tell ya.  And did I mention how QUIET is was?  Ahhhhh...

I sat on the bank of the pond and watched the clouds turn pink.  I smacked the mosquito's as they landed on my bare skin and as 1 buzzed by my ear I couldn't help but think about its relatives in Africa who carried a horrible disease called Malaria.  As I chatted away about this and that I saw lots of fish jump out to eat their dinner...or maybe they just wanted to greet me hello.  Either way, I liked it.

 I never did eat my PB&J that I packed.  Hmmm...looks like we'll be having a family picnic outside tomorrow!  Oh how I love SPRING!

What's Next, Papa?

Ever have a day where you feel something like this?

I COULD go on and on about the start to my week.  But why rehash what I'd really like to forget?  I COULD tell you all about a frustrating conversation at church or I COULD tell you how a tire on our truck came completey off on our way home last night.  I COULD complain about how me and the kids had to sit in the car for a very long time shining our headlights on the truck so Jim had enough light to fix it.  I COULD complain about the snow and the cold...Or I COULD tell you all my woes today as I spent hours at Children's Mercy w/ my cranked out/freaked out toddler...but nope, you ain't gonna hear it.

Good thing I went to Africa.

It is no coincidence that I started my week reading Romans 8.  {Go ahead, take a look at it.  Re-read it...in fact, wanna get really serious?  Go to www.biblegateway.com and read it in several different translations.  This site makes it as easy as a click of a button. } Do you know that Paul tells us that we should look at each day as an ADVENTURE?   

 This life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What's next, Papa?"

You know what?  I'm not gonna lie.  Today I WANTED to complain.  I FELT like being crank pants.  But I FIXED my thoughts on WHAT REALLY MATTERED.  PRAISE the LORD.  And you know what Romans 8 tells us?

If we go through the hard times with him, then we're certainly going to go through the good times with him! 

 

MmmHmm...it's gettin' good...but wait, there's more.  Read on, dear friend.  Let these words from God soak right into your heart...like those ridiculous paper towel commercials!

All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it's not only around us; it's within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We're also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don't see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.

 ^26-28Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. 

Really?  A MAN wrote this?  Wow, I'd say this man (probably Paul) was for sure "in touch" with his feminine side! Normally I'd smack any man who had the audacity to even TRY and "GET" what birth pangs are like! But re-read that again right now and then come back.  Ok, how can I not read and say, "WOW...Paul, you nailed it on the head, boy! It is obvious you were inspired to write that by a Holy God!"  Here's my most favorite line: But the longer we wait, the larger we become; and the more joyful our expectancy.  Boy, isn't that the truth? The longer I waited for my kids to "arrive", the larger I got.  I mean, LARGE.  Let's just say by the end my goal was to weigh less than my husband..who happens to be 6'1 and muscular.  To say I was "joyfully expectant" is putting it mildly.  Towards the end, I could tell you the weeks, days, hours and minutes.  I thought about it every day, all day long! Each time I waddled up the stairs breathlessly or struggled to buckle my seatbelt I praised Jesus it was soon...and begged Him to make it sooner.

This next part gives me chills like when I hear Mozart played by an orchestra:

So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture...None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us. 

 

Yes, I COULD say this and I COULD say that...but would my words turn your thoughts to Jesus? Would my words turn MY thoughts to Jesus?  Would my actions  demonstrate a loving, determined God who puts everything on the line for me? So I think I'll finish my blog today by leaving THIS picture in your mind...and I hope and pray that depicts the kind of person I was today...

 

 

 

 

Happy 3rd Birthday Charlotte Lynne!

Momma's 1st Mother's Day

Dear Charlotte Lynne, 

  I'd like to start off by describing what you are to me.  But how does one describe a sunbeam?...or a daisy as it bends toward the sun to warm her face on summer afternoon? You are my bright blue sky with big fluffy clouds...I wanna lie down on my back and take in the wonder of who you are.  If I could catch your inner spirit and stick it in a jar, much like a firefly on hot July night, I'd sit for hours admiring the beauty of your light. Your smile fills up a room like a double rainbow fills the sky after a spring rain. Your laughter is a sweet symphony, a song my ears never grow tired of hearing.  To sum it up: You are my Jubilee. My mountain top.  My favorite, lazy hammock under a breezy tree that I could sit in all day long and revel in its simplicity but sheer beauty.  That's what you are to me.

I could kiss your cheeks all day long!

I hear some mothers say they "buck heads" with their daughters, but not us, Cookie Dough.  We aren't exactly alike which I believe is why we completely enjoy one another's company.   The thing that drives me the most nuts about you is your level-head and cautiousness.  How many times a day do I say to you, "C'mon girl...throw caution to the wind!"  You look at me like I've lost my mind.  Change is not something you seem to enjoy, unlike your momma who finds it refreshing in every way.  When in new situations, you like to gage your surroundings first but once you open up, people realize  you have the moon to offer! You are a loyal friend.  You love your cousins. You play well with others and even at this age you share. (except w/ your brother but we're a work in progress, right?) You have a soft spirit, much like a solitary snowflake as it gently makes its way down to the earth below, unhurried, beautiful, and unique in every way.

Movie night w/ your best friends

Momma is saying, "C'mon girl, throw caution to the wind!"

What names do we call you? "Charlee", (everyone calls you this. Actually, the only person who calls you "Charlotte" is your daddy) "Sunbeam", "Cookie Dough", "Charlee-Oh"...and Daddy calls you "sweetie" a lot.  By the way, he is completely WHIPPED by you.  His big blue eyes lolly-gag like a hound dog's whenever he's around you.  Whenever I get to step back and watch the 2 of you interact it makes me melt from the inside out.  I remember watching your Daddy hold you when you were a baby and I'd be HIT w/ a wave of love like I had never felt before.  Funny thing is, tonight I had the exact same feeling.  It never gets old.  I hope it never does.

Buddies

Your favorite "toy" of all time...for THREE years now...is your lovey whom we affectionately have named Miss Daisy.  Miss Daisy has stuck by your side and has the stains to prove it.  You started calling her "Daisy-Oh" about a year ago.  When you turned 2 your Daddy and I thought we should buy 1 more, the exact same lovey, just in case you lost Daisy-oh.  But you know a fake when you smell it!  That was the most wasted $12 of my life because you have NOTHING to do w/ the other one.  Some other things you love...our front porch, horses, daisy's, strawberry shortcake, trains, cars, painting, being outside, your dolls, painting your toe's, and going to music class with your momma.  For your birthday, you have told Momma that you want "Chuggington" (train movie/series) and "Baby Ghana"...your little African doll!

Choo! Choo!

Holding Baby Ghana's hand

Charlee holding Miss Daisy-oh and hangin' out on our front porch

  You also love helping Momma cook...you're my sidekick!  Tonight you insisted on wearing your leotard w/ tutu, leg warmers and pink tights to bed.  Pink is your favorite color, after all.  I watched you play with your Thomas the Trains and hot wheels today and thought to myself, "She is a cool kid."  You are a perfect mix.  I think you'll be the kind of girl who shoots guns w/ her nails painted pink.  I bet Daddy will take you fishing all the time but you'll have pigtails w/ hot pink ribbons.   You love to play in the mud but as soon as your done you insist that I wash your hands.  I love it...I love YOU.

  I'll never forget a not-so-fun night when you were about 1 year old.  You were so very hot and limp as a noodle due to your fever.  I honestly thought we might lose you.  As I sat in the back seat holding you on the way to the hospital, I cried Psalms 121 over you.  I mean, CRIED OUT TO A HOLY GOD...I  claimed that Scripture over your life with as much determination a human could possibly have.  And I still do to this day.    Thank you for exactly who you are:  YOU.  I know I tell you every single day that, "I love bein' your momma!"...and maybe I say it too often, making it lose it's appeal...but girl, I'll say it a million trillion times just to make sure you know, I LOVE BEIN' YOUR MOMMA.  You were ORDAINED, CHOSEN and HAND PICKED to be MY daughter and I take my job seriously.  Ok ok, not TOO seriously but you know what I mean! Remember, you are MOST precious to Him...Jesus.  If I love you to the moon and back, He loves you to the edge of the universe and back 100 times!  If you make my world go round, you make His head spin faster than I can say "Bottabing-bottaboe!". If I say I love you so much it hurts, well than my little Sunbeam, He loves you so much He died on a tree and took on every sin of the world...just so that He could look at your sweet face and those big brown eyes and call you "My daughter".

  The year of "3"...you and me, kid.  This will be the year you throw caution to the wind, girl! We're gonna live life BIG, hunny.  Side by side we're gonna face your fears and in the power of Jesus we're gonna kick 'em and shout, "I AIN'T AFRAID NO MO'!"

We're gonna tackle the alphabet, colors, numbers, potty training, vocabulary...girl, the world is yours for the taking!  My prayer this year...the year of 3...is that you discover how to EMBRACE the world around you, like a wild mustang running on a Wyoming plain...not running due to fear, but running b/c you are free from it. Happy Birthday, Cookie Dough.  

Love, Momma

Psalm 121

¹I lift up my eyes to the hills.  From where does my help come?

² My help comes from the LORD,
   who made heaven and earth.
 ³He will not let your foot be moved;
   he who keeps you will not slumber.
⁴Behold, he who keeps Israel
   will neither slumber nor sleep.
 ⁵The LORD is your keeper;
   the LORD is your shade on your right hand.
⁶ The sun shall not strike you by day,
   nor the moon by night.
 ⁷The LORD will keep you from all evil;
   he will keep your life.
⁸The LORD will keep
   your going out and your coming in
   from this time forth and forevermore.

Rodeo Time!

"I Miss Kenda!" (Kendra is our cowgirl neighbor and Charlee's hero!)

Waiting our turn at Children's Mercy

Look! It's Nemo's Birthday, TOO!

Frozen yogurt after a long day at the hospital

Your smile lights up a room

The Week of Milestones

Today I'm celebrating a week to remember here at Terrell Ranch.

Sam Watson is officially walking!  He has finally learned the art of SLOWING DOWN.  I have decided that my main goal as his mother is to keep him ALIVE for the next 18 years.  The boy has no fear!  I can already picture him with a cape on, jumping off every piece of furniture in my house.  I visualize him w/ a cast on his arm and stitches in his head.  Lord, help me!

My cautious, almost-3-year-old Charlee has also hit a huge milestone this week...one I thought would NEVER get here.  Bless her heart...she over-thinks everything and that "over-thinking" sometimes PARALYZES her in fear.  This will be something that I and her daddy will have to really help her "navigate" through.  Fear is not from God...but I digress.  That being said, she has had a fear to JUMP.  Yes, that's what I said.  She would not let her feet leave the floor, my friends.  I have tried every trick in the book but to no avail.  But this week...while listening to a song about a bunny, low and behold my daughter started JUMPING.  Now, it looks quite hilarious as she hasn't totally committed but this is a HUGE start and I am beyond THRILLED.  Congrats, Charlee!  Just 2 days shy of turning 3 you are FINALLY JUMPING!!!!  WOO HOO!!!!!

So there you have it.

On another note...this is super strange but way too good not to share.  I'm seriously laughing out loud as I type this.  I did some spring cleaning yesterday and opened up a a little bag in our cupboard and pulled out 2 small mesh-type bags filled w/ the BEST AROMA of my life.  A mix of cedar and peppermint which happen to be some of my most favorite smells EVER.

So...it only made sense to stick them in my drawer of undergarments, right?  They needed a little "freshening" up...what woman doesn't love some aromatherapy?  Plus, I figure it was either do that or trash them.  And I'm all about recycling.

It made such an impression on my sense of well-being that when my dear husband got home and we were getting ready for bed, I opened up the drawer and said, "Hunny!  I discovered every woman's dream come true in the world of aromatherapy!" I then proceeded to pull out the little mesh-bag thingy and stuck it on his nose...literally.  He started cracking up laughing.  Why? you might ask.  Well, let me tell you.  Apparently, that "dream come true" mesh-bag thingy that I had in w/ all my undergarments is ACTUALLY a DETERRENT FOR MICE.  Yep, that's right.  Jim bought those to put in our POP-UP CAMPER TO KEEP THE MICE OUT. At least it's "all natural".

Now, normal women would probably refuse to stick that back in their drawer of lace and cottons.

As for what I did...I'll let you decide for yourself.

"Mask" the Raccoon and Marshmallow Heaven

Yesterday hovered right around 80 degrees...a perfect day to play outside.  Charlee and I were hanging out on the front porch, enjoying our spring day.  All of a sudden she says, "Raccoon, Momma!" Low and behold, walking right out of our field of tall grass appeared an adorable raccoon.  Remember the movie "Field of Dreams" and there was the voice, "If you build it they will come" and then the players just walked right out of the corn?  Well, instead of Shoeless Joe Jackson we had The Masked Bandit.  I ran inside to grab our zoom lens and camera, all the while proclaiming to Charlee, "Oh wow! This is so exciting!" I started snapping away as he literally kept walking straight towards us.  He seemed to lack no fear.  Charlee isn't quite 3 so her squeals of delight were nothing short of ear-deafening. But on he came, now close enough for me to have to switch lenses on the camera.  I couldn't believe his "NO FEAR" attitude...

Until he got about 10 feet away from us and I noticed he was acting a bit strange to say the least.  He was staggering and his eyes looked funny.  This was not a raccoon who felt empowered and fearless...and it suddenly occurred to me that he was looking for his final resting place and for whatever reason had decided our front porch was the place to be.  I watched him struggle up our porch steps.  Charlee asked me if she could pet him and I said, "No hunny.  I think he is sick so we need to just leave him alone."  He finally made it up the 2 steps and then, with every last effort, made it under our firewood rack.  I could almost hear the sigh of resignation and relief as he plopped down and rested his head.  I went inside and got 2 slices of bread and a marshmallow thinking I might as well try and make his last moments as comfortable as possible.  You see, to me, he was the "animal version" of Abraham on the streets of Ghana.  I know he had "an untouchable" disease of some kind, but what can I say?  I felt compelled? I felt compassion? I felt sad? So...regardless of the very small voice warning me to be careful, I put on some work gloves and stroked his back a few times.  Charlee and I prayed over him.  We had a healthy conversation about death and life.  Our first.  She is still too young to fully understand but I didn't want to pass up such a teachable moment.  I do not believe it in her best interest to protect her from such topics.  Afterall, we live in the country where we see dead (and alive) wildlife often.  But most importantly, how can I pass up this perfect opportunity to plant some seeds in her little heart?

We decided to let him have some peace and quiet so we went inside but watched him through our kitchen window.  I asked Charlee what his name was and she told me, "Mask".  I liked it.  It seemed perfect.

When Jim got home later that evening, Mask was still lying under the firewood rack, still hanging on...barely.  We knew what must be done but dreaded it all the same.  Jim got his gun.  The kids and I went upstairs and played so Daddy could take care of business.  This morning, as soon as Charlee walked out into the kitchen she looked out the window, but Mask wasn't there.  I asked if she was sad but she said no.  I think when I told her last night that "daddy is taking care of Mask" she took it quite literally!

I was once ravaged by "disease" just like Mask.  We're all born w/ it.  It's called SIN.  We stagger through life, trying desperately to find a place to give us Peace...and when I was a teenager I found it.  TRUE PEACE. MY FINAL RESTING PLACE.  His name is JESUS. And then I died to SELF, and He gave me NEW LIFE.  Oh the lessons we can learn, the wonderful things we can be reminded of...all from an adorable Raccoon named "Mask".