Mommy the Grouch!

I have a bit of a confession. I'm a grouch. I don't do mornings. But it hit me today just how often I tend to let my grouchiness invade my life. It just kind of spills over on to my children who, bless their hearts, are the sweetest, most forgiving, totally adoring boys.

I often feel like Oscar from Sesame Street when someone bangs on his garbage can. He shouts out, "who's there?" in that grumpy voice of his. Me, I hear the not-so-soft padding of little feet approaching my bedroom at the ungodly hour of...uh...7:00 a.m., and I crack one eyelid and growl, "waddayawant."

I was gently shown today by my five-year-old that I was being Mommy the Grouch. He so sweetly looked at me and said, "Mom, I still love you even when I bother you." Huh? I was shocked! When I asked what he meant he said, "I still love you when you're grouchy."

God overflowed my cup when he gave me my three children. No matter how often I grump or growl, those big eyes (all six of them) stare up at me in total adoration. They forgive in the blink of an eye my sour behaviour. Those little hearts are willing to overlook all my faults and they wrap their little arms around me and proclaim, "I love you even when you grouch."

Is there any greater blessing than that?

Shake It, Baby!

This past weekend my in-laws took myself, hubby, brother-in-law and his wife to Jubilations to collectively celebrate our birthdays. This was my first time attending a dinner theatre and I was unsure of what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised at the party-like atmosphere and settled in to enjoy a night of food, fun and laughter! I had no idea that my chicken was going to be served with a side of humiliation!

One of the serving cast members stopped by our table and asked for volunteers during the show - two ladies, one man. My hubby, being the thoughtful, considerate man that he is (cough, cough), adamantly insisted that the rest of us were it. After much cajoling, we gave in and agreed. Through the beginning of the performance my stomach was in knots wondering when, and exactly what, we would be required to do. And then came the dreaded pat on the shoulder and the whispered, "we're ready for you," in my ear. I got up on shaky legs and followed the staff member, the butterflies tap-dancing in my belly.

We were led off to the side where we were given instructions on what to do. "When it's time, you're going to dance with the cast members."

Oh no, I'm thinking, not dancing! Anything but dancing! This is exactly what I had been fearing. For those of you who don't know me, I was raised in a conservative Baptist Christian home. Did you catch the word "Baptist"? As in we-don't-dance-we-keep-our-feet-planted Baptist! I can count on one hand the number of times I've danced. It's not that I don't think dancing is great, it's just that I've never been taught how to dance. To make matters worse, the fairy (that was his costume) tells me that I'm going to dance with the Samurai Knight. As I look towards the stage, I conclude that he's talking about the man who's singing and dancing right up front. No off to the side, minor role for me. We're talking CENTER STAGE!

"Him," I gulp, "me?" The man nods and seals my fate. Deep breaths, take deep breaths, I remind myself.

Finally we are shuffled towards the stage and I look up to see this hand reaching down to pull me up the steps. The Samurai Knight whispers for me to do what he does, and before I know it, I find myself on stage, spotlights on me. I fixed my eyes on that knight (or rather, mostly his feet) and found myself shimmying and shaking to the Beatles's "Twist and Shout". The great thing was, the spotlights were so bright I could barely make out the audience. And the whole time I was "dancing" (I use that term lightly) the actor's eyes were encouraging and friendly. That made it easier and surprisingly, I found myself letting go of the worries (other than tripping and falling on my face) and actually having fun!

We had an awesome night, and I did get to see my husband up on stage. He had to go up and dance with the "birthday group". My birthday is a ways off and I managed to dodge that one!

What a wonderful memory!

Excuse for not Blogging #2

Gone Fishin'!

Well, technically we're not fishing, but we are on a holiday of sorts. We've headed to my in-laws. We're going to relax there for a few days and enjoy being together. I'm also going to take in my first dinner theatre. My in-laws are taking my hubby and I, as well as my brother-in-law and his wife, to a dinner theatre on Sunday. Just the six of us and NO KIDS! Now, that's a holiday! LOL!

I'll be back on Wednesday. Have a great weekend, y'all!

Willing to Drown!

Steven Curtis Chapman wrote a song that goes:

I'm divin' in, I'm goin' deep
In over my head I wanna be
Caught in the rush, tossed in the flow
In over my head I wanna go.
The river's deep, the river's wide,
The river's water is alive
So sink or swim I'm divin' in.

I've come to love that song. It talks about falling head-long into a love relationship with Jesus. I love the reckless abandon that the song portrays. There's no thought to survival, just simple surrender; a desire to be over your head, sink or swim.

I came across a saying that goes, "Dive deep; drown willingly." What an invigorating challenge. To take that deep breath and dive into deep waters. There's no wading involved; no cautious testing of the water. It doesn't say go in to your knees, or your waist or even your chin. It says dive deep, all the way, a hundred percent! Let Jesus be your very breath; let Him continue to breathe His life into your spirit. There's no need for a life preserver when we have THE Life Preserver!

So let's take the plunge! It's time to stop dipping our toes in the water and jump in. Get ready to get wet! Let's dive deep, willing to drown! Sink or swim.....

Little People - Big Ears

Road Rage. We've all seen it, heard about it and, if we're honest, have experienced it a time or two. It may not be volatile; it may be subtle, more a pounding of the steering wheel, a choice word or two, a honking of the horn. And most of us are guilty. You've heard the phrase, "your sins will find you out." Well, with children, I find that my "sins" find me much sooner!

I'm driving along, minding my own business, when all of a sudden this car pulls out, cutting me off!

"What!" I shout. "Oh, Come ON! Idiot!"

My five-year-old in the back seat had been telling me something, when my sudden outburst shocks him. "I'm sorry, mom. I'm sorry."

Instant remorse. "No, honey, it's okay. Mommy's not yelling at you. There was a bad driver and mommy got frustrated. It's okay."

"Alright, mom," comes his hesitant voice from the back. I glance in the rear-view mirror and he's staring back at me warily. I'm feeling about 2 inches high.

Or, the other day I'm stuck behind this slow driver, once again with my five-year-old in the back, and not thinking I say, "Come on, Grandpa!"

His innocent reply was, "Is it Grandpa Vaughn or Grandpa Smith?" (Names were changed to protect the innocent).

"Uh," I stutter, "it's neither, honey. Just some slow driver." And it dawns on me. Next time I could be shouting at my own father! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.

Sigh.....It's tough to remember that there are always little people with big ears listening. It amazes me how much children pick up of the things around them. They are so smart and so bright! We need to guard our tongues and be careful of what our actions say. And next time I'm following a slow driver......I'll take a deep breath and try to relax. You never know who it may turn out to be!

You Can Pick Your Nose and Your Friends...but Your Family?

This past weekend I was at a family wedding and I realized something once again. You can't pick your family. This wasn't a new revelation by any means, but rather a re-awakening.

We were sitting around the table at the reception, laughing and talking, when the idea to pull a prank on someone came up. We have one family member that everyone gives a hard time to. She's the family matriarch and we all show our love by ribbing her just a bit.

Well, let the games begin! Things got a little wild at our table and it was at a particularly boisterous moment that I realized we're crazy! I'm not talking just me and those at my table. I'm talking ALL my extended family. I have a large family and each member is weird and quirky in their own way. Together we have more "nuts" than a squirrel in the fall! But it's a lot of fun and laughter. I am blessed with the biggest, craziest, nuttiest family and I like it!

Anyone else have some crazy relatives? Maybe a little crazy yourself? Be honest. LOL!

Good Friend...Good Shoes!

A good friend is like a good pair of shoes. They may be hard to find, but they're worth the wait! I was thinking the other day how we want shoes to be comfortable, a perfect fit, to wear well and look good. A good friend is like that.

Finding a friend who is a perfect fit can be impossible. That's why I believe that when one does come along, it is a true gift from God. A blessing that's invaluable! Like that perfect pair of shoes, a good friend is someone who you're comfortable with. Someone who knows where all your secret messes are hidden, both on the outside and on the inside. They quietly roll up their sleeves and are willing to dive in and help you organize the messiness of house and life. They can hold the mirror up to us and love us at the same time. Your ugliness doesn't scare them - they see the diamond God is making you to be! And they wear well! With each road they walk with you, they become more valuable, each scuff mark a sign of endurance and strength!

I have friends like this and you know who you are! Friends who are blessings straight from a Father who loves me. They are people I never thought would "click" with me, but they have been the ones to hold my hand, to share my tears, fears, sorrows, joys and laughter. They have held up that mirror and pointed out some ugliness, and then loved me right through it! They push me to be a better Christian, wife, mother and friend, but they accept me where I'm at. Who am I that I would be so blessed?

So today, I'm going to thank God for good friends.....and good shoes!