A Rip-Snortin' Good Time

The 3rd Annual (yes, that means this has happened twice before!) Redneck Talent Show and Dinner was an evening to remember. I don't have pictures yet, but I'll post them when they come in.

My cousin Kevin (the pastor), his bassett hound Millie, my daughter Andrea (http://dastardlystar.blogspot.com) and I sang, "If your hair's too long, there's sin in your heart!" You can find an actual sound clip of this song if you do a google search. Also featured were Delmar and PD in "We're in the Jailhouse Now," various redneck poems, Kevin singing "The Redneck 12 Days of Christmas (and uh possum in a per-sim-mon treeeee)," and Tator - age 6 (his real name - my hand to God) making his stomach roll.

You have to understand, my cousin and I both have music degrees. Andrea sang the lead in "The Pirates of Penzance" operetta last year. Millie was on her own. She wandered off and, when no one was looking, nabbed the ham off the buffet table.

A grand buffet was served, and yes, game sausage was on the table. Door prizes included Bubba teeth, pocket knives, and whoopee cushions.

I wish you coulda been there. Yes, indeedy! I think I pulled a muscle laughing so hard.

On another note, I made a gingerbread house this weekend! Now I have a Christmas decoration in my apartment! I'll try to take a picture of it tonite and post tomorrow. This was made possible by an amazing gift from my dear friend Sarah at (http://inthemidstofit.blogspot.com) A woman of God if there ever was one. My thank you note is on its way to her today.

I'm so excited that I'll be home soon. I can hardly wait. Doug got three contacts about jobs yesterday and we are praying and following up today. Please Lord let it be in this bunch!

My middle child will be joining us in the cracker box after Christmas to begin her final semester of high school. She just got her acceptance letter from ORU, and is nearly beside herself with excitement. It's gonna be even more of an adventure. Pray for us.

I'm beginning to feel a little Christmas-y at last.

Merry Christmas

Time for some fun. I got this from and thought I'd jump right in. I wonder how they knew...

Christmas Elf Name My Christmas Elf Name is Get your Christmas Elf Name at JokesUnlimited.com

Christmas Naughty or Nice List I am on the The Nice List After checking the North Pole database I had : 1,444 nice entries 545 naughty entries Check your name on the Christmas Naughty or Nice List at JokesUnlimited.com

Which of Santa's Reindeer are you? Donder Like Donder you are sensible and a good leader. You know the right things to do at the right time and have people's respect Find out which of Santa's Reindeer you are at Quizopolis.com

I got a special...make that a VERY special gift in the mail yesterday. The giver can't know how much just the thought, not to mention the actual gift meant to me. Perhaps this will be a good Christmas after all.

ABC - easy as 123, name that supergroup!

I really need to go to remedial blogging school because I can't, for the life of me, figure out how to do buttons! So this is my undecorated ABC meme:

A - Available or not: Married for 23 years, longer than I was single.

B - Best friend: I count my husband as best, but if we exclude husbands, probably my niece Erica. I feel very separate from all my friends right now, as apparently none of us are good about calling or writing.

C - Cake or pie: hard to say, I like both, but I think I like more types of pie than cake. And is cheesecake a cake or a pie? Doesn't really matter, I'll eat it either way.

D - Drink of choice: Diet Coke, but if I didn't have to mind my carbs it would be Starbucks Chai Latte.

E - Essential item you use every day: Palm Treo 600 PDA/Phone. It's my life.

F - Favorite color: Green - from Emerald to Forest, & Purple - deep Purple

G - Gummy bears or worms: Cherry Sours

H - Hometown: Irving, Tx

I - Indulgence: Good sheets and blankets, the best I can afford

J - January or February: February, it's the month for lovers, and it's my oldest's birthday

K - Kids and names: Andrea Rebecca - 20, Rachel Roxanne - 17, Zachary Dennis - 14, Joe (the dog) - 4

L - Life is incomplete without: my hubby and aforementioned kids (and dog)

M - Marriage date: October 8,1983

N - Number of siblings: 3, 1 brother and 2 sisters, all older

O - Oranges or apples: Oranges, best of all Clementine Tangerines

P - Phobias or fears: stairs, which is why I never ran for Miss America. Who can walk down those stairs in a swimsuit and heels without a bannister? and heights.

Q - Favorite quote: Jeremiah 29:11 "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" NIV I'm holding hard to this one right now.

R - Reason to smile: Boo Mama, who I am missing dearly (please blog!), my middle child's rendition of Silent Night, sung sincerely in several different keys at once (how did this happen?) when I was having a particularly weepy day at work last week, I get to go home for a week at Christmas

S - Season: Fall, it's always such a beautiful relief from summer

T - Tag 3 or 4 people: Andrea at You Just Think I'm Normal, Erica at Seeking Perfect Peace (who has yet to blog, the dirty lurker!), and anyone else who hasn't done this one yet.

U - Unknown fact about me: My guilty listening pleasures are Prince and Janet Jackson

V - Vegetable you don't like: Where to begin? I've never asked for a big plate of any vegetable other than maybe Asparagus, since potatoes don't count as a vegetable. My MOST HATED is broccoli. X-P

W - Worst habit: procrastination. I love a crazy deadline and the adrenaline rush of pulling it off at the last minute. It's pathological really.

X - X-rays: teeth in the last 5 years

Y - Your favorite food: Shrimp or Steak - I'm not a cheap date

Z - Zodiac sign: Leo - and I do seem to fit the profile, though how everyone born on that day could be the same is a mystery to me. I won't listen to or read a horoscope on religious principles at any rate.

Ain't God Good!

Just for little old me, God gave Tulsa 10.4 inches of snow! Their yearly average is 9.1, so I know this was a special gift for me. I got to miss work (paid) 1 1/2 days, YAY! And because I LOVE SNOW I drove around in it all weekend! Did I mention I LOVE SNOW?!! And EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!

You see, being away from home, and flat broke, I haven't bought one gift, baked one cookie, or decorated one inch. All my decorations are back in TX and if I buy new ones, they will come in place of someone's Christmas gift. No bloggity Christmas Tour of Homes for me. I'll probably start baking this weekend, and just hope the folks back home will decorate in my absence. I'll be doing a lot of online shopping this year and that will start on the next paycheck. Picture me trying not to be stressed out about this. I just go to the window and look at the snow again.

I also drove up to my cousin's church again this weekend and began counseling a couple of families. It's so fulfilling to me that I truly could go on for hours, and have to remind myself that it's draining for the counselees. I pray ahead of time for wisdom and insight for each one, and find that God is always faithful. Even with my training, I am not adequate to the task without Him. He gives me word pictures that are particularly appropriate, Scripture that absolutely fits, and compassion for each and every one. What a joy! I love giving hope to the hopeless!

By-the-by, we're havin' a Redneck Christmas Talent Show this Sunday Eve. at New Life Foursquare in Vinita, OK, and my cousin, his bassett hound Millie, my daughter Andrea, and I are workin' up a "special" just for the occasion. Wish you could all come. If I get a picture I'll post it next week. Not a clue what I'm going to wear, yet. What do women rednecks look like?

Did you guess this?

You Are Midnight

You are more than a little eccentric, and you're apt to keep very unusual habits. Whether you're a nightowl, living in a commune, or taking a vow of silence - you like to experiment with your lifestyle. Expressing your individuality is important to you, and you often lie awake in bed thinking about the world and your place in it. You enjoy staying home, but that doesn't mean you're a hermit. You also appreciate quality time with family and close friends.

What Time Of Day Are You?

I got this from Barb at A Chelsea Morning and thought I'd join the fun. How about you?

All the News from Lake Woebegone

Wow, I didn't realize how long it has been since I blogged last. And WOO HOO, I have 10 subscribers out there. DOUBLE DIGITS! SHWEET!

I'll have to type fast 'cause I'm on lunch. Great Thanksgiving - 4 1/2 days with my hubby! And kids! And the Greatest Dog in the World! The weather was perfect, though my dressing didn't taste quite right. Zach caught his first fish.

Sunday I got to go to the home church for a wonderful service with Kent Henry. Probably the MOST ADD worship leader ever. Still, an anointed man. Who called MY SON up to pray for him and to pass on that anointing to him. He even sat and listened to the songs my 14 yr. old has been writing. SO HONORED! Truly a day to remember. Didn't get to see Erica or the new baby - GRRRR! She was off at the IN-LAWS! You owe me, Chica!

Just for fun I decided to get a RAGING Sinus Infection! Maybe NOT such a good idea.

I have to say that "Good-byeing" doesn't get any easier with practice. One child decided to start a big fight just to ease the sadness. Not such a good idea either. Doug drove me back to Tulsa, and went for a possible interview. PPLBBLTTT! They offered him $8/hr. Right. My big ol' macho husband nearly cried on my shoulder last night. I'm pretty sure he did as he was driving back to Texas. When you're praying - include us. We're really tired of the separation. And the no money. And the sinus infection. WHINE!

One piece of good news. My cousin, who pastors a church about an hour from here, has asked me to do some counseling for his congregation, and so we're working on a day of the week that I can come out and fulfill part of God's calling on my life. I'm really excited about it and the opportunity to support his ministry.

I'd best go now. I have read each of your posts, I just haven't commented. I know, shame on me. I'll try to get that caught up tonite.

I Think I'll Try It

I got this from Barb - http://anewchelseamorning.blogspot.com and thought I'd jump right in. If you read further, you'll find that fits with my assessment.

Your Five Factor Personality Profile

Extroversion: You have high extroversion.You are outgoing and engaging, with both strangers and friends.You truly enjoy being with people and bring energy into any situation.Enthusiastic and fun, you're the first to say "let's go!" Conscientiousness: You have medium conscientiousness.You're generally good at balancing work and play.When you need to buckle down, you can usually get tasks done.But you've been known to goof off when you know you can get away with it. Agreeableness: You have high agreeableness.You are easy to get along with, and you value harmony highly.Helpful and generous, you are willing to compromise with almost anyone.You give people the benefit of the doubt and don't mind giving someone a second chance. Neuroticism: You have low neuroticism.You are very emotionally stable and mentally together.Only the greatest setbacks upset you, and you bounce back quickly.Overall, you are typically calm and relaxed - making others feel secure. Openness to experience: Your openness to new experiences is high.In life, you tend to be an early adopter of all new things and ideas.You'll try almost anything interesting, and you're constantly pushing your own limits.A great connoisseir of art and beauty, you can find the positive side of almost anything.

The'>http://www.blogthings.com/thefivefactorpersonalitytest/">The Five Factor Personality Test

Enough's enough!

I have to say that independence is overrated. I always thought of myself as an independent person. Appears I was woefully mislead. Since moving to OK over two months ago, I am not more self-confident, nor am I more interesting. I am not more patient, nor am I more trusting of God. I'd say this little experiment is a resounding failure.

I do, however, appreciate my family, my dog, and my washer and dryer a great deal more. Also the simple act of touch. Nobody touches me out here on my own. Did you know your skin can ache from the absence of touch? As much as I may declare that I have personal space issues, this is not what I was looking for. I miss having someone to sit by in church, leading worship, or the opportunity to sing a "special" from time to time.

I need my family and I need God to open up a job for my husband. I don't like crying every day. It hurts and it messes up my sinuses something awful.

p.s. My daughter needs some readers for her blog if you don't mind stopping by http://dastardlystar.blogspot.com I know she'd appreciate a shout out.

Works for me Wednesday

I know I should link or something for this WFMW, but I don't know how. If you can help, please email or comment with the info.

Meal Planning

I took the time about 5 years ago to plan out a menu. I enjoy cooking, but I hate to decide what's for dinner. I also like a lot of variety. I found, however, that I was making the same old thing and throwing away perfectly decent food gone bad then running to the store for two more ingredients. EVERY. DAY.

This involves some serious investment of time, but it will last forever. I am one of the pickiest eaters you will find, so I think if you put your mind to it, you'll do even better than me. The primary purpose of this is to plan meals, but it will help greatly with your shopping list and grocery budget.

I got out my recipes and cookbooks, and a spiral notebook and scissors. I made a list of all the entrees I like and will actually make. Then I made a list of all the vegetables/side dishes I like and will actually make (MUCH shorter list). I then cut out each item for moving around. I decided I would plan for 6 nights a week, to accomodate date night.

Here is where the work comes in. You'll have to set your priorities. I planned to have chicken at least twice a week, red sauce no more than once a week, pasta no more than twice a week, and no particular meat two days in a row. You may want to have vegetarian, or fish a certain number of times a week. Just won't fly at my house. I also planned for stew after roast, and dishes requiring boned chicken after preparing a roasted chicken or turkey. Once I got all those ducks in a row I had TWO WHOLE MONTHS of 6 nights/wk, no entree doubled! This was a joy, because having something once every two months is not too often. Plus, as I find new recipes I can either replace something I'm tired of, or add to the end and work up to THREE MONTHS!

Next I matched the veggies/side dishes, first of all the things that MUST go together like fried chicken and mashed potatoes. This involves more moving of pieces of paper, as I didn't want potatoes too often, or cheese every day. (o.k., I LIKE cheese everyday, but it doesn't like me!) I made sure I had a green veggie or salad every meal and increased our intake of these items DRASTICALLY.

Next, I make the shopping list, making sure that I check for EVERY ingredient in my recipes. I may buy meat on sale and freeze it, or canned goods on special, but no more buying fresh produce that isn't in the plan and then throwing away not-so-fresh produce that I neglected to cook. I really save SO MUCH MONEY this way. Now you may be thinking, "GEE, she's so ORGANIZED!" To which I reply, "BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" I just LOVE me a plan. I am NOT so organized, which is why this was so necessary. Organized people do this innately. I had to work on it. Now just sit back and let the plan work for you.

This plan shops every other week, so the flexibility lies in that you can eat any of the meals within that two weeks, because you already have all the ingredients for each meal. It can also get backed up because of unexpected events, so your plan will probably last longer than you originally think.

The very best, serendipitous (is that even a word?) part of this plan is what has happened with my kids. I have taught all three of them - ages then: boy 12, girls 15 and 18 - how to cook ALL of these entrees. "WHAT?!?" It's true! As I was finishing up my M.Ed., all my classes were at night and my husband was less than involved in food preparation. I offered to pay them $5 per meal (only one person per meal) to make dinner according to the plan. They had to defrost, if necessary, and begin preparation in time for dinner to be at a decent hour. This was much less expensive than them eating fast food and so much better for them. Our finances had been so low for so long that they had forgotten the meaning of the word allowance. I actually had them arguing over who got to cook, and I came home from class to a plate, left warming for me in the oven or microwave. What's not to love? They learned how to follow a recipe, planning ahead, and the mystery of getting all the parts of a dinner to come out at the same time. They tried more things because they cooked them. From time to time we go off the plan, but we always come back to it eagerly.

click to see here

This is a page of my plan (it's like the velveteen meal plan!). If you run into any problems, just ask me. I LOVE a plan!

Sunday Seventeen?

Seventeen things you might not know about me

Ok, I know this was a Thursday Thirteen, but I couldn't blast my daughter's behind away from the computer before now. So here goes.

1. If I could have any gift/skill in the world...the ability to dance. I watch all dance movies - awful acting and all- and dream that I can actually put the lower half of my body into some kind of synchronization with the top half.

2. I actually took a hip hop dance class a couple of years ago. If you've ever seen me in person, please tone the guffaws down to a mild chortle. It was me and 3 girls from a high school drill team and a girl in junior high. Wow. With mirrors everywhere.
3. I think I'm thinner and more attractive than I really am. This is why photographs are so unwelcome and so shocking. Unfortunately, when I was MUCH thinner and more attractive, I didn't have a clue.

4. I was plagued by nightmares as a child and couldn't watch any t.v. show or movie that was even slightly scary. This includes "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" with Don Knotts. Ok, stop guffawing, I can hear you. When I got older I learned to change my dreams when they started to turn dark and now I almost never have any trouble at all. Even after watching really dark, psychological movies. I still don't do the whole Freddy Krueger, Halloween, SawIII thing, though.

5. As outgoing as I am - I can literally carry on a balanced, two-way conversation with virtually anyone - I often agonize over my own foolishness and/or foot-in-mouth disease on my way home.

6. I don't consider myself maternal in the slightest. I always wanted children, but the actual raising of them has been quite a challenge. It's not their fault, just how it is. I actually do better with teenagers, even in jr. high, than with toddlers through elementary. I know. Weird, huh?

7. I have an uncanny memory for faces, and I'm pretty good with names, too. If I tell you your face is familiar, I will eventually figure out where I met you before. In another state. 22 years ago.

8. I have a nearly all-consuming desire to be on stage. Except I don't do skits. They're not cool.

9. I have a minister's license and I am third generation in the ministry. I don't preach, but I do teach, counsel, sing, and write.

10. My most difficult birthday was my 30th, because I had not finished my degree and I was disappointed in myself. By 40 I had my B.A. and was working on my M.Ed. Much better.

11. I still feel that the bigness of my life is ahead of me. I hope I'm not wrong about this because I believe there is bigness in me. At this point there is definitely bigness to me.

12. I took an English horseback riding class in college and it was one of the most fun things I have ever done. One of these days I'm getting a horse and I don't care if it harelips the Devil! What exactly does that phrase mean?

13. I don't think I am creative. I'm really good at following a pattern, and that is not the same thing.

14. Did I mention that I'm weird. Oh, you already knew that. What I didn't realize growing up and trying desperately to hide my weirdness, was that it was like trying to hide a fart. Particularly if one is lactose intolerant. I have found, however, that weirdness seems to be "in" these days and I enjoy a certain degree of coolness to my own bewilderment.

15. I carry Play-Doh with me at all times, because when I get stressed out I like to smell it. Please refer to the above item.

16. When I was in college, different school, I slid down the bannister of the music bldg. in a dress. Unfortunately, the young man at the bottom neglected to catch me and I broke my foot.

17. I had a black belt in dating before I married 23 years ago. I did mention that I was much thinner and more attractive then, didn't I?

O.k. that's certainly more than anyone really needed to know. I'm going to bed now. Feel free to spread the love.

Sweet, sweet connection

I'm cookin' with gas, now!

Actually, I'm not cooking at all, my sweet daughter is. I'm merely sitting on the floor of my new apartment...BLOGGING! Yes friends, I finally have internet. No couch, no desk, no table, no box springs, no bedframe, no lamps. I do have a small t.v., a computer with INTERNET!, an air mattress for Andrea and a queen mattress for me. Oh, find of finds - we happened upon a not-so-gently used chair and coffee table at the DUMPSTER! Now we can have High Tea with the Queen! She gets the chair of course.

I spent my Saturday partaking of various forms of chocolate. Dicey business for a diabetic, but I persevered. Actually my boss' women's group put together a Chocolate Boutique women's day and she invited Andrea and me. It was a treat, not just because of the chocolate (MMMMM!), but because a day on the floor watching our 4 t.v. stations didn't hold much appeal. Now this wasn't just about eating, but also about how God's love is extravagant, and necessary, just like chocolate. You can get the details of how to do your own C.B. at www.group.com and enjoy!

I hardly know what to blog about since I've been so out of touch. I want you to know you may tag me for any meme you'd like and I'll be sure to respond. No word yet on a job for Doug.

I'm doing pretty well, considering... Considering my van started smoking last Wednesday and he had to make a mad dash up here to replace a hose that went to the coolant, pump, valve thingy. I know it may not seem cost effective to drive that round trip, but imagine the cost of limping one's van into an unknown repair shop and saying, "Um, I think it's broke. Can you fix it?"

I snickered feverishly at In the Midst of It's post today. Dangerous in an office setting. I'm sure you all did, too, because I think the only ones who read my blog are related to her. OOH! If you'll notice, I just created my very first link or two. You may gaze in wonder. You may also notice (please concur) that I've gotten my funny back on. Apparently it was attached to personal internet service. Who'da thunk it? It's a good thing, too, because all that whining was gettin' on my last nerve. I must say, however, that Monday is the saddest day of the week because my MomTime buddies are playing without me. You know who you are!

I'll sign off before this officially becomes the longest post evah. I'll be back. Soon.

The rest of the story

O.k. well I'm at home for just a couple of days and I finally got through to blogger. I didn't even know it posted my last entry because it erased me twice. Come to find out it cut some off, so I'll finish that up.

The house we are looking to lease/purchase will not be available until the first of January. The couple that owns it is moving to Africa to train pastors and won't be leaving until then. So we need a place for 2-3 months until that works out.

The update is, I got a call yesterday afternoon from the owner of the house I'm in. She decided that she needed to work on the house without occupants. I have until next weekend to find a place. I spent most of the ride home trying not to throw up from the stress. Any ideas folks? You'd think I'd have my sea legs by now wouldn't you?

The rollercoaster this week also included this event. After I got my first paycheck and my husband paid bills, we had like $20 to make it the next two weeks. That meant I would not make it home for my son's 14th birthday. When he found this out he called me sobbing! Another weepy day at work. I was finally able to get some of the email addresses from the folks back home and shared just a bit of what was going on with one of my friends.

He called that evening and said that everyone deserves a good birthday, and he and his wife were paying for my gas to come home! So here I am, trying to figure out what to take back with me and where I'm going to put it anyway. Enjoying my family and praying like crazy.

I appreciate your comments and prayers. This adventure doesn't feel very fun yet.

Weeping may last for the night...but joy comes in the morning

I find myself at my desk weeping. My family has just left to go back home, and though I will be headed there in 4 days, I'm having a hard time. This is the difficult part of walking out God's provision. Doug felt like both interviews went well and we are praying that the job that is NOT 55 hrs/wk. is the one that will work out at a good pay and quick start date. (Cross your fingers and toes for relocation package!)

Let me tell you about the housing God has provided. I spent the first week with my MIL who lives 1/2 mile from my office. She has a 1 bedroom condo and I stayed on the couch. Thought I might stay there until my first paycheck arrived so I could get an apartment. When she found out that would be at the end of three weeks...well, let's just say she was unprepared.

So I called a couple of friends in town. The next day I moved to the pastor's home 25 miles away - they have a MIL's suite that had a bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen/living room with its own entrance. She stocked the frig for me and made dinner in the evening! I can't tell you how much I appreciate this family. Talk about instant in season and out.

I was there for nearly two weeks until I moved to the vacant, but furnished home of a friend's daughter. It was also 25 miles away, but in the other direction. The joy of Tulsa is that at each place it only takes 30 minutes to go those 25 miles in rush hour! This home is awfully cute and is such a blessing. After the stress of the MIL's house, I certainly didn't want to overstay my welcome anywhere. There is room for my older daughter, who is here and looking for a job, and myself. God bless this family as well!

Oh, while at the pastor's home I learned of a house that he was buying that is about 5 miles from my job. He wanted to know if we would be interested in renting or lease/puchase -ing it from him! It is beautiful, much nicer than any home I have lived in since I married. It is also well within our price range. Three blessings for me!

Here's the hitch: The house in which I am currently staying is on the market and is getting a lot of realtor attention. Even if it sold right awa

Long Time No Blog

Let the praises ring out - I'm Bloggin' Again!

I can't catch everything up today, but I'm gonna start sumpin'. I only have 30 minutes for lunch and I don't have a computer at home, yet.

It's kinda cold and rainy here in the CityPlex Towers (aka The City of Faith) in beautiful South Tulsa. I have been on the job almost 3 weeks, and didn't have a computer at all for the first 2 1/2! Then I had to catch up on everyone's posts since I had been away before I could even think of posting. It was so good to read y'all! I've missed you more than you know.

Speaking of missing, I haven't seen my family since I left and that's mighty hard. They are coming up this weekend because...drumroll please...Doug has 2, yes 2, interviews! And they are bringing the greatest dog in the world with them! My cup runneth over!

About the job - I am a writer in the Editorial Department of Oral Roberts Ministries. I get to read testimonies of God's faithfulness all day. And of course edit them. That's what they pay me for. I have my own office, which is very exciting for me. Payday is tomorrow which is even more exciting because we've all been livin' on fumes since I left. You'd think I'd be thinner by now.

I'll try to blog again tomorrow and let y'all know how the housing situation has progressed. I still can't get my email from home so I'm depending, nay waiting with bated breath, on your posts and comments.

It's good to be back!

Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?

It's 1:31 am on the day that I am leaving and I'm up finishing the laundry so I can take clean clothes to my MIL's house. Feelin' kinda ponderful (yes, that's what I meant to type) so I thought I'd share.

I've had only a few big moves in my life. My first memory is moving to my big house the week before my 3rd birthday. Big excitement and I must have talked a blue streak that day. A couple of house changes within the same town before the next big move - to the dorm at ORU. It was all excitement because I was about to take the world by storm. Only a little sadness to leave friends because I knew I'd be back to visit. Often. The song that I felt was written for me was "I'm Gonna Fly" by Amy Grant. College would be the place where people would finally "get" me. And they did. I felt such a freedom there to be all of me, not just the parts that were acceptible to the particular group or guy I was with. It was o.k. to be smart and I could show that and still date - my favorite pasttime.

The next move was when I got married a couple of years later (comin' up on 23 next month!). Yet again, a happy adventure. My quest for "the man" was over and I could commence with the rest of my goals. I had made friends in Tulsa, home of my first married apartment, and wasn't concerned about leaving home at all. What could go wrong? I had full confidence in the future.

About a year and a half later, we headed back to Texas and it didn't seem like such a big move because I was coming home. We had some adjustment issues like any young couple, but life was still good. I was still ready to conquer the world. During the next 6 mos. during which I had my first child, my husband's fledging faith in the Lord began to unravel. I was too naive to know what was going on and tied up with new baby and postpartum.

The bad move. Work took us off to Oregon for a "temporary" contract job. I. DID. NOT. WANT. TO. GO. At this point I knew things were not all right and the sense of foreboding was tangible. I couldn't get anyone to listen to me. I was trapped. We put our stuff in storage and I packed up my baby and my postpartum and went to the land of no sun, with no transportation of my own. Because this was just "temporary" - 6 weeks at the most - it wasn't necessary to make new friends or a find a church that I would only have to say good-bye to right away. Only, if you'll remember, my motto is everything is better with a buddy or cheese. I don't operate this way. So began the downward spiral of this little family of three into the pits of long term depression. Six weeks turned into, by excruciating slowness of multiple delays, 11 MONTHS! So much damage was done to us, by us, and through us, that it has taken YEARS to recover what was lost in Banana Slugland. We returned to Texas beaten, damaged, wounded. Lost was the innocence of youth and the unquestioning belief that God would lay the path out before us, smooth and clear. We were forever changed by that move and my personal jury is still out on whether the good things that happened through that time (and it took me a long time to even see any good) outweigh the damage.

We have changed homes a few times since then, but have stayed in the same area for the last 19 years. We've done a lot of healing and I can truly say that God is my Redeemer. However, I find myself on the brink of this move - knowing it is what I want and what God wants for me - apprehensive, fearful, confused. Afraid that there lurks in the shadows a Devourer like before. I want to have that 100% confidence that all will be smooth sailing, but I'm not 23 years old and unscarred anymore. My wounds have healed, but the scars remain. There is an aching in times of stress like the aching in my foot (that I broke in college) when it's going to rain. I am excited and sad. Wishing I could just be excited. This total dependence on God messes with my need to control my life. To say that I will never be without an escape again. Having to trust Him when I would rather trust me.

Ultimately I believe this move is about my Redeemer. I believe He wants to redeem my trust in Him and He can only do that through this step of faith that I am taking. I feel like Indiana Jones in the movie where he must step out onto nothingness to save his dad. I am leaving friends and church behind and stepping out into an entirely new season of my life. No net. It's up to the Lord to catch me. I know He is my Redeemer; I'm just a little frightened.

And they're off!

Well, technically it's just me, and I'm actually leaving Sunday, but I don't know if I will get a chance to blog between now and then.

I have just a wee bit of anxiety about this move. I know it is exactly what God has planned, but that doesn't mean it will be easy. I have only lived outside of Dallas/Ft. Worth 3 years of my 43. I've been attending the same church for 21 years with my brother as pastor. I haven't worked full time, except for a couple of temp jobs, in 21 years either. So I have alot of adjusting to do. Not to mention starting off without the DH and DKs, and the best dog in the universe.

My DH has agreed to let me take the van (unairconditioned) so that I will not be completely at the mercy of my MIL. Please pray for rain all the way from DFW to Tulsa on Sunday so that I will survive the trip! I will be spending the first week with my MIL so that might take some prayer as well. After that, I may be getting the first apartment by myself of my entire life. I might finally be a real grownup, or GRUP as we say around here.

I think it will be fun after 2 years of living with 5 other people, packed to the rafters. However, since my motto is "Everything's better with a buddy, or cheese, or both" I'm not sure how I'll function on my own. Oh, did I mention - I won't have a computer, except at work! Guess where I'll be spending my lunch! So, I'll do a little freelance writing and a lot of reading.

We're still believing for financial provision, as we have about $40 to get us to next Friday - not this Friday - all of us. I know God will provide, it's His penchant for waiting till the last minute that is so unsettling. I choose to believe in Him and I will make myself rest in that belief. Help my unbelief!

I have a small shindig/big weepfest scheduled for tomorrow evening with a few friends. I have managed to keep the tears to a minimum, but there's no way I can hold out there. Sunday morning I will say good-bye to a few more, though I will be traveling back about every two weeks until DH finds a job and we sell the house. Then it's off to Tulsa. Thank Heavens for email and cell phones.

Wish me well sweet bloggy friends.

A Different Book MeMe

Got this from Barb over at A Chelsea Morning:

Here's how it works:
Grab the book closest to you.
Open it to page 123.
Scroll down to the 5th sentence.
Post the text of the next 3 sentences, the name of the book and the author.I'm changing rule #1 a bit. I'm changing #1 to "grab the book you're currently reading."This is the book I'm reading right now. It is "The Cat-nappers" by P.G. Wodehouse.On page 123, sentences 6, 7 and 8 are: "Compared with other items on the list of my troubles it was perhaps a minor cause for melancholy that the old ancestor should be trying to get me on the telephone. Nevertheless, it added one more thing to worry about. It could only mean, I felt, that she had come out of the amiable mood she had been in when last heard from and had thought of a lot more to make on the subject of my failure to reach the standard which she considered adequate in a nephew." This book, like all Wodehouse books, is British humor at its finest. I know not everyone revels in it, but those of us who do laugh out loud at the adventures of Jeeves and Bertie. You'll only find these at the library or used bookstore. But they are well worth it, and appropriate for any reader. Pass it on.

Drumroll Please

Allrighty! Everyone pick a partner and line up to do the Happy Dance with me! Yes, the year of waiting on God has finally come to an end and I got the job with Oral Roberts Ministries! I start in a week, so I hope God has all the other details worked out and was not caught by surprise. There has been a great deal of hootin' and hollerin' here at the Taylor homestead, right after I accepted the position from the lofty perch of my bathwater. Pretty difficult not to splash when you are shaking all over. Though my voice? Like buttah. I can hardly contain my excitement and it will be a challenge to sleep tonite. So many plans, so few finances. But God is faithful - all the time.

I'll post more after the shaking subsides.

How About A Game of Catch (up)?

OOH! So much to say...so late at night. O.K. I'll try to catch up on some info and relate some heartfelt musings.

1. I've discovered one of the many reasons why my family thinks I am a raving lunatic. I have found that by the time I have answered "What's for dinner?" individually for each and every member of the family (with at least one "I don't like that.") if you are the last person to ask, it sucks to be you because I will have forgotten that you haven't asked the other 5 times and I will probably yell at you. This also goes for requests for purchases or money. Can't all you family members take a meeting, decide on the questions and ask them just once? I mean really.

2. If it were possible I believe that I would be bald, entirely, by now from the stress of waiting for God's timing. I know, I know. I shouldn't worry, shouldn't stress, should have more faith, lean to the left and hold my tongue just right. Forgive me. I'm absolutely doing my level best.

3. What's the deal with school supplies? Why do I need to supply extras to turn in to the teacher every year? What are they doing with all those protractors? On whose authority does my son's teacher give him a daily grade of 40 because payday and subsequent supply shopping didn't come until after the first two weeks of school? Do I care that said teacher may be offended by the letter he received from me after hearing about said daily grade? I do not. I. Am. Moving. Not sure when, but this is my mantra of faith and I will not be shaken. I have it on good authority (my brother, the pastor) that this is what is meant by "having done all to stand, stand therefore." Besides, wasn't all that revenue from the Texas Lottery supposed to have all of our children up to their hoo-hahs in markers and laptops? Who's spending that money and how can I get my hands on a couple of protractors to wield on behalf of all broke parents?

4. Pardon me a moment while I return my soapbox to its locked and upright position... there now, where was I?

5. My son is a sheep dog. Not as in shaggy, but as in obliged to control by nudging. He has always been this way and is not likely to change. The problem is, I resist nudging. Wait, make that "the hair stands up on the back of my neck" when this happens. So you see my dilemma. Put that together with the fact that he is the youngest and figure in #1 of this post and you will get a clear picture of a great many of our interactions. Were he not also the most affectionate, devoted, giving, God-loving almost-14-year-old alive, he might no longer be alive. Tonight he got up after he had been in bed about a half hour and said he felt like God wanted him to pray for us (hubby and I) about stress, jobs, finances, etc. He did and trotted happily off to bed. And did I mention he had to settle for a cheap imitation of the shoes he really wanted and worked to earn because we just couldn't swing the name brand? Just yesterday? Color me abashed and appreciative.

6. Oh, you say you'd like to know how my trip to Tulsa went. Well...because our VW Harlequin Golf has no clutch, our Chevy Venture has no air, and my husband and oldest daughter both have jobs that require the use of the shock and strut-less Cutlass Ciera, I rented a car to get there. It was nice driving a car on which everything worked and got decent gas mileage. Once again I spent the night with my dear friend from long ago and stayed up much too late talking. It was so humid when I got up that the hairspray turned immediately to cow slobber on my hair. For those of you not raised in the South, that would be the beads that turn up on the merangue of your favorite pie. I know, icky term. Not so great on the hair either. I arrived at the HR building with 3 minutes to spare and began to make my way across the lawn and around the back of the building to the correct entrance. However I was wearing my oldest daughter's lovely lime green pumps, specifically designed for sitting. I could only move about 4 inches at a time, but now would not have time to inchworm my way back to the car to find my backup shoes and make it into the office. First interview, outlining the job description and requirements, references, recommendations, pay and benefits went very well. On to the second interview - back to the car, four inches at a time - change shoes and drive across the street to meet the managing editor and copy editor. This interview ended with the words "front runner" and "kindred spirits" - that's good, right? They said they had one more interview that they "probably ought to do" but that they would be making the decision right away and how soon would I be available. So I did the happy dance - not in the office, silly! Now I just have to hope and pray and wait for Tuesday or word that the other candidate has moved to Albania to take up underwater basket weaving. Do you see any hair falling out? So, once again, I will let you know as soon as I hear anything.

7. Given that the job is a done deal, all that remains is that I find a place to stay, a car to drive (my middle child threw up in the only intact car after a trip to Six Flags yesterday), my husband gets a job in Tulsa and we sell our home. No big woop. I must say there's nothing like driving to church in Texas, in the summer, in the Vomitmobile. Good Times.

I'll sign off now. I have MomTime in the morning. YAY! and I can't wait to spell the socks off my dear friends after watching "Akeela and the Bee" and eating pizza. Thanks for the prayers.

Livin' on Tulsa Time

It's been a lurkin' good week here and I am amazed at how you people blog once or twice A DAY! I haven't blogged because the whole of my consciousness is consumed with, "I. NEED. A. JOB." and "How long can I survive on NO. MONEY."

I actually missed my MomTime group this week (BOO HOO!!!) because of a poorly scheduled orthodontist appointment. This was a real hardship. I'll be back on Monday, ready to kick some spelling booty, as that is the game for next week.

Oh, by the way... I HAVE AN INTERVIEW! A REAL LIFE, FACE-TO-FACE INTERVIEW! ON FRIDAY! So brush off your pray-er and remember me at 10 am Central on Friday. This just might be the one.

Now I am really sleepy and I have to drive up to good old Tulsa tomorrow morning. Thanks for all your prayers.

Books, Books, Books!

I'm jumping onto this meme from A Chelsea Morning, though it's taken several days for me to get to it. Let's see if it inspires anyone else.

1. Books that changed your life: Boundaries by Cloud and Townsend - helped me take back the me I had lost along the way and restored my husband's respect for me in the process. Speaking of Love by Fred and Anna Kendall - helped me to understand that my husband was not just trying to rain on my parade 24/7 and that my son's desire to lead (control, sheepdog, etc.) me was not also not meant to drive me insane. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis - just because. The Bible - it continually changes my life.

2. Books that you've read more than once: The Chronicles of Narnia - I think at least 8 times through all of them at last count, Boundaries - I need updating regularly. The Bible - I'm on my second time through it entirely, though I was raised on it and have read many of the books multitudinous times.

3. Book you'd want on a desert island: the Bible, of course because it always has a fresh word for me, Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis - I'd need uninterrupted time to take it all in and begin to understand it.

4. Book that made you laugh: My dad had a copy of The in Blue by P.G. Wodehouse - very dry, very British humor that I appreciated at a very early age. I would laugh till I cried and those around me thought I had lost my mind.

5. Book that made you cry: wow, so many, the script for Shadowlands by C.S. Lewis - I literally sobbed. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom - two boxes of Kleenex, anything by Nicholas Sparks.

6. Book that you wish had been written: Don't lose yourself in your marriage: the young wives' guide to sustained respect and happiness.

7. Books you don't enjoy: self-righteous "Do it my way - the right way - and you won't have any problems" types, anything that implies there is only one right way, excessively frilly "women's" books, in other words, books that aren't REAL, also textbooks, manuals, Nathaniel Hawthorn, Ernest Hemingway, and Walden Pond.

8. Book you are currently reading: I just finished Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich and I'm supposed to be reading The Search for Significance, Growing Up Divorced, and a book about raising gifted adolescents. I keep starting, but can't seem to plow through any of these. I need another Wodehouse book to get me through.

9. Book you've been meaning to read: Mere Christianity - I think I'm going to need a discussion group for this one.

10. Book you remember as a real page turner: This Present Darkness - it was tough getting started, but then I couldn't put it down. The Curious Incident of the Dog In The Nighttime - written from the perspective of an autistic young man.

11. Nonfiction books you have enjoyed: Lisa Whelchel's books - all of them, Wild at Heart, and other aforementioned books.

12. Children's books your family has loved: Big Max, Where the Wild Things Are, Fox In Socks, The Pokey Little Puppy, Charlotte's Web, The Chronicles of Narnia, And to Think That It Happened On Mulberry Street.

My lifelong love of reading makes a comprehensive list impossible. Perhaps these few mentions will strike a chord with you.

Some Catching Up To Do

I find I am a much more faithful skulker when it comes to blogs than I am a writer of them. Though now my family is after me, "You need to blog again!" So here we go. I thought I'd take a page from Sarah's book and since I don't know how to post links I'll just say her blog is "In the Midst of it" and it is amazing. I want to be just like her when I grow up. Never mind that she is at least 15 years younger than me. And by the way, "Snaps for Addison" for coming home and making new sounds. We're so proud of this tiny trooper. Anyhoo (is that a Midwesterner's saying?), "What I Learned on My Summer Vacation"

I think I shall call this the "Summer of Stretching," but not in the exercise-y meaning of the word. I think I have stretch marks on my soul and they itch, too. I have learned that I can wait on God, even when I don't wanna! (Picture me stomping my foot) I can love Him even when I don't get my way and I can say, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo (Abedniboo? Abenibob? Benny?) "I believe my God will deliver me, but even if He doesn't, I will still serve Him." He loves me too much to let me get away with behavior that is unacceptible, but He gives me lots of opportunities to make it right. One time at ORU a preacher from some African country spoke on Jonah and taught us a song, "He will not compel us to go, Oh no, He'll just make us willing to go!" The breakdown of the air conditioner in my car has been my own personal "belly of the whale." UNCLE!

I've learned that my family is quite fond of me (Go figure!) even though I am snappish when under this much stress for this long. And will deny being snappish up to the point where I box their ears! "I'm not angry!" I've learned that my kids are turning into some really amazing people and will make very good friends when others are in need. My husband is a saint. He faithfully rubs my diabetic feet every night, without me asking. He remains married to this slave driving shrew who expresses her frustration by finding work for others. (I don't like that part of me!) He can fix ANYTHING. What a man!

I've learned that pizza holds no allure for me in the summer months - too heavy, too cheesy, too hot. Hot brownies and chocolate chip cookies, however, are always welcome. I like ice cream with the aforementioned items, as well as with cobbler or shortcake, but I never really crave it by itself. I love fresh iced tea and I consume massive quantities of it, but have sent back bad iced tea at restaurants more times than I can count. BLEH! Steak is my most favoritest food ever, but I don't care for beef dishes in general. I don't much trust a casserole. My husband went to a business thingy at the Viking Test Kitchens and later said, "I don't even know what some of the things I ate were." This is a phrase you will NEVER hear me utter. (shudders!)

I've learned that while stress may turn me grey, apparently my hair will not turn loose. THANK GOD! We've all learned to be a lot more flexible. Sometimes I feel like Yum-Yum, the contortionist roommate of my friend, Mary, who used to be in the Ringling Brothers' Circus. Or was that Purple Peggy, her other contortionist roommate? At any rate, I'm still here, still trusting God, still believing for the dream.

Bloggity Tour of Homes - Tardy Style

I've been in a bit of a blogging slump, though life is cruising along pretty well. For those 2 or 3 of you who will see this, here is my lovely home.

Alas, this is a terrible picture of our room of "packing in faith", I can only say it's fuzzy because the stress of "packing in faith" has made us all a bit wobbly. Still waiting to hear on jobs in Tulsa and waging spiritual warfare on the Enemy who is in the business of discouragement and delay.
This is my son's room. I have to say that by the time we got it finished with the cute paint and border (which you can't see, but has cars and trucks on it) he was 12 and had outgrown it. Perhaps the next owners will love it. Or paint over it.
Apparently we're much calmer outside. Yes, the yard is bereft of grass. It's a drought. The plant pots are from the garden that didn't happen this year. BooMama said to print it the way we live. We actually threw away the pots yesterday, but we aren't sodding the yard until this heat breaks. In general the front door is open, even as late as midnight. Or later if I'm not paying attention. We're all night owls here and obviously oblivious to intruder danger.
Yes, that's him. Clicker in hand. But you can't have him, he's taken. By the owner of the Diet Coke from Whataburger. The perennial laundry basket peeks out from the coveted chair-and-a-half perched beneath the holy ceiling fan. The walls are a yummy Bit-O-Honey color that I just love.
Welcome to Sunday dinner. A little Pork Chop Casserole, salad, sweet tea, and cobbler for dessert - prepared by my 17 yr. old daughter. Determined just a few months ago to pre-make (as much as possible) my Sunday dinner so I could actually enjoy the Sabbath. What a welcome home from church! God bless Time Bake and Crock-Pots!

We just painted the kitchen and I love it so much I think I'll do it all over again in my new kitchen. The top half is a Ralph Lauren River Rock Texture in SwampWillow. The bottom half is a Ralph Lauren semi-gloss in Mediterranean. You can't see the stained glass window, but it really looks nice with this. The master just got a new coat of paint this week - Waterwheel by Behr, which is really boring, but good for resale. It does look nicer, I just prefer real color.

My children took the pictures, uploaded them, and linked it all together. I'm afraid I'm woefully inept at this sort of thing. I will assure you that though our home may be a bit (or a lot) untidy and in the process of remodeling and packing, you are welcome at anytime. Except maybe early morning. We will stop what we are doing, TiVo what we were watching, and serve you something yummy to eat. All 6 of us cook - my 13 yr. old son made cheesy scrambled eggs, bacon, biscuits, and gravy for me this morning. And most of all we will laugh with those who laugh and weep with those who mourn. Because we love you.

Epiphany

In my continuing quest to be more like Jesus, I have discovered a dilemma. You see, I hate surprise parties. Not just an "I don't prefer them," but a true hatred. All the anxiety about secretive planning, last minute SNAFUs, etc. Maybe it's because I'm a control freak. (Ya think?)

The dilemma is, I think God loves a surprise party. He loves to wait till the last minute when you think He's not going to come through. He is not inclined to tell you why, or even why He won't tell you why. This is a problem for me. I think I must have been the most annoying 4 yr. old ever, because I'm always trying to figure out why.

I know, I know. It's about faith, releasing control, trusting God. I know that control comes from fear. I know that He's never let me down before and He's not likely to start now. But, darn it (foot stomping here), I don't like surprises! I suppose I've had enough nasty surprises from the world that I am a little shell-shocked.

So, once again, I need to speak the truth. Jeremiah 29:11-14 (truly my "holding on for dear" life verse) "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."

Glory Hallelujah! It's a promise and I'm holding to it. But please, don't plan a surprise party for my birthday next week!

Very Sad News

My dear friends in BlogWorld,

I am so sad to report that on the way to family camp our District Youth Leader was in a car . His 10 yr. old daughter was killed and his other daughter broke her arm. Please pray for this family and for the camp as all try to take in this terrible news. The Enemy has stolen away a precious life. We know she is now with the Lord, but those left behind will have a tremendous struggle. My brother is Camp Director and has been very ill the last couple of days. It falls to him to lead the camp through this and he will need all the prayer support he can get. I am so sad that I can't be with my two teens at this time. This will be the first time they have really dealt with the of a young person and they saw the cars as they passed to go to camp. I can't think of anything else to say.

Home again, home again, jiggity jog!

Uh...where am I? Got the email that I would have to take a test before I could even be considered for an interview at ORU. No combining the two. So I rearranged some plans and hopped in the car Thurs. 9:30 am and arrived in Tulsa 3:45 pm. Finished the test at 4 pm. Great. I even went over my answers 3 or 4 times just to be sure.

So I headed out to my friend's place in the country to stay the night. I seriously may move in with her because I love her place so much! We spent hours catching up - really...hours...4 am kinds of hours. That's what Tiggers like best. I d for it to end. She's the kind of friend that you can pick up with after (3 prepositions in a row!) years and it all - the sweetness, the fun - comes rushing back. My soul has been restored. I think I may give up whining for a week or two.

Decided not to go to family camp. It was a quality decision in terms of money and what needs to get done on the house, but I'm really going to miss the whole experience. I love family camp. More than jelly bread. And I LLLOOOVVVEEE jelly bread. Believing for fresh wind and fresh fire for my teens who are going. As for me and my hubby - we will work on the house.

New developments in the job universe for him. No word on the interview last week. After months of saying, "I don't want to work retail. I don't want to stay at ___________," He is now considering transferring with ____________. He just took the RMA exam for promotion and scored really well. We'll see how that works out. Maybe God's plan all along.

Here is a mystery. I always wanted children and planned the ones I had. Finished when I was done. Organized, huh? I just never felt like I was very good at being a mom. I figured I made a better dad. You know, amused and delighted by the idea, but ready for the break that work would bring. In fact I was a stay at home mom for 15 years, a quality decision. But it was really hard for me. I don't mean to be whiny here, I just didn't realize how hard being a mother was and figured I was just doing it wrong. That's not really the mystery part, though. What I can't fathom is how, now that I have a 20, 17, and 13 yr. old, that they truly like me. Of course they love me - that's the law isn't it? But they actually like me, think I'm funny and cool, and it when I travel. It's a mind-bogglin' thang. I'm not terribly self-sacrificing, I don't live for them, keep organized scrapbooks, or clean their rooms. I'm pretty strict, require more chores of them than most of their friend's parents, and lose my temper way more than I ought. Such a faulty person! Honestly! No kidding! It's just the goodness of the Lord. No other explanation. I love having teenagers and look forward to their transition to friends. God is so good.

On the road again

Let me start with a recap of last week's journey.

We had a lovely drive to Tulsa and arrived at our motel to find our names posted in the lobby. We had been chosen as the Priority Club members of the day and were rewarded with: a suite instead of our discount room, a special parking place, an appetizer buffet, a free breakfast, a gourmet chocolates! Wow, what a blessing! It really set the tone for our trip. We unpacked, contacted my mother-in-law and had dinner at Zio's (always a favorite), and headed back to the hotel for an early night. Yes, we actually made it to bed by 11!

Doug headed out to his interview the next morning just before 10 and I moseyed down to breakfast. I had the whole buffet to myself (aaahhhh) and had the nicest waitresses ever. One older lady even packed an orange to go. She put it in a brown bag and said, "It's just like going to school. Have a nice day and be good!" "Thanks, Mom!" I replied and returned to the room. 2 hours later Doug finished up his interview and said it went very well. The front desk asked about the interview and treated us so nicely. We had some lunch and went house shopping.

That evening we headed out to the country to have dinner with some dear old friends we knew from 22 years ago. We were young and poor together in those days - now we're older and still poor, but they have fared quite well. They have a huge log home on 99 acres and are semi-retired from the plumbing business. They now train race horses. This is me not coveting! HA! They're still just as down-home as ever and we had a great time catching up.

Back to the hotel with the intention of leaving in the morning. Fast forward to 2 pm. when we finally left town. I think hubby was just hoping the boss would call him in to negotiate and so didn't want to leave.

That was Friday - we still haven't heard back from the interview and are wondering what happens now. Thank you note sent, follow-up call and email. Nothing.

Trying to stay positive, I applied for another position at ORU as a Communications Staff Writer. HR replied that I would need to take a written test before I could get an interview. SO, I'm headed back up to Tulsa tomorrow and hoping that God will move Heaven and Earth to arrange an interview while I'm there. This is gettin' spendy. Monday is family camp so I've got to zip back home and pack up the young-uns and head to East Texas.

Once again your prayers would be so appreciated. It's good to know we're not alone in these trying times. God is good - all the time.

the Road Warrior

My first meme

I'll take this as a tag since I saw it on BooMama, and most of you don't know me very well, yet.

Accent: Several years of voice lessons have eliminated most of it, but I tend to pick up whatever I hear.
Bible Book that I like: Isaiah, hands down
Chore I don't care for: the one where I have to clean or tidy something
Dog or Cat: Dog of course
Essential Electronics: Computer, Trio 600 Palm/cell phone, TiVo
Favorite Movie: Gone with the Wind
Gold or Silver: Silver
Handbag I Carry Most Often: cheap beige thing I found at Wallyworld that has lots of dividers
Insomnia: I prefer to call it, "I just don't want to miss anything important...ever."
Job Title: Receiver of everyone's life story...anywhere...anytime. That's why I became a counselor. Might as well get paid for what I do all the time anyway.
Kids: 3
Living Arrangements: Husband, aforementioned kids, older sister, 3 dogs, 2 ferrets, and 2 birds in a smallish, older, suburban home until we move to Tulsa.
Most Memorable Moment: realizing I had just become engaged to a man I had met on a blind date, 2 days before. (age 19, still together 23 years later)
Naughtiest Childhood Behavior: snooping in my sisters' stuff
Overnight Hospital Stays: first birth, hysterectomy some years later
Phobias: stairs, heights, not realizing my full potential
Quote: "Prayer doesn't change God, it changes me." C.S. Lewis - Shadowlands
Religion: Foursquare, don't worry, it's not weird.
Siblings: 1 brother - my pastor - 11.5 yrs. older, a sister - living with me - 9 yrs. older, a sister - close by - 6.5 yrs. older
Time I Wake Up: 9 am or 10 minutes before my alarm, whichever comes first
Unusual Talent: I can ride a unicycle
Vegetable I Refuse to Eat: ooh, where do I begin? This could be a meme all by itself.
Worst Habit: I to do things by myself - it works itself out in procrastination
X-rays: arm - not broken, age 6, foot - broken, age 19 sliding down college bannister, various and a sundry inconclusive, soft tissue problems due to car s since then
Yummy Stuff I Cook: herb encrusted prime rib, chicken fricassee with herb dumplings, chocolate strawberry shortcake, my husband says, "everything"
Zoo Animal I Like Most: Lions - Aslan, natch.

Busted! Again!

Rewind to yesterday. My dear husband and I are totally wound up over this interview thing and acting like a couple of snapping turtles for 2 days. Finally he tossed the straw that broke the camel's back. I let him have it - both barrels. I was SO right!

This morning getting ready for church, really quiet. Shower talk with God - I was so right - but I don't think I handled it well and he probably will miss how right I was because of my delivery.

Fast forward to the sermon - The Power of the Tongue/Liberties and Boundaries. OUCH! I was SO wrong. Wish I had apologized before church. I when that happens! What's with the stinkin' direct feed camera from my house to the pastor's house?

So I will have to spend the next howeverlong trying to repair. "A wise woman builds her house, the foolish tears it down with both hands." Also we have to survive the wait to hear about the job. I don't even want to think about the ramifications of not getting it. I think I feel queasy now. Maybe I should eat some chocolate. Like a barrel. Or two.

P.S. Note to BooMama: I can't figure out how to reply to your blog, because it requires more brains than I can wrangle at this point. Suffice it to say, "You're a better man than I, Gunga Din," when it comes to wifery and I love reading your blogs.

We're Off to See the Wizard

A grand Independence Day, all-in-all. My husband grilled pork chops, we watched the "Overhaulin'" marathon and nearly got rained out of fireworks.

Tomorrow is the day we head out to Tulsa for Doug's interview on Thursday morning. Attention all prayer warriors - we're hoping this is the one! Doug got the most beautiful chocolate brown, pinstripe suit that makes me think all kinds of lovely thoughts about him. I'd hire him in that suit just to hang out at my business to improve traffic flow! He feels really good in it and I hope it is the confidence booster that puts him over the top, interview-wise.

Just a short post tonite and then I'll update you when we get back Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. Thanks to all you wonderful post-ers for your words of encouragement. We cooked with mustard seed today, and I think my faith is at least that big. Happy 4th everyone!

The whole enchilada

For all of you (untold thousands, I'm sure) who don't know what the Big Thing in my life is, I'll try to blog it succinctly. However, this is a long story so you might want to go potty and get a fresh Diet Coke before you begin.

Last July, as I was winding up my M.Ed. in Counseling from UNT (lots of pretty initials!), my husband's Expo (along with many others, though not all) got word that it was closing. This lovely store was only 2.5 miles from our house and had been easily accessible by the Vespa scooter I had won from Target just the year before. So he needed to transfer to the Galleria store (more than 20 miles away and not accessible by Vespa) or change jobs. Now I must tell you my husband DOES NOT LIKE CHANGE! Apparently one of God's little jokes was that Doug married me.

Doug was driving the Vespa because MONEY is our perennial Big Thing and we could not afford another car. So, we sold the sweet Vespa and bought a VW Harlequin Golf from my niece and nephew. Now this car comes originally with 4 colors, at once, and invites lots of comments. Not really a problem because we all love attention at our house. I mean we are absolute (I can't use that word here) for attention. Competition is an accompanying factor.

At any rate, I began to feel change was in the air and started praying about it. Pretty quickly I felt like God was saying that we would finally get to move to Tulsa and enter a new phase in our lives. My husband concurred and we began to get confirmations from various sources who knew nothing of our plans. Even all 3 kids were in favor of the move. This, in and of itself, is a miracle because they are all teenagers who can never come to an agreement about anything, except camping for Thanksgiving (YAY!). So we began to make plans, pack our eleventy-hundred books, apply for jobs, and Doug temporarily transferred to the Galleria store.

Fast forward to last week. No jobs yet. I've had two in-person and one phone interview, all for different jobs, in the last year. Doug has had no interviews. We have resubmitted the dream to the Lord, many times, and still heard, "Yes, you're going." O.K. Then Doug makes 3 contacts in Tulsa, schedules an interview, and finally gets approved to take the promotion test for Expo. In one week. We approach the aforementioned niece and nephew about buying our house immediately so we can pull out some equity to afford the upcoming move. They agree. Life is good.

This week. The test and the interview are next week and we have a trip planned to make it so. Then we get a call saying the niece and nephew, whom we love dearly, have changed their minds. Hence "revolting development" of previous post. So...back to the Lord. You see the financial Big Thing is ever looming and the move and my anticipated employment, as opposed to my previous educational financial drain, might just put us in the not sweating every week category of earning.

Here's where ya'll come in. Pray. Please. That all my hair does not fall out from the entirety of my follicles slamming shut from stress. That SOMETHING will develop on the house situation that will allow us to buy Diet Coke so that the previous hair situation can be held off. That Doug will interview well and be offered a position that actually pays instead of eakes. That I can get a stinkin' interview for something that even remotely involves this degree that I worked so hard to earn. That I don't kill everyone in my house: 2 daughters with PMS, a sister going through "the change" who picks fights with the kids, and a son who responds to stress by trying to control everyone in the house by arguing. I LOVE MY DOG!

Thanks for hanging on to the end. God is faithful. "He didn't bring us this far, to leave us. He didn't teach us to swim, to let us drown. He didn't build His home in us, to move away. He didn't lift us up, to let us down."

Late Night Musings

Friday night and date night is over. I've tucked my hubby in for the evening - he fades long before I do. Great Vietnamese food and some quiet time away from the kids. My son is making chocolate chip cookies just for us and I'll check out the t.v. schedule for something to wind down by.

How much of this keeping the right attitude is just whistling past the graveyard? The temptation these days is to be negative and whine - that can't be good. But how can this patience thing be good for me? Doesn't this world need impatient people as well? I mean, really. If everyone were patient, who would go first at the 4-way stop? I think the person in the Bible I am most like is Jacob. Not a ringing endorsement. I wrestle with God all the time and have a tendency toward manipulation. Not really a control freak, just assisting with the gifts I've been given, right? ARGH, I offend myself. When will I become Israel and not Jacob!?!

Timing - God's and Mine

Well, I had read my friend Sarah's blog and commented on her Thursday Thirteen of Thankfulness. How I needed to be more thankful, yada, yada, yada. No, I did mean it, but don't we all say things like that and then move on? Just a few short hours later, my husband gives me some news that absolutely yanks the rug out from under me. Wow! I mean it seemed like things were finally falling into place on our move to Tulsa and then what we thought was His provision evaporated like nail polish remover. Stunned silence, then tears, then extreme irritability as our 13 yr. old son let the two stupidest dogs known to mankind escape the yard and head to points unknown. Since our house is absolutely overrun with people, I had to escape to even think straight.

Yes we found the dogs - rah.

So I hopped into the minivan with the smartest dog known to mankind and hit the road to talk it out with God. Struggling valiantly to maintain a right attitude, I committed to seeing Him as my source, and not those who had just withdrawn from the picture. How faithful is God? What came to mind was the classic and never-fails-to-bring-tears song "Praise the Lord" by the Imperials. I sang it to myself and Joe (curled up in the passenger's seat) and headed to Long John Silver's for some comfort grease. "When you're up against a struggle, that shatters all your dreams. And your hopes have been cruelly crushed by Satan's manifested schemes. When you feel the urge within you to submit to earthly fears. Don't let the faith you're standing in seem to disappear. Praise the Lord." O.K. I get it.

So here are my Thursday Thirteen:
1. Even when we are faithless - God is faithful. He considers my weakness and sends me comfort in my despair. He lets me be angry with Him and waits for me to humble myself and lay down my "rights" for His plan.
2. Joe - the greatest dog ever. 'nuf said.
3. Chocolate - surely God's manifest presence in time of need. I hope that's not disrespectful.
4. Diet Coke - I never thought I'd like it, but now I'm hooked.
5. My son who fixes me a Diet Coke, just the way I like it, because he can tell I need some lovin'. Also he rubs my poor diabetic feet almost nightly. Truly makes up for the 13 yr. old arguing.
6. My husband who told me he wrote down all his negative feelings about this "revoltin' development" and then threw them away. Amazing progress for this man and a real encouragement to me. I'll tell you about it sometime.
7. The Internet - I couldn't wait for the kids to vacate so I could get all this out of my system. I might actually sleep tonite.
8. My 17 yr. old daughter who regularly makes brownies - from scratch! - for me. She has an amazing secret recipe that soothes every stress.
9. Music - I do counseling, I am a singer. It is the expression of every emotion I have and I have an encyclopedic catalog of songs that never fails to produce just the right vehicle for those emotions. I'll sing for you at the drop of a hat, or even a few flakes of dandruff.
10. My 20 yr. old daughter - even though we are struggling through a tough transition time.
11. MomTime. What a godsend these women have been to me! I am amazed that they allow me to be a part of this group of incredible women. I just hope that my comic relief is sufficient to keep my place at the table and the board games.
12. Solitaire - multiple forms that keep the OCD in check.
13. Bathtubs and Escape Literature - I just finished my book and am casting about for something else to read. And yes, I am caught up on my Bible reading - It's a Miracle!

Jumping into the deep end

Don't know if anyone will read this. I really don't journal, but I love the computer so perhaps I'll be more faithful to this. I'm very frustrated today. Let my checkbook get out of hand. Again. Just because I hate putting my stuff in. I think my pastor would call this an iniquity. Still obsessing about finding a job in Tulsa, getting the house ready to sell, etc., etc., etc. Wow, what a whiner! I'll have to explain my title. On "Inside the Actor's Studio," a show I just love about the craft of acting, the interviewer closes with the question, "If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive?" Now, I've thought through my answers carefully, as if I'll ever be on that show, and have decided that what I'd like to hear God say is,"You crack me up!" Not very mature or spiritual, huh? What can I say? I tend to be a very serious person, but there's nothing I like more than making people laugh and laughing so hard myself that I cry, wet my pants, snort, and go into that silent wheezy laughter that is so much fun to watch on someone else. I'm so blessed that I get to go to family church camp every summer, stay up horribly late every night, and laugh just like that. It's so cleansing! Now, just thinking about that has lifted my spirits considerably. Camp is mid-July (IN TEXAS!) and I'm just trusting the Lord for the provision of finances for it. Again with the finances. EEK! If I talk about it again I'll lose the lift. Hasta la vista, Baby!