Crush

A recent Saturday morning conversation with Ben . . .

Ben: Mommy, you're my most favorite girl in the whole world.

Me: {melt} You're my most favorite boy in the whole world.

Ben: Well, there's a girl in my school that's my real favorite girl.

Me: {crushed, trying to hide my disappointment} There is?

Ben: Yep, the girl with the ponytail like yours.

Me: {hopes getting higher} Just like mine?

Ben: Yep. But she's my real favorite. I forget her name.

Me: {I could spot this girl's ponytail a mile away, it's amazing. Do you sense jealousy?} Is it Macie?

Ben: Yes, it's Macie! But she doesn't love me. I love her, and she just doesn't love me.

Me: Well, that's okay. Mommy loves you best of all {hoping for a big hug now}.

Ben: Guess so.

Me: And when Macie grows up, she'll come around {but no one will ever love you like I do}.

The greatest love is a mother's, then a dog's, then a sweetheart's.
~Polish Proverb

Blessed . . . and thankful!

Old favorites & a new look

Keep calm and carry on!
-The Queen of England

We lived very simply but with all the essentials of life well understood and provided for: hot baths, cold champagne, new peas and old brandy.
-Winston S. Churchill

Be pretty if you can, be witty if you must, but be gracious if it kills you.
-Elsie de Wolfe

May the warm winds of heaven blow softly on this house. May God bless all who enter here.
-unknown, but may soon find it's way into my home, traced softly on the stairs . . .

Love feels no burden, thinks nothing of trouble, attempts what is above its strength, pleads no excuse of impossibility... It is therefore able to undertake all things, and it completes many things, and warrants them to take effect, where he who does not love would faint and lie down. Love is watchful and sleeping, slumbereth not. Though weary, it is not tired; though pressed, it is not straitened; though alarmed, it is not confounded.

The expression we live by . . . The one that best reflects spilled milk, cookie crumbs, lost keys and more . . . C'est la vie!

My mother and I still talk about writing a book of favorite quotes, bits of wisdom, cherished words otherwise stored in our minds. Maybe we'll accomplish that goal, cook all the recipes, and stay caught up with the children and their laundry. Maybe not! That's life!

Mother Knows Best

Mom just knows . . . She knows when I need advice. She understands when it's tough. She listens when I need an ear. She's ten steps ahead of me most of the time {as in, been there, done that}. I call her about ten times a day . . . And I rely on her when I have a sick kiddo, or don't know how to handle a temper tantrum. The sound of her voice is comfort enough.

She sent me THE BEST email the other day. She gets daily devotionals from Jim Denison {formerly our pastor in Midland, Texas, now in Dallas}. I think this May 14th except regarding God's love may find a permanent place on our fridge.

From Henri Nouwen's classic book The Beloved:

I have called you by name from the very beginning. You are mine and I am yours. You are my beloved, on you my favor rests. I have molded you in the depths of the earth and knitted you together in your mother's womb. I have carved you in the palm of my hand and hidden you in the shadow of my embrace. I look at you with infinite tenderness and care for you with a care more intimate than that of a mother for her child. I have counted every hair on your head and guided you at every step. Wherever you go, I go with you, and wherever you rest, I keep watch. I will give you food that will satisfy all your hunger and drink that will quench all your thirst. I will not hide my face from you. You are my beloved in whom I am well pleased.

Whether she's filling my ear, or filling my inbox, Mother Knows Best. I needed that.

Home Sweet Home

He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home.

-Johann von Goethe

The best way to keep children home is to make the home atmosphere pleasant

and let the air out of the tires.

-Dorothy Parker

Where thou art, that is home.

-Emily Dickinson

Dull women have immaculate homes.

-Author unknown

When I'm old and gray, I want to have a house by the sea. And paint.

With a lot of wonderful chums, good music and booze around.

And a damn good kitchen to cook in.

-Ava Gardner

So, here's a hint. A big hint.

So our address is changing . . . and I think Dorothy said it best.

There's no place like home.

Easter

Lord, you have been a Shepherd to me.

You have cared for me and provided for me.

You have loved me even when I ignored you.

Your eye has always been upon me.

You have offered me unlimited grace.

You have sent your own son to die for me.

You have freely given your Spirit to live in me.

You give me access to you at any time.

You have given me life and breath.

You have brought wonderful people in my life who care about me.

You freely forgive me when I fail you.

You strengthen me when I am weak and needy.

You hear my prayers.

You delight in my love.

You have given me a secure and eternal future with you.

You have rescued me from the pit of hell.

You have chosen me.

You have gifted me.

You have called me to a meaningful place in the great cosmic battle against the enemy.

You have protected me.

You want me.

You have given me food and shelter.

You have given me a country of freedom and bounty.

You have been so good to me.

My cup overflows.

This is from our wonderful pastor, Jeff Wells, sent via email two years ago. I save all my favorite devotionals {trust me, I need to read and re-read them OFTEN}.

If you don't already have something fun planned for the tiny mites in your life {besides the classic Easter egg hunt} I think this is the neatest idea . . . Easter Story Cookies. The adorable gal who turned me on to this idea even put a printable PDF link on her blog.

"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." 1 Peter 1:18-19

Matters of the Heart

My two little sweethearts are napping. I just baked cookies . . . I've lit my favorite candle, and turned the sticks in my lemon verbena diffuser. Today I'm blue.

My adorable mother-in-love is bravely fighting cancer (her prognosis is excellent, but the treatment is tough). My precious childhood friend Sarah received news just this morning that her father, too, has cancer. Over the weekend we lost a very dear family friend, one of my grandfather's friends since high school. He went to sleep here on earth and woke up in heaven. My sweet little dog Ellie is recovering from having fourteen teeth pulled today. My other little dog Chloe (who now resides full-time with my in-loves) had a lump removed to be biopsied. It's a blue-kind-of-day, and I'm in need of a pick-me-up.

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

"But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you." Psalm 5:10-12

"Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalm 23:5-6

" . . . for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth." Psalm 26:3

"I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul." Psalm 31:7

"Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies." Psalm 36:5

His love is better than a million chocolate chip cookies.

Pepsi Smash Super Bowl Bash . . .

Do not go to HEB.
Do not go, or you will see.

You will see a traffic jam.

Every Tom & Dick & Sam
is there to buy
green eggs & ham.

Green eggs & ham,
& soda pop.
They're buying beer
& will not stop.

They will not stop
to let you by.
They're busy eyeing chicken thighs.

Chicken thighs and chicken wings.
Their carts are filled with many things.

Filled with bean
& onion dips,
& special brews
& greasy chips.

Look out, look out!!
They have a goal!
To make it back for Super Bowl!

So do not go to HEB.
Do not go, or mad you'll be.

Do I read too many Dr. Suess books, or what? Happy Super Bowl Sunday. Unless, of course, you find yourself at HEB with all the boys. And their offspring.