"If I've told you once,

I've told you a thousand times...!"

We probably heard that a time or two growing up. We might have even said it to our kids. I personally haven't yet, but then, my oldest is only 5. Give me time.

But the thought occurred to me today: what if God were to say that to me? How would He finish that sentence?

Hmm. So here is my list, in no particular order. I'm sure it would be even longer if I mulled over it for a few days.

"If I've told you once, Lily, I've told you a thousand times; _______________ !"

1. Meditate on Me, not those things around you like inconvenient circumstances, annoying people, and wrongs done.
2. Stop lecturing people in your head. Let Me deal with them in My time, My way. You mind your own problems. You've got enough of your own sins to be concerned about.
3. Talk to Me first, before friends and family. You'd be surprised with how fully I can satisfy your need to "get it out." Release it to Me. Let Me be your everything.
4. Live in the present. Remember you don't know how many days I will give you.
5. Be patient with your children like I am patient with you.

So how about you ladies? What would your list look like?

Happy update on the vacuum!

Well, I'm not so incompetent after all.

It took 3 men and a half hour to figure out how to put my vacuum back together! They had trouble getting the panel back on, too, and finally wound up replacing two of the screws with better alternatives. And... the best part?

It didn't cost me one red cent. They didn't even charge me for the screws they used. Happy day!

And, my pride is fully intact. No wonder I struggled - 3 men who are handy at this sort of thing had trouble, too!

Errands and vacuums: someone rescue me!

I'm so tired of errands!

First it started with Sunday - HAD to go grocery shopping, no choice. Was also out of important stuff that had to be gotten at our little town's version of Walmart. (That's right - no Walmart/Target/Kmart in my town. Gotta drive for that.)

Then yesterday I had other business that had to be taken care of on yesterday, no other choices. And today? The same.

I also have vacuum woes. The belt on the brush broke, so I took the vacuum apart to replace it. No big deal - only 4 screws to remove and one panel. Very easy. But to put back together? Night.mare. It will NOT go back as it came off, and while putting it together again, I lost one of the screws. I was so careful to keep track of it, but somehow it is gone. I have searched the floor like a crazy woman, and even looked inside the vacuum. No luck.

So guess what one of my errands will include today? Taking my vacuum to our local friendly hardware store, so one of the fellas there can be my hero.

Have my hubby fix it you say? Well, I would, except the man is out of town on a mission, as the military calls it. And I need to vacuum. Badly.

The cute thing is I called the hardware store and talked to one of the guys there, and I admitted that I felt very foolish for not being able to put the stupid thing back together. When I asked him how much they charged for that sort of thing, he said, "Oh, it should be less than $200." LOL - I told him I should hope so, or I could just buy another vacuum. He did assure me it couldn't possibly cost me much for putting in 4 screws... but I have a sneaking suspicion that it will cost me a bit of my pride.

"Hello, I'm a mother of 4 who daily navigates the complexities of rearing children and managing a household. I can follow a recipe and solve the world's problems with a kiss - but I can't put a few screws back in an appliance."

MIA no longer

Since hubby was home recovering from surgery, I didn't blog at all. It was a lovely time, once the first few days of recovery were behind him. Thank you for all the prayers!

Stuff is gonna get busy around here soon... my parents will be visiting the first weekend in September. We're starting school Sept 5th, or at least some day that first full week of September. And then the last week of Sept, my inlaws will be here for a week.

Prayers would be appreciated for Hubby

He had eye surgery yesterday and the pain is supposed to be bad today, but then horrible tomorrow. He has very strong meds right now, but they've been wearing off before he can take another, so he is in lots of pain. And, too, last night he got a tiny fiber or eyelash or something in his eye, and it was even more painful, of course.

Could you please keep his pain level and recovery in your prayers? He's around the house for at least a week to recover. (And pray for no more things to get into his eye!)

Did she redeem the earlier comment?

Sugar-n-Spice told me tonight:

Mom, you are a strong lady. You are a beautiful lady.

I'd much rather hear that stuff, lol.

Yet another blow to my self-image

Says Sugar-n-Spice to me tonight:

Mom, your butt is huuuuuge! It's the biggest I've ever seen!

Hmm. Perhaps I can hang my hopes on the fact that she just hasn't seen that many derrieres, at the ripe old age of 3?

It's ok. Revoke my membership.

I think I must be a freak of girlish nature. At least when it comes to movies, anyway.

I prefer comedies and drama. There are a few rare romance movies that I like; although, of course, most movies have some level of romance in them because... well, that's life. Right?

Take last night. I went out with a new friend to a movie. The only real choices (in our opinions) were The Bourne Ultimatum and No Reservations. She was completely up for either one... I was not so much. Though I would have watched No Reservations if that is what she really wanted. Thankfully, we watched the Bourne movie.

I'm just not up for the average chick-flicks. The sappy, real-life-isn't-like-this stuff just irritates me. Makes me roll my eyes. Now... I do love Pride and Prejudice in just about any rendition, which seems to violate my rules, doesn't it? I don't know... it is somehow different. Maybe because most of the movie they hate each other, LOL! But this latest version that was out a couple years ago, with what's-her-name who always sits around with her mouth open... oh, what IS her name??? Keira Knightley! (Why do they insist on so many shots with her mouth slightly open??? Doesn't matter what movie she is in... ok, I'm digressing.) Anyway, this last version I liked until the very end. Kissing her fingers, Mrs. Darcy, Mrs. Darcy, Mrs. Darcy... ad nauseum for moments almost unending. I think I remember saying something like, "Oh hurl." Yes, I'm 10 years old sometimes, I think. LOL

I know I will forever ostracize myself with the following statements, but... *deep breath**... here goes anyway. I do not ever want to watch Steel Magnolias again. Nor Forever Young. Nor Stepmom. Nor Beaches. Nor Always. I think there are a few more, but you get the idea. And some of you are lying panting on the floor right now, gripping your chests, not even reading this sentence because I've just sent you into cardiac arrest. I'm sorry. I'm sure I just broke some horrible code of womanhood or... something.

It's not that I can't see they are fantastic movies. They ARE. Some are classics. Some are just so doggone funny! Like Steel Magnolias... so many great lines have come from that movie. And yet, I despise how hard it makes me sob at the end. I'll never watch it again.

So, I suppose this is where I turn in my membership card to the Normal Women Society? I promise, I won't reveal the secret handshake.

New blessings, new beginnings!

I am very happy to announce to you gals that I'm expecting another wee blessing. According to every due date calculator I can get my grubby fingers on says that the due date is March 22, 2008. My first spring baby!! No going through a hot summer while sporting my best hippo look! LOL

This baby is a baby of new beginnings, new promises, new hopes. Isn't God GOOD?