There goes our Mother of the Year Award

My friend, Hallel, and I were having a lovely time eating the ice cream the kids didn't want, sitting in the living room and talking while our girls played in the playroom. Donnie comes home says hi and goes back to talk to the girls. He comes back in the living room very amused and says, "yall have not been paying any attention to the girls have you?" We sheepishly asked why. We followed him to their bedroom where our two precious girls sat BUTT NAKED AND PAINTING THEIR TOENAILS. Their reactions when busted. Lydia simply held up her feet and announced she was very pretty and Bailey held up a bottle of nail polish and asked if she could have some for Christmas.

"Bailey, why did you take off your clothes", now there's a sentence that strikes terror into the hearts of moms everywhere. I have yet to receive an answer to this question.

Hallel said it best, "if I can just keep her off the pole...".

Ice cream with strawberry topping, girl talk, naked nail painting...who said christians are boring.

Family Picture Time

Minutes before this was taken, Eric and I frantically cleaned Bailey's white shirt. She had managed to get cupcake frosting under the BIB I had put on her, which came in handy as a nice towel to clean her shirt. Gotta love those Tide pens.

This picture was taken at 8:00pm on a Wednesday night for those wondering why we don't look so great.

The good lookin' banjo player is mine...

Click picture for a full view.

What was I thinking...

During a busy day of major house cleaning, I discovered I was out of my favorite cleanser. I grabbed my keys and headed off to the store. On my way into the store, I ran into a old acquaintance from middle school. We exchanged pleasantaries. I noticed she kept look at my body. I was feeling bad enough about my weight and this was killing me. Granted, it is rude to stare, but it was also hurtful. We said good-bye and off I went to the cleaning aisle. The things that were going through my head about myself and the acquaintance were not nice.

By the time I checked out, I had worked myself into a STATE let me tell you. As I left the store, I caught a glimpse of myself in the window and began laughing out loud. Let me describe what I wearing: An old pair of dark blue sweatpants so old they had several holes on both legs and bleach spots throughout. A shirt with faded screen printing of Aerosmith from a long ago concert-- with it's own set of holes and bleach spots. Did I mention the sweatpants were to short and only came down slightly below the knee--yeah, and I had not had time to shave that week. My hair was pulled back Aunt Jamima style in a red bandanna and my shoes resembled low top brogans. NOW I know what she was staring at. Heck, I would have been staring to. When I finally regained my composure, I went to the car.

When I got home, I called my mom told her about my outfit and asked her, "What is it in my genetic makeup that made me think this was acceptable attire, and further more, why do I own an outfit like this". Her response, "well sweetie, all I know to tell you is that I have the same outfit".

I am, proudly, my Mother's Daughter.

Recipe Friends Request Most

Santa Fe Beans and Rice

8 servings
45 min 10 min prep

2 cups cooked white rice
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup frozen corn
1 (10 ounce) can of diced Mexican-style tomatoes (like Rotel)
1 cup salsa
1 cup low-fat sour cream
2 cups shredded reduced-fat Mexican cheese blend, divided
1 small red onion, chopped
1 (2 1/4 ounce) can sliced ripe olives, drained

Preheat oven to 350.
In a large bowl, combine beans, corn, tomatoes, salsa, sour cream, 1 cup cheese and cooked rice.

Season with salt and pepper.

Transfer to a greased 2 quart baking dish and top with onions and olives.

Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.

Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese and bake 5-10 minutes longer until cheese is melted.

Taming the Tongue

· Listen to what you say. When you say something ugly, negative, discouraging, ask yourself why you felt the need to say it.
· Don’t interrupt
· LISTEN. Don’t talk, LISTEN
· Memorize Luke 6:45

The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his hears. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

· Address (make amends for) sloppy and/or hurtful speech.
· Take seriously the things God takes seriously
· PRAY

Odd Question

Last night someone asked me, "how do you get the kind of faith that heals". I honestly had no answer for this question. I believe that God heals if it is his will. I don't believe that if you are not healed of sickness that it means that your faith was weak. I think we can't understand the true extent our life has on the lives of those around us. I also believe we are responsible for a lot of our own problems, including health. I am overweight and it causes various health issues in my life. I believe I can be healed, but I don't think God is going to make me skinny and fit overnight with no effort on my part. Just like any good parent, he wants me to learn.

When it became apparent that my Daddy was going to lose his battle with cancer, he was asked about his faith. His answer was one of wisdom and personal responsibility. He answered, "I have lived for God 5 years, I lived for myself 72. I don't figure God owes me".

Bottom line for me. I don't believe God is obliged to heal or explain his reasoning. He's God. I believe that good or bad, we reap what we sow, and I believe we owe God, not the other way around.

Body Image

I have been overweight and miserable for the past 4 years. In thinking about this the other night, I had an epiphany of sorts. I have never been pleased with my body. Even when I was 110 pounds, I hated my body. I have always been unhappy with some part of my body. When Eric and I got married I weighed 140 and was OK with my body, but not happy.

What does this to us and how can I NOT pass this misery on to my precious little girl. How do I make her understand it what she is about and not how she looks that is important. How can I teach her to look in the mirror without analyzing everything she sees?

I once had a male manger tell me that it was "a crying shame you don't have the boobs to go with that a**". Ok, he was a jerk, but that was 18 years ago and it still haunts me. WHY do I care? Why was the opinion of a total jerk important to me?

Why........

First Post

So here I am, doing something I thought I would never do. Of course, I also never thought I would be married three times, weigh 194 pounds, or begin a conversation with the sentence, "I regret the night at Waffle House". Go figure.

About me. I am 40. I used to dream of having a "40 and Fabulous" birthday party. Since "40 and Flabby" didn't have the same ring, I skipped the party. I have a sarcastic 3 year old, a bluegrass musician husband, 3 dogs (one of which is Dooley, my Black Dog), and 2 cats. And last, but not least, MOM. When I have time I will tell you more about her. She is a book all by herself.

I am, by the grace of Almighty God, Southern. I love the South and everything about it. I have no desire to ever live anywhere else. Nobody has to explain things to me here-I get it. I am a Southern Baptist, Conservative, Republican (however, I am starting to rethink the Republican part). I work full-time as a commercial property manager. I enjoy reading and cooking. Being a Mom and wife are the things I enjoy the most.



This will be my place to vent and tell stories. Also a place where family in other parts of the country can keep up with me and mine.