The zoo, a stray cat, and a Bible lesson...

Well, yesterday we spent the day at the zoo. By 'we' I mean, me, Nikki, Taylor, Hannah, Sahara, Bria, Tirza, and Mark's mom and dad. The trip ended with a nice big rain storm so we all got to ride home dripping wet...it really wasn't too bad since it was SO hot before it started raining. On the way home Nikki and Taylor and I stopped to walk around the Wolfchase mall. This is always entertaining, we rode the Carousel, had dinner, visit Build'aBear, had a cinnamon and sugar pretzel and enjoyed dessert before we headed out.
When we got home the kids spotted the stray cat that they found a few days ago...we hadn't brought it home but they secretly been taking care of it for a day or so before they clued me in on what was up. So...we let the cat sleep in the garage with some strict guidelines:
In this house
1. you will not be given a name
2. you will not act cute and cuddly
3. you will be loud and annoying
4. you will make us NOT want a cat
Well, the cat broke all the rules. She has been very sweet and cute, loves attention but isn't all up in our faces. And the kids started calling her Ebony...every time they say it I say...THAT'S NOT HER NAME, WE ARE NOT NAMING HER!!!! But there is only so much I can do. Today we thought we found the cat's home but alas it was not the owner and sadly, they didn't want another cat. So soon we will be taking a trip to the human society to deposit the furry bundle of joy...I am sure another 'sad day' post is coming up soon.
And to close, a funny story. I had found a 'kids eat free' coupon for Gunther Tooties so we were eating there for dinner the other day. While we were there Taylor decided it was the time to bring up the fact that Nikki owed him $1.50. She was distracted with a game on the other side of the room so I thought it a great opportunity for a lesson. I asked him if he knew what the Bible said to do when someone owed you money. He said no. So I went on to explain that when someone owes us money we are to be patient in waiting for them to pay us back and not press them to return what they owe. And that in fact we should let it go and not expect them to pay us back. He seemed to be listening but when Nikki came back to the table he quickly reminded her that she owed him his $1.50 and informed her that he expected the money pronto. At that point Nikki opened her purse and pulled out two receipts from when she had bought Taylor Icies at Target. The total of what she had paid for him came to about $3.50. She ever so sweetly replied that he in fact owed her two dollars that she wasn't going to ask him to pay but since he had brought it up...he aught to pay up. Taylor looked at me, shrugged his shoulders and said..."You're Bible is right. I shouldn't have said anything!"

Some fun days...

Well, since the last post things have been looking up. We all had fun on Sunday after church shopping with gift cards at Target and Wal-Mart. Taylor found some great new toys to go with some of what he got for his birthday so he kept busy for the rest of the day putting everything together and showing his friend. Other than hanging out at the pool or playing outside in the springker- I have been deep cleaning the house...the kids keep coming to me for something to do and I have plenty of jobs to hand them...they aren't asking me as much anymore. :) We have been having fun playing board and card games...I LOVE playing games so it has been nice that they are enjoying them too. Last night we all fell asleep in the living room on the air ma tress...and of course woke up on the hard floor. Do they make air ma tresses that actually stay filled up all night long??? Anyhow...life is not all that exciting right now but we are having a fun summer vacation!

Funny story: Tonight for dinner we were eating at Moe's (kids eat free on Monday nights) and Taylor had an important announcement..."when I grow up and am 43...I am NOT going to be a dad! I am just going to drive a lamberguenie!"
I have no idea where that came from.

A sad night...

Tonight is a sad night in our house. Mom (aka Sandy) left about an hour ago for her vacation, she will be back late Sunday night...not this Sunday night, NEXT Sunday night. This is a big deal for everyone in the house because she is going out of the country. For me it is just a little unnerving to have the mom of the children I am looking after outside of the continent. For Nikki, she is a little sad about not being able to talk to her mom the whole time she is gone. For Taylor...well he is doing ok for the moment. We celebrated his birthday early today since Sandy will be gone on his actual birthday (Sunday). He is busy being excited about all his new toys and being eight (sort of).
It was hard watching her drive away tonight because as she did Nikki sat on the floor and the tears started falling. I mean really falling. She was quiet and still but there was an actual puddle on the floor in front of her when I sat down next to her. As I held her there on the floor I got choked up thinking back to so many times in my life watching my parents drive away not knowing when I would be able to talk to them again. There is just something about hearing my mom and dad's voices that brings me comfort even to this day. So needless to say Nikki had an understanding shoulder to cry on tonight.
More updates to come...

Just for fun...

Some fun bumper stickers:

Dyslexics are teople poo.

So many cats, so few recipes.

I have a degree in Liberal Arts - do you want fries with that?

A day without sunshine is like night.

What if the hokey pokey is really what it's all about?

Still looking for the perfect one for my car...

waiting impatiently...

I wonder what it is like to wait patiently. I wouldn't know because I've never done it. Life is too short for waisting time, even a moment of it. I will my death to come quickly in fear that, through time, I will weaken to the pull of this culture. To the idea that life is just work and money and bills with family and values and love on the side. In the deepest part of my soul I know that this life is to be about the things that matter- not just to my culture but to God and to myself. I never finished college, I don't make 'enough' money to pay everything I owe, although I could. I could have finished college, I could work a great paying job but I don't. I choose not to. Some people think me foolish, some think I'll figure it out eventually but I know- this is just me. God made me different for some reason. He made me value my time here on earth as something to be relished and not waisted. With this short time I have here I am determined to embrace my family, to absorb and expell love, and most important of all, gather, sort out and become all I can of God. So as I look toward my future, I wonder what is in store for tomorrow. I'm not making any plans because God tells me He has those set out already. I do however wait eagerly for His plans to unfold before me - for they must be great. There must be a purpose for my life because I am still here. As for tonight, I pray as always my selfish yet heartfelt prayer - bring to me quickly Lord the desires of my heart or Lord I plead with you again change them to line up with your good and perfect will.

Umm...and update

So I realized that I haven't updated my blog since June 20th. Being that it is July 13 and new post is a bit overdue to say the least. It is just that my life is less than exciting right now. I don't have much going on to write about! I just came back from Pizza night at the Denker's house. Which, like always, was a lot fun with my friends from church. Really anytime there is pizza involved in a get-together it is going to be great...that is my opinion anyway. Pizza or sloppy joes, it's a toss up. Anyhow, being that pizza for dinner was the highlight of my week only proves just how monotonous and boring life gets here in Jackson, TN! I am sure that if I moved anywhere it would get to be just as monotonous after six years but at least in most places there is a beach or a mountain or for goodness sakes a water slide in driving distance. But not here... nope, just the Rockabilly hall of fame...which by the way is SO not worth your time, the new Starbucks downtown and lets see what else... oh Red Robin. Yep that's right another hamburger joint, American's are so original! (note the sarcasm) One thing I never fear while living here is a shortage of banks, sonics or constantly widening roads. Who would have thought that they would widen the bypass...what is that about? Ok well enough of my rambling, thanks for reading if you have made it all the way to the end of this post!