Monsters

Yesterday I made the drive from Colorado to Texas. My husband took a job that requires him to travel quite a bit for work and this Thanksgiving he found himself in Texas. I’m always up for an adventure and decided to drive to Texas.I had my drive all planned with podcasts, books on tape (otherwise known as audible), and lots of music. I hate searching for radio stations and we have let our XM subscription lapse, so my phone would be the go to entertainment device. I stopped for gas and got back in the Jeep and there was a station that was playing some form of the top 20 or 40 countdown, country style. I love me some country music. I caught the tail end of the song Monsters by Eric Church. Have you heard it? I’ll include the YouTube video in case you haven’t heard it. But the chorus goes like this.....

Anymore when a restless feelin’ keeps me up at night

Fallin’ on my knees in my new turnin’ on the light

I keep my faith intact, make sure my prayers are said

‘Cause I’ve learned that the monsters ain’t the ones beneath the bed

If I’m being completely honest, I haven’t done much falling on my knees to pray about anything these days. I have become distant at best in my relationship with God. In fact, I have even been questioning the existence of God. If you know anything about my journey and where I have been, that last statement probably shocks you. But, that is a post that deserves it’s own title on another day.

Bucket List

Since the movie Bucket List, there have been many discussions, references and even crazy attempts at things people have put on their list. Lately I have been thinking about my own bucket list. But I wasn't sure what I would put on it.

I like to go after the things I want. I have learned over the years to pray first and act second. That has kept me from getting into a bunch of trouble. Well, most of the time it has. When I act first and pray second things can get all out of control.

Tonight I saw a Tweet about a bucket list. That got me thinking again about my list. What do I put on it? What are things I would like to do before I die? If that isn't one thing making you face your mortality I don't know what is. But I won't keep you in suspense any longer. Here is what I think I would like to accomplish before I...........you know.

Pick Me Up

God always knows when I need a little extra love. I shouldn't be surprised or amazed by this any more. He has been taking care of me for 34 years now. (OOOPS, Did I just tell me age? :)

The past few days I haven't felt the greatest. The couch and my bed have been my best friend. Today I was determined to kick this cold in the butt and make it vacate my body. I dropped the girls off at school, the boys off at home-school group and headed to the gym. I was going to sweat out all the germs I could. I did a mild workout and took my time showering and getting ready to pick up the boys. It was a nice peaceful morning. Except for this cough that sounds so much worse than it is. You know the kind where you turn around and look at the person and think 'Oh, poor girl, she should be home in bed.' Yep that would be me today!

But as the day pressed on and I checked a few things off my to do list I began to feel icky again. So I decided the computer and I would become one. I would work on those things that I always put off and never get to. Like announcements on the FMWCN page. As I was working I heard a little knock at the front door. That is my cue that it is kids and my kids will take care of it.

After a few knocks I get up to answer the door wondering where my children are. It was our newest neighbors oldest son. He came carrying cookies for, as he put it, OUR WHOLE FAMILY. He then asked if my two sons who were playing with them could have a cookie. I said sure. The neighbor boy took two cookies off the plate and took them to my boys. I brought the plate of cookies inside and I couldn't resist them. I had to have one and then another. A few minutes later I hear the same knock. I get up to answer the door again and it was the neighbor boy who explained that he was suppose to take his plate home. I gave him his plate and told him the cookies are yummy. He looked at me in shock that I would eat one of them. He gave me that look that all kids give parents when we eat the good stuff. That 'HEY THAT'S MINE!' look.

Wouldn't you know it? A few minutes later there is another knock at the door. This time I can hear kids running around in the front and figure that whoever is knocking will get help from them. I am, after all, trying to become one with the computer. The knocking continues and I once again get up to see who it is. This time I find the neighbors middle son at my door. Before I could even get the door open all the way he yells "I WANT MORE COOKIES!" His mom had told him no more until after dinner so he thought he would come and see if I would give him any. How cute is that?

As I sat back down to continue my quest to become one with the computer I couldn't help but feel so loved. Our neighbor baked cookies and thought of me. She didn't have to do that. She did out of the kindness of her heart. It helped me to see the funny conversation I had with her son who wanted more cookies and helped me to see that even when I don't feel it God is watching out for me and nudging me to embrace each and every moment that I have. Becoming one with the computer will have to wait for another day. I'm going to sit and laugh at the children as they run around and act silly. Some days there is nothing better than laughter. It is good for your soul.

Lawn Adventures

It never fails that when my husband leaves I take on some project. Since we bought our house just a few months ago there has been a lot that we needed to get done. We have some lofty goals but we don't always have the time to complete them.

The thing I hate doing the most when my husband is gone is mowing the yard. In the past we have had a really small yard that didn't take very long to mow and most recently I hired someone to mow it. Then we moved. I would hire someone again in a heart beat. BUT, being stubborn like I am and taking on a sense of ownership with this house, after all it is ours, I decided to mow our yard.

Before the rain of Ida fell upon us I treated a TON of ant mounds. Again, normally I would just hire someone to do this but I wanted to take ownership of it. I have to admit that I did a pretty good job at killing the ants. I had a few new mounds pop up but I was able to make most of them go away.

As I mowed the yard I couldn't believe how much grass/dirt we have to mow. I use the word grass lightly. It's another one of those things that we will have to work at. I definitely got a work out mowing the yard. Once I was done, with the help of the kids, I had such a sense of accomplishment. We did it. We mowed the yard and it looked good. We didn't have the yuckiest looking lawn any more.

For a split second I could see why my husband enjoys working outside. The emphasis on SPLIT. I really think the next time the yard needs tending to I will be calling a lawn service or letting the kids take turns mowing.