Today my son took a ride on a shopping cart- solo!

Today was one of those days when I could have sworn I was still dreaming- I mean this really didn't happen, right!?! You see, my husband was off of work so we all decided to go to a bookstore and get calendars for next year. Of course, it is just three days before Christmas and that means that the bookstore was packed. Yah, all of Augusta was there to see it! I was actually thinking how well my children were behaved during this trip (why can't I learn not to think these thoughts???). Ok, they were behaved but my son sitting under the basket of the cart singing Christmas carols may have attracted a little attention even before the actual event. We were just about done and waiting in the checkout line. I put the books and calendars on the counter and made my first mistake- I let go of the cart. As I mentioned, my son was sitting under the basket with his feet touching the floor; this would not have been a problem if his feet weren't still moving! Yeah, you are starting to get the picture. My son is actually propelling himself and the cart towards the wall. Now this wall had a huge framed picture (honestly like 3 feet wide and 8 feet high) propped up against it. I calmly say "Son, I wouldn't do that if I were you", and he continues to move. My son continued to propel himself forward gaining speed and then he lifts his feet (or would be brakes) off of the floor- for a ride, of course. At that point I begin wondering what is he doing???? Then I yell (OK, I admit yelling may have alerted the last two people in the store not already watching us that something was wrong) "Put your feet down!!!". I registered several things at the same time: 1) that picture is not attached to the wall but propped up against it (why, oh, why didn't they hang it?), 2) my son is headed straight for the picture and 3) he has no intention of stopping! I am in the process of paying but quickly drop my credit card and run, yes run, after him as he drives straight into the picture. By the grace of God, he stops himself with a mere bump of the picture and I think all is well- until I turn around. That was when I noticed that all 30 people in line were watching me. I had no idea that 30+ pairs of eyes were on me until everyone started to laugh and then we heard the comments. The comments were fine until we heard that dreaded comment "Hey Bill, good to see you again; was that YOUR son?". Oh yes, someone who my husband works with was in the other line and saw the entire thing. At these times you can either laugh or cry- I did both. I was laughing so hard that I started to cry. I couldn't even pay the cashier because of the tears in my eyes. I did recover enough to pay him and walk out of the store with my head held high- or at least I tried. My son took me by surprise today but I am so thankful that nothing takes God by surprise. We may not be expecting job problems, difficulties with our kids, a friend moving but God has already planned out how He will take care of us. Thank goodness because I have a feeling there will be many more blogs like this and I know God won't be surprised next time my son take a cart for a ride.

Today my lab ate my Christmas present.

Today I learned one thing my husband got me for Christmas. You see, I walked downstairs and looked at my beagle, Pete, and he looked about as guilty as I have ever seen him. Then I saw my lab, Sammy, and he actually looked triumphant (the audacity of a dog). From past history (see blog archive "Today my dogs ate my daughter's guinea pigs"), I knew something was up but I had no idea what they had actually accomplished. I quickly tried to remember if I left the pantry door open or a box of cereal on the kitchen table but everything seemed to be in place. What had they done? Then I spotted it, under the Christmas tree. Not only had the dogs (most likely my lab) torn the wrapping paper off of the present, they also went on to remove the tissue paper the sales associate wrapped around the present for my husband. There laying on the floor was a Yankee Candle, lid off and everything. I carefully inspected it expecting to find teeth marks in the wax and there was nothing! Apparently, the smell was too much for my lab to ignore but in the end he was disappointed to find out that it really wasn't worth the effort. That made me think of all of the temptations I face everyday and wonder how hard I work to get what I want (even if it isn't what God wants) only to find out that God's way was best all along. So often, those things that I put so much effort into accomplishing didn't meet my expectation. On a side note, I emailed Yankee candles telling them about the alluring scent of their candles along with a picture of the destruction I found. I am happy to say that they also found humor in my situation and responded with the following email. "Dear Bev, Thank you for your wonderful email and picture. We all enjoyed it. We are very happy you and your furbabies enjoy our fragrances." Hopefully, it won't take an over eager lab for you to see what things are worth putting your time into today!

Today I am hoping you laugh with us.

The picture I am posting today was from our third Christmas together in 2000. The caption under my husband reads "Ho, Ho, Ho, She's having a baby", my caption reads "Ho, Ho, Ho, I'm having a baby", our labs caption is "Ho, Ho, Ho, here comes the baby" and our poor beagle's caption says "Huh? Huh? Huh? baby, what baby?" My daughter was born just a few days after Christmas and as every first time parent knows- nothing was the same. Do you see the look of ignorance on our faces? Yeah, that was the last picture we have of me looking so well rested. Enjoy the look of utter ignorance on our faces and then laugh with us knowing what we experienced after we felt the full impact of having a new baby in the house. Oh, I know you can relate. But it is worth it, isn't it?

Today I had a lizard in my house!

Very early this morning, and I mean very early (like just one cup of coffee early), I spotted a lizard on my family room floor. Now when you live in Georgia occasionally you will get a lizard in your house. My husband's grandmother once called 911 to report a lizard in her house. The dispatcher said "mam, a lizard won't hurt you" and his grandmother replied "yes, but they sure can make me hurt myself". This memory was going through my head as I watch the lizard slide away and I couldn't help but agree with her. I told my daughter to get my 4 year old son who loves worms and frogs and anything that belongs outside. He came running downstairs eager to help and found me standing on an upside down dog bowl. I explained to him that the lizard was trapped under the bowl and he needed to grab it and throw it outside. He said "no"! What??? I tried another approach; I slid a magazine under the dog bowl to trap the lizard and then I would throw everything outside. This method appeared to be working pretty well and I actually had the thought "this is too easy". Why, oh why can't I control my thoughts? The next thing you know the lizard escaped and I let out a blood curdling scream. This was a great scream- I didn't know I had it in me! I mean this scream would have made it to the movies! What was the result of this impressive shriek? Well, my brave son, my son who can catch a frog in mid leap, ran up the stairs and hid in his room. This just happened to be the one day that my husband had left early for work. I knew it was up to me. I did the only thing a mom could do and grabbed the dust mop. I then hustled the lizard to the open door and as I was doing this I realized that it was a baby lizard. Not just a tiny lizard but one that was moving slowly. It's color was bad and you could tell that he had been in the house for a long time (I tried to ignore this thought). He was thirsty, hungry and scared. Then I wondered how many times have I been caught in a house that I shouldn't be in? A house full of envy, anger or bitterness. How many times has God gently corralled me to a place of safety. I know there are many time I have fought His leading and I hope that next time I will pay more attention so He won't have to let out an earth shattering scream!

Today I am celebrating Christmas early.

Each year my family likes to have a little fun with Christmas pictures. We don't tend to send out the traditional family picture but we do like to show a little bit of our personalities in our pictures. I have decided to post some of our old Christmas pictures on this blog for everyone to enjoy. This picture was from 2006.