Alex's New Career

Alex has a new career choice.

He wants to be a pest control man.

This afternoon the pest control man came for his quarterly visit.

Alex was completely fascinated with him...fortunately the man was very patient.

Alex showed him everywhere outside that he had seen a praying mantis and a Daddy Longlegs.

Once the man told him that he wasn't there to kill bugs, but to protect the house from getting bugs inside, he was Alex's new best friend.

He followed this man around the entire house and the whole yard. Alex picked up his super soaker and "worked" right along side the fellow.

I was in the kitchen and I could hear Alex in the backyard (he has a voice that carries a little bit) talking non stop...he was asking "why" this and "how" that. The man, his name is Steve, answered every one of Alex's question, which made Alex love him even more.

Alex asked Steve if he could stay for dinner, he politely declined.

Alex asked him how old he had to be to be a pest control man. We think about twenty sounds good.

Alex tried to bring his spray gun to dinner and talked the whole time about how he can't wait until he is twenty and he is a pest control man.

It is going to be a long three months for Alex until Steve comes back.

Funnel Cake King

Wade Amy is the funnel cake king.

We had mucho mexican food at HOPE group last night and for dessert (I know it is not Mexican, but it is dessert that you fry in a pan) we had funnel cake.

I found a recipe and made the batter to take to their house and then Wade took over. I think that cooking with hot oil is kinda like cooking on the grill, men do it well.

He poured the batter through the funnel and flipped those things over like it was nothing, all the while he was telling us how at the carnival they have special sticks they use to flip them.

My job then was to hold the plate and then put powdered sugar all over them...yum!!

They were so good.

Wade said that he used to be a carny.

He said that is how he and Liz met.

I kinda believe him!!

Happy Birthday Lisa

Happy Birthday my sweet friend.

Over the years our friendship has grown and it has changed in many ways. But the one thing always remains is out of the overflow our love for the Lord is our love for one another!!

I thank Him for bringing you into my life.

I thank you for always being there for me. Even when we can't be together in person, I know you are always there in spirit.

I thank you for praying for me and with me.

I thank you for crying with me and laughing with me, sometimes even at the same time.

I thank you for loving me.

I thank you for being my friend.

I love you!!!

Do something sweet and just for your self today.

Overcoming Fear and the Glory of Boys

Boys are great.

They are born tough and the older they get, the tougher, stinkier and grosser they get.

There are times that this does honestly, as a girl, really gets to me.

There are times however that it is truly a gift from God.

I have a huge fear and not just an "I don't like it" fear, but a paralizing and unhealthy fear.

I know this fear is not from God...

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. Romans 8:15

My fear is mice.

I can handle bugs and spiders and lizzards and frogs...but something about a mouse that turns me inside out.

Don't laugh at me, we all have fear. It may not be in the rodent or reptile department, but deep down there is something in each one of us that we fear.

But the good news is that God will not leave us that way. He will eventually bring our fears to the surface and force us to deal with them. He may do it gently or in my case, hit me over the head with it.

Moving into this house in a newly developed, wooded area, I knew there were mice. I tried to mask my fear with denial...that I wouldn't get one.

Isn't that so like our human nature, if we don't want to deal with something, we pretend like it isn't happening. That really wears you out...hence being a slave!!!

So everything was going along great until a few days ago. I noticed some "evidence" of a mouse in the garage. My first instinct was to pretend that I didn't see it...yeah it's dirt...it's not real.

After a couple of days I knew that I had to do something. The thought of it getting in the house was overwhelming.

Sunday afternoon the boys and I go to HEB and get some snap traps. We get home...now I have never had to deal with this. I have never even touched a mouse trap...just typing this still makes my stomach turn.

So I am standing there reading the directions trying to figure it out and getting frustrated. Michael takes one look at it and figures it out...I love this child!!

We then line four traps up around the walls of the garage...it was like a military war zone!! I put a fruit loop on each one and we head to church.

When we get home and I tell Michael to open the overhead door...not the inside door in case it runs in the house and jumps on my face...a possibility you know!!!

I asked Michael if there was a mouse. He said no, but the fruit loops were gone. Are you kidding me!!!

Smart mouse.

So then I get a knife and lather them with peanut butter.

The next morning same thing...no mouse...but it dined on peanut butter.

I thought to myself 'I am feeding this mouse, why would it want to leave'. So I put more peanut butter on it and then get two of the mice hotels, where they go in and get trapped.

Last night when we got home and Michael opened the door, I actually saw it run. Now the fact that I saw this and did not wet my pants means that God is working on me.

The past few days of knowing that it was in the garage and still being able to live in my house and being ok was showing me that I do not have to be a slave to fear. I may not like what is going on, it may not be pleasant, but if I deal with it everything will be ok.

This morning when we were leaving the house, Michael opened the door and he and Alex both yelled "mouse".

The snap trap worked.

I gave Michael a dust pan and told him not to touch it...just to scoop it up, throw it in the trash and then run.

He looked at me like I was crazy.

He obeyed. He scooped that thing up like it was nothing, threw it in the trash and then ran around in circles screaming.

I think he was mocking me...I'm not sure.

So slowly but surely He is breaking down this fear. I may not like it, it may not be pleasant, but with His Spirit, I will deal with it.

Are We Listening?

God speaks to us everyday, all day long.

Are we listening?

In the past week I had two great examples of no and then yes.

Last week I went to HOPE group. I pulled up in front of the house. As I turned my car off, I had the quick thought of "am I parked the right direction"? I let is pass because I wanted to get my kids and my food inside and start HOPE group.

I came out a few hours later and there was a ticket on my windshield...hmmm.

The very next day I went to Wal Mart to pick up a handful of things. I got to the checkout and made my purchase. As I was walking away, I felt "check your receipt", I never check my receipt. But I pulled it out of my bag and there was a purchase for hair bows. I looked in my bag and there are they were.

I have two boys...now I know Alex's hair is getting a little long, but we still don't wear bows!!

So I turned right around and got my money back.

Instantly I knew it was the Lord. I knew He was telling me to stop and check my receipt. Then He showed me that it was Him the day before. Had I stopped and turned around then, I would have saved some money!!

Lesson learned.

We seek God in the big things, but He wants to be involved in every aspect of our lives. He wants us to ask Him about everything we do...should I park here...do I eat this?

He wants to communicate with us all day every day about everything.

We don't have to walk around in the dark hoping we are making the right choices.

How cool is it to listen and then be able to say "thank You Lord" when He stops you from making a mistake...to walk in that constant communion with Him is to live in peace.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7