My brother Andrew, Rudy, and myself relaxing after a Memorial Day Cookout in Texas



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It was any ole' day in the life of a WAHM, I had, yet, to brush my teeth, shower, fix my hair, or finish my coffee. No, No, in my little, sleep deprived brain I felt making beds, laundry, and blogging cleaning needed to come first!

BANG BANG BANG

RING RING RING

BANG BANG BANG

I was startled at the loudness coming from my front door, but even more aggravated thinking it was one of my friends or my husband just messing with me. Did they KNOW I hadn't finished my coffee and the switch on my brain wasn't on yet?

Apparently not.

As I swung the door open to give, whoever it was, a piece of my mind, I saw shiny badges and men in uniform. All in sunglasses, by the way, except one. He would be the one who wanted to make eye contact with me when he reminded me of what harboring a fugitive would mean for me and my family.

Seriously, I had about 7 police men at my door with their patrol cars surrounding my house! My heart is racing, my hands are shaking, and my poor little Abby and Rudy are hugging eachother tightly, just as scared, behind me.

Is this your house?

We're looking for [Insert Name].

Can we look inside?

Well, officers it's a rental, the person you're looking for doesn't live here. REPEAT: DOES NOT LIVE HERE. And no, you can't look inside! Then the phrase I thought I'd NEVER use in my adult life came out of my mouth:

Do you have a warrant?

No, really! Said person doesn't live here, I'm not hiding anything besides the shame of not having a bra on yet, Hotwheels and Barbie boobie traps laid out by my children, the kids rooms being trashed, and my kitchen floor in desperate need of a mopping!

Do you have a warrant to make me feel like the worst Mom, Wife, and Homemaker?

I asked if they could excuse me so I can put some clothes on. Their eyes widened when they realized I was standing there in my pjs, with no bra, and sleepy eyes.

It's amazing how much MORE helpful I could be once I have clothes on officers! When I feel covered and comfortable FINALLY I could answer any questions you might have. As I walk back outside and meet these men in my front yard I can smell the stink of a dirty diaper following me.

Can Memphis PD pick a better day to harrass a Mom? I mean, I'm struggling to get my work done on the computer, packing for 3 weeks in Texas, getting my garage ready for a massive garage sale (Yes, my house will be clear free of JUNK), and all the while I have to entertain questions I don't have answers to.

I understand the urgent matter and I hope it get resolves, but as my mind drifts back to the my little cacoon life inside my small house, I don't have answers to help, just thoughts of whether not I thawed the chicken and if I remembered to give Zach lunch money today.

Memphis PD, I commend you for your hard work in our city. We all know how difficult your job is for the City of Memphis and we ALSO know how much protection this city needs. I wish I could have helped. No, actually, I wish I knew what it was about so I can understand.

As the patrol cars drove away, I secretly wished I could be in there, hauled away from the dripping poop diaper my smiling toddler ,so happily, brought to my attention.

Wipes?

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Being a resident of Memphis, TN and having volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House, I have learned so much about St. Jude and how passionate they are about fighting cancer. Thanks to a special Target promotion, Bullseye Gives, Facebook users have a new opportunity to help the kids of St. Jude.

Target has earmarked $3 million to be distributed to St. Jude and other charity partners. Facebook users will determine how much of the $3 million each charity receives.

For two weeks starting May 10, Target will feature St. Jude and nine other national charities on its Facebook page. During this time, visitors to www.facebook.com/target can vote once a day for the charity of their choice.

On May 26, Target will announce the final donations to each charity, based on the percentage of the vote each charity received. So if St. Jude receives 50 percent of the votes, the Target gift to St. Jude would be $1.5 million.

The Bullseye Gives promotion runs from May 10-25. Go to www.facebook.com/target every day to cast your vote for St. Jude. Feel free to tell friends, Tweet, or Blog about this amazing charitable program and help the kids of St. Jude.

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I bit the bullet and bought our first watermelon of the Summer. HEY! It feels like Summer! Two more days of school, WOO HOO!

I crown thee the Royal Watermelon Family!




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It was one of those blissful Sunday afternoons that most Mom's dream of! Our family felt led to find a new Church Home and after much prayer finally decided to do just that.

Most of you might understand my anxiety wondering if the kids would like it, whether or not we're called to serve there, etc. Well, much to my surprise my children begged to go back, my husband was incredibly moved by the Holy Spirit, and I was thanking God the whole way for giving us such a blessed day.

To celebrate our courage to follow His calling to find a new church (and actually doing it), we decided to go out to eat as a family. If you know us at all, this is a big deal because of our financial struggles the last few months. For us to willfully spend money on eating out is a BIG decision.

Our place of Destination?

Gus's Fried Chicken
2965 N Germantown Rd
Bartlett, TN 38133

My husband heard such great things about the Gus's in downtown and was anxious to treat us to some good fried chicken after church. Little did I know, it wouldn't even come CLOSE to "good".

Still on our "high" from church, we walked in with a giddy-up to our step! The kids were laughing, I was smiling, and we were scanning through all the yummy options on the menu. However, it would all go down hill in the next 10 minutes.

Our waitress took a good while (10 mins) to even take our drink order, in which we went proceeded to give our food order as well. Much to our surprise we hear:

"Well, we're out of fries. Sorry."

I saw my husband's face as he stated:

"Out of fries? How d----"

I interrupted him, which is my way of safely rescuing him from saying anything out of line. I mean, it's not the waitresses fault their out of fries, but REALLY out of fries, Gus?!

We ordered, we waited, we waited some more, some more the wait, the wait that never ENDED! It took at LEAST 45 minutes to an hour for our food to arrive. Now, sitting at a table with a very hungry and grouchy toddler never ends well. He screamed, he kicked, he jumped, he told me in his toddler-nese, "MOM! Don't they KNOW we're hungry?!"

Rudy went out for a walk with Dad, then a walk with Mom, then some TV on Dad's cell. Alas, our food was coming, but they brought everyone elses EXCEPT mine and my toddler's. Not to worry, just another 10 minutes and it was in front of us SCALDING HOT. I like my food to be hot, but this was touch-it-you'll-need-minor-med-attention HOT! No joke, we let his food cool for another 10 minutes and when he placed it in his mouth he cried as it scalded his sweet little mouth.

I don't get it, Gus.

We're a family of Five. A family who MORE THAN LIKELY would have given you repeat business if you simply took our order and didn't give us 3rd degree burns when we ate! All in all, sweet Rudy had it. He was mad his food took long. He was mad his food wasn't at a decent temperature, and he was mad that our dining experience was everything, but joyful.

This Momma wasn't happy either. The waitress was less than friendly, our drinks weren't asked to be re-filled, the food we wanted they were out of, the food we got took 25 minutes to cool, and all in all......... the waitstaff didn't care. Two hour dining experience that I was begging to end.

Gus's Fried Chicken, I KNOW you can do better than that! Weren't you featured on the Rachel Ray Show? My 5 and 6 year old have better customer service at their Lemonade stand than what we received yesterday afternoon. Want some pointers? They are available for interviews via phone or you can set up a meeting at Popeyes on weekdays after school hours, with their Momma present.

No hard feelings Gus, if we're ever out in Mason, TN we'll stop in and give you a second chance, however, Memphis locations will go on living without us.

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On this Thursday, I am EVER so thankful for my three beautiful children. It's like any Momma to say that when they can't think of anything else to write about, but today ...it's different.

Last night I met Kayleigh Anne.

Hot tears flowed down my cheeks.

My body was frozen,

My eyes fixated on the sweet miracle on the screen.

After I read one of their latest posts, I ran to the room and hugged my sweet babies tighter and tighter. I couldn't bare putting my toddler to sleep in his room. I wanted him right there near me, to cherish, to love, and to hold... thankful that I was so blessed to have this time with him.

I read every entry I could before I went to bed. I met her too late. I wasn't able to pray for her before the Lord took her to be with Him. I met her and all the while she's smiling from Heaven knowing that strangers around the world are being told about her God Sent story that very minute.

I don't know the Freemans, but it hit me especially hard because the first time I ran across their blog I immediately felt the Lord, close. I looked to see where they live and my heart broke into MORE pieces when I learned that they live in Charlotte, NC, minutes from my old house before we moved here to Memphis. I met them too late. My prayers could have been used, Lord!

My prayers could have been used.

When we moved to Charlotte in 2007 we visited so many churches trying to find where God wanted us to serve. One particular Church really spoke to us, and although God didn't place us there as a Church Home, we spent a lot of time at Elevation.

I could have met them.

I might have met them.

I could have prayed for them, hand in hand.

Today, I looked through the Label Daddy Dad Blogger of the Year nominations and, yet again, ran across their blog. Her sweet Daddy has been nominated. Little did I know, that when I pitched the idea of a Dad of the Year award to the Label Daddies as part of the Blog Team, that I would be introduced to such a sweet, precious, angel.... Kayleigh Anne.

Although, I feel like I met their sweet family too late, I KNOW this is God's Plan and I KNOW my prayers can still be useful.

I will lift the Freemans up to God as they celebrate such an amazing, beautiful, child of God.

Kayleigh Anne Freeman
June 23, 2008 - May 11, 2009



Today, I'm thankful for the time I have with MY children not knowing God's plan, but faithful that it's perfect.

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Our kids are FULL of character, don't ya think?!



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Thirty years of molding for my precious husband. He turned 30 on May 8th and what a celebration is was! His sweet parents drove from Texas to be with us on that special day and we did a LOT of eating, laughing, and relaxing.

Everywhere we went I'd tell complete strangers, "My husband is turning 30! Isn't that great?!" I got a few elbows pokes, rolling of the eyes, and walking away, but HEY, it's not every day your spouse reaches a milestone in life! 30! It's the new 21 you know!

I feel like a schmuck because I usually blog about the cool things happening in my life, but have since taken more time to actually ENJOY those things that I forget to write. Ah Well!

Happy 30th Birthday Sweet Man

*Clears Throat* And now I'll do my rendition of "30 I Love You's" You love me in so many ways so it's going to be hard to pick out everything I love about you.

30. You take Zach to school every morning, leaving me some morning time to myself.

29. You have the softest hair (Um.... you might not like that one, but it's true).

28. You always find time to jump on the trampoline with the kids.

27. The way you roll your eyes after I've changed for the 5th time on Sunday Mornings.

26. The way you balance me out.

25. How you like to drink from the BIGGEST cup you can find.

24. You never say anything negative about my cooking.

23. Your cooking is always amazing!

22. How you like to do yardwork and never bug me to do it.

21. The way you sing (Really. You should join the choir)

20. You never raise your voice.

19. You never put me down.

18. You've embraced a confidence in our marriage that outshines everything else.

17. You kiss me Hello and Good-Bye ALL the time.

16. You know I've had a bad day w/o me saying it.

15. How you rock at Guitar Hero.

14. How you're not ashamed that you don't like running (for exercise).

13. That you go out of your way to make it home on time on Thursday evenings for me to make it to group.

12. How you adopt a "saying" every few months: The Proof is in the Pudding is the newest.

11. How you make catching flies into a game at the dinner table.

10. Your willingness to quit smoking no matter how many times you need to start over.

9. How hard you work every day to provide for us.

8. That you embrace our decision for me to stay home with the kids. Always.

7. How you pour your love and laughter on us every day.

6. Your ability to admit when you're wrong and even when you're not.

5. Your patience with me.

4. How you sometimes match your dress shirt to my dress for Church.

3. The way you spoon me before bed.

2. How you know when to give me time after an argument.

1. How you started praying with me at night.

Your next 30 years will be the best years of your life! Happy Birthday. I love you.

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I took this picture as we drove down our street just weeks ago. If that isn't God's Sky, I don't know what is!



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Does it really matter how you worship at church? I've changed my worship style since the day I was saved. It's a growth and confidence in the power of Jesus Christ that moves us to feel comfort in our own skin and in the presence of Our Father. A few ways I've worshiped in the past:

-Standing, uncomfortable, looking around with no understanding of what to do, what to sing, or how to look.

-Singing with eyes fixed on the screen ahead making sure to mouth each word correctly. That's right MOUTH, not SING. I still didn't have the courage to belt out off-pitch words in front of other people.

-Hands behind my back, singing off key (softly), making sure NOT to make eye contact with anyone around me.

-Arms raised high, belting out my off-pitch words, moving, clapping, and lovin' it all!

Everyone worships a little differently, but the amazing part is... it doesn't matter. God has made us up of different talents, gifts, and personality that it's all about Him no matter HOW we do it. Some people pray with their eyes wide open looking up to Him, while I usually pray with my eyes closed and usually face down on the ground (when it's possible). I feel closer to Him when I'm on my hands and knees bowed down.

Doesn't make me weird. It makes me comfortable.

Do you think Christians would be more open to change in Church if they knew that it would help bring comfort to those who don't know Christ?

There is a storm of people on Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, and every Social Media Outlet you can think of. These places are virtual "hang outs" where you can meet all walks of life. What better way to share your daily Testimony and Witness to those OUTSIDE your church and OUTSIDE the Father!

While we lived in Charlotte, NC, we had the privilege of attending an amazing Church called Next Level. Immediately, we felt a comfort knowing we were surrounded by REAL people with REAL problems..... normalcy if I ever saw it. There is no "Sunday Show" of who can wear the nicest dress or keep their child the best behaved. It's a come-as-you-are Church, with Rockin' Christian Music, Hot Starbucks Coffee, Jeans, and a message of the Truth. They meet todays people where they are by using the power of Social Media: Twitter, Blogs, Websites, etc.

As a newly transplanted resident in Charlotte, it was the first time I felt "Home" and in the presence of God since moving from Memphis. Why is that? Again, it's comfort. We all want to feel accepted, comfortable, and fit in WHEREVER we are. We want to know that the congregation and Pastoral Staff are just like us and capable of all the sins we've committed and here is the shocker.............. THEY ARE!

So, why do I bring up Social Media? Why Twitter and what does it have to do with Church?

With the millions of people ON Twitter and millions of people attending Church Service through out the week, why CAN'T we Tweet out what we feel God is teaching us? Why CAN'T the millions of people at home checking their Twitter updates hear OUR Witness via social media?


"Turn off your Cell Phones" is something we have always done, but times have changed. Blackberrys, iPhones, Laptops, and every gadget out there is a way of life. I mean, even LeapFrog has rolled out their version of the "Baby Blackberry". So, why would it be crazy if a Church like, Next Level, encouraged their congregation to Tweet out during Service? In fact, that's EXACTLY what they did this past Easter Sunday! What better way to show others His work in OUR life! Do you think it's distracting or disrespectful to the Pastor? I can see how others might, but if each Pastor KNEW the power of social media and how many people we can reach, I bet he'd have his Blackberry out as well.

Testify to tweeting at Church?

Hallelujah!

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For years now, I used to say I wanted to be that home. The home where everyone is welcome and where my children's friends feel comfortable, secure, and happy knowing we love 'em.

I want them to come here if they're hungry.

Come here when they're thirsty.

Come here when they're bored.

Come here when they're excited.

Come here in the rain.

Come here in the snow.

Come here because there is an unexplainable comfort and love.

Yup, that is the house I want to build, but my children were very young when I dreamed that dream. It sounds so "out there" but I couldn't wait to stock my freezer with cheap pizzas and have snacks ready for them in the pantry.

Today, my son is almost finished with 1st grade. My daughter is going to Kindergarten next year and my toddler thinks he can "hang" with the big kids. They are making lots of friends in the neighborhood, two in particular next door, a young boy in the same grade and a 4 year old little girl. There's also some kids that live behind us that enjoy coming over.

For the last week, I've had multiple children come to our house. They come from all different directions: back door, garage door, front door, and even over the fence (we made it easier on them by placing a ladder there).

Yesterday, I looked around and realized children were here all day long. I fed them lunch, I played games with them, gave them drinks, answered questions, put on movies, gave them snacks, enforced a little authority by making them clean the room they trashed, and even had them go to THEIR house to check in with their parents, but told them to hurry back .. hurry they did.

When it was dinner time, an exhaustion fell over me. I had tackled dish load after dish load, washed, dried, folded, and put away 6 loads of laundry, made beds, vacuumed, mopped, and wiped every kool-aid spill I encountered (There were 8. I counted). I softly told the kids to tell their friends goodbye since dinner was waiting on the table.

What did I hear?


My Kids: "Can they stay for dinner?!"

Their Friends: "Yeah, can we stay?!"

Me: "Ummm.. err.. welll.. I didn't quite make enough. Maybe you should go home to eat? Your parents are probably worried."

My Kids: "PLEASE MOM! We'll share OUR food!"

My Sweet Abby: "We're a Christian Home, Remember?"

It felt like a dagger had been forced into my heart, because I'm constantly reminding my children how important it is to share when we can, love when we can, and use kind words when we can. "We're a loving Christan home and we need to show Christ's light to others." They never listened to me before, but somehow, on this day they had.

"We're a Christian Home, Remember?"

The problem is........... We're a BROKE Christian Home, a Christian Home who is struggling to keep our heads above water, struggling to keep enough groceries for the week, struggling to pay our bills, and struggling at remembering He is in control and our Lord WILL provide.

As I saw dollar signs float through my head and my children having to eat tuna for the next few days, I softly said, "Everyone in. Grab a seat. We've got Bar-B-Que porkchops, roasted potatoes, corn, and ranch style beans." Saying it out loud reminded me again, that this would be a GOOD meal for the week and we're having to give it out to neighborhood kids.

Then God shook that thought out of me when we sat down for Grace. My toddler reaches for everyone's hands and closes his eyes. I thanked God for each child at the table, thanked Him for His love and grace, asked Him to bless our food, and my children echoed together, "Amen."

I was startled to see the puzzled look on some of the other kids faces and then one asked:


"What is Grace?"

My eyes filled with tears when I realized most of the children at that table had never heard about Jesus Christ. Their puzzled eyes showed me that we were their first glimpse.


What Is Grace?

Grace is the love He sheds down on us despite our sin and shortcomings. Grace is his arms around me when I roll my eyes at having to share the food He blessed me with. Grace is what has me eager to have those very children over again tomorrow.


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