Summing Up the Weekend

The weekend started out with the kiddos and I making soap. Ang. H. makes her own soap and I love the way it makes my dry skin feel. She was so sweet to let me borrow her soap making tools.

It was really funny when I went into Ace Hardware to buy the lye. I looked and looked and couldn't find it anywhere, so I asked the lady at the desk. Mind you. . . I'm looking as below. . . like either a stay at home mom who wants to make soap or white trash. . . I asked her why they keep it behind the counter. She then tells me people make meth with it. I promised her I was just making soap. I hope I looked more like the stay at home mom type . . .hee!hee!

After adding the lye and water, that baby got hot, so then I added our oils. . . coconut, vegetable, and olive oil. The kids wanted me to put on goggles because it was splashing up.
Ash was a trooper and hung out with me the whole time. Alec and Hanna went to do their own thing.
Next we poured the soap into these molds.
Then put lids on them.
Then covered the lids with towels.
Let it dry overnight. Take out of the molds. Cut into bars.

Voila!!! Soap. I put oatmeal, barley green, cinnamon, vanilla, and peppermint into these bars. You have to let them sit for six weeks. I can't wait to try them out.
That night Jon came home and we went to the Hawks game. His work is a big sponsor so we got free tickets. . . in the nosebleed section. Hanna was so funny. She frequently has nosebleeds especially in colder weather. She said, "Here we are in the nosebleed section, and my nose hasn't bled one time."
That's okay. It was still fun.

We took Granddaddy with us.

Jon was sweet and bought everyone a Hawks hat. . . that is everyone but me and Granddaddy. Granddaddy could have honestly cared less. Me??? I don't like being left out. So, he went and got me one. . . knowing I probably won't wear it again. Hey. . . now he has 2 hats. . .
Ash was so sweet. She has such a compassionate heart. She walked arm and arm or hand and hand with Granddaddy. . . making sure he didn't get lost or left behind.
We got home at 11:30 that night and I was exhausted. I slept in until 8:45 the next morning. Rare around here folks, but oh.so.nice. Jon and I cooked pancakes and bacon together. After breakfast Cookie was in desperate need of a shave.

See what I mean?
Bless his heart. He hates this, but he is so very obedient.
I cleaned house for most of the day while Jon worked on our master bathroom. That evening I picked up Ash, Maddie, and Alexis from Julie's b-day party. . .took each girl home, and crashed into the bed.

I usually get up early even on Sun. mornings; however, I slept in until 6:30. I was beat.

After church we went and celebrated Ang. L. Doug pulled off a last minute surprise birthday party. I have lots of pictures, but am only posting a few. I'm doing good to get a post up today. . . Ha!ha!

Me and my precious, precious friend Lisa. I love her so much. She was talking about how she and Tim will be 40 next year. . .wow. . .we have been in our 20s, 30s, and will be soon entering 40s together. I'm so thankful to God He has allowed us to remain close after all these years.

Happy Birthday Ang! You are loved by many!

I had to skedadle skedoodle because I had a Uganda meeting. More on that in another post. Let me just say though oh what a blessing these people in this team are to me. I am beyond grateful and so amazed to be apart of such an amazing team. We spent time talking about what we would be teaching and spent a precious, precious time in prayer.

I then met my family at church. After church our crew of friends headed to Dairy Queen for blizzards. So grateful. So blessed. So in awe of God's goodness and grace.

In Everything

It all started in Kindergarten. . . wanting to be the first girl to have all of her letters memorized. I actually remember when it got to the inflatable "M" man.

Then in second grade when I was the first one to finish my written work. . . I had taken so much time to follow all the directions, write neatly, and then handed it in to my teacher. She put it in a crate marked "Board" work. I thought it said "bad" work. I was truly devastated. . . obviously. . . I'm 35 and still remember it.

I went from "needing improvement" when I first tried out as a majorette in high school and being placed as an alternate to being the feature twirler and twirling knives my senior year.

I worked two jobs in college and still made good grades.

I've just always been an overachiever. . . in everything I do.

Unfortunately/fortunately that bleeds over into my spiritual life as well. . .

I love memorizing whole books/chapters of the Bible.

I love discipling young women.

I am so in awe that I get to teach my children God's Holy word.

I want to volunteer and help restore young women who are victims of sex slavery.

I want feed the poor, help the hurting.

I want to go and evangelize with my precious friend, Jenn B.

I want to help my mother in law with my father in law.

I want to go to Uganda and love on the street children, hug the untouchables.

I want to teach the women of Uganda the word of God. . . teaching them to love Him with all of their being, teaching them His commandments, teaching them how to study God's word for themselves.

I want to write letters weekly to my friends in Guyana. I want to send them Bible studies on a consistent basis.

I want to write our Compassion child, Jay-Ju, weekly, telling him how much I love him even though I've never seen his face, assuring him that I pray for him, and I'd love the day when my whole family could meet him face-to-face.

My mama reminds me, "Michele, you can't save the world."

Yes, but can't I save one person's world? Can't Christ, through me, save one person's world?

I don't want to live a life in vain. I don't want to live void of purpose. I want my life to count for eternity.

At times these things weigh heavy on my heard and mind, and I just get plain exhausted. The other day I was there. To the point of tears. I was on the phone with Jon as he was going to work. I get so overwhelmed I feel like I'm drowning, so afraid of disappointing my Lord. . . I collapse. The thing is Christ has done it all for me. I know this. I know this. Yet, I struggle. . .

Jon reminded me, "Michele, there is no peace in that."

Yes, I know.

Me: "I just can't do it all."

Jon: "The good thing is. . . you don't have to."

After hanging up with my precious husband, I then fell into the arms of my Savior. . . asking His forgiveness of doing things in my strength, of allowing a burdensome load. . . a load that is not of Him (Matt 11:30). Telling Him how much I love Him, telling Him I want my life to matter for Him. He reminded me I don't have to do all things (now I'm not talking about clear commandments in scripture here. . . please don't misunderstand me). The Holy Spirit reminded me of the Scriptire, "Whether then, you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31.

In the multiple trips to the grocery store. . . do all to the glory of God.

Referring fights between my kids. . . do all to the glory of God.

Fellowshipping with my friends. . . do all to the glory of God.

Discipling my children and young women. . .do all to the glory of God.

Morning phone calls with my mama . . . do all to the glory of God.

Working at 4:00 a.m. . . . do all to the glory of God.

Watching a movie with my husband . . . do all to the glory of God.

Going to Uganda. . . do all to the glory of God.

Praying for lost souls. . . do all to the glory of God.

The way we spend our money. . . do all to the glory of God.

In that (do all to the glory of God) is peace my friends. . .

We'd Be the Laughing Stock

Our family really enjoys watching "American Idol" together. We've especially liked it since it has had the new judges. It seems since they've had the new judges they don't hvae as many as the bad singers. However, if our family was on there, especially, mu-ah, I would definitely we the laughing stock.

Wanna know how I know?

The other night our family was playing Trivial Pursuit. Even though Jon was on the opposing team (the boys' team) I was trying to help him out, so I started singing U2s "With or Without You." He thought I was singing Michael Bolton's, "I can't live if living is without you."

However. . . my girls can at least carry a tune, much, much better than their mother. They both are quite the little songbirds always singing around the house. In fact when they are in the car, Hanna will just bust out with a song. Ash will join in singing her. This makes Hanna mad, but rather than yelling at Ash, Hanna just changes the song. . . Then Ash will join her with that song .. . .Hanna changes to another song. . . Ash joins in with that song. It is.so.very.funny. I call it the Hanna Remix.

He's Becoming His Dad

It seems my sweet husband is becoming his dad. That is a high compliment.

Jon's dad is a very tenderhearted man. I can remember when we'd sit down and watch movies together, we all knew Jon's dad would be the first one to cry. One time in particular I remember watching, "Tuesdays with Morrie" (where I got Tuesdays with Granddaddy from).. . . there was laundry to be folded on the chair above him (he was sitting on the floor). I saw him reach up and grab a towel and wipe his eyes.

He cries "happy" tears and is usually moved and his heart is normally touched in happy times. . . Jon cries the same kind of tears.. . . He's becoming his dad.

Jon's dad was always a man who wrote letters to those he treasured most. I've heard friends of theirs remark about how precious it was to get a letter from Jim. In fact, on Jon and I's wedding day he wrote both Jon and I a letter and had it in the seat of the blue Buick we left the church in. Recently, in the last two months Jon has sent Alec an email (okay, that counts for modern-day letter writing, k?). He took Ash out for a date to $1 Chinese and gave her a letter at the end, and for my birthday gave me a letter that I cried so hard over Alec came downstairs to check on me to make sure I was okay. . . .He's becoming his dad.

Today, as Upward was coming to a close Jon teared up up as he told her team how Christlike they were. I had to look down and just rub his back. For I knew if I looked at him, I would have busted into tears myself. . . . He's becoming his dad.

Since Christmas time Jon has gotten into the habit to reading to our family. Right now we're reading "Kisses from Katie". The last book was "The Christmas Jar". He's teared up during both. . . . He's becoming his dad.

Oh, that sweet, tender-hearted man of mine. . . how I do love him so. . .

Silver and Gold

"Make new friends. . . but keep the old. . . one is silver and the other gold."

Man, I can remember Mrs. Davis' 7th grade music class like it was yesterday.

"doe-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do" was one we sang every.single.day.

I think we sang every Bette Midler song known to man.

It was in her class though that I remember learning the little song. . .

"Make new friends, but keep the old. . . one is silver and the other gold."

This is certainly true of my friend Molly and I.

Molly was my first friend I have a memory of. We met in 1st grade and became instant friends. She spent the night with me, and I remember Mama made me let Melissa sleep at the foot of my bed. Melissa had a bedwetting problem and actually peed on Molly's foot that night.

We rode bus #59 together and talked so much we got on our busdriver's nerves. . . . good ol' Mrs. Robinson. She would separate us; however, we would crawl under the seats and meet in the middle just so we could talk.

When I would get mad at her I'd call her "Motormouth Molly" or "Bigmouth Bishop".

I remember in 4th grade having a club. . .getting mad at Molly and me and my posse going up to her and saying, "You're kicked out", as we all kicked our feet from us like we were kicking a ball. A mean young-un I was. . . just terrible, plain terrible.

We were both majorettes in high school together. Therefore, we spent LOTS of time together.

I remember her first long-time boyfriend. In fact, I think I had one of his tennis shirts for the longest time (after I was married and had kiddos myself). I must've borrowed it from her one day at practice and never returned it.

I love how facebook keeps you connected.

She now lives in North Carolina, but her dad lives the next town over from me, and whenever she is here we make it a point to get together.

Weird how our lives still are very connected. . . and how we both homeschool our kids. . . both love the Lord and seek to walk in His ways and not our own. . . both works in progress.

God's grace. . . plain and simple

It's funny, although we never see one another and have grown into two very different people we were in our childhood and teen years, we always pick up as if we were still riding bus #59 together.

She came into town a few weeks ago, and Melissa fixed us lunch. We had such a great time gabbing and talking. . . so fun!

She has 3 beautiful children.
Alec and JS were missing because Melissa had to take JS to the hospital. He bumped his noggin and had a very nasty bump protruding from his head. Thankfully, all was fine.

Saturday Shenanigans

Saturday. . . what's in a day?

I woke up early and had some time with my Lord, and then thee bbaaabbbyyy and the hubby wake up. The hubby didn't get in until midnight because he was working at a house he's flipping. We all cuddled up on the couch and watched TV. Oh, the simple little pleasures life brings. We all then got ready and headed to basketball.

Hanna was on fire, I tell you. I think she score at least 6 baskets. My tall beauty may have just found her thing. Our church combined with another church this year to host Upward. Honestly, I really was too sure about the whole thing and really didn't want to have to go to the other church for our games. I've honestly loved in. We have an hour in-between Ash and Hanna's games. This church has a nifty little coffee shop, and so it's been our treat every Saturday to hang out there for 45 minutes or so. We just talk and fellowship and relax. I love every bit of it.

Jon headed to Albany to work on another house he is flipping. (yep flipping and working full time is certainly a challenge right now. We don't see him as much as we want. . . that's why when we are together, we try and make the most of our time.). The kiddos and I headed home. Lydia came over for discipleship (normally we meet on Fridays, but she had to reschedule). After she left for work, the girls and I got the sewing machine out and Ash sewed away, like a little sewing bee.

Hanna had a b-day party to go to. I originally was going to leave Alec and Ash at home. However, our power went out and since it feels like 10 degrees outside, I took them with me. Ash ended up staying at the party with Hanna, to which I looked at my boy and said, "Wanna grab a bite to eat?" Gigi and Granddaddy met us at a place that serves the best barbecue in the south.

While we were waiting to be seated Alec asked for 50 cent. I told him no way, I wasn't wasting money on junk. He then told me he was going to buy a fake mustache. Well, since I love to laugh I handed over my 50 cent. I so wish I knew how to get the pictures from my phone onto my computer. It was so funny and it was well worth a 50 cent laugh. We had a great dinner with Gigi and Grandaddy, picked the girls up, and headed home and all crawled in the bed to watch TV.

Hanna boo ended up sleeping with me and the other kids went to their own rooms. I love my Fab 5 so.very.much, even though a member was missing, he was still there with us between phone calls and texts.

Sometimes. . .

**Sometimes someone can do something really sweet and really thoughtful and yet hurt your feelings terribly. . .

**Sometimes you can have too high expectations out of people and/or relationships.. .

**Sometimes your life can be so busy, and when you are just busting to share your heart with your spouse, you have to text him because you have zero time with him.

**Sometimes you can withhold your excitement over things with people out of fear they won't share your same excitement.

**Sometimes you can just wish you could just freeze the hands of time and make moments last forever.

**Sometimes you get so lost in the daily trappings of life you start to lose yourself and your focus.

**Sometimes you can be sad and tears fall, and you have no idea why. You just really want to snap out of it.

**Sometimes someone can be so attentive to the things you say that they pick up on the fact that you love receiving letters.

**Sometimes that special person can write you a letter and send it to you on your birthday and just make your entire day.

**Sometimes you stand amazed at all the people who love you.

**Sometimes a good cry does your heart and soul wonders.

ALL the time, though, God is good. . . whether I feel He is near or far, whether I'm sad or happy, whether all of my relationships are right or wrong, whether I'm hurting or rejoicing, He is good ALL the time

All Wrapped Up in One - Christmas

Warning LOTS of pictures with FEW words. . . Yes, I do believe that is a first here at Mama in High Heels.

Christmas at Nanna and Papa's. . .

My sweet, sweet mama and my precious nephew AKA chunka chunka burnin' love.

The loot. . .

Sweet Em
James bought Alec a knife. He was so very excited about giving it to him.

Mama got Jon a Coleman lantern for camping. Mama was so excited about giving this to him.
Me and Kris. Sometimes its still hard for me to believe my baby sister has 2 kids.
Christmas with Daddy.. . .

Melissa hosted Christmas with Daddy this year at her house. . .

Christmas at Gigi and Granddaddys. . .

Christmas Eve. . .

We did our usual Christmas Eve shopping except not Christmas Eve, but Christmas Eve Eve. Then that sweet hubby of mine took us out for a fancy night of eating. . . Olive Garden style. . normally it's fast food or Mexican for this family, but Jon always splurges on Christmas Eve (a tradition his sweet daddy started)

Happy Birthday Jesus Cake. . .


The yarn. . . the dreaded yarn (for Jon anyway)
Always playing in the background is "Its a Wonderful Life".
After I finish up tying all the presents to the different strands of yarn, then hiding the presents, I sit on the couch and finish up my favorite movie of all times.

The starting place. . .
And. . . they're off. . .

431 to 465

431. For surprise Christmas gift from Gigi and Granddaddy.

432. For Gigi being so excited she couldn't believe she didn't tell us when she bought it in September.
433. For Kara Jane teaching Hanna a "tune" and Hanna playing it at Gigi and Granddaddy's . . . alleviating Gigi's fears that Hanna wouldn't like the piano.
434. For little girls' giggles.

435. For best friends.

436. For a precious girl to share a birthday with me.

437. For chocolate milkshakes.

438. For lunch dates.
439. For saving up money for 3+ months to surprise your friend. . . with a trip to pick out Toms for her birthday.
440. For all things glittery and pink.
441. For Hanna's selfless and giving heart.

442. For a sweet friend to love even though you've had more fights than you can count on both hands. Your love for one another supersedes any hurt feelings.

443. For a sweet Daddy who coaches basketball.

444. For the smile it puts on my face to watch these girls play every week.
445. For my girl who really has a knack for basketball.

446. For scoring 3 goals. 447. For getting over shyness for a little while and being aggressive with someone other than her brother or sister.
448. For looks over at mom when she scores a basket.

449. For the "I just don't think I will ever. . ." to the "If we ever. . . "

450. For a "pre" birthday text from Ang. L.

452. For Melissa and I's talk about the Lord today.

453. For SP's tears in her eyes as I shared with her the truth of Eph. 6:19-20.

454. For MK's precious heart over being broken for the lost who think they're saved.

455. For phone calls from JS.

456. For lunch with my parents 2 days in a row.

457. For the sound of an open door as Jon walks in from running.

458. For cold, rainy days.

459. For hot tea on cold, rainy days.

460. For snuggled up and cuddled up under blankets and finally finishing reading "Johnny Tremain" to the girls.

461. For all the ways Alec makes me laugh.

462. For Jon listening to the ESV audio Bible and coming home telling us we have to listen to the voices of different people. Cracks.us.up.

463. For Jon's support in ALL that I want to do. . .even though fears are involved.

464. For God birthing things in our hearts.

465. For a hardworking husband who never complains about how hard he is working these days.

For the Gospel

As strange as it may sound. . .

Believe it or not. . . .

This is for the Gospel.

To be continued. . .

A Teenage Boy's Nightmare

Saturday Alec and I had to go to the car to get some money because he needed 5 biscuits before basketball. I kid; but his appetite is FEROCIOUS!!!! A sweet man we go to church with said he saw Alec from afar and saw me (didn't know it was me though). He said he thought to himself, "Who is that pretty little girl with Alec?" Now Alec is almost as tall as Jon (6 ft). As we got closer he realized it was me.

I later told Alec this (THRILLED that someone that I was as young as he. . . that is until you get close enough to see my fine lines).

In the sweetest voice any teenage boy whose mom had been mistaken for their girlfriend he said, "Remind me to never walk with you again."

Bahahahahahaha

401 to 430

401. Starting out my Saturday morning with coffee/hot tea with Bethany. . .such a wonderful time and good for my heart.

402. Hanna's giggles.

403. The sound of rain.

404. A good run after it's been two weeks.

405. Dear friends.

406. Talking to my little sister and seeing the wonderful mother she is becoming.

407. Hearing my nephew cry.

408. Hearing my niece talk to me on the phone and hearing her repeat "Mama".

409. 7:00 a.m. conversations with my mama.

410. Morning "I love you" texts from Jon . . . especially when he's not happy with me.

411. The love Ash has for her so imperfect mother.

412. Caught up laundry.

413. Enough time during the day to read some.

414. Cookie going berzerk when we enter through the door, especially after a long trip.

415. Hugs from Alec.

416. When I'm quiet and reserved, Alec checking on me to make sure I'm okay.

417. Bethany's words, "I think you need to listen to that."

418. Hot tea.

419. Toms.

420. My heater by my desk.

421. Gracious friends who are so forgiving of the busyness of my life right now. . . who want to spend time with me when I have a minute.

422. Warmth of clothes when coming out of the dryer.

423. Hanna's silliness as we throw her out of our card games because she's too silly.

424. Hanna telling me, "I love you" at least five times a day.

425. Hanna asking me to come cuddle with her.

426. The light of a candle.

427. The absence of caffeine.

428. The grace of a great God.

429. Music.

430. Jon reading aloud to our family at night.