Putting a Gig in my Giggle

One of my very favorite things in the whole wide world to do is laugh!!! I just love the sound of laughter and the way a good belly laugh makes me feel. Here are some things that have put a gig in my giggle lately. . .

Hanna: "When I grow up I'm going to have a husband, 20 dogs, a no trespassing sign, and I'm not having a phone." (the "no trespassing sign comes from my dad, James, who makes sure he has one up in his and Mom's yard).

Gigi felt sorry for Cookie and brought a radio over to play for him in case he got lonely for human chatter.

273 to 300

273. For front porches to sit on.

274. For children to watch play in the yard.

275. For time in prayer and in the Word on my front porch while the children play.

276. For cool breezes.

277. For the beauty of a colorful world.

278. For these 3 girls who probably teach me WAY more than I will ever teach them. I love them like my very own. For laughing, praying, sharing, studying the Word, and sharing life with them!

279. For Tuesday's with Grandaddy.

280. For walks to Gigi's and Granddaddy's.

281. For Gigi always bringing us either dessert or bread when she pops in for a visit.

282. For a husband who is affectionate.

283. For time to rekindle, rest, and relax.

284. For friends, in-laws, mama, and sister who take care of your kiddos and love them like their very own so that you can rekindle, rest, and relax.

285. For hardworking kids.

286. For "Bye Bye Booher" party and the life and legacy she is living!

287. For sweet prayers uttered to the One who has captured our hearts for Booher.

288. For children who pray.

289. For sweet tears.

291. For a home to share with others.

292. For floors to mop so babies can crawl.

293. For hands-on homeschool activities (demonstrating a "to-scale" model of the solar system).

294. For my mama.

295. For morning phone calls from my mama.

295. For a sweet conversation with my Grandmama.

296. For praying over my Grandmama and her broken heart and incomplete life without Papa.

297. For flowers picked and given to me by my children (this one from Hanna).

298. For a bed big enough for everyone to pile into to watch "Biggest Loser" and "American Idol".

299. For lunch with Bethany and a sweet time shared.

300. For grace.

Keeping us in stitches

Hanna is a riot around here. Just wanted to jot down some funny things she's said lately.

"Mom, I wish the Tower of Babel never happened so that I could understand what those ladies at Judy's Nails were saying."

Ash was saying the blessing. In the middle of the blessing Ash paused and coughed. She then resumed her prayer and concluded with, "Amen." Hanna looked at her and in the bossiest voice said, "Ashley, p-r-a-y without ceasing."

Griswold Momemts

There are several "Griswold Moments" Jon and I had while in Sodom and Gomorrah. I'm so thankful I have a husband as fun as Jon to share life's moments with . . . the good, bad, and ugly. . . and oh yeah, i should probably throw embarrassing in there somewhere. Thankfully, neither Jon nor I take ourselves too seriously. If we did, we'd be a in heap of trouble.

***We decided to rent a car for a few days and I could, of course, make this story really long. So, I'll try for the short version. Long story-short. We were told it would be $10 a day (or something like that to rent the car). Can you tell we've never done this before? We were stoked! Get to the rent-a-car place, and they tell us something about having insurance. They scare you to death and act like if you get a scratch on the car you're going to have to put your children up for random. Jon asked how much? $23. Fine and good. He tells us our final total. . . something in the ballpark range of $150 (maybe more or less, my memory fails me). Jon got a tad bit upset. I was afraid we were about to have a repeat of a time share episode (I'll have to share this later). I braced myself. Thankfully it wasn't. We just said never mind. So, we proceeded to another kiosk of rent-a-cars. Basically the same thing happened with the whole insurance thing. They apparently meant $23 a day and not for the entire time you rent a car. While Jon and I were trying to decide what we were going to do, I told him, "I bet if you don't get the insurance, they come to your hotel (they do get the name of where you're staying), find the car, and beat it in with a hammer." I was delirious and excessively giggly. . . I was just kiddin'. We humbled ourselves and went back to the 1st rent-a-car place. While redoing all of the stinkin' paperwork Jon tells the man, "My wife said. . . . and he basically repeated what I'd said about them beating the car in." He was the sweetest Mexican man and said with a giggle and maybe a snort (just kiddin' about the snort). "No, no, that only happens in the movies." Doggonit Jon!!! I didn't know he was going to tell of my ugliness :)


***So the next evening after renting the car we go to the parking deck to go and use the car. We went to the left of the deck. . . NO CAR!!!! Then we went to the right of the deck . . . NO CAR!!!!We were on the verge of a slight freak out. . . seriously. I was thinking it'd be just like the Lord to humble us after I was playfully ugly about the rent-a-car folks. Jon and I were booking it across the parking lot, anxiously trying to find the car. Great! Hope the insurance covered a stolen car. Guess what? We were in the wrong parking deck!!!!!!!! Clarke Griswold would be ever so proud!



***When we sent to the strip we decided to park at the Bellagio. We went around the deck 1 time, then another. We saw a mustang parked like it was waiting for someone, not parked in one of the rows. Jon then said, "Are we going around and around the same deck?" Me: "No baby, there was a mustang parked there and it's not there anymore. Well, after about 4 more times we realized we WERE circling the same deck over and over and over again. Every parking deck Jon and I have been on was the circular kind. We'd never been on one where you have to exit the deck to get to the neck one.


***On the strip I was already slightly freaked out about all that my eyes were seeing. Also, all that my spirit was feeling. . . such darkness and blatant sin. Anyone can be on the streets there, homeless, musicians, Disney characters, human statutes, WHOever and WHATtever. There were these people with 2 snakes wrapped around their necks. I clung to Jon tightly and said in my louder than normal voice, "Snakes, do you see those snakes? Those people have snakes on them?" Well, right beside them was this man with a baby tiger beside him, "Jon, Jon, do you see that? He has a baby tiger out here? Look at that!!! Oh.my.goodness.!!!!" I was actually freaking out!

Jon replied, "Babe, that's a stuffed animal."

Mother's Day

Despite having some jet lag and a horrible head cold, this has been a really great Mother's Day. First of all after being away from my babies for 5 days, I was really to soak all 3 of them up. We all went to church this morning and then headed out to eat. Since I have this horrible cold and can hardly taste a thing I thought Mexican sounded really good. . . and, it was. I could taste it somewhat.

We then went to Wal-mart. Yeah, I know it was last minute for shopping, but that kind-of stuff doesn't matter me. . . maybe it's because I'm a "Last-Minute Lady" myself. . .

We came home and Jon told the kids he and them were cleaning the whole house for me. Wow! This meant so much, especially considering there was a week's worth of laundry piled at the back door, along with suitcases galore. . .

Meanwhile, I lay in the bed reading a book my friend, Bethany, had let me borrow. Yes, I started this one on my trip.

It was quite funny hearing the "clean the house fiasco". Even Hanna thought so. She walked through my room giggling.

"What's so funny Hanna?"

Giggle. "Daddy cleaning the house."

"Why's that so funny?"

"Because he's downstairs trying to do the laundry. I don't think he knows which detergent to use." Giggle. Giggle.

He was yelling at the kids some, but cleaning the house will do that to you. . . that's why I try to avoid it. . . ha!ha! I kid! I kid . . . kinda.

We then all climbed into Jon and I's bed and watched a movie. Lazy days are the B-E-S-T!!!!!!

We went to Gigis to celebrate with her.

This was my yummy banana split.


We all ate on the patio. It was such a nice evening.

I'm so blessed to have such a wonderful mother-in-law and mother. I can't wait to celebrate with my mom!!!!!!!

Also the kids and Jon got me a really sweet card. My little sister sent me a super sweet text thanking me for being a Godly example. Also Jon and the kids got me a new subscription to "Runner's World" Whoo! Hoo! and "The Dawn Treader" I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE all the Narnia movies.

But, even if I didn't get a clean house, sweet cards, or gifts, the Lord has blessed me beyond measure, and I'm so very grateful for my sweet husband and precious kids!

Those DANG books

Okay, so I get to the airport, and before I can get in the door this man comes to get me to weigh my baggage (no wait). That bad boy weighed 63 lbs. He then informed me that for every bag over 50 lb Delta charges an ADDITIONAL $90. Now, I'd already paid $23 for this bag. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't go back to my car and empty some stuff out of it; I would miss my flight. I certainly couldn't throw my things in the trash. I would just have to suck up the $90 that I don't have. Yikes!!!

I had to go inside and take care of the charge in there. I then remembered my behemoth of a purse. "I know," I thought, "I'll take all my books and put them all in my purse. Cha-Ching, this has to work. My Bible feels like it weighs 10 lbs anyway."

I go to weigh my bag again. This time it was with a lady. Baggage weighed 54 lbs. Shoot a flying goose!!!!!! I'm going to have to pay $90 all for 4 lbs. The lady saw the look of exasperation and the "my hubby is going to kill me when he finds out" look all over my face. She said, "Girl, you don't want to pay $90. Let's open that bag up. Take out some jeans."

So here I am just a few feet from where Ash threw up on Friday, opening my bag pulling out jeans. E-M-B-A-R-R-A-S-S-I-N-G!!!!!!!

Sheew, down to 51 lbs.

"Girl, let's take out some shoes."

I'm pulling fast because I really am mortified at the Griswold in me (Remember, National Lampoons & Vegas Vacation????).

I took out 2 shoes . . . and to top it all off they didn't even match!!!!!!! Typical. . . just plain ol' TYPICAL.

With the help of my new friend, "T" (I can't remember her full name. It was hard to pronounce), she and I scored!!!! Whoo Hoo! 50 lb baby and no $90 fee.

However, I did have just a small problem. My behemoth purse is packed to almost overflowing with about 10-15 lbs of books (I'd already had a few in there), and I have 3 pair of jeans and 2 mismatched shoes to carry on, plus my laptop bag. I asked my new friend, "What it the world am I going to do with all of this stuff? They're not going to let me carry this on to the plane."

"Girl, go to one of those shops and get a bag."

Awesome idea, T.

So, of course, I headed to the shoo-shooish, froo-frooish shop (without thinking) asking her if I could just have a bag.

"Mam, you need to go to where they have the snacks just down the hall to the right. We don't have any bags."

Great, good one, Michele.

I'm so afrid at this point I'm going to miss my flight. I was already pushing it when I got to the airport. Again, that's just typical for me.

I found a store that sold snacks, books, etc. and found a bag on clearance for $6.99. SCORE!! Sure does beat $90.

Okay, I can relax.

Get past security, grab something to eat to eat on the plane, standing in line to board the plane, lady takes my ticket and then says to me.

"You have too many bags (purse, new bag, and laptop). You will have to fit 2 of your bags into one."

YOU'VE.GOT.TO.BE.KIDDING.ME.!!!!!!!!!!

I then proceeded to stick behemoth purse into my new red bag. I couldn't close the thing, and it was spewing forth every book, paper, lip gloss, pen, etc. from my purse. But hey, it worked, she let me through!!!

On the eve before I leave

Well the night before I left I wanted to have some sweet time with the kiddos. So we made make-your-own pizzas. This is a family favorite. We then played a couple of rounds of Uno Flash and, to my amazement, no one pouted or got made (that's a rarity when we play games :))

I had a long list of things to get done. I let the kids watch TV while I tried to mark things off my list. . . tieing up a few loose ends before I left.

One thing I always do whenever I leave to go out of town is write my children notes. I hide them in their bags (or if they are at home I put them under their pillows) and always pray they will find them at a time when they need to.

The sweet thing is is I actually saw a note in my bag placed in there by one of the kiddos. Come to find out it was a letter from Ashley. This is what it said.

Dear Mommy,

I love you so much and already miss you so much. But I love you and hope you have the best time ever. I jus can't reapeat how many times I love you cause its more than you think. Here's a kiss (picture of red lips). I hope you and Daddy have the best time.

Sincerly,

Ash

P.S. I love you

Attached to my letter was another card made by her. Here's what it said.

I love you Mom and already miss you so much and I know you miss me and I can't wait to see you. But while your there have THE BEST TIME EVER!!! I love you.

That girl is some kind of sweet!!! Yes, I know we need to work on her spelling, but don't you just love her heart of gold?

When I dropped the kiddos off with GiGi and Grandaddy Ash was actually better than I thought she would be. Hanna was very clingy (she's my girl with no words, holds everything in) and didn't want to let me go. Not like a "i'm going to hold onto you so you won't leave me" more like a "i just want to hug on you until the absolute last minute you have to walk out this door." Alec was good. Very loving, but he knew we'd be home and he did want to talk to me that night to ask me about my flight. I have some wonderful kiddos, don't I?????

Random Pictures

This post is a followup to my Random Words post. Mama and James wanted to take me a on ride through their trails in the woods to show the some tornado damage they incurred about a month ago. They are so much fun. They make these golf cart trails and name them. . . They've just started working on these trails, but one of this is named "Poison Ivy Patch". I have to say I got the red-carpet treatment or, should I say, the brown-leaf treatment. Yep, those brown leaves were all rolled out for me to step on and my mom pulled up with valet parking. . . Yep, the golf cart!
Here's the creek on their land. I don't think they've named this yet. It's beautiful though!

And, here is just a smiggin' of the trees that have been uprooted. . . beautiful, beautiful oak trees.

We also had an egg hunt. Mom had 8 prize eggs with money. Alec was focused on finding these. He cared nothing about the candy.

This is what James did while we were hunting.

That Hanna is ONE SERIOUS egg hunter!

He then moved to get a better view of the action. . . still sipping on his coffee? Do you see why I like coffee the way I do . . . it's in my blood!

(If Melissa reads my blog she is going to KILL me for putting this picture on here). . . I'm taking my chances here people.

This is my cousin, Sally's, little girl, Rachel. She spent the night with my mom that night. Very sweet girl. She was even calling me "Aunt Michele".

Mama and James

Mel and I

The Easter egg crew

As stated in my Random Words post this is the Seder supper we went to.

The Rabbi is the one holding the microphone.

I just loved the Jewish music.

This was very sweet. We had to dip our finger in our wine or grape juice (you got to chose) and for each plague (remember this is to commemorate the Exodus from Egypt), you said the name of each plague and sprinkled the juice onto the plate.

One thing I took away so much from this is how to trust in the sufficiency of God, which I think I do, but it was just put in a different way or struck me differently this night. Whatever He has for you in life, wherever you are at, He is sufficient. They didn't ask for anymore or any less than what the Lord had portioned them. I really want to read back through my booklet and glean other things. I will definitely be doing this again next year!!! It was a very sweet night and very, very meaningful. So much JOY!

It's grape juice, I promise :)

Here is the tornado damage that wiped across our county last week.

Here is a trailer park we went to help at. They are literally sitting on top of all their things. A local school was open for a shelter, but no one would leave because people were stealing one another's things. This makes me so very sad!

I just loved seeing the compassion of people also. They were all so very, very grateful! My heart left very full even amongst the destruction.

Nothing like tragedy to bring people together.

This is Ash's old Sunday School teacher's house. Precious, precious lady. She was so sweet. She was trying to give the kiddos candy for helping. Even amongst all of this she was still thinking of others. Something about her reminded both Melissa and I of Faye (grandmother).

These are the cedar trees where some of their things are caught up in.

Things I Want to do in Sodom and Gomorrah

Okay. . . well it's Las Vegas. . . that's where we're headed. Here's a list of things I want to do.

1. See the Grand Canyon. . . not going to make this one. Jon is literally in class from 7:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. So that means no time for a 4 hour drive. Shucks!

2. Read.

3. See an Elvis Chapel with Elvis impersonator. . . cause I'm a big dork.

4. Read.

5. Sleep late.

6. Run on trail where we run through canyons.

7. Read.

8. Hang out by the pool.

9. Read.

10. Share the Gospel with people I meet.

11. Read.

12. Take a gondola ride in the Bellagio (I think that's the name of it).

13. See a show. We're broke and those things are expensive, and although Jon's company is paying for ALOT, they're not paying for our entertainment. Shucks again!!!!

14. Read.

15. See the desert.

16. See the town lit up on the strip.

17. Go letterboxing (yes, without my kids and yes, b/c I'm a big dork).

Okay, so I mentioned reading quite a few times. I love to read, but our days here are so packed I don't get to do it nearly like I would like.

Here's my list of books I'm taking.

Random Words

To try and do a quick catch up of the week I thought I'd do just a very wordy random post. To follow? Well, you guessed it . . . pictures (since I have that disease where I can't blog without pictures). So, next post will be random pictures. . .kind of like a part 2 of this post. . . sound good? Good! Here I go.

• I've been fascinated by the Will and Kate royal wedding. I just love the fact that she is so common, an underdog. . . makes for a good movie. I've read and watched all kinds of stuff about the royals this week including Princess Diana and Prince Charles. . . wouldn't want that kind of life for all the tea in china. . . still, I am fascinated by it. My thoughts have even drifted to the wedding feast of the Lamb. . . when Christ will be united with His bride (church). Now, IMAGINE the splendor of that! I can't wait. I know I'll be there!!!



• We had tornadoes hit our area, like missing us by a little over a mile or two. It's been devastating and heart breaking. The kids and I went out the day after and tried to help. We went to a trailer park and got some things the people needed. Then, we went to Ash's Sunday School teacher (last year)'s house. It was completely and utterly demolished. It is a miracle they are alive. I've never seen anything like this in my whole life. Literally their stuff was caught in cedar trees. They still can't find their roof. . . I'm so grateful they are alive and I'm so grateful we are safe. We did get up about midnight when the weather radio went off, headed downstairs to get under the stairs. I was quite the ill pill. Jon was being a goof off. . . texting, passing gas. . . yada, yada, and I wasn't laughing or very jovial for that fact. I need my sleep. Hanna heard on the news where you were to cover up, meaning with blankets and pillows. Instead she layered her clothing. Seriously, the kid had on 3 different pair of PJ pants. If I wouldn't have been so ill, I would've been laughing at that.



• Easter was great. The kids went to church with Melissa b/c they spent the night with Mom. Jon and I were going to a Seder supper with our friends Bethany and Scott. However, Jon has SO MUCH WORK going on right now he couldn't make it, so Jen. B went with us. It was a precious night, very moving and sentimental, and thought provoking. I later went and asked the Rabbi why Christian's don't celebrate the feasts? He literally stopped in his tracks and in a nutshell told me "antisemitism". Hopefully more thoughts from this girl's mouth on this later. I'm really afraid we Christians may be missing the boat. I 'd love any and all thoughts on this issue. However, when we entered the seder supper I told my friends, " I feel so Gentile". I texted Jon the same thing. He replied, "Good, because that is what you are." Thanks for confirming that honey!!!! Jon and I went to church Easter Sunday. I felt so very lonely without my kiddos there with us. I didn't like that feeling AT ALL. I felt all out of sorts. . . not like myself at all!!!! We got to mom's, ate her good cooking, rode through what some tornado damage had done about a month ago to their property, and hunted eggs. I love being with my family.



• Tonight the kiddos and I took Jon to the airport. It was his first plane ride EVER. He has a fear of flying. On the way up there he was so nervous about possibly getting sick on the plane. . . you know, throwing up sick. He really was quite nervous and caught up in this idea. He was very distracted and out of sorts. We get to the airport, find where to check in baggage. He's a little frazzled (just not knowing what to do). I told the kids to lets stand back and just watch him. He didn't need us on his heels. Ash then proceeded to throw up 3 times. Seriously, I just laughed. . . all I could do. . . I think I did this b/c if I didn't I would have started crying. . . crying for Jon for his nerves and crying for my sweet girl for her pain and crying for me for my embarrassment (especially for the man who rolled his luggage across it). So, I laughed instead. . . quite a bit, actually. I'm anxiuos to hear from him when he lands. Oh yeah. . . this is the Sodom and Gomorrah I referred to in earlier posts. I'll leaving you hanging, but just try and guess where his conference is based on my clue. Oh, one thing that just touched my heart so. After Jon hugged all of us goodbye, he wanted us all to pray. . . so here, in the airport, my little family of 5 huddled around in a circle, bowing our heads in prayer while Jon prayed outloud. So thankful for Jon and his leading our family spiritually.



• Tomorrow I'm going to pick up Andrew and he is spending the night with us. Doug & Angela are in SSI celebrating 10 years of marriage, so we get to keep Andrew. I'm so very excited. . . all the kids and I are. I really am quite afraid I have forgotten all my baby skills. . . hopefully they will come back to me. It's been so long since we've had a baby in the house.



• I got my passport in today! My picture is H-O-R-R-I-B-L-E!!!!!!!!!However, it will serve its purpose. I'm going on a mission trip to Guyana in July and I'm excited, nervous, and all the in-betweens. . .



• Ash has been exceptionally clingy this week. She's oh so very sweet and no one loves me like this girl does. She is her mama's girl through and through. I'm not trying to take anything away from Alec and Hanna. I know they love me as well, but they're much more Daddy's boy/girl. . . which is totally okay with me. . . I was a Daddy's girl too, so I understand their hearts. But Ash, I don't know what it is. . . extremely, extremely binding to me this week. . . like at my heels everywhere I go. I think she is anxious about the upcoming week and not having me with her for an entire week. Oh, she's so sweet!!!!!! Hanna even was somewhat clingy on Wed. night???? She's not as verbal with her feelings, so it is really hard to tell what is going on in that head of hers.



• Wanna hear something funny? Here is something Hanna said last week. We were talking about Babylon and Hanna said, "I wish the tower of Babel didn't happen so I could understand what those ladies at Judy's Nails were saying."




• I took the kids out to eat Mexican tonight. We are on a super-tight budget right now. . . so normally where it would be around $30 or so for our entire family. . . we ate El *____* for $14.02 AND we even had cheese dip. I told the kids if they wanted to eat out everyone had to drink water and we all had to get something that was under $3.00. They obliged b/c they didn't want to eat my spaghetti :)

82 hats

Nahhh. . . I'm just kiddin'. . .not 82 hats, but by the looks of these pictures you'd think so. I'm still talking in 82s. . . but what I meant was 82 years. Melissa and I were going to miss Grandmama's big birthday shin-dig. Well, it really was just our family and they had to all get together on a day my cousin, Brian, could do it. . . . I already had previous plans, so Mel and I took Grandmama to lunch to this sweet little tea room nearby.

Grandmama started the fashion trend of a hat. . . she's been having to wear one b/c she had a premalignant place come up on her head. . .

These girls were so good. An older lady leaving the restaurant came up to me and complimented me on how well behaved they were. That makes me claim them! If they act like a bunch of scaliwags. . . uncivilized and all. . . I pretend I don't know whose children they are. . . I kid. . .I kid..

Here are my 2 aunts and my sweet Grandmama who has been walking this earth for 82 years!

Melissa and Hanna

Beans, Mel, and me (I feel like I look like a flight attendant in this picture)

We found these funny hats on the wall. . .so Melissa grabbed one and I followed her lead. We wanted to look like Grandmama. . .

Sharon and Wanda thought they'd join in the fun as well.

Pretty lady!

Sweet little Southern Belle

Here's another one. . .

And. . . another one. . .

Afterwards Wanda took all the kiddos to the store by the tearoom and got them each a piece of candy. . .

Poor Alec was such a good sport about being at a tearoom. He was the photographer, and it wasn't until I uploaded these pictures that I realized he wasn't in a SINGLE one of them. I think he prefers it that way. . . that way there's no proof he was actually at a tea room. . .

We love our Grandmama so very much. She's so special and has made a mark on each of our lives.