Things You Don't See Everyday... Honey Boo Boo Style

   Last weekend the hubster and I drove 1,200 miles.... round trip. 

We are a visual to behold when traveling.

Car, crammed full of treasures I'm convinced we can't leave home without... and two puppies. 

One hundred twenty pounds of puppies at that moment.

Picture the Clampetts, minus the rocker on top.

Because of the history we share with this famous family, I recognize a site when I see one.

Last weekend was too easy. 

It was pure cheating.

Now I have seen Honey Boo Boo...

and I have no words.

Something just wrong about that whole thing. Can I get a witness?!

This road trip... was a trip, and I needed a witness.

 I love a road trip, but I despise public restrooms, of any kind. 

You may say, "but aren't you glad they are there when you need one?"
No, I am not.
I would rather tinkle in the woods, any day, any weather, anytime.

I know, I know... sometimes I can't see the forest from the trees. 

What?!

Don't worry about it.

So, with no forest available I was forced,

 to go. In. There.

Literally.

 First rest stop...

I see...

a woman, butt naked in the ladies room, holding her wet pants up to the dryer. 

I was speechless, so was she. 

I ducked into the farthest stall away from her. 

My mind spinning with possibilities.

Trying to decide if I should have said something... Of course I should have asked if I could help. Maybe hold her pants? 

No. She was doing fine and that would be... bad. 

Ask how her day was going? 

No. It was pretty clear how her day was going.

Then she started explaining. 

Something about having to go and not making it.
Yea, actually I had that much figured out in the game of charades we are playing here.

I did make sure she was not alone.

Yup, Bubba was out in the truck. 

Okey dokey then.

Second rest stop...

Opening the door to ladies room,  I am greeted by a huge pit bull, thankfully on lead. However the person in control of the lead was in the stall, the dog was not. Guess he already went.

Pretty sure he was not a guide dog...

but what do I know?

Next time I am taking the road less traveled. It will be full of trees I bet.

And probably full of Honey Boo Boo's too.
That's okay, Jesus loves us all, but we don't have to share a bathroom.

Thoughts On Jesus, Henri and Me...

 “I have found it very important in my own life to try to let go of my wishes and instead to live in hope. I am finding that when I choose to let go of my sometimes petty and superficial wishes and trust that my life is precious and meaningful in the eyes of God something really new, something beyond my own expectations begins to happen for me. (Finding My Way Home)”
― Henri J.M. Nouwen

My heart is full. 

In recent days, My eyes have seen His faithfulness.

As I trust, He delivers. 

As I step forward, He draws wide the door.

He welcomes more. More of Him, through His people, His plans. Oh that I would remember today. Seeing Him this way... clear as the crisp morning sky.

I think of the words to a favorite song. 

Forever Reign by Hillsong.

You are good, You are hope, You are peace, You are true, You are joy, You are life, You are more, You are here... You are God.

Thank you Jesus.

I am reminded that I seek the wrong direction... most days.

I seek big things. He offers important things, that appear small.

I want to prove, conquer, take hold of and change.

He says, "Follow me, feed my sheep." 

I am reading Henri Nouwen, In The Name Of Jesus.

Henri, a priest, taught at Notre Dame, Harvard, Yale.

He lived among the poor in Peru, the disabled in France. 

After 20 years a Professor he moved to Canada to join a group of men with special needs. Here, no one cared who he was, where he was educated, or that he had penned over 40 books.

 He was Henri to them. All that mattered was that he loved them. 

Not so different from what matters to you and I.

Henri wrote...

"The question is not: How many people take you seriously? How much you are going to accomplish?

Can you show some results?

But: Are you in love with Jesus?"

If I cannot answer this question with a resounding yes, then I am useless, like a clanging symbol...

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal."

1 Corinthians 13:1

I must love... God first, then others well.

He draws near to me everyday. Will I remember Him, my first love and draw close, hiding in His shelter?

That is what I seek, but there will be times, my flesh will pull me away, to things of no eternal value.

Oh God, draw me back in those moments. Let me remember my value, as Henri wrote...

"I was suddenly faced with my naked self, open for affirmations and rejections, hugs and punches, smiles and tears, all dependent simply on how I was perceived at the moment." 

Let me not be afraid to be my vulnerable self, with nothing to offer ... but Jesus.

You are good. You are hope. You are peace.

 You are true. You are joy. You are life. You are more.

 You are here... You are God.

How do you stay vulnerable to others, letting them see Jesus in your life?

Things You Should Not Pay Half Price For...

                                     Some things are better the more they cost.. or so I believe.

Things you never want to pay have price for...

Cosmetic surgery.

Face lifts, Botox... will I be able to tell which was the half price eye, lip, side of face?

Probably any type of surgery... I'll pay full price. 

No half off gall bladder surgery for me, no siree Doc. In fact, add a fine bottle of red and steak dinner to that bill.
And make me look hard for that scar. No jigsaw puzzles here.

Two for Ones aren't good either...

Do one boob, (I'm not sure what you do to it) get the other free, or even half price.
Let's be upfront... I will pay full price.

Lasik surgery.

I am not looking for a good deal here. Let's be clear.
Sorry for the puns. 

Groupon deals for skydiving.... 

My husband showed me an advertisement for skydiving in Nashville.

I was tempted. 

The nino wants to skydive in the worst way. 

Me too, but Ima chicken poop scared.

I'd love to jump, but truthfully I'd rather stand naked, (okay, fully clothed) in front of 1,000 people and start talking. Hopefully it would sound like speaking... at some point.

I'd have to be prepared... to speak, and also prepared... to be thrown from a plane.
The difference is in the preparation.
I got the prep. for the speaking...

The prep for the plane would be drugging me, then waking me upon jumping. Then I'm good. I got this.

I quickly realized that I don't want any kind of deal if it entails jumping from a plane. In fact, I will pay you double if you can promise me my son will be walking, talking, and making sense... well, nix that last part...  upon landing.

Deals are tempting but usually we end up with stuff we didn't need or really want.

We get sucked in by the deal part.  Who doesn't love a deal?

I'm kinda done with deals since Living Social and I broke up and Groupon and I are only half speaking.

What's your favorite deal?
Would you jump for half price or would they have to pay you to jump?

Planting Trees... Thoughts On Marriage.

 

 

In twenty years you can grow a tall tree. Build an empire. 

Make sweet memories.

 Raise a handsome son. 

Watch a lovely daughter. 

Find your joy, your passion... accomplish lofty goals. 

Twenty years will make you turn around and see if it has been good.
Was it worth the pain, the change, the challenges?
Are you different then when you stood under that Oak tree, chapel, temple and said, "I do"?

 Today my husband and I will plant 8 trees in our backyard. A nod to our 20th anniversary. A sign of commitment to each other, to our home. To leave our little piece of land better for the next family.

We celebrate each other everyday. I don't do big celebrations...at least not for me.  

Each day is a day to love. 

I have witnessed enough loss, to think you can save up happy days, for later.

 There is no later... only this moment.

I reminded my husband last night that I love him... more... now, than 20 years ago.... I tell him this often. I am surprised by this... and blessed that we share this thought.
It is not a given.
It is work.

He has grown into a solid man of integrity, deep faith and commitment to his family. 

We were selfish when we married...

now we are selfish for each other. 

Twenty years of marriage will make one bitter or better.

We have chosen better.

Our marriage is built on the solid rock of faith in Christ.

He is our compass, our desire, our goal.

Without Him... I do not know.

God, so faithful to the vows we shared, when we knew so little of one another... really.

He took us, molded us, into one.
He showed us how to love, honor, protect.

Today I celebrate life and all that is good about it.

When you love someone,
all your saved-up wishes start coming out.

- Elizabeth Bowen -

Enjoy some saved up wishes.... today is the day.

 Who will you share them with?