Natalie Tidwell

A friend of mine, Natlaie Tidwell, is up for You Bring the Talent at Uber.com http://www.uber.com/natalietidwell If you like her music, who wouldn't!?, vote for her and also check out her myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/natalietidwellmusic and her website http://www.natalietidwell.com/.

You'll have to sign in for Uber.com and can only vote once every 24 hours, but they don't give your name away or require anything from you. They just need to monitor the voting.

I became friends with Natalie in college and am amazed at her talent. Her voice will absolutely melt your heart. You can also get a flash back to her 12 year old debut on Star Search at her Uber.com website. Well worth the site visit!

Hope you'll vote for her or at least enjoy listening to her music.

Thanks!

What?

Yes, my 3rd post for the day.

I am in love with this website. www.dooce.com

It makes me happy.

It makes me laugh like a hyena when no one is around as I stand quietly in my kitchen in the dark.

I love this girl.

Isaac's Prayers

I have to preface this prayer with a little background information. Isaac has been having a hard time keeping himself from biting babies. It's something we are really working on. The main victim has been Danielle, his youngest cousin. He's also did a small knock-down on baby Elise which, had we not been there, could have ended in a bite. He also bit a baby at the gym. Pure mortification for his mommy.

Anywho, here we go.

Mommy: Let's say our prayers.
hands fly together
Mommy: God bless...
Isaac: Daddy
Mommy: God bless...
Isaac: Daddy
yes, twice
Mommy: God bless...
Isaac: Camou
Camille
Mommy: God bless...
pause
Mommy: Mommy?
no response heart breaking
Mommy: God bless...
Isaac: Pruitt
Mommy: God bless...
Isaac: Lissa
Alyssa
Mommy: God bless...
pause
Mommy: Danielle?
completing the siblings in that family unit
Isaac: Sorry Danielle
He remembers!
Mommy: That was nice, thank you.
Mommy: God bless...
pause
Mommy: Abigail?
Isaac: Abigail
Mommy: God bless...Elise?
Isaac: Sorry Leese
Elise. He does remember!
Mommy: Yes, gentle with babies.
Mommy: God bless...Mommy?
pause
Mommy: God bless...Isaac?
pause
Mommy: God bless...
Isaac: Daddy
Mommy: God bless...
Isaac: Proputy
Property - Jason's house he is flipping
Mommy: Yes, God bless the property.
Mommy: Anyone else?
Isaac: Amen

Mommy never got a prayer, but he'll say Hi Mom! later when he makes it to national television!

Some Things To Ask Yourself...

1. Why does the wind blow the fiercest when it is trash day and you have to set out your full-to-overflowing trash can the night before only to wake up and walk the neighborhood picking up your own trashy stuff? I know, I know bag everything and tie the bag shut. I do, but the love of my life doesn't...at least he takes the trash out. Thank you, baby!

2. Why do Cheerios inevitably and mysteriously appear in the gym shoes I am trying to put on quickly at a stop light so I'm not late to my class? They are also quite frequently re-laced in a special pattern only thought up by a 2 year old.

3. Why, oh why, do kids have their meltdowns, screaming fits or worst of all middle-of-the-night puking sessions when Daddy is not home? Here's to you, Jenny!

4. Why is it that 1 week after you've made a beaded necklace with your daughter do you still find colorful, bright beads in the most random places in your home?

5. Why are the perfectly cleaned up, stacked, in place shoes on Mommy's side of the closet so much more appealing to destroy than Daddy's? Why do I even pick them up anymore?

6. How does a family of 4 accumulate so much laundry in one week that it takes me 3 days to finish it all and get it all put away only to start all over again? To those with more than 4 in your family...I wish you strength and patience in your folding.

Disease

I think diseases of all kind need to be taken out in the street and shot. Physical and mental diseases. Public execution. I hate them. I hate what they do to people you love and people you don't even know, but love their family. I hate how deflating it is. Worrisome. Devistating.

On the other hand, how much more pleading is given to God but when you are praying for healing. There is 100% full, prostrate, tear-induced, conversation with The One that knows how many stars there are in the universe, that knows how many freckles are on your body and He cares equally for both. No, He cares more for you and your freckles. Have you ever really thought about the fact that without Him we are nothing. Nothing. Sure it's something you grew up hearing in church, sang about, talked about. But honestly. The only reason that we are given the privilege of breathing, blinking, smelling, sighing, typing, is because He allows us to. He has given us the opportunity so that we can use those breaths, sighs and key strokes to bring Him glory. But He is the God of the universe. What good is my typing doing Him?

I don't know if I'm explaining it right, but this summary of something C.S. Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity hits home. Jason read me the passage a few months ago, and I can't find it in the book because I haven't read it yet. David Gillhespy's words will have to do. http://davidgillhespy.com/samples/his%20sacrifice.pdf

Following God was more important than anything I had planned. This idea is mirrored in the book "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis. He explains what it is really like when a man gives to God. He tells a story of a father who gives his son 6 pence, at the son’s request, to buy him a present. The son uses the money to buy a gift for the father and the father appreciates the gift because it is good and favorable. He says that whoever thinks the father has prospered by 6 pence in this story is an idiot. The father represents God and we are represented by the son. God gives us 6 pence, and whatever we do to return it to him, God is 6 pence none the richer.

Everything that we give to God has already been given to us by God’s own sacrifice. I think that because of all of this we can justify our actions as giving back to God what already belongs to God. I have heard this idea too many times, but it is always mentioned solely in the context of tithing. Our lives are meant to be an act of worship. Everything we do is to be a part of our worship to God. But, God has given us the means to worship him and it is our responsibility, not our option, to give to God what belongs to God. I believe that God asks for nothing more than our lives and in return we are given life. We need to listen to where God is calling and follow his still small voice to whatever it is that he wants us to be a part of. If it is giving money, or time, or life, our response should always be an enthusiastic "yes!" It should not be painful to follow the commands of God, but rather joyful.

I only type this to myself. As I am far, far from grasping and living this. And I do pray for healing for all those I dearly love afflicted by diseases. To bring Him glory. Because our lives are lived only to bring Him glory.

And I need to read that book for myself.

Bothersome

The kiddos and I were driving home from spending the evening with my Aunt Debbie and Maw Maw Durham who are in town. Both Camille and Isaac were pretty tired and it was starting to show. This is the conversation in the car:

Isaac: Aaaaaaahhh!!!
Camille: Tee, tee, tee, tee. Two-year old lingo for a fiendish tickle.
Me: Camille, please don't bother your brother.
Camille: But I have to bother somebody!
Me: Oh, do ya?
Camille: Yeah.

I laughed.

Shoes!

I have a case of the incredible shrinking feet. There is no joke when I tell you that my feet have shrunk! The smell hasn't shrunk though. Thought it might. Jason would agree, they stink when I wear shoes without socks. Who's don't?

So anywho, Isaac and I went to Kohl's bright and early on Thursday morning since Camille was in "school" and he was the perfect shopping partner. It's amazing how different siblings can be when they are alone with you. He stayed in his seat, he chatted with me about the clothes, and he was a trooper as I tried on shoe after shoe after shoe after shoe. Nothing! I was sorely disappointed in what my toes were easing into. I started with 8m and would flop in every pair I tried on. I have worn 8m since my feet finished puberty. I am now a consistent-ish 7.5m. I then found a fantastic pair of shoes that I told myself would work when I got home. Ladies, it nevers does. They were 7.5m and even they flopped, and I had to do the toe-grip to walk in them. Now that I've reached 30 and had 2 kids, I'm not willing to toe-grip for fashion anymore. If I could have just stood in the shoes, I would have been a rock star, but what mom just stands? And they were so cute. And the lady that gave me my money back at Kohl's this afternoon confirmed that with her own oooohs and aaahs. Maybe they'll fit her. I mourn those shoes.

But! I went to Payless and got 4 pairs of shoes to make up for it! I had to replace a couple of standard pairs of shoes because of the flopping and the toe-gripping and I got a couple just for fun. However, I'm questioning whether or not one pair was a necessity. Buyers remorse sucks! Gotta tell you, I've been impressed with Payless lately and their commercials really are so convincing. Stinkin' BOGO, I love you.

The lady at Payless even measured my stinky feet (I did have to apologize for them) and sure enough, they shrunk. How ridiculous!

I had a flashback while I was there. Dexter shoes were for sale there. Let's take a walk down memory lane shall we. Junior High and High School would not have been complete without the Cole Haans or Dexters now would it? I wore those puppies out. And, I drug my feet when I wore them, so the sides of the heels on the shoes were trashed. Mom always got onto me for dragging my feet. But hey, it was cool, ya know. Kids that drug their feet were cool. It was just another way to say, "I don't care." I tried on the Dexter shoes, and they were an updated style, cute, but made me look old. My how the tables have turned.

A Shoe Haiku For You

Shoes on stinky feet
Pretty things cover my toes
Returned shoes I loved