It Never Works for Me!

After a long week of fighting the crud, some unnamed illness, I found myself alone.  My mind went wild with the possibilities.  I would have a few hours before I need to pick up Benjamin.  Alone time.  What is alone time? What will I do now that I feel okay?

My friend recently had her annual medical test run. All those test that are needed at the mid-century years, were taken.  The advice the doctor gave her was that he felt most women held in their stress.  This naturalistic doctor advises his patients, before prescriptions, to try to manage stress in varies natural forms.  One of his suggestions for women to release their stress is spa day. Massages were at the top of his de-stress advice.

We both looked at each other and said, "Yeah, RIGHT!"  We both talked about all the issues that would keep us from de-stressing in this manner....money and time and family.  We also discussed that we needed to learn from his advise.  Walking is free...having a spa day at home, not massage, was also a possibility.

This is where my thoughts had gone in my head on this free morning.  So off to the bathroom I went to have my own, de-stress, spa day.  I looked into my drawer to find a spa packet, for my face, a gift from how knows how long ago.  I looked down at my toes and fingers,  yes!!!, they needed attention and color.  I started the water in my shower.  Calgon take me away commercial playing in my head, I stepped in.  Surely the facial mask would remove the years of neglect.  Surely my husband would notice all the time I am taking to beautify myself. Surely the stress would wash down the drain with the water.

Now, as my friend would say....I was setting myself up for a disaster.  Truth is, It NEVER Works for me, but today would be different.

Music played, my hair was washed and wrapped in a towel, I leaned back in my de-tox mixture water to relax.  I grabbed the facial mask and slathered it all over my face. It was thick.  It smelled wonderful.  Now in my rush to enjoy my spa day  I didn't put on my glasses...I didn't read the package.  As I leaned back relaxing, covered in my orange facial mask, I thought, I didn't read what it said to do.  I grabbed the packet.  To my horror I could barely make out, Hair Mask!!!

OH, MY!!, what had I slathered all over my face?  Oh, my, was I now going to look like a red tomato all broken out?  Oh, MY!!!  I began to scoop off the mask, but not to lose it, rubbed it onto my hair!!!

While I am furiously removing the mask, praying it will not strip off my face, the phone rings. YES, someone is in need!  My college son's car didn't work and he needs me to pick him up, NOW!!!

I look down at my toes, my fingernails and realize, once again.............It NEVER Works for ME!

Now how does this de-stress anyone?  Well I was laughing as I stepped out of the tub, still watching my face in the mirror.  Thank goodness, my hair mask, didn't manifest in horror on my face.  As for my hair, well I couldn't tell any benefit.

My husband never knew I had tried to make myself look beautiful for him.  My college son never knew he had interrupted my "spa day".  Stress-free, came with the realization of  laughing at myself, and plans to one day...............one day.............actually paint my nails, and use a face mask.

Laughter is good like medicine and it is free!!! 

Today, I have some free hours......................you think I ought to try again?????

I hope you have a stress-free, relaxing, refreshing weekend!

Broken Together

Some times you just have to stop and say.....That man of mine.  Today is one of those post.

I have known my husband since I was 14.  I even have diary post of the day I meet him and where.  Funny, I meet him in the city we now live in, even though we both lived in our home town of Austin, Texas at that time.  Our age difference of seven years prohibited anything but a friendship to form. He was more like the older brother I didn't have, and I his younger sister.

Flash forward to today.  We have been married over 35 years, birthed six children and the grandparents of six small boys.  We have lived in five houses over the years, three we owned and two we have rented.  We have done the reverse, owned then rented, as our income has rocked up and down.  Multiple jobs and changes which redirected the dreams we had in the earlier years of marriage. We have loved each other deeply and also frustrated each other greatly.  There are days we couldn't imagine life without the other and days we both wanted to run away from our marriage.  I think that is the true definition of marriage.

As our family has increased in numbers, a dream I had from the time I was in my teens, we have also seen our financial resources dry up.  This has lead to learning how to live very creatively!!!  It also has lead to learning what "living by faith" truly means.  May I say, "Yes, God is faithful!"  It has also meant that we forgo gift buying for each other in order to buy for our children and grandchildren.

That beings said, however, my husband ALWAYS finds some way to put something under the tree.  This year he was the most creative and on point of any year I can remember, therefore, my shout-out to my man.

He took his gift card from his Christmas party, from his boss, and headed to the mall.  He entered Barnes and Nobles.
Let's stop there..................this is a man who knows his wife.  Yes, by this time you would think he should, but I sometimes wonder.

He proceeded to buy me two of my "dream-to-be" magazines.  You see, in my mind I would be a very good business woman.  I have always dreamed of being a business woman, even when I was in high school.  I dreamed I would own a dance studio. I trained in college to do just that.  I was a dance major with a business minor.  I took courses in business in order to run my studio.  Later, I owned a decorating business while my children were young. Recently I have tried again.  All of these helped with income.................none would make me end up in a magazine or on TV.  You see...in the midst of this business dream, my real desire of raising a family always trumped the other.  Instead of a dance studio, I became a stay-at-home, home school mom.  No earthly awards or income, but still the most rewarding job I will ever have.  Yet, I still read through the books, magazines, blogs and watch the shows, showing others business successes, and continue to dream...maybe one day.

Because he knows me he picked up the magazines.   He also picked up a  CD. You see, next to reading I love music.  This past year I loved and allowed to sink into my heart, a song by Casting Crowns.  Lastly, he went down the mall and bought some perfume.  I am not good at keeping or spending money on perfume, but he loves when I smell like something more than household cleaners.

This man...................and I................have been broken together.  We have brought our shattered dreams to the table and looked at each other and said...................we are staying together.


I don't tell him enough. I don't acknowledge him enough.  Today I shout out to him....I noticed.   May you stop and listen to this song, that inspired this post.  May you help those around you let go of the unrealistic expectations they hold, that only rob from today.  May you see God in all the brokenness, and His promise that He will make beauty from the ashes.

It Truly is 2016

2016

Yes it is here!

I know you know that, we are 17 days into the year!

It isn't news to anyone we have entered a New Year, but to me it is still fresh.

All the promises of a new year wait before us.

Three birthdays in our home already this month,  declaring new things.  Teenager years left behind for our son who turned 20.   For the first time in 19 years we will have a gap in our home without a teenager.   What has 32 years, and 19 of those with teens, taught me?  Well it has taught me to keep my mouth shut when it comes to advising others on how to raise their children.  The truth is, each family works differently.   There isn't a guide book that works the same way for us all.  There is God and His Word, for all of us imperfect and sinful parents raising sinful children in a fallen world.

My boys and their Dad.  The new non-teenager is in the middle, behind the double digit boy.

Our youngest son turned double digits, forever leaving me without a single digit child of my own.  He truly is the our last child.  With that fact comes some melancholy.  He rejoices over growing up, while I cling to each moment.   No wonder we all can tell a baby of the family.  As I rejoice with him, and watch God grow him, I am so thankful God allowed us one more child adventure.

I turned the speed limit sign!!!  Yes, 55!!!

The road map on my face shows me that even though society wants to tell us differently....55 isn't the new 30's or even 40's....it is 55!!!!

So welcome 2016.  You already have one child's college graduation on the calendar and what more will you hold?

My word this year

Contentment

What a powerful word. God already is showing me truth about this word in His Word.

My quiet times with the Lord this year have already been sweet.

The New Year started with my husband traveling to see his 100 plus young mother.  God tapped me on the shoulder with this event.  She was so glad to see her son. I don't remember a year that I hadn't rung in the New Year with my husband in over 39 years.  In fact, when I was 16  years old, he told me that he felt the new year would hold something amazing for me.  He was talking about himself!  It was just 14 days into that new year that we began to date, and the rest is our story.

This New Year I gave this time to  my Mother-in-law.  Just her and her only son.  This is what she did with him....unlike me, who goes to bed at her regular time on December 31st, she stayed up. She told him she wanted to see the ball drop. She has never missed seeing the ball drop.

At age 100, she and her son watched the ball drop and welcome in the New Year.  This is one person who defines the word contentment.  

I was convicted.  May I not miss the memories that can be made, just by adjusting my list of how things should be this year!  May I stay up late...when that makes a memory, or whatever adjustments are needed to see all what God has in store in 2016.

Happy New Year to all, I hope to be around more often in this year.