Again, and again, and again.

I hate to say it again but it is cooold.



It has not stopped these kids from playing outside though. My poor Grandmother-in-law has about worried herself to death over it. She just knows that they are certainly going to die from playing outside during the winter. I just don't know how you northerners do it. I guess you stay on the verge of death constantly. How sad.

I would like to tell my Granny thank you for all the embroidery floss she gave to me. Especially the red. That is wrapped around the cardboard. That has a picture of a naked woman giving herself a breast examination on it. That my daughter saw first...and screamed. It's okay, we had a talk and I explained what was going on. Now her favorite question to ask is if you have examined your breasts because you could have cancer.

*sigh*

So I got told the other day. Flat out told. It was quite comical, the way I was judging someone for being judgmental! Ha! How nice. Ahhh, but I have that right, correct? Me being all spiritually elite and all. Yep. [suspender snap] It's a hard and heavy hat to carry around.

Well If the hat part is true, it's only because I have a big ol' head that I seemingly enjoy banging against the wall.



I swear. Judging someone...for judging. Hullloooo.



The sweet thing was, the girl whom God used to bring it to my attention (I'll leave you nameless, lest I contaminate you with my pridefulness. However, my compliments to your Mom.) was completely oblivious to all this. She wasn't trying to rebuke me in any way. It was just her response. She just truthfully and kindly pointed out that the poor girl didn't have all the facts and she was the one missing out.



There now. Isn't that kindhearted?



Oh but me. Oh nooooooo. I was all blahblah blah, nya nya, mimimimi. (Those are my ugly talk noises, you know, when I mock myself for being dumb.)



Y'all, please. Don't be like me. Be like Jesus.

Seems like I should go with "for the record" here.

best mom ever How cute is that!? I had my new post screen up and then walked away and Schyler snuck over and typed that in! I can't delete it! She is the best one.

Today we were talking about faith and of course one of our reference verses was Hebrews 11:1-Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen (I paraphrased). We had a guest speaker come in and talk to us about what evidence means, i.e.: Dad, being a cop, told us.

Schyler brilliantly observed that since Logan had a flour hand print of my hand on his rear, it was evidence that he misbehaved while we were making biscuits this morning.

Correct.

For the record, everything after that was roses.

I also should, for the record add that I don't cook my dear husband chicken and dumplings just to get what I want. God, in His Wonderful Love for a terrible sinner as myself, set things up in such a way that the more I serve my husband, the more he serves me.

Also, for the record I know we live in a sin filled world and that doesn't work out 100 percent of the time. If you or your children are being abused you should flee immediately. I am certainly no counselor. I have no idea why I felt the need to throw that in there, it's not like I have tons of commenters that disagree or don't usually understand what I'm saying. Or tons of commenters period. (hint, hint)

I have to go now. If I don't go turn on my heated mattress pad now it won't be warm enough by the time I go to bed.

How To Get Whatever You Want.

If you think chicken and dumplings are gross because boiled chicken is absolutely disgusting, you would be right. If you do not think boiled chicken is absolutely disgusting, you need to be taken out by an execution squad. I'm just as sorry as I can be. I don't make the rules.

Let me tell you the key to chicken and dumplings - roasted chicken.

Get your cheap fatty cuts of chicken, thighs are [high pitch voice] fabulous. Put them in an iron skillet, smother them in room temp butter (you can't spread cold butter, duh), salt and pepper, and cook at 400 degrees. I'm not sure how long, but if you can't tell it's done you need to just order take out anyway. It's too late for you. Don't start trying now.

Now take your cooked chicken out and let it cool. When it cools get the meat off. Don't worry about scraping every little piece, just get the big chunks. Then throw the skin and the bones in a big ol' pot with a little water, the chicken fat in the bottom of the iron skillet, a little salt and pepper, and some chopped onion.

This is a good time to add any leftover broth you have in the freezer.

*GASP* WHAT?? ALWAYS save your broth.

I had some left from cabbage I cooked a couple of nights before so I chunked it in.

Let all that cook down for a while then come back and get the rest of the meat off the bones, get the skin out and give it to your cat. But keep the meat.

Make your cream of chicken now. Add a clove of smashed garlic to it if you don't usually. The powder stuff will not be as good. Every kitchen needs fresh garlic. It keeps forever and it is good on everything (unless you ask my grandparents-they hate garlic. I know. I don't understand it either).

Add the cream of chicken and at least half a stick of butter to your broth. Mmmmm buttery goodnessssss.

Make your biscuits, bring your brothy yummaliciousness to a boil and add them cooking for about 5 minutes. Turn off and chunk that chicken in.

Serve to yo' hunny and sit back as he gives in to your every desire after eating the best comfort food eva'.

A Sunny Gift

What a beautiful weekend. Just fabulous. What a gift.

Since I have discovered (finally submited to) God's call for my life I have appreciated winter a lot more than I used too. I didn't say that I have necessarily enjoyed being cold, but I have appreciated that it is a time for rest. I have not felt mom guilt for having school under covers in warm cozy pajamas. I have not had mom guilt for lying down in the afternoon and taking a little siesta. I have watched my child thrive and grow and learn without being taken on every field trip under the sun. There have been weeks that the only time we have left the house was to go to church!

We have read, and learned to crochet and cross stitch and it has been so rewarding. I pray that Jesus has been pleased and honored in our efforts.

But there came a time when it was getting harder and harder for me not to entertain the when is summer going to be here whine.

And just when we all needed a little reprieve, God blessed us with this wonderful weekend! Letting us not forget that He is the Giver Of All Things Good and He had not forgotten us. The season of newness will be upon us soon!

Of course no doubt I'll be saying the same thing toward the end of summer when my hands are raw from picking, chopping, and canning! But that's okay.

A little moaning, a little groaning, a little responsibility.

Just when I am on the soapbox, I get a letter in the mail updating me on this pretty prominent person's ministry (should I put it in quotes?) comparing The Birth of Jesus, our Messiah, Saviour of the world, to none other than Billy Joel mailing himself to his young daughter one Christmas. For the love peoples. Stop it. Stop being an idiot. And please stop letting me know about it.

*sigh****It's so hard for people of little fault such as myself...

I had the best nap today. You know your Sunday naps are directly proportionate to how spiritual you are. More spiritual=more nap. I must have had a good week.

Seriously, I didn't have a good week. My schedule changed a little and, wait, let's just stop repackaging sin here and call it what it is - I was plain out lazy. I didn't get my rear up out of bed until I was sure I could blame cutting my time alone with Jesus short on the fact that "my schedule changed and I just wasn't used to it yet."

I recently heard in a message, "You're not irresponsible because you're sick, you're sick because you're irresponsible. Take responsibility."

In other words, I may want to look at my life and take some responsibility for some sin I got goin' on.

*groooooan* Everybody is always picking on me. Always.

But God is so kind He still allowed me rest on this day that my family observes as the Sabbath. (and no I don't seriously believe that Sunday naps are related to your Godliness...although it is a good thought and may need to be looked into further...).

There may be a soapbox involved.

I was all alone last night. Poor, poor me. Schyler spent the night with Abbie and my dear hub had to go babysit at the skating rink.

Listen, if you ever want to see firsthand the degradation of the world- go to the skating rink. But you know, the parents have to do something with their kids while they go to the bar. What choice do they have?

I saw an article last week in a newspaper about a local pastor preaching on...Johnny Cash. Now that's what I'm talking about people. You know God's word can't stand alone. Throw in someone honorable and worthy that you really would like to emulate.

I truly wish you all knew me so you could see my scarlet face and bulging carotid artery right now. I DO NOT think it's funny or cute for a "Christian" pastor to preach on Johnny Cash or for parents to drop their kids off so they can return later to pick up their kids when they're good and sauced.

Well, I must digress from being on my high horse here. It is a b-e-a-youteeful day here, praise God for it. I love that just when we think we're going to die (this time from hypothermia), Jesus gives us respite. We don't deserve it, but He gives it. So I must go use His gift wisely.

Have a good weekend and stay away from skating rinks. And preachers that don't preach The Infallible Word of God.


*Sorry - had to edit this to add: I know a lot of you read this blog along with my Aunt Mama Hen's blog. Well, surprise! I didn't really think this through...she just posted about her son, my dear sweet cousin, going to an ice skating rink. Well, totally different. And not just because there is ice involved. Their church rented out the whole thing themselves and they were under the supervision of trusted adults. No dropping and no sauced parents. I would die if I thought anyone thought ill of them for even a moment.

Thi is not good enough, but I'm feeling too much pressure and not enough inspiration.

Anyway, I do this for my own personal satisfaction.

Okay I may have gone too far. I know. What? Me?? Too far?? I left a comment on another blog describing the time I fell asleep while pumping. Yes, that pumping.

Schyler was in the NICU and I was exhausted and I was in the mom room at the hospital. The one where the door doesn't lock. So, yes. I have no idea if someone walked in. Who knows? Maybe someone else is blogging, er, excuse me, writing on their blog about walking in on the woman who fell asleep while pumping.

Can you believe it?? (Yes that was for you. You know who you are.) Why would I ever tell that story to a bunch of people I do not know? Because I am crazy? Why yes.

I read an article by John MacArthur the other day called Cultivating a Godly Child. It talked a little about demonstrating personal sacrifice. Well, lemme tell ya 'bout some personal sacrifice. Tuesday, I got up and got the bloomin' cat to the vet at 7:30 in the morning (because the curse of the woman had come upon her and she had to be taken care of), then, THEN, IN THE RAIN AND COLD, I donned clothes, real honest to goodness appropriate for public clothes, and took the kids to McWane Center for a field trip. Oh I was given permission to back out, but did I? Noooooo.



That's okay. I knew it was going to be worth it about the time my nephew announced, "Mudder! (He thinks my name is Mother, he calls his mom Mama) Mudder! My bottom itches."


We were in one of the glassed in teaching rooms, perfect for echoes. Did I mention this kid has NO low volume? He's wide open or asleep.


I still can't figure out why my husband disagrees with my decision to put lotion on his legs and bottom. They were so dry and flaky. It could be because my lotion had sparkles in it. Should a little boy's bottom not sparkle?



Schyler's got a big sleep-over tonight with Abbie. She is soooo excited because Abbie has everything all planned out. Brandon's working a little while, so it will be just me. I wish Abbie's dad was working so I could have a sleep-over with Aunt Mama Hen and watch the ever satisfying P&P. Except I wouldn't stay all night. That might be a little weird. And I'd have to drive all the way (about 10 minutes) home. In the cold. And dark.


I saw on the news that several northern states are in trouble becaue they have spent their "snow removal budget" and there's a lot more snow. They don't know what to do. How about this - just stay home. Come on. Just go home and get up in your Snuggie and be warm. Is it really that importnat for you to get somewhere?

Have I mentioned that I'm a home-body?

It may be best that God didn't place me in a position of authority in the government. Although school children everywhere would sure love me.