We have had a nice day here. I made blueberry muffins for Joshua since it's Friday and he didn't have anywhere to be this morning. He always says he is going to "sleep in" on Mondays and Fridays, but he never does. This morning, at 9 a.m., Joshua still wasn't up. I can see his door from the bottom of the stairs and it looked dark in there...his light was not on.
I've written before that this makes me VERY nervous. Joshua is such a creature of habit and routine that any time something is out-of-order, that's a potential red flag. Several times every year, we read about families who have a child with Down Syndrome, a young child or an adult-child, who has died unexpectedly. Like, they just don't wake up. And even tho I know we will see each Joshua in Heaven, I really don't want to walk in on that situation.
I walked slowwwwlllly up the stairs. When I got to the top, I stopped to listen.
Nothing.
I peeked my head into his room...and breathed a quiet sigh of relief. I could hear him making "mouth noises" that are unique to him.
I went back downstairs and in about 30 minutes, he came down, too.
We hung out here at home most of the day. Oh, please go to my Instagram (martythemoose) and look at the picture of our front door. I had asked my husband LAST WEEKEND to please put the outside garland over the door, and he said that he would because the weather was warm and sunny and perfect. But then he didn't.
He was off work today, and even tho it was cold and rainy, I asked if he would please put up the outside garland over the door, and he said, "I did." And then I walked outside to see...well, I posted the picture on my IG and on Facebook. You just need to see it for yourself.
At first, Holly and I just stared at it. I mean, seriously? But then I started laughing...the kind of laugh that makes your cheeks and stomach hurt, and before I was done laughing, I was wiping tears from my face.
And so, we may or may not be on the Holiday Tour of Lights: Redneck Edition...because PEOPLE WERE DRIVING BY.
We may have to move. In fact, I have a feeling that our POA is meeting about us as we speak.
And then tonight, Joshua's Therapeutic Recreation group was going on a Tour of Lights in Little Rock. It's a tradition that they do every year. We took him in to Little Rock and then Jim, Clark and I went out for dinner. We had a good time, just the 3 of us. It's usually just the 3 of us, but it's me and Jim and JOSHUA. Tonight, we enjoyed our time with Clark.
Joshua said they had a great time. He planned to give Jenni her Build-A-Bear Elsa-Bear tonight. He walked into the Center with that giant B.A.B. box behind his back. When he pulled it out, SHE.WENT.NUTS. It was really cute. She LOVES it! They were really cute and sweet.
Tonight.
Tonight they were really cute and sweet. :)
"A friend loves at all times..." Proverbs 17:17
...finding joy in the UPside of DOWN...
Friday, December 12, 2014
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Joshua's Trip To The Mall
Today, Joshua's Therapeutic Recreation group was going to the mall for their annual shopping trip and he was so excited! We had to leave earlier than normal, in order to get there in time...but the drive is never wasted because today I got to hear about what Joshua has been writing in his stories.
Like how he was "transported" to a "heavenly command center," and how "God broke him down emotionally in order to raise him up and redeem him." And, that, at one point, God spanked him for his disobedience. I asked Joshua why he wrote that...what did that even mean?
He said, "I don't know. When it was happening, I was thinking, 'this is so embarrassing!' I'm getting spanked by the LORD."
So there's that.
And it was really hard to look at him without laughing. Joshua came downstairs this morning and his hair in the front was spiked up HIGH. Like, spiked up to Jesus. Like, Alfalfa from the Little Rascals...only in the front. Like, when I looked at him, I wanted to say, "shark bait, ooo ahh ahh."
I got Joshua to the TR Center and went on my way. I ran a few errands and then met up with my friend, Amy, for lunch. We had a great time visiting. When you live in a new town and see LOTS of unfamiliar faces on a daily basis, it sure is nice to spend time with a friend and just BE.
After lunch, I went out to the mall to meet up with Joshua. I had told him I would find him, and that he and I would do a little shopping for Holly. Her birthday is Saturday. I texted him when I got there and his group was in the Hallmark store. One of the FRIENDS was at the cash register, slowly counting out money for her purchase. Mrs. Alanna was standing beside her, helping her. The sales lady was SO SWEET...she looked at Alanna and said, "it's okay. I taught special needs for 17 years."
The first gift Joshua wanted to buy was one for Jenni. Jenni couldn't come today, because she had to work...and even tho Joshua said he didn't care...it really bothered him. So, he decided to get a "cheer up" gift for her...at Build-a-Bear. If you've ever been in that store, well, they take "perky" to a whole new level. He saw the "Elsa" bear first thing and that is what he had to have. The lady made him take the heart that goes inside the bear...and put it on his eyes, so that he is the first thing Jenni sees every morning. She had him put the heart on his chest, so she would know that his heart beats only for her (so cheesy...even Joshua rolled his eyes). Then, she asked Joshua to put the heart on his muscles, to symbolize the strength in their relationship.
This for the guy who told his girlfriend of 10 years, "don't worry, Jenni...your beauty is only skin deep."
And, yesterday, Holly reminded him that Jenni is his GIRLFRIEND and that they have dated for over 10 years...and he said, "I frown upon that."
And, also, they gave him a card for to address to Jenni, and he intentionally spelled her name JENNY instead of JENNI...just to make her mad.
If you are keeping up...he is getting her a gift to cheer her up and because he missed her today...AND, he's trying to annoy her with said gift.
Do you SEE what I'm dealing with?
Anyway, when he pulled up the sleeve on his shirt, the lady made a comment on his muscles and called over the other sales person. They went on and on and Joshua was pretty much in all his glory. He does have him some muscles. He works out 3 times a week and he ain't just playin'. It's like, "welcome to the gun show."
Then, I took him over to see the sales lady at Dillard's that usually helps me. I don't know her name, because her name-tag is always turned the opposite way or she has a scarf over it or her hair covers it...and now it's been, like, 3 years or something and it would just be weird if I randomly asked her her name. But she LOVES Joshua and she was THRILLED when I brought him by...because, lately, I've been doing my shopping when he's at TR, and so I've gone by himself.
I told Joshua that it MADE HER DAY that we came by and she got to see him.
It's the little things.
And I thought how kind it was for God to bless us with a really great trip. There's a lot of ugly out in the world...sometimes it's close to home. Just this week, this same mall had a "die-in," where people protesting the outcomes of certain trials laid down in the food court.
I'm not saying that's part of the ugly, because I'm all for peaceful demonstrations...but it would've scared me to death. All you need is one over-zealous crazy person and there you go. But that's in any situation, right?
And, I'm just sayin'...don't be gettin' in the way of the FRIENDS ordering their Chick-Fil-A.
Everyone we ran into today was so nice. It was such a fun day.
"...Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me." Matthew 25:40
Like how he was "transported" to a "heavenly command center," and how "God broke him down emotionally in order to raise him up and redeem him." And, that, at one point, God spanked him for his disobedience. I asked Joshua why he wrote that...what did that even mean?
He said, "I don't know. When it was happening, I was thinking, 'this is so embarrassing!' I'm getting spanked by the LORD."
So there's that.
And it was really hard to look at him without laughing. Joshua came downstairs this morning and his hair in the front was spiked up HIGH. Like, spiked up to Jesus. Like, Alfalfa from the Little Rascals...only in the front. Like, when I looked at him, I wanted to say, "shark bait, ooo ahh ahh."
I got Joshua to the TR Center and went on my way. I ran a few errands and then met up with my friend, Amy, for lunch. We had a great time visiting. When you live in a new town and see LOTS of unfamiliar faces on a daily basis, it sure is nice to spend time with a friend and just BE.
After lunch, I went out to the mall to meet up with Joshua. I had told him I would find him, and that he and I would do a little shopping for Holly. Her birthday is Saturday. I texted him when I got there and his group was in the Hallmark store. One of the FRIENDS was at the cash register, slowly counting out money for her purchase. Mrs. Alanna was standing beside her, helping her. The sales lady was SO SWEET...she looked at Alanna and said, "it's okay. I taught special needs for 17 years."
The first gift Joshua wanted to buy was one for Jenni. Jenni couldn't come today, because she had to work...and even tho Joshua said he didn't care...it really bothered him. So, he decided to get a "cheer up" gift for her...at Build-a-Bear. If you've ever been in that store, well, they take "perky" to a whole new level. He saw the "Elsa" bear first thing and that is what he had to have. The lady made him take the heart that goes inside the bear...and put it on his eyes, so that he is the first thing Jenni sees every morning. She had him put the heart on his chest, so she would know that his heart beats only for her (so cheesy...even Joshua rolled his eyes). Then, she asked Joshua to put the heart on his muscles, to symbolize the strength in their relationship.
This for the guy who told his girlfriend of 10 years, "don't worry, Jenni...your beauty is only skin deep."
And, yesterday, Holly reminded him that Jenni is his GIRLFRIEND and that they have dated for over 10 years...and he said, "I frown upon that."
And, also, they gave him a card for to address to Jenni, and he intentionally spelled her name JENNY instead of JENNI...just to make her mad.
If you are keeping up...he is getting her a gift to cheer her up and because he missed her today...AND, he's trying to annoy her with said gift.
Do you SEE what I'm dealing with?
Anyway, when he pulled up the sleeve on his shirt, the lady made a comment on his muscles and called over the other sales person. They went on and on and Joshua was pretty much in all his glory. He does have him some muscles. He works out 3 times a week and he ain't just playin'. It's like, "welcome to the gun show."
Then, I took him over to see the sales lady at Dillard's that usually helps me. I don't know her name, because her name-tag is always turned the opposite way or she has a scarf over it or her hair covers it...and now it's been, like, 3 years or something and it would just be weird if I randomly asked her her name. But she LOVES Joshua and she was THRILLED when I brought him by...because, lately, I've been doing my shopping when he's at TR, and so I've gone by himself.
I told Joshua that it MADE HER DAY that we came by and she got to see him.
It's the little things.
And I thought how kind it was for God to bless us with a really great trip. There's a lot of ugly out in the world...sometimes it's close to home. Just this week, this same mall had a "die-in," where people protesting the outcomes of certain trials laid down in the food court.
I'm not saying that's part of the ugly, because I'm all for peaceful demonstrations...but it would've scared me to death. All you need is one over-zealous crazy person and there you go. But that's in any situation, right?
And, I'm just sayin'...don't be gettin' in the way of the FRIENDS ordering their Chick-Fil-A.
Everyone we ran into today was so nice. It was such a fun day.
"...Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me." Matthew 25:40
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Singing For The Elderly, and "Embracing the Concept of Healthy Eating"
Yesterday, Joshua's group went on a lonnnnnnng field trip to sing at a nursing home. It wasn't just any nursing home. It is where the former Director of the Therapeutic Rec center went to work when she moved away from Little Rock. The FRIENDS were all SO excited to see Ms. Sherrie!
Joshua said they sang Christmas songs and passed out candy canes. He said, "we were low-singers...like the low-talker on Seinfeld who asked Jerry to wear the puffy shirt on the Tonight show and he said he would because he couldn't hear him." He didn't think the "el-dah-lee" people could hear them. And he said he didn't think the "el-dah-lee" needed candy canes because most of them didn't have very many teeth.
Alrighty then.
The biggest thing that happened is that one of the other FRIENDS had a lunch with something that leaked...a water bottle or something...and it got on Joshua's lunch bag. That, combined with his nervous stomach from the trip, meant he only ate 1/2 of his sandwich. VERY unusual for him.
But he said he was fine after they sang.
Today, their group stayed at the Center all day. They had yoga this morning with the yoga-lady. She comes to the Center. And then they ate their lunch there, and then did a craft. When I got there, they had just sprayed some glue onto a large pine cone, and then rolled it in glitter. Joshua looked at me when I came in and said, "I made a pine cone."
We had a long talk yesterday on the way to Little Rock about how and why the 4 Gospels are different. Which, was kind of odd because someone had talked about this in our Sunday School class just this past week! I thought it was kind of odd for Joshua to bring it up...so random. This is usually how our drives go, tho. I never know what he's gonna want to talk about.
We drive by a church on the way to the TR Center every morning. On certain days of the week, they give out food boxes to the poor, and the people line all the way around the building. On this particular morning, we drove by and no one was at the church. Joshua said, "no food today."
This church always has little phrases on it's marquee. This week it says, "wise men still seek Him." Which, I'm sure we've all heard and read and seen typed on cards. Joshua read it (OUT LOUD) and then said, "WHAAAAAAT?" I had to explain that it was a "play on words," and gave him some other examples. He said, "well, good, because I know those wise men are DEAD."
And the last thing we talked about this morning was his chin. He was looking in the mirror and said, "my chin is more skinnier than it was when I was in high school." He loves the word "definition" as it describes his muscles, so I said, "well, it's just more DEFINED now. You have more definition." He said, "it looks more skinnier." So I said, "well, it might be that even tho you started working out and powerlifting when you were in high school, you didn't start eating healthy until much later."
And Joshua, my Downsie man-child, said, "yes, I didn't really embrace the concept of healthy eating until after I graduated from high school."
He said, "EMBRACE THE CONCEPT OF HEALTHY EATING..."
I love him so much!
"It is fitting to thank the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O sovereign One!" Psalm 92:1
Joshua said they sang Christmas songs and passed out candy canes. He said, "we were low-singers...like the low-talker on Seinfeld who asked Jerry to wear the puffy shirt on the Tonight show and he said he would because he couldn't hear him." He didn't think the "el-dah-lee" people could hear them. And he said he didn't think the "el-dah-lee" needed candy canes because most of them didn't have very many teeth.
Alrighty then.
The biggest thing that happened is that one of the other FRIENDS had a lunch with something that leaked...a water bottle or something...and it got on Joshua's lunch bag. That, combined with his nervous stomach from the trip, meant he only ate 1/2 of his sandwich. VERY unusual for him.
But he said he was fine after they sang.
Today, their group stayed at the Center all day. They had yoga this morning with the yoga-lady. She comes to the Center. And then they ate their lunch there, and then did a craft. When I got there, they had just sprayed some glue onto a large pine cone, and then rolled it in glitter. Joshua looked at me when I came in and said, "I made a pine cone."
We had a long talk yesterday on the way to Little Rock about how and why the 4 Gospels are different. Which, was kind of odd because someone had talked about this in our Sunday School class just this past week! I thought it was kind of odd for Joshua to bring it up...so random. This is usually how our drives go, tho. I never know what he's gonna want to talk about.
We drive by a church on the way to the TR Center every morning. On certain days of the week, they give out food boxes to the poor, and the people line all the way around the building. On this particular morning, we drove by and no one was at the church. Joshua said, "no food today."
This church always has little phrases on it's marquee. This week it says, "wise men still seek Him." Which, I'm sure we've all heard and read and seen typed on cards. Joshua read it (OUT LOUD) and then said, "WHAAAAAAT?" I had to explain that it was a "play on words," and gave him some other examples. He said, "well, good, because I know those wise men are DEAD."
And the last thing we talked about this morning was his chin. He was looking in the mirror and said, "my chin is more skinnier than it was when I was in high school." He loves the word "definition" as it describes his muscles, so I said, "well, it's just more DEFINED now. You have more definition." He said, "it looks more skinnier." So I said, "well, it might be that even tho you started working out and powerlifting when you were in high school, you didn't start eating healthy until much later."
And Joshua, my Downsie man-child, said, "yes, I didn't really embrace the concept of healthy eating until after I graduated from high school."
He said, "EMBRACE THE CONCEPT OF HEALTHY EATING..."
I love him so much!
"It is fitting to thank the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O sovereign One!" Psalm 92:1
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Just Like Our Parents
Last night, I looked around my house and thought, "we are turning into old people."
I mean, seriously.
I've got the knick-knacky stuff that my kids will go through one day and wonder WHAT IN THE WORLD I was thinking. Because I'm already thinking it!
At Jim's parent's house, back when I first started hanging around with them before we were married, I noticed that everything was covered in blankets. The couch, the recliner, all the chairs.
As I got to know the family better, I was really thankful that there were blankets over everything. Think on that a while.
Just sayin'.
Jim and I...we are not fancy at all. Our house is pretty much a combination of things we've been given. The couch, the end tables, the TV, the lamp...all from my sister, Leanne. Other pieces have come from my in-laws...and some of the decorative items belonged to my Mom. I have a set of my grandmother's china. And we're okay with all of it. I love the sentimentality of it. It feels like home.
But last night, I took a look around. The new recliner we got in the Spring...that took me 3 times back and forth to the store to get the fabric right for JIM...it's covered in a bright green, think Christmas green, fleece blanket. It's like this ALL THE TIME. Oh, if we know you're comin' over, I might snatch the blanket off before you get here. But if you just drop in, and that's okay...you're gonna see it.
At first, I thought maybe the material on the chair was scratchy to Jim. He's the one who sits in it the most, even tho it was supposed to be "my" chair. I asked him about it one day. Why, after saying we needed to get a new chair because the old one was so ratty...WHY does he insist on covering it up with a blanket?
His answer? "So I can sit in it and eat my breakfast." (this explains the Cheerios I keep finding)
So I thought, "awww...he's trying to keep it nice." I can re-SPEK dat.
But now, we have a new couch and love-seat, and THEY stay covered up with blankets most of the time. Why? Because my daughter's little half-a-dog is too good to sit on the floor like a regular dog. Oh, noooo. He has to be on the couch. Or in Jim's leather chair.
And not only that. He has to have pillows for his head.
What a diva.
So we keep blankets on the couch to keep dirt and grass from Marley's fur from getting on it. Marley thinks he's a Lab, and the time he doesn't spend outside peeing on everything known to man...he spends trying to dig his way to China from Jim's garden. And then he wants to come in and sit on my couch. No thanky.
The other thing that I've been noticing is that Jim is trying to re-use his coffee cups. Now, I use the same glass all day. But I'm not going to use it DAY-TO-DAY. Jim has started lightly rinsing out his coffee cup and putting it over with the other CLEAN coffee cups...and reusing it over and over and over. This might sound okay to you, but it is NOT okay with me. And it is definitely a FAR cry from the Type A, germ-a-phobic man that I married 100 years ago. It's just so yucky.
There are many things we do like our parents did. Jim talks LOUD like his dad does and occasionally puts on a show being loud, like his Dad does. He makes some of the same sounds when he clears his throat. He likes to have a radio on when he's outside working, even tho he might not be able to hear it. His dad does this, too. The difference is that Jim's dad CRANKS IT UP SO LOUD that you can hear it from everywhere. I'm sure he's a joy to his neighbors, for many reasons. It's probably just a matter of time before Jim is doing this, too.
Like his dad, Jim will eat almost everything...even if the date is expired or if it's left-overs that have been in the back of the fridge for weeks. His motto, and I just want to add I heard no less than THREE TIMES yesterday is "waste not, want not."
He also wears clothes until they are past the point of no-return...even wearing underwear that will hardly stay UP. It's like he thinks he will get a prize for wearing clothes the longest that anyone has ever worn them in the history of people wearing clothes. There's just no sense in it.
There are also many things that we do because our parents did them: Like working hard. Jim's dad is a very hard worker. Like making a home. Jim's mom always makes a happy, cozy home for her family. Like praying for our family and others. My dad and his wife pray for our family every morning...just like my Dad's uncle used to do. We are thankful for the blessing of prayer. Like praising God. My Mom hummed and sang and praised God all day, every day. Jim's dad taught Jim the value of money and about financial planning. Jim's mom taught him about being generous. My Dad taught me about being content, and my Mom taught me to embrace new adventures.
I am most thankful for the legacy of godly parents and grandparents. It has meant so much to Jim and I and been a solid foundation on which to build our family.
"These words I am commanding you today must be kept in mind, and you must teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the road, as you lie down, and as you get up. Deuteronomy 6:6-7
I mean, seriously.
I've got the knick-knacky stuff that my kids will go through one day and wonder WHAT IN THE WORLD I was thinking. Because I'm already thinking it!
At Jim's parent's house, back when I first started hanging around with them before we were married, I noticed that everything was covered in blankets. The couch, the recliner, all the chairs.
As I got to know the family better, I was really thankful that there were blankets over everything. Think on that a while.
Just sayin'.
Jim and I...we are not fancy at all. Our house is pretty much a combination of things we've been given. The couch, the end tables, the TV, the lamp...all from my sister, Leanne. Other pieces have come from my in-laws...and some of the decorative items belonged to my Mom. I have a set of my grandmother's china. And we're okay with all of it. I love the sentimentality of it. It feels like home.
But last night, I took a look around. The new recliner we got in the Spring...that took me 3 times back and forth to the store to get the fabric right for JIM...it's covered in a bright green, think Christmas green, fleece blanket. It's like this ALL THE TIME. Oh, if we know you're comin' over, I might snatch the blanket off before you get here. But if you just drop in, and that's okay...you're gonna see it.
At first, I thought maybe the material on the chair was scratchy to Jim. He's the one who sits in it the most, even tho it was supposed to be "my" chair. I asked him about it one day. Why, after saying we needed to get a new chair because the old one was so ratty...WHY does he insist on covering it up with a blanket?
His answer? "So I can sit in it and eat my breakfast." (this explains the Cheerios I keep finding)
So I thought, "awww...he's trying to keep it nice." I can re-SPEK dat.
But now, we have a new couch and love-seat, and THEY stay covered up with blankets most of the time. Why? Because my daughter's little half-a-dog is too good to sit on the floor like a regular dog. Oh, noooo. He has to be on the couch. Or in Jim's leather chair.
And not only that. He has to have pillows for his head.
What a diva.
So we keep blankets on the couch to keep dirt and grass from Marley's fur from getting on it. Marley thinks he's a Lab, and the time he doesn't spend outside peeing on everything known to man...he spends trying to dig his way to China from Jim's garden. And then he wants to come in and sit on my couch. No thanky.
The other thing that I've been noticing is that Jim is trying to re-use his coffee cups. Now, I use the same glass all day. But I'm not going to use it DAY-TO-DAY. Jim has started lightly rinsing out his coffee cup and putting it over with the other CLEAN coffee cups...and reusing it over and over and over. This might sound okay to you, but it is NOT okay with me. And it is definitely a FAR cry from the Type A, germ-a-phobic man that I married 100 years ago. It's just so yucky.
There are many things we do like our parents did. Jim talks LOUD like his dad does and occasionally puts on a show being loud, like his Dad does. He makes some of the same sounds when he clears his throat. He likes to have a radio on when he's outside working, even tho he might not be able to hear it. His dad does this, too. The difference is that Jim's dad CRANKS IT UP SO LOUD that you can hear it from everywhere. I'm sure he's a joy to his neighbors, for many reasons. It's probably just a matter of time before Jim is doing this, too.
Like his dad, Jim will eat almost everything...even if the date is expired or if it's left-overs that have been in the back of the fridge for weeks. His motto, and I just want to add I heard no less than THREE TIMES yesterday is "waste not, want not."
He also wears clothes until they are past the point of no-return...even wearing underwear that will hardly stay UP. It's like he thinks he will get a prize for wearing clothes the longest that anyone has ever worn them in the history of people wearing clothes. There's just no sense in it.
There are also many things that we do because our parents did them: Like working hard. Jim's dad is a very hard worker. Like making a home. Jim's mom always makes a happy, cozy home for her family. Like praying for our family and others. My dad and his wife pray for our family every morning...just like my Dad's uncle used to do. We are thankful for the blessing of prayer. Like praising God. My Mom hummed and sang and praised God all day, every day. Jim's dad taught Jim the value of money and about financial planning. Jim's mom taught him about being generous. My Dad taught me about being content, and my Mom taught me to embrace new adventures.
I am most thankful for the legacy of godly parents and grandparents. It has meant so much to Jim and I and been a solid foundation on which to build our family.
"These words I am commanding you today must be kept in mind, and you must teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the road, as you lie down, and as you get up. Deuteronomy 6:6-7
Monday, December 8, 2014
Monday, Mouth Spray and the Supply Closet
Today is Monday. If you keep up with my blog, you know that Mondays and Fridays are two of Joshua's most favorite days. Why? Because he doesn't have to get up early to go anywhere...and because I usually fix blueberry muffins for breakfast on those days.
Except that last night, as I frantically searched through the pantry, I came to the realization that Momma didn't have no muffins...and I was concerned that it might bring life as we know it to a screeching halt.
Around here, anyway.
When Joshua finally came downstairs for breakfast, I told him I didn't have any muffins this morning. He looked at me, sighed real big, and said, "that's fiiiiiin." Then he croc'd, croc'd, croc'd into the kitchen.
Nothing like an epic mom fail at 8 a.m.
After he ate HIS POP-TART, he came to tell me that he had added some items to our grocery list. Items like mouth spray, mouth wash and body wash.
And "nanners."
I have a "supply closet" in our house. It's just the "linen" closet in the hallway where I keep sheets and towels and stuff...and also some extra items of the things we use most. It's something my mother-in-law has at her house, only it's her "utility room." Actually, she pronounces it, "you-TIL-tee room." Anyway, we all know that not only does she keep her washer and dryer in there, she also keeps shelves and shelves of canned goods, dry goods, and household items that she buys in bulk. When we go to her house, we all "shop" in there for the things that we use.
As well as things we do not use, if you are my husband.
Which is how I ended up with 8 individual containers of microwaveable mac and cheese, and 4 individual containers of microwaveable brown rice. I highly doubt we will end up using them, and I'll probably end up taking them all back over the Christmas break. (sigh)
And, OH MY GOODNESS, we are so thankful for my mother-in-law's "you-TIL-tee" room and all the goodies in there. It has been a life-saver for us over the years. Never mind that I haven't bought toilet paper since 1988...
Which, I have no idea why she got on the toilet-paper-buying wagon, but she did...and we have never been more grateful.
Well. Wait. It might have been that way back in 1981, when I graduated from college, I announced (in a very non-dramatic and Gone-With-The-Wind-ish way), that "as God as my witness, I will never use that rough dorm-room toilet paper evah again!" And maybe she just took that to heart.
Whatever happened, there I was...big pregnant with Holly and in line at the Wal-Marks with a buggy FULL of Charmin toilet paper. Three different times, three different ladies asked us if it was "on special," and my mother-in-law said, "no, I'm just helping out my daughter-in-law..." and then proceeded to tell them her whole life story. And I just stood there, staring at the floor and looking like I had some sort of condition that required my mother-in-law to buy me 120 rolls of toilet paper.
Oh, and my mother-in-law calls it, "toilet tish-ah."
I haven't bought toilet tish-ah since 1988.
And there were many times that we...and by "we" I mean JIM...brought home cans of "beanie-weenies" by the droves. No.thank.you. Another favorite his mom bought and I didn't were cans of "Vienna sausages." Jim would put them on crackers. If you aren't from the South...or, better yet, LA (that's Lower Arkansas, people)...you might think you pronounce that "Vienna"...like the city. And maybe that's how you're supposed to say it. My husband, and his whole, entire family, call them "VI-EENIE sausages."
There is no way on earth or under Heaven that I will ever eat a VI-EENIE sausage from a can. Blech.
But, even tho Jim occasionally brings home items we don't use, he also brings home items we DO use...as evidenced by the approximately 147 rolls of Charmin toilet paper we have in our home as we speak.
Not.even.kidding.
So I said, "Joshua, did you look in the supply closet?" I thought there was a pretty good chance that I had body wash and mouth wash in there. And, something in the back of my mind made me think that I had put some of Joshua's mouth spray in there. Because, as I think I've mentioned before, I do not want to live in a world where Joshua is out of mouth spray. No ma'am. Not ever.
So, Joshua goes, "oh, yeah," and headed back there. Sure 'nuff, I had several different kinds of body wash and mouth wash for him to choose from. My eyes were scouring the shelves, when Joshua said, "oh, HEYYYYY...there's some mouth spray in here!"
Thank you, Jesus.
Joshua was so tickled. If you know anything about people who have Down Syndrome, you know that they "self-talk." Jim calls it "mumbling." We will hear Joshua talking upstairs, and think that he's on the phone. I'll holler up at him and ask, "who are you talking to?" And he'll call down, "MYSELF!"
So, as Joshua is walking up the stairs to his room, he's got all of his supplies in his arms and he's kind of mumbling, "I didn't know it would be in the supply closet. I should've looked there first. I didn't know there would be MOUTH SPRAY in the supply closet. Mom must've gotten it and put it in there because I didn't know there would be MOUTH SPRAY in the supply closet. I thought I was out but then I found more. I will have to take it off the list. Heeheeheehee."
There were many times when our kids were little when I just didn't have the extra to put in my supply closet, altho it was always my goal. Most of the time, I was doing good to keep up with just what we needed. Things were chaotic and so very busy. But now, with just two kids at home, I try to keep some extra stuff in there. And not just for our house, but for our kids and their homes as well...just like my mother-in-law always has. In fact, the other day, when Logan and Morgan were here, it blessed my heart so much to see them standing in front of the supply closet, looking at all the stuff in there...picking and choosing what they wanted to take to their own home.
And so it continues.
You know, the Bible says that God will supply all of our needs. In my mind, I imagine that it's like a huge supply closet that is never empty. He has everything we need in there...all the patience, all the love, all the peace, all the faith, all the guidance. Need joy? God has it. Need answers? God has them. He is always prepared. He has everything we need. We only need to ask.
"And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19
Except that last night, as I frantically searched through the pantry, I came to the realization that Momma didn't have no muffins...and I was concerned that it might bring life as we know it to a screeching halt.
Around here, anyway.
When Joshua finally came downstairs for breakfast, I told him I didn't have any muffins this morning. He looked at me, sighed real big, and said, "that's fiiiiiin." Then he croc'd, croc'd, croc'd into the kitchen.
Nothing like an epic mom fail at 8 a.m.
After he ate HIS POP-TART, he came to tell me that he had added some items to our grocery list. Items like mouth spray, mouth wash and body wash.
And "nanners."
I have a "supply closet" in our house. It's just the "linen" closet in the hallway where I keep sheets and towels and stuff...and also some extra items of the things we use most. It's something my mother-in-law has at her house, only it's her "utility room." Actually, she pronounces it, "you-TIL-tee room." Anyway, we all know that not only does she keep her washer and dryer in there, she also keeps shelves and shelves of canned goods, dry goods, and household items that she buys in bulk. When we go to her house, we all "shop" in there for the things that we use.
As well as things we do not use, if you are my husband.
Which is how I ended up with 8 individual containers of microwaveable mac and cheese, and 4 individual containers of microwaveable brown rice. I highly doubt we will end up using them, and I'll probably end up taking them all back over the Christmas break. (sigh)
And, OH MY GOODNESS, we are so thankful for my mother-in-law's "you-TIL-tee" room and all the goodies in there. It has been a life-saver for us over the years. Never mind that I haven't bought toilet paper since 1988...
Which, I have no idea why she got on the toilet-paper-buying wagon, but she did...and we have never been more grateful.
Well. Wait. It might have been that way back in 1981, when I graduated from college, I announced (in a very non-dramatic and Gone-With-The-Wind-ish way), that "as God as my witness, I will never use that rough dorm-room toilet paper evah again!" And maybe she just took that to heart.
Whatever happened, there I was...big pregnant with Holly and in line at the Wal-Marks with a buggy FULL of Charmin toilet paper. Three different times, three different ladies asked us if it was "on special," and my mother-in-law said, "no, I'm just helping out my daughter-in-law..." and then proceeded to tell them her whole life story. And I just stood there, staring at the floor and looking like I had some sort of condition that required my mother-in-law to buy me 120 rolls of toilet paper.
Oh, and my mother-in-law calls it, "toilet tish-ah."
I haven't bought toilet tish-ah since 1988.
And there were many times that we...and by "we" I mean JIM...brought home cans of "beanie-weenies" by the droves. No.thank.you. Another favorite his mom bought and I didn't were cans of "Vienna sausages." Jim would put them on crackers. If you aren't from the South...or, better yet, LA (that's Lower Arkansas, people)...you might think you pronounce that "Vienna"...like the city. And maybe that's how you're supposed to say it. My husband, and his whole, entire family, call them "VI-EENIE sausages."
There is no way on earth or under Heaven that I will ever eat a VI-EENIE sausage from a can. Blech.
But, even tho Jim occasionally brings home items we don't use, he also brings home items we DO use...as evidenced by the approximately 147 rolls of Charmin toilet paper we have in our home as we speak.
Not.even.kidding.
So I said, "Joshua, did you look in the supply closet?" I thought there was a pretty good chance that I had body wash and mouth wash in there. And, something in the back of my mind made me think that I had put some of Joshua's mouth spray in there. Because, as I think I've mentioned before, I do not want to live in a world where Joshua is out of mouth spray. No ma'am. Not ever.
So, Joshua goes, "oh, yeah," and headed back there. Sure 'nuff, I had several different kinds of body wash and mouth wash for him to choose from. My eyes were scouring the shelves, when Joshua said, "oh, HEYYYYY...there's some mouth spray in here!"
Thank you, Jesus.
Joshua was so tickled. If you know anything about people who have Down Syndrome, you know that they "self-talk." Jim calls it "mumbling." We will hear Joshua talking upstairs, and think that he's on the phone. I'll holler up at him and ask, "who are you talking to?" And he'll call down, "MYSELF!"
So, as Joshua is walking up the stairs to his room, he's got all of his supplies in his arms and he's kind of mumbling, "I didn't know it would be in the supply closet. I should've looked there first. I didn't know there would be MOUTH SPRAY in the supply closet. Mom must've gotten it and put it in there because I didn't know there would be MOUTH SPRAY in the supply closet. I thought I was out but then I found more. I will have to take it off the list. Heeheeheehee."
There were many times when our kids were little when I just didn't have the extra to put in my supply closet, altho it was always my goal. Most of the time, I was doing good to keep up with just what we needed. Things were chaotic and so very busy. But now, with just two kids at home, I try to keep some extra stuff in there. And not just for our house, but for our kids and their homes as well...just like my mother-in-law always has. In fact, the other day, when Logan and Morgan were here, it blessed my heart so much to see them standing in front of the supply closet, looking at all the stuff in there...picking and choosing what they wanted to take to their own home.
And so it continues.
You know, the Bible says that God will supply all of our needs. In my mind, I imagine that it's like a huge supply closet that is never empty. He has everything we need in there...all the patience, all the love, all the peace, all the faith, all the guidance. Need joy? God has it. Need answers? God has them. He is always prepared. He has everything we need. We only need to ask.
"And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)