But you can't give a 41-year-old a Stretch Armstrong for Christmas

Just finished watching The Incredible Hulk with Mr. Wonderful and I have to say that I do not understand boys.

The movie was entertaining. But having watched this and Transformers, it just amazes how guys are entertained by the same things they were when they were 10 years old.

In fact, this week the babies and I were at the zoo with a moms group and Little Prince's best friend, Buddie, and Little Prince were "oinking" at the wild red hogs. Buddie's mom said, "Ah, this is when you wish you had a video camera." To which I replied, "Yes, but if we filmed them at 16, they would be doing the exact same thing."

Guys, I love ya, but it's true.

Running...spelled backwards...Lunacy

Not me. Just in case there was confusion.

Sometimes the things I do just do not make any sense.

Today, I began running. Or some form of it.

I'm just going to tell you that it is ugly and undisciplined and sad.

I am not really sure of the true reason I'm running.

It may be my desire to wear shorts next summer without all the superfluous motion that goes on after I stop moving.

It may be because I really love food. And I'd like to keep eating it.

It may be because when I run, no one asks me for anything. Most the time I am alone. Novel concept, I know.

It may be because the groovy music on my iPod shuffle tell me there "Ain't nothin' wrong with that" or that I'm "runnin' down a dream." (Have I significantly made the impression of how out of touch I am with modern music?)

I don't know. I do not measure my distance in miles yet or even fractions of miles. Instead, I measure it in the amount of minutes I can go without heaving up my lungs or falling down.

It is much more pre-K then 10K, but for now it will have to do.

So you don't have to look for me. You will hear me panting long before you see me.

What I've got

I love Fall.
I really do.
Instead of paragraphs full of details about my affections for this season,
I thought I would post some pics of what has already made this fall so great.

A lot of groovy mom blogs that I love and admire will show you
fabulously, sinful desserts
that celebrate all the flavors and colors of Fall.
Others have wonderful, crafty creations
that will impress your friends to no end
and have people beating down your door to be just like you!

Sorry, I don't have any of that.

What I've got are pics of...

...Daddy's Girl preparing to tell stories by our little "campfire".

...Little Prince delighting in his homemade smore made with what else?...


Peeps!
(See Mr. Wonderful, there is a reason to buy these after all! Na-na-na-na-na-na!)
Stole this idea from one of the groovy mommyblogs that I mentioned before, but can't remember which one!


...our kids running around through backdrops of orange-colored vegetation...


...and selecting their treasure about 50 different times...


...and not knowing what to do with it.


...trying to get a really good shot of my kids as we go on our annual outing
to the Homecoming Parade. (and failing.)


...and again at the bonfire.


...snuggling up outdoors under blankets
with no TV's, no laptops, no distractions,
just each other.


...the pomp (no pun intended, ok, a little one) and pagentry of our alma mater
making the perfect environment for little ones to enjoy celebration.


...getting a great picture.


...trying fun stuff and "festivalling."
(It's my own word.)


...tailgating. It is just fun.


These are just some of the things we have been up to.
Being outdoors, being together, being in the moments.
I love Fall.

Day 10

To say that our tribe is in a state of flux would just flat-out be an understatement.

We have been in situations of uncertainty before
and always emerge through God's grace just fine,
so that part of this doesn't really bug me.

What I do have the predisposition towards is jumping the gun
or becoming impatient at having to withhold my jumping of said gun.

For example, this summer we had both our roof replaced and our exterior woodwork painted. (This had been a long time coming believe me!)
This set me on a rampage of FINALLY doing some "interior decorating"
(translated in the loosest way possible-not loose like perverted, just...oh never mind).
If you have been to my house you are probably thinking, "Oh hallalujah! It has only been eight years that you have been living in that house and although you have been married for about 14 years, you pretty much decorate like a college sophomore."
And if you have not been to my house, you just cannot imagine.

So, I was ready to go! And then, (insert the sound of screeching brakes) God changed our direction. Which He has every right to do so. However, I am now in a state of limbo, wanting to paint those walls, but knowing that the wise thing to do is hold on to any extra cash.

I would like to work on my blog. It needs a little beautification and update,
but see, Mr. Wonderful is here everyday
and I feel a little more guilty if he sees me playing on the computer vs. something
that might actually contribute to the overall well-being of our household.

There is also the question of "will we stay or will we go?"
If we stay here there are lots of things to do, most wonderful friends and family to be near
and things in which I'd love to be involved.
If we go, well...that's just exciting!
It seems like many of our friends and family have been scattered
most everywhere around the fifty-nifty
and I have never lived outside of my home state
and would sort of like to see what life is like elsewhere.

But right now is silence. And stillness. And day-to-day.
And I'm not very good at
silent,
still,
small pictures.
I'm much more a
noisy,
boisterous,
big picture person.

So this is where I am supposed to grow right now...
...learning to sit and be content picking up books and toys
in a family room that I definitely want to give a long-overdue facelift.
...loving on those people God has put in my everyday
instead of wondering and planning all the things I could do
with and for those people I might come in contact with in the future.
...growing in my understanding of how to love my husband,
here...in our home...everyday...all day...together,
instead of that weekend away we were planning before our plans were changed.

Who knows where we will end up and who knows when we will know.
Until then, life around here remains ever entertaining
with conversations like the one with Little Prince this afternoon:
LP: "I'm still hungry."
Me: "What do you think you want?"
LP: "Food."

Seriously, whose kids are these anyway?

I had to ask.

I love fall.

I love the leaves on the ground. I love the cool in the air. I love the socialization of football season in our football-crazed town. I love fall festivals. Arts, crafts, funnel cake, pickin' & grinnin' and being outdoors. I...LOVE...IT!

Last weekend our tribe plus Fancy Nana were invited to join some friends at a fall festival and of course I couldn't resist! (Plus it was a great change of pace from last week, sheeze!)

So off we went to "festival." (Yes, it is a verb.)

On our way down country highways I, as a good, experiencially driven mother, pointed out the various sights to my wee ones.
"Look at the horses!"
"Kids, do you see the cotton growing?"
"Oh guys, do you see the river and the old bridge?"

And then I pointed out, per the sign before the bridge we were about to cross,
"Oh look! We are going over a creek."
"That's not a creek," informed Daddy's Girl. "That's a lagoon."
"Well, what is the difference between a creek and a lagoon?" I asked.
"Spelling."

She is her father's daughter.

Like Grandaddy said, "Hope is hope."

What a week!

As our family (and by family, I mean pretty much Mr. Wonderful and I),
adjusts and repositions in light of Monday's event, we are hopeful.

Hebrews 11:1 tells us that
"...faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

Let me tell you what we do not see.

What we do not see is a job.
What we do not see is a location.
What we do not see is a time line.

What we do see are God's promises.

Promises to never leave or forsake us. (Deut. 31:6)
Promises that He knows the plans He has for us. (Jer. 29:11)
Promises that He will meet all our needs. (Phil. 4:19)

Over the past 14 years Mr. Wonderful have faced a lot of "unexpecteds".
The sudden, separate loss of two parents.
Babies.
Financial changes.
Relationship changes.
With each one, large or small, God has provided us opportunities
to grow, to allow Him to refine our character and to bring Him glory.
Did we always comply?
Puh-leeeze!

But that is what this experience is really about.

It isn't about what entity Mr. Wonderful will work for next.
It isn't about what our geographical location will end up being.
It isn't about whether our standard of living will increase or decrease.
Those things are temporal and can change for anyone, at any time.

What this is all about is the eternal.

Are we about the work of the Kingdom of God, loving Him and loving others?
Are our hearts and eyes firmly fixed on the Home that will last for all eternity?
Are we about giving to others from the resources we have to give?
These things are eternal.

Are we completely compliant?
Puh-leeeze!

This week has been a lesson in being married.
In Mars and Venus.
Spaghetti and Waffles.
Men and women.
It has not been completely pretty. But it has been refining.

And it has been an opportunity for me to look on my husband
with a renewed sense of pride and admiration
as he steps up to be pretty stinking incredible.

And it has been an opportunity for me to look on my God with confidence
that He is not only able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine,
but He will.
Although His timetable is rarely the same as ours.

So I say again,
Watch and see!

It may not all be pretty from my end,
but it is going to be amazing when God gets us where we are going!
Watch and see!

And just like that...

"They let me go."

These are the words I heard Mr. Wonderful say over the phone yesterday afternoon.

And just like that, we are on our way towards the next great adventure.

'They let me go" kinda sounds like you were being held against your will

and you have now been set free.

It feels more like you were being held over a cliff

and then whatever was holding you broke or released its grip

and you are freefalling into the canyon far below.

But in reality, it is a new opportunity to see the faithfulness of God. And He is soooo faithful. This morning I read Psalm 145:13

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

and Your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving to all He has made.

God not only has authority over all that happens

(remember the devil and his request to attack Job?)

but He is LOVING towards all He has made!

I have a feeling I will be crawling up into that love and hiding

a lot during the time of uncertainty ahead.

It's not a matter of whether or not God will provide,

it is a matter of will we behave until He shares with us His plan?

Watch and see what He is going to do!

I am so excited!