Football Pick 'Em Week 13: Timmy Boy

This afternoon I heard Rush Limbaugh talking about my newest favorite quarterback.  (Go here to read the transcript: Tim Tebow.)  His main point about Timmy boy is that the media hates the guy.  They keep calling him the worst NFL quarterback, yet his statistics are actually better than the opposing quarterbacks he plays.  His coaches complain about him because he talks about Jesus all the time, yet he's a genuinely good player who doesn't need an adult babysitter.  His own general manager gripes that he needs to learn to throw, yet Tebow's team keeps winning games.  Rush has concluded that the animosity towards Tebow is because the media can't stand good people--especially people who profess to know Jesus.

After hearing Rush's dialogue on my new favorite player today, and after watching Denver's ridiculous last-minute win yesterday, I'm an even bigger Tebow fan than I was before.  Even though I'm not a t-shirt kind of gal, I would even wear a Team Tebow shirt to show my support for the guy.  If the media hates him, he's probably worth our support.  But knowing that he's a real Christian with a solid testimony, we really ought to stand up for the guy. We all need to be on Team Tebow.

On an entirely different note, I had another fabulous week in our pick 'em game.  We actually tied in our NFL picks, but college football helped me out.  I can't believe I'm ever going to say this, but Yay for Baylor!  I really needed Baylor and OSU to pick up the W's this week.  And oh, they did. 

I really believe that a game's not over until it's actually over, but I think my husband knows that his game is about OVER!  I'm sure he's very thrilled that we get to spend a weekend purse shopping in our near future.  Don't worry Dear Husband, I'll at least let you wait until after the Super Bowl.  Until then, we can always shop online.

Boys Have "Lunch"

While searching for her Christmas decorations, My mom recently ran across a box labeled "grandkids." The funny thing about this box is that she packed it up and labeled it years ago--long before she had any grandchildren.  According to her, she thought it would be important to pack away some of our best old toys.  These toys included a fake silver tea set, miniature kids'-size tupperware, a really cool barn/farm set, and a few other items.

This week my son discovered these "new" toys at Grandma's house.  Much to my surprise, he actually really liked the tupperware and kitchen items.  So much so, that my mom said he prepared himself a meal on his miniature table.  Once he had cooked his meal, he set the table, sat down, prayed, and then proceeded to eat.  So cute!  When my mom asked the little guy if he was enjoying tea with his new dishes she was a little surprised by his answer.  "No Grandma, boys don't have tea, they have lunch!" 

After this adorable little incident, I decided to see if I could find my own miniature tupperware set from Tupperware's website.  They still have a miniature pitcher and cups, but they're Disney princess cups!!  How discriminatory!  Tupperware needs to do a little research to expand their kid's products.  If they only knew that boys have LUNCH and liked to play with dishes too, maybe they'd go back to the 1980's "fall-colored collection."  That collection was a little more boy friendly and much less dainty.  (And I don't care what the new experts say, I'm not going to encourage my boys to play with pink or purple girly things.)  In the meantime, I guess my little guy will just have to play lunch with my mommy-size dishes.

Now that I know that my son likes to cook, I can't wait until I receive my first invitation to a lunch party.  Doesn't that just sound so American?  I mean, when was the last time you went to a tea party?  Probably many, many lunches ago...

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!  My Dear Husband sparked up the romance last night by taking me out for a fabulous steak dinner and show at Bass Hall.  I love the fact that he surprises me almost every year with tickets to a show around our anniversary.  Seven years ago, we got married and had my dream Christmas wedding.  And as a result, my Dear Husband tries to carry out the Christmas theme every year.  He's so wonderful!

Last night, after a splendid dinner at Ruth's Chris, we went to see my all-time favorite musical, White Christmas.  This was my first time to see the Broadway production (as opposed to the movie that I watch faithfully ever year).  And this show did not disappoint.  The dancing made Dancing With the Stars look like a Jr. high activity.  I seriously have no idea how that 20 something person cast could dance so much for so long and still sing!  I'm still in a daze just thinking about all the tap dancing.  I actually think that the dancing in this show was better than the Rockettes (minus the kickline.)

Over the years, I've seen quite a few Christmas shows.  So far White Christmas has been my favorite.  And for the record, seats 1 and 2 in Box O at Bass Hall are pretty spectacular!  Thanks Dear Husband for my wonderful treat.  So sorry you'll have to endure my renditions of the musical numbers from the show for the next 3 weeks (yes, I know them by heart), but taking me to the show definitely got me into the Christmas spirit!  Even if I don't get snow this year, at least I can say I've had a White Christmas!

Hope you are all having as much fun getting into the Christmas spirit as I am.  And Dear Husband might have to start planning early, because I'm not sure how he's going to top this anniversary gift next year...

Life is Supposed to be Hard

"Then He said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." Luke 9:23

I heard a commercial on the radio yesterday that went something like this: "If you've been the victim of wage garnishment... give us a call."  As I sat there at the stop light I was really struck by those words.  How in the world can you be a "victim" of wage garnishment.  I mean, wage garnishment doesn't spontaneously happen.  You actually have to do something to make it happen.  Typically, this means that you did something wrong or failed to fulfill a responsibility in some way.  Uh, like not paying taxes.

Hearing that these tax accountants were trying to get clientele by making tax cheats feel like victims of the IRS really angered me.  Having spent a few years with plaintiffs' counsel, I can tell you what a victim is.  Having heard the stories from my friend who practices criminal law, I could share some gruesome stories of what real victims endure.  As Merriam-Webster's dictionary states, a victim is a person that is "injured, destroyed or sacrificed under any of various conditions...subjected to oppression, hardship, or mistreatment."  A victim is the little guy that is injured by someone or something else outside of his control.  Thus, tax cheats, dads who refuse to pay child support, and college graduates who default on their student loans are NOT VICTIMS.  As the words from the broadway song go, "they had it comin'" and the government has every right to garnish their wages.

Why do we try to make ourselves feel better about our situations by allowing ourselves to become "victims" in our minds?  When the boss is upset with us, when the bills start stacking up, when our children misbehave, when we've over-committed ourselves, we like to embrace the victim mentality.  So many people think that if they just use the victim method (removing themselves from the situation) then they can be happy.   Our society has so completely embraced the victim mentality that parents are now attacking teachers for victimizing their children by giving the children bad grades.  How in the world can we have a society of well-adjusted, happy people if they all want to be victims?

We can't.  Jesus understood this concept.  All through the New Testament we are warned that life is tough--especially for followers of Christ.  Suffering is part of life.  In 1 Peter 5:10  we are told that "after [we've] suffered a little while" then God will make us strong and restore us.  Suffering builds character.  Suffering makes us stronger.  Suffering allows us to rely on someone greater than ourselves to get through each day.  Followers of Christ are going to have daily battles to fight where we'll be called to deny ourselves and suffer. 

So the next time that you think that your day stinks and that you've been treated unfairly and are in the worst possible place at the worst possible time, consider that you might be exactly where you need to be to cultivate you character.  If yesterday was hard, that's ok, because we're called EACH DAY to follow Jesus and to take up our cross.  Today will likely be hard too.  Whether or not we have a good day depends on whether we're willing to make today an opportunity for growth and character development.

I love the words of the Puritan William Law: 

Receive every inward and outward trouble, every disappointment, pain, uneasiness, temptation, darkness and desolation, with both thy hands, as a true opportunity and blessed occasion of dying to self, and entering into a fuller fellowship with thy self-denying, suffering Savior.

Everything We Need

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." 2 Peter 1:3

Your grace is enough

More than I need
And your word I will believe
I wait for you
Draw near again
And your spirit make me new
And I will fall at your feet
I will fall at your feet
And I will worship you here

Your presence in me
Jesus light the way
By the power of your word
I am restored
I am redeemed
By your spirit I am free
And I will fall at your feet
I will fall at your feet
And I will worship you here

Freely you gave it all for us
Surrendered your life upon that cross
Great is your love
Poured out for all
This is our God

Lifted on high from death to life
Forever our God is glorified
Sovereign king
Rescued the world
This is our God

Finishing My Task

" However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." Acts 20:24

I have been in a state of almost-panic for the last 2 weeks.  The holidays are getting closer and so is my Bar Review course.  This means that I'm just about to the point where I'm going to have to bury my head into a pile of law books and keep it there until the end of February.  Unfortunately, I'm not like other law graduates who can literally spend 24/7 in a law library for 10 weeks.  I'm a mom.

I'm really not sure that there are enough hours in the next 3 months for me to sleep, work out, do my devotions, blog, play with my children, cook meals for my family, keep up with our laundry, clean our house, work on phonics with my son, sit for 4-5 hours doing legal work at my home computer for my job, and still manage to keep up with my Bar study schedule on a daily basis.  Oh, and that doesn't even include doctor visits, hair appointments, church activities, church conferences, play dates or any other spontaneous activity that might occur.  Just thinking about the next 3 months almost makes me cry.  How in the world am I supposed get everything done and make everyone happy?

I think the answer to this question is simple--I'm not. Jesus has called me and has given me a task.  Every single day, I'm just going to have to do what He has called me to do for that day.  And if that day's to-do list doesn't include mopping the floors (I really hope it doesn't) then, I won't mop the floors.  Ok, I'm not trying to shirk housework here.  What I'm trying to say is that my above to-do list sounds great and noble from an earthly standpoint.  But from an eternal perspective, some of my activities might not be so important on a daily basis.

I haven't been called to live my life to please everyone else, or to have the most presentable house.  I certainly haven't been called to be a Martha Stewart, Supernanny, and Nancy Grace wrapped into one person.  (Although, sometimes I feel that this is what I've been wrongly striving for.)  Instead, God has called me for His purposes.  I am to testify to the gospel of His grace by doing the tasks that He has designated for me to do.  If I can just focus on that mission, then I'm confident that He will give me the grace to accomplish His purposes in me.  Day by day, God can and will reveal His plans for me.  I just have to wait on Him.

So in the upcoming weeks, when you see me and catch a glimpse of panic in my eyes (more likely craziness), please remind me to take it day by day.  And please pray with me that God will extend His grace to me to let me accomplish what He needs me to do.

Football Pick 'Em Week 12: Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures

I watched him do it!  He pulled up my picks this week and decided to intentionally change his picks so that they would be different from mine.  He knows that he's running out of time to make up for all of the lost points.  So either my husband was being really brilliant by this bold move or he was just asking to get spanked by his almost-cheating maneuver.  Only one of us had a chance to benefit from his desperation. 

Thanks goodness it was me.  I have now expanded my lead by 8 points.  Mainly, because I am the beneficiary of changed picks that would have only been useful if teams like Auburn and Notre Dame could have pulled off upsets.  I also benefited from my husband's irrational loyalty to picking the Colts.  I'm pretty sure if he had taken my advice and NOT picked Indy to win and Green Bay to lose, he could have saved himself a few points.  (He obviously didn't think I knew what I was blogging about a few weeks ago.  After all, I am just a girl who really doesn't care about football.)

I almost felt sorry for the guy yesterday when I saw his fantasy football quarterback get pounded.  Looks like Leinart won't be helping much for the rest of the season.  I'm pretty sure my husband's taken enough beating in his pick 'em game against me.  I really hope he can still pull out his win in our church fantasy football league.  I think I've put him through enough suffering this season. 

And for the record, my newest fascination, Tim Tebow, pulled off another win yesterday.  (Applause please!)  It might have been in overtime, but it's still a win.  Can't wait to see if he can scrap together another win next week. 

I guess playing the Pick 'Em games has been good for me this year.  It's not getting me to watch much more football than in previous years (sorry Dear Husband), but it is giving me an idea about how much time can be wasted in the fantasy world of sports.  And I suppose, I've learned a few "picking" skills that my husband could benefit from in the future. 

In the mean time, don't lose heart Dear Husband!  The Cubs and the Colts feel your pain.  As they're learning up in that part of the country, there's always next year.

Major Changes

We finally bit the bullet and decided it was time to expand our little family.  Fortunately, this latest addition did not require 9 months of morning sickness.  He was adopted.  The newest member of our family is a little Australian shepherd.  His name is Major.

 

I honestly couldn't have picked a better personality for my puppy if I had tried.  This little guy is happy, lazy, and extremely chill.  He only barks when he's playing with the kiddos.  He sleeps through the night without whining.  He actually gets along with my cats.  And he loves my little boys.

I kind of figured that this little one would give me something else to blog about, but I never anticipated it would happen so soon...

After church today, our oldest son decided to run around the backyard with his new pal, Major.  All seemed to be going well until we heard this awful screaming sound.  There was no telling why my son was screaming, but I assumed it had to be in response to the dog.  Before I could reach the back door, my little guy came bursting through the door in his t-shirt and underwear.  I suppose on an ordinary Texas day, this might not shock me.  But it's cold outside today, and I was pretty confident that he left the house wearing wind pants.  When my husband asked him where the pants went, he started laughing and said that the doggy took them.  Sure enough, the pants were in the middle of the back yard with the dog. Looks like the dog won whatever game he was playing with my son.

It also appears that we have found ourselves a puppy who likes to play practical jokes on people. Friday morning when I got out of bed I was flabbergasted to find that one of my slippers was missing.  The dog had slept in my son's room, so I really couldn't imagine how the slipper had disappeared.  But on a hunch that the canine had some responsibility for misplacing this essential article of clothing, I got down on my knees and asked him where the other one went.  If I was going to have to go outside with him in 40 degree whether, I really needed my slippers.  In response to my questioning, he took off running through my room and scampered behind my bed.  So much for asking a dog for help.  I then decided to search my closet, the family room, and anywhere else that the slipper could have gone.  When I returned, my little friend came trotting up to me with my slipper in his mouth.  He might be mischievous, but at least he's smart.

Looks like we're in store for some Major changes in our house.  And maybe even a little more fun.

The Undomestic Goddess Can Cook

So apparently I did inherit some cooking abilities.  Or maybe I just read directions well.  Either way, the turkey turned out pretty well if I do says so myself.  Nobody has contacted me with complaints of salmonella poisoning, so I think Thanksgiving dinner was a success.  Just to prove to my New Life family that I did successfully cook something that didn't come in a box or from KFC, here's a picture of my little turkey:

Even though I was really focused on making sure all the food got onto the table, I devoted Wednesday afternoon to making the table look good.  For the first time, I found a wonderful use for my white antique dishes. 

Unfortunately, my table was not large enough for the turkey, stuffing, green beans, potatoes, pasta (my Northern element), corn souffle (Southern element), Mom's homemade dinner rolls, pumpkin pie, and pumpkin bread.  But our family dinner with my parents, brother and sister-in-law was nice.  Next year, I'm just going to have to bring in another table and find some other hungry people! 

Who knew that cooking for Thanksgiving was actually fun?  Maybe this stay-at-home mom thing is finally starting to kick in...

The Perfect Thanksgiving Decor

Not long ago, I shared with you, my dear readers, that my idea of interior decorating involved seeing pictures that I could copy.  For some reason, my creative side needs a little inspiration when it comes to the art department.  One might think that the changing color of the leaves and the rustic beauty of fall would really impact my ability to imagine interior design.  But let's be real here, Texas leaves don't turn pretty colors.  And when "cold" in Texas means it's not 80 degrees, it's really hard to feel like I'm in the holiday spirit.

Since I'm hosting the family Thanksgiving dinner this year, I decided to seek some inspiration from the internet.  I was really curious.  What is a Thanksgiving dinner supposed to look like?  If it involves cornucopias and Indian corn, I'm definitely going with a Christmas decor. (For some reason, my spirit needs NO inspiration at Christmastime.  I think I was made to celebrate Christmas all year long.)

Fortunately, the world wide web did not disappoint on the Thanksgiving front.  In fact, I'm kind of wishing I had a real dining room so that I could actually set the scene for my dinner this year.  Maybe someday I can move into a cool old house with a dining room that has character so that I can share my incredible pictures with you too.  This year, however, I'm just focusing on cooking an edible turkey.

Anyway, if you're wondering what my idea of the perfect Thanksgiving looks like, here you go:

Rustic

 

Charming

Intimate

Warm

 

Classy

Ok, well maybe I liked the last picture because it's shiny and I like a lot of bling.  (Probably another reason I love Christmas decor.)  Regardless, Thanksgiving should be a warm and inviting holiday for every family, even at the most simple tables.  The idea that our entire nation is sitting down giving thanks to God for the great things that He has done makes every dining room a precious place this year.  

 Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!  And let's hope my turkey turns out as good as these rooms look!!!