Molly, Molly, Molly!

She asked Michael tonight at bedtime why he is taller than mommy. He explained that a lot of times, boys are just bigger than girls, that’s how God made them. Then she wanted to know why he was older than me. He tried to explain, but what do you say?

Then she asked if she could get married one day but skip the kissing. She doesn’t like kissing. Michael asked her, “what about my kisses?” She said that she liked daddy kisses, but not makeup kisses. She explained, “Sometimes mama kisses me and gets makeup on me. I don’t like that.”

Most kids want to know what’s on tv, or what’s for dinner. Molly wants to know why men are bigger than women and if she can get married without kissing. 

Please don’t be surprised if we end up homeschooling. She could really scare a teacher with those questions one day! 

**So much on my mind. So much to blog about. I have a review of a great product I need to share with you. I have to tell you about a ministry I witnessed in Atlanta that just knocks my socks off. I have to tell you something Ronnie preached about today that really spoke to me. I have to tell you that Paisley said, “light”. It was a big deal. 

But I’m wore out. I haven’t fully recuperated from the 7 hour drive in that horrible box of a rental car. If Enterprise offers you a Dodge Caliber, say NOOOOO!!!! and run the other way. 

So come back tomorrow or the next day and check it out. Thanks.

Why I Love Atlanta

Doesn’t that title sound like a fourth grade essay?

I have enjoyed being here so much. I seriously miss my kids, but I know they are having an absolute blast. They don’t miss us, from what I hear! I’m so proud of their behavior since we’ve been gone. It makes me feel much better as a mom, knowing that I’ve sort of taught them how to not act like wild animals away from home.

But I love Atlanta because the buildings are so pretty at night. I am a city girl, but probably not a BIG city girl. However, I love a big city. I told Michael that if we come to this conference every year, I would be very okay with that. It’s a beautiful place.

I also love Atlanta, because when your husband is at an engineering conference and takes you to the trade shows, the old men there think you’re pretty. I had a very nice man who is apparently a bigwig somewhere tell me that I make the room look good. I was the only female in the room, so I put no stock in that compliment. It just made me laugh really hard. He was probably 75 if he was a day!

I also love Atlanta because it has an Ikea. And Ikea is blue and humongous.

Finally, I love Atlanta because I’m so relaxed and happy right now, and my sweet husband has treated me like a million and twelve bucks. I don’t ever think I deserve a break, because my life is pretty good as it is. I have kid stress, but I would never be one to say, “I DESERVE to get away!” But it does feel good to be treated special and not have to be responsible for anyone but myself.

So thanks Atlanta. You’re pretty, you have good food, the shopping is beyond my wildest dreams, and you’ve brought out the best in my guy. You’re at the top of my list as of today.

But tomorrow…I’ll be home.

No contest.

Swanky

I love this hotel.

I can use the word “love” with no hesitation. I believe you can love something or someone if you spend a lot of time with it or them.

I have spent a lot of time in this hotel, therefore I love it.

You’re annoyed, aren’t you? I get on my own nerves all the time, you’re not alone.

Anyhoo…Michael started conferencing today. My friend Kim picked me up and we headed to the Lenox Square Mall in Buckhead. I found the white shirts for the boy and me. I also found a few other fun little things. Kim and I had great conversation and I got to hold Logan.

Sweet, beautiful, snuggly, six month old Logan. She’s my new BFF and now I want to visit her all the time.

Kim and I go way back, and she’s incredible. She lived in New Zealand and traveled all over that part of the world for a year with her husband, Fleetwood. Check out her blog over on the side “The Loustalots” and look at the pictures from her trip. Amazing. I’m so glad they got to go over there. But I’m glad she’s here now and has a happy, sweet girl!

Then this afternoon, I bonded with my room. I listened to music, watched tv, stood on the balcony, went up and down the elevator, smelled the shampoos, laid on the bed, got back up, tried to read.

I’m a walking party monster. Never a dull moment.

So then tonight, we went to eat with Jon and Hannah. Hannah and I have been friends since pretty much day one of college. She’s special, just because she’s Hannah, but now she’s about to be Mama. Any day now. I got to pat the belly and give her hugs. It was great fun to see them and to see their family at the verge of becoming bigger.

So now we’re back in the room, and this is the point of these ramblings. I know it takes me a while to get to the point, but I have to mention these girls, because they’re cool. Cooler than the room, if you can imagine.

The room has some great stuff that Michael has informed me he wants in our next house.

The first item:

 Yes, it’s a showerhead. And it’s as big as MY  head. It feels like rain, and I love it. I was still half asleep when Michael showered this morning and got out and went on and on and on about it. Then after he left and I got up, I finished my shower and sent him this text: “We have to have the showerhead. I don’t care what it costs.”

Next item:

This is the shower curtain. Michael loved it because it’s terry cloth. I told him that if we had a terry cloth shower curtain, our kids would just dry themselves off on it every night. It would cut down on the laundry, and probably be kind of fun, too.

Please say you know I’m kidding. Seriously, y’all.

Next up:

Isn’t this the coolest lamp EVER? I know it’s not for everyone, but I really love it. I wonder if they have it at Ikea, because we are so there tomorrow night. It really gives a lot of light, and it just looks so sleek and suave, standing aloof in the corner like it has been there, done that.

I just personified a lamp. Gracious.

And finally:

The view from our balcony. Isn’t it pretty? Right across the street, in the lower left corner, is The Varsity. The highway there is I-85. The rest is just twinkly, as far as I know.

So the room is great, but I have to say (and I know it’s mushy) the company is greater. Michael and I were in desperate need to reconnect. It’s been a rough few weeks with way too much going on. Even though he’s busy during the day, the conversation during the drive and all this evening has been just what we needed. It’s nice to go to the mall and talk to him about silly little things that don’t involve schedules and kids and real estate. We’ve laughed, we’ve talked about what God is teaching us, we’ve talked about a lot of nothing. We’ve been The A-Team, which was our affectionate nickname for us before kids. I miss my kiddos, but I’m glad to be one of two for a few days. It makes being one of five easier when we get this time together.

And now it’s time for my last favorite feature of the room. (Sorry, I thought I was done, too!)

This is my bed. Michael’s looks just like this, but he’s in it, and won’t let me take his picture.

So “yawn”, and we’ll see you tomorrow.

The Today Show!

I get to watch the Today Show! It’s on right now!

I haven’t been able to watch a grown up morning show in, say, 6 years. This is such a treat!

Our hotel is beautiful, we have a balcony with a great view of downtown. We’re on the ninth floor, far enough above the street noise to rest peacefully, which we did, each of us in our own double bed. We didn’t order it that way, but we’re both so secretly thrilled to be able to stretch out!

Michael took a bunch of guys out to dinner last night. They are with a company that works closely with his company. I got to go, because they can’t make me sit in the car. We thought the women in the office would go too, but it ended up being just guys. So the 5 engineers and myself hit up a FANTASTIC cajun restaurant. The food was amazing. And those boys, let me tell ya, those are some funny dudes. They didn’t seem to mind me being there, and they laughed at my stories about my hair catching on fire on my honeymoon, and on our first date, I only ordered a biscuit at Cracker Barrel because I didn’t know who was paying for dinner. Michael and I had a wonderful time and now when he dashes off to these meetings in Georgia, I will know what’s REALLY going on.

Today I am shopping because we’re doing a big Coon family portrait this Saturday, and everybody has to wear a white shirt. Aidan and I don’t have white shirts. My mom probably won’t let us be in the picture without one.

Oh, and I plan on blogging a lot from this trip for one reason: we have to PAY for internet. What on earth??? It’s a fancy hotel. So I have to get my $12 a day’s worth of internet time.

My Aunt Peggy called me yesterday laughing. She told me that she took the kids to the park for a picnic. She asked them, “Don’t you just LOVE picnics?” Molly said, “I don’t know, I’ve never been to one.”

She has been to about 439 picnics in her short life, but never one at THAT park. Thanks, sister, for making mama look really bad.

Then she said, to help things out, “Daddy takes us to the park, but mama don’t pack no food.”

I don’t know what bothers me more, the grammar or the lies.

Since Nobody’s Asked Where I’ve Been…

it would be quite presumptuous of me to assume that you care. But I will tell you anyway, because I can. We’ve been busy. Super, list-making, house cleaning, company having, bunko playing, playdate going, birthday partying, cooking stuff selling, church going BUSY! I love it, but knowing that the husband and I are leaving on TUESDAY morning (that’s the day after tomorrow, y’all) for Atlanta, I am a bit overwhelmed.

Packing for 5 people (kids are going to Clinton), and trying to get the house show-able is freaking me out a little bit.

Deep cleansing breath.

Moving on…I have no time for deep thoughts. I have them, but no time to articulate them. I must sleep.

So I leave you with our Easter picture. My children looked beautiful. They were all dressed in what were probably my favorite Easter duds yet. I loved the dresses, loved Aidan’s tie, loved Michael’s shirt, liked my dress, even though it was on the short side and I felt way too racy to be on the praise team, but that’s another tale…

Aren’t we a happy looking bunch? Don’t we look like we just spent the morning praising our Risen Savior?

I’ll let you know how it’s going in Atlanta…y’all have a great week. Have a week that’s so great, if you took a picture you wouldn’t look like us in the above photo. Amen.

The Tooth Fairy

My kids are fascinated by what’s real and what’s not real. They ask if every character on every show is real or not. Lately, they’ve been curious about the tooth fairy. What does she do with those teeth? How can she get under our pillow without us waking up? (I’m wondering that one myself!) Where does she get all her money? (Again, I’d like to know that!) 

This morning, while we were sitting in our bed trying to wake up, we discovered that Aidan’s top front tooth is loose. It’s been gray for a while, because he got hit in the mouth when he was 3. Now it’s starting to wiggle just a bit. I told him I could remember when I lost my first tooth. Molly said, “Oh! Then the tooth fairy IS real!” I laughed and said of course she is. 

Aidan really wanted to know how she gets her money. He came up with a great theory. She collects all the teeth from the kids, then puts the teeth in a machine that turns the teeth into money. That way, she always has money. 

Molly thought about this, then suggested, “Maybe she just is very rich and has lots of money laying around.” Again, good theory. 

Aidan countered with this one: “I think she takes the teeth to the tooth bank, and trades the teeth for money.” Not a bad idea. 

Finally, Molly was satisfied with this idea: “She takes the teeth to the beach, and finds a buried treasure there from the pirates. She takes the treasure out of the treasure chest, then fills the chest with the teeth!”

I’m so glad that one day these two creative thinkers will be responsible for what happens to me. It’s comforting to know the end of my life will be interesting, at least.

He Is Risen, Indeed!

What a day. A great day, but a marathon morning for me. 

I am so thankful for the gifts God has given me, and I am committed to using them for his glory the rest of my life. However, using those gifts is exhausting on a Sunday! I have no regrets and don’t want to change a thing, but I did miss having time to dress my kids for Easter. We got one picture of us, after church, with our hair all wacky and the sun in our eyes. It’s a sad sight. 

**And I’m so thankful that I’m married to a dude who will dress the kids, brush teeth, and get them to church…just a few minutes late. 

The worship service this morning was great. I was actively participating, so I had to pray about not feeling so rushed and busy, and think about what I’m singing and what’s being said. 

I had several delightful conversations with people I love. My sweet friend, Ms. N., stopped me in the hall. I’ve known her all my life. She’s in her 80’s now, and I told her her dress was beautiful. It really was so pretty. She told me that she picked it out 4 years ago to wear on Easter and when she was buried. So she breaks it out every Easter, but this morning she said the Prednasone (how do you spell that?) that she takes makes her bloated and she almost had to go to the neighbors’ house to get her zipper up. She’s just the cutest thing. She calls me “peaches and cream”. Isn’t that the best nickname EVER? I certainly am not deserving of a name that sweet, but I’ll take it! 

I saw my college friend, Amy, this morning in the balcony! Amy lives in Georgia, and was in town for Easter. Her inlaws have been visiting my church and I looked up mid-song and there she was, waving at me! It was so fun to see her, just for a minute. 

I had a conversation with my friend B about how spotlights make us feel really insecure. We both like to sing, but hate singing in dark rooms with spotlights. There’s something very lonely about being in the light, and not being able to see anyone else. I’m thinking there’s a devotional thought there…I’ll have to think about that one. 

I talked to my choir friends about our new robes, about smart-mouthed kids, about Easter dresses, and whatever else. Then I realized that my microphone was still on. THANKS to the sound guys for being smarter than me and turning it off! 

So my day was filled with chatter. Funny, sad, serious, silly chatter. And I realized that even though it was a super-duper-busy morning for me, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I have moments when I wonder if we’re in the right place, doing the right thing, and God consistently affirms our choice to be where we are. 

I had no spiritual revelation this morning, just a deep, abiding sense of gratitude in knowing that Jesus is alive. Yes, his death was awful, but he’s alive, and he’s coming back. I can’t wait to see him. I love the words in “It Is Well With My Soul”, “Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight”. I get so excited thinking that one day, everything I believe will be right in front of my eyes. As much as I’ve always wanted to do and accomplish here on earth, as I get older, I’m realizing that I really just want to see Jesus. He can’t get here a minute too soon! 

Hope your day was blessed. 

pics coming soon, by the way!

For Most, It’s Just a Week

We are in the middle of Holy Week. 

Let’s see, the things I’ve thought about this week: what to wear on Sunday and for our pictures Friday, the weather, how many eggs I have, what dessert I have to take to Mama’s house Saturday, Michael going out of town, a long choir practice, praise team singing and when am I going to learn the backup for the solo? I’ve thought about real estate, worried about the house I love selling before the house I live in sells. I have thought about my kids, why do they fight? Is it normal that Molly just plays really well by herself and doesn’t really care what the other girls are doing? Where will Aidan go to first grade? When will Paisley talk???

This is the tip of a huge iceberg of thoughts, concerns, hopes, wonderings, and frivolity that goes on in my head hourly. 

Now, the thoughts of what Resurrection Sunday means to me: ummmm…

Let me clarify: I know what it means. I have given it a bit of thought this week. A bit. Okay, a little bit. I’ve wondered how I can get my children to put away the eggs and focus on Christ. I’ve wondered how I can attend social functions and let my kids hunt eggs and still keep the main thing the main thing. 

But I haven’t spent TIME and really pursued that worship time with my Lord who gave himself for me. 

I want to blame Walmart. I want to blame them for their rows and rows of pastel paraphernalia and candy. I want to scream when I’m in there, because that’s so not the point. 

I want to throw all the plastic eggs out the window, but I know that’s bad for the earth. 

I want to cry when I hear people talk about what the Easter Bunny is bringing their kids. I just don’t get that at all. Why should a kid wake up on Resurrection Sunday and their first thought be, “what’d I get?”?

I heard the first part of a sermon this morning that got to me, big time. David Platt is the Sr. Pastor at The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham. He and I worked for the same professor for a year or so at NOBTS. We were friends then, and I’m so proud of how God is using him now. He preached last Sunday on The Lordship of Christ, and he made this point: 

People say, “I made Jesus the Lord of my life at age ____.” The truth is, him being Lord of our life has NOTHING to do with us. We don’t make him Lord. He IS LORD. We decide whether we want to submit to his Lordship or not. He can’t be our savior without being our Lord. Salvation is not independent of his Lordship. 

But we treat it like it’s optional. We act like we want to be saved, but as far as him being the Lord of everything in our life, well, that’s something that can wait until we’ve done all we want to do on our own. 

According to Platt, and I believe it, that’s blasphemy.

I have had the worst heartache today, knowing that my next few days will be filled with plastic and sugar. It really makes me sad. 

I want my kids to have fun. I don’t want them to be the weird ones who don’t participate in anything because their mom doesn’t like the Easter Bunny. I just wish there was another way, another tradition. 

I almost understand, but still struggle with, the whole Santa side of Christmas. I mean, all of that started with the gifts that St. Nicholas gave, according to that legend. I’m down with a tradition that involves giving. 

But there’s nothing remotely resembling Christ and his sacrifice in pink and purple plastic. 

I spent a while this afternoon talking to my kids about Jesus and what he went through. Aidan covered his ears and said he didn’t want to hear it. I told him he needed to understand that Jesus did all of that because he loves him (Aidan) so much. I tried to explain how Jesus took our punishment for us. They didn’t quite get it, but they understand more than they did this time last year. 

I just don’t want my kids to be consumed with consumerism at holiday times. I want them to love holidays and have fun being with family and celebrating, but without the need for chocolate eggs. I want them most of all to appreciate what we’re celebrating. I pray that Jesus and his love for them will cause them to approach every event with gratitude and thankfulness. 

I pray that for myself too. I am so grateful. Because of who he is, and what he did, I can be his child. I can know God through Christ. I can be confident of my identity in him and go through my life knowing peace and comfort and acceptance that will never come from people. 

May the rest of this week be more holy for each of you that reads this. Take time to worship. He is worthy, and he is ALIVE!

A Little “Me” Time

When I wrote the title, I laughed out loud. I don’t have any “me” time, and wouldn’t know what to do with it if I did. 

Michael had to go out of town today. It was kind of short notice, and this is a super busy week. But he is the troubleshooter extraordinaire, so he had to go shoot troubles. I’m proud that he’s so smart like that. 

Anyway…I had to work tonight. I did a party in Vaughn, MS, for the sweetest bunch of ladies. We had a great time. Mom and Dad saved the day and came over to keep the little Albrittons. 

So I had car time, then after they left tonight, I’ve had an hour or so by myself. I never know quite what to do when this happens. I mean, I could be so productive and clean stuff…or I could sit and chill out and enjoy not having to talk to anyone. 

I did a little of both, putting away laundry, and then hanging out on facebook for a few minutes. 

When I got in the bed tonight, I did something I haven’t done since college. 

Don’t make fun of me. 

It’s really quite smart, actually. 

I’m sleeping under 2 quilts on top of my MADE UP bed. 

I know…I know…this is only for kids who hate making the bed. 

But I hate making the bed, too. It takes a long time, because I have this coverlet that has to be tucked in all the way around the mattress, then I have this down comforter that has to be folded just right at the foot of the bed. Then I have 8 pillows that are strategically arranged. It takes a good 10 minutes every day. 

So tomorrow, all I do is fold the quilts, straighten the pillows and smooth out the wrinkles.

Considering I have to take Aidan to school, the girls to an Egg hunt, then all of us to church for what may be a late night, I may need those 10 minutes I save to do something else…like maybe, put on makeup?

Or check Facebook.

Or look through my new Lucky magazine.

Or play the Wii.

You have to appreciate a mom who sleeps on a made bed so she can spend a few minutes trying to beat her husband’s score on bowling.

Good Therapy

We walked to the playground at the school tonight. It’s across the street, and my kids love it. The weather is perfect, and the kids needed some fresh air. 

We had not been there 15 minutes when Molly said she had to go to the bathroom. This happens to one of the kids EVERY time we go to the playground. 

I walked her home and let her go, and checked my email and my other internet social media stuff. Turns out, I didn’t win that scholarship to the She Speaks conference. 

That’s so okay. I never thought for a minute I would win. I just thought that I’d enter because hey, I’m writing here anyway, and it can’t hurt. I’m not one to get worked up over stuff like that. 

But can I be honest and say I’m a little disappointed? 

Not because they didn’t pick my post, that would be competitive and silly. But because now I don’t get to go. I really thought I could learn a lot to make this site better for you to read. Now I’ll have to learn the hard way: trial and error. Yuck. 

I’ve said before that the emotion I hate the most is disappointment. When I feel disappointed, I start to think things about myself that are pretty negative. I tell myself that I’m just not one of the cool girls who gets picked for stuff like that. Or that I’m really a rotten writer and people are just being nice when they read. Or I’m not the Women’s Ministry type, and my testimony is not valid because I’ve never been through a really tough time in my life. There’s no way God could use this silly little site anyway, and my pride is what wants it to be more than what it is, and so it will never be anything. 

Yeah, I’ve believed all those things at some point. 

It’s enough to make a girl shut down her Macbook for good. 

Then we went back to the the playground. I spotted Paiz on the slide. She slid on her back, bottom, tummy and legs. She was doing all kinds of stunts, it made me smile. 

Then I seesawed with Molly. She laughed because my feet never left the ground. She made jokes about how heavy I am. It made me laugh. 

I raced with Aidan. I watched them climb on the jungle gym. I watched them play tictactoe with Michael, then run and slide and chase and giggle. It made me feel great. 

But then my favorite part, absolute favorite part of all, was the swings. The swingset had 4 swings. Aidan, Molly, Paisley and I got in them. Michael pushed the girls to get them going, but then we had a “who is the highest?” contest. I won, over and over again. But Aidan would catch me and we laughed and laughed until I thought we’d fall out of the swing. 

I love the feeling of my stomach dropping. I love the wind rushing by, just cool enough to energize the kids and give them the boost they needed. I love the laughter, the wild, crazy laughter that only comes from the ability to let go and enjoy. I could see the rooftop. I could feel my muscles moving and my heart beating. I felt 6 years old, and so completely alive. 

Did you read my last post? I was a grumpy grouch about the house, my feet, being tired, blah blah blah. 

I came home better than I went. 

I’ll learn what I need to know. I’ll figure it out. I write because I love the Lord and hope that maybe he is pleased with what I say. I love telling what he’s doing in my life. And even if it’s only valuable to me, it’s valuable, because it is a direct reflection of my relationship with him. That’s enough. 

And when in doubt, go get on the swings.