God brings Sweetness to the Soul

My Mom really was my best friend. Before she died of cancer when I was 22, we had a special relationship. I remember being so happy when I'd see her big van coming around the corner to save me from school or work or boredom. We'd go to lunch or go grab a soda and then I knew that whatever was bothering me would be "all better" soon. There's nothing quite like the comfort of your mother. You can talk about almost anything and she always thinks the best of you. She actually wants to hear all the tiny insignificant details of your life.

Eventhough I've had many friends I could call and spend time with and I have a loving husband, I've never felt as content and comfortable to hang out with anyone in quite the same way. My mom use to "rescue me" from the world whether I needed rescuing or not. I've never felt that since she's been gone.

But God...

But God has caused me to come into close relationship with some friends in my life recently who care about me, who build me up, who I am excited to see. They are mothers and they really care about my experiences and want me to be happy. I know that's how friends are supposed to be, but its not usually that way in the world. Today, I went to lunch with 3 very special ladies. I hadn't expected to go to lunch with them and when I found out we were going, I felt for a quick moment, like I'd been "rescued " from my day!

It was a sweet feeling. God can really give you everything you need. Even a little thing, like that "rescued" feeling, God knows is important to me. I'm so blessed that He knows me and He really sees me and He wants to give me good things.

Just Say No

Today I said no to 3 different kinds of cookies, cinnamon chip bread, candy, bbq chips, cheez balls, and chocolate pudding. I did eat a piece of toast with a lil' bit of honey on it.

And then I ran out into the street and fell to my knees in the pouring rain and cried out to the heavens, "Why? Why!?! WHYYYY!!!!"

So, it wasn't raining, but it was very sad.

So yay for success and victory and stuff. Woot. Woot.

P.S. My lil son just ran over here and said, "Mommy! Mommy! Smell my arm pit! It smells really good!" I didn't say no, but instead, I took a deep whiff and then I rejoiced with him for his good hygiene!

And with that, there is joy in my life once more!

Stars

I'm always looking for small fun life experiences to share with my little son, Jaiden. I feel so priveleged to share in this beautiful time in his life and I don't want it to drift by because I'm tired and I want to watch tv. Often at night when I'm trying to drift off to sleep, I'll plan out all of these wonderful projects I'll do with Jaiden or great adventures we'll have someday, but my midnight plans are often complicated or expensive. If I wait until I have the time, money and energy to do these things, not many will get done. So that's when I realize that there are many little things I can do that don't take much effort, but really count.

Last night Jaiden and I spent about an hour putting up glow in the dark stars on the ceiling of his room. I stood on the chair and he carefully considered and then pointed out where each piece should go. I had an old assortment of stars, aliens, planets, comets and squids left over from my room in my teen years. I always get excited when being a mommy gives me a chance to play with toys, finger paint, playdough or all those other fun things you're supposed to leave behind with your childhood. I love glow in the dark stuff! And Jaiden did too! After we put up the stars, we laid on the floor and talked about all the things that belong in the sky. We planned a few space ship adventures and then we tried to count the stars, which was really challenging since there are about 50 and Jaiden can only count to 20ish. It was a fun beautiful experience!

So my goal is this: do a little something special with him everyday. It could be coloring a picture together, talking a walk, going to get a muffin at the bakery, watering our tomatoes or playing hide and seek in the backyard. I can tell sometimes that something I'm doing will be an absolutely precious memory later, but most importantly, I get a little time each day to just cherish his life and mine too. Sweet.

I Love Blog Ladies!

For all of you lovely ladies out there in the blogosphere, I just want to say, I love reading your blogs! I have been delighted to discover so many like-minded funny girls that really help me get through the day sometimes. I really want to write more blogs, but I feel like I should have something important or funny to say first. Or I'm just grouchy and I don't want to spread my mental mud into the virtual world. I can see now that blogging is just sharing and this kind of sharing has become important to me.

Especially since I'm a working mommy and I'm either at work, chasing a preschooler, cleaning something or sleeping. Its good to share the stories of other mommy-lives out there and even if we don't know eachother, we're all connected in the great circle of life... shoot, too much Lion King going on around here. Anyways, thanks ladies. Your lives and loves and minds are beautiful.

My Wonderful Job

I actually have a very nice job as a leasing agent for a large apartment complex. Although its not what I always dreamed of as a child, its not too stressful, I have wonderful coworkers and I get to work with people... However, the thing about working with people, especially so close to their homes, is that you learn that everyone really is crazy and nothing is predictable.

This morning I went into the restroom of the clubhouse on my apartment complex. When I went to wash my hands I noticed that the sink, which is an old free standing basin style without any cabinetry, was loose and rocked away from the wall easily. When I looked underneath the sink to investigate the problem, I found an absolutely ginormous pair of beige granny panties wadded up and jammed between the pipes. How did this get here? Was this the souvenior of an passionate restroom tryst of magnificent-sink-breaking proportions? Did some Brigette Jones girl decide to forgo the giant undies for the tiny thong at the last minute? Or do we have a cross-dressing tenant who hides his "girl's best friend girdle" in a convenient place for a quick change before going out on the town? The possibilities are endless! And that's why this job is so much fun, (I'm trying to look on the brightside here.) You never know what you're going to find.

Life is a brilliant story. Who knows what plot twists are happening all around you at any given moment right?

Strange Dreams

Last night I actually got a full 7ish hours of uninterupted sleep. That never happens. Because my wonderful husband loves me, he went off to snore in another room and my little son stayed in his bed all night long. This perfect night should have resulted in utter peace and tranquility, but instead it resulted in a really strange dream.

I found myself on a large stage in front of about 5000 people. I was wearing a very tight black leotard and posed so that my spandex-clad booty was pointed out at the audience. Apparently, I was supposed to take part in a dance with my cell group girls from church, but I didn't know the dance and I didn't know what was going on, and I didn't know why I was dressed up like a burnt sausage. Our pastor was going to be interpretting our dance over the microphone, but he noticed my strange posterior posture and said, "Jody, why are you doing that?" I didn't move, but I said, "Morgan (my cell group leader) made me do it." Then Joy, one of the other girls from cell said, "Oh, I don't think you can blame that on Morgan." Suddenly, the music began and I was supposed to dance, but I didn't know what to do, so I began to spin around slowly with my arms out while Pastor Scott read strange statics like, "13% of Christians pray about what kind of toilet paper to buy." And "11% percent of Christians pray about their bathroom habits." And then fortunately, I woke up.

I've been wondering all day if this dream has any deep spiritual meaning.... hmm...

Slightly Burnt

Well, here I am sitting at my desk munching on a burned cookie. Here in Northern California everything is pretty much burned or covered in ash. I think I'm beginning to adapt to the smoky environment. That is why I'm eating this burned cookie instead of all the healthy fruits and vegetables I have in my lunch bag. I'd probably benefit greatly from some burned brownies or overbaked pie or maybe some charbroiled bbq of some kind. If you can't beat the weather use it as an excuse to not eat celery right?

Seriously though, this smoke is getting downright depressing. Lately, I keep coming across stories in the news about how something is ending or being destroyed and will either kill us or make us all miserable somehow. All of these doomsday prophecies combined with the whole world being singed, can make a lot of darkness in the heart. For the first time in a long time, I've been waking up at night so afraid of everything that I worried that I'm not going to feel hopeful and excited about life again. That's when I remembered the secret. Praise and thankfullness!

When I remember that God is in control and His eyes are not blind to the craziness going on in the world, I am somewhat comforted. But I still worry a little that I'm going to get lost or smashed in His ultimate plans that are too huge for me to even fathom. Yet, when I remember all the good He's done for me personally, I can really start to praise Him and get excited about the future because I know that He sees me, He loves me and I can trust Him. The Bible says fear not, it says He has plans to prosper me and that all things work together for good for those who love Him. I have clung to these words in the valley of the shadow of death before and I can tell you, there are always reasons to be thankful for His goodness. I thank Him that I don't live in pain and bitterness from my past, I thank Him that I have a great house and a good car, (things that I used to pray for everyday,) and I thank Him that I have good man for a husband and a beautiful son and an amazing stepdaughter. I also thank Him that today is Friday! Whoo-hoo! So tomorrow, I'm sleeping in and then, I'm making pancakes! I've got hope and joy for tomorrow and its covered in syrup hallelujah!

I'm keeping all of those folks who are losing their homes and properties in this big fire in my heart and my prayers, asking God to hold you in His hand and show His goodness to you even in times of trouble. Though the sorrow my last for the night, joy comes in the morning.