For God...for Jesus...and for Joanne...

Sunday service has come to an end, the invitation has come to an end and Preacher is standing up at the front introducing the people who have come forward. "We have Michael who has come to be baptized and Michelle who has also come to be baptized. We are going to postpone the baptism until tonight because we have other people who are going to be baptized. What? Someone is already back there? Ok, well I guess we will have a baptism. Sing a song brother.", as he waves for daddy to lead the congregation in a song.

From the front you see "Michelle" walk across the front of the church all the way around to the back of the church. She stops at the back door and speaks to Billy, the head usher, and then walks out. I turned to Billy and whisper "Does she need help?" Billy then motions me on to the back and whispers "she went to get her stuff from her truck" So, out I jog, on my tippy toes, in my heels, over the rocks to her truck. Have you got everything? Good, ok, we need to kinda hurry. (Preacher is a stickler about time) Michelle, who is just a little odd anyway, turns to me in her country voice and says "I am so happy" I smile and say "That's nice" Michelle then says "I love Jesus" I smile and nod. Michelle says "I am so excited. I just love Jesus so much. I am doing this for Jesus and for God. I smile politely and say "Yes, that's nice, we need to hurry now" So LaRhonda meets us at the corner and says "Are you getting baptized in what you have on?" Michelle says "No, I have some clothes, if that is ok." Yes, that is ok, we just need to be quick. So she ushers her into the restroom to change.

I step up into the back of the baptismal room and whisper to preacher after he finishes baptizing the second guy that there is one more to be baptized. So we wait about 10 seconds and up the stairs comes Michelle in all her glory. Grinning from ear to ear, wearing her Mickey Mouse flannel boxer shorts and gray mens tank top that comes so low on the sides that you can plainly see she is not wearing a bra. Up the stairs she comes and peeps around the corner and sees the water. "Is that where I need to go?" Yes, down into the water. Again, "Is that where I need to go?" Yes, into the water. Go ahead now. A third time, "Is that where I need to go?" YES! GO INTO THE WATER.

Down she goes into the water. Preacher asks her name and tells the audience "This is Michelle and she has assured me that she is saved and wants to be baptized" She then turns to Preacher and says right into his tie microphone "I have a special request"

Preacher: what it is?
Michelle: I want to do this for God and for Jesus and for Joanne.
Preacher(disturbed): You can't do that. Sit down.

Preacher then begins to talk about baptism and salvation and she is sitting there looking at him nodding her head and saying aloud, "Yes, that's what I want." So preacher begins to dunk her but she is holding onto the side rail, which in turn makes preacher almost fall in on top of her. So he pulls her up. She climbs the stairs and get a towel from LaRhonda and preacher(whose microphone is still on) steps out the side, looks at Michelle and barks: "Lady! How do you expect me to baptize you when you are holding onto the rail?!"

Michelle: I'm sorry. I am. I am sorry.

So off trots preacher in a huff and Michells turns to LaRhonda and says "I wanted him to dunk me three times. Once for God, once for Jesus and once for Joanne!"

Church was over and I have never seen it clear out so fast in my life. Talk about Dinner conversations! Oh to be a fly on the wall of our members yesterday!

The perfection of our Creator

How perfect is our God? It amazes me that time and time again I forget how perfect He is. His love is perfect. His timing is perfect. Everything about him is perfect. Just when I think I can't do it and give up, He steps in and whispers YOU can't do it, but I can. He is such a wonderful and loving God. Patient and Kind. How could we ask for anything more from Him? Thank you Jesus for the MANY wonderful and generous gifts you give each day. Forgive me Jesus for being such a ungreatful human being.

When did I blink?

Ok, it is official! My baby is no longer and infant and is QUICKLY, oh so quickly, heading for toddlerhood. When did this happen? I just gave birth yesterday! I blinked and here we are. My baby is walking, chattering, and has decided that he no longer wants to nurse. I am happy and sad at the same time. What a bittersweet feeling I have. I FINALLY have my body back for myself! But that means my baby isn't a baby anymore! He is exploring and discovering quicker than I can handle. He knows what the nose is! If you say nose, he will touch either your nose or his! I love watching him grow and explore and discover, but at the same time I want to cry. He is just a baby! I am not ready for this! Why does it seem like the girls didn't grow this fast? Is it different because he is a boy? Is it different because I am not alone with him? What has made this dramatic difference? Or am I just making it all up in my head? Someone please console me!

Who knew I married a poet?

My Heart Calls

With all the world to think about,
This thing is strange but TRUE (no lie)...
My thoughts with odd persistency
Turn time and time to you!

With all the beauty in the world,
Rose pedals touched with dew,
Golden sunsets and green shining hills,
I somehow just see you!

With all the people in the world,
Some lovely people, too...
Why, oh why is it that the heart of me
Calls always just for you!

-Marcus Joe Richardson

It ain't just a river in Egypt...

DENIAL!!! That's what I like to live in! Last friday night there was a knock at the door. Marcus answered and there was a young black guy standing there asking if he could clean our carpet. Well, of course if it's free!

He was a KIRBY salesman. Yes, I let this man into my house full well knowing that I was not, I repeat not (and didn't) buying a vacuum cleaner. He proceeded to set up his vacuum while I got out our lovely Rainbow vacuum. Ma'am would you please vacuum your carpet so I can get started? Sure. Said with gritted teeth because I despise the Rainbow and all of the hassle that it represents to me. So, I vacuum with my Rainbow and sit back to watch someone else clean my carpet. So he does and he proceeds to show me his work on his little round filter paper. Oh yes! He liked very much to see my disgust at the dirt that was coming out of my freshly vacuumed carpet.

Mr. salesman turns to me and says "what it the most used piece of furniture that gets cleaned the least?" I say the couch of course. He says no, your bed. Follow me please, I would like to show you how dirty your mattress is. SO HE DOES. Ick! is all I have to say. I am sleeping on that?

Then he finishes his 1 1/2 demonstration in the hopes that my wonderful husband and I are going to purchase a $1,789.00 vacuum. I DON'T THINK SO! Hey, the kid still got paid for the job. He even called his "manager" in to see if he could sweeten the deal. NO GO! I am not paying that much money for a vacuum. So the manager says "How about $1,272.00. That is the manager special. Only the manager can offer that" Ha Ha! Still no!

So, Kirby boy got to leave with his Kirby, I got to have a rough riding head pounding eyeball popping headache for the rest of the night (because he stirred up so much dirt!) and Micah got to wake up with a snotty runny nose and a cough.

Thanks mr. Kirby guy, I would rather live in DENIAL!

Leanne's thought of the day

"You really wanna have a funny time? Go to the gym with momma."

Gracie's thought of the day

"I am glad I live"

70 Degrees and Sunny

How much more can you ask for? The weather was beautiful today! We were able to go to the park for a little while. Spring is my favorite time of year! The birds are chirping, the sun is shining, the flowers are blooming, kids are playing. How wonderful is spring!!!!! God really knew what he was doing when he created Spring. I think he made it just because he knew how much I would love it! Because I am just that special!