Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways
acknowledge him,and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Expecting the Unexpected

You never know when life is going to toss something at you that you least expect.  Sometimes we can laugh about it, other times we cry, and most of the time we probably just shrug it off as nothing to worry about.  I have a somewhat cutesy, unexpected moment I'd like to share.  Caleb and I have been studying the letter "G" for two weeks.  Due to all that had to be done the week before the wedding, ahem, the wedding cake made the top of that list, we just didn't have time for school.  So, back at it we were this week...finishing up the letter "G" and all the "wonderful" library books we had about goats....the signature word for our letter of the week.  Boy, were there ever some cute goat stories....

The recommended book for the week was "Three Billy Goats Gruff."  We all remember that story, right?  'Who is that ratta-tat-tapping on my bridge?"  etc, etc....Well, I couldn't find this specific book when looking at the library index.  It was at another branch and I didn't have time to put it on hold and wait for it.  But, then I found it in a set of books available for checkout together - categorized as fairy tales.  So, I grabbed it.  These theme packs are generally the BEST!  Saves a momma a lot of hunting for the right books.

In need of additional reading material as my little munchkin LOVES to be read to, we dug into the rest of the books in this set.  Henny Penny, Jack and the Beanstalk, The Little Gingerbread Man, The Three Little Bears, The Three Little Pigs, and The Little Red Hen.

He chooses, The Three Little Pigs first.  Yeah, I like this one.  I like changing my voice and playing out the parts when I read.  He thinks I'm silly, but he's never once asked me to stop like he does if we sing or dance.  He likes my character voices I think.  ;o)

Well, we're reading along and I realize right away that this version is a little bit different.  But we keep going.  The wolf is bothering the 1st little pig, huffing and puffing, and blowing his house in.....and what happens next?  Egads!!  He gobbles up the little pig.  Unexpected?  Definitely!!  What happened to the first little pig running to the 2nd little pigs house and then to the 3rd little pigs house and then the three of them defeating the Big Bad Wolf?  Apparently, author, Paul Galdone has a different idea on just how this story should go.  Even Caleb was shocked and said, "what?  he's not supposed to eat him!"

The rest of the books in this set were all written by Paul Galdone, and yes, they all had a few differences as well....Or maybe these are ORIGINALS and I've just never heard them before.  But, Jack and the Beanstalk has a murder in it, yes, a MURDER!   He cuts off the Giants head!!  Henny Penny has a mass-murder - Henny Penny, Ducky Lucky, Loosy Goosy, etc, etc, all get eaten by the Foxy Loxy, his wife and kid's...and The Gingerbread Man?  Well, he gets eaten too, but I think we all knew that one, not a surprise there.

As I read through these books, I caught myself wanting to just gut-wrench, laugh out loud!  Why do I home school my son?  To teach him to be a servant of our Lord Jesus Christ.  To teach him to love the Lord.  Were these books even close?  Not really.  But, he managed a giggle and I did too.  We'll take them back to the library and gladly hand them back.  I nearly always skim a book before I take it out on loan, but was busy and didn't do that this time.  We've had some odd one's before, where Caleb and I each wrinkle our noses at them.  But, these I say do 'take the cake.'

My bible summarizes Matthew 25:14-30, the story about the three servants and their talents....(way too much to type here, but surely everyone is familiar with that story.)   My summary says we are to be,
"Responsible to God for our resources and talents."


Yes, as a home school mom, it is my biggest responsibility to teach my son how to best use our resources and talents.  Library books are a much needed resource for our program.  It's fun to have books to read and share the love of reading with your children, but we have to always remember to keep within the parameters of our Christian beliefs.  There are so many lovely books available that teach our children to love, share, and care for others, without having to revert back to old fairy tales that have been reduced to murder and mayhem!!

I'm not such a prude that I can't laugh about this.  But, at the same time I must take this job seriously and with that, we will not read future books by Paul Galdone unless I have time to inspect or we receive a recommendation.

Happy Reading!

God bless
Pam

Friday, February 11, 2011

Gone in a Flash!

The big day is almost here.  My baby girl will be married tomorrow.....Tomorrow.  Wow, it's really here.  I've been baking and decorating cakes for 3 days now....trying my best to get it done timely and not be rushed at the last minute.  A lot of folks think I'm a bit crazy for taking up this endeavor, but when your daughter bats her baby brown's and says, "Please, Mama?"  What can you do?  Not to mention, it's been good for me.  Keeping me busy.  (Like I really needed more on my to-do list to be busy, but maybe some of you understand what I mean.  Keep busy to keep the anxiety away??  Maybe that was the plan all along.)

I'd been at these cakes since 8:00 this morning.  An hour and a half break around 11, and another break from 6-9:30 as we went to pick up tuxedos in Corpus.  Mind you, I'm determined to get this groom's cake with the pretty coat on it before I go to bed tonight.  That way all tomorrow brings is the trimmings.  I noticed that for the last 30 minutes, as I'm going around all the edges spreading icing, that my hand is literally shaking.  And I mean literally.  Good thing it's icing and it's not a matter of getting is straight, just smooth.  It's in that moment that I realize why my left shoulder hurts so much.  I'm right handed, why isn't the right hurting as much?  Because it's the angle that I tip my head to spread the icing.  Yep, sideways to the left.  Aha....no wonder.

Let's share a bit of a chuckle in this cake decorating process.  It was about 10:50 Thursday evening (um, well, about an hour and a half ago) and I was in the kitchen, smoothing the groom's cake.  K-Love is playing on the radio and I'm humming/singing along.  So deep in thought, nary a thing could pull me out of it.  Well, unless that thing happens to be the rattle of my front door knob.  I turn swiftly to the left, squint, (yes, I'm in glasses, contacts are in their cases, so there was a bit of squinting going on) as I peer for a matter of two seconds towards the front window.  We live in the country and we've never had a visitor of any sort, this time of night.  Panic!

What do I see?  Nothing.  It's pitch black out there.  The front porch light has long been turned off...And the door knob is again rattling.  Let me remind you that this happened in the matter of seconds.  I dash off to the back of the house, wake Johnny, telling him someone is rattling the door knob.  He's groggy, but quickly dashes out, along with me, back towards the living room...

About this time, a full head of curls peeks around the door jam.  Ah, yes, I do recognize that face.  It is that of my daughter.  It is in that moment that I realize I was hearing a key in the door also.  She was on her way back from San Antonio and stopped to drop off the wedding favors she'd finished at her house last night.  It was her attempt to save me a stop at the church in the morning to pick them up as that was her original plan.  

This whole scenario could have been prevented with a text or phone call.  But, she was afraid if I wasn't awake, the ringing of the phone would scare me.  LOL   No, let's take ten years off mom's life by coming through the front door unexpectedly!  Bless her pee-pik'n heart!  She felt SO bad.  Tons of apologies as we visited and I realized my heart was pounding out of my chest and now BOTH hands were shaking...She said she knew she'd messed up when she tried the door handle, discovered it locked, and moved back to look at me through the window only to discover I was GONE!  LOL

It's worth a laugh now, but earlier....I was SCARED!

So, I sign off this evening hoping you can use your imagine and have a laugh at my expense.  I would like to mention also that the next time I post it will probably not be until after the wedding.   So, enjoy this snippet of my life today as I anxiously wait to post some lovely wedding pictures.

God's Blessings,
Pam

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Little Ears

Haven't I said it before?  Our little one's are always listening?  Well, I've been making a joke lately regarding home school.  We've had a few tough days and I question whether or not I can keep going.  A five year olds attitude makes a big difference in how the day will go!!  Anyway, after reviewing the curriculum for 1st grade, I told my sweet hubby that I was definitely going to have to put my big girl panties on!!!  Always the encourager, he said he knew I could do it.  I appreciated that, but I'm not the one I'm worried about.  It's my partner in this home school process - sweet, lovable, always cooperative Caleb.  Um, NOT!  We both have to have the "want-to" in this or the day turns quickly ugly.

Fast forward to today.  Wedding shopping once again. I'm on a serious search for the perfect flowers to decorate the wedding cake.  I am not skilled in making flowers out of icing.  It's a struggle for me to get a decent rose.  I have to make five to get one that I can even use!  I know if I practiced it more I'd get better, but I always seem to find a way to wiggle out of it.  Gum paste.  That's another option.  While at Hobby Lobby today I looked at a gum paste kit. Looks relatively simple, probably doable.  Only costs $20.  BUT, for the number of flowers I would need, I don't have the time to teach myself and then make all those flowers, um, by the 11th (said wedding is on the 12th.)  And besides, maybe the book only makes it look easy.  Fondant is another option.  Hmmm, still a lot of work.  And, to me, when the wedding cake itself is not covered in fondant, well, they would just look out of place.

So, where do I find myself?  Perusing the aisles with artificial flowers.  So many of them are absolutely gorgeous!  You'd have to touch them to know for sure they are fake.  I know real flowers are used on cakes all the time, but our flower order won't be in until next week and honestly, I need to have my plan in my head - well, NOW!  Not next week.  So, I'm looking and looking.  Frustrated as I can't find something that will work like I want it to.

Back to the cake decorating aisle we go.  Gum paste?  Fondant?  Oh, gasp!  I truly don't have time for that.

Back to the artificial flowers we go....By now, I'm seriously talking to myself.  I'm hoping some guardian angel will swoop in to stand (or float), next to me in the aisle and offer some much needed assistance.

Me:  "Wow, I really don't know what to do."
Caleb:  is talking to himself and tossing a bead around that he found laying on the floor.
Me:  "This is really frustrating."
Caleb:  more talking and singing, bouncing around the aisle.
Me:  "I just DO NOT know what to do!!"
Caleb:  comes to stand before me.  looks up at me, and with a cheeky grin asks, "put on your big girl panties????"   heee heee heee, haawww, haawww, haawww....
Me:  Bends over to smooch the little angel who reminded me that I am probably stressing way too much over flowers....

I made my decision.  The cake will have a bit different look than the one Allie picked out.  But, as flexible as I'm finding her to be, she probably will love it just the same.

Blessings,
Pam

Bridal Shower Bliss

This post is long over due, but I've been too busy to do it justice.  January 8th was a special day.  My daughter, who will be married on the 12th, had the BESTEST ever bridal shower.  The ladies at our church took charge and threw a grand event on her behalf.  She had a sensational turnout!   Talk about a blessing. Yummy food, fun games, a beautiful cake, gorgeous flowers, tons of gifts, but especially a valued and treasured fellowship.   I sincerely thank all the ladies at New Beginnings Fellowship for their time and money spent to make a special day for Allie.  I want to thank all of our FAMILY and FRIENDS that came as well for giving up precious time on the weekend.   It was all of you who made her day the very best.

If you were there - don't you agree that my daughter the prettiest bride to be? She was positively glowing!

I have some sweet pictures from her special day, but alas, no time to post them.  Please be patient.  One day soon I will post them.  Oh, maybe after the big day itself is actually over.  ;)

In His Name,
Pam