But I don't want to

I have three sweet precious gifts from the most Gracious God.  These babies fill my heart and day with more joy than I could ever have imagined was possible.  They have an innocent hope and zest for life that often causes me to just catch my breath with the deepest of love.

   

However.

As every parent out there is able to give a witness, in addition to the countless hours of blessings and love and joy, there are also times when these precious Sweet Ones can work a nerve.

My youngest Sweet One is currently two years old.  [And I don't even have to write anything else for every person who has ever had the briefest interaction with a two-year-old to understand exactly what "currently two years old" means.]  And added to the standard "currently a two year old" package, someone decided to upgrade to "also a miracle baby" with a side of "yep, he's the youngest".  So.  We are getting the opportunity for a LOT of learning moments in la casa de Gibson these days.

One of the things that both annoys and entertains me simultaniously is the moments when I have asked this Sweet Sweet to hand me something-- perhaps he has something that he shouldn't, or it is time to put away a toy or a cup or a blow torch.  [I'm kidding.  We don't let our kiddos play with the blow torches until they're at least seven.  Kidding.]  And this is usually how the exchange goes:

Mama:  Hand the cup to mama.
Sweet Sweet:  [throws it to the floor, directly beside him/me]
Mama:  Samuel, pick it up and hand it to mama.
Sweet Sweet:  [weeping]
Mama:  Samuel, pick up the cup and hand it to mama.

More weeping, pointing to said cup, and unintelligible moaning that I can only assume is an attempt to explain why he couldn't possibly pick up the cup.

Mama:  [taking the Sweet Sweet by his hand, gently pulling the hand towards the cup]  Pick. Up. This. Cup. Please.

Suddenly, my Sweet Sweet has lost all use of his fingers.  Suddenly, his hand no longer possesses the fine motor skills needed to grasp a small object.  I literally have his hand on the cup.  And he literally will not grasp the cup.

More weeping.  More moaning.

Mama:  Buddy.  It is right there.  Pick up the cup.

What is the miraculous healing for loss of motor skills?  For my precious Sweet Sweet, his healing comes with an ever slight *smack* to the cutest, chubbiest little thighs you've ever seen.  Granted, there is still weeping, possibly even an additional moan or two, but he picks up the cup and {grudgingly} hands it to me.

I share these moments from my Sweet Ones because I also want to share how it relates to my own heart and life.  As I have been spending my time with the Lord in recent days, my heart has felt quite a bit like Samuel-- there has been weeping, pointing, and unintelligible moaning.  I don't want to pick up my "cup".  It doesn't matter that it is right there.  I don't wanna.  It's not that I have suddenly lost the ability to do what needs to be done.  No, the bottom line is that I have a sinful, willful heart.  And I simply don't want to do it.  I would rather grunt and groan and weep than take that big step into obedience.

But Jesus is working on that with me, every so graciously as He is prone to do.  In fact, I have had several different "themes" that I have used to help keep me on the right track in recent years.  One year, it was #theyearofthanks.  Most recently, it was #unshakable.  As I've been considering what to select for this new school year, if I was honest, it would be #theyearofpitchingafit.  (I told you I didn't want to pick up my cup!)

But then the Lord gives my not-so-cute-but-unfortunatly-just-as-chubby thighs heart an ever slight *smack*.  My most recent smack came through the words of a gorgeous, conviction-packed worship hymn.  You might be familiar with it:  "O Great God".  If you haven't heard it, or it's been a while, or even if you just need a loving *smack* to your cute little thighs heart, take a moment to listen...

I don't think it is by any accident that the frame that is frozen there as the visual for the video are the very words that were the much-needed and loving *smack* from my Heavenly Father.


Keep my heart and guard my soul...

You are worthy to be praised with my every thought and deed.

I need to give my heart and will and soul to the One Who is able to guard me from the evils that I will and do face each day.  I need to be reminded that no matter what is happening in my life at any given moment, as a Child of the King, my one task is to glorify the Lord-- and to have Him be glorified through me.

So instead of #theyearofpitchingafit, the Lord has gently encouraged my heart to instead focus on #lookingforthanks.  This is something that I will need to learn, day after day.  And I learn by practicing it-- even if I don't want to do it.  I look for ways to be thankful.

Isaiah 1:17 says, "Learn to do good..."

Amos 5:14 further exhorts, "Seek good and not evil, that you may live;  So the Lord God of hosts will be with you..."

So take a deep breath.  
Put on your big girl pants.  
Remember that training is never easy.  

And for the love of all that is holy:

Pick.  Up.  The.  Cup.

Not "the cup".  No, this is mama's-- he has no problem picking up THAT one! ;)

Honor and Rejoicing

It is with mixed emotions that I jot out my thoughts in these next few moments.

In the aftermath of mother's day, my heart is very heavy-- very full, but also very heavy.

Before I share my heart any further, I want to urge you to hear me out completely before passing judgment or even brushing me off with indifference or indignation.

Several years ago I came across an article that kind of rubbed me more than a little the wrong way.  I can't remember who wrote the article, where I saw it, or even when it was exactly that I read it.  But the essence of the article from the words of the author was her anguish as a single woman and having to sit through a Mother's Day service at church.  She went on to share that one particular Mother's Day, she could stand it no longer, and when the pastor asked for all mothers to stand, so that they could honor these mothers, this woman chose to stand alongside the actual mothers.  If memory serves me correctly, she even stated that she felt it was her right.

Here, therein is where my rubbing began.

On Veteran's Day, when we ask our veterans to stand as we honor them on this, their designated day, no one even thinks twice about how it isn't fair to all the other people who were not eligible to serve in the military.  I've never read any passionate articles about how men or women felt so shunned by their exclusion that they were compelled to join in with the actual soldiers to have other people clap for them in appreciation for their service, for their fulfillment of the life that the Lord had called them.  In fact, it is against the law to impersonate an officer-- with fines being paid and up to 3 years in prison.  [Settle down, I am not saying that the a fore mentioned woman should go to jail.]

My point is this:  we apply honor to whom honor is due.

Somehow in our culture and society of this day, we have made it acceptable and even noteworthy for those persons who have had their feelings hurt or feel "left out" to climb up on their mountainous soapbox and boisterously proclaim that because they have been excluded from a particular group or activity, then no one should be allowed to participate in that particular group or activity.

And, most sad of all to my heart is this:  it is strikingly prevalent in the church.  Oh, we are all about weeping with those who weep.  I mean, we will send cards of sympathy, bake those casseroles, and pray fervently for a loss or defeat or devastation.  All the while, weeping sympathetically with our brother or sister.

However.  Oh, how.e.ver.  We are quick to neglect or forget or overlook the second part of that verse.

Rejoice with those who rejoice.

That's the hard one.  And this struggle isn't something that is new.  Remember Cain and Abel?  Oh, there was plenty of weeping.  Anybody rejoicing with Abel on his acceptance from God?  Um, no.

So that brings me back to Mother's Day.  Do you know what was at the forefront of my mind most of this special day?  Was it my mother and all the wonderful things that she has sacrificed and given and taught and loved and shown and lived for so many throughout her lifetime?  Was it my mother-in-law who painstakingly and relentlessly determined to rear and train three sons, all on her own without any assistance from father or government?  Was my mind filled with my own three sweet blessings and all that the Lord had brought me through, saving lives and sparing children?

No.

My mind was filled-- and reminded as I scrolled through all sorts of social media-- with the inflicted guilt that the Lord has ordained my steps in one particular direction and ordained the steps of others in a different path.  A path that was not the choice of so many.  A path that seems so empty and not at all what had been planned in the mind for so long.

I felt guilty even sharing pictures of my sweet children and all they did to honor me.  I felt guilty wishing others "happy mother's day!" as I went to church.  I even looked around guiltily when others wished me "happy mother's day!", fearing that someone would overhear and be offended with my joy and title and task entrusted to me and asked of me by the Lord.

And you know what?  That isn't right.  [Also, you thought I had offended you in the previous statements?  Hang on, it's about to get worse.]

When you complain about how unfair it is that you aren't a mother and how insensitive it is for me to rejoice in my motherhood, what you are actually saying is this:

"God, You don't know what You're doing.  You made a mistake with my life.  It isn't fair for her to show her joy and rejoice in her calling."

I don't say this out of spite or resentment or "better than thou" ideas.  I say this because it is what God's Word says.   How can Ephesians command us to honor our mothers, but then you plead with all those around you not to rejoice in their motherhood?   How can Romans urge the Body to rejoice with others, but then you get to determine about what we are to rejoice with others?

So, on this first day of a new year before the next Mother's Day, I would urge you, sweet friend.  Ask the Lord to help you to be content with the life that He has intimately and intricately predestined.  For you.  Ask the Lord to strengthen the hearts and arms and minds of those mothers that you envy.  Their work is hard.  The Evil One would love nothing more than to snatch the souls of their sweet ones away from the arms of the Father.

Encourage the Body.  Edify the Saints.  Exercise your gifts.  Enjoy your life.

And in conclusion, without any sort of guilt or remorse, I boldly share with you the sweet souls that the Lord has entrusted to me to train and lead and guide for eternity:

 

Will you pray with me that as they come behind me,

they will find their Mama to be faithful?

No time to weep...

I don't really love doing laundry.  However, up until very recently, I do really love my washing machine.  It's a schnazzy front loader, compete with a delayed start option, as well as a variety of settings-- from a quick wash to delicates to even a hand wash option.  Like I said: schnazzy!

And yet.

Oh, yet.  There is some "glitch" with my miracle machine.  For whatever reason, my beloved machine will randomly pause itself... until I discover this break in the cycle and have to press "start" to resume the wash.  Yah, kinda annoying.  Wanna know how many times I had to "reboot" my washer this weekend?  (You probably really don't...)

Seven.  SEVEN times.  For one load.  S...E...V...E...N...   It literally took all day for me to do one load of laundry.

And that really made me want to cry.  I mean, I have three wee ones, plus my hubby and I.  That's a substantial amount of laundry to get done.  But since I still had 379 loads of laundry to finish (and banking on this machine's current track record means I should be finished... um, well... never),  instead of sitting down and sobbing in frustration, I just took a deep breath and pushed that blessed "start" button.  Again.  Because, you know... I didn't really have time to spare to sit and weep-- no matter how desperately I longed to do so.

And do you know what happened next?  My sweet girl wanders right into the laundry room, snuggles up to me and said, "Man, I am so glad you're my mama.  You are THE BEST!"  *snuggle-snuggle*

 

And then do you know what happened?  My sweet Daniel walks in and announces, "I just put away all the dishes out of the dishwasher AND reloaded it."

 

What a sweet reminder from the Lord of just how blessed I truly am.  I often get so busy with my busyness that I forget to stop and remember "they that WAIT upon the Lord..." and I am to "let patience have its perfect work".  If I hadn't spent all that time pushing the button, I might have missed these tender souls, ministering to me.  Perhaps the Lord wanted to teach me about this slowing down, by means of that blessed washing machine.

And I really did learn:  there is no time to weep.  I have too much to be thankful for as I journey on my way.  Why would I waste even a moment weeping?

 

Settle Down, Pinterest. Super Mom is here...

 

A dirty word whispered ominously in the hearts of overworked, underpaid, sleep-deprived mothers everywhere.  Granted, this crafty, creative, often thrifty, pool of information DOES have its valuable, lifesaving benefits.

However.  Oh, however. 

"Comparison is the thief of joy." ~ Theodore Roosevelt

And that's exactly what Pinterest does.  At least for me.  I focus on what others are doing, which causes me to focus on what I am NOT doing.

But I had a moment.  A moment where the Holy Spirit whispered louder than Pinterest.  Here's my story, Mornin' Glory...

My sweet Ellie Rose's birthday.  She wanted a Dora the Explorer cake.  Oh, but that's only after she changed her mind.  A hundred times.  And this was the "final" request.  The night before her school "party".  So I figured that Wal-Mart would save the day.  I figured SURELY there would be a Dora cake there.  I mean, come on.  So I got up early the morning of [figuring that there would "fresh" cakes ready for my choosing...], drove to Wal-Mart with high hopes.

But that was not to be.  I almost cried.  But the Holy Spirit prays for me with prayers that can not be uttered.  And He pointed me towards a beautiful rainbow cake.  And some Dora stickers.  And He gave me a plan!

Sit. Down. Pinterest.

I took these lovely little Dora sticker, stuck them to a toothpick, covered them with heavy-duty packing tape, and VOILA!  A Dora the Explorer cake.  Thank you very much.  And I just KNEW that my sweet girl love it.  I, the mama, saved the day.  Ta. Da.

 

But I have to tell you what happened next.

The Holy Spirit wasn't finished whispering.

For whatever reason, my sweet son decided that it would be fun to push all of those wonderful make-shift Dora decorations down into the icing.  Every. Single. One.

I literally wept.  I was exhausted.  I thought I had risen to the ranks of "super mom".  I thought I had beaten Pinterest.

But the Lord wanted to remind me that comparison is the thief of joy.  I didn't need to compare myself to anyone.  Except for my Savior.  My pride-- in myself-- had grown so quickly that I didn't even realize it was there.  But the Lord so graciously allowed for me to be taught by that precious one that I am blessed to call "son".

 

[And now that I am away from the trauma of it all, I have to confess that I completely "get" why he pushed those puppies down.  He just wanted to know what would happen, how far they would go.  (I myself have had to stifle such impulses)]

And I was able to show him grace.  Because the Lord shows ME grace.  And I have done so much more than just push down stickers-on-a-stick in the icing.

It still turned out pretty great, huh?  (Yes, I wrote that "happy birthday" all by myself!)

7-11-77

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me...

I have to secretly (ish, I know) confess that I don't really love that my birthday is on a Wednesday this year.

(Any other pastor wives out there who know where I'm going with this confession???)

Wednesdays are really hard in the Gibson house.  And I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that it is because today is the day set aside for our church's prayer meeting.  And what makes the Evil One tremble more than just about anything?  Believers storming the gates of heaven.

So, life gets pretty trying, tempted, and just plain terrible at times here in the dirty-rotten-sinner-filled-home known as "The Gibson Family".  *sigh*

And while I was tempted to complain (and continue to be-- don't get me wrong!), I decided that I would instead think of 35 things I am thankful for... since today marks the 35th anniversary of life given to me by a gracious Savior and a giving mother.  Ah!  Ah!  See?  I'm already starting to feel thankful!  So here goes...

35 Things to be thankful for in 35 Years:

1.  My birth date.  I love that thing.
2.  Burger King.  I was saved by grace through faith at the drive-thru of the Beckley BK.
3.  eHarmony.  Met my true love, soul mate, God-given match through that site.
4.  Suffolk, VA.  (For any of you who know me semi-super well should be shocked)  But I miraculously delivered not one, but TWO precious treasures from God Himself at a fabulous hospital there.
5.  No.  As I look back on my life at the many requests and concerns I brought before the Lord, I am so thankful for the (many!) times that He has lovingly said "No" to me.
6.  Yes.  I am equally grateful for the many "YES!" answers given so graciously by my Father-- from the "perfect" job to finding my lost keys.
7.  Appalachian Bible College.  The further I get from my graduation date (May 2000!), the more I realize how much I actually neglected my time and studies there.  And I am ashamed.  However, this is my "thankful list", so I want to give thanks for the dedication of the staff and faculty in their burden to train servants for this generation.
8.  Cream Cheese.  Not to brag, but there is nothing quite like my frosting made with real cream cheese.
9.  Laughter.  It truly is like medicine.
10. My home.  While even simply a thatched roof hut to keep me dry in the storm would be sufficient, the Lord has graciously allowed a WONderful parsonage for my family to reside.  Which brings me to...
11. My utility room.  I will (God willing!) never again live in a home that doesn't have an industrial sized sink.  Perfect for so many things, from bathing children to soaking laundry.
12. Having a gymnasium.  Connected to my house.  No, seriously.  I have a gymnasium.  CONNECTED to my HOUSE.  (Do I even really need to elaborate?!)
13. An enclosed "breezeway" connecting my house to said gymnasium.  It serves as cold storage in the winter and the perfect "rising" location for breads, rolls, etc. in the summer.
14. Dr. Pepper 10.  That stuff has saved lives. 
 15. Ashley Gibson.  Yes, I know I kinda already mentioned him.  But trust me.  He is worth mentioning more than once.  He loves me.  He loves.  Me.  And I have a whole lotta crazy goin' on up in here.
16. Psalm 103:14.  He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust.
17. Jasmine Rice.  I'll be posting my favorite way to cook that divine deliciousness in the upcoming days.
18. Variety.  From food to weather to people-- my very wise Heavenly Father knew how ADD I would be!
19. Pedicures.  *sigh* Just saying that word makes my feet feel better.
20. Sisters.  My sisters are truly my best friends and confidants.  I know they love me and pray for me-- in ways that no one else is able.
21. Finished Revelation.  I am. SO. THANKFUL. that the Bible was already finished before I was even a twinkle in my father's eye.  How grateful I am that the world will not be reading and learning life lessons from my mistakes for all eternity.  God is kind! :)
22. Dandelions.  They grow practically year 'round.  And I love every one that my sweet babies pick for me.
23. A strong body.  Albeit, it's a little chubby.  But God has blessed me with strong legs, arms, and lungs.  I may have aches and pains and creaks and groans, but I can get up and run with my sweet ones.
24. Air conditioners. I do not know how I survived without it.
25. My EZ-pass.  I love cruising through toll booths.
26. Carbs.  I have said it before, I'll say it again:  there is nothing so comforting as a carb.
27. Music.  My mom used to have a picture in her room that said, "After silence, that which comes closest to expressing the inexpressible is music."  I used to think that the quote was backwards, but the older I get, the more I get it. 
28. Naptime.  Please.  What mom isn't thankful for that?!
29. Korean food.  Oh, how I love that stuff.  I'll be chowing down on it in heaven for a good part of eternity.  Fo' sho'.
30. Ice.  I love cold beverages.
31. Hot tea.  I love hot beverages. (note #18)
32. Books.  I love to learn about new things and far off places.  And I am certainly a dreamer.
33. My brothers.  From my dear Joshua and Peter to my various brothers-in-law, I love seeing how God has molded and used them and continue to change them for Him.  Be strong in the Lord!
34. Chocolate.  I almost didn't list chocolate-- because, as a woman, it's kind of a gimme...
35. My parents.  If you've met them, you understand.  If you haven't met them, you should probably feel a little bit of jealousy (because you haven't met them).  They have trained me, loved me, disciplined me, and directed me.  They told me about God's love and showed me God's grace.  I am who I am because of their influence on my life.  I can not believe God loved me enough to give me to them.

Wow...  I can't believe how humbled and filled with peace I feel right now.  I often hum a song I learned many years ago, as it is filled with so much truth:

"It's amazing what praising can do.  Hallelujah, hallelujah!"

May God grant me another year to praise HIM!

Summertime...

As the music teacher, one of my responsibilities is to prepare the ever-popular "end of year program".  Generally speaking, it is only the kindergarten and 5th grade classes that require such preparation.  And this year was no exception.  One of the songs that my kindergarten did is entitled "School's Out!" by John Jacobson.  I've attached a clip if you'd like to see Mr. Double Dream Hands himself demonstrate the suggested choreography for this catchy little tune.

(On a side note, I didn't actually see this demo before today, and I would like to offer some props to myself for my motions that I taught the kiddos to help me them remember the words... I actually did some of the same ones he suggested.  No, not the cheesy ones.  The cool ones.)

Flash back to today.  I was fairly certain that I just might not make it to summer vacation.  In fact, this is the part where I confess that I do not know how "the rest of the world" makes it working year 'round.  Granted, I trust that "you" are not so naive as to assume that a teacher's "normal day" is quite often much longer and more stressful than many other professions' "normal day".  (This is NOT a "I work harder than you do" kind of post, so please relax! ;) )  All that to say (or rather "shout" since I'm about to go all caps lock on this post):  I AM FINISHED!  Whoo-hoo!  Say it with me now...  Whoo-hoo!  Whoo-hoow!  Whoo... Sorry.  Got a little excited there...

Anyway.  I just am so thankful that the Lord allowed me to make it to this day.  I'm not sure what exactly caused this school year to be/seem so much more stressful than years past, but it was certainly a big'un!

My sweet hubby returned with my sweet ones last night from a quick trip to North Carolina-- Ashe's oldest brother Jay selflessly serves as a supply sergeant for the National Guard and is being deployed as I type and you  now read.  I wasn't able to go with them on this quick trip due to closing ceremonies, end of school, etc activities-- you know, as shown in that awesome video clip.  So this week I got to veg a bit.  I'm not gonna lie:  I missed my babies (all THREE of them! ;) ).  Like. Crazy.  However, I will also confess:  it was kinda nice to go to bed before 9:00 and sleep all through the night without someone coming in to wake me up to go potty.  Or even spend a little time browsing around without feeling like I was "cheating" on family time.  In fact (prepare to be impressed!), I actually went to the gym 3 days.  In a row.  Wow.  Sometimes I even amaze myself.

But here I am.  First official day of summer vacation.  And I am loving it.

What happens when I'm stressed:

I bake.

Pizza Hut style pizza.

 A lot.

Chocolate on chocolate cupcakes.

But it's a stress release for me.  Plus, I love to give it all away and share with those I love.  So this weekend I baked SEVERAL Pizza Hut style pizzas.  They were delish.  Yes, I said "they".  (Don't judge me.  I did my exercises.)

I found the recipe on Pinterest (of course), but I'm going to tweak the recipe a bit more.  And when I do, I'll post my changes (of course ;) ).

Naturally, I doubled it.  I mean, hey.  If one pizza is good-- what will a hundred be like?!  But here are my little step by step photos of what happened...

I made the dough in my lovely Kitchen Aid mixer.  (If you've been following my blog, you know how I love that thing!)  I then divided it (the dough) up, rolled it out, and put it in some greased cake pans.  During the rising period, I put plate on top to give the dough that "dipped" contour before topping with yummies.

After allowing the dough to rise (around the plates) for about an hour and a half, I then sauced and topped!

One of the changes I'll make next time:  a little more sauce.

Also, I'll be adding a little more EVOO to the outer crust before baking.

The pizza was yummy.  I'll be trying it again in the near future, I am sure!  Make sure you put enough oil in the pan before you add the dough to give it that "Pizza Hut touch"!  But my family loved it very much! :)

In regards to those chocolate cupcakes...  

Those were divine-- if I do say so myself.  But I must also grudgingly confess that I over-mixed the batter, and they came out denser than I would have liked. *sigh*  I guess I was taking my stress out on the ingredients.  Lol.  But the frosting.  Oh.  The.  Frosting.  Give me a minute, would you? *sigh*  It was just sinful.  As in, you will be willing to do an extra 20 30 45 minutes on the ellipitcal sinfully good.  No, I am serious. 

Rich Fudgy Chocolate Frosting:

Using the paddle of your lovely Kitchen Aid mixer, whip 2 sticks of room temperature butter.  I mean, whip it and whip it good.  (I'm a bit stressed, if you recall)

Add 3 cups of sifted powdered sugar and 1/2 cup Hershey's Dark Chocolate cocoa.

Begin to incorporate on LOW (do you really want that spraying all over your kitchen?!).  It will look very chalky and not at all like frosting of any sort.  Have patience.

While still on low, gradually add in up to 1/4 to 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream.  You want this stuff to still be thick.  And creamy.  And divine.  Add about 2 tsp. vanilla (I love vanilla.  It is perhaps my most favorite thing.  Ever.  I will confess that as a general rule, I always-- and I do mean always-- put in more than a normal person would in any recipe.)  If it is really thick, you can add a touch more cream.  If you've gotten excited and over-poured the cream, don't panic.  Just add a bit more powdered sugar.

Remember that whipping you did at the beginning?  Do it again.  Let that stuff just incorporate and get perfect.  Then you can either eat it with a spoon smear it on your cupcakes or pipe it out, which is generally my preference.  Regardless of what you do with it:  enjoy it! :)

Whew... I made it...

I feel like this week has just been a hot mess.  Well, not exactly.  But close. And, you know.  It's funny-- as I sit here pondering what exactly it was that made it so "whew" here at the end... I'm stumped. 

Granted, there was the beginning of the SOL testing.  No, I'm not being crass for those of you who are NOT from Virginia... that is ACTUALLY what some brilliant person in the higher-ups-of-education thought would be the best choice for the abbreviation of our state mandated tests. "Standards of Learning".  Yah.  They didn't really think that one through.  (And we're the ones who are going to be evaluated each year to make sure that we are properly preparing the next generation?!  Just saying...) 

But I digress.  Yes, there was testing.  And, yes, I had minimal "free" time to recover from said testing.  But that wasn't necessarily "whew" material.  It must be something else...

As you may remember from my previous post, March is kind of a big deal for the music world.  It's our one time when we get to pretend to shine.  I have 3 different concerts coming up, and needless to say, there is a possible chance that I just might be getting a little more stressed as each day passes... getting closer to my big moment to "shine".  But more on that later...

Perhaps the highlight of my week was my time in court.  Yes, court.  As in, "All rise..." and "No talking, no gum chewing, no halter tops, no cell phones" court. 

No, I did not get arrested...

For those of you who know me, I have a very strict policy:  I am too pretty for prison.  Sadly, the registration on my car was expired. [You might recall the "Your registration is expired... as in... uh, 'AUGUST'..." incident from my previous blog-- which also includes a toe pic!]  Proudly, though, the officer did inform me that I have a flawless driving record (I'll possibly share more on that small miracle in times to come).  Which is why I headed to court-- to maintain that flawless driving record.  I was nervous that the judge would be mean.  Or that I would cry.  I don't really like to be in trouble.   But God was very kind to me.  And so was the judge. 

But the man at the metal detector was not.  Why, yes.  Did you know that you are not allowed to have any sort of electronic device in a courthouse?  I did not.  But that "gentleman" certainly did quickly inform me that I had to take my cell phone back to my car.  Why, yes.  I was parked a couple blocks away. Aaaaand  it WAS pouring down rain.  However, tempted as I was to allow a little stress tear to squeeze out, I just took a deep breath, prayed deep within my spirit, and briskly walked back to my car to deposit my fancy little phone. 

Fortunately, I wasn't quite like this.  And I was so thankful for my umbrella!

There were about 15 different people who went before me-- of which I was grateful (you know, so that I could prepare myself for what might happen-- and steel myself to NOT cry if needed.).  Fortunately for me, many of the people ahead of me were not necessarily in the running for citizen of the year month week day hour ever.  They set the stage for me beautifully. 

There were just a few basic questions that the judge asked each defendant as they (we *sigh*) stood before him:  a) What are the charges?  b) How do you plead?  c) Was the defendant cooperative? 

Wanna guess which of those 3 questions held the most weight?  If you picked "C", you are the winner.  There were a couple of guys who had to pay hefty fines b/c the officer testified that they were aggressive or argumentative.  As I walked up to the bench as my name was called, I smiled and said, "Good morning."  The judge read my charge (expired registration) and asked how I plead.  Naturally, I was guilty...  (Uh... AUGust...)  He then says, [to the officer] "It's obvious she was cooperative. [to me] I assume you've gotten this taken care of?"  I assured him I had, showed the dutifully updated registration to the officer, and waited for the verdict.  He smiles so nicely (notice:  no crying) and says, "All right.  I am going to dismiss the charges, but unfortunately you are going to have to pay the court costs.  I'm sorry, but there isn't anything even I can do about that."  That was very nice, don't you think? 

Soooo... it was rather stressful to have to drive to downtown Newport News to attend traffic court.  With non-citizens of the year.  In the rain.  But it was a relief to know that I did NOT have 3 points put on my flawless record, and I only had to pay $66 instead of the $91 (or more!) I was potentially going to have to pay. 

The highlight of my week was the rare treat I allow my children:  ice cream for dinner.  I figured we all had earned a little treat.  There wasn't much objection.  So we headed to Sweet Frog.  My kiddos were thrilled.  And so cute.  And I didn't have to cook.  Win-win-win.