Husband

So, if you really want to know what I have been doing lately, it’s been some of this:

It goes without saying there is not a day that goes by that wedding plans are not discussed. There’s a lot of thought, & preparation, & planning, & sometimes tension. Because ya’ll it’s hard to decide if you want navy napkins with foil coral writing or coral napkins with matte navy writing & there are so many cute sayings they put on them now-a-days. Back in my day, when they used to sell a pair of curtains in the pack, you didn’t have to worry too much about things like that. But that was a gazillion years ago. Now that my little ones are tying the knot, it’s A LOT of planning & stress, I tell you. A LOT. It’s just that you have things thrown at you, that you just aren’t accustom to answering, like how much lace & burlap can you glue on a mason jar without it looking purely like our grandkids did them & what trim should you have the invitations in? Square, rounded, squiggly, the corners cut out, & other shapes that I have never really considered before. (By the way, the last 2 of those trims may or may not be actual descriptions. But you get the picture.) And DON’t get me started about fonts. Goodness gracious. Decisions YA’LL.

We do get to have a lot of fun conversations, while pouring over what size buckets we should put baby’s breath in. Some are about how much a responsibility it is to be married. You are basically becoming someone else’s caretaker. Because you know: MEN. And too, how you are in charge of feeding your family meals, washing the clothes & the dishes (even when you just don’t want to) & how they do get sick & it’s pretty much a guarantee they consider themselves much worse off than anybody in the ICU part of the local hospital. Then, how unselfish you have to become because real love has to do with sacrifice. You have to have a heart of a servant. And if all that’s not trying enough, you sprinkle some kids in the mix & wa-lah! You are full on loaded down with commitments & what have you. At some point she jokingly wanted to know was I trying to talk her out of all this?? Never would I. But ya’ll marriage is serious & evidently many don’t take it that way. Because hello, TRUE LOVE, ya’ll. Some of the stuff that goes with it like starry eyedness & ooey gooeyness, just doesn’t always last as long as it should. I just want some reality to be spoken. Sorry, I just don’t want her to be in total shock the 57.379^th time she has to remind her sweet husband to put his socks in the dirty clothes, that no matter how much you want to hurt him in a real bad way, you have to pick your battles. This will be a good time for her to practice up on her favorite songs from the song book at church. Because she will be needing to sing a few verses of Amazing Grace, to herself once her patience starts to run out.

The apostle Paul talks about what true love is in I Corinthians 13:4-7

⁴Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; ⁵does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; ⁶does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; ⁷bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

That’s a lot of stuff! If we are going to love another, as the Lord wants us to, we have to be patient, kind, & put their best interests first. Our needs become less of an importance to us & theirs become more to us. We shouldn’t be jealous & want what others have. And we cannot be full or ourselves. That will never work. It may all seem like it’s too much, but it’s all a work in process, ya know? I know my daughter & her soon to be husband will be happy as larks, once all this wedding stuff is over. Just pray for them & their new life together. You can never get too much prayer.

I am so glad you came by to visit with me today. It’s been a beautiful Mississippi day. Why, it was 63 degrees this morning, as I drove in to work. I talked to someone this morning, in Houston, Texas. They said before 10am, it was already 90 degrees. Sorry, Houston. Maybe cooler weather is coming your way. Sounds like fall could be right around the corner for us! Until the leaves turn brown & the smell of cinnamon & apples is coming from my kitchen, again, I have be going because I should be washing clothes.

I have a Bible class at church. I look so forward to being with these lovelies each week. They are 1^st & 2^nd graders. Oh, the questions they have about God’s word! It is amazing to look through the eyes of a child. So, I knew when I was studying to teach them about Noah’s ark, I had better know my stuff. As I was reading over the story in Genesis, I came across a verse that I immediately identified with.

Genesis 8:

⁶So it came to pass, at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made. ⁷Then he sent out a raven, which kept going to and fro until the waters had dried up from the earth.

Sometimes we seem to overlook that raven. We see pictures about the dove, that comes back with the olive branch. But the raven has kinda gotten muddled up in the story somehow. Well, let me tell you.

I think the raven was very significant.

I feel it’s pain. Sometimes I feel like all I do is go “to & fro” with unrelenting problems. Will they ever stop? Will I be going back & forth forever? At times, it sure does seem like it. Whether it’s one of my kids sick with a stomach bug, bills that need to be paid, like yesterday, people who don’t get the concept of a car line at school, those who think more of themselves, than others, people who say harsh words to my loved ones, my son, who has chosen a destructive path in life, missing my mama, mother-in-law, father-in-law, grandparents who have all gone on, life can get pretty crazy, ya know? With my big family, I am constantly thinking, “What do I need to do next?” because something is always happening with one of us. When the doctor gives you 8 pills to take a day to “cure” your stomach problems, perhaps you may think will this ever end?? Stress can get pretty high every once in awhile. And then, the hot water line to the washing machine starts to leak. God bless my son-in-law for being around to fix stuff, when no one else is around! I think, maybe once winter is over & we can get outside & get some fresh air, maybe things will settle down. Oh wait, I get POISON IVY about every time I get in the yard. Do you see where I am going with this? To and fro, flying around, like Noah’s raven. Nowhere to rest! Sometimes, I think the only thing to make it all better is pitchin’ a dyin’ duck dawg fit. Just gettin’ everybody while I’m at it. Even the cat.

But then you know what? Just like the raven, I hit dry land. I realize I really do have it good.

: Miss Neenee & Mr. Sweetie Pants playing a game of drop the pompom through the toilet paper roll & catch it.

Miss Neenee & Mr. Sweetie Pants playing a game of drop the pompom through the toilet paper roll & catch it.

My Mr. Sweetie Pants grandson lights up our world. Do you hear me? Precious & sweet. Especially when he says,

“Grand, hold me.”

And stretches those little arms up. Melts me. Won’t be long until I have a grandbaby girl! Of course she will be just as cute. I have seen the sonogram pictures. She is going to be a dandy!

Then, I have my kids & my husband who are so good to me. Dirty dishes loaded in the dishwasher, by someone else than me. Always a good way to make this mama’s day. Not to mention, I have some of the kindest, dearest friends in the world. My church family is exceptionally wonderful. I have a good job & work with nice people. I have the best big brother in the world. My niece & nephew are the cat’s pajamas. And my brother’s wife, she’s a good one to have on your team, too. My Daddy is so kind & considerate. He always makes time for us. Those kids I have in my Bible class. I so look forward to seeing them & spending time with them every week. Some of the stuff they say just tickles me to death. Blessed is what I am.

I’m so glad you came by to visit today. You just remember, you are not alone in this world. Life is a battle. You may be going into battle, or coming out of one. If things are going good for you. Enjoy it. Because problems rise up, when you least expect it. The Lord is willing & able to comfort you & give you the peace of mind that nothing else can. It’s been one more week. I’m ready to see the weekend! Come back & see me again soon. As for me, I have to be going because I should be washing clothes.

Photo credits:momsgenerations.com, christark.com