when to wait...

From Prayers with Purpose for Women by Jackie M. Johnson (I adore this little devotional book…)

Being a Woman of Action

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

          James 2:17

Lord, I want to be a woman of action—a women of true faith. Faith by itself—if only thoughts and words—is dead. It has to be accompanied by my deeds, Lord. I pray for the wisdom to know when to take risks, when to act, and when to wait. Help me to know the right thing to do and the best time to do it. Put true faith into me, Lord, so I can perform the good works You have for me to accomplish.

In Your Son Jesus’ Name I pray...

Amen.

This speaks straight to my heart, soul, mind and spirit. I am the MOST IMPATIENT person I know. I’m serious. Waiting on God’s Timing? Sometimes it feels completely impossible for this Big-Haired Texas Grammy. It seems like I’ve spent my entire (long) life waiting…and waiting…and waiting. Frustrated. Often angry. Confused. Sometimes very bitter. Sigh.

My Sweet Hubby (MSH) has a family “crest” I had framed many, many years ago and the “motto” or “creed” is:

Deeds Not Words

This hangs at our back door. The door we use 96% of the time. We can read these words every day. Several times a day. And, yet, we mostly walk right by them. In a hurry to get where we going to do what we think we must do.

My good intentions can make all kinds of promises. To MSH. To TLC. To family members. To my precious friends. But, worst of all, to My Lord God Almighty.

Today I want to intentionally take a risk or two. I want to hear God tell me the right thing to do and the best time to do it. I want to FEEL my faith grow. And grow. AND GROW.

God bless each of you on this Tuesday. I pray for your strength, peace, courage and patience…

With my love and BIGGEST hugs,

ELC

mama mia and hallelujah!

This time last weekend I was on my second night of “Grammy Nannying” Little Leighton (aka Biscuit aka LL) and Baby Elle (aka Belle) while TLC and Her Hubby enjoyed a two-night get-away to Austin.

It was my first time to keep The Little Princesses by myself! I’d kept LL a few times when she was tiny. I’d kept Belle this past 4^th of July by myself. For one night. But I’d never kept both—alone—without My Sweet Hubby (MSH).

I’d arrived at TLC’s casa on Thursday morning. Received all my (millions of/written) instructions and had taken over their care, on my own little lonesome, around 10:30. That day went pretty dadgum good! Baby Elle took a LONG nap. We picked Biscuit up at her school at 2:00 that afternoon. We stayed for almost an hour—on the playground—where Belle thought she was quite The Big Girl.

Once we got home, time went by fast. Snack. Playroom time. Dinner. Baths. (Okay. We had a couple of mishaps at bathtime. LL got out of the bathtub and fell on the tile—because she was running. I accidentally bumped Belle’s head on the linen closet door trying to get some chapstick off a shelf. Both recovered after only a few tears. I felt terrible. We all survived.)

By the Way:  I’d also never had had to bathe the two of them by myself. It’s tricky. Honestly, this was my biggest worry. LL was a HUGE help, though. We got 'er done. Belle was in bed and asleep by 7:00 that evening. Biscuit in bed and asleep by 8:00. Grammy Ga-Ga was in bed and out like a light by 10:30. I don’t think I moved until my alarm went off at 5:00 a.m. Friday morn.

I got up super early to get my makeup on. Fixed my Big Texas Hair. Dressed. Watched the monitor for signs one or both of The Little Gals was about to rise and shine. (The monitor toggles between their two bedrooms.) At 6:30, I saw Belle sitting up in her crib. I was counting on a 7:00 a.m. wakeup. Sigh. Then I heard this:

Mama Mia! Hallelujah! Hi, Ga-Ga! (What Belle calls me—although she’s beginning to say Grammy quite often now…) Hi, Ne-Ne! (What Belle calls Little Leighton…) Hi, Mama! Hi, DaDa! Hi, Pa-Pa! Hi, Olaf! (What Biscuit named our first calf born this year…) Mama Mia! Hallelujah!

Over. And over. And over. I was certain she was going to wake LL up. By the time I got upstairs and retrieved her from her crib, LL was awake. (They slept later the next morning. Praise The Lord.)

Explanation of Mama Mia and Hallelujah:

A couple of weeks ago, TLC and I sang some Abba songs for LL and Belle. While they were having an afternoon snack. (Naturally, we were incredible.) We danced to Dancing Queen. Duh. Belle realized she could say Mama Mia and practiced it. For days. And days.

The first time TLC took Belle to an ENT in Frisco, back in the Spring, they were playing the movie “Sing” on the waiting room TV. Biscuit FELL IN LOVE with it. TLC purchased it as soon as she could and downloaded several of the songs on her phone. Biscuit learned every word of every song. One of them is the Tori Kelly version of the song “Hallelujah.” Belle ADORES it. It is truly the CUTEST thing to hear her sing it. Mostly she just knows the Hallelujah part. And she says it like this: Halleyuyah. But trust me: It is P.R.E.C.I.O.U.S.

I made it with no problems to Saturday afternoon (I confess: I had help from MSH aka Pa-Pa, who came for several hours on Friday, and my youngest sister, Aunt Lucy, who came for several hours on Saturday…Basically, I guess I cheated.)! TLC and Her Hubby were back by 3:00 p.m. With gluten-free cupcakes and stories to tell! I was home and on my davenport by 5:00 p.m. Pooped. But in such a MARVELOUS way.

I’m currently feeling pretty confident I can Solo-Grammy-Nanny again. Soon. Mama TLC EARNS her time away, bless her sweet heart. This was her first trip, in fact, with Her Hubby, just the two of them, since Belle was born. She’s My Hero. I’m serious. She’s THE BEST mother and daughter. Ever.

Mama Mia...it’s Friday night! Hallelujah!

(Be safe and happy and kind and do get some rest, Dear Friends Everywhere…)

ta-ta for now…

ELC

tragedy after tragedy after tragedy...

…and on and on and on…

Just when we think we might all get a break from the latest mass shootings, another one happens. This one in a church. A church. About four hours from our home.

Although many, many, too many of us have been saying for too many years there’s truly nowhere we are safe, we really want to believe, deep down in our spirits and souls, that as we sit in God’s House, we’ll be okay. Our children and grandchildren will be allowed to worship and praise Him in peace. Free from danger and violence.

I was excited about a silly little post I was going to do tonight. I’ll save it. I’ve cried several times this afternoon. I’ve prayed every hour since I heard about this latest tragedy. What I haven’t done is laugh. I still don’t feel like even smiling. It seems like both of those efforts would be disrespectful to the victims, their families and their friends.

So I’ll wait…

In the meantime, let us all PLEASE continue to pray to Our Lord God Almighty for these shocked and heartbroken people. And for everyone’s protection from the despicable, vile, hideous, unbelievable Satans in this world.

In sadness, confusion and despair, but with deep determination, I pray for each of you tonight. Your families. Your friends. Your well-being. Your futures.

 

ELC 

apology #711...

…to TLC. (This number is actually the number of posts, including this one, we’ve done since we started our blog in January of 2011! The number of times I’ve apologized to TLC in 33-ish years? Probably ten times that number. Sheesh.)

But here’s why I’m officially, and in writing, apologizing to TLC tonight:

She brought to my attention, after my “saving the world” post on October 25^th, that I did, in fact, sorta/kinda hurt her feelings by dissing her choices of television programs. (I didn’t mention movies—but I think I’ll include those, too. What the heck? I’m already in hot water, right?)

TLC, I am profoundly sorry I hurt your feelings. I had no right to make any kind of comment on what you choose to watch on television. Or Netflix. Or HBO. Or at the movies. Truly. What I said was completely out-of-line and I promise I’ll do my best to keep my thoughts on your (very iffy and often ridiculous) choices of programs/movies in check/to myself. In the future. Yes, I myself watch some crazy s#*t. I know I do. So please—PLEASE—find it in your heart to forgive me and we’ll move past this. Okay?

BTW: I’ll happily forgive YOU for dissing my 10-year-old black suede Keds’ tennies at Little Leighton’s School Costume Parade yesterday. I thought I looked major cute. But I know you SOOO WELL…I saw your face the minute I stepped out of my car and walked towards you and Baby Elle. When I continued to question your semi-disgusted expression, you finally told me you did NOT like my shoes. You said it firmly and, quite honestly, with what appeared to be a tidbit of disgust. I, however, did my best to appreciate your fashion suggestion that I should have chosen one of my two cute short “booties” to wear with the jeans I had on. Noted, TLC. Noted. Fo shizzle. Sigh.

Are we even? Pretty much? I love you, TLC. With all of my soul. I have from the moment I knew I was, in fact, pregnant with you. I don’t like knowing that I’ve hurt you. Truly. I'm being totally serious now.

We’d both like to thank all of you who have stuck with us for SIX (soon to be SEVEN) YEARS as we’ve carried on…and on…and on…on this here blog. I, for one, pray I haven’t hurt any of Y’all’s feelings—because I would never want to do that, either. Pinky swear.

ta-ta for now, Sillies Everywhere!

ELC