My Lunch Break

On husband's lunch break he loves on Lulu the dog. On my lunch break I love on our two kids and help mark their shirts for Track Attack!! I love my job. I love working with kids. I love the funny things they tell me. I love things they teach me. I love to hear them laugh. I love it when they give me a bear hug. I love it when they say "I saw you at the grocery store!" I love that they think I live at the school.
But I love it for these moments. For the moments I get to hug my own kids at school. For moments when they are still little enough to want to hug me at school. For moments when I hear "mommy" in the hallway and know it is mine.

Lunch Break Emails

Husband comes home for lunch now. We spoiled him this summer and would have his lunch ready for him. Now he has someone to spoil. He sends me pictures on his lunch break. He will send an email that says, "hurry home, she (not him) is lonely." "She is a digger."
"Your flip flops are toast."

Newest Little Roach: Lulu

I have another post about my recent trip to Baton Rouge but I needed to put out some happy first. You see if truth be known it probably was one of my most favoite weekends minus some hiccups. Me and my boyfriend. No kids. No kitchen. Hotel. Auburn footbal. New puppy. Those are all makings of perfection. We ended our weekend away at Arby's where all good puppies come from in the town of Grande Bay, AL. It was pretty much love at first site. I pleaded for the name. Lulu. (Winner J- Mo) If you have known me for a long time you know Lulu was my name growing up. Having a sister with also an M name made life difficult. One of us needed a nickname and since sister had her name painted on her glasses, I got the name LULU.

Lulu had a hard time getting comfortable on the long drive home. I mean can anyone with a tail do this? She is talented.

We made the 3 hour drive to Greenville and surprised two other little Roachs with the.best.present.ever.!

Even Tbone, sick with strep, gave a thumbs up to his new little friend. When I think about the trips to the creek the kids and her will take or the dips in the pool...my heart sings.

Then it was another couple of hours home to meet the brother dog. They did the smelling of the rear dance. Yoda is not really sure why Lulu cares so much about being friends. Yoda is a loner. And all the puppy hype is a bit overrated to him.

However, Lulu has started to make her mark. Just like with any new baby in the family we have big plans for her.

And just like a new baby, sleep is a process. But one thing is for sure...my heart she already has.

"Happiness is a warm puppy"- Charles M. Schulz

The legend of Stamps

I received word two weeks ago that Stamps aka Romeo of Roach Ranch was dead on the side of the road. I went to investigate after school but the crime scene had been cleaned up. I told Momma Kitty and her babies. We had visitation and tuna casseroles with milk. Momma Kitty was sad and even she disappeared a day in what I thought was a search and rescue operation. However, husband came inside the other night to inform me STAMPS is ALIVE.

I saw Stamps yesterday taking a nap by the pool. He has a swagger in his walk and I think he is nursing an injury. Mommy Kitty was licking his paws and seemed thankful her boyfriend had returned from the grave. If a cat has nine lives, I am pretty sure Stamps is on number 6. I am also pretty sure he and roaches will be the only thing that survives a nuclear bomb.

This will not make you cry, well maybe.

This baby will be picked up next weekend. Her current momma sends me pictures like this... It makes me want to drive right now and go get her.

Oh my, she is so sleepy. She needs me to rock her and give her a bottle. Oh wait, different baby. Fur included.

I think she smells the bacon we cooked for supper tonight.

Oh my goodness. I.AM.IN.LOVE.

She still needs a name.

If you pick the name I will send you a basket of sweet potatoes.

Keep ' Em There Highlights

I am still trying to find words to describe this event to people who ask me. It started as a conversation in a room with just a few people. God grew it into a few hundred people event. I think this is the moment I looked up to see the clouds clear and the sky opened with bright sunshine. People were just flowing down the back yard and I began to cry. God doesn't have to use us for His purpose but He does. Last night He used not just me but He used hundreds of people for His glory.
In second grade, I had bad hair. My mother took me to get 2 perms so I could be like Annie and my best friend Katie. I had fried hair. My hair grew after recess so I would wear a toboggan. My sweet teacher convinced me to take off the toboggan and loved me with my big hair. That sweet teacher is the mother of one of the missionaries we are trying to Keep in Africa. Having her sitting on my lawn as we celebrated her baby in Africa was another tearful moment.

The music was the best I have heard in a long time. I seriously could have listened to them all night. These group of guys made a song just for the event and are allowing all that came to the event download it for FREE. For those that don't know husband is a blues lover. He and his buddies were in blues band in college and I am pretty sure this is partly why husband was so happy last night. Well that and Kevin said yes to sharing in driving the tractor.

There were hayrides that sometimes did not seem so safe but God provided and to my knowledge we did not lose any children in sink holes, off trampolines or under trailers.

These were my parking attendants. They fit hundreds of cars in the "front yard." Thanks Boys!For the few good baptist that followed the rules and parked across the street or at the bank you will get a free ice cream cone from Dairy Queen. I am so kidding but that would have been nice. To my home group peeps (plus Kev and Frankie) you are like my family. I read this quote: " The purpose of fun is to live it." You make me live it.

1 Corinthians 4: There are different kinds of gifts but the same spirit distributes them.

I watched so many people use their gifts and talents to make this event happen. I know I will forget someone but I still want to try to give shout outs! To the food peeps: if you served,cooked brought or donated the 500 hot dogs, 300 chips, 300 brownies, drinks, and ice you are all awesome! Silent Auction people who donated, worked and organized you were awesome. (The necklaces are still taking orders!) Timbali crafts people if you went to pick up or sold them we appreciate you. Light and generator boy we could not have had power or lights without you. If you brought a table, used a weed eater, dropped off buns, stuck checks in my refrigerator all week, prayed, planned, rented an outhouse, painted a sign, spread the word, brought a friend, showed up, gave money you were used and you are loved.

I look so rough in this picture, I think it was my bedtime but I can't tell you enough how blessed we all were to score Bruce. He is the most humble and talented person I have met. He brought an energy to this event and gave himself completely. I just have to figure out how I can get him back in my back yard...except this time I am going to be barefoot. But that is another story.

And then there is this Alabama boy and his wife. He called us in a room. He shared his heart about his friends. He shared his heart about Africa. He called us to action. And I forgave him for his crimson and white, and Keep 'Em There was born. $5900 at the end of the night. We all said, "no way" and then we said, "of course"...God is that big.

It is simple. The Clyburns and McAdams are doing what God calls us all to do.

Take care of the poor and the orphans.

We are not done. Our friends need monthly sponsors. 10 dollars, 20 dollars, 100 dollars, make a commitment. Let God stretch you.

Mark and Allison

Steve and Amy

Click on their link and then click Sponsor Me on the left side!

Peace.

Afternoon In Pictures

Boots. Not a big deal to most. Very big deal for a post broke ankle to be able to slide into a boot.
Picture of the Day: Momma Kitty and Eden have a love hate relationship. Mostly hate.

Getting ready for Keep 'Em There this weekend! Expecting God to do big things!

Every kid should have a daddy who builds steps in trees.

Especially in this tree. Can you love a tree?

Eden got a playmate. She has been in timeout for being "barn sour." She was so lonely.

Swirly girl is here to play. They are so beautiful. I love to watch them run but I love more when they lay on their back and kick their feet in the air.

Kisses.

She is

Daughter and I got to sit in my dad's seats at the last Auburn home game. We let son take a friend and the boys sat down below. She thought that these seats rocked. You could "get what ever you wanted to eat and they had good soap in the bathrooms." But if you asked her the best part of her day...she got to eat peanuts! Since her brother is allergic, cracking open a peanut provided the most entertainment. She is getting bigger longer by the minute. She loves school. She is growing into a little girl. She got her ears peirced. She is taking baton. She can still play tackle football with the boys and throws the baseball as hard as most boys her age. She has lots of words. She dances through life. She is busy. She is complex. She is drama.

She is exactly who God made her to be.