Connie sent me a pic of her Alfie. SO I knew it would be a great day.
I had a plan for us to go to As You Wish to paint. Upon Tatum telling me she wants to be a Marine Biologist when she grows up. Along with being a teacher, a mom, and a wife…she will have her hands full! Well, she drew these, and I knew she wasn’t kidding. The mako shark and green turtle. Now on her wall.
Well, we’d take her talents a bit further. She’d paint! I love this escape palace. Honestly, I’ve been coming here for 20 years, and each time, I lose myself in the work, and the time just flies by.
She worked on her shark for a long time.
I am used to her grabbing a dog, pig, bunny..some type of ceramic creature, putting a few paint strokes on it and calling it a day. Again, the Tot shocked me. She took her sweet detailed time!
And WOOOOOWZIE! It’s so cool, and it hasn’t even been kilned yet. She got the colors correct, carefully starting with pencil. I was so impressed. I wanted to do something inspiring and symbolic.
We’ll see how it turns out…The long winding road toward light. The Lord is My Light (Psalm 27:1) is what I wrote.
I used about 15 colors…and I wanted to spend another hour on it. But…alas we had to go to an appointment. Tatum’s Ortho. NOOOOOOO! But, it ended up being a good thing since she needs to get her bite normalized. She is determined to wear her rubber bands around the clock.
Coopy ended our day as usual.
Tomorrow, will be part 3, and much more adventure awaits.
This was for me a BIGGGGGG deal. I really haven’t been out much in a while, and as you’ll soon see, neither has Tot. (wink wink…stay tuned).
Monday morning. Can we go to the gym?? So this was our first stop.
Then, with money and credit cards in hand, we headed to Kierland. My brilliant idea. You see, we hadn’t really ever just been two gals shopping. It’s kind of a dream of a girl mom to someday have a shopping buddy. So we dressed up (or not), and headed to Kierland. Last time we were there was the Splash Pad when she was 3! Heck we weren’t shopping that day. But today, we’d go on an adventure in our black and white (our usual uniform).
All we experienced were overpriced clothing stores and more overpriced clothing stores. This coupled with overpriced cafe’s and overpriced makeup stores. But we laughed and laughed. Literally I haven’t laughed with Tatum like this in….forever!
We stopped at Starbucks for a frog.
Yes, a frog.
And two coconut acai refreshers. (waters). Hey, when you spend $4 for a one bite cake pop, you have to get creative with your water cup.
Our sole purchase of non-food items was from Bath and Body. A $1 “han”itizer and a little $9 turtle pouch for her backpack. After smelling 300 of the various scents, she opted for this one since it brought her back to the beach. We also saw a fragrance that she wanted since we are always Dreaming About Rio…but instead
we just took a picture and called it a day.
We stopped at Apple on the way to visit her new computer. A NEO. It shall be coming our way when they are back in stock.
Since I promised we’d stay till noon, we had to kill a few minutes. So Crate and Barrel would be the ticket. She wanted to go upstairs, so we headed up the escalator. I hopped on and assumed she was right behind me. Tot? Tot??? I look behind me and she’s still at the bottom staring at the escalator. A line is now forming behind Tatum with the front of the line encouraging her to step on it (for crying out loud!). Eventually she made it. Going down would be another story. But first, We had a pitstop on a comfy chair. Ahhh….may I stay here?
Ok, reality…now, again, I hopped on the down escalator, and she DID NOT. I look back and all I see is a shrinking Tot.
Let’s zoom in, shall we?
Mommy!
I had flashbacks to when she was four. Was I a terrible mother for leaving my 13 year old to fend for herself on the escalator? A crowd was forming at the bottom, and they were all looking at me! I casually just say, “She doesn’t get out much.”
We get home..FINALLY since it was quite a warm day (Hello! It’s March and almost 100).
Tatum decides she’s going to sunbathe, and I’m going to collapse. Two hours of shopping did me in.
She always had wanted me to come 15 minutes late so she could talk with her friends. Well, lately, that has been a wish not granted. Not that she wants to come home and be schooled. But, she wouldn’t mind being home; especially this next week. So, we begin!
First stop: Bird store! Our three little chickies needed food, so it was also an excuse to see any new birds that are available. These little cockatiels looked so cute without their crests!
Of course it was time for Target. That is unfortunately an expensive happy place. It seems to have a way of stealing my money. Well, Tatum needed a few clothes, and somehow, this got into the basket. He’s one of those weighted stuffies. Pickle is now a new member of our family.
Later, since it God forgot to give us Spring, Tatum decided to go swimming. Now, our pool is not “swim” worthy yet, but it is inviting when it’s 95 degrees in March. (I KNOW!). So, she took it all in.
She borrowed my bathing suit later (she fits in it…when did this happen!?), and did the whole sunbathing process, but today, it was just a toesy in the water.
We always watch a show during lunch. We finished the Downton Abbey series. After my breakdown and cry fest, we found another. I have to say, it’s almost as good. It’s called All Creatures Great and Small, and it’s about this veterinarian (James Herriot) in the 1930’s Yorkshire Dales. He wrote books about this and they turned it into a series. The storyline and cast are humorous and compassionate; the setting is gorgeous. We love to watch this. Guess who else does? Yes, Coopy had to find out how this doggie fared after surgery. He is glued to the show.
Well, there was more to come on the weekend. Stay tuned for Monday and Tuesday’s adventures. In the meantime, look at the competition I have for the greatest breakfast? Yes, Tot is learning!
And Pickle watches.
Meanwhile, Pickle and Coopy are getting to know each other.
Ten full days. We finally went to the doctor after the “mystery” symptoms continued. I didn’t have the luxury of fancy fingers to feel her “nodules” on her throat. Nor did I put pressure hear her eyes above her nose for her to go “OW!” The doctor has the fancy touch.
It was a long week of her not getting better! Her fever broke on Tuesday, and we would say, OK, back to school on _______. You can get your homework done tomorrow and then go back the following day. That following day never happened. She would try to come out early of her bedroom, but this is how she would communicate:
Then I’d come and say: YOU NEED…
Electrolytes
Honey
An apple squeezey
Water
I don’t know!!! AAAAAHH!!!
And the day would go on with more mystery.
Then the next day:
And more:
The SCREAMING CAPS!
Ok. That. is. it.
We are going to the DOCTOR!!
Sunday (thank GOD) they were open
Our favorite Urgent care, and you know the rest of the story.
After we left the doc, we picked up her RX at Walgreens and I immediately had her drink a protein drink with her first dose. We also loaded up on some stuffies, squeeze toys, and slime. The OTHER kind of medicine for the girl.
She seems to be better already, and I’m so grateful.
Now, if we can get her back to school tomorrow, all will be well.
She came back from church camp Sunday night already feeling awful. By Monday morning the fever had arrived, and it stayed for three long days. When the fever finally eased, the nausea and stomach issues took its place. It’s been one of those weeks where the body just refuses to cooperate.
Today she stayed home again, trying to catch up on schoolwork before the last day of the quarter tomorrow. Tests, assignments, all of it waiting.
It’s been a hard few days.
Not just because she’s been sick, but because I’m not exactly at my strongest either. I wanted to be the kind of mom who effortlessly fixes everything. But this week looked different. I simply did the best I could.
We watched a lot of Downton Abbey. Both movies. And she slept ALOT.
We navigated high fevers, empty stomachs, and the frustrating cycle of trying to eat and not being able to keep food down. On Wednesday she broke down crying.
“I HATE being sick!”
Of all people, I understand.
When you’re sick long enough, the emotions come in waves. First you get angry. Then you get sad. Then you get mad again. It’s exhausting, and it feels unfair.
I didn’t try to fix it.
I just sat with her in it.
Because sometimes the best thing a mom can do is simply understand the feeling.
I love that girl so much. Watching her suffer hurts in a way that’s hard to describe. If I could take it from her, I would in a second.
She isn’t alone.
Not for a second.
So I sing to Ollie. I stare at Coopy as he looks at us from below (please let me come up there!!)
We all stood for minutes clapping and cheering as he stood to preach.
A tear would form in my eye. Seriously.
For me, it was a slow admiration. When he first arrived to SBC 17 years ago, I was less than pumped. I was used to Darryl DelHousaye and his phenomenal preaching (plus his extra large heart and love for people). But, Jamie Rasmussen grew on me. As a family we would sit directly in front just to hear every word. He was not only growing on me, his words would become something I would crave weekly. Our church grew tremendously in these last few years because of his leadership and vision.
Every message he would preach would center around ONE THEME:
Grace.
Yes, Grace.
No ego. No haughtiness. No piety. No holier than thou.
Just Grace.
Wow, do we all need to hear this. Why? Well, that is what his last message was all about.
Three simple points:
1. Life is not fair.
This is truly why God sent Jesus. Grace and mercy abounds. Think of the prodigal son and his “perfect” older brother. This older brother would mouth these words..THAT IS NOT FAIR! I’ve done EVERYTHING right and you reward HIM?? God’s grace and mercy ERASE fairness. God says, “You deserve what you get, but guess what? I overlook ALL OF IT.” Ergo, Jesus. He is our ticket to grace, mercy, and eternal life (and I’ll add PEACE).
2. You are not entitled.
When we expect God’s blessings because we’ve done it all perfectly (read our Bibles, been on time, had a good job, been a good mom or dad, gone to church weekly…blah blah blah..), we (not stating it out loud) BELIEVE and FEEL we DESERVE all HIS blessings, RIGHT!!? If we did live this way, guess what happens, you become an angry, discouraged, resentful human. I don’t “deserve” anything EXCEPT God’s ONE promise. “I will never leave you nor forsake you/ I will BE WITH YOU till the end of the age.” DONE. (it was done through Jesus). Ah, now that is peace. And that leads to point 3.
3. The Father Loves you Anyway.
In Luke 15: 31-32 “My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” And then it ends. Takeaway? Being FOUND is what matters. STAY near HIM and HE will stay NEAR to you. If you have your fists in the air and your arms crossed pouting because you haven’t gotten your way (sounds too familiar I’m afraid), then you are going to live a life (of) hell..(figuratively). But, turn to Him and let HIM love you with open arms, and you will have (not an easy life), but a life filled with PEACE in the midst of the storms.
I couldn’t have received a better message for Jamie’s last dance. It truly hit home for me especially.
Grace is not a transaction. It’s a gift.
And in these past few years through health struggles, disappointment, rebuilding, slowing down, I’ve had to let go of entitlement in ways I didn’t even know were there.
I’ve had to unclench my fists.
I’ve had to stop measuring my faithfulness by outcomes.
I’ve had to let the Father love me anyway.
Grace.
In a world that screams fairness, comparison, hustle, and earning, grace still stands.
And maybe that is what we crave most.
Not a fair life. Not an entitled one. But a life rooted in the steady, undeserved, unwavering love of the Father.
I’ll miss you, Jamie. Thank goodness you will still be a PAL! (Pastor-At Large) (HA!…they gave him a new title as not to lose him completely).
