Another day

Is the weekend already over? Because I find that depressing.

We had ourselves a nice little weekend. Went to Home Depot, bought some wallpaper. Planned to go to Bed, Bath, and Beyond but didn’t know if we’d have time.

Not really.

We actually didn’t do anything nearly that exciting.

On Friday night my friend Michelle came into town to spend the night with us. We all went to eat Mexican food because that’s what we do on Friday nights. And then we came back to the house and sat out on the patio to visit while Caroline occupied herself by seeing how far she could hammer a croquet stick into the ground.

I have no explanation.

But I have to say it kept her busy for at least an hour and she managed to get it so far in the ground that P was worried it was about to hit the pipes of our sprinkler system. I don’t know that hammering a stake in the ground is an important life skill, but I was impressed with her tenacity.

On Saturday morning I made about forty-eight cinnamon rolls for four people. And I don’t want to lead you astray. When I say I made cinnamon rolls, what I mean is I popped open cans of Pillsbury cinnamon rolls. I feel like I need to clarify this because Saturday morning I asked Caroline if she wanted homemade cinnamon rolls and she ran in the kitchen excitedly saying “I WANT TO HELP! I WANT TO HELP!” and I was confused as to why she was so excited to put rolls on a cookie sheet.

That’s when I realized she’d pulled out the rolling pin as if I was really making homemade cinnamon rolls. And, since it’s not Christmas, that was not the case. I think she felt like my offer to let her ice the rolls with canned icing was a lame consolation prize.

However, she did guilt me into promising that I’d make homemade cinnamon rolls for us on the first morning of summer. And her birthday.

Which reminds that I need to start working out again.

I haven’t mentioned that I have fallen off the workout train and can’t get up. Fortunately, I’ve stayed fairly committed to the healthy eating train as evidenced by the fact that I made kale chips tonight. People say they taste just like potato chips. And those people are liars. They are an acceptable substitute if you’re in need of something crispy and salty, but you will not for ONE MOMENT forget that you’re eating a vegetable that’s not a potato. P would like to add that it makes the house smell like cooked underwear.

Anyway, working out. I’m starting again this week. True story.

As for the rest of our Saturday, we ate our cinnamon rolls and then Michelle went with Caroline and me to run various errands. We went to the shoe store to look for sandals and then the toy store to buy a birthday gift for a party we had that night and then picked up Chick-Fil-A for lunch. Because we feel that it’s important to really entertain our young single friends who visit. I mean, sure, Michelle spent the last month doing all kinds of glamorous traveling but when was the last time she got to watch a mom and an eight-year-old engage in high level summer sandal negotiations and then go to a little league baseball game?

Because that was what we did next. We headed to the little league fields to watch Jackson play baseball while Will and Caroline ate snowcones and tried to avoid the bees. Good times. I bet Michelle is already planning to come back next weekend. Especially because I treated her to a bag of sunflower seeds.

Later that day, Michelle left and we went to a birthday party. It was the best kind of party because it was a grown up/kid party. Which is to say that there were juice boxes and margaritas. Chips and guacamole living happily alongside a big plastic bin of cheese puffs. And the kids ran and played and bounced in the bounce house while the adults visited and occasionally refereed or intervened when the Nerf sword battle got too intense.

And now it’s Monday again.

Which means I need to go for a run.

I’ve spent most of this week either shopping or working on edits for my book. I’ve also spent a large chunk of my afternoons helping Caroline do her math homework. And I’m here to tell you I don’t care if I ever see a trapezoid again, much less if I know the perimeter of one.

It doesn’t help that she complains about the homework with each problem. I finally threatened to take fifteen minutes off her bedtime every time she whines about the hardship of division and word problems because I couldn’t take it anymore. And it worked like a charm.

Anyway, I haven’t been shopping for myself. I’m shopping for a friend. And I’m not just saying that to make P feel better. It’s true. I’m spending someone else’s money, but getting all the thrill of the clothing hunt.

But I have been looking for one thing for myself. A pair of gold sandals. Nothing fancy. I’m just after a gold flip-flop type thing in a moderate price range. I am a simple woman with simple desires.

So I went in a store the other day, looked around and then asked if they had any gold sandals. And the lady looked at me and said, “Well, gold sandals didn’t really happen this year.”

What does that even mean?

They didn’t happen? Like they don’t exist? Because Tory Burch, the patron saint of cute sandals, would disagree. She believes in the gold sandal. And I believe in her gold sandals. I just can’t justify buying a pair instead of paying the mortgage.

The whole thing suddenly felt like a challenge. I was determined to find the best pair of gold sandals ever. I was going to make gold sandals happen.

Gulley and I went to lunch yesterday because she couldn’t go on our normal Tuesday and none of this is even relevant to the story but I’m just happy I’m typing words because I spent thirty minutes in front of the mirror plucking my eyebrows trying to think of anything to write about tonight and I will tell you plain and clear that my eyebrows are the worse for it.

And you may think you’re the victim having to suffer through this nonsense, but I will tell you that you have nothing on my left eyebrow.

(Tomorrow morning I’ll regret that I wrote that because P will read the blog while he drinks coffee and will turn and look at me and say something sympathetic and tender like “Dang, you really did screw that eyebrow up.”)

After lunch I made Gulley go with me to DSW in my quest for the elusive gold sandal. Lo and behold, there were about 100 different gold sandals to choose from. It was a plethora of metallic footwear.

So naturally I bought a silver pair of sandals.

What?

I know.

But I really needed a new silver pair because my old silver ones are on their last legs. I guess I mean that literally. And these sandals beckoned to me from the aisle. They were perfect even though they weren’t gold.

Then I remembered that I’d seen gold flip-flops online at Gap. I’d even linked to them on Fashion Friday but hadn’t bought them because I was waiting until they were in the actual store so I could try them on. Gulley and I had just enough time to run in Gap before we had to pick up the kids from school.

Alas, they had the flip-flops in every color but gold. Why is my life so hard?

However, I was able to figure out that I needed a size 9. And so I came home, looked online and discovered that Gap online was offering 25% off plus I had a $10 reward card. So I got those gold flip-flops for the sum of NINE AMERICAN DOLLARS.

For those of you who’ve been reading for a while, that’s $6.00 less than what I normally pay for things.

I made those gold sandals happen. And I made them happen for $9.00.

Well. It’s happened. I’ve totally burnt myself out on fruit smoothies.

My only solace is that I never went and bought a Ninja blender.

A few weeks ago I grew a little tired of the smoothie so I took a break. I hoped it was just a passing thing and I’d be able to get back on the smoothie bandwagon after a week or so. Then I made one for breakfast yesterday and drank the whole thing. I felt healthy and good. Maybe even a little smug to have that much spinach in my system so early in the day.

Then I made one this morning and couldn’t finish it. Which means the smoothie has gone the way of the veggie tacos and Julio’s chips and all other foods that I once ate obsessively and now can barely tolerate.

I don’t know why I think you even care about this.

But while I’m telling you useless information I might as well go ahead and share that my front tooth finally quit hurting. So there’s that.

And in light of this incredibly lame introduction, I think it’s safe to assume there isn’t much going on here right now. I’m going to blame it on the fact that I got back the edits on my book and my brain is tired from all the thinking.

In any case, here are a few quick things I wanted to tell you.

1. Some of you asked about Caroline’s Easter dress. It’s a brand called Mimi and Maggie. I actually found it on sale several months ago and bought it for a steal. I think it must be a few seasons old because I can’t find it anywhere online. However, I did find this darling Mimi and Maggie dress at Chasing Fireflies.

2. A few of you also asked about the wreath on our front door. In San Antonio there’s a ten day celebration called Fiesta that happens at the end of April. The wreath with ribbons are a Fiesta thing.

It’s actually just a grapevine wreath with a bunch of bright fake flowers. The ribbons are attached at the bottom with wire and can be removed. But I usually leave them all summer because I’m a fan.

Some people add things to their wreaths like maracas or a tiny sombrero. But I’ve never done that because I’m afraid a rat might steal the sombrero in the middle of the night and then where would I be? Up a creek without a tiny sombrero with a rat running around impersonating Speedy Gonzales.

And I bought mine so I can’t give you any kind of tutorial. However, I bet if you’re crafty it would be fairly easy to make one. I’m guessing you need a hot glue gun.

3. A few months ago I read a book called Almost Amish: One Woman’s Quest for a Slower, Simpler, More Sustainable Life by Nancy Sleeth.

I think we all know that I’m pretty much the polar opposite of almost Amish. In fact, I could write a book called Almost Totally Not Amish. But I thought it was interesting. And it made me think about how fast everything moves and ways to slow down, declutter and make life simpler.

Just thought I’d share in case you’re interested.

4. In other books news, (Is this a book blog now? What is happening?) Pete Wilson’s new book Empty Promises released yesterday. I haven’t read it yet, but here’s the synopsis from the back.

We all long for more of something in our lives. In our endless pursuit to feel worth and acceptance we find ourselves sacrificing everything for the promise to be a little more beautiful, a little richer, a little more powerful and successful, a little more loved.

How do we break free from these empty pursuits and start chasing the only Promise that will ever satisfy? How do we uncover the hidden idols that are driving us and turn our devotion toward the one true God?

Yes. That.

5. I loved this post by Jen Hatmaker. Trisha Yearwood on the Back of A Harley.

I had the Rachel haircut, I had the high-waisted jeans, I belted out Faith Hill as if my life depended on it.

And that’s all I have for today. I’ll be back tomorrow with something novel like paragraphs and a real story and that sort of thing. I’m sure it will be fascinating.

Or maybe it will just be okay. I don’t want to get your hopes up.

Okay, y’all.

I am so excited because my friend Gregg Matte, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Houston, has written a new book. It’s called I AM changes who i am.

I’ve written before about the impact Gregg had on my spiritual life. To this day I’m not sure where I would be if I hadn’t walked into Breakaway Bible study at Texas A&M during my senior year of college. And I’ve continued to download his sermons over the years because he has a unique way of making the Bible come alive in a relatable and practical way.

In his new book, Gregg takes us through the gospel of John and the seven “I AM” statements and miracles of Jesus. It’s a challenge to step out in faith and trust that God is always at work in our lives even when it looks different from what we expected.

Best of all, there are discussion questions at the end of each chapter so you can totally use it in a small group setting if you have a small group.

(I have a small group. Gulley and I are the only members. It’s very small.)

(We will be discussing this in our small group. We meet over chips and queso every Tuesday.)

Anyway, Gregg sent me two copies to give away. Here’s what you need to do for a chance to win:

1. Leave a comment

2. I’ll close comments on Sunday, April 15th and draw two winners using random.org.

And if you can’t wait to win and need the book today (or in the time it takes to ship to your house), it’s on sale for $13.45 at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

So this was a busy weekend.

And a perfect time for the city to put a note on our door on Friday afternoon explaining there had been a computer glitch and that we needed to boil our water before drinking it “just in case”. As P so eloquently put it “they’re afraid we have poo water”.

Which is really enough to ensure that I will never drink from the tap again. Because I’m frightened that we are one “computer glitch” away from drinking poo water.

The best part is we don’t really use our front door. So we wouldn’t have known about the poo water until it was way too late. But our nice neighbor walked across the street to make sure we knew we were suddenly living in a third world country.

Fortunately, P is better than a Boy Scout. He is ALWAYS PREPARED. And he just so happened to have several cases of bottled water stocked in the back house. Oh how I have mocked his over-preparedness in the past. We live in America. What could possibly go wrong?

A computer glitch resulting in poo water, that’s what.

The part I really regret is that I got on the phone right after our neighbor informed me of the water situation and I was so wrapped up in my conversation that I neglected to tell P about it until he’d come in from mowing the yard and downed two glasses of water straight from the tap. The good news is he was perfectly fine. The bad news is his wife forgets to share important details if she’s busy talking about cute sandals.

Anyway, by Saturday morning the city had posted an update on their website informing us the water was fine. Normalcy had been restored. Which means they highly underestimate my paranoia.

Other than the water situation, it was a lovely long weekend.

On Thursday night, Caroline and I met Gulley and her boys at the little league fields for Jackson’s baseball game. And Will and Caroline got to announce the game and keep the scoreboard.

They took the whole thing very seriously. Caroline even announced she wanted to do it every day for the rest of her life. Of course Gulley and I supervised the whole thing because you never know when those two might decide they’ve been wronged by the other one.

But they loved being together so much that Caroline wanted to go home with the boys. And then Gulley and I were having such a great time talking when I showed up to pick Caroline up a couple of hours later that Caroline and I both spent the night over there.

The next morning they were leaving for Bryan and Caroline and I went home to spend the day cleaning and straightening up the house. Well, I cleaned. She ditched me after a while to go swimming with one of her friends.

By the time we met Mimi and Bops for Mexican food on Friday night, she was so tired that I thought she might pass out at the table. Fortunately, she was revived by a Shirley Temple and found the strength to go get yogurt with them after dinner.

Saturday morning, I actually got to sleep late. I would tell you how many threats I made to achieve this but I don’t want you to think less of me. By the time I woke up, P had fully initiated her into the world of our new favorite show, Duck Dynasty and she walked around the rest of the weekend saying things like “I need to find me a man that can cook squirrel brains”.

I think our work here is finished.

A little later in the morning we went to get Easter pedicures. I’d promised her a pedicure as a reward for a good report card and figured Easter was a good time to have freshly painted toes. Of course she ended up getting a manicure too because I am a sucker for the upsell. And the way they paint those little flowers on her nails.

Which is why I made her wear surgical gloves when we dyed eggs later that afternoon.

Last year we celebrated our risen Lord and Savior with stained blue and purple hands and I vowed I would do better this year. Although it could be a sign that my OCD has kicked it up a notch in the last twelve months.

Later that night we picked up barbecue. They forgot to include P’s beans and extra sausage which almost ruined his night. And probably ensures that he will now store extra beans in the back house. But the weather was great. Our tap water was (allegedly) clean. And we sat outside and enjoyed our dinner.

Caroline woke me up at 7:00 a.m. Easter morning to check out the Easter Bunny situation.

We don’t do a huge Easter Bunny thing at our house. In fact, the Bunny brings the same thing every year; a new swimsuit, a beach towel and a cover up. In other words, things I need to buy anyway. And I don’t know if you know this, but he shops at Target. Every year. Which is so weird because I’ve never seen him there.

Then we got dressed, had a small hair crisis when I curled her hair WRONG, decided on a side ponytail and still made it to church on time. Not quite a HUGE miracle in light of Easter morning, but a small miracle for us. And our church had the best service out on the hill of our new location.

After that, we made our way home to meet Mimi and Bops for lunch at our house and took approximately 742 pictures that I will now share with you whether you care or not.

And after a round of silly string and cascarones, there was one last egg hunt.

It was a good weekend. The kind of weekend that makes me ready for summer and long days and no schedule to follow.

I hope y’alls was just as good.

And that your tap water is poo-free.

I hope y’all have a wonderful Easter weekend.

May we carry His name above all names.

And if you live in the San Antonio area and are looking for a place to worship on Sunday morning, my church is having an amazing outdoor service at 10 a.m. Everyone is welcome!