When your child makes a shit sandwich....

Sometimes our children make mistakes.  That is life.  Sometimes they make big mistakes.  That is life, too.  So, what do we do as loving, concerned parents when our young adult children make big mistakes???

My oldest, now 19 years old, has just make himself a shit sandwich.  He has way to much of his father in him, and he is always needing to make it on his own and do things "the hard way".  He know very well how to make a good sandwich, we have taught him well and given him lots of practice in the kitchen.  He can make ham sandwiches, turkey sandwiches, any type of "good" sandwich you can name, even a Cuban (we are from Tampa)!  He even works at a sandwich shop for goodness sakes!  This kid knows all about good sandwiches and he has made plenty.  But for some reason, he has decided to make himself a shit sandwich.  He did not want to listen to the good counsel of his wise parents, and so he finds himself seated at the table with an unappetizing meal in front of him.  So, as loving, caring parents, what do we do when our child is sitting there staring at his shit sandwich and wondering what to do??

Well, not sure what you would do, but I suggest giving him a fork and knife, a bunch of napkins, and letting him eat it.

It will taste awful.  He will hate it.  He will get angry with you for not giving him a Cuban instead.  But, he is a big boy now.  He knew what kind of sandwich he was making....YOU WARNED HIM IT WOULD TASTE LIKE SHIT IF HE MADE IT.  So, let him eat it.  Then afterwards, tell him to brush his teeth and gargle. Give him a homemade chocolate chip cookie.  The taste will go away eventually, but hopefully the memory of the shit sandwich will stay with him awhile.  Hopefully he will not make another shit sandwich any time soon.

Callie and her Arch Nemesis

This is a typical day for Callie.....

Callie and her arch nemesis 

The crazy squirrel that has made it's home in the fascia of the house taunts my poor goldendoodle all day long.

Crazy Squirrel is stalking her

It stalks her and sneaks up behind her.  

I see you now!

Get down here squirrel!

 The Squirrel climbs down the side of the house and hovers over her.  She is a bit obsessive, so she is not content inside the house.  She knows crazy squirrel is out there, so she must be out there too!

Do you remember the scene in the movie Christmas Vacation when the squirrel jumps out of the Christmas tree???  I fear our crazy squirrel is related to that one.  It has a twitch in it's eye and you do not feel safe if it is near, you know what I mean??

Happy 13th Birthday Emily

Happy 13th Birthday Emily

It is hard to believe that my little girl is 13!  She is an amazing young woman with unlimited potential.  I look forward to walking through these teenage years with her and coaching her through the toughest years of her youth.  We butt heads frequently and have to apologize plenty.  That is what happens when you have two females in the same house that are so similar.  God has great plans for this young lady.  The world had better watch out!!

Resume' for a work at home mom

I had to update my resume'.  Well....more like attempt to create a resume'.  The last time I actually submitted one was about 15 years ago.  As a "work at home mom", I have been blessed with staying out of the professional workplace for a very long time.  Now that Sam is in first grade and in school all day, I would like to get a job. Actually make some $$.  Sounds easy enough.  Right?  Wrong!

I honestly feel that my experiences over the last decade + has prepared me for anything.  I can do sooo much.  But when I try to put that on a piece of paper, it does not look so good.

It looks pitiful.

I just need a potential employer to look BEYOND that empty employment history and actually TALK to ME!  I have tons to offer. You just need to know me.

So I pray.  I put it in the Master's hands and ask for guidance on this employment journey.  I may look like nothing on paper, but I have soooo much to offer.  Someone will see that.

A Mother's Lifetime Recipe

I was looking through an old Shamblin Reunion cookbook (1990) and came across this recipe.  Although there are tons of great recipes in there thanks to the Shamblin clan, this may be my favorite:



A Mother's Lifetime Recipe

2 heaping cups of patience
1 heartful of love
2 handfuls of generosity
Lots of laughter
1 headful of understanding

Sprinkle generously with kindness.  Add plenty of faith and mix well.  Spread over a period of a lifetime.  Serve to husband, children, and friends. 


Nuff siad.

Don't you love Pintrest?!?

I was just sucked into the Pintrest vortex for the last hour.  Oh well....I enjoyed it!

If you are looking for a mental vacation, follow me on Pintrest:  http://pinterest.com/jenmesser/

There were some great chocolate recipes I re-pinned.  I never get tired of looking at Amazing Cakes!  I want to try to make them all.

By the way, my hair do appointment was a big score!  The stylists were great and I walked away with a great highlight and cut.  I will have to yelp them a good review.  I received an EPIC scalp massage that seem to last an hour (or at least 5 minutes) from Emmy-one of the stylist.  I will be requesting her fingers next time I am there.

Have a great Thursday!!!

Hair we go!

What are the top two most difficult things to find in a new town???

A new doctor (for everyone), and......

a new hair stylist!


So, I am way beyond ready for a highlight...and there are these new hairs coming in of the super-white variety that need some color on them.  I keep plucking them out, but to no avail.

I loved Jamie at Twisted Scissors in Allentown.  She knew what I need and always delivered.  Since I do not have 12 hours to drive there, and 12 hours to drive back, I need to get it done here.

After searching on the web (since you know I don't have friends yet to recommend such things :() , I finally called and made an appt. for today.  **** By the way, this reminds me I had a very bizarre dream last night about getting my hair done.  They were giving me a PERM!  *** Lord help us all if perms make a comeback!

Wish me luck.

I will let you know how it turns out.

Worth waiting 20 years for

Skunked!

If you could have been in ear shot of our house 2 nights ago when Callie came running into the house after being "skunked", you might have heard me praying really loud.  Oh God, oh God, oh God....was being loudly proclaimed by yours truly.  As soon as she ran inside, there was no mistaking what had happened.  The stench was the worst thing I had ever smelled.  If you have passed by a dead skunk on the side of the road and inhaled the aftermath, well that is NOTHING compared to an up close and personal encounter with a freshly sprayed dog!  It actually BURNED my throat and eyes. Think of the smell as an onion that married garlic and then rotted for 100 years! That may not do it justice.  Me oh my, I did not know what to do.  As Jeff rangled Callie, I ran to the computer and googled a remedy.  Poor Callie was in complete shock too.  She ran upstairs before we could get our hands on her, taking with her the skunk smell.  After sticking her in the shower, I put together a recommended concoction of baking soda, peroxide, dawn, and water.  I walked in the bathroom to see Jeff with an ace bandage wrapped around his head and nose as a barrier.  I would have rolled on the floor laughing if it had not been such a good idea to barricade your mouth and nose from the nuclear smell radiating from our dog. I wish I had taken a picture, but there was no time.  After bathing her for what seemed to be 3 hours, she finally smelled better.  Unfortunately the house had a lingering skunky smell that was almost unbearable.  We opened all the windows and survived the night.  After 2 days, the house still has a hint of skunk to it.  Callie's face, where she must have gotten a direct hit, still smells.  I have washed it again and again, but it still lingers.  So, Callie is now aka "stinky face".  

Know what makes a skunky house smell better???? Baking a batch of brownies!!! OH YEAH!

Moving is not fun

We have been in the Chicago area now for a month and a half.  Do I like it?  Not sure.  If I could pack up and head back to PA today would I?  Not sure.  There are moments when I have clarity and know that the future is ahead of me, not behind.  I am wired to cling to the things I know.  I DO NOT know this place.  I KNOW Allentown.  So, it makes sense that I would want to go back to my comfort zone.  I miss my beautiful friend across the street that made me feel like family ( you know I am tearing up right now).  I miss being known.  Last night was Emily's curriculum night at the Jr. High.  I had to to go alone because we had a conflict in the schedule with Zach starting driving school.  Jeff dropped me off at the school and I ventured in alone.  As I sat through a powerpoint in the gym from the Principal  and then wondered around the school following Emily's daily schedule, I knew not a soul.  And no one knew me.  I hate that!  I loved walking into the kids schools and having lots and lots of faces looking at ME, smiling at ME and knowing ME.

Friendships will come and someone will know me eventually.  I know this.  But last night, I was unknown.

When I registered Sam for school a few weeks ago, I had to put down emergency contacts.  I listed my mom and Jeff's mom.  Of course they both live in Florida.  We live in Illinois.  The sweet lady from the school that was looking over the forms said to me, " Are the emergency contacts you have listed able to get to the school within an hour in case of an emergency?"  I looked at her, laughed, and said "Pretty sure that is not possible".  So she asked it I had a friend I could put down.  I said "We just moved here a couple weeks ago and I have no one to put down but my husband and myself".   She looked over at me and siad "If you happen to make a friend, let us know and we will add them to the list."  I chuckled and said "Well, let's hope I eventually make a friend!"

Here is a first day of school pic.

In the Kitchen with Sam

Today is the best day of his life. Wow. All it took to make this the best day of his 4 yr. old life was a little flour left over in a measuring cup. From there, he has created a masterpiece! Sam has been playing the in kitchen now for well over an hour. He asked me, " Am I creative?" Why, yes, Sam you are! Flour, water, left over corn, the juice of a grape, a granola bar, lettuce, mint from the garden, salt (lots of it), pepper, and lots of love.

I think this is what Jesus meant when he said we must come to him as children. We come curious, full of hope, imagination and creativity. We come believing that we have all the ingredients we need, provided by the Master, to create a masterpiece. We just need to be creative.

Now there is a mess to clean up, but oh well! It serves as a reminder that God has gifted me with my children, and sometimes I need to leave the flour out so they can bless me!

Holy Migraine

Yesterday was one of the ugly days. I had the mother of all migraines. I woke up fine, but after I dropped Sam off at preschool and headed into the store for a few things, it hit me. It progressively got worse, and after I picked up Sam and got back home for some lunch, I was done. I put in a movie for him, laid down on the couch, put a pillow over my head. It got worse. I tried 3 different kinds of pain meds, before I remembered around 4:30pm that Jeff had some really $$ migraine pills left. I took one (the last one), and laid back down. Zach and Emily were put in charge of Sam as soon as they got home from school and I headed for bed (did I mention my hubby is out of town??). Finally, around 7pm I felt a little relief. I was able to get up and check on the kids, making sure the house was in one piece. It was. By 9pm, I was able to sit up and watch some Olympics.

I am so proud of the kids for stepping up last night and helping out when I was not capable of functioning. I love them so much!

During all of this, I spent time in prayer. "God, please make the pain go away." But I also thanked God that it was not worse. In the grand scheme of things, it was just a migraine. It hurt bad, but thank God I do not deal with chronic pain, cancer, etc., on a daily basis. This headache gave me perspective. When I finally when back to bed last night, I got lost in prayer with the Creator, bringing Him all my requests, asking for blessings, and wanting to be consumed with Him, really feeling His presence. I realized that the headache I had was what brought me to Him yesterday.

So, even the ugly days can end good if you take the time to let God do His thing!

I do pray that it does not take a migraine next time!!

I woke up feeling much better today. Now...to get to all that cleaning I need to do...

Snow, Snow, Snow

Wow! Can you say snow??? There is over 12 inches out there and it it still coming. The kids are taking advantage of their first snow day of the season. They made Pepsi snow cones!

It is amazing how snow is so transforming. It changes the landscape to a magical land full of beauty and wonder. You no longer see boundaries, everything just flows together to make a pure white blanket. It is so comforting, so peaceful... until the plow comes down the road and pulls up all the dirty muck and slings it over the perfect white snow.

I think this is like our walk with God. He comes in and blankets us with His love and grace, washes us clean, transforms our hearts. The beauty of His love has no boundaries. Then we let the muck of everyday life sneak in and take away the beauty.

This happens to me all the time. I am trying to get to the place where the muck of the world does not have to get me dirty. It is always going to be there. But I do not have to let it ruin the beauty that has been given to me. I get tired of running back to God, asking him to clean me up AGAIN.

I recently had a friend dump me. She stopped having anything to do with me. At first I did not even realize I was dumped. Living up north, we tend to be "fair-weather" friends, so once the cold months hit, we see each other less and less. When I realized I was not being invited over when other friends were, I knew something had to be up. To boil it down, she had been gossiped to by a mutual friend and things were said to her that never should have been. She felt I was passing judgement on her as a parent and was highly offended. She even de-friended me on Facebook. (ouch) I did reach out to her and requested a face to face sit down so we could talk. It turns out that the gossip was the product of a bitter friend that was sour with me over other issues (that we had since worked out). But during her sourness at me, she mis-stated things to this friend that I had said about her parenting.( She left out the part where she agreed with me. ) After a LONG talk, we were able to have restoration and forgiveness. I prayed as I sat across the bar from her, wanting to be 100% open and honest with God putting the right words on my lips. And he did. So...what did I learn from this? Gossip is gossip, and it it never good. Some one will get hurt. I am always going to have an opinion, but I don't need to share with with others. (just my hubby)

The muck of gossip is dirty! I let it stain a friendship. But, Jesus is there, ready to forgive me when I ask. He lays down a new blanket of fresh fallen snow. It is beautiful! Now, all I need is to keep the plows out a here!

More than enough

Today my goal is to view everything I have as "more than enough". In the wake of the Haiti disaster, I do not want to feel guilty about being a privileged American, but instead view my blessing as a gift, be thankful for them all, and know I have more than enough (material things).

The only thing I want more of is God. I pray that He will shake me up and reveal what is not of Him in me and replace it with a desire to know Him more. I am reading Lisa TerKeurst's book, "Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl", and have been challenged with seeking God more than I do. It sounds easy enough, but life gets in the way...kids get in the way...laundry gets in the way...you know the feeling???

So, today, I have more than enough of everything...but The Lord.

"Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord and will bring you back from captivity." Jeremiah 29:12-14

The with all my heart is the key here. This is my struggle. I will be working on it.