Hey look! My blog's still here!

With everything going on lately, I am glad to see that my blog is, indeed, still here! I can't even tell you where the time has gone. We are all finally healthy here at the Bubba's Sis house, and my Disney vacation planning business is keeping me busy. But the best part of my hiatus from blogging is that I got to be here:

Paradise, indeed.

I went a WHOLE WEEK without touching a computer, people. No e-mail. No Facebook. No blogs. Nothing. Didn't look at a screen or touch a keyboard. And you know what? I didn't even miss it.

Which has me contemplating whether or not I want to keep blogging. I adore all the friends I have met here in the Blogosphere, and I keep in touch with many of you in ways other than blogging now. I can't say for sure whether it is a lack of time or simply a lack of motivation, but I can't seem to get around to putting together any blog posts lately, not to mention reading anyone else's. I hesitate to give it up, because I love having a place to share my thoughts and experiences, and read all of yours. Perhaps this blogging slump will pass and I'll be back to regular posting and reading soon. Until then, be patient with me. My mind is still laying on a beach somewhere in the Caribbean....

My son made his own birthday cake.

Good golly - life has been so busy that a whole week has gone by since I've posted here, and I've gotten WAY behind on reading blogs. I miss ya'll! I really do! Be patient with me and I'll get back around to everyone. I still love you!

So, the whole family has taken turns being sick. I've been planning a vacation for a client. I've been getting ready for our OWN vacation. There have been TAKS tests and orthodontist appointments, errands to run and phone calls to make. I've spent a little time on Facebook. And oh yeah - Little Son had a birthday on Monday. My baby is now 12 years old!

Yes, he did make his own cake, but not because I was too busy to do it! Geez, what kind of mom do you think I am? He WANTED to make his own cake - he's into that now, you know. And since his birthday present from Bubba and Katie Lady was cake decorating supplies a-plenty, he was in hog heaven creating his masterpiece birthday cake! He designed it and everything - and I think it turned out great! What do you think?

It was quite detailed, with musical symbols and trombone stuff all over it. The top layer was chocolate, so labeled with the musical staff with the C note on it. The bottom layer was French vanilla - with a musical staff with the F note on it. The notes to the "Happy Birthday" song are really on top of the cake. All black and white - very classy! Oh - and it was deee-licious!

The real reason I haven't been blogging? I've been stuffing my face with cake all week.

Camera Critters #47

A Letter to My Dogs

Dear Jax and Tango,

The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Racing me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort, however. Dogs can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other, stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out on the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is no secret exit from the bathroom! If, by some miracle, I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge in an attempt to open the door. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years - canine attendance is not required.

The proper order for kissing is: Kiss me first, then go smell the other dog's butt. I cannot stress this enough.

Finally, in fairness, dear pets, I have posted the following message on the front door:

TO ALL NON-PET OWNERS WHO VISIT AND LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR PETS:

(1) They live here. You don't. (2) If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. That's why they call it 'fur'-niture. (3) I like my pets a lot better than I like most people. (4) To you, they are animals. To me, they are adopted sons/daughters who are short, hairy, walk on all fours and don't speak clearly.

Remember, dogs are better than kids because they (1) eat less, (2) don't ask for money all the time, (3) are easier to train, (4) normally come when called, (5) never ask to drive the car, (6) don't hang out with drug-using people; (7) don't smoke or drink, (8) don't want to wear your clothes, (9) don't have to buy the latest fashions, and (10) don't need a gazillion dollars for college.

Love,

Mommy




** I found this letter over at Fleming Family Circus and thought it was so cute!

Only in Texas.....

...does the morning traffic report warn commuters to watch out for horses on the freeways!

The trail riders are coming to town! It's rodeo time in Houston!

Good show!

I just love watching Daughter perform in her drama productions - last weekend the drama department at her school put on the play Dearly Departed - a comedy about a somewhat dysfunctional East Texas family dealing with the death of their daddy. Ya'll, it was hilarious. Those kids did such a great job! Daughter played a bratty little girl - one of the grandchildren of the deceased. She didn't have any lines, but exhibited some most naughty behavior, and let out one really good scream!

To celebrate a successful performance, Little Son made her this peaches & cream cake:

I have amazing kids.

Camera Critters #46

I just love baby animals! Isn't this baby giraffe the cutest? He lives at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida - but he THINKS he lives in Africa!

Being Moses in my 4:12 Life

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and the attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

Despite the attack, I am continuing on in my 4:12 Life. I'm reading in Exodus, about Moses. In Chapter 3, Moses has gone from being a prince in Egypt to a mere shepherd in the desert. His life is defined more by what he's lost at this point than by what he's gained. Boy, can I identify with that! I can tell you the exact moment when my life began a downward spiral into desertdom (is that a word?). Life was going along swimmingly, just like it was for Moses in Egypt, then BAM! We were fleeing to Midian. And there we've been, feeling kinda lost. But you know what? God found Moses RIGHT THERE IN THE DESERT. And spoke to him in a most fantastic way through a burning bush. I wonder, would Moses have noticed the burning bush in Egypt? I think not.

God knows where I am. And He has not forgotten me. God will call me by name (He knows my name!) and tell me what He wants me to do. My current situation is only a chapter in a much bigger story - a story of redemption. God is still all about freeing His people from slavery - the slavery of sin. "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32

God wants all of us to be Moses - to lead people to freedom from sin through Jesus Christ. Now I, like Moses, am the first to say, "Me? You want ME to do that? Surely there's someone else more qualified!" But the Bible tells me not to doubt myself - nothing is too big for God. So when I feel afraid, I must know that I need not be. Did you know it says "Do not be afraid" 365 times in the Bible? That's one for each day of the year! Awesome!

I truly believe God is leading me right now. He's leading me to a place I so desperately need to be. Is God speaking to you? Are you perhaps not noticing what He's saying? It sure would be nice if we all got a literal burning bush from which to hear God's voice! But we do have His Word, and by living in that Word, He is speaking to us every day. We just have to listen.

Wuv, Twue Wuv....

This past weekend was all about LOVE - that wonderful, powerful, scary, thrilling, mushy emotion that gushes from our hearts. Of course, when one thinks of Valentine's Day, they think of romantic love. Hubby and I don't need a special day to celebrate our love, for it is there EVERY DAY, but we did observe the holiday modestly and sweetly. He is the love of my life, and not a day goes by that we don't tell each other we love each other.

But I celebrated other kinds of love this past weekend as well. Friday the 13th was Tango's first birthday! My sweet little black puppy has grown into a big, fluffy, goofball of a dog, and I love him so much! I truly believe pets are members of the family. Last year I grieved so when we lost our beloved Misty, and I still miss her. Tango and Jax are my furry babies - they love me unconditionally, and they bring such joy to my life.

Friday night D... and I enjoyed a much-needed Girls' Night Out! There is nothing like the love of a true friend. D... means so much to me. She loves me unconditionally, too (crazy girl!) and I can always count on her if I need anything. I don't have a sister, but D... is the closest thing I've got. I love her.

Saturday D... and I got to do something really special - meet some blogging friends IN REAL LIFE! We met up with Diana (forgetfulone) and Kris (It's My Life) and had the BEST time talking and laughing....it was like we had known each other forever! New friends are so fun - I love them already! I hope we can all get together again soon!

Saturday evening, instead of spending the holiday out with the crowds and the traffic and the packed restaurants, Hubby and the kids and I had a delicious dinner with Bubba's Mom and Dad at their house. We had shrimp cocktails, delicious filet mignons grilled by Bubba's Dad, salad, and baked potatoes. Little Son baked a Valentine cake - white chocolate, frosted with strawberry frosting and garnished with fresh strawberries and white chocolate curls. It was deee-licious! We enjoyed just being together, eating, talking, laughing, and playing Apples to Apples. The love of my family is like a big quilt that warms my soul. I am blessed with wonderful children who enjoy family time, and with parents that we are close to. We do so much with my mom and dad and their love and support in my life is beyond measure. I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than being surrounded with the people I love the most!

Sunday morning we went to church, and I worshipped the God I love. What's even more awesome? He loves me more than I can even comprehend. He is always with me, guiding me and protecting me, even when I can't always feel Him there. He walks with me, and sometimes He has to carry me. I will spend eternity with Him. God IS love.

As I continue in my 4:12 Life, I am more and more in love with God. His Word speaks directly to my heart if I will only open up and let it. This week I am learning how to be Moses, and I believe I may have found my burning bush. More on that later.

I hope that all of you had a wonderful weekend, surrounded with love, whether it be love from a sweetheart, from a pet, from your family, from your friends, or from your Heavenly Father. I love you all for reading my blog and leaving me your comments - it means so much to me, and with each one, my heart swells. Thank you!

Sleeping With A Man

We all love our husbands. We do. I love my husband more than anyone can imagine. But ladies, raise your hand if maybe sometimes - even if it's just every once in a while - you wish you could have your bed ALL. TO. YOURSELF. I mean really - the marriage bed is a beautiful thing, but don't you ever just wish that heat-radiating, snoring, teeth-grinding, cover-snatching man would go sleep on the couch?? Sure, spooning is great, until he falls asleep (which he inevitably will within 5 minutes) and gets real heavy and HOT. And he has those little muscle-spasm twitches that men have when they're falling asleep and that hand that's lovingly resting on your hip (or elsewhere) suddenly SQUEEZES and scares the bejeezus out of you! And the snoring - oh, the snoring! Don't even get me started!

So as I'm lying in bed last night, thinking of how lovely it would be to have my bed to myself for an entire night, I doze off and have a bad dream. And when I waken, I reach out to touch Hubby - just to know that he's there. And just putting my hand on his big, heavy, warm, sleeping body is a comfort. He's there. He's always there. When I'm having a bad day, I can pick up the phone and he's there. When tragedy strikes and all I can do is cry, he's there. When I'm scared, worried, lonely....he's there. And when joy overflows from my heart and I'm giddy happy and want to celebrate....he's there.

Seventeen years ago, when I was feeling trapped in an abusive marriage to a mean drunk, he was there.

Through all the ups and downs of our marriage - and let me tell you, there have been many - he was there.

When my family needs him, he's there.

When our children need him, he's there.

A few years ago, Hubby broke his leg when he flipped an ATV. But in treating his broken leg, a much bigger, scarier problem was discovered - his blood pressure was stroke-level high. As they were prepping him for surgery on his leg, the nurses were calling in doctors left and right and they told us they couldn't even think about putting him under for surgery or he would surely stroke out and possibly die. I was terrified, and for the first time since I've known him I realized that something could happen and he wouldn't be there anymore.

He's fine now. With medication, his blood pressure is under control and his heart is healthy. But I'll never forget that feeling of fear that I might lose him.

So why, oh why would I ever not want him to be there beside me? Yes, he snores. He tosses and turns and gets the covers all wadded up sometimes. He takes up more than his half of the bed. But he's there. I can reach out for him, and he's always there. And I wouldn't trade that for anything in the world.

Photo Challenge

Stacey over at JameeForever and Jami from the Fleming Family Circus BOTH tagged me for this one, so here it goes! I am to go to my Picture Files, go to the 6th folder and find the 6th picture and post it here. Gosh, I hope it's decent!

Awwww - it's my favorite picture of Jax!! He was still a baby - so cute!

I'm not tagging anyone, but if you want to play along, leave me a comment and I'll be sure to come by and see!

Mondays are Mine

I know, I know - most of you dread Mondays. Me? I rather look forward to them. Because on Mondays, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., I am HOME. ALONE. BY MYSELF. IN THE QUIET. I never plan anything for Mondays. The kids go to school, Hubby goes to work, and I cherish my time to myself. I can sit around in my jammies, read blogs and Facebook, sleep, eat what I want (I just wolfed down two Junior Chili Cheese Frito Snack Wraps from Sonic, and a handful of cherry sours washed down with a swig of ginger ale. I think I might throw up now, but at least there won't be anyone knocking at the door yelling, "MOM?!?" while I'm doing it!). I might throw a load of wash in on Mondays - I might not. I might make phone calls or pay bills - I might not. The beauty of Mondays is that I do what I want. I think everyone needs a day like that, don't you?