It Rains Everytime I Wash the Car

Are you the type of person who... no matter what you are doing, something will go wrong? Well, I am! And, how, you may ask do you keep a smile on your face and a good attitude (90% of the time anyway)?

Let me give you a one-week "summary" overview example of my misfortunes, on our way to Clarksville to tour a college for my son, a rock flew up and hit my windshield on my new Ford Edge and made a peck in the glass which quickly cracked all the way across! YAY! (that was Saturday). Then all kinds of unfortunate little stuff happens all week such as my daughter sleep-walking Monday night and getting in the shower with the curtain open and spraying water all over (don't worry, when the water hit her, she woke up). And then lo and behold today (Friday), while taking my kitty to the vet, he barfed then pooped all over (he gets car-sick, I guess) in my new car. NICE! But fear not, windows can be replaced, water dries, and poop/barf can be cleaned up and that is why God let some wonderful inventor invent cool things like cleaners and such. Oh, and also, today, since it was so sun-shiney, I washed my car, it started to rain. Am I disheartened, you ask! CERTAINLY NOT!

I will keep smiling and keep hoping for better and keep laughing at my misfortune, because I would rather laugh than just about anything else. This little life we have is so short (but a "vapor" the Bible says) and I for one am going to laugh and enjoy it, window cracks, poop, barf, rain, and all. And my children will see me laughing and embracing this messy life so that they will be encouraged to do the same when trouble comes their way.

God Bless! :)

Getting Over It

If you have ever been lied to by someone you consider a friend or even a co-worker or associate, it is hurtful (of course). Even a small little "white lie" makes you feel very betrayed, but most people can get over "little" white lies. On the other hand, getting lied to or misled about something that could cost you a great deal (as in... your livelihood) and is done in order to benefit the one lying (as in... for $) is something harder to get over.

The latter has been placed before me this week. It is funny the emotions you face... hope that the person will change direction, hope that he/she is not lying and you are just over-reacting, the need to expose the fraud.. but not wanting to hurt the other person (even though they could hurt you by doing this act). I have lost countless hours of sleep worrying about all of this junk this week. But today... (great phrase, don't you think!) But TODAY, I will stop worrying and stop hoping for the best. Yes, I said that I will STOP hoping for the best. "Hoping for the best" always sounds like a good idea, but reallly, you are just worrying that the worst will probably happen.

What I will do is drop the burden back off with the person committing the fraud in the most professsional and loving way I can. And I will drop my worry off with the Lord and let Him handle it. I also know that He will handle the person doing this haneous thing in the best way He can use to teach them, just as He teaches me when I do haneous, stupid things. Then, I will pray for them and forgive them and God will get me over it! It is not really a perfectly laid out 12-step plan, but it is in line with God's plan (Matthew 5:43-45). He doesn't need 12 steps to get us where He wants us, He just needs a willing heart.

An Attitude of Gratitude and Sleep-Walking

This has been a crazy busy week. Busy with typical things like laundry, juggle children and work duties, and of course church duties... but with a few extra hurdles to jump.

So, the night of my first post, my daughter got up at midnight missing her blankets on her bed. As I walked her back to her room, I noticed she was wearing two pair of pajamas... odd! Then upon entering her room, all of her blankets were gone from her bed and not in her bedroom. The poor child had sleep-walked and put on extra PJ's and took all of her blankets and sheets and hid them in the bathroom. Needless to say, she was embarrassed. But I am a mom and one of my jobs is to share every embarrassing story with the world. HA HA

Tuesday morning I had to speak at a real estate agency on FHA guidelines and the appraisal industry in general. I was nervous, but I generally am a pretty good speaker. I felt like everything went well and Thanks Be To God that I did not get any questions I couldn't answer. And I did get several thank you calls afterward and a thank you card the next day in the mail with a gift card to a great restaurant. I must say, sending thank you cards may be old fashioned, but it is still so cool. Note to self: show more gratitude because it makes the one who deserves it very happy.

Wednesday I had to speak for the women's mission group at our church (which I do monthly) and we learned about John 14: 1-12. I say "we" because as I studied for my talk, I also learned. A very familiar set of scriptures, but in verse 12, it says that Jesus said we should do as he is doing (paraphrase). If we do as he is doing then, the three things I learned is we should: 1) spend time with the Father God (pray, listen for God); 2) Love people (even those who seem unloveable); and 3) show people the Way to eternal life (which of course is through Jesus - as He said in the prior verses). Very cool. Now, just doing it is the key.

Getting Started

Well, guys! This is it! My very first blog. In my blogs you will find cool tidbits of information I have acquired including Mom Tips, Wife Tips, Bible Teaching, and probably some Personal Funnies (including my favorite Fashion No-No Tips).

I solemnly promise to try my very best to keep very personal things just that, very personal, and not in my blog. I also promise that, although I am a pastor's wife, I am not perfect in any way, form, or fashion and that I may potentially, probably make a mistake or irk someone sometime. For that, I ask for grace and forgiveness from any readers that may stumble upon my humble blog.

My blog is named "My Life in Happily-Ever-After" for this reason: Most women that I know grew up believing in the "fairytale". That her Prince would come and sweep her off her feet and that everything would be wonderful and easy. Life would be grand and we would live "happily ever after! What we didn't know is that Happily-Ever-After involves a big mixture of tears, laughter, and quite a bit of hard labor (as in work, not in baby-having).

This blog will be about my life and what I learn from it. I hope it encourages you and lifts your spirits and makes you smile just to know that you are not the lone soul surviving Happily-Ever-After.