10 on Tuesday (Night)

#1. Josie's "Talint Show Starring Josie." 7 acts, singing, dancing, piano, complete with costume changes.   This kid, she CRACKS. ME. UP.  almost as much as she cracks herself up! 

#2. Studying the book of Isaiah (BSF). This weeks' words tenderly convicting me to place my energy in what stands forever- the word of God. Nudging me to shout, "Here is your God!" rather than cowering out of fear of offending someone. Finding comfort in our Sovereign LORD and Gentle Shepherd.  

   And I said, “What shall I cry?”

   “All people are like grass,
   and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
   because the breath of the LORD blows on them.
   Surely the people are grass.
 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
   but the word of our God stands forever.”

  You who bring good news to Zion,
   go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good news to Jerusalem,
   lift up your voice with a shout,
lift it up, do not be afraid;
   say to the towns of Judah,
   “Here is your God!”
 See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power,
   and he rules with a mighty arm.
See, his reward is with him,
   and his recompense accompanies him.
 He tends his flock like a gentle shepherd:
   He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
   he gently leads those that have young.

#3. Sunshine.  Glorious, wonderful, SUNSHINE!

#4. After having "the talk" with Noah a few months ago, we have continued to pray that his perception of "pseques" (yes, I'm talking about sex), and intimacy would grow to be healthy and godly.
His Jr. High Sunday school class is currently teaching from the Song of Solomon. The teachers are leading with wisdom, sensitivity, and honesty. As a result we have had amazing conversations with Noah regarding marriage, worship (intimacy with God), and sex.  His maturity and what is being firmly planted in him BLESSES US! Makes our mommy and daddy hearts so glad.
I tell you this to encourage some of you who haven't entered this stage yet to PRAY. God has been so faithful to go before, alongside, and behind us in this.
And just in case you're as much of a chicken as I was about this subject let me recommend this lengthy but helpful book, A Chicken's Guide to Talking Turkey With Your Kids About Sex by Kevin Leman (The title totally suited me).

 #5. After weeks of longing for community a friend "stopped by" for 3 hours!  No one ever stops by our house because we are located in "Novascotia near Timbuktu."  The likelihood decreases when gas is $3.40 per gl (let me just give a big AGHH to that)! But she did!  and I needed to breath in her presence. The Spirit of someone else meeting with make-up less, ordinary, foggy hearted me.  Thank you Julie!     

 #6. J.A.R. (Jones, Allen, Rogers) dinner night;  Mexican pizza, laughter, a game of pick-up-sticks, pistachio ice cream and cookies, a cozy chair by the fire, quiet conversation, finding home in each other.  

#7. Bunko night with the ladies, old friends and new.  I am the "Dice Whisper," whispering to the dice the numbers I need in each toss.  My whispering powers work 20% of the time.  

#8. While preparing dinner with Noah he brought up a favorite tune from his littleboyhood.  I proceeded to find the old c.d., crank it up, and loudly sing and air-guitar for my almost teenage boy  Jesus Freak by D.C.Talk.  As is the Jr. High custom Noah rolled his eyes and pretended to be utterly annoyed by my strange existence.  Later however when his sisters returned from their outside play Noah cranked up the same song and fully expected another performance from his mom, which he got.   "People say I'm strange does that make me a stranger if my best friend was born in a manger."

 #9.  TWO KID FREE DAYS IN A ROW! The girls went skiing with Michael Monday, and today all three had school (girls have all day classes 2x a month). What did I do?  Me shopping and lunch at Panera one day, and a dentist appt. followed by lunch with two girlfriends today, which became more of a comedy show as I attempted to chat and eat while my mouth was half numb with novacain (note to self- don't schedule dental appt. on no kid days.  however i won't complain about my dentist, as he is very handsome and very free- perks of being married to his son).

#10. Josie: Mommy, why do they call it Super Bowl?  Me: because of all the super bowls of food!
Only 12 more days till "SUPER EATING SUNDAY!"  
What's on your Super Bowl Menu? 
I'm thinking Sliders, Onion Rings, Ruffles n' Dip, Pigs-in-a-Blanket, Chili, Tortilla Chips n' Queso, and bottles of Tums and self-respect for the day week after.