Wordy Girl is Gettin' Real

Recently, I changed the title of this blog to "The Wordy Girl". I'm still "Deep in the Heart of Texas", but I decided this was actually the best and most apt description of me EVER.

Because I never shut up. I have something to say about everything, and usually it's too much. So there.

Ever since I was a little girl, I've been told I talk too much. This is true. It is very, very true. Embarrassing, even. When I was five, I got in trouble for talking too much at school, and my dad had to sit down with me and teach me that the little red dinging seat belt light in the car meant stop talking. I'm that girl at Bible Study who monopolizes the conversation until the leader gives me the evil eye that someone else should get to talk. I'm that girl at the party who doesn't meet a stranger, and if I don't know who you are- I'm gonna find out. I'm that girl who's sister and best friends have to wait on me to take a breath so they can get a word in edge-wise. I'm that girl who something to say about every person on Facebook's posts. Even people I don't know. It's seriously embarrassing. Because- I'm. That. Girl.

So, I write this blog for myself. I like to hear myself talk, and this is where I get to do it with reckless abandon. It's my space. I love to write- to let the feelings, emotions and thoughts come out. Someone once told me that if you're meant to do something, then Holy Spirit will not let you NOT do it. Meaning, you can't help it. You must. That is me. So, I pour it all out here. For me. And yes, for you, if you want to listen. Cause I'm all about finding a listener. Blogging is a bit terrifying because let's face it. Can you be real? Can you really lay your innermost thoughts out there, and not worry what people think? What will people think if I tell them I'm _____________???? What will people think if they know what I REALLY think???? I'm not completely there, but I'm getting there.

But I recently realized I'm not a very good writer, because I write for me, and not for the reader. That made me sad. Because I want you to like my writing. I write it, I rewrite it, I edit it, I re-word it, I try to fix typos so that it reads well. (But I am well aware that I have missed quite a few in my time, and sometimes I'm so over editing myself that I let them stay in). This is probably vanity. And pride. But I love it. I love reading and editing my writing to an embarrassing degree. Probably because this is something I don't do very well in real life- when actual words come tumbling out of my mouth in a jumble. I've offended, I've stepped on toes, I've been careless with words, with information. I've done it all- because talking out loud isn't like getting to edit yourself on paper or on a blog or in a journal. (Don't get me started on journals. I have at least 4-5 dating back to when I got my first at 10 years old- good reading I tell ya). I'm working on this. I have been for a long time... it's getting better. I've said it before, and I'll say it again- Unglued by Lysa Terkeurst has really, really helped me start to manage my words, my tone. Imperfect progress.

I've been food fasting with Seven this week (seven favorite foods), and one of the things that's rolling around in my wordy head is that I talk too much. I. Talk. Too. Much. And I've seriously been mulling around the fact that maybe I need a 24 hour Talk Fast. This scares the daylights out of me. It sounds all Monk-ish and medieval, and I'm not even sure I'm capable. But maybe it's what I need.

It's about to get all scary up in here, ya'll. Cause either this blog is gettin' real, or I'm taking a vow of silence. (You probably won't get to vote. LOL)

"Jesus is talking to you"

So, the other night, on Sunday, my mommas heart was filled to overflowing when my precious 6-1/2 year old asked Jesus to come into his heart. Now, BOTH my boys have made their decisions to follow Jesus Christ (Mason on September 26, 2011), and I couldn't be happier.

Coen's been telling me for months that he wanted to get baptized. I kept telling him we needed to wait until he's asked Jesus in his heart. He kept saying, he'd done that. I kept thinking he wasn't ready.



Well the other night, we were watching the Bible Miniseries (I'm not sure if this contributed or not, but I don't think it hurt, and it probably helped- so thank you Mark Burnett); Coen saw Jesus being baptized by John, and said, "Mommy, I REALLY want to be baptized." I said, "Coen, we need to make sure that you've asked Jesus into your heart, and pray and look at some verses in the Bible and talk about it first." He said, "I want to do that right now." We went back and forth for a while... he wouldn't let up. It's not that I didn't want him to do it, but in my mind he's still in potty training and just got out of a crib a couple weeks ago (NOT- I joke about my inability to grasp that my kids are growing up)... So, we pulled out the Bible, talked through the verses, etc.

Finally, he says to me, "Mommy, did you know Jesus can talk to you?"
Me: "Yes, I did- especially when he lives in our hearts."
Coen: "No, I mean, he's talking to you right now."
Me (thinking- aww, he thinks Jesus is guiding this conversation through me- I'm rolling my eyes and gagging at my pride right now): "Yes, he's helping us with this conversation..."
Coen: "NO!!! I mean Jesus is talking to you right now, and he's TELLING you to LET ME DO THIS!"

Crickets. Martin and I just look at each other- at a loss. Then we said, let's do this. So we all got down on our knees, holding hands. I was raised Baptist, and by-golly wanted to make sure he prayed the "right" prayer. So I said, "Do you want me to help you pray?"

Coen: "No! I know what I'm going to say. Dear Jesus, I love you. I know you died on the cross for my sins, and Dear Jesus, I just LOVE you."

Be still my heart. I helped him throw in the part about asking forgiveness of sins, coming into his heart, and help him follow him for his whole life. He finished and was grinning ear to ear. He hugged me, he hugged Martin, he hugged Mason, he hugged the dogs. He called his best friend's parents to tell them the news. The next day he came home from school, and I asked him if he told anyone at school. He said, "YEAH! The whole class! They said good luck!". LOL. He's so excited about getting baptized; and because Mason missed his scheduled baptism a couple months ago due to tonsils, it turns out BOTH my boys will probably be baptized on the same day.

I'm thinking this kid didn't need any help from me or Martin. He's about to light the world on fire.

FaceBlog- 10 Facebook etiquette rules

People, I've been wanting to blog about this for some time now, but I was afraid of what toes I might step on. But I have decided that this blog is my safe slice of cyberspace to say what I think, and so, Oh buddy- am I about to get on the box. I should tell you that this is officially my "snarkiest" blog ever.

I'd just like to take a minute or twenty and talk about Facebook. I'm going to go into what I wish would be implemented as some sort of Facebook etiquette. Now, while I know this will never, in fact, be the case- I think I'll feel better to get it of my chest.

So, in my ideal world, this is how my Facebook feeds would look:

1) No person shall post more than 2 meaningful quotes/verses/sayings featuring beaches, sunsets, shamrocks, hearts, flowers, etc. per week. The same applies for cutesy animal pictures.

I love animals, I love a good quote and I really love a good verse, but that's what Pinterest is for. Now, I have to say that as I type this- I realize I am in fact guilty of breaking this rule- because I love to post those cool prayer verses for my boys that the MOB Society puts on Facebook. But clearly, I'm allowed to break my own rules. Mainly- I would apply this to quotes,inspirational pictures ("There's no I in TEAM!") cutesy pictures and animal shots. I would just love to not have to scroll past 13 different cutesy pics to get to what's going on. Fair enough?

2) If your status constitutes more than- Oh-I-Don't-Know 5-8 sentences- then you might want to consider a blog. And really 5-8 might be too long. Exceptions to this would be in the event of a crisis or family situation where you're requesting/updating your Facebook peeps for prayers or just to keep them in the loop on a broad scale. For example- recently many, many people wanted updates on my Grandma after her stroke. Therefore, it made more sense for me to update FB with a long status- rather than digging through my 400+ contacts to figure out which ones cared and who I needed to update through message box. But please, for the love of Pete- don't post a four page Facebook status that includes every little thing you accomplished during the day. Less is more people! (or, become like me- the wordy girl- and get a blog! Hmmm. Maybe I should change the name of my blog. Think I might...)

3) Please refrain from posting every stop and errand you have to make during the day. It will save us all time.

4) I usually read my Facebook while I'm eating breakfast, lunch or snack. Occasionally in between- on my phone and at least once before bed. But, for all intense purposes- I'm usually eating. I would think that would apply to most of responsible working Americans- so it might be a good idea to avoid posting pictures, videos, and graphic details of grody situations, bodily functions, moldy refrigerator remains, etc. Just a thought.

5) If your Facebook status is a new quote from another person- every. single. time. - Then I would say you probably don't have anything to say.

6) Persons will not engage in awkward public Facebook battles with friends, family members, or spouses. This includes passive aggressive comments, verbal abuse, etc. Now, I love a little sarcasm, but I think we can all agree there is a difference... especially when the comments are met with crickets from everyone except the party(ies) involved.

7) Persons shall not have an engage in online Facebook dialog with themselves. Again. Blog, people.

8) If you're not sure if you should post it- then type it, read it, and then edit, post or delete as appropriate. I will reference the King James Bible on this for sound advice: Philippians 4:8- "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

8) Persons will not share a friend's personal business with others on facebook. This includes, but is not limited too- vacation plans, pregnancies (or not- which will be my case hopefully until I die), new car, new house, personal financial info, etc. WITHOUT EXPRESS PERMISSION FROM THE FRIEND. I can't believe I even need to say that- but it has actually happened to me and some of my friends. Nobody likes a Facebook blabbermouth.

9) Persons will use Facebook to post precious and interesting pictures of themselves and family members, fun stories and anecdotes, prayer requests and needs, happy banter and life events- for the Facebook world. However, they will not use Facebook to post their political or religious views with the intent of stirring up debate, hatred or malice. I don't even care if you do state your case- that's your right people- but do it in the right way. I cannot stand when it is done with hateful and belittling words from both sides of the fence. If you are my Facebook friend, please respect the fact that I probably already have an opinion, as do your other FB friends, and no one needs your help to form that opinion. If someone wants or needs your opinion, I'm sure that they will ask for it. You're not likely to change anyone's mind. Also, get a blog. It's a great place to say what you REALLY think. AND you get to moderate the comments so that no one insults you or has a different opinion. It's an ideal world for narrow minded people.

10) My biggest complaint of all. "Christians" who are hateful on Facebook. It literally makes me sick to my stomach, and nothing is accomplished by hurling insults, and even words Jesus Christ would never have used. I read this quote in Jen Hatmaker's book, Seven, as quoted by Mahatma Ghandi- "I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." How. SAD.

I will defer to Ephesians 4 for this:
"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

If this post offends you, please know that I mean most of it, cheekily and for a laugh. I think it's obvious the parts for which I do not joke. And those are just common sense.

On a side note. I spend too much time on Facebook.

Handy Mandy

Okay. So, my goal for this week is to organize. Yesterday, I cleaned my entire refrigerator- removing and washing all the shelves, etc. I even cleaned my oven. GASP!

Goal for tomorrow is the pantry, and if I'm lucky, my bathroom cabinets. I'm done with stuff falling out every time I open the doors.

Today I took steps to prepare for this tomorrow. This is pretty great, and you might want to "pin" it. So I took pictures.

Here's the tools I needed:

1. Headed to Walmart and purchased wire products that would maximize my space.

2. Decided there was no need to wait for hubby to get back in town to install said products. Even if it's only my second time using a drill and I really like my cabinets.

3. Turned down offers of assistance from my 10 year old boy scout (who probably knew what he's doing).

4. NAILED it in the kitchen cabinets for my new wrap holder.

5. NAILED it on the first rack under the bathroom cabinets.

6. Decided to wing it on the last rack- who needs to mark the holes anyway, right???

7. It worked! I have a handy dandy rack for my hair dryer now! I ROCK!!!!

8. Oh, wait. The cabinet won't shut... what the...?????

9. Oh, I see, it's wider than the others, need to move it over a notch. Unscrew nearly stripped screws.

10. Mark the new holes, drill, insert nearly stripped screws. There we go... oh, wait... great- it still won't shut.

At this point, I realize, the rack is too deep (not wide- as I originally thought) to clear the cabinet and close. Well, Crap. This makes me very annoyed because when I have a wild hair, it NEEDS TO WORK!!!!

11. Screws are now completely stripped. Fetch pliers to twist screws out manually. Alright, let's nail that sucker to the wall under my medicine cabinet. Still works- and gets it off the counter.

12. Better use anchors so Martin will be proud and know that I did it right. SHOOT! There goes the anchor- into the wall. THAT IS A HUGE HOLE!!!! How will I ever cover that up so Martin doesn't see it?!?!

13. Text best friend to show her my FAIL. She suggests I learn to patch holes. No.

14. At this point, I go to the garage and find an old anchor that is bigger, and fills the hole perfectly. BINGO! Only problem is, there's not a matching screw.

15. Take a break and go eat chips and guacamole because at this point, I'm starving, and cussing.

16. Back to work, and decide to put a screw in there anyway, hang the other side on the opposite anchor and see if it holds (because I also could not get the other anchor into the wall and was by this time skittish about dropping it INTO the wall and causing another big hole).

17. It worked! I am a MIRACLE WORKER! Hubby would never know (if I hadn't called and told him). Never mind the holes under the cabinet, or the fact that I have no idea how long this solution will hold to the wall. I will count this as a successful second use of a power tool.