frazzled & frumpy

Have you ever been to jail? I went last week. No, I didn't finally lose it and lock my kids in the basement for the day. We went for Young Women's. I wouldn't say it was fun, but it was educational and enlightening. Here's a few things I learned- When you arrive, you do not get to keep your cute sweater and slacks like Ashley Judd did in 'Double Jeopardy'. You are strip searched (it's even more awful than the word makes it sound.) and given some recycled underwear-brown- and clothes. This happens in front of a deputy. There is no privacy in jail. You get to sit in a holding cell with several other people for up to 3 hours. It's one room with windows so the deputies can see in and the toilet is just there on the wall. There is no privacy in jail. There are cute women police officers. I always thought when I saw TV cops that there weren't any that looked like that in real life. Our deputy, Kassie, proved that wrong. A cute deputy is still a cop and ca...

I found a little tear running down my cheek this morning. I poked my eye when I was and dancing around my empty house. hee,hee Happy First Day of School.

On Tuesday, I found two yellow leaves on my car. These beautiful golden leaves said one thing to me...... fall. Heavenly Father is smart. I'm sure that doesn't surprise you. Here's one reason why. He knew that his children would be fickle. He knew that when we get all excited for the warmth of spring, it would only take a few months of that warmer weather before we want something different. Those glorious days of warmth when we could shed our winter clothes and relish the sunshine. Those days change to the suffocating heat of August. Then, He probably knew He would hear his children say things like, "I don't care if winter and cold will follow-I'm done. I'm tired of being hot. I'm tired of being sweaty. I'm tired of straightening my hair just to have it curl on the ends because of the sweat on my neck. I'm through having my own little river trailing down my back. I'm done. Bring on fall." And, so, in HIs great wisdom, He planned the se...

Of course he has a perfectly good pair of shoes he could wear. Of course he doesn't listen when I tell him to wear the other shoes. Of course his grandfather encouraged him by telling him about the shoes he had like these. Of course they're comfortable, it's like being barefoot. Of course... he's 16.

Seven women + one very hot guy Not a weird polygamist get-together Just an amazing girls night at the Tim McGraw concert. mmmmmmmmm.....

Here are a few lessons learned this week- When you send your husband and three boys to scout camp, you should not save your worry for the ones under 18. Buying shoes for camp at DI is a very good idea. ($8 Nikes, not bad.) A freshly sharpened ax will cut straight through $8 Nikes, skin and the tendon to your toe. Taking your husband to the doctor is very different than taking your kids. (Did you realize your husband could answer for himself? Took me a while.) If you sever the tendon to your second toe, your surgeon will give you the option of not having surgery, thus leaving you with a floppy toe for the rest of your life. Men do not want to have any appendage on their body referred to as 'floppy'. Hose on men- not sexy. Putting TED hose on your man- a little bit sexy. A hospital can fancy-up their cafeteria with a cool name-Mountain View Cafe and Grill- but, it's still hospital food. Having your husband home for a week is fun, having him home for a week in bed on Lortab...

My two teenage boys tower over me. It sometimes seems strange to think of them as little, but then, it doesn't feel like that long ago. I remember well when they were in 1st grade and kindergarten. They walked to the bus each morning. I could see them as they went down our block, across a street and right up until they got to my friend, Kim's house. There, they would get their two friends and the four of them would go on to the bus stop. I would stand on my front step while they walked each morning. One day, Richie got down our street and looked back at me. "Mom, will you watch me?" I nodded and waved. Confident in the knowledge that I was watching, he went on. I've often thought of that day and how it parallels my life. I know that many times, I have looked heavenward and asked, 'Are you watching me?' We have an inherent need to know that we're being watched over, that someone cares. I'm grateful for the many instances in my life that have assured...