Never a dull moment...

Over the years you may (or may not) have read my posts about living in the house with these crazy boys. It truly is the looney bin, but Gosh!!! I love these little guys! They add so much fun and excitement to each day. I am constantly entertained.

A couple of crazy things have happened in recent days that have had me reflecting on a few What's Bakin'? classics...

1.  Why I don't shower until after they go to bed...
2.  I didn't know pot would be an issue this soon...
3. No pictures...just a great (HILARIOUS) story
4. Why I don't do laundry until after they go to bed...

This all leads me to Why I am NEVER on time... Ya know, they pick the most inopportune times to do weird things. It has nothing to do with planning in advance. Trust me. I try! This stuff just happens!!! 

So, we were all showered dressed and ready to walk out the door the other day. I have been giving Fulton more Independence; not nagging for him to hurry up and giving him ample time to be successful in being in charge of himself. The clock was ticking and we were all waiting. I called up to him and asked if he was almost ready. He said he was in the bathroom and would be down in a second. He comes downstairs fully dressed...he had even accessorized!

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He had the propeller of the "Subbies" tub toy (found at Kligg's Kite's at the Holiday Market) tangled in his hair! It was dangling from his hair when he came downstairs...like a big blue dread lock!!!!

Here it is up close. I tried my best to unwind it, but no such luck. I ended up cutting it.

Then, the other day as we are getting ready for church, I called to Sam in the den and asked if he was ready. He said "Yes ma'am!" I said, "good job, bud! Thanks for hurrying and being responsible..." And I walked around the corner to find Sam putting on his shoes.
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with his pajama pants still on!!!!!!

"Sam!!!!", I said.
"Ma'am?"
"Are you ready?"
"Uh-huh."
"You are? What do you have on?"
He looked down..."Oops."
So off the shoes and PJ pants went. On went the khakis, belt and shoes (again).

Never a dull moment.

That's all I have to say about that.

That was me in my senior year of high school.

I like to think that I was a nice girl. Actually, I'm pretty darn sure I was a nice girl. I am now in the 35+ category (YIKES!!!) and believe that I am STILL a nice girl.

I realized way back then that we are not all dealt the same hands. Some more fortunate than others. Some prettier than others. Some smarter than others. I'm thinking that I was usually in the "others" category, but very blessed, nonetheless. At the guidance of my parents, I learned that just because you have been dealt a better hand than others does not give you the right to feel superior, let alone BULLY, CRITICISE, BELITTLE, or EMBARRASS those who were not.

Now, I'm sure I had my fair share of high school drama, BUT I can safely say that I was NEVER a "mean girl". Nor, did I fall victim to one of them. But I knew who the "mean girls" were. I remember them quite well. I even remember the "mean girls" older and younger. They are people you never forget. They are the people you can't wait to see what they've become at your high school reunions. And even though you know it's wrong...you secretly, for a very brief and un-Christian-like moment want to see them bite it in front of everyone. Uh huh...you know who I'm talking about. BUT, instead we pray for their hearts to become humbled.

I have recently re-encountered one of those "mean girls". She was a mean girl to someone I know and love very much. She and some of her mean friends (boys and girls) shaped and hurt this person more than you can imagine. As the years have passed, I started seeing more and more of this mean girl. It has become very apparent that some people NEVER change. They might even get worse. 

The jabs that this girl has thrown at me have left me quite taken aback. They were cheap jabs, too, in front of other people. Most of them were regarding things that I own that may be a little worn, tattered, or in her opinion, out-of-style and sometimes my clothing. The more I think about them the more it hurts and the more I wish I had fired back, leaving her equally wounded and embarrassed. But I chose one more time not to stoop and to bite my tongue...and boy! is that hard!!!!

I shared this with Shan. He gave me his usual level-headed response. "Claudia, don't worry about her. It will come back to her." Frustrated, I disagreed and told him it wouldn't because she's THAT girl, the one who gets away with treating people like crap to make herself feel better. But, I know it will come back to her. We talked about how insecure and sad she must be. I wouldn't sleep well knowing I had treated someone that way. 

We have too many friends and activities in common to avoid each other. SOO...From now on, I will find my strength and defense in THE WORD and knowing that the things she is judging or criticising about me are all surface things (my clothing---I'm no fashionista but I do ok, my house---which is very nice and serves the purpose, my car---which is a Honda Odyssey and I'm not sure what's wrong with that at all, etc.). However, one thing she will never be able to criticise (and happens to be the most important thing) is my character and personality. I take comfort in that and knowing that it's truly about her, not me.

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head."

-Romans 12:19-20

I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.

-Psalm 18:3

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.

-Romans 12:14

Potty Talk with Fulton

I am telling you! Fulton Baker needs to be a talk show host or something. But it would have to be held in a bathroom.That is where we have some of our best conversations...while he sits on the toilet, pondering life's big questions. He can strike up great conversations and keep them going with all kinds of twists and turns. He'd keep the attention of a studio audience any day!!! Tonight, as I sat on the side of the tub waiting for him to be "finished", he started chattin' it up with me as usual.

Here's the script:

Fulton: Mommy, do you have any stories about that man they call "The King"?

Me: You mean Jesus? Sure! We have lots of stories about Him.

(Some people would have thought Elvis. But I didn't...weird. Any who...)

Fulton: No! "The King" that changed the world a long time ago!!!

Me: Yeah, Jesus. Sometimes He is called The King.

Fulton: No! It was a king.

Me: Oh! King Herod? The wise men/The 3 Kings?

Fulton: Huh, The 3 Kings?

Me: Yeah like the 12th night celebration/3 Kings Day/The Epiphany...You know how we wait after Christmas for 12 days for the wise men to get to baby Jesus.

(Now we're both totally confused)

Fulton: No! You know! The King who changed the world and got shot.

Me: OOOOOOH!!!!!!! Martin Luther King, Jr. I don't have any stories about him but I can tell you what I know about him.

Fulton: Yeah! That's who I'm talking about.

Me: He was a very important person. He was not a king but his last name was King. He wanted everyone to be treated the same, regardless of how they look or where they come from. We can talk more about him when you get in bed.
Now, are you ready to get off the potty?

Fulton: No. I'm waiting on the Epiphany.

(Wait. WHAT?????)

I just left the bathroom laughing hysterically and said "Ok! Tell me when it's the Epiphany." Any who...look for him on TV station in your area...someday.

XO