In Case You Didn't Know...

God Answers Prayer!

Wow! What a whirlwind the last few days have been...

This past weekend, my cousin got married in Abilene. After much debate, we decided the whole family would go.

We decided we would leave Friday night and return Sunday afternoon. Because it was such a short time, we would put out extra food and water for the animals and not ask anyone to watch them...I mean, less than 36 hours, after all.

So, off we go.

We rush home Sunday, drop Kaylee and Daddy at the house and Jake and I run off to the first Lion Dance practice of the season. Before he and I leave, he wants to say hi to the dog. We yell her name and she doesn't come. I tell him we don't have time to mess with her, so off we go.

I get Jake to practice and call David to see if he has found the dog...no, not yet. He calls me later and asks me to call the housekeeper to see if he knew anything about the dog...I did...and he didn't.

We get home...still no dog...

We spend the next 3 days calling vets, calling neighbors, getting on the internet...trying to find the dog.

I, personally, had written the dog off. I figured with the new chihuahua movie out, Lil Bit was found and kept.

So, I spend yesterday trying to prep Jake for the fact that Little Bit would not be coming home. Trying to tell him that she probably had another new family that would love her and take care of her.

So, last night, Jake couldn't sleep for the crying. He came down 3 times with crocodile tears saying he just kept worrying about Little Bit. I had no idea what to say. I really felt like she would not be coming home...so, I said, "Son, you have to go to bed. Go up and do something if you can't sleep...read...or pray..."

To which he responds through his sobs, "I have been praying...like 5 times already."

Finally, he heads off to bed.

I went to bed praying, "Lord, I know you have so many more important things to think about, but please bring our dog home."

We have a late morning this morning because he slept so late...it takes a lot of energy to cry your head off.

So, at about 9:45, we finally sit down to start school...and my cell phone rings...

it's David.

"Guess what." he says.

Now, I am thinking today is payday and he is going to tell me something about his check...

"Someone found our dog! He just called me!"

I couldn't believe it! Amazing!!

I walked in told Jake and he said, "It worked! God answered my prayers!"

(In case you are wondering...she is fine. She was about 1/4 mile away. Other than being covered in fire ant bites, she is fine.)

Can I Pee In It?

Remember when I told you about my Labor Day Project?

Well, one of the steps to that project was to remove the toilet so I could paint behind it and lay tile under it.

When I took the toilet up, Jake came in and was a bit startled.

His response was, 'Is that where my...uh...'you know' goes?'

'Yup.'

'Can I pee in it?'

'You could, but no.'

'Reminds me of China...you know, with the toilet hole in the floor.'

'Yup. Me too.'

Mom, Can I...

My son has become close with the kids in my in-laws neighborhood. This is a good thing. He needs friends. What I do not like, however, is the influence that they can be. Sometimes, it is not always positive. However, I see God at work and I enjoy that to the fullest.

The other night, Jake runs in the house and says, "Mom, can I go next door and watch Mike Myers?"

"Mike Myers?", I say, "What do you mean?"

"You know, Mike Myers, Halloween, the guy in the white mask."

"NO!!! That is a terribly scary movie and you will have nightmares!" (Now, mind you, Jake is the oldest of these group of kids and he is only 9. The others are 5, 6, and 7.)

Here, the normal bantering back and forth insues...why can't I? So and so's mom is letting her... It's not that scary...and so on. I finally have it in his head that he cannot and will not watch that movie.

He goes outside to tell the kids that he cannot watch that movie. I am just about to go check on him and see what the alternative plans were when he comes back inside....crying, defeated.

"Mom, I really wanted to go to their house."

"You can go. You just can't watch that movie."

"But that's what they all want to do."

"Then you will have to play with them another time."

"Well, they told me to come in here and tell you we were watching another movie and go watch Mike Myers anyway. But I told them you would come check on me and then I would be in big trouble." :)

"You're exactly right. I would come check on you and you would have been in big trouble. Then, the next time you wanted to play with them, you wouldn't be able to because you would be having punishment."

"Yea, that's what I thought."

"I am proud of you for not lying and coming in here and doing the right thing. That's exactly what Jesus would want you to do."

'Thanks. Do you think the other kids will have nightmares tonight?"

"Yes."

He half smiles as he goes in the other room to watch hi 'mommy approved' shows.

Jacob's Version!

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room,

And heaven and nature sing,

And heaven and nature sing,

And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!

Let men their songs employ;

While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains

Repeat yourself in joy,

Repeat yourself in joy,

Repeat, repeat, yourself in joy.

Conversations with Jake

This conversation happened on Halloween night. Now, I know we have had this conversation before, but obliviously Jake doesn't remember...

We were eating here when he was asking these questions.

Jake: Mom, what is chicken made of?

Me: Chicken

Jake: You mean, like, baaak, baaak, chicken (said with a startled look on his face, while flapping his elbows)??

Me: Yes.

Jake: You mean, I am eating an animal?

Me: Yup!

Jake: Wow! What other kind of food is an animal?

Conversations with Jake

We were on our way to Chik-fil-a tonight to support Jake's old school (I think this is as important as Christine does) and this is the conversation that took place:

Jake: Mom, can I ask you a question?

Me: Yes.

J: Did you ever like 2 boys at the same time?

M: No.

J: Oh, cause I was gonna ask how you chose Dad, if you did.

M: Oh.

J: Did you date other guys before Dad?

M: Yes.

J: Who?

(I named the very few guys I dated before David...even if you count puppy love crushes, the list is quite small)

J: Did you kiss any of them?

M: Yes.

J: Did any of them want to marry you?

M: Yes.

J: Did they ask you?

M: No, but if they would have, I would have said 'no' because I knew it wasn't right.

J: OK, just asking.

From the mind of a 9 year old boy.