Flashback Friday

I was telling J about this the other day, and thought it was worth putting up here. I hope some of you get a laugh on my behalf today.

Here's the background...I started babysitting at 12, I was a very sheltered, naive girl who had been in Christian Schools and church my whole life.

I was asked to babysit for my hairdresser's two children. They were around 5 & 7 at the time, how hard could it be? When this story unfolds, I had babysat them a few times. By now, I had figured out that they were a couple of Satan's minions. One day I asked them, "Why don't you EVER obey?". The boy looked at me and said, "What does obey mean?". Yep, that's what I was dealing with.

So this particular day, the parents come to pick me up, and on the way to the house they explain to me that they have worked really hard to clean the whole house. A set of their parents was coming in and they really wanted to impress them. They went on and on about the rules they wanted me to follow. Two that stand out is not to let the kids eat in the living room, and NOT to let the pair of St. Bernards out of the garage because the female was in heat.

Well they dropped me off, and the first couple of hours went pretty smoothly. The boy was excited to show me a movie his parents had recently bought. It was Rambo! Not only was there no way I was allowed to watch that movie, there was no way I wanted to either...I do not like blood & gore. But, they both had seen it before, and were totally into it so I let them watch it to try to keep the house clean.

I'm not sure what I was doing when the calamity started. However, this is how it went down. The girl let the St. Bernards out, and without me knowing it the boy had gotten himself a bowl of cereal. I took off running up the stairs after the dogs, it was easy to know where they were, I just followed the trail of blood from the female up the light carpeted steps. In all the commotion, I didn't notice the boys cereal on the floor. I stepped right in that bowl, and spilled it and soaked my sock. I chased the dogs back downstairs, pulled my sock off and threw it in the microwave and turned it on. We had never had a microwave, and I thought this would be a good way to dry my sock...wow, does a wet, stinky sock make quite a stench through the house! About this time, the boy comes out and tells me the toilet is overflowing.

Let's recap, there are blood drips all over the floors, two St. Bernards running wild, spilled cereal on the carpet upstairs, a toilet running over, my sock twirling in the microwave, two children going crazy, AND the guests walk in...SURPRISE!! We made it early!

They helped get the dogs in, and the toilet to stop overflowing. Took me home, and I was never called to babysit there again.

This is a true story!!

Hope you have a great weekend!

Luke 2 (Another Christmas Flashback)

As long as I can remember Luke 2 has been a part of my Christmas morning. Growing up my dad always read it. The lights were low and the Christmas tree was sparkling. The presents were now ALL under the tree...even the ones I didn't know. As a child it was so hard to focus on what dad was reading between peeking at the presents and my stocking. You could feel our excitement. If my parents had given us a choice to just dig right into those presents and skip the Bible reading, I wonder what I would have chose?

Looking back, I remember far more special times reading the Christmas Story together, than I do special presents. Many times my dad or mom or both would get choked up. Now as adults we are all sappy when we happen to all be together. Our children are sneaking peeks at their presents/stockings and we can feel their excitement...will they look back with fond memories of our Christmas tradition? I hope they will carry it on for many generations.

Luke 2:1-20

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary , his bethrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find the Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace goodwill toward men!" So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

"I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people!"

If you are reading today, and you do not know Jesus,and the great joy of being part of His family, and you would like to, please send me an email. I will be happy to share what He has done for me and what He would love to do for you.

Blessings,

A Christmas Flashback

Every year my children get Christmas presents before Christmas. This is my fault. Honestly, it drives J.D. a little bit crazy. It all started when I was a child. My parents had a tradition of putting a few presents under the tree each week leading up to Christmas.

What they didn't know was that I was an EXPERT at unwrapping enough of the gift to find out what it was and re-wrapping it without them knowing. I would do this when they were still in bed on Saturday mornings. My brother & sister would gather around me to watch my skills, in return for their secrecy, I would do their presents too.

One year in particular, we hit the jackpot. All three of us were avid Mr. Rogers watchers. This year sitting under the tree was a puppet each from the show. My brother got King Friday, my sister had Lady Elaine and for me X the owl. We were SO EXCITED about getting these. Of course we all were cool and collected when mom handed them to us for our Christmas Eve present and we all acted very surprised to see them. (as we did with all our presents over the years)

My parents did not find out we did this until I was 25. It was my first Christmas that I didn't live at home with my parents. They came up to Arkansas, and Christmas Eve, after everyone was in bed, my brother and I spent some bonding time unwrapping and re-wrapping gifts. The next day we were cracking up at each other trying to act surprised and we finally confessed what we had been doing all of those years.

Now, I get so excited to give my kids their gifts that I just can't wait. They know I'm a big softy and that I understand their pain of hating surprises.

So, today they will each open a present after they finish school & chores. Can any of you relate? Share your stories!

Blessings,

Flashback, I'm a Prankster

I have always been a bit of a prankster. I was thinking about this story last night. My brother is 5 years younger than me. When he was born, he was my baby. My mom says that I never let him fuss. I spoiled him rotten all of his years. He was an easy child to spoil because he had/has a very sweet personality and always aimed to please. My sister and I would get frustrated because we always got our share of the spankings but our "perfect" brother rarely got one. (We both know it was because we were the one that deserved them, it still doesn't make it very fun)

Anyway over the years, Sam & I have remained great friends. When he was in his teen years I was working full time, had a decent car, and most of my income was spent on fun. We would go on adventures to Tampa and find new places to eat, or go out to the beach and find the only spot with 1000's of sand spurs. I never missed his basketball games and baked his team cookies for the away games.

This brings me to this flashback. One time he and I went canoeing. We lived in Florida, and the area we were in had lots of alligators. I mean a lot! I have always loved the thrill of an adventure so I just thought this was great. Somewhere along the way I thought how much fun it would be to scare my mom just a little. She is a very cautious and protective mom. I know that I gave her more than her share of trouble growing up. This was one of those times.

When we were safely back on land and on the way home. I stopped off at a pay phone. I called and my mom answered. I told her in my most excited voice that we were at the hospital and Sam had been bit by an alligator. (I think I said had his leg bit off) Anyway about the time the fun was about to start, my DAD picked up the other line. Suddenly this was not going to be a funny story. I started stammering and handed Sam the phone, telling him to explain. He quickly handed it back and I feebly said, "just kidding". That was one of those rides home where your heart is in your throat all the way!

My mom was still having heart palpitations when we got there. She was sitting in her favorite rocking chair. You need to know that my mom is 5' 5" and the smallest of my family. My brother is 6' 7". She sat holding her overgrown teenager in her lap, while I got the much deserved lecture about not scaring your mother.

Good times, Good times!