The Truth Hurts.

Just got off the phone with Mr. Favorite. He and his employees always go to lunch together on payday and he was talking about trying something new. I reminded him that he already tried something new on Sunday (The Melting Pot) and he apparently couldn't hold back any longer. He said (and I quote) it was disgusting. Imagine my surprise... He was such a good sport about it Sunday that I didn't know he felt that strongly about it. I will say this - we tried stuff I had never had there either and it wasn't my favorite, but I don't think I'd go so far as to say it was disgusting. Anyway, I had a good laugh and somehow this endears him to me even more. He let me have what I wanted and played along. What a man.

The Sweet Life.

Yesterday, Mr. Favorite and I celebrated our 6th anniversary. Mom & Dad took Little One home after church and Mr. & I went on to Tulsa. It was so nice just getting to go wherever we wanted and not be in a hurry or feel tied to a Little schedule. We went to several stores and even to the mall before heading to Riverwalk Crossing. We had reservations at the Melting Pot (Mr. had never been), but arrived about an hour and a half early so we could enjoy the shops there. Not many of them were open, but we took some time and played in the arcade for a while. I really have an awareness of just how fortunate I am in that I still really like my husband and that my home is so peaceful. I'm grateful.

Six Word Saturday

Still don't have anything to say.

I'm No Follower!

I just logged on to Blogger to find that it tells me I'm not following any blogs. I've lost my whole list! That's more than just a little irritating!

The Dangers of Parents Having Facebook Accounts.

Today I signed on Facebook to find that my dad's Facebook status had changed. This morning it reads, "Little One is a big brother. Don't know if it is a little sister or brother yet." So, there you have it! That's one way to tell the world. I also noticed that he learned how to upload new pics - including one of the day we got to come home with Little One and I looked like I'd been run over. I have since taught him how to delete photos from Facebook, so that's not out there anymore... Anyway! My heart is grateful because I know that children are gifts from the Lord. It amazes me when I consider that God would count me capable of the responsibility of training up children and trusts me with their precious lives. It is an awesome privilege.

This is Sexy.

Ok. To me there are few things more attractive than a man who is in love with his wife - no eyes for anyone else - and a good daddy to his babies. Sometimes I think men are afraid to do the silly things that make for good times with their children and I think that's too bad. One of the blogs I read occasionally posted this video and I thought it was fun.

Seventeen Years.

Tomorrow marks the 17th anniversary of my brother, Joshua's death. Some years it hasn't bothered me much and some years it has. This year is on the line. I think the reason is not so much that I miss the little brother that I had, but I miss the brother that never got to grow up - that never got to be Little One's uncle - that never got to get married and have babies of his own so that I could be the best aunt ever. It's the now that I miss him in the most. I don't hurt over the loss of the 11 - and just days shy of 12 - year-old-boy. I miss the man that he would have been. I hate that Mr. Favorite never got to know him. I'm certain they would have enjoyed being friends.

Josh was SO good at being friends with everyone. I remember hearing that one of the boys that Josh had befriended in the last couple years of his life once said that Josh was his best friend. And years later when that (by that time) young man was asked if he was Josh's best friend, he said no - that Josh had other best friends, but to that little boy, Josh was his best friend.

Josh was a good little brother and I was too cool to be nice to him (I was 15 when he died.), but God gave me a gift just a week or two before he died. We were at church and I passed him in the hallway (there by the nursery for those of you who know my church) and he was, as always, his happy little self. I remember just stopping and telling him that I loved him. He looked at me, smiled, and said I love you, too. If I had not had that moment, I'm sure I would have been overcome with feelings of guilt about the ornery things sisters do and say. So, thank you, Lord, for that moment in the hallway where you gave me the chance to say what I needed to say before he was gone.

It's been a long time since I've cried about Josh... but just as I write, I'm feeling the awareness of loss again - throat swelling, tears burning my cheeks - and am grateful for a life full of feeling - that I'm not numb to the great gifts I've lived to experience.

Now, Josh wasn't a perfect kid... but seventeen years later I can't remember why.