I Know an Old Lady Who...

You know that old children's song, "I know an old lady who swallowed a fly"?  Well, this is not that.  But to me, it is just as disturbing.  Ew, ew, ew, ew, EWW!!  You'll understand shortly...

Sadie: "Look, Mom!  I caught a fly!"

Me (not paying much attention at first): "Uh-huh."

Sadie puts her hand right up to my face.  Yep!  She caught a fly, alright!  And is holding it tightly between her thumb and first finger about 2 inches from my nose!

Me, jumping: "Ach!  What are you doing with that?!  Ew, yuck!  Get it away, please!"

Sadie gingerly puts it down.  I breathe a sigh of relief thinking we're done and the fly is dead.  Nope.  Not by a long shot.

Sadie:  "Do you want to eat it, Mommy?"

Me, dumbfounded: "What?!  NO!  I do not want to eat a fly!  Why would you even ask me that?"

Sadie:  "Daddy likes to eat flies.  He has eaten bugs before."

Me, trying my best not to completely freak out and making a mental note to have a talk with her daddy about this later:  "Well, your daddy is weird like that.  Not me.  I don't eat bugs, thank you very much.  Now, please go wash your hands."

Conversation is at an end.  I sit to share this story with you.  Sadie returns.

Sadie: "Look, Mommy!  He likes me!"

I look and that blasted fly is crawling around on her hand!

Sadie, giggling:  "Hahaha, it tickles!  He really likes me!"

Where did I get such a child????  She's like the "Bug Whisperer"!  Ew, ew, ew, ew, EWW!!!  I have to go throw up now and then immediately take a shower...

Happy Halloween from the Lillards!

We created a jibjab Halloween ecard that I'm hoping all of you can see if you go here.  Do you like it?  Maybe we'll splurge for the download, maybe not.  Either way, it was sure fun to make!  It's free so go make your own and be sure to send us a copy too (please?)!  I just love jibjab, don't you? ;)

Election Fast 2012: Week 2

This is a little late in coming, but I wanted to share some highlights of last week with you in regards to the fast.  Earlier in the week I wanted sweet tea so badly that I could hardly stand it.  Now, I still want it but I'm not crawling out of my skin to get to it and perspiring under the stress of the inward battle "to drink, or not to drink". ;)  Naturally, the most tempting times came when others around me were drinking tea.

Before this fast, I would make a pitcher of sweet tea nearly every night to serve with dinner.  I haven't done that since the start of the fast.  I guess everyone else in the family just has to suffer with me.  But we still go out to eat on occasion, even if it's just to McDonald's or something like that (and can I just say, I love McD's sweet tea!  Most people I know say that theirs is too sweet, but not to me.  Perfection!).  Those times were trying because what I really wanted to do was...well, #1-get my own cup of tea and barring that, #2-finish my kids' one-sip-less-than-full cups of tea....but I didn't!  Victory is mine! ;)

Whenever I felt the "urge", I would pray inwardly to God thanking Him for all of my many blessings, for His provision, His safety, His love.  Then, I would listen and wait for His voice.  Was there someone near me in need of Him?  Was there someone close by who needed my help in His name?  Did someone come to mind that I should call?  Who would have thought that something as insignificant as a glass of sweet tea could bring one to the throne room of the Almighty?

Election Fast 2012: Week 1

This week went by so quickly that I barely had time to breathe.  Between getting the first newsletter done for my MOPS group, trying to register to vote AND get my license, moving furniture, getting sick, and doing all the other normal things to be done in any given week (dinner, dishes, laundry, etc.), there wasn't much time left to sit and think.  So, if you're waiting for the moment when my "spiritual awakening" happened, so am I.

As far as keeping my fast, I haven't had a drop of sweet tea and believe me, I've wanted it.  As it would happen, our Wii quit on us so staying away from the television is a temptation that solved itself.  Coincidence? ;)  The laptop still works but I've used that for "work" during the daylight hours so I've kept my fast in that respect too.

Even in the midst of my busyness and sickness, though, there were moments that reminded me to pray for the election.  Like when it was SO easy to register to vote, while getting my driver's license transferred still hasn't happened because I have to show my marriage license to prove I am who I say I am.  I've been married for over 9 years!  My former state license is in my married name.  My social security card is in my married name.  Why is that still not enough after 9 years?!  I even brought mailed bills addressed to me in (you guessed it) my married name as proof of residency.  (Funny enough...you don't need proof of residency to transfer your driver's license in Arkansas.  What?!)  Yet, I can waltz right into the county clerk's office, fill out an application with only the last four digits of my social security card and leave registered to vote.  (Again...What?!)  Oh!  And note to self: Find marriage license!

In cases like that I'm reminded to pray that any voter fraud be exposed, that it be prevented in the first place, that we can have confidence in a fair election that is unaltered and legitimate in every way.  Upon seeing the debate this week, I pray that the truth will win out, lies will be exposed, news coverage would be fair and accurate (miracles have been known to happen ;)), but most of all I pray that God will grant "We, the People", "We, the Voters", "we, HIS people" wisdom and discernment as we cast our ballots.  I pray that our future president will fear Him, love Him, obey Him and that God will grant him His wisdom as he leads our country.

Looking ahead, week 2 is liable to be just as busy as this past week.  Yet, I'm learning that busy doesn't have to mean "bad" or "less spiritual".  Jesus seemed awfully busy to me.  The difference is that He took the time to rest and get away when it was needed and I pray I'll do the same.  I'm learning conscious awareness of God's presence even in the mundane.  Yes, I'm busy.  But God is still with me no matter what I'm doing.  I can have a conversation or listen to His voice no matter where I am.  This is old news to me but this fast is bringing this knowledge to the forefront of my mind and molding it into my everyday life, changing how I react to things and how I interact with others, changing my perspective of "the bigger picture".  I will take a break before long and perhaps then I'll have that "spiritual awakening" when it's just me and God.  No noise, no chores, no errands, no having to be somewhere 5 minutes ago.  Just me.  Just God.  For now, in the busy between times, I choose to live as just me with God.  Wherever I am.  :)

Memory Verse Time: The Big "D"

Sadie attends a home school co-op preschool once a week.  The curriculum they are using is Learn Your Letters, Learn to Serve which we are both really enjoying!  Each week there is a memory verse to go along with the letter as well as something to serve that either begins with that letter, is delivered to someone whose name begins with that letter, or both when possible.  Catch all that?

Anyway, last week they worked on the letter "D".  I began practicing with Sadie early in the week to help her learn her memory verse.  Once she recited the entire verse back to me all by herself without any prompting:

Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the disasters of your heart.  Psalm 37:4

Hmm...yeah.  That one took a little more work.  But she finally got it right! ;)

First Weekend of Election Fast 2012

Well, my father-in-law came to town this past weekend for Family Weekend at Harding.  We had a great time visiting and watching the football game Saturday night.  Go Bisons!  As is our common custom, family visits usually mean more dining out.  And for me, dining out usually means drinking lots of sweet tea.  Bring on the refills!  Not this time.  I surprised myself with how many times I would take a sip of my drink and still be shocked when it wasn't sweet tea.  I'd get involved in a conversation and take a quick swig fully expecting the sweet, smooth, and refreshing taste of tea only to be shocked and doubly disappointed by a sudden carbonation burn (Yes, sodas are my less desirable alternative).  What can I say?  Old habits die hard.

As fate would have it, not only was I not drinking sweet tea, I also had to endure everyone else around me who was drinking my beverage of choice.  My kids apparently inherited my love for sweet tea, too.  Those of you with young children have probably noticed that when you go out to eat as a family, if at all possible the wait staff will bring your children's drinks in disposable cups with lids.  Smart move for obvious reasons.  If your kids are anything like mine, they only manage to finish about half of it, though.  And if you're anything like me, you take the nearly-full disposable cups with you when you go (or at least consolidate a couple) rather than leave it to only be thrown out.  (By the way, this drives my husband crazy when I do this. haha)  So, it wasn't enough that I was tempted at the restaurant.  I had to bring the temptation home with me, too.  Well, ok.  I didn't have to.  But I did. ;D