Stinky, Stinky, Stinky

About two weeks ago, the kids and I were headed to a friend's house for a photography session. I had felt a tad queasy all morning, but that's nothing too unusual. As we pulled up to a railroad crossing, a train starting coming our direction with it's steam blowing. Big E was in the middle row, so excited he was literally shaking the car. I knew it was coming and I just didn't know where to put it. I searched high and low for a plastic bag. There's usually a ton of them lying around - when I don't need them. Under the third row seat, I saw a paper sack, and with all the voice I could muster, asked the kids to hand me the left over Easter bag. It soon held the eggs I'd had for breakfast instead of the pretty kind.

Meanwhile, the train was still rumbling by and we were surrounded by other vehicles. I just kept chugging along, too. When the train had finally passed, I knew I had just moments to dispose of this bag before it completely disintegrated. I pulled over and hid it in the woods. My pants were drenched, and I figured my friend would prefer that I not show up in this state. So, back home we went. I cleaned up and changed. I had spent all morning ironing clothes, combing hair, and by golly we were going to get those pictures taken.

We were over at her house for about 30 minutes when my episode continued. Homeward bound . We did get the pictures (which I will post at a later date).

All this just so you could understand today's predicament. We got in the car this morning and it REEKED!!! Let me say that again. It R-E-E-K-E-D!!! The funny thing is that we had just spent 6 hours in it the day prior and no one noticed anything. Think curdled milk x 1,000. We were on the way to school with the windows down flying down the freeway. It still stunk. All I could imagine was that the previous experience must have some how reached it's ultimate st inkiness. I couldn't even drive it to pick up the kids. I preferred to cram us all in the truck instead.

I finally got a chance to clean it out tonight. I Febrezzed, steam cleaned, and Llysoled until my head started feeling funny from all those fumes. Something kept telling me to keep looking - just to be sure. I lifted each seat. When I lifted Big E's, I almost died. No, I think I did for a moment. Lying under his seat was the nastiest, most rottenest, horrible smelling tomato I had ever seen. I started thinking about when the last time I had bought a tomato at the grocery store and I knew it had been a few weeks. Where did this thing come from??

That's when Eric invited the kids to come out and see the object of odor. Pods said, "Hey, that's the tomato Memaw gave to Big E." I'm sure she was joking and said, "Hey, you want this tomato?" thinking it would gross him out. Big E was probably excited to get something. And I almost died as a result of this incident. Rotten tomato!

A New Year. A New Adventure.

Well, now that it's almost February, I suppose I should update the blog for January.
Here are the top moments of 2011 so far...

1. Biggins getting upset about having to go to church and looking at me with his angry eyes and saying, "I don't want to be a Robertson anymore!"

2. Bubbie: "Mom when I grow up and go to college, I want to be a dad. That way I won't have to go to work."

3. After touring the Acme Brick plant, I asked Bubbie if he had any questions. "Yeah, what do brick makers eat for lunch?"

4. Biggins and Frijole were discussing the all important birthdays. Biggins said, "I'm six." Frijole said, " No. You have to eat two more birthday cakes to be six."

5. While waiting in a checkout line, an older gentleman in front of me turned and faced us and then turned back around to his wife and said, "I don't know why anyone would want to have so many kids." I only had three of them with me. We prayed for his dear soul that night.

6. Cinnamon gummy hearts have hit the shelves again. Favorite thing about this time of year.

7. We endured one snow day so far....more to come.

Treasures of the Heart

The Bible amazes me. I'm fascinated by the fact that one can read the same story a zillion times and gain new insight every time.

During the season, I've spent time reading the Christmas story in the book of Luke. The same story that is read every year. However, this year, one little sentence just grabbed me. While in the manger listening to the shepherds explain what the angels had told them, "Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." (Luke 2:9).

I remembered when I gave birth to my first and everyone was so excited to meet her. The room was packed with visitors waiting to see the new baby. I was so proud and elated! I cannot begin to imagine the emotion Mary contained when unknown shepards appeared and confirmed what she already knew. She treasured the moment, and kept it close in her heart.

Later, in Luke 2:41, when Jesus has grown into a boy, he stays behind and listens to teachers, while his parents begin a trek back home. After realizing that he is not with them, his parents anxiously went back and searched for him. As any parent would do, they questioned why he had done this to them. He answered, "Didn't you know that I had to be in my Father's house?" and then returned obediently with them. Again, (v.51) "But his mother treasured these things in her heart."

As a mom, I love taking mental photo's and thinking, "I want to remember this moment forever." Little giggles, silly faces, looks of accomplishment, even pouty faces are among my favorites. When my kids are grown, I want to look at them and have a flood of memories of their childhood - the moments that got them to where they're going. I want to see all of the years gone by, but yet relish the moment of the present. I want to treasure these things in my heart the way Mary did of Jesus.