Youth

Everybody is younger than me.

A poem I wrote...wanna hear it? Here it go...

My Best

There's me who needs waking 'midst the clanging and noise

There's thanks to be given for my dear little boys.

There's sheets that need changing and the wash, it needs dried

And a child's toy needs fixing (though I already tried!)

There's baths to be given and clothes picked to wear

A quick, fleeting moment to fuss with my hair.

There's a mother to call, and a friend to console

A floor to be mopped and oatmeal to dole.

There's errands to run and books to be read

A moment to ponder the thoughts in my head.

The windows need cleaning and so do the doors

And so does the dog, who's down on all fours.

There's neighbors to talk with, and gardens to tend

There's trash to take out and friendships to mend.

There's stamps to be purchased and packages sent

A moment to wonder where my sanity went.

There's stealing a moment, there's tears to be shed

Forget the short nap, I'll sleep when I'm dead.

There's poop to be scooped, there's email to read

There's making the time to do a kind deed.

There's carpet to vacuum and corners to sweep

There's playing air hockey and secrets to keep.

The chicken needs baked, the veggies sauteed

The rice still needs boiling, 'cause there's soup to be made.

There's notes to be written and phone calls returned

But I talked much too long, now the rice is all burned!

There's prayers to be said, and a Bible to read

There's hugs to be given and husband to feed

There's lessons to live and lessons to learn

There's bridges to build, and some left to burn.

There's a scarf needs crocheting and the budget needs done

And thanks to be given to God for His Son.

There's junk food needs tossing, but the chocolate--my my!

But hubby don't need it, and neither do I!

There's love to be made and tears to be dried

There's dealing needs done with my own sinful pride.

There's movies to watch and candles to light

There are books to be written and temptations to fight.

There's yoga needs posing, there's journals need writ

To grace with the pages my candor and wit.

There's so much needs doing to hold a home together

If I list it all here, I could go on forever

There's a day that needs ending, there's the night that brings rest

There's the peace left in knowing I have given my best.

I wrote this last year and meant to post it, but forgot...enjoy.

-MBM

But Wait. There's More.

Thanks, dear ones, for your well wishes and prayers as I and hubby have dealt with trouble from a stranger. I certainly have needed your prayers and am thankful for them and for your care. A couple of days before Thanksgiving (how was your holiday, beloved?) we'd received an odd phone call from her. The next morning I got three phone calls from her, asking me to take her to the hospital or to give her cab money to go to the hospital. I basically told her I couldn't help her. We didn't hear from her the next day. The day after that was Thanksgiving. No phone call from her. No phone call from her on Friday. Then Saturday night, as I was out at the store, standing in the checkout line, I got a call from hubby telling me she had called. She needed to go to the hospital, she had told hubby, and wanted to know if we could take her. We'd agreed we would call 911 (and leave the phone off the hook) if she ever came again. You'll remember that the police stood us up on three separate times when dealing with this girl. My brother is a juvenile court magistrate and advised us how to deal with her (and with the police) since we have found ourselves in this crazy and odd situation.

So, when hubby called me on my cell, I didn't want him to let her in, but it was the only way we could detain her till the cops came. I couldn't get home fast enough. I was livid. Just the thought of her made me feel like less than a nice little Christian girl; I'm ashamed to say that, but it's true. She had exploited my kindness, and I resented her for that. But this is where the rubber meets the road in our faith walk. This is where we get the chance to love our enemies. Only sweet little Michele didn't really even have any enemies. Until today.

I get home, and there she is sitting on my couch. I said, "Hi" but didn't pretend to fake the funk. There was no real compassion left on my part any more. I knew she was a con job. I got home and hubby and I played tag team. He held her there, asking that she "give him a minute" to finish up what he was doing, then he could take her to the hospital. I sneaked into the kitchen, called 911, left the phone off the hook, and the police arrived shortly thereafter. I couldn't tell them my story quickly enough. Her story changed the moment that officer stepped into our living room. Her name changed. Her whole story changed. I asked her why she lied and told me her name was this, when she told the cops her name was that. She couldn't even look us in the eye, but it was clear she was not happy with us. The cops took her -- where, I'm not sure. Her story was so shifty and had so many holes in it, I'm not sure if the girl is homeless, an orphan or if she told us nothing but lies from the beginning. My brother says to be careful, as she may try to retaliate; both hubby and I are aware of that possibility. Please pray for us, and for this young girl (who is actually 16 years old).

In the meantime, as busy as my year has been, I managed to finish two books (please see sidebar). Hubby says I should take a whole year to write the next book, and that doesn't sound like a bad idea; my plate feels really full, and another opportunity just opened up for us. More on that later that if we decide to accept the opportunity (and no, we are not adopting another child.. oh wait. Never say never, right?).

Grace, beloved...
M

Crazy Situation

I've never had this happen to me before, but I think I am possibly being stalked by a missing person. I've stumbled upon the fact that I think she is a missing person, and I have tried three times to get the police to come and pick this person up, but all three times the police never came. Finally, she showed up at my door again today wanting to 'talk' to me. My brother, who is a magistrate, said that I should call 911 and leave the phone off the hook. He said the police should come then. I also noticed that a letter I had put in the mailbox (a letter to my brother, in fact) for the mailman to pick up was missing. I know that she took it, because the letter was out there when she came, but it was gone when she left. The mailman didn't pick it up (in case you were thinking that), because a) he doesn't come that early and b) I was on the front porch when he pulled up! He handed my mail right to me, but of course, there was nothing for him to take, because she had taken that letter. I've gotten others involved, and I have pointed her to some helpful resources, and have even helped her myself (which opened the door to this crazy situation), but now I'm not so sure what I've gotten myself into. She calls incessantly. The phone rings and rings...12 times an afternoon, it's crazy. I'm a little concerned.

That I Would Be Good

Why I Love Dove's Message

Welcome to Forty

My husband. You gotta love his creativity.

Last Friday he came home early from work, which I expected. But he complained about his stomach bothering him, and said he needed to head to the bathroom (need I say more?).

Within the next half hour, my cousin calls to tell me that she's stranded at a hotel, locked her keys in her car, and has now called everyone in her phone book, and I am the last person who she's trying. Can I come and pick her up? Sure, I said. But that was after I asked hubby if he could go, as I needed to stay and get the boys dressed. He told me he needed to stay near a bathroom, and that he could get the boys dressed and I could pick up my cousin.

I had to pick her up at a hotel, where she was giving some sort of presentation to some clients she had. Wasn't this a nice hotel, she wanted to know. Sure, I said. It's really nice. Did I have time for my cousin to show me some of the rooms? They are really nice rooms, she insisted. Of course, I didn't have the time, since it was early Friday and I had plenty to do at home! But I told her it was no problem, and she took me up to the 4th floor and let herself into one of the rooms with a key. Yep, they were really nice rooms. Contemporary and stylish. Then I noticed a envelope in a chair there in the room. The handwriting looked familiar. I got this eerie feeling of deja vu right before I asked her "What's that envelope for?"

"That's actually for you," she answered calmly.
"For me?"
"Yep. For you."

Oh, no. I'd be had once again!

I opened the envelope and it was a note from Ashunoah. He was thanking me for all I do for the boys and him. He told me he wanted me to have the whole weekend to focus on me, so this would be my hotel room for the whole weekend. He said he knew I had the big prayer event I had to orchestrate for our adoption ministry, but he said he would help me with whatever I needed. He told me this was the only weekend he could book this time for me at this very special hotel. He told me to go home and pack a bag, and to take my journal, books, movies, headcoverings (on this line he told me that I was his glory...how sweet!) and whatever else I might need for my retreat weekend. I was floored. Hubby is good for stuff like this, but it had been a few years. But once again, I'd been had.

My cousin never locked her keys in her car. Hubby never had stomach problems that would keep him on the toilet; it was all a ploy to get me to the hotel!

I was thrilled, needless to say! I went home and finished cooking the items I needed to prepare for the Prayer Event (to be held Saturday morning), and I finished a load of laundry I had started. Hubby took over from there: he got the boys dressed, cleaned the kitchen, and in general was at my service for whatever I needed in order to get me back to the hotel as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, I didn't get back to the hotel till early evening. I went into my delightful little hotel room and looked around. Truly this place was beautiful. But wait! There was another note from hubby there in the same chair where I'd found the first note! This note said for me to get settled in and to be back downstairs in the hotel restaraunt by 7:30 p.m. sharp.

I got settled in, unpacked, and was enjoying some alone time when the phone rang at 7:00. I jumped! It was such a loud ring in so quiet a place! The voice on the other end was a woman's, and she told me it was time to come down for dinner.

Was Ashunoah coming to have dinner with me? Had he gotten a sitter for the kids?

No. That would be too simple!

I took the elevator down to the first floor, and when the elevator doors opened to let me out, there were five of my closest friends sitting there, waiting to see the expression of surprise on my face. My jaw dropped!

Hubby had arranged for my friends to 'surprise' me with a nice birthday dinner at the restaurant in the hotel. He even gave them a dinner 'allowance'...how sweet and thoughtful! My friends came bearing gifts (though I won't turn 40 till next Thursday), and we had a delightful evening talking and laughing. Only two of them knew each other, but they all became friends by the end of the evening. We all agreed that this very same group needs to get together again soon, so much did we enjoy our time together! I told them I would be personally responsible for making it happen.

On top of that, hubby made arrangements for one of the five friends to share my room with me on Friday night, and another to share my room on Saturday night. I had a delightful time staying up and chatting with two of my close friends --- one on each night. Oh, I had such a hard time saying good-bye to the boys on Friday afternoon! I felt like I wanted to cry. I'd never been apart from my boys overnight! (I think Zwahara [Obi] was too over it too. Hubby said that he peed on himself TWICE that weekend. He hadn't done that in weeks! Teshumawe seemed to do okay, but fell into my arms when he saw me again on Sunday). But when I got ready to check out on Sunday morning, I felt near tears. The wonderful weekend just wasn't long enough!

Ashunoah got me the most lovely bag (green, my favorite color...I'm passionate about green!), and two beautiful scarves. Since we were married on my 25th birthday, it doesn't usually feel like my birthday is a day just for me. But this year, it feels like hubby gave me a day just for me --- indeed, a whole weekend! How thoughtful and loving!