snuggie fit for a queen

i got a "snuggie" for mothers day. the amazing phenom of television marketing..the blanket with arms? if you do not know what i am talking about...YOU GET OUT TOO MUCH and do not watch enough t.v. sheeeesh! get with the "program" ha! it actually works for me in the alabama heat because the house is cold from the air conditioning. ANYWAY, one is supposed to wear the snuggie turned around backwards, and, just like in the commercial...sitting happily on the couch eating popcorn and hanging out with another model that you just met who is sitting with your actor kids. oh, no...not me. not me... i have WAY to much to do. today and most days i "rig" my snuggie for my ultimate comfort AND mobility. i turned the snuggie around to the front, grabbed my white velcro physical therapy belt(for my SI joint), and cinched that blue snuggie up as much like a robe as possible. NOTE TO SNUGGIE PEOPLE, MAKE ONE THAT FUNCTIONS AS A ROBE, HELLO? NOT EVERYONE WANTS TO (or can) SIT ON THE COUCH! you might be asking, "why does liz NOT just buy a robe?" the question makes perfect sense, but until you have slid yourself in this snuggie you can't compare ANY fleece to it! the feeling is ultimate yumminess!

PICTURE IT: early morning, snuggie cinched, but wait....it has a long "train" in the back and being dragged behind me is all of the things that collect under it. today, it was a leggo man, a dust bunny, and a cheerio. oh i am ROYALTY, a queen donning my snuggie with a train! my bobby pin sticking straight up from the night is my crown! my children are my subjects (sent off to school)! my 4 year old muse is still asleep, and when he awakens oh what fun he will be! my zit cream, the marking of a true beauty. my king, already at work for much construction estimating has to be done for this kingdom! my coffee, my Bible....hey, i am heading to the couch...almost there, almost there. until i hear the muse as he stirrs just in time... no snuggie couch time for this queen! there is work to be done! instant oatmeal?

phoebe is sick

please pray that we can bring her home soon. she was running a fever of 103 degrees and i was unable to take her home today. very sad children and very sad me. pray that her fever goes down and whatever virus she has will disappear and she can come be part of our family soooon! we already love phoebe.

new painting for a dad of three boys!

puppies available at birmingham animal control

there are many more medium sized and bigger dogs! even a mean old pot bellied pig! a litter of brand new puppies, and tons of cats. the fee is only $80. but, be on your best behavior because Phil the adoption dude has named every animal there, loves them as his own and won't let them go without evaluating you, your home situation, and your love for dogs!!
http://www.bjcanimalcontrol.com/
there is also http://haveaheartanimalrescue.weebly.com/
and of course the local humane societies. shelby county and birmingham
they all seem to connect to alabama pet finder as well.

munchkin and phoebe

when i met phoebe, another dog caught my eye also. munchkin. phil, the adoption dude said, "that is the best dog here and NO ONE seems to want her...she has been here 4 months!" oh, my heart was broken, but when we got her out of the cage, she had WAY too much energy for me (duh, she has been in a cage for 4 months!). i felt sad but little did i know that one of my bff's would be at a pet supply store two days later (with her two daughters) and see munchkin and WANT HER! SO, i told them about how long she had been there yada yada...anyway they brought home munchkin yesterday. and after bathing her...shooooooooweeeeeee~! she happily resides with their other terrier mix and did not cry once in her kennel last night (duh, she's been in a cage for 4 months!).
here is the crazy part of the story: while my bff and her friend were at the shelter picking up the dog, they witnessed a lady and her son try to adopt PHOEBE! she said they were VERY UPSET. i have no idea how this has happened since i have been in contact with them for almost two weeks now.

here is one theory of how this happened:
there is a MINUTE possibility that someone was reading my blog, saw phoebe, read the post that bert would not let me have her, and decided that they wanted her, (without checking the next post that he had changed his mind). i had called and claimed her. my paperwork was already in their system. she was marked as ADOPTED.
if you are one of my bloggers and you tried to adopt phoebe, i am so sorry that you were under the impression that she was still available. she is coming home and will be very happy. i am so sorry that your son was sad. this makes me SO SAD. my kids have been counting down the hours for phoebe's homecoming. i hope that you and your son will adopt one of the other precious dogs that need homes. posted above is a picture of munchkin and phil the adoption dude!

she comes home tomorrow!

Phoebe WILL not have anything to do with a leash. i do not think she has ever been on one! i spent about 45 minutes with her yesterday at the shelter. she laid her head in my lap. she licked my face and hands. she needs a bath!! she is getting spayed this morning and tomorrow is the big adoption day. i have NEVER adopted an animal. i have always started from puppy age. pure bread. i have no idea what Phoebe has seen, where she has lived in her one year of life. if someone was mean to her. if she was treated ok. i do know, she loves kids and plays well with them, she needs a home, and it was love at first sight! she loves her name and answers to it. insert mini sermon aka "lermon" a liz sermon: i can't help but to draw a parallel and be reminded of Christ's love for us as i chose Phoebe, am removing her from her cage and a stinky place, giving her hope, saving her from immanent death, putting my name on her, paying a price for her. today she has to be spayed. will she understand that? no. is it for her own good? yes. will it be painful? probably. her little brain can't comprehend any of it. she can't understand, but i love her and she is mine. here is the parallel: Jesus plucked me from the muck and mire, choosing me, giving me hope in a hopeless world, saving me from a certain death and eternity in hell, putting HIS name on me "you are mine". Paying the ULTIMATE price for me, by replacing me on the cross for my sins, so i will never have to pay for them. my account has been stamped in His blood "PAID IN FULL". sometimes HE allows me to go through pain and suffering, for His Glory and my own good. i hardly ever understand WHY i am going through poop when i go through it, BUT i know He has a purpose "to prosper me, not to harm me". my brain is too small to comprehend that. sometimes His purpose is revealed to me and it is real obvious (sometimes it is not) after the fact or during the pain~ because He LOVES ME. i am HIS! DISCLAIMER: we are not dogs. i am not God. I just wanted to draw a parallel that i thought was interesting and helpful. GOD is WHOA SO MUCH bigger than my adoption of phoebe i love Isaiah 43: But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. Isaiah 43:1-2

kindergarten painting

each child in butter's class participated in our class art project! i, of course was nominated to do the art project with them. never let anyone know you are an artist if you do not want to be responsible for class art projects. this one turned out great. i also did one for peanut's class and i will post it later. the parents went nutso over it and so did the teacher. i was very flattered and very proud of the class.
how the project was done:
i drew ovals across the canvas and each child had to paint within their oval. i then came around it with color and of course the tree limb. it was fun. but hard work. the painting was auctioned off for the school at the silent auction and went for more than $250! pretty exciting.

junk12

told the kids about Phoebe the dog and we are all so excited! even bert!
we might have to change the spelling of her name to the more phonetic "feebie" because how can i explain to my son that P H O E B E spells feebie? hopefully we can pick her up in a couple of days!

a conversation about God.

a facebook discussion between many "friends" ended with a question posed to me. a few of the other folks were actually denouncing God and using terrifying language that was pagan, at best, God-hatred at worst.

hmmmm....interesting...very very interesting... i like the term and the band "Blind Faith",......works for me..
how can any G-d allow children to be sexually abused/killed....and so on....help me with that Liz..tough concept to swallow ...im a pretty open-minded fella...help me see beyond these obvious ridiculous crimes on humanity and the presence or lack there of your/my G-D...thanks for your time and heart.


friend, i wish i had the answer to that question. but i don't. all i know is if something happens like that to me or someone that i love, i will have to trust in the sovereignty that He is in control of everything. it is BLIND FAITH because you can't see it or the answers but upon the fall of man in the garden, He allowed sin to enter the world. i can imagine that he STOPS as many horrible things from happening as well. we just can't know it because our brains are not capable of understanding his bigness and greatness. i have a friend that came to the Lord through the death of her infant child. all on the idea of "blind trust" she needed to know that we are not just floating around here without any purpose. God certainly does not sit up in heaven and say "gosh, i wish i could have stopped that, but its all free will for everyone!" He has purpose in it ALL. every bit of it. every bit. if we were 2 days old,could we understand organic chemistry? our brains can't understand His purposes. we are too small. Christianity is the LEAST narcissistic religion. it is not a self-based belief system. it is all about Him. i could not pay for my sins, which is death, so HE did, on the cross paying the penalty stamping my overdraft account "paid in full". it is ALL ABOUT HIM. a lot of other beliefs are about "what can my God do for me?" this is about what he has done for me, through me, and for His glory. "come to me, all who are weary and burdened and i will give you rest" Matthew 11:28
i do think you are the real deal!! thank you for your question. take some more up with Him. He will answer you in his WORD. reading John in the bible and Psalms is a GREAT way to start.

new painting

shay, my babysitter/friend that i pay. asked me to do a painting for her sister. she traded me hours of babysitting. it turned out really cute and her sister LOVES it!

lost owner is getting the dog!

bert told me this morning that we can have her! he had to mull it over, sleep on it and of course pray about it. Phoebe is her name and she is the cutest sweetest shyest dog. i am so excited and a little nervous about her meeting moss the dog and the kids. moss won't care, he is old and laid back (unless he is crossing hardwood floors!). we will see how everything goes. she still needs to be spayed before she can come home. Lord, i pray for this whole thing! please bless this decision. i pray that phoebe comes out of her shell and immediately bonds with us!

the jury might still be out.

bert and i talked. we made the kids stay inside and we went on the porch to "talk" about the dog. i wanted him to know exactly why i want her, he wanted me to know why he thinks it might be a bad idea. i understood his concerns, he understands my reasoning. despite the interruptions from the kids we had a pretty good talk. i am NOT going to get my hopes up, but i feel that because i explained myself to him and told him more about her, he MIGHT be interested in meeting her. we'll see. God knows what we can or can't handle. HE will work it out or take away my desire for a new pup.

lost owner not getting the dog

it's just not gonna work. i still want one though and i will keep hoping.

lost owner looking for dog

without authorization from my husband. i went to the animal shelter. my heart was broken by a sweet, timid, precious dog. prayer warriors...throw one up there for me. i want this little pup BAD. i won't show you pics for FEAR that someone will go and get her....she is so cute and calm and a little nervous. i am waiting on a response from bert right now...........3:40........ ok maybe a tiny pic

my little arteest!

my nine year old, peanut, is great at art and i am VERY proud!

mexican squirrels?

oh yes, i said it....MEXICAN SQUIRRELS! i LOVE to feed my birds. i know what kind come to my feeders and i have even given them people names, there is "robber", "conan", "heidi"(who was tragically killed by a murderous cat),"red" and the twins. i do not name the doves because they don't deserve it. they are glorified pigeons. yes, i said that too. sqirrels are the greatest ALBATROSS to a birder like me. i can't stand them with a raging passion. they are little daredevils that can hang by one claw from a spiderweb to dip into your stash of delicious EXPENSIVE birdseed. you can even try and get one of those anti squirrel feeders. they can figure out those too. they can leap from 10 feet away...land on your feeder...spilling all of the seed onto the ground and still manage to get a couple of bites out of the feeder. i really can't stand SQUIRRELS! my mother knows this, and in an attempt to help me, she shows up with a big bag of birdseed and two packets of something called "squirrel away". you mix this powder in with the seed. it covers each seed with a thin layer of CHILI PEPPER HOTNESS that squirrels HATE (supposedly). in fact, you have to hold your breath and wash your hands as you are mixing it into the birdseed because it is so potent that if breathed in, you are sent into a coughing spell. hand washing is also a must because just a little in the eyes will ruin your day. for a while this seemed to be working. i would do an evil "mwahahahaha" as i watched them one by one try the seed and then jump to the nearest branch and run their faces down the tree. but over the course of the spring, these scavengers have begun to LIKE the hot chili pepper! on any given afternoon there are 5 squirrels gathered on the ground under the feeder or trying to climb up to collect falling seed! they are having a mexican fiesta! i swear i heard one of them shout OLE' the other day. i even added more of the powder which has not stopped them one bit! i forgot to explain an important fact. the birds do not have taste buds so can't taste the hot chili! if ANYONE has any secrets to keeping squirrels from my feeders...BRING IT ON! BAMANOS!!!
click on this video below of one of my mexican squirrels prowling around my feeder!

junk11

this is so bizarre. if crunch does not know someone's name or he is trying to get the attention of a complete stranger...he calls them "krickle". i have NO IDEA where this came from. "hey, krickle, i got this spiderman book...wanna read it wif me??"

crunch did not steal any "special recipe" brownies

so, we were eating tonight and a group of twenty-somethings were right next to us. we...meaning the five of us and our friends and their two kids, were wrecking the ambiance of this peruvian/mexican restaraunt. but who gives a fudge if we were irritating anyone? i have found there to be truth to the "power in numbers" thing. anyhoo, as we were hanging out waiting for our food, i noticed a fresh homemade hot pan of brownies at the table next to us. hmmmm, [i thought quietly to myself] what kind of dessert can you get here? a whole stinkin pan of brownies? so i leaned in toward them and noticed that they had a light brown coating on top. hmmm? [i thought to myself] those look "funny" and why are there greenish parsley like flakes in them? but i am sure they were simply butterscotchy herbalish brownies. EVERYONE is so into natural ingredients right? i am so sure of it.. the more i THINK about how sure i am of it makes me even more sure of it. anyway, i was leaning toward them and a big guy at the table next to us about did a jamoca twist shake to grab the pan before i got too close. WOAHHHH BIG FELLA! i was just checking them out. sorry i got a little TOO close. i'm not gonna eat your brownies, dude. just lookin'. sheeeesh!

let us just fast forward through the painstaking evening, you know? the same evening we have with our friends over and over HOPING it will be different this time. we TRY to have adult conversation at one end of the table and the kids inevitably interrupt us with EVERY question, whimper, whine, and grumble..."Mommmmmmm, how come they do not have shirrrrly temmplessss heeeeeeeeere???...whyyyyyy can't i have a coke?.....telll brother to stttop botheringggg me!...he is THROWING SPITBALLS AT ME...THROUGH HIS STRAWWW!!!!"
it is funny really, as they grumble, we tend to guzzle. LORD, please help this margarita to do what it needs to to CALM my nerves. please?

SO, as we are collecting our stuff to leave, i am sipping the last of my margarita, i see crunch running away from the pan of brownies, WITH HIS MOUTH FULL! oh yes, he swiped a whole brownie and was taking cover when i caught him. my friend and i looked at eachother, then to the other table.........who was chatting it up and never saw crunch. FYEWWWWWWWWWW! [i said to myself again] i gathered him quietly and we made our way to the exit. as we were leaving, my friend said to me..."what if those were 'special' brownies? they sure did look kinda weird."
so, there is a very tiny chance that my child had a psychodelic brownie? such a small chance that it is not EVEN worth blogging about it. so i won't. i will not jump to any crazy conclusion that these college twenty somethings with nothing better to do on a tuesday night then to go out and have peruvian/mexican, margaritas, coronas, and their own special homemade brownies. i will not even second guess my decision not to outright ASK the group if they were just regular greenish fudgie love filled brownies. we just ran away and i am pretending that nothing happened. cuz it didn't.

never ever

never EVER in my months and months of blogging have i had a post have as many hits as the post about my sister moving to madison, mississippi (see post below). i watched my "feedjit" as people from EVERYWHERE signed on to read about this. wow. i can only think that maybe people sent it to other people that know paul and em. or just everyone on my facebook responded when i said i had a new post. i do not know. but, wow.