It started so beautifully...but wait...

The children and I were sharing life together.
It was one of those "ahhh" moments that a mother's heart loves.
Breakfast was finished, and we journeyed to the couch for our devotions.
I was purely passionate this morning since the topic was something that I spend a lot of time researching, and even more time pondering .
Why do teenagers leave "the church?"
Or more specifically - What has led to the startling statistic that 75% of evangelical Christians walk away from their faith with in 2 years of entering college.
They could tell their merry mom was getting into one of her preacher moods.
"What is the responsibility of the parent... my role as a mother....our role in modeling authentic living."
Oh yes, my children, the room was heating up tremendously.
As I challenged them with all the spiritual authority I could muster, I do believe a lighter began swaying over my head, and a resounding chorus of
It only takes a spark, followed by People need the Lord (that's an inside joke for all you who grew up in the church during the 70's/80's ;), ....bellowed through our hallowed halls.

Well, the moment I proclaimed that they may be the only Jesus that anyone ever sees,
coupled with the charge to make a difference - at the store, at church, on the football field....that is when the bedlam began.
It only "takes a small spark" to change the mood, doesn't it, and that was it. It had been flamed.
The moment on my soap box was interrupted.
Amongst the giggles,
"Oh, he has made a difference all right," retorted the siblings.
And the "difference" was explained....in details which I will leave out.
Every mother's dream is echoed in the Proverbs 31 woman's exhortation that their children will rise up and call her blessed. Agreed?
Well, my mother's heart was done proud when my son (leaving out names to protect the innocent) let his "Jesus light shine" (one of our family mottoes), on the football field.
It came to my attention, during our special family bonding time, that this particular son has a new nickname.
Yes, a nickname specially picked from a few of those fellow football friends whose lives he has impacted.
FARTIGUS or FARTIGOUS...
not quite sure I have ever seen this spelled as a Proper Noun before, but let your imagination wander.
Yep, I stand in amazement at the wonder of it all.
I am blessed, and you are blessed to know me.
To think that in a few short years, Fartigous will rise up and call me blessed.
AHHH - does a mamma's heart good.
Don't you just love a few boys of bedlam?

***edited...my hubby thinks I need to add an explanation of FART...igus...
Based on the comments, I definitely think every one is tracking with me. And he's not even a blond - love you anyway honey. :)

P.O.O.P.I.E.S. beware

It had been a long, but glorious day. I spent time with a family that was sure to hold a special place in my heart for many years to come. The kids played while we laughed, and dined, and I assumed that I had met my new BFF until I read this.....at her sister's Nesting Place blog.....the very next day!!!

"I'm starting a new club. It's called People Opposing Objectionable Pretend plants In the Environment. P.O.O.P.I.E. for short. This is what I object to. Pretend ivy over the kitchen cabinets. Or, pretend ivy anywhere for that matter. Ladies, fake plants have come a long way since the ivy. If you are still using it, please reconsider. It looks bad. Your friends are too nice to tell you to take it down and move into the 21st century. My apologies."

Emily - How could you do this to me? Did you parade on home and then howl devilishly behind my back to the Nester? Remember the biblical model of confrontation...just tell me to my face. I'm a big girl, I can handle it.
(xoxox...P.S. She would never do this...but it sets up the plot, so go with it)

When I adorned these cabinets with ivy in '97 , it was with glee that I jubilantly accented my too tall cabinets with these...

and then, better yet, with these...
because nothing screams the '90's more than enormous, fake sunflowers whose shiny plastic leaves shimmer from the glow of my recessed lighting. The problem with ceilings that are almost ten feet tall is that I rarely look "to the heavens" (my cabinets) and ponder the inadequacy of what lurks in the realms above.
Please note that for over ten years those lovely little leaves have gotten stuck in the colossal cabinet above....just like that pic up there...and it hasn't bothered me a bit. In fact, I don't think I have ever noticed this dilemma until I just saw this picture...right here in front of my face....hmmm.

So I've been pondering and have come to the conclusion that nothing ruins an awesome little bird house on top of some beastly bookshelves more than plastic-y, waxy leaves that burn the Nester's eyes, hey?
Yep, another book shelf in the school room/dining room.
How's that for a close up...dust and all. I'm just laying it all out here, ladies.

Another of my beauties.

"I wear my sunglasses at night...."

And how about color....I love me some bright, blue, happy, hydrangeas. I can't grow them well, so I thought this would work, but I guess it doesn't.....

These were truly what sat in my tub waiting to be rinse offed (because dusting just wasn't going to cut it) when I read the Nester's Faking it Post. This is about 6 feet (it's a garden tub) of Poopie pandemonium. Yes, my 4 poster cherry bed now is very lonely, but I dare not place them back above our head for fear of the dire consequencees since I now know how hideous one might think they are.
Now can you see why I about spit out my coffee over this whole post?
She assures me that it was all on auto post, but I still feel a conspiracy among friends.
And the toss up is still between these two for which one wins the putrid prize...

Looks a little freakish Halloweenish just seeing those china doll heads there....it's a striking curio cabinet stuck in a back sitting room corner with many other niceties on there....these are a few of the dolls that my mom gave me growing up...one each year for Christmas. WOW , was that a tangent...back to the toss up for the prize...

Please notice the marvelous macremay that was done with love by very talented hands decades ago, and if that doesn't sway you, surely the delicously detailed mauve accents will thrill your sweet little contented heart on this tour.

One sad story to share.
I heart these urns and flowers on my mantel.
(looks pretty pathetic, and so very crooked on here, but really cute in real life. :)

The problem is that the real ivy died, and so did the beautiful fresh roses and flowers that were with the topiary. When they were alive...stunning, truly. I felt for a moment like a true interior decorator. They were the focal point of the room and every one "ohh'd and ahhh'd."
But that was then....this is now.
I need help....I couldn't bare to part with them, so I put fake ivy topiaries back in...I know...gasp....it's embarrassing, but I thought if I was truly going to get this all off my chest, and confess, I might as well be truly honest with you.
I'll get through it. Thanks for caring. I know I need to put them both down, but it is just so hard to part with something that has been such an important part of your family for so long and brought so much joy.
King Solomon says it best,
"There is a time for everything...
a time to be born and a time to die....a time to mourn and a time to dance."
I think this is my mourning season, my blogging friends. It is my time to tear down..yes, tear down my fetid fakes, and then mourn...gleefully, because I now know.
No, I am not the Nester, nor will I ever be, but good thing she loves me anyhow...fakes and all. :)

I actually had uploaded all the spots in my "haven" where I am doing the fakes/real flowers right, but you know what...I am not showing them...by choice.
You will see many posts in this Poopie party where people are doing it right....here you can take comfort in the fabulous fact, that this one isn't, and she's ok with that and that it really doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful.
It's all about Balancing Beauty AND Bedlam.

Running the Sahara meets Good Will Hunting

Mauritanian desert

Photograph by Don Holtz

111 Days
Six Countries
4,600 miles
Three men that are absolutely crazy...
ok, so maybe that's not how this movie would really be introduced, but I am just saying...insanity!!
I think that the documentary says something close to "life-changing, unbelievable...successful" and many other amazing adjectives to describe what these three actually accomplished, but all I can say is "out of their mind."
(If you have no idea what I am talking about, scroll down and read my last post.)

A camera is mounted on a Toyota Land Cruiser using a Russian Arm rig to film the runners

Think of what they accomplished....
these extreme ultra-marathoners ( their title, not mine) averaged 44 miles a day running in temps up to 140 degrees ground temperature. In laymen terms - try running 2 marathons a day...straight... for 111 days without taking even a ONE day break. And I can barely make it up my third flight of stairs without getting winded.
So, now do you have a resounding agreement of my earlier assessment?

This documentary will be coming out in theaters on October 31. It really is an amazing adventure into the inner dynamics of what makes men like this tick (yes, very addictive personalities that transferred drugs/alcohol to running...fascinating), as well as the very humbling reality that millions of people in Africa do not have clean water to drink. Many nomads travel days just to reach any type of wells. All of the proceeds from Running the Sahara will go to the H2OAfrica organization which hopes to change the lives of thousands of Africans as a result of the wells that will be drilled in nomadic areas.

Now - if you got this far, you have probably already skimmed the photos to see if Matt Damon showed up...he didn't, and thus, I will not be offended if you click off my blog now.

Are you still there?
Oh shucks, I feel honored.
You probably want to know the straight scoop on the movie star.
If we ever meet in real life..... but to put it in print...not my style. :)

I had no idea that there would be so many people that I knew, so since I am a very novice photographer and I couldn't figure out how to catch up with old friends, take pictures,and eat all at the same time (maybe not in that order), I turned the camera over to my 13 year old son. Thanks, Bubs!
It took place at the Carolina Theater that has wonderful ambiance reminiscent of the days of old.
I will give details of my Good Will hunting dress at the end. :)

The evening began with a VIP pre-show reception offering a full spread of food that I am typically to exhausted to even think about making. :)

Yes, a chocolate fountain....
how can anyone complain with unending chocolate at their disposal.
I love this candid of my son because honestly, ladies,
doesn't that completely capture our love affair with this wonderful indulgence.

I finally got around to getting some myself...all the strawberries were gone...sigh, all the yummy things to dip in it...gone..sniffle, sniffle.... but I savored the pretzels that I found, and dug in for all it was worth.
The last premier had a fountain three times the size of this one. I am so grateful that this one was a tiny because it saved me from the incredibly strong desire to jump in and roll around in the stuff.
Which I almost did ...in my younger, less mature days.

These kiddos were banned from the VIP reception, but look how cute they are taking care of themselves.
(can't get it off of the "link" UGH)My sis in love, mom and moi posing for the blog. :)

Two crazy men....on the left, the star of the movie, and right...my big brother.
WE ARE FAMILY!!
(sing with me sista-s)
So incredibly corny, but can you guess....
We are running the Sahara (and that's the closest you'll ever find us).

MY BIG REVEAL...hee heee
I am having a lot of fun thinking through this whole Designer Wardrobe for under $100 series.... and have found many interesting perceptions along the way that I had NO IDEA were out there.
First, there are quite a few ladies that would never in a million years wear second hand clothing. Now, I would have guessed that for people that have money.
Not because they're necessarily snooty, but just because they don't have to. Speaking from experience, I have many friends that love to find out how much I spend, but share candidly that they would not shop for clothes at Good Will or yard sales. What has been fascinating for me is that this actually permeates to people with very limited financial means as well.
I just had no idea.
No right or wrong here...just interesting, and I will explore it in more detail in the upcoming weeks.
Well, here is one lady that is proud to show you her Good Will Hunting deals.
Honestly, you can dress me up for a mere $11 and I can work a room with the best of them.
Gorgeous black dress...Good Will - $5 (YES, FIVE DOLLARS)
There is a beautiful embroidered design around the perimeter of the dress...the detail gives it that extra "oomph."
Matching earrings/necklace - $2 - yard sale.
A lady that owned a boutique closed down and was selling off all her jewelery. I cleaned her out (literally). You can't see them up close but they are exquisite (in a not real diamonds kind of way).
Black shoes...I couldn't even tell that they had ever been worn -
$1 - yard sale
My son took this candid as I was trying to drape the shawl over my panty lines...yep, there were quite a few, but that's why you wear something to cover them.
This is the wrap that I was telling you about from my Mocha the Menace post.
I get so much use out of this because it has so many versatile looks.
It was $2 at a yard sale and you can bet that I was squealing with delight as I walked to my car.
I love buying rich people's things that they get sick of.
Total cost for the evening: $11.75
Dress - $5
Jewelry - $2
Shoes - $1
Wrap/shawl? - $2
If you're doing the math, you're wondering where the other $1.75 went.
Well, since we're all women...
I was going to buy a strapless bra for the occassion, but then I went to price them...new!
I am sorry, but if I am only spending $5 on my dress, no way am I spending "xyz" on a bra that I will only wear once a year.
Sorry, I did it....will you keep visiting my blog?

This just wouldn't be my blog is some bedlam didn't occur. As my brother was hustling to get to the podium....he leaned over and whispered that the air conditioner went out in the theater.
Let me tell you, in the picture below he is masterfully weaving the scenerio that we just really couldn't appreciate the Sahara if we didn't bring a little bit of the heat and humidity to the theater.
Imagine 700 people - with many of the men in suits - enjoying the NC humidity packed together like sardines.
Can't complain, it sure beats 140 degrees.

Tonight's Movie Premier...

Just a little sneak peak of what this goat chasing (see post right below), child bearing,
city girl turned country queen is doing tonight.
I know I have mentioned my great sis-in-law (mom of ten),
but my amazing brother has a bit to do with that.
Anyhow, as part of his "side life," when he's not helping me corral the chaos out here on our homestead, he also produces movies.
Some of you may have seen The Ultimate Gift with Abigail Breslin...yep, that was his, and we had tons of fun being in it.
Anyhoo - tonight is the premier of a documentary that he is co-executive producing along with Matt Damon.
Yep, THEE Matt Damon.
It's called, "Running the Sahara,", and is a fascinating look at three ultra-marathoners literally risking their lives to run across the Sahara desert. Can we say in-san-i-ty?
I won't go into all the details now, but I will post some fun pictures later. The proceeds of the premier will go to build clean drinking water wells in Africa.
We aren't sure if Matt Damon will make it...I am guessing the Piedmont Triad isn't his kind of place, but there's some buzz about this getting some Academy or is it Emmy (I get them confused) award nominations, so it will be a energized evening.
Off to figure out which one of my Good Will Hunting dresses will work
(get it...Matt Damon...ha ha), and I am not kidding about the Good Will dresses.
Even for this, I refuse to pay retail!!!!

P.S. And no, I will not be bribed for his cell phone number, so don't ask. All of our kiddos (when my bro first started working with him) copied it down and wanted to bid it off on Ebay - those little entrepreneurs.
Needless to say, we wrested it back, burned it, and threatened their lives...it worked.

Meet the Menace...

What a fun surprise to find mid day some new friends visiting from Emily's blog, and the Nester's sweet comment. Emily is just the sweetest thing, and after our day together, I confessed to my husband that she is someone with whom I could build a great friendship.
My friendship time is at a premium, so I don't thrown that out often.
Poor thing for her family, she doesn't have much choice. We are going to be hounding them for years with all our kiddos in the youth group.
If you're here for the first time...I am so glad!

This is my small spot in the world where I share my reality of balancing beauty and bedlam. The horror today was realizing that I actually had a respectably boring post (another one down below) with no signs of bedlam at all.
So many blogs scream beauty, and I savor those with my coffee, but my goal is to also share the bedlam that pops into my life. It is there...quite often, when I least expect it.
It keeps this place real, and my pride in check (hmm, that may be a proud comment? hee hee).
Since you saw the "beauty" over at Emily's (isn't she an amazing photographer), browse around and you will find plenty of bedlam...breaking hotel beds, dancing in the rain, dogs throwing up gross things, as well as the typical, everyday events that take my breath away from God's goodness.
This is the bedlam that I came home to on Sunday...less than a day before Emily took those great shots. Not how I would have chosen to introduce myself, but it's life...my life.
City girl doing the country living thing.

Meet Mocha, the Menace (you can read more about her here).
Almost monthly she breaks away and decides to join the family for some bonding.
Unfortunately, she decided to start the grill before we were ready, or home from church.

She knows a good thing when she smells it,
and left over steak particles were calling to her from the field...she couldn't resist. The problem? I was dressed in my Sunday go meeting clothes, with all my strong guys following behind in another car. Following way behind.

Who says that goats are herbivores?

You may wonder why I tried to tackle The Menace without changing my clothes?
Well, I did shed the great green wrap that covered up that bare skin that I am showing you all right now...I am typically on the more modest side. :)

At first, I thought it was funny and that my daughter could catch a good picture.
You see, if I were to let go of her, and take off those great $5 leather boots that I got at a yard sale, she would have gone straight for my flower bushes.
I KNOW...she ate 4 rose bushes down to the ground in a matter of minutes the last time I tried to postpone the inevitable, and trust her to mind her manners.

You see, by now, I am getting really ticked. Goats are strong, really strong, and stubborn. So stubborn that they will not give in - even to the point of making themselves faint.
Yep, she faints from that strong will, just because she doesn't want to give in to her little sinful nature. Reminds me of a few kids that I know?
Hmmm...might even make a good devotional topic. :)

It is now an all out tug of war between good and evil,
and the blond will not give in....it's a matter of pride, you see. She has beaten me before; I humbly admit, and dragged me across the field. In my weaker days, of course.
I didn't know my 9 year old kept snapping pictures, but I am glad she did....too funny.
I think she's starting to think in "blog post" terms.

Ahh haa...victory.
Well, almost...it was about another 10 minutes to get her back,
but this makes for a good ending.
My boys all pulled in about 5 minutes after the fiasco was finished and asked,
"Why isn't lunch ready?"
Grr....males and their mealtimes.
The moral of that story....
they ended up making it themselves...hee hee
Oh, and if my regular friends are wondering about that designer wardrobe for $100...yep, I keep promising, but haven't come through. It's coming, but here's a teaser.
Black....begin looking through the Good will racks for classic black pieces that can be the basis for multiple outfits. You want to start with 8 - 10 great core wardrobe pieces that we can mix/match.


What you see me wearing, including the jewelry that you can't really see...
$12 (with the leather boots being $5 of those).
Skirt - $3.50 - Good will
Really sweaty tank from doing battle with a goat.....50 cents - yard sale
Gorgeous sheer green wrap that draws out the green accent on the skirt - $2.00 at the "boutique" section of a thrift store (seriously, that section is labeled boutique:)
Hmm...guess the impact isn't the same without seeing it.
Well, you will. ;)

Thanks for stopping by...can't wait to visit you.