Conversation With My 7 year old Niece

Aunt MB:   "Hey sweet niece, what do you want for Christmas this year."

Niece:  "Storage."

Aunt MB:  "Say WHAT?"

Niece:  "Storage."

So... storage she wants, storage she gets... 

Yes... she is getting something fun too!!!  Tickets to Little House on the Prairie the Musical starring Melissa Gilbert as MA!

My 14 year old Girl has been BEGGING to go.  She entered contests... prayed over said contests to win tickets.... for weeks... 

We NEVER ... let me say it again... NEVER....win... so I purchased 3 sixth row center section tickets for her Christmas present... and one for my mom (Merry Christmas, MA!) ... and one for me.

Tickets arrive in the mail.  Swoop them up the office before daughter sees surprise... turned on computer... opened email... and GUESS what we WON???

YES... TWO tickets to the Little House on the Prairie Musical... same production... different night.

REMEMBER... do NOT underestimate the faith of your child!

Thought about selling tickets on Ebay to make a little money back.  

Then 'organizational, storage requesting" niece says to beloved cousin, my girl ... I WISH I WISH I WISH I could go see LHOTP Musical.  I've been BEGGING my mom.

SO... guess what niece can put in her storage???  Two tickets and mementos from her night out with her mom.  

"HEY, beloved SIS IN LAW... guess what YOU'RE getting for Christmas???  Feel the love!"

See the joy on sweet niece's face when opening gift today. (we had an early Christmas.)

FYI... sweet niece does NOT take after her organizationally challenged AUNT.  Her request for storage would be from the ultimate organizational queen... Her wonderful Mom.  

Oh how I love her and long for some of those genes... 

HOWEVER... FAMILY ... take note...

I DO NOT request STORAGE for Christmas.

Lesson From My HUBBY

Lesson learned from HUBBY... ALWAYS remember to remove keys & cell phone from vehicle before stopping to get morning coffee at 7-11. 

Reason #1. Flu-phobic store owners & snooty 

I-phone users refuse to let you use their phones to call your wife to rescue you. 

2. When you finally 'PERSUADE'... (in a desperate, losing my patience, bordering on violence sort of way)... the non-germaphobe, non-iphone user to let you use their phone... bringing keys to stranded husband is a little difficult when you are ONE CAR family. 

3.  Good Neighbors are not always available... THANK THE LORD for Barry Black who... like a good neighbor... was there, came & got our extra keys & rescued stranded hubby who NOW really needs to use the facilities from all the coffee consumed during 'wait' because restroom was NOT available to contaminated public.

4.  Make coffee at home... saves precious time and money.

Leave it to the Preacher's Wife...

...to get me bloggin' again. It's been since July. I started an INSANE temp job in May... it consumed me at about 80=90 hours / week... when the insanity stopped in August... I had just gotten out of the habit... so... here we go... JUST FOR YOU MY FRIEND LISA!

The Treasures

1. First Name.

Mary Beth

2. State and Country of Residence.

Michigan - good ole US of A

3. Husband’s Ministry Title.

Director of Michigan Missions and Church Planting for the Assemblies of God Michigan District. (A Mouthful, I know!)

4. Length of time in Current Ministry Location.

6.5 years

5. Children? If yes, give gender and ages.

Awesome Boy - 21

Incredible Girl - 14

6. Number of unique homes in which you’ve lived during your marriage.

8 homes - Our #2 home was living with grandparents for 2 years. It was AWESOME!

7. Cook Sunday lunch or eat out?

Me COOK???? BWaaaaahhaaaaahhhaaa....

8. Typically on time for Sunday School or not?

Depends of your definition of "on time."

9. Favorite TV Show.

ooooo.... I love LOST but I do like reality TV too... Survivor (Russell cracks us up), Amazing Race (go Globetrotters), & Biggest Loser.(so glad Tracy is gone. Loved Abby!)... and Americal IDOL! (I would SO tryout if they had an over 40 American Oldie Idol.)

10. Something you watch/like/do that you would never tell the church people. (Except now you just did…lol)

Don't know... I'm pretty real about everything...Domestically Challenged... ummm they know that... my husband and I sometimes argue.. they know that.... I sometimes raise my voice with my kids... uhhh... they know that too... let's see... i used to get really sick to my stomach every time I had to get up in front of people and perform or speak... even though I LOVE doing it.

11. Most annoying church-related pet peeve.

CHURCH PEOPLE punishing their kids by not letting them go to church (youth group, kids church, etc.) HELLO?? Couldn't think of a better place for them to be when they're "raising a little Cain."

12. One thing you need to throw away but can’t bring yourself to do it.

How about my black /white houndstooth skirt from 1991. I KNOW I'll fit into again when it comes back in style... I just KNOW it!

13. The one food you can not live without.

Oatmeal. Yes Oatmeal...with blueberries... brown sugar and cinnamon... Every morning... yep... boring...I know... but it keeps my tummy happy.

14. Parsonage or have your own home?

Own home now.... but have lived in a parsonage twice.

15. Freak when the doorbell rings or always ready for a visitor?

awwwww FREAK OUT! (can you hear me singing that old song! ) IF my house is not together...However... I always smile...welcome them in... (cause I DO love having company) they just have to take my lived in house as is... and you know what... thought it drives me crazy thinking "what do they think of me that I have dirty dishes in the sink.... unfolded laundry on the couch" ...they love that my house is not always perfect... at least that's what they tell me to my face so I don't feel bad! HA

Check out The Preacher's Wife. She Rocks!

HAPPY 75th BIRTHDAY, DAD!!!

Today my dad, KEN MARTIN turns 75.

He is NOT your typical 'old man'. FAR from it.

• He is the life of the party.

Really he is!

• Mr. Fix it for Mr. Broke it.

• Mr. RIGHT for his wifey. (52 of being Mr. Right!)

• 

• 
  

• 
  

• 

The best Grandpa around.

• came to my rescue and drove me 18 hours home when I wouldn't fly back to Arkansas after a major airplane crash in Detroit

• The best Son-in-law (in his eyes :) to my Gram.

• Who can forget when he caught the bear in his garage... and was on the news... and in the paper!

And the BEST dad anyone could ever have!

I can't tell you how many times in my life he has bailed me out...

• been patient with me when I wrecked his cars
• fixed things at my house ( I especially appreciate his sweet skills for blocking all entryways for little critters to get inside)
• as a kid would turn on the stereo, grab my hand, and dance with me
• worked so hard every single day to provide for his family
• never blinks and eye to drive hours and hours to see his kids... or mostly his GRANDKIDS!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• can call my 'BRAT' and get away with it!
• is a great dog sitter
• can talk to anyone... for a long time... (ha! I love you daddy! Guess who gets that from you? your GRANDDAUGHTER!)
• took care of his mother after his dad died
• faithful to the LORD and to his church
• stood by me throughout my life (I wish I had a wedding picture scanned of him walking me down aisle on my wedding day
  
  
  
  
• always blesses his kids..."hey dad... I need a scanner... :-)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• has the BEST Life Group at his church
• GIVES and GIVES and GIVES... many times anonymously
• LOVES and LOVES and LOVES!

I love you dad. There are not enough words to say how BLESSED I am that the LORD choose me to be your daughter.

Have a wonderful day. You SO deserve it.
Enjoy your meatloaf and scalloped potatoes....

Happy 25th Anniversary to Hubby & Me!

Today, June 16, 2009 marks the 25th anniversary of the day I married the man of my dreams.

Time flies when you're having fun!

I remember when my parents celebrated their 25th... they were 'old'! NOW here we are... NOT so old... at least in our minds.

Thanks, Sweetheart for 25 years of:

-Fun
-Laughter (I love your infectious laugh!)
-Tears
-2 amazing kids
-Living out our calling in pastoral ministry
-Adventure
-Commitment through the frustrating times and struggles
-The Making Up after those times
-Sharing your heart
-Leading our family
-Watching Little House on the Prairie with Brianna... and the tear that rolls down your cheek during those touching episodes
-Coaching Weston's soccer team faithfully for years (you were a great coach!)
-Loving my family as your own
-Being a husband of prayer
-Working hard
-A Love for learning
-Integrity
-Trust
-Honor
-For taking your off day
-Cherishing me
-Believing in me when I didn't believe in myself
-Always making time for just the two of us
-Putting our family number 2 after Jesus
-For Loving Jesus First.

... and I could go on and on.

I love you more today than yesterday but not as much as I will love you tomorrow.

Thanks for 25 incredible years. Looking forward to the ride of 25 more!

For the Domestically Challenged...

Hi! My name is Mary Beth and I am domestically challenged.

I have come to realize that the reason I and so many others feel a major inferiority complex when it comes to this issue, is due to intimidation of the Proverbs 31 woman.

By the way ... I have a name for the Proverbs 31 woman... MADGE... because I believe she was a figment of the author's iMAGination.

The one little thing that gets over looked in this passage and that we all should remember is in this verse:

v15: She provides food for her family and portions for her SERVANT GIRLS!

GIRLS... she had SERVANTS!

Doesn't that bring a whole new understanding to this passage!

WE TOO could go shopping for fields, flax, and wool, etc...
... spinning said fabrics to make linen clothing and bed comforters ...
... plant a vineyard in purchased acreage...
... take care of the needy (in addition to our husband & offspring)...
... play with our kids all day
... AND be oozing with wisdom from ALL THE TIME we'd have to study the WORD & pray... yes... we'd be super spiritual! (pronounced in the southern, evangelistic way... speer-chul.)

ALL because of our blessed servant girls.

Who WOULDN'T be able to to laugh at the days to come knowing someone ELSE is doing your dishes, cleaning your toilet, and scrubbing your floors!

So.. BE SET FREE Girlfriends... cut yourself some slack and enjoy who GOD created YOU to be... quit comparing yourself to Madge...or anyone else... thinking I can NEVER measure up to her... UNLESS you have servants... then I'd better see me some flax spinning going on!

NOW... if I only had me some servant girls... or Molly Maids... Molly Maids would do...


READ THIS ARTICLE from Today's Christian Woman about the Domestically Challenged. It came today as I was getting ready to write this blog. How fun is that!

WHAT'S COOKIN'?

Does the following ever happen to anyone else?

I decide I am going to go outside of my gifts and abilities and fix a good meal for my husband.
The Man in your life sits down to the labor intensive meal.
I am so proud that I actually COOKED a DECENT meal.
I place the food on the table...and I can see the look in his eyes...
HE HAD THE SAME THING FOR LUNCH!

If I fix...spaghetti with homemade sauce ... barbecue chicken ... mexican ... burgers and homemade fries, (let's see...what else do I know how to fix????) ...or something "out of the ordinary" for me ...like Parmesan Chicken ... or Hawaiian Chicken ... HE HAD IT FOR LUNCH!

Periodically, when I think of it, I will call him BEFORE I delve into the cookbook to find out what he had over the noon hour to avert any repeat delicacies.

The other day I did this very thing.

ME: "Hey Babe...just wondering what you had for lunch?"

HIM: "A granola bar."

ME: "OH MAN ... that's what I was gonna fix for dinner!"

He laughed. I laughed. A bonding time for us.

For wonderful recipes to help you with this dilemma... visit my friend, NETTA'S blog. SHE ROCKS with inspiration in the kitchen.

"A Blog by Steve" Revisited

In honor of my man's birthday today, I decided to repost this blog from 2007. If you did not have the privilege of reading it then, you are in for a laugh.

Enjoy!

October 2007

Mary Beth showed me a blog the other day asking the question, "Who Wears the Pants in the Relationship?"

OF COURSE, in my marriage I have always worn the pants... (right honey??).

This was reinforced this last week.

My wife and I were folding laundry... getting me ready for my upcoming trip. As she was hanging my pants on the hangers she suddenly exclaimed... "HEY, these are my pants. I have been looking for these."

An immediate feeling of dread and humiliation overwhelmed me as I informed my lovely, gracious wife.... "I WORE those pants this week!"

Brianna and Mary Beth, in an ever so loving and sympathetic way, BURST into uncontrollable laughter, rolling to and fro on the bed...throwing out these thought provoking questions...

"Didn't they fit differently?

YES...I am wearing MY khaki pants!

"Weren't they too short?" (YES...my wife's inseam is longer than mine!)

"How could you NOT know, Mr. Fashion Man?"

With much chagrin and embarrassment, I replied...."Well, I did wonder why my wallet didn't fit into those little back pockets....

AND I didn't remember having any Khaki pants with a HOOK instead of a BUTTON!...

and it did feel like I needed to pull them up OVER my stomach instead of sit BELOW it!"

Of course, it came on the heels of watching an episode of Season 3 of The Office which included this scene...

"Michael: Pam, would you please tell Darryl that this is not a woman’s suit.

Pam: O my, that’s a woman’s suit!

Michael: There were these huge bins of clothes. And everybody was rifling through them, like crazy. And I grabbed one. And it fit. So I don’t think that this is totally just a woman’s suit.

Pam: It has shoulder pads!

Kevin: Who makes it?

Michael: Um, MISSterious. And it is mysterious, because the buttons are on the wrong side. That’s the mystery. And I did wonder why there were NO BACK POCKETS!"

So, now you know. I wear the pants in our relationship.... but they are MY WIFE'S!

Are You Wearing Your Heart on Your Face?

This is one of my favorite pictures of my kids from about 11 years ago.

It got me thinking about the old adage, "Are you wearing your heart on your sleeve?"

I never really understood that in my shallow thinking mind... wondering, "But, what if you aren't wearing sleeves? Are you heartless and unfeeling?"

ANYWAY... making more sense to me is "Are you wearing your heart on your face?"

SAY WHAT?

The WORD of God says this in Proverbs 27:19 - "As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man."

I believe our face is a reflection of our heart. My husband always says my eyes speak VOLUMES! My lips can be smiling... and even carrying on pleasant conversation... but my eyes are throwing flames... like it speaks of here:

Job 15:12 (Amplified Bible) - "Why does your heart carry you away [why allow yourself to be controlled by feeling]? And why do your eyes flash [in anger or contempt]."

Sometimes... my language is syrupy sweet.... but my lips are pursed in frustration or disgust... and my eyes reflect the same.

Sadness and joy -

Proverbs 15:13 says this: "A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit."

I also find this....

Nehemiah 2:2 - "Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart."

When we experience fear... OH how our face... and sometimes body language can reflect that.

In Daniel 5:6 we read: "His ( King Belshazzar's) face turned pale and he was so frightened that his knees knocked together and his legs gave way."

That really makes me laugh. Call me weirdo.

I also read many scriptures that correlate "Haughty Eyes" with a "Prideful Heart."

But LOOK at what happens when we spend time with HIM... in prayer... in HIS WORD... when we let our heart reflect HIS love, HIS joy, HIS strength... no matter what circumstances we may be facing... what emotion we may be battling.

Psalm 34:5 - "Those who look to him are radiant."

Exodus 34:29 - "When Moses came down from Mount Sinai ...he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD."

Psalm 19:8 - "The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes."

I don't know about you, but I want to work on this. I want my face to emulate true radiance from being with Jesus no matter what emotional roller coaster I am riding or circumstance that is encompassing my life.

SO, tell me, what kind of heart is your face reflecting?

p.s.... I hope for Valentine's Day it is reflecting a heart of LOVE for those closest to you.

SNOW ICE CREAM! Want some?

Having RECORD BREAKING snowfall has its perks.

Snow Ice Cream is one of them.

Here is a YUMMY, simple recipe with just 5 ingredients: snow, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla, milk & sugar.

THIS is thanks to my father-in-love, who while visiting from Arkansas, made it for us EVERY DAY!

Ya'll know them southern folk don't get snow everyday... so they make the most of it. And we'uns benefit.

Hubby made it yesterday for the office staff... after a freshly fallen snow. They couldn't get enough! They are making it again today for a Children's Ministries Meeting.

SO in honor of my Father-in-Love's Birthday TODAY... (Happy Birthday, Dad...) ...

Make some SNOW ICE CREAM and enjoy this smooth, creamy taste you will crave all winter.

NOW... this takes some trial and error... depending on your tastebuds.


FIRST you get one Southern Father-in-Love

SECOND - he mixes:

• 1 Can of Sweetened Condensed Milk
  (the light tastes yummy too... minus a few calories.)

then add:

• Vanilla to taste... (start with a teaspoon)


• Milk to thin it... (start with 1/4 cup)
  
• Sugar... (start with 1/4 cup or less)
  

THIRD

Have your hunka hunka burning love go and cool off by gathering clean WHITE snow from the great outdoors.(save the colored snow for those 'special' people in your life.)















FOURTH






Put snow in a bowl ...



...and add some mixture.


Stir around till you like the consistency.



If the mix needs more of this or that... just add it.


If I, the culinary challenged can do this without 'set in snow' measurements, YOU CAN TOO!

Try it.

Let me know how you like it. We haven't made it for anyone who didn't LOVE LOVE LOVE it.

Then I will tell my Father-in-Love he is famous!

ENJOY!

WHAT!!!!...You did NOT?...oh YES I did!

After 44 years of virgin ears...

... I am now pierced! A gift from my son... who thought his MOM should get over her legalistic self... and join the ranks of FREEDOM.

After years of hearing me complain about clip on earrings... hurting... can't ever find any that I like... yada yada... he "encouraged" me to take the plunge.

WHY, you ask did it take me so stinkin' long?

WELL... I grew up in an era of ... "If GOD would have wanted you to have holes in your ears... they would have been there when you were born."

"If you are in that movie theater when Jesus comes back, you will be LEFT BEHIND!"

I thank the LORD that I was usually a good girl... following the rules... never gave my parents reason to worry.

However when I went to BIBLE COLLEGE I went to my first movie theater... to see the movie Rocky 3... at the $ theater... with all the Baptist Bible College students who weren't supposed to be there either. We all had an understanding, you see....

Then when we pastored our church in Mt. Pleasant, I did the evil of all evils... wore PANTS to church... not just to church but on the PLATFORM to play the PIANO!

I was getting WORLDLY... oh yes I was.

I did always wear make-up though. Not alot... but if a barn needs to be painted... you need to PAINT IT, girls!
Surely I jest... kindof... but I WOULD like to thank my parents... who raised me to love Jesus... be faithful to church... and to progress with the times... and to search within myself... sin or legalism... grace or condemnation...

Just so you know... my mom got her ears pierced at age 65... a gift from my nieces... she LOVED it... that was 4 years ago. She has been telling me to get with it all this time. She followed in the footsteps of our friend Audrey... who was one of the biggest 'opponents' of ear piercing way back in the day... who decided at age 68... clip ons were for the birds... and joined the ranks of the pierced.

I just saw my Gram tonight and she said jokingly in her Alabama lilt... "You done went out and sinned!"

MY 13 girl responded..." I am never gonna sin like that. I don't wanna go to Hell!"
(really she just thinks it will be a pain to have one more thing to worry about every day.)

We laughed.

I posted on my facebook status that "Mary Beth just got her ears pierced for the first time in 44 years."

You should have seen all the comments that generated. HILARIOUS!

AND the questions...Why DIDN'T you ever get them pierced??

Well... read the following verse...

1 Peter 2:13
Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God's emissaries for keeping order... Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.

I loved ( still love) my family... my pastors... my church. Way back when... in the mid 20th century... these were standards of the church. I respected my authorities. As those over me prayed and moved beyond these things... I, eventually, was set free as well. HA!

As I was thinking about "Freedom in Christ" I came across some great verses. Too long for this post. BUT so many times we use "FREEDOM" as an excuse to sin... compromise our values... our standards.

We need to hear from the Holy Spirit... HE needs to be our voice of direction for TRUE Freedom.

ANYHOO... all my friends and family now have it easier when buying me gifts... and hereafter, when people give me pierced earrings for my birthday or Christmas... I don't have to say, "Thanks... but I don't have pierced ears... " and then commence to see the shock and awe they exude.

One thing... I did kindof like being the 'unusual one'. Now I am a conformity (is that even a word???) ... well... those closest to me would probably beg to differ on that one.

So tell me...Am I going to hell in a handbasket for my actions?
If I am... I know alot of dangling, sparlky, hoopy, ear ring wearers who'll be right beside me.

Right Mom?