HOMELESS JOURNEY

I am very slightly concerned about seeing everyone filling many gas cans at the pumps and loading their carts with water...I don't have the money to buy one bottle let alone a cart full.

Then I start thinking about the homeless...not like my family, the ones who are living on the streets, who have no car for shelter!! What do they do and where do they go in the event of a hurricane, a tornado, flooding...my heart is heavy for them.

I had dreams about them during Hurricane Harvey, now I am having dreams and thoughts about them as Irma swirls and pounds in the Atlantic.

I am driven to pray!

During Harvey, I did not see a lot or anything about the rescue of the homeless.

The Governor if Florida covered everything including the homeless, the ones without gas money, etc. I felt secure in Florida whether Irma went to the East, the West or straight up the middle, I felt a comfort.

I am still praying for the homeless since that's what my dreams were about. Praying for shelter for all of us. Praying that everyone knows that the greatest shelter in a storm is knowing, believing and trusting in Jesus!

Always Smilin',
Dianne

BATHROOM PRIVLEGES

Who doesn't love the smell of a newborn baby, the feel of their soft, delicate skin or the look of them as they sleep?

Lil' cherubs.

Looking at these tiny fresh bundles of joy, Mothers all over wonder if they can measure up to the task set before them.

How will I feed this baby? What are cracked nipples? Will I be a good parent? Do I have the right equipment? Is my home safe?

When will I be able to go the bathroom by myself?

No test to pass. No license to obtain. This newborn who possessed my belly for the past nine months is being sent home with me?!!?

I arrive home with this tiny human. I just close the bathroom door and a blood curdling, WWWAAAAAHHHH MMM WWWWAAAHHHH.

What? Daddy is at work. No one else is home. My precious baby must be choking on a chicken bone, or stuck a knife in the electric outlet or is being abducted by aliens.

Pull up the pants and rush out to see my baby is now just sitting content and staring at the ceiling fan.

Children are smart, they have us in check! From the time my kids are born until the are 18, I don't have bathroom privleges. I either go to the bathroom with a herd of children or if I do, a crisis of mammoth proportions occurs!

So this Mamma is playing it smart. I leave the door open. The jury is still out on the "smart" part!

Bathroom time for Moms is not for the faint at heart, like most of the male gender!

Take for instance, Christmas!

The time is festive, parties are abundant and Jingle Bell Rock is playing consistently. The boss has invited employees and their families to a Christmas extravaganza!

I am in need of relief and the baby of my tribe needs to be fed. So the hostess, aka big bosses wife, shows me to the Master Suite and then runs away.

I sit on the toilet and pop out a tit for my baby. Yes, I breastfeed! Yes, ON THE TOILET. I am a Mom and waste no time.

Then I hear the padding of feet and a soft, "Mommy, where are you?" I tell my darling 4 year old to come in. She does and promptly sits at my feet. She lifts her shirt and begins nursing her doll.

Along come the 3 year old and the 6 year old. Bathroomdar is standard equipment in my children.

The 3 year old also finds it necessary to breast feed her dolly, too! Oh, if my husband only knew how lucky his executive bathroom privleges are!!

The 8 and 10 year old soon join the ensemble and start singing about this lame party. The 13 year old comes in and just loudly says, "MOM".

I ask the precious teen to retrieve a book from the diaper bag/purse/medical kit/bag of tricks and to please read, "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie".  The kids all know it by heart.

I also keep a bottle of bubbles on hand to entertain. I sit on the toilet with baby to breast while blowing bubbles - picture perfect.

My 8 year old son needs to relieve himself and I have no free hand to finish up on the toilet. His sisters in unison say, "use the bathtub".

He stands there making an arc that his Dad would be proud of and at the open door appears THE BOSS!

The boss assesses the situation with mouth gaping open and manages a grunt.

My surprised son turns and that perfect golden arc splashes boss mans perfectly shiny black Florsheim shoes.

I really hope this boss man watches, "Shameless", because then he would get it.

I choke out a "hi!" and "Be done in a few minutes." Laughing, I say, "Both the sink and tub are free unless it's number two!!??!!"

White as my baby's bum, this guy turns and trots away. "Coward", I call after him.

The book is finished. I have dethroned. The baby is peacefully asleep. The 2 girls have finished nursing their dolls and shirts are tucked back in place.

My teen is holding hands with the 3 and 4 year old as she leads them through the Master Suite.

The 6, 8, and 10 year old are having a race to the top of the stairs. I just pray they don't slide down the banister.

My husband is waiting for us as we enter back into the party. The boss tries to swiftly pass by and I hold his arm for a sec and say, "bathroom is free now". Mom humor and I just giggle.

Bathroom privleges come to those Mom's who wait!  Oh, and then comes Grandbabies!!!

Diary of a crazy Momma!! The stories never end!

Always Smilin'
Dianne

MY PATH, MY JOURNEY

We are all on various paths in life! My path is not the same as my brothers and sisters in Christ, although it leads to the same place.

Psalm 25:4 - Make me know Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths

Since each of us needs to grow and stretch our faith in different ways, God has set us on different paths. 

Our paths may cross each other's and we may even walk beside each other for a while. Just because you see my path differs, does not mean that you or I are doing things wrong or right! I need to settle my own course with God and follow where HE leads.

I don't know what God has planned for my path. I meet people on my path for a reason - they may be a mentor, a guide for my path.

I may be their guide and I pray that I don't miss my cue from God to be there for that person to be God's compass that points them on the right path. It may be a smile, encouraging words, a bottle of water, an invitation to church, whatever it is, I pray I remain strong in the will of God.

I pray my words don't cause someone to lose their way on their path. I pray that I don't look down on anyone because their path is full of rocks, vines and treacherous climbs while mine looks to be pristine with gorgeous flowers along the edge of my path.

Instead of looking down on someone's journey, maybe I am supposed to plant flowers along their path. Maybe I am supposed to help them clear their path or show them a path around their treacherous climb. Lord, I don't want to miss that opportunity.

Romans 12:3 -
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

I do not want to develop that, "holier than thou" attitude. I want sober thinking when I stumble on the path of the homeless, the sick, the mentally ill. I don't want to look down on those less fortunate than myself.

On my journey, I want to be an encouragement to all those I meet on my path in life. I don't want to be sidetracked by what other people say. I keep my focus on God and praise God for what He has placed on my life's path.