Because who needs Wordless Wednesday when you’ve got so many . . . words?

Last night was quite eventful.

First Annalyn and I went to Walmart. As we pulled into the parking lot, a few sprinkles hit the windshield. I thought that was odd, considering the blue skies all around and the (dismayed) promises of our local meteorologists that it Would. Not. Rain. for several days.

We headed inside and began our shopping – yet another short list of last-minute vacation items. If only I’d thought to make one long list, perhaps I could have spent the last two weeks not visiting one Walmart or another every couple of days.

The first thing we did was drop off a prescription, where I was told to come back in 25 minutes. From there, we headed to toys. Because what makes more sense than taking a slightly tired toddler into the toy section, where you refuse to spend six dollars for Dora doll with many small parts?

As we finally headed over to the food section (this was after making another large loop around the supercenter, because I forgot that the cat food is kept in the front of this particular store), the lights began flickering.

Now, I’d heard the thunder and as we passed by the doors [again], I caught a peek of what can only be described as a torrential downpour. (“Only” because clichés are clichés for a reason, and my creative brain is not on yet today.) But considering the blue skies that I swore were surrounding the Walmart just minutes before, I was sure this storm would pass quickly.

And then, as I was debating the wisdom of buying beach towels on clearance and returning the ones I bought last week on Vacation Shopping Trip #17, the lights went completely out.

Annalyn’s face was so funny! She said, “Ohhhh!” and her eyes went wide. She wasn’t scared, but she knew something was off.

Because if there’s one thing that girl knows, it’s what a Walmart is supposed to look like. And this wasn’t it.

Fortunately, the lights came back on after a few seconds, we finished our shopping, paid and got back into the car.

I asked the kiddo if she wanted chicken nuggets for dinner, and of course she replied, “Nuggies!” with glee. However, as I navigated the mess that is Retail Land and saw the looong line at McDonald’s, I decided to head home and just feed her nuggets out of the freezer. (Well, you know, out of the freezer and then the microwave.)

Unfortunately, I realized halfway home that I’d forgotten to pick up my prescription.

So we turned around, went back to Walmart, got caught in traffic again and headed home. By that point, Annalyn was so distraught over not getting her nuggies and needing some milk that when we were caught at a stoplight (because the cars going the opposite direction didn’t bother to stop when their light turned red, so we all got to experience the joy of a late-afternoon traffic jam), I actually grabbed the gallon of milk we’d just bought at Walmart and poured some into her sippy cup.

That, thankfully, kept her happy until we got home and she caught sight of the bag of chicken nuggets. Kid is so funny – she saw me get the bag out of the freezer, but apparently missed me putting several chunks of frozen meat on the plate and into the microwave. Because when she saw me putting the bag back into the freezer? Well, as Mark says, you’d have thought I killed her favorite teddy bear. Or, you know, was refusing to feed her dinner.

I decided to take that moment to explain to her the wonders of the microwave, and disaster was prevented. She ate her “nuggies” and finally went to bed.

Just in time for me to make a sandwich and realize that my internet was still not working and there was nothing on TV.

Not to worry, Bravo chose last night as a debut for another uplifting reality series called NYC Prep. I’d like to say I didn’t watch, since I honestly don’t watch much reality TV (if you don’t count So You Think You Can Dance, What Not to Wear and Wife Swap). But I did.

I told you – event-full.

Technical Difficulties, 2. Mary, 0.

As you (hopefully) know by now, I had some internet connectivity problems last night and had to postpone our live chat. Well, I went home over lunch and tried to log on – and could not. So, rather than continue to tentatively plan on chatting tonight, I’m going to cancel this week’s chat.

I’m so sorry.

This means that we won’t chat until Monday, July 6 (because I am out of town on vacation next week). Please, PLEASE come back!! :) On July 6, we’ll have LOTS to talk about – we’ll touch on Week 2 and we’ll delve into Week 3.

For now, here are a few questions and thoughts to consider. Let’s discuss in the comments.
  • We all have labels in our lives – words we believe (true or not, uplifting or not) describe us. What are YOUR labels? Where did they come from?
  • Some labels are true. (I am a woman.) Some labels are false. (I am stupid.) I believe the author of our study was saying in Week 2 that often we develop false labels based on how we react and process true labels – leaving us with labels of FAITH (true) or FATE (false). Can you think of an example of this in your own life?
  • I love, love, love how the author encourages us to focus on Romans 12:2: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
  • Are you a Pharisee? Do you focus on cleaning your outside while leaving your inside dirty? (Matthew 23:25-26)
  • Many of us make choices and develop habits based on faulty assumptions, just like the author did when, as a child, she thought angels were attending the Catholic church down the street. I know I often operate on faulty assumptions (I can do it myself. I must be perfect to be lovable. If I can’t lose weight, I’m a loser.) a lot. What about you?
  • And last but not least, we read this week about roots and fruits. What are the fruits of your faulty assumptions and fate labels? What can you do to get rid of them – at the root?
All right, friends. I hope you can forgive this mess, and I hope you’ll continue on in the study and come back on July 6. Until then, this is my prayer for you:
Heavenly Father, I thank you for these awesome ladies you’ve brought together. I pray that you would bless them and speak to them and push them to grow through this study. I thank you for the saving grace and mercy you’ve given each of us so freely, and I thank you for each woman in this study who has accepted that salvation. I pray that each of us would lean on You and Your Truth only when filling our though closets, and I pray that you would erase the negative lies we’ve spent so many years lining our closets with and wearing in our lives. I pray for each woman in this study, God. I know we all have situations and issues and problems and burdens and joys and celebrations – and I thank you for being right there in the middle of all of it, holding our hands. Thank you for the book we’re reading and The Book we continue to read. I pray you will bring this group back together in two weeks. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

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Happy Birthday, James!

When Mom said I’d have to share everything (except Teddy) with you, I had no idea it would include the joys of homemade clown costumes.

Bible Study Update

Wow! God has one good sense of humor, friends. Just yesterday afternoon, I told a girlfriend that I’m so hooked on everything online that I just can’t imagine going without it.

And then I tried to get online to prepare for our Bible study last night. And . . . nuthin’.

A big THANK YOU to Chelleybutton for putting up the announcement. And thank you, too, to everyone for being flexible. I hope you’ll still join us tonight to discuss what we learned in Week 2. And if you can’t, I hope you’ll share your insights, questions and thoughts in the comments of this post.

If you have been interested in studying Me, Myself & Lies by Jennifer Rothschild but can’t join in here, it’s not too late. Anyone and everyone is welcome to jump in at any time.

However, if you’d really like to start from the beginning, Beth Moore and her Siestas are doing this study (starting THIS WEEK) on the Living Proof Ministries blog.

Last but not least today – please pray that we have no more technical difficulties and that everything goes smoothly tonight. Chat with you at 8!

Me, Myself & Lies: POSTPONED

Hi, this is Chelleybutton, because Mary’s internet is down. She’s trying not to talk negatively to herself, but she really thinks God is punishing her for not doing her homework on time (but we all know that’s a faulty assumption, right, girls?!;).

She’s tried a dozen different things, but her computer is rebelling (like Israel!) and won’t connect to the internet (even though it says it is! Argh..). So for everyone who can, let’s try this again tomorrow. Same time, same place (Tuesday, 8:00 p.m. CST).

Mary’s verrry sorry for the inconvenience and really hopes to see you all tomorrow (I’ll be here too!:).

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