7 Quick Takes (Volume 51)

1) "I think I finally found my funk to studying," Ladies Man announced.

To him "funk" was a good thing. He found his groove. It only took 8 years, but at least he got there. The answer? Making his own flash cards with index cards to review terms.

Now, since he's found his funk, can I get out of mine?

2) It's time for the Facebook war report. As of this moment, I am in the lead by 10 friends. TEN! Yee Haw! I was feeling content, thinking I was pulling away from him, knowing just a little more would make him concede, and then Drama Queen had to pipe up.

"I'm WAY ahead of you both," she said, with a little patronizing grin.

"Oooh, well whoop de do," I bristled, "Now that I'm beating him, maybe I should come after you next."

"There's NO WAY you'll get ahead of me," she said.

You know what has to happen now, right?

This is for all you mothers out there dying to put a smug little girl in her place. Game ON!

3) I heard on K-Love that the No. 1 baby boy name in London is now Mohammed, providing evidence of the rise in the Muslim population. The name was two times as popular as the No. 2 name, Daniel. I'm not sure what, if any, other conclusions should be drawn from this or what it means, but it certainly is interesting. It got a "hmm" out of me.

4) I enjoyed a wonderful, LONG phone conversation with my college roommate this week. She called because she'd been going through old stuff and found a letter I'd written her in 1998 when I was pregnant with my youngest child. She said it reminded her of things I'd been talking about on this blog lately.

As she read a portion of the letter where I described my anxiety about having enough money to raise four children and how it meant I needed to rely even more on God's faithfulness and provision, I got a little choked up. Eleven years later I have seen His hand clearly on our family. He HAS provided. He has done what I couldn't see possible and I STILL worry about how we'll get them through college and into their adult years. Have I learned nothing?!

Oh Lord, I need Your forgiveness for my lack of faith. You have always been the Master of the Impossible for us. Why do I worry about anything?

5) Drummer Boy is FINALLY coming home for a weekend. He hasn't been here since he moved to college over a month ago. While I've been stressing and moping and sad, he's been in plenty of transition himself. Take a peek at it on his blog, The Drummer Diaries. God is at work in him. I'm so proud of his attitude and so thankful, so very, very thankful (Like I said, why do I worry about anything?!).

6) Ten minutes after I dropped Miss Innocent One off with detailed instructions on what would be taking place in her little world, she called my cell phone.

"Mom, I was trying to remember what you said, but I thought I better make sure."

I went through the litany again.

"Sorry, I got to thinking, now what and I couldn't remember . . ."

And she was off, telling me every tiny thing that went through her head, leaving me to wonder if she recalled yet what I actually told her instead of what her thought process was.

"Do you got it now?" I asked.

"Okay, yeah, well I just couldn't remember, so I thought I better call."

"Yeah, you said that already."

"Well, I wanted to make sure. . ." Yet another explanation came forth.

I couldn't help it. I started laughing. She does this. She can look right at you, nod, agree, say okay and still doesn't remember specifics, yet her explanation of WHY she doesn't goes on forever.

"Why are you laughing?" she asked mid sentence.

"Nothing, it's just funny," I said.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Well, I thought I better call."

"I know, " I said, smiling, "Good idea. You got it now?"

"Yeah, I wanted to make sure."

"Okay. See ya later."

"Okay. I love you."

I love you too, babe, quirks and all.

7) Since I've talked about everyone else in my family, it seems only right to mention my dear husband. His birthday is Monday. Though he thinks he's getting old, I think he's getting better and better. I won't let you be a fuddy duddy, babe!

He's not perfect (for one thing, he's got the most frustrating wife!), but I sure do love him. So very much.

I watched an interview with Patrick Swayze and his wife before his death and Barbara Walters asked her, "Have you come to terms with the possibility of life without him?" She had a hard time answering the question, and as I thought about my own response, I had to leave the room. The thought of living without Kevin. . .well, let's just say I'm trusting God for more than providing for my kids.

Happy Birthday, honey. I would not be who I am today without your consistent, patient, faithful love. I adore you.


Have a splendid weekend, my friends. Catch more Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.