Remember me, anyone??? Your very own Siesta Mama??? BOY, are we busy around here! You know by now that Curtis Jones, the King of Pain, dropped Amanda and the kids off at home after teaching Sunday School and drove himself to the emergency room only to learn that his appendix had not just burst. In the words of the surgeon that I heard with my own ears, “It went off like a grenade.” I immediately moved to Amanda’s with Jackson and Annabeth and she immediately moved to the hospital with her man. Several days later, this is still our arrangement as we wait for Curtis to successfully fight that infection and lose that fever. He has been one sick dude. He seems to have turned a corner today. We appreciate your prayers and could still use them until we get him all the way through this storm. If his temperature doesn’t climb back up today, we are hoping they will release him to come home tomorrow. His mom arrives on Thursday and I know he will be so glad to have her. I’ll also be relieved for Amanda. As many of you know, because a number of us have a date this weekend (SLI simulcast), I’ll be in Atlanta and so thankful to know that her wonderful mother-in-law will be here lending a hand.
Here are a few random tidbits I’ll share from my last few days as a single mother of preschoolers (yes, Keith was out of town):
1. I never had my quiet time yesterday. Nope. Not one word of it. Never even opened my Bible. In fact, I did not know where it was. (Turned out to be in my car which I had traded off with AJ so that I could have her car with both of the kid seats.) My day started at 6:20 AM with Jackson, who had slept with (on) me all night, getting one inch from my puffy face and saying, “Bibby, it’s morning time. Mr. Sun is coming up!” Oh, really? It was pitch black (the same color as I, minutes later, chose to have my coffee). But the boy’s darling face was as bright as the sun and who could resist?? So, up we came. The day was action packed. He didn’t go to sleep that night until pretty late at which time we both fell in the bed. He has such a fabulous personality. 100% sanguine. The only way I’ve been able to tell that he is having a hard time processing his Daddy being in the hospital is that he is having a hard time sleeping. He adores Curtis. And Annabeth? She adores her MOMMY! The first morning she woke up to me, she had the strangest look on her face like, “Would someone fetch me the younger version of this woman?” Don’t get me wrong. She knows her Bibby well but I’m not usually the first face she sees in the morning.
2. Any eavesdropping neighbors overheard Jackson and me on the swingset yesterday having a preschool-level conversation about how his mommy got in my tummy. (No, of course, I did NOT bring up the subject. He did. ) He wanted to know if they tied off her belly button with a stick like Annabeth’s. IÂ assured him they did.
3. Annabeth has missed her mother sorely but her hair has never looked better. I’ve experimented on a few hair products while I’ve been here and in charge (what every grandmother loves on occasion to be). I feel we’ve made great progress.
4. I broke my little toe. I don’t want to talk about it. But I apparently really do not cuss.
5. The LPM staff brought us chicken spaghetti for supper. We’re so excited. They also brought us a Ding Dong cake for dessert. Yep. A cake that looks and tastes like a gigantic Hostess Ding Dong. We are pumped.
6. Mommy is taking Jackson to see his Daddy at the hospital. She’s been here visiting us for the last little while which is the only reason I got to jump on the blog and say hello. SO Bibby’s got to say good-bye for now and get back to her job.
And her great joy.
This is family. I wouldn’t have missed it for anything…unless we could have saved CJ some considerable discomfort.
Oh, one last thing. Jackson just overheard his mom telling a friend that Curtis was getting so much better and, as of today, is feeling like a new person. “What new person, Mommy? What new person is Daddy?” He was very disturbed. When you’re four years-old, you just want your Daddy to be the same old person.
I love and miss you guys so much! I’ll say hi again before I head to Atlanta.
Miss Beth, this was such fun to read! Praying for Curtis and the family and you and your travels!!
Beth,
Thanks for the fun glimpse of Bibby/kiddo time that sounds surprisingly like my own except my name isn’t Bibby and the kiddos are mine ;). Hope Curtis Is healed quickly!
I love it that you are such a willing grandma! My mom and mother-in-law are the same way and the memories my 3 kiddo’s will have spending time with them are precious. I am praying for Curtis, Amanda and you as I can relate being a mom of busy small children; the Bible some mornings stays on the coffee table. It’s good to know it’s not just me LOL!
Annabeth’s hair has never looked better? Sweet Miss Beth, you are just hilarious!!
Ok, I am really glad I do not have stitches anywhere or I would have busted, yes busted every one. You are hilarious but isn’t it harder to be full-time with grandkids and you wonder how you did it with your own. Heal toe quickly I say, Beth has stuff to do!!! Hope all is better soon. As always in my prayers girlfriend!
Oh Beth, YOU MAKE ME LAUGH!!!!! I can so picture you with a handful of precious Annabeth hair thinking “what kind of up-do can we get this fine baby hair to do today?” My babies are 19 and 16 so a have a few years until I can be a “Bibby”, but I can’t wait to be in your shoes. Minus the broken toe of course!
Can’t wait to spend Saturday with you. You are a blast. Praying for God’s healing hand on Curtis and protective covering for the Moore’s and Jones’.
As mother of a two year old I needed to hear that even our beloved Beth can get torn from quiet time, even if you had much better reasons than me, you have ministered to my sleep deprived soul! Thank you and I will be praying for all of you, toe included!
Beth,
I can’t tell you how much I appreciated your honesty that you didn’t have your quiet time yesterday. How I beat myself up when somedays it seems I can only snag a second here and there, and sometimes not at all. It was a great reminder of God’s great grace to those of us with small children under foot.
Your transparency and honesty encourage me to no end!
Praying for the Jones and Moore families.
OK, it may be several days before anyone has time to read this, but I couldn’t resist. The cussing over the toe has me belly laughing. My puppy on my lap can’t quite figure what’s wrong with me. The Lord has brought your whole family to mind so often over the last couple of days. And oddly enough, it is precisely as I imagined it. Except for the toe. I wondered if my husband would come see why I’m talking to my computer when I exclaimed, “You broke your toe?!!” Undoubtedly this is Not funny from where you’re sitting: hopefully with your toe elevated. I once broke my baby toe in three places. Is it actually big enough to break in three places? I tripped over a vacuum cleaner while carry a load of laundry. My nurse buddies said I needed to make up a better story. I figured at least it sounded like I liked housework. More prayers!
We had Dr. Kerry Skinner at our church last week. He informed us that his dad told him Baptists cuss by slamming the door, or whatever is available. I’m not as guilty lately but I realized I had been using quite a vocabulary in the early years of our marriage. I’m so sorry!
The recipe for that Ding Dong cake would be most appreciated when you can come up for air! 🙂 Praying for you all.
Awww, what a good Bibby you are. I so love to read your posts. Prayers going up for Curtis, you, and the rest of the family.
I am praying for Curtis! I remember that pain all too well from my own appendix attack! Wish I could be there Saturday for SLI!
Would have loved to have been a fly on the fence for swing set talk. Hey, title for a new book perhaps? “Swing Set Talk, Conversations with Bibby” ; )
Praying, praying, praying for all with much love.
P.S. Ding Dong Dessert pictures some day?
Chris
Orange County, CA
“In charge,” what on occasion, every grandmother loves to be. Oh.my.word. YES! YES! YES!
I love that.
Praying – praying – praying.
Georgia Jan
Oh, Bibby Beth – your day sounds like mine when I keep my grandchildren for any length of time. When I have my oldest daughters 3 or my youngest daughters 2, I feel every day of my 47 years old! They occupy every last minute and I have to sneak in my quiet time if indeed I get one.
I am praying for Curtis and Amanda as well as you sweet friend! I am thankful that Amanda has a mom like you that loves well and loves with all of her heart.
In Him,
Beth Herring
I dearly love reading the blog. Prayers for Curtis and family. So excited about SLI Saturday – I get to be there live, in person! Woo Hoo!!!
I recently spent the night in bed with our 3 year old grandson (who still sleeps with mom and dad), the dog who growled in his sleep, the cat who thought I was a loaf of bread, and a wall clock that ticked LOUDLY, while mom and dad were away celebrating their anniversary. It was all worth it the next morning when my grandson woke up, realized it was me and not mommy and daddy, and said, “Nana, I love you”.
On a more serious note, prayers for Curtis coming his way.
WOW. Praying for all…and thanking God for all the young mothers of preschoolers. I forgot what that was like for a bit. God, bless these sweet ladies with strength, endurance and an ABUNDANCE of laughter and love. 🙂
I just love you my dear Siesta Momma!! Thank you for sharing the day to day with us. I truly think you are my BFF!!! I so can relate! Praying for the Jones family.
Will be at Woodstock on Saturday. Can’t wait to hear the word you’ll have from God.
‘
Oh sweet Beth-
Doesn’t it bring back memories of those nothing-but-full-days!!! My kids are a bit older, and I am enjoying this season with them. I often look at them and wonder how the time has passed so fast!?!?! Our oldest turns 16 on the 16th of May, and in a few years she will be out of our house and in college….ummmmm….so NOT ready for that!!! My youngest however is….he can NOT wait to be the only child in my house….pretty sure he will not really want to hang with his mommy by the time we get to that point….but he swears he will!!! 🙂
I am praising God today for your service to the Jones clan….I know they appreciate you!
Love you,
Andrea
Oh my goodness! I pray to be the sweet grandmother (one day in many years) you are! And I am quite pleased that you are being reminded of the sweet days of a new and young mom. It is often hard to spend all the time in the world in the Word, but her sweet face is a word in itself! Bless you Beautiful Bibby.
Just HAD to Google the Ding Dong cake recipe. I found several, but this one looks really easy if anyone else cares for it. I can’t wait to try it out.
LOVE YOU GALS!!!
FAST AND EASY DING DONG CAKE
Printed from COOKS.COM
â–ˇ 1 pkg. chocolate cake mix
â–ˇ 1 can Ready chocolate frosting
â–ˇ 1/4 c. flour
â–ˇ 1/2 tsp. salt
â–ˇ 1 c. milk
â–ˇ 2/3 c. Butter Crisco
â–ˇ 1 c. sugar
â–ˇ 1 tsp. vanilla
Bake cake and let cool. Combine flour, and salt with milk. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until thick and smooth, cool; cream Crisco and sugar, add cooled milk mixture. Beat until light and fluffy. Blend in vanilla. If layer cake, punch holes about 1 inch in diameter in first layer about 1 inch apart fill with cream filling. Then spread over top completely put next layer on and punch holes; fill with cream filling; then cover whole cake with the can frosting. Top and sides.
Dear Seista Mama,
Welcome to my world. By the time I find my Bible the little bit of time I had to read it is gone. I just try to see if my mind can remember one of my memory verses to think about. I am so tired all I can remember is Jesus wept. Yep and I want to too somedays. But He is the best God.
5yr old asked me early one morning last week (after I had had only 1/2 cup of coffee) “Is there only one God and are we worshiping the right one?”
Praying for all of you.
Deana
Dear Siesta w/ little ones,
May I pass on a suggestion from my “mommy mentor” of years ago? She said to leave Bibles laying open all over the house, especially anywhere I may find myself for a pair of minutes. Yes, even the restroom. Then if I only read a verse or two, here and there, it still got me through those days that never qualified as quiet enough for a quiet time. I took to calling it my noisy time 🙂 Did you know Susanna Wesley, mother of Charles and John used to pull her apron over her head and call in her “prayer closet”? She had twenty-something kids. God bless you sweet, brave mamas of younguns.
From Bibby to Mommy ~ loved this post ’cause there’s nothing quite like hopping back in the Kid Trench to remember how consuming / exhausting / fun it is. And usually it’s kind of dirty, too (at least mine always was).
Sorry about your toe – which I suppose kind of pales when the topic is an appendectomy – but still. I broke my toe once (by walking straight into a wall in my house. A house I’d lived in for over 15 years. Go figure.) Anyway – it hurt like heck. Don’t know if ‘heck’ is considered cussin’ in Texas – or just considered another normal part of ya’ll’s vernacular. I hobbled and it hurt and it turned all sorts of weird shades of black and blue and then finally it healed. And I paid much more attention to that derned wall from then on.
Hope you’re past the hobbling stage come Saturday ~
Warm in Alaska.
praying for you all
I’m laughing right out loud. I loved this blog. You and Melissa and Amanda sound so much like my mom, my sister, and I. I love it!
Praying for the Jones’!
Oh Beth-
There is something sick in me that finds great encouragement in this post, particularly, that you lost both your Bible and quiet time…I’ve been so discouraged today, thinking, “what has happened to me??” I remember the time when I could not survive the day without at least two quiet times with the Lord. I’m so sad that I now apparently CAN survive it…although admittedly, that’s exactly what I look like by the end of the day. A survivor, just barely holding on! I am a mother of six, five of whom I am homeschooling- 16, 12, 10, 8, and 7. One of whom has a severe auditory processing disorder that makes the most random little tasks more challenging climbing Mt. Everest! I ALWAYS intend to have my quiet time, but lately it seems to be hiding from me. Reading your post makes me realize that I need to lighten up on myself…lay off the self-condemnation, and just get back to doing what I know to do. Thank you!
Lisa Cosper
Praying for you all – recovery, patience, peace, rest and a great Simulcast to boot!
Oh Beth –
I just took a few seconds to update myself on the LPM blog – something that I don’t get to do often because I’m a stay at home mom of two spit fire boys, and if I turn my back for a second they are into something. 🙂 Today I read this post and a sigh of relief left me after reading your struggle with your quiet time while watching the little blessings. Hooray! I’m normal! I struggle often with quiet time- not because I don’t just LOVE my time spent with the Lord Jesus – but if I try to wake up before the troops it is almost guaranteed that I’ll hear the patter of feet coming down the hall – and then – it’s over – both of my boys will be up wanting to snuggle in my “robey” – as my younger one calls the soft fuzzy robe that I wear on cool mornings – or it’s breakfast, or a kid’s show, or we need to start school (homeschooling mom too). It was just a relief to know that I’m not the only one who struggles with having my quiet time having young ones. 🙂 Praying for your family. We’ll see you this weekend – even though you won’t see me. but if the Lord happens to give you a glance into the international audience – I’ll be the pregnant one standing with my all time BFF and her momma in Charlottesville, VA (wearing pink – because as you’ve said – it’s ALWAYS God’s will) — We’ve gone to several conferences of yours together and it has just been a really sweet time! Looking forward to it.
Blessings
Gretchen
Virginia Beach, VA
For all of us young mom’s out there…thank you, Beth, for entering our world of unfortunately closed Bibles and being open enough to post it.
I’m just catching up from my own busy week.
It’s going to sound weird, but I absolutely love that you didn’t get to your quiet time yesterday – or at least that you admitted it. I love that you’ve gotten a reminder of what full time life with preschoolers is like. I love that God again has put you in a place to be able to relate more fully with the women you minister to.
Blessings to all the Jones’s and Moores. Praying for Mrs Beth as she prepares amidst the pre-school chaos, for Amanda as she ministers to her husband, for the kids as they miss their mom & dad and for Curtis for complete and total healing.
I’ve been following Curtis’s “adventure” on Amanda’s blog and through twitter. But I loved reading your recap and version. I can just picture Jackson waking you up in the morning – so precious! I ache for that someday as a grandma!
What special memories you’ve made these last few days. Pamper that toe and feel my warm hug (as I eye the room for that ding dong cake!)
I was browsing today, unsure of what I was looking for, but knew that I needed help with my maths, and your site just popped up. (Divine intervention, or what!)
Yes,
This is exactly how it is with little ones. We don’t have anytime for the Lord…but that doesn’t mean that we need Him less or need time alone with Him less! Maybe we need Him MORE because of the hectic pace and the way that we are rubbing off on the little ones in our midst. We need wholeness and holiness. It is easy to forget the truth after the small normal emergencies of those under 5. This, I believe is one of the hardest times of life in Christ.
Summer
Sorry, I published sooner than I should have. I suggested on my blog today that we do a keyword search on an attribute of God and then all day long we spend a moment or two going to take a peak. Focusing on who He is builds my trust and faith levels, not to mention giving me the possibility to “abide.”
I’ve been following the blog for a long while and this was perhaps my favorite post yet! As a single mom (kind of, I have a children’s home in S. Africa), I can totally relate on so many levels…so glad you have a sense of humor! grace grace in all you do, siesta mama.
Beth, I have been laughing out loud! And my man is looking at me from the other room as if I have lost my mind. As a mother of a 16 yr old and a 14 year old I have forgotten, (pushed out of, completely thrown in the locked vault, part of my memory) what it was like to have little ones and how they have a schedule of their own! I haven’t been on the blog in awhile and just found out about Curtis, I am praying for him, Amanda and the kids, all of you! Can’t wait to be at the Simulcast on Saturday! God is in control and He has perfect timing! Luv you all
Mary
Oh, Beth. Thank you so much. First of all, you make me laugh out loud. And these days, I need a good laugh. Second of all, thank you for saying that you didn’t have your quiet time. I needed to hear that. Not because I want any excuse at all to not have mine. but I have a 19 month old little boy and a 5 month old little girl and I’m working two part time jobs and I’m barely keeping my head above water. And I have felt so ashamed! But every morning I wake up to one of my babies and it really is go, go, go and then I crash at night after the other one has gone to bed. I finally got so fed up that I picked up a copy of Jesus Calling and took my Bible today (the real adult version, not the todler picture version:)) and it tasted SO good! I’m bawling my eyes out right now because you have no idea how much grace I’m feeling. I want to go read some more. Thank you for just being you and for being honest. Much love!
I’m glad to see from more current posts that Curtis is at home and doing better. I also was a single parent last week. I had some good friends that went on a cruise and asked if I would move in to their house for the week and watch over their 6 and 7 year kids as well as their 16 yr old foreign exchange student. I gladly accepted, but definitely a different routine for a sister in her mid thiries who isn’t married and doesn’t have kids. We had a good time and no one was injured in the process. The craziest thing about all of it was that last week, the week of the 15th was the busiest week of the year professionally for me, I am a CPA in a public practice..many of my best friends wondered if I should have had my had examined for accepting such a task. I loved every minute and am still trying to catch up on sleep!
I’ve been following Curtis’s “adventure” on the blog blog and through twitter. But I loved reading your recap and version. I can just picture Jackson waking you up in the morning – so precious! I ache for that someday as a grandma!
What special memories you’ve made these last few days. Pamper that toe and feel my warm hug (as I eye the room for that ding dong cake!)
Obviously by the time I’m commenting I know that Curtis is doing MUCH better and home and I’m so glad to hear that. But I just had to thank you for this adorable post! These every-day ordinary tidbits shared are priceless and so sweet to read. Thank you for sharing them with us.
Oh Beth! I have never laughed so hard, because I, too am the Grammy of a 4-1/2 year old Abby (very similar in personality to Jackson I think!) and 21 month old Iyla (other daughter). One is in OK and one is in S Korea (military) But we Skype……and Abby cannot get it that if she can see me on the computer why I am NOT in her living room, reading and playing with her. She starts the Abby whine, “Grammy, I want you come to my house NOW!” and when I try to placate her, she knits up the blonde eyebrows, the blue eyes snapping, the white-blonde pony tails swinging! She whines a little more and then she orders, “Get Poppy!” and she starts with my husband Jeff. Finally the other day, Poppy told her, “Abby, Poppy and Grammy can’t come to from OR to OK tonight…it is dark.” Oh the eyes popped and she snapped “I don’t know why you people can’t get a flashlight!” I just get this picture of you with the hair products (which is what I DO when I am visiting, the hair pretties I have collected start coming out!) I love you so!! Facilitating new Breaking Free right now – that lesson 4 just about broke my heart yesterday…..I was in a snit with God over it all day – then had to bend the knee in confession. This is my 6th Beth study. We have 36 in this group. You are gifted and our Lord is to be praised for your obedient heart. We laugh with you and cry out to the Lord for His transforming power on us! Thank you!
LOVE IT!!! I so can relate, Beth.
Boy, Ms. Beth, I’m sorry you broke your toe. Ouch!!!!!! I broke two of mine in 2007, talk about pain…….The good news is they do heal. The bad news is there isn’t a darn thing you can do about it! I got pain killer and taped them and put them up after a week working on them. I will pray for you and your loved one. Glad you got to be with family! Love listening to you and reading your books.
Dear Beth,
Loved you at Idlewild in Lutz. Forgive me for not taking better notes, but would you please let me know the Isaiah verse you mentioned?
Thank you so much. I know this is a selfish request with all of the family stuff you are going through. Lucky you!!
Donna
All of us all need our personal much-loved pastimes and interests, my personal most popular is golfing in actuality my companion claims I survive for golf, this is true to a certain extent. I ought to say however a whole lot of your observations have surely helped myself with my chosen interest.