Not sure what to say...

I'm totally not in a blogging mood. I just updated my site's look. The dog licking the face pic just takes away from the loveliness of the garden pic.

That is why I'm writing another blog.

Not that I've got anything against folks who let dogs lick their faces. I mean, I totally think that IS pretty gross. Sorry, lady with a corner. For real. I'm grossed out by that.

OH!

I gots to give a shout out to our Uncle Jeremy's blog. Please oh please! Check out that guy's blog! He truly takes blogging - seriously. He LOVES to make folks laugh. I know we all really enjoy making people laugh. It is a fabulous feeling when someone laughs at something funny you've said. Man, I love it when I make someone laugh.

Anyway, the other day the guy said that he wished he could have people read his blog in his living room just so he could hear them laugh.

So, read his blog. Send him a comment. Tell him the Shirley fam thinks he's hip. His wifey is a dear friend of mine too. I'm working on her getting a blogspot.

I heard baby birds chirping in my shed one day. Yup. Just one day. Haven't heard them since.

So, we really do have lots of birds in our back yard. It makes me happy. We've got 2 that fight A LOT. I call 'em Fred and Ethel. Dean just told me they were both male. I'm sure they are. But, they sure do hang out a lot. I've seen 'em together like all week. I might need to change the names to Joey and Chandler.

We have 2 little birds that are iddy biddy and the bravest of the birds. I mean, they come on the patio right up to our door!! Unbelievable, eh? So, I get all googley and research the net on Alabama birds. I find out they are House Sparrows. Yeah, that really should make me happy. I mean, I should be writing a blog on how He takes care of the sparrows and us too, right?

You wanna know what I found out about these sparrows?

They are aggressive and kill bluebirds.

That really really really upsets me.

Seriously, JVines with a corner, it bothers me.


I love blogworld.

This test totally shocked me!

You Are 48% Gross

You're more than a little gross, but probably no more gross than the average person. Maybe it's time to drop some of those disgusting habits that could eventually embarrass you!

How Gross Are You?

I totally thought I was grosser than average....Maybe I should've admitted to not clipping my toenails.

I really am gross y'all.

I saw Michelle did a test. Had to copy her. I just had too.


Soon to come...........

A blog on the life of Allison Shirley

and

A blog on the Shirley farming fun

and

A blog on my backyard birds

See, G? I'm trying to take the right steps in my disease!

Okee dokee.

Today I was reading G's blog. She totally challenges me to say no. We could talk hours about our troubles and consequences that come with this sickness.

She is taking steps toward freedom. It is exciting the risks she's taking. I ache to take the same adventure.

I need help.

I need a phrase to memorize to encourage me not only to say no, but also to do it with out giving an excuse. That is my biggest boo boo. Or, if ya got a verse that'll convict the mess outta me to say no, then that'll work too.

Anyone know of a word that rhymes with "excuse"?

I like to Steal Things....

Okay...I didn't take the pic. It's not me in the pic. I have no idea who is in the pic. I am a theif. or is it thief? anyhoo, I just googled nature adventure pics. I found this one, and it goes PERFECTLY with the quote and where I am right now. I like it lots.

“For as long as you can remember, you have been a pleaser, depending on others to give you an identity. You need not look at that only in a negative way. You wanted to give your heart to others, and you did so quickly and easily. But now you are being asked to let go of all these self-made props and trust that God is enough for you. You must stop being a pleaser and reclaim your identity as a free self.”

Henri Nouwen


So, I was reading Jennifer Vines blog a bit ago, and I absolutely love her quote from Rich Mullins. I started researching for some good quotes. This one was the winner.

Totally Not a typical Day in the Life of Alli Shirley

"It's difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato."

- Lewis Grizzard

I'm not quite ready for my "day in the life of Alli Shirley" blog, yet.
It will be soon, okay?

Just a few highlites of the day that I want to journal.

1. I saw a butterfly in my backyard today. I cannot tell you how much I love those little bugs or whatever they are. I will hafta journal on the reason I love 'em later.

2. I heard baby birds in our shed today!!! You have no idea how happy this makes me. Seriously, I'm tempted to write a blog on this right now, but I'm a bit too sleepy.

3. Rebecca Burroughs (some of you know her....ummm...some of you don't) came to my house today and brought me a lavender plant. Lavender is my favorite scent.

4. She also brought me some sort of 3-green powder that is TOTALLY NASTY looking. I added orange juice to it, and I drank all of it. It really wasn't that bad, but it sure was gross looking.

5. I drank hot tea and ate biscuits with jam with 2 girlfriends as our kids played in my yard.

6. Dean got a sammich that was too big from Roly Poly, and gave me the other half tonight. It was yummy bummy in my tum tum.

7. I'm stoked about our garden this year and home grown tomatoes. I can't wait!!!!!

8. The weather was perfect-o today.

9. God has been oh so good to me today. He is amazing, and knows how to love me. I am thankful for this sweet day.

You Are a Pinky

You are fiercely independent, and possibly downright weird. A great communicator, you can get along with almost anyone. You are kind and sympathetic. You support all your friends - and love them for who they are. You get along well with: The Ring Finger Stay away from: The Thumb

What Finger Are You?

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laiden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from ME, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Matthew 11:28-30

I am in need of a different way of thinking. Ha! I guess we all have that need, eh? I know we all have aches and worries in our hearts. I know we have wounds from years ago that we'll think have been forgotten - until someone says something that reminds of of the memory that hurt us. Then the emotions come, and we can't stop crying or we can't unloosen the tight clenched fists.

If you were in a quiet moment with the Lord. If you were searching to find truth about these wounds and desiring peace. You are sitting in silence longing for the freedom that only He can bring.

And, in that silence you hear "Just live. Don't be afraid. Go where I am." And, the only vision you see is one of flowers. No people. No music. No animals (thank ya, Jesus!). Nothing but simple and beautiful flowers.

What would you think? What does He want? What are your thoughts when you hear those words?

I know my blog is a different tone than usual. Please don't worry. I'm not in a dark depression or suffering. I just hunger for truth about myself and my Maker.

Hope this blog doesn't wigg y'all out.

Oh dear!!

Please. Please. We really need to have a party soon. And, at this party - we need someone to volunteer to make this cake. Also, we will have forks and no plates. We will just sit this cake in the middle of us and eat it. Like we're starving or barbarians. Or both. Starving Barbarians. It will be fabulous.

I mean, just copy and paste this link on your URL thingie. Read the recipe.

Seriously. It has Nutella in the cake and icing. It also has 2 Tbsp Frangelico hazelnut liqueur in it. I don't even know what that is, but oh my word!!! I think I need some right now.

Here is the link to the recipe:

http://www.womansday.com/recipes/11443/chocolate-hazelnut-layer-cake.html?pl=

Please review the recipe and decide when this party can happen.

Okay, PA girl - you can bring your Strawberry Shortcake with milk dessert too.

Squeaky can bring the ice cream. You wondering why I picked her? I just like saying "Squeaky." Squeak. Squeak. Squeaky.

Do you see what Nutella does to me?

It makes me crazy!!

Okay, here is my 'Possum Slayer story. I originally wrote this on my xanga a while back. So, if you've already read it. Ummm...sorry. This is a post that was requested by a hot PA mamasita in LA. I tweaked it a bit for y'alls enjoyment. Hope ya like it!

This post is about animals, and how messed up they are. And, why I just don't like 'em.

But first...I must give a preface -

So, last fall was a rough season for the Shirleys. Daddy Dean was a bit busy with Children's hospital (and classes at SEBC, meetings and fellowships for church and more and more things which I could blog and whine about). Anyway, Dean was an on-call chaplain for the Children's Hospital Trauma unit. This was an amazing ministry opportunity. He loved it and God really gave him the strength to perservere with this service. I still am amazed at the stories he has told me. He worked there for 8 months. But, it was getting to much for the family. When he was on call for a weekend - he'd be gone ALL weekend. There were weekends where he would get 2-3 hours of sleep in 72 hours. Like I said, God gave him supernatural strength for this ministry. There are many other reasons why he had to quit, but that is definitely for a phone conversation or a chat over coffee. Not for me to blog about. Or at least not today.

There was one particular weekend that I am just aching to tell y'all about. It was one of those weekends where I think he got 3 hours of sleep in like 48 or so hours. You'll have to ask him for the details. When Dean is out during the wee hours of the morning - I tend to get a bit worried. My imagination goes out of control, and I totally wigg out.

Imagine this....

I'm sittin in the kitchen readin' some blogs at 12:15am-ish. I hear a loud noise outside. Sounds like someone is goin through my trash!! I look out my door, and I watch a(n) 'possum scurry through my back yard. So, I get loopy and start really wishin' my hunk were with me.


He wasn't. I had to get a plan. A plan of what to do in case the night crawler snuck in my home.

First, I had to get my kids safe. I put both of my sleeping children in our room....snuggled tight in our cozy bed.

Because I know that there is no entrance in our room that the punk can get through.

Second, I get weapons near the big bed where my darlings are sleeping. A can of Oust (just like Lysol) and a big metal baseball bat. I'm ready for ya, big boy....oh yeah, momma's gonna take care of her babies.

So, I'm thinkin' that the critter is going to come through the vent in the laundry room.

Have I told you that I don't know ANYTHING about 'possums?

Whew!

I start pumpin my scared self up to beat the mess out of an animal. I gotta think like a super hero woman. I gotta think like I'm a wonderwoman/Crocodile Dundee kinda gal. "You can do this, Alli ! You can kill and animal to save your babies!" I just keep repeatin' it over and over in my head. I think I even said it outloud a few times.

Then, I remember something I read one time in some book. These creepies play dead!!!

What if it is in my hallway playing dead?? Do I kill it while it's playing dead or do I walk over it? Seriously! What do I do? I mean, what if I walk over it and it wakes up? Oh my word. Just the thought of that scares the hoobeedooobie out of me! Ugh! Who needs a scary movie when you've got a 'possum in your yard??

Anyhoo, I call my mom at 12:35am-ish. Yes, I do. I was scared, my friends. She assured me that as long as my doors were shut that the beast couldn't get in my home.

Thank ya, Jesus, for the wisdom and patience that a good Alabama momma has!

So, I sneak back in my bed with my little loves. And, laugh at myself. I also think about how cool it would be to be a 'possum slayer. Alli Shirley the opossum slayer. How cool would that be?

Then, Dean-o calls at 1:32am-ish. He tells me of the serious conditions he's been dealing with. I am quiet and respectful. He then asks me how I'm doing. I told him about the monster outside. He laughed really really hard.

Sometime during the weekend I asked Dean about what to do if this happens again. He just laughed and reminded me of how sleepy he was.

This is just one of a gazillion animal creep out stories that I have.

Ya want more?? I gotta 'em, sweet friends. Just ask...I totally got more scarey aminal stories.

Bug Business

So, my kids are sometimes scared of bugs. I'm afeared that they got that nervousness from me. I do know several ladies who can handle the flutter of bugs and not even flinch. Not me. I am totally a flincher.

Well, it's getting to be summer time, sweet friends. The mesquitos are starting to wake up and visit my home. Ya see, I leave the door cracked while the kids are outside. I gots to do that so I can hear them while I cook or clean. ANYWAY, the stinkers have been sneakin' in when I am not noticing. My kids freaked out when it happened the first time. And, it was when we had company (of course). So, here's my big boy totally wiggin out over this bug. One of my friends told Andrew that the big mesquitos were our friends because they ate the bad little mesquitos (i didn't know that, did you?). Then, she suggested that we name him, Bob. That was last week.

Since then Andrew has been telling me that he loves his pet mesquito, Bob. Yup, he talks to the thing as it flies on the wall and in the light.

Last night I was in the laundry room. Andrew was in the kitchen. I hear him yell "someone killed my pet....Bob!!"

Luckily my husband is wise and educated on such critters, and told Andrew that no one killed Bob, but that the freaks...I mean, mesquitos.....don't live for very long.

As Dean is teaching this lesson to my attentive son we hear Gracie in the hall. Shouting "dere he is! Buddy! Dere his is! Hey, Bob!!" Andrew runs in the hall and exclaims "There you are, Bob! I knew you weren't dead!"

Today it was flying around and I coaxed him to go outside. Of course the kids were encouraging him all the way. "Go Bob! I know you can do it! Go outside with all your friends! Go Bob Go!"

Oh the adventures we have in the Shirley house.

I gotta feelin' y'all are gonna tell me to get my kids a pet.

The answer is "no."