When he told you you’re not good enough
When he told you you’re not right
When he told you you’re not strong enough
To put up a good fight
When he told you you’re not worthy
When he told you you’re not loved
When he told you you’re not beautiful
That you’ll never be enough

When he told you were troubled
You’ll forever be alone
When he told you you should run away
You’ll never find a home
When he told you you were dirty
And you should be ashamed
When he told you you could be the one
That grace could never change

Fear, he is a liar
He will take your breath
Stop you in your steps
Fear he is a liar
He will rob your rest
Steal your happiness
Cast your fear in the fire
‘Cause fear he is a liar

~Zach Williams

I’ve been listening to too many “red pill” podcasts, lately. The Andrew Tate hitchhikers, of content creators. There is one in particular, who grinds my gears (aka frustrates the hell out of me). While I truly can listen with an open mind, and even agree with some of the things they say, much of what I hear is just inexperienced people, who don’t know how to argue their own shallow opinions. I do believe men need a voice. I understand these are challenging times, for them. Masculinity has been shamed and insulted, to the point that I can see why so many are listening to voices of the “manosphere”, and feeling heard. However, I also feel sad for the people who are following the “advice” that people like this are giving out. Today’s feminist extremists insist that men and boys are the source of all our problems. Today’s “red pill movement”, suggest it’s women and girls who are the problem. What if we all just took a step back? What if everyone logged off their internet connections, and wandered out into the real world? What you find, are individuals who have their own unique experiences. Individuals who actually aren’t walking around with hate and malice for people who don’t look, think, dress, or act the same as they do. I still believe most people are good. Yes, there are some folks among us, who truly do simply seek to sow as much outrage, discord, and destruction possible. Those people generally yell loudest, and protest so confidently, it can appear as if they know what they’re talking about. Sometimes, taking a little time to reacquaint ourselves with the rational, free thinking minds that make up the vast majority of our population, is the most productive way to remind ourselves that the world really isn’t shit. All is not lost. Stepping outside of our own front door, can literally restore your faith in humanity. As an American, we are constantly being sold this idea that everything around us is falling apart. And, the only way to “fix” it, is to vote for the right political candidate. Hate and shame anyone who doesn’t agree with us. To be angry. To live in fear. To accept whatever “truth” the person talking on our TV, computer screen, or radio is telling us. The solutions are not ever going to be found there. As Jordan Peterson has said, we need to first “clean up our own room”, before we attempt to change the world. Focus inside our own home. If that’s in decent order, look to neighbors and community. Work to make positive impacts for those around us. We can do so much more, together, when we just get to know and listen to those around us. Our lives aren’t so terrible, after all. We’re literally all quietly struggling through something tough. Everyone around us is going through something. There is a story worth telling, and many stories worth listening to. We don’t all have to agree on solutions. If we can simply take a moment to have real conversations with one another, we might just come to realize, most people are good. Most of us want the best for our families, our communities, and humanity at large. Most people truly want to make a difference. We don’t have to share the same ideas about exactly how we should go about things. We do need to stop letting hateful rhetoric dominate our conversations, though. Hating each other does absolutely nothing to solve our problems. Anyway, that’s my thoughts today. ❤️

And it’s a great day to be alive. I know the sun’s still shinin’ when I close my eyes. There’s some hard times in the neighborhood, but why can’t everyday be just this good…

Travis Tritt

I’m a big baby, about swimming in water that isn’t to my temperature preferences. I was pleasantly surprised, to discover the pool was actually not too cold! The water felt warmer than the night air did.

Today, I’m cleaning the house up. I hadn’t done much, over the last couple of days. The kids had made a big mess downstairs, so I’ve made the guest bed, swept and vacuumed the floors, and vacuumed the couch cushions off, because they’d left a popcorn mess on it.

We never didn’t end up with much rain, yesterday. We got a couple of light showers, but not enough to water the grass as much as I’d have liked. We went to bed early, and I met my 7 hour sleep goal, for the first time in nearly a week. I just don’t require as much sleep, in the Summertime.

It’s only mid 70’s outside, today, but the humidity is still making it feel hot. I’m making beef and noodles tonight, for supper. I’ve got dough rising, for the dinner rolls, that I’m making to go with.

This coming Sunday, is Father’s Day. We’re going to go to my dad’s house. He’s grilling something for us, and we’ll swim and hang out all afternoon. Fireworks tents are popping up everywhere, as we grow closer to July 4th. We’re going to my dad’s house, that day, also. Then, July 8th, we’ve got a guitar night scheduled there. We’re having so much fun, this Summer is going to fly by!

I really don’t have much else to write about. I’m trying to do a better job, of writing everyday. I just don’t have a whole lot to say, today.

~Ricochet

Last night, we drove over to my dad’s place, to raise a little bit of hell, just for fun. He wasn’t home, this weekend. Jackie and I took lots of pictures of us inside his house, being ornery, and sent them to him. It was hilarious! He loved it ❤️

We swam in his pool, for a couple hours. As we were driving back home, we passed a Waffle House. Justin announced that he’d never had Waffle House! Adam turned the car around, and we parked at the Waffle House. We all went inside, and introduced Justin to the charm of Waffle House, late at night. It was a great night.

I’m currently sitting downstairs, watching random documentaries. Justin and Jackie are coming by, in a little while. He asked me to give him a haircut. I’m going to make some ham and cheesy potatoes, for supper. It’s hot and humid, but storm chances through the rest of the day and night. It rained just a little bit, earlier. Right now, it’s cloudy, humid, and ominous looking out, but not doing anything. I wouldn’t mind a little thunder and rain.

It’s been, yet another, busy and fun filled Summer weekend. I do enjoy the lazy Sunday afternoons, though.

Accepted…

I just wanna do country ass shit, with my country ass friends…

~Morgan Wallen

Yesterday, I held and looked after Pj, so my sister could have a drink and a just a little while “baby free”. Wyatt, Mj, and her friend T, were over at the trampoline park. I’d taken them there, to jump for a couple of hours. While they did that, I spent some quality time with my baby niece, Pj. When their time at the trampoline park was up, they came to swim at Justin and Jackie’s pool. There’d been a 12 year old boy there swimming, the whole time we were there. I’d told him I had some kids coming there soon, so he was waiting around, hoping to play with them. When the kids got there, they played with their new friend for awhile, before I took them home.

We just had a leftover “fend” night, for supper. While Adam and Justin were at the gym, the kids set up our downstairs patio for a “date night”, wanting Adam and I to hang out together down there. After he got home and showered, we went and played some games of cornhole, just the two of us. We came inside fairly early. It was only around 11:00pm. The girls are staying downstairs, in the guest room, and having fun with all the fun things to do, down there. Wyatt had caught a touch of the same summer cold I’d had, a few days ago. It wasn’t horrible. Just stuffed up, a little cough, and typical cold symptoms like that. Pj had RSV, about a week ago. I suspect we picked it up from her. She’s much better now, though, and so are we. Today, Wyatt’s already much better. Adam took him fishing, earlier. They also cleaned out our garage, and took some things off to donate, and some to the dump.

I went down and woke up the girls, around 11:30, this morning. They were still sound asleep. After they’d gotten up, and came upstairs, I had donuts for breakfast. That isn’t a normal kind of breakfast, for them, but I’d wanted to treat them.

This afternoon, I let the girls make brownies. They did a great job! I’d taught Mj how to crack an egg easily. If you put a plate on the counter, and drop the egg from 10 or so inches, onto it, it’ll crack perfectly every single time. She used my method, and it worked like a charm.

Tonight, Jackie and Justin are coming over. The guys are grilling pork chops. I’m making potatoes and green beans, to go with. We’re planning to have a fun Saturday night, hanging out together. I’ve got my swimsuit on, underneath my sundress, because we considered “sneaking” over to Poppy’s, later. We talked about doing some night swimming, just for fun. His place is very close to ours, so once the kids are settled in, we might make a quick trip over there, and jump in his pool for awhile. He’s not home this weekend, but I’ve got his house keys, and he never minds us popping over, or using his pool. He actually loves it when we do. I thought it’d be funny, if we sent him some pictures of us in his pool tonight! 😆

Mj’s friend, T’s, aunt is picking her up tomorrow morning. We’ve been going to church, on Sundays now, for several weeks. I’m sure we’ll go tomorrow, too. That pretty much sums up our weekend! Plenty of fun and shenanigans, as always. 😉

Frozen chicken patties (In the US, Tyson brand sells these in bags of 10)

Box of fettuccini noodles

Pasta sauce (I use the cheap Hunts brand)

Shredded Parmesan cheese

Shredded Italian blend cheese

Butter

Parsley flakes

I baked the chicken patties, as directed, in the oven. I put them in a couple 9×12 glass baking dishes. While they’re baking, cook the fettuccini noodles on the stove. When the chicken is done baking, remove from oven. Spread Italian blend cheese over all the chicken patties. Then, pour pasta sauce over the top. I used 2 cans of Hunts pasta sauce. Put back in oven, for 5-8 minutes, until cheese is melted. Drain all but about a cup of the water the noodles have boiled in. Add 1/2 cup of butter and 1 cup Parmesan cheese to the noodles, with the remaining pasta water. Stir until melted together. Add some parsley flakes, toss, and serve with a chicken patty on top of the noodles. This is now an easy favorite, for my family 😊

And you bring me to my knees
Again
All the times that I could beg you please
In vain
All the times that I felt insecure
For you
And I leave my burdens at the door

All the times that I felt like this won’t end
It’s for you
And I taste what I could never have
It was from you
All the times that I’ve cried
My intentions were full of pride
But I waste more time than anyone

All the times that I’ve cried
All this wasted, it’s all inside
And I feel all this pain
Stuffed it down, it’s back again
And I lie here in bed
All alone, I can’t mend
But I feel tomorrow will be okay

But I’m on the outside, I’m looking in
I can see through you, see your true colors
‘Cause inside you’re ugly, you’re ugly like me
I can see through you, see to the real you

~Staind

That was the daily Bible verse I was shown, on my Bible app, the other day. I read it, as this song was playing on my stereo speaker. I really tried to consider, how would I obey this scripture, when it comes to my mother? How could I possibly “honor” her? I suppose this is a question I’ll need to spend more time speaking to God about. Because, I’m struggling with this one.

It’s been such a busy, full summer, already. Justin and Jackie came over, Wednesday evening. We all sat out on the deck. We stayed up a little later than usual, for a week night. It was after 10:00pm, when Adam and I came inside, to take our shower. While we’d been talking, outside, I was sharing a story I’d heard on a podcast. I told them, I hadn’t slept well, Monday night. Adam chimed in, “And why is it you didn’t sleep well?” Jackie said, “Uh oh! You didn’t tell me you got in trouble!” I told Adam to “shut up”. He made another comment, I can’t remember what? Then, I told him to “fuck off”. I caught myself, just as I’d said it, but it was already done. I told them the podcast story, and nothing more was said about my comments to Adam. That is, until we got into our bedroom, after everyone had left, and the kids were in bed. Adam spanked me, and it hurt. It hurt physically, of course, but emotionally, I was also a wreck. I’d been holding in some quiet frustrations, and they bubbled over. Our son has been becoming a hormonal teenage mess. I understand, that’s normal, but he can be a real jerk sometimes. Over the last several days, he’d yelled at me for asking him to take the trash can to the curb. He’d been disrespectful and rude, when we’d left church last Sunday. He raised his voice to me. He’d seriously crossed the line. He hasn’t been bothering to rinse his dirty dishes, as they’re always supposed to do. I had a pile of dishes with stuck on food, he’d left on the counter. I told him he needed to scrub them, and put them in the dishwasher. He stomped to the sink, and then ignored me the rest of the afternoon. Then, I’d discovered, he didn’t even attempt to scrub the dishes off. He’d just thrown them into the dishwasher. My feelings have been so hurt, but I’m literally afraid to confront my own son, because he has been acting up. I just haven’t had the energy to fight with him. I was also feeling incredibly frustrated, because Adam has witnessed some recent issues with him, but said nothing. So, after he spanked me, I felt angry as hell, at first. As we showered, I began to tell him about my upset. I turned into a blubbering mess. I told him, I feel picked on, because he expects me to always be respectful, and to obey him, but he has been allowing our child to disrespect and disobey me, without seeming to notice or care. I was crying so hard, every single word had a pause between it, while I gulped and sobbed, just trying to get through my sentences.

I could see Adam’s entire demeanor morphing, as I explained these frustrations to him. He went from angry, to confused, to hurt, and finally, acceptance. He understood why I felt this way. He also felt horrible, for allowing it to get to this point. We went to bed, and didn’t spend anymore time discussing it, that night. Last night, after he’d had some time to process, we talked it all through. He promised to pay more attention to everyone’s behavior, not just mine. He insisted, he gets where I’m coming from, he’s so sorry, and it won’t continue. I believe him.

I took the kids swimming, at Poppy’s, yesterday. Jackie, her sister and niece, and my sister and niece, also came swimming with us. Pj is growing sooo quickly!

Mj’s best friend is here, for a few days. I’m bringing them to an indoor trampoline park near us, this afternoon. Then, we’re going to swim in Jackie and Justin’s pool, for awhile.

I made chicken parmesan for supper, last night. I tried some new things, and it turned out amazing! Everyone loved it. I’m going to share the recipe I came up with, in another post.

This about catches up on everything that’s been happening here. It’s Friday! I’m in a good mood. It’s going to be another fun filled Summer weekend, and I love it all ❤️

~Jelly Roll, with Brantley Gilbert & Struggle Jennings

That’s one of the songs on Jelly’s new album. It’s title, Whitsitt Chapel, is the name of an old Baptist church he attended, in Antioch Tennessee. Anyone who knows Nashville, knows Antioch ain’t a place you go and mess around.

We have had such a great time, the last few days. Saturday, we went and swam in Poppy’s pool.

After swimming, we went and got pizza, and came back home. Jackie and Justin sat outside, with us, until about midnight. Sunday, we all went to church. Jackie and Justin went home, and Adam, the kids, and I spent a lazy Sunday afternoon, at home. I cut Adam’s hair. Made pulled chicken sandwiches, for supper. We all went to bed early, Sunday night.

Yesterday evening, Jackie, Justin, Adam, and I went to the baseball game. The Nashville Sounds hosted an event, to benefit veterans and first responders. The baseball teams were made up of musicians, athletes, and some members of the military and first responders. Jelly, Struggle, and Brantley were among them. There were several other artists. Those are just my favorites. I rooted for military team, to win, but it was all in fun. Military did win, though!

Adam’s fixing to head home, from work. He’s going to go work out, with Justin, before supper. I’m tired! We’ve had a lot going on. I love it, though!

Oh, I also got a spanking, last night. We’d had an awesome night. We’d gotten home, gone to bed, and just finished having some great sex. As Adam was putting his boxer shorts back on, he said something, I can’t even remember what?! I flipped him off. I really thought he was turned around, and couldn’t have seen it, but he sure did. He was not amused. He marched over to me, bent me over the side of the bed, and spanked me. I was still naked, when it happened. I’d gotten up, to grab one of his t-shirts to wear to bed. I hadn’t made it to his dresser drawer yet. So, I’ve got a bit of a sore butt, today. Overall, it was still an awesome night. Could’ve done without that part. Otherwise, no regrets!

This is a song title. My dad helped make this one.

I took the kids over to Jackie’s pool, where they live. We got some sunshine, and watched them have fun.

Justin and Adam have been working out together, every evening. Justin and Jackie are coming over, soon. Justin and Adam just have “abs day”, tonight. When they’re finished, they’ll be back here, and we’re all going to hang out.

We’re all going to Poppy’s house, tomorrow afternoon. We’re going to swim, and have fun there. Sunday, after church, Adam and Justin are planning to clean out our garage. We’ve got a whole load of junk, that needs to go to the landfill. Then, Justin is going to store a few totes of their things they aren’t using at their townhouse, in our garage. Monday evening, we have the veterans baseball game, at the Sounds stadium. Mj’s best friend is coming, to stay with us, all of next week. Wyatt’s also got plans to go swimming, with some of his friends, next week. And, I promised the kids I’d take them over to the indoor trampoline park, one day next week. Lots of busy, and tons of fun!

Adam just text me, that he’s heading home. Time to get our weekend started, here!