The Heist!

Well on Saturday we decided to spend the day with my brother, his wife and my niece, really I just wanted to play with my niece...but don't tell them! Anyway, we went, ate BBQ and had a great visit.

My girls needed new shoes, my sister in law decided she wanted to go to the mall as well, so we jumped into the car and headed to the mall. The whole while we were talking it up and having a ball. We arrived and got out of the car. I yelled at the kids to lock their doors, cause we have ghetto cars that have broken power locks, yes we are thinking of buying a new one, however, for now, we must manually lock the doors...oh my...what is the world coming to?!

We went on into the mall, never looking back.....maybe we should have...(keep reading...)

The girls went on their merry way in search of the perfect pair of sneakers, while my sister-in-law and I went to the baby shops and oohed and ahhed at all the cute little clothes and accessories they now offer for babies! I had forgotten how much fun having a baby is!

After only being in the mall for about an hour my cell phone rang and my oldest informed me that they had purchased their shoes and were ready to go. She decided she had a crawfish boil she needed to attend and informed us that we needed to cut our fun filled day short!

With my daughter's social welfare in mind, we continued shopping! (Well, for about 5 minutes anyway!) We began to meander toward the Dillard's department store where we found the girls waiting, rather impatiently I might add. I just don't understand teenagers and their social agendas! I want to spend a day with family, and they want to get as far away as possible. I assume I was the same way when I was 18.

We then headed to the car with our loot from the mall in tow. As we arrived at the car I pulled out my keys and I noticed the keyhole on the door was turned a little sideways. I had never put the key into the keyhole at such an angle, at least I didn't remember that I had, but being blond, the thought flew out of my head as quickly as it had entered. I then entered the car. As I was leaning over to manually (yes, remember the auto locks don't work) unlock the door, I noticed papers and stuff thrown all around the passenger side of the car. Another blond moment ensued.....I could not imagine how that glove compartment would open and spill out like that while we were out of the car....DUH! When I opened my sister-in-law's door I said, "Something happened!"

My sister-in-law, being the most observable one began screaming, "OH MY GOSH! SOMEONE BROKE INTO THE CAR!!"

Well, I guess if there had been someone lying in wait for us I would have just said, "Hi!", and let everyone in. DUH AGAIN!

While my sister-in-law was screaming at a kid, who was walking past, and asking (actually screaming) if he had anything to do with this....which, I might add, caused him to run like mad from the wild red-headed screaming beast my protective sister-in-law had turned into in a matter of seconds...., I was trying to figure out what on earth they would have been trying to steal. I then had a shrinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. I remembered my husband had JUST picked up a deer head he had mounted for my son.

Now I don't know about you all, but hunting and the evidence of the kill is an important thing to the men in my house. I was afraid that they had taken the HEAD!! I was mortified! However, as luck would have it....the stupid thing was still in the back of the Tahoe, untouched and ready to hang on my wall, OH THE JOY.....ya right. They did take the Dollar Store toolbox that was sitting right beside it though. I wanted to talk to the idiot and ask him what he was thinking leaving the one thing that cost an arm and leg and instead taking a 10 dollar tool kit with tools that were more toy"ish" than usable! I mean really! I wanted him to come back and explain THAT one to me.

Of course I had to call my husband and tell him what happened. It took me a while because I knew what the conversation was going to entail. He never said, "Oh honey, I am so thankful you all didn't walk up on that and get hurt." He never said, "It's okay, it's only a material thing." He just said, "OH MY GOSH! DID THEY TAKE THE HEAD??!!!" Well, I guess he has his priorities all lined out, right? After 20 years I guess I need to face the fact that the head is tops on the list these days! :)

Anyway, come to find out there were about 8 cars that were broken into, or attempted to be broken into. We were truly blessed in the fact that some of the locks, in other cars, were pushed all the way into the doors. Mine was only turned. I must admit that they were good at getting in and getting out since we were only in there for an hour. I recognize it could have been much, much worse.

My sister in law didn't help my pride much. I asked, when we got back home, WHY someone would want to break into that ratty old thing. Her reply was, "Well, because it looks like it would have like a big stereo system in it." I finally figured out that she was politely saying, "IT LOOKS GHETTO." ........I guess time to break down and buy that new car....sniff, sniff. However, I like ghetto I guess, cause ghetto is paid for! :)

Well, that was just ONE of the many episodes of our household this past week, trust me there are plenty. We are prone to chaos, however, I have learned to laugh in the face of these mini disasters because in reality....they don't matter.

I found a little quote that I have been trying to keep in the back of my mind that has allowed me to recognize what these little bumps, and the big potholes, are really all about...

"Every trial God allows has the potential to refine and strengthen us."

I hope as you read and laugh about my blond episodes, you will recognize that God is using those things to grow me into what He wants me to be. Sometimes the bumps hurt, sometimes they just cause me to lose my balance, but ultimately my Father is there to pick me up and to mold me the way he sees fit.

I may be blond, but I have a Heavenly Father that sees me as someone worthy to love and uses these situations to draw me nearer to Him! Praise be to Him, my Creator, my Rock, my Strength and my Comfort.

Come, go on a journey with me. You never know what might happen, but the ending is SO, SO wonderful, I promise!

By the way, I met a really nice security guard and a great Houston Police officer. Thanks to our public servants for helping in times like these. Blessings!