Swimmer Eaten by Shark at Galveston Beach

We went to Galveston for the first time today.  Look at what we stumbled upon!  

So stinking clever!  I love it!

Fingerprint-a-phobic

Glass doors, glasses, screens, drinking glasses, ATM machines, public countertops, tape, glue, windows, cell phone screens, mirrors, remote controls… what do these all have in common? FEAR.

One of my weirdest fears is using tape at work. How do you use it without leaving fingerprints? You can’t.

I may be the only person on Earth with this fear. I’ve researched it for years. I’ve never committed a crime—my worry isn’t about getting caught. I fear people retrieving my prints and using them for… something. With a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Law/Justice Studies (emphasis in Criminal Justice), I understand fingerprints—but that doesn’t stop my fear.

I admit I have some OCD tendencies. I’ve joked about them here on my blog. But I wasn’t always like this.

It started with trauma. After 17 years of marriage, I divorced. My ex began stalking me—breaking into my home daily, peeking through windows and doors, tampering with light bulbs, leaving knives in the kids’ rooms, hiding a baby monitor under my dresser, unlocking and sawing bolts off windows, going through our laundry, monitoring my calls, and following me everywhere.

One day I came home from lunch to find him crawling across my kitchen floor, window cut open, screen off, blinds down. Scared me to death! I called the police as he climbed out to the backyard. He begged me not to call, pleaded, stripped off surgical gloves, and hid them behind the fence post while he sat on the ground.

When the officer arrived, he cuffed him and pointed out the gloves. I had to swear never to drop the restraining order. The officer told me, “That man would eventually kill you.” Surgical gloves while breaking in? That wasn’t a prank—he planned bodily harm.

Why didn’t I connect this before? I used to love wrapping presents and working with my hands. Fingerprints never bothered me—art is full of fingerprints! But this trauma changed me.

Today, I’m declaring: this phobia is over. Now that I know the cause, I can control it. I refuse to let fear win.

Lord Jesus, give me strength to not allow fear to control me.

2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
Psalm 56:3-4 – “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?”

My review of my youngest daughter Kiera

The other night I was typing up some review posts when my youngest (5) came up and asked, “Mommy, why do you do that?”

I explained, “I like to tell other people about things I like.”

She pulled up a chair, crawled onto my lap, and said, “Mommy, you like me. Put me on there.”

Hugs and cuddles immediately took over. Okay… come on—sweet! 

Swimming Pool Games

Pool Party Fun: 15 Swimming Games You’ve GOT to Try!

I’ve been scouring the internet for fun swimming pool games for the kids, and here’s a roundup of the best:

1. Atomic Whirlpool – Everyone lines up along the pool edge. Walk, jog, then spin in a human whirlpool! Bonus: Try it in reverse.

2. Battleships & Submarines – Two teams, two bases. Battleships try to taunt subs into chasing them; subs swim underwater to tag battleships. Hilarity (and splashing) guaranteed!

3. Belly Flop Contest – Judge contestants on form/creativity, splash factor, and “pain.” Applause wins prizes!

4. Bottle – A 2-liter bottle is tossed in the pool. Teams have to get it to the opposite chair for points. First to 3 wins. Eyes closed until splash!

5. Bumper Boats – Like bumper cars, but in tubes. Kick, bump, and try to knock everyone off their “boats.” Last one afloat wins.

6. Chicken – Pair up: one rides on the other’s shoulders. Push other teams over. Last pair standing wins!

7. Crocodile Hunter – Give volunteers 60 seconds to wrestle an inflatable croc. Judge creativity, rolls, and flair.

8. Rubber Ducky – Push ducks with your nose (or blow them) across the pool. No hands, feet, or biting allowed. First duck across wins.

9. Gator – One person is the gator in deep water. Others try to swim across without being tagged. Tagged? Join the gator team!

10. King of the Tube – Champions sit on a tube while opposing players try to tip them off. Longest-standing champion wins.

11. Noodle Joust – Two players joust on rafts with pool noodles. Knock your opponent off, then face the next challenger.

12. Pool Volleyball – Water version of classic volleyball. Teams hit the ball over the net. Miss? Opponent serves!

13. Water Freeze Tag – “It” tags players, who freeze in place. Others can unfreeze them with creative moves. Keep the game moving until everyone’s tagged!

Safety first: Adult supervision is a must! The most important part of any swimming game or pool party is swim safety.

World's Best Chicken Fingers

Crispy, Tender Chicken Strips – So Simple!

Breading Mix:

• 1 box Jiffy Cornbread mix

• 2 cups flour

• Cajun seasoning, to taste

• Salt, to taste

Dip Process:

1. Coat thawed chicken strips in the flour mixture.

2. Dip in an egg wash (eggs + milk + salt + optional dash of hot sauce).

3. Back into the flour mixture.

Cooking:

• Flash fry on medium-high heat until golden.

• Transfer to a wire rack on a cookie sheet and finish in the oven at 350°F for ~25 minutes.

Tips:

• I always double the batch for my tribe – 5 pounds at a time!

• Result: crunchy outside, tender inside.

• Serve with honey mustard, naturally.

Pro tip: Your family will beg for seconds.