I Really Wish I Could

Over the past 8 weeks, life for the people closest to me, including family and close friends, has been pretty rough. I have spent hours - literally - praying for peace in their lives. As the old saying goes, "Peace is not the absence of conflict, but it is the presence of God." That is what I have prayed for. In my human hands, I hold no ability to change the situations, or to change the outcomes. And heaven knows, if I could, I sure would for every one of them. But in the midst of them, I pray for peace.

I have several friends who read the blog, and some who don't. Or forget about it frequently. To my family and friends who have had a rough time these past weeks and months - and you know who you are.....if I could, I really would change the circumstances. It seems like it just kinda hit everybody at once. I could sit right here and write out a list that would just make my human mind feel totally helpless! But even more than that feel HOPELESS! I read a quote yesterday that said, "Faith is not believing that God can, but believing that God will!!" I don't know how God plans to work out each of these circumstances, but I know he can and WILL! Maybe not exactly the way we figured it out, but actually better than that!!

So, while the view of the end is still either unseen or a little foggy, from the friend side of the picture, this is for you......

Help me - I'm Claustrophobic...

This is for all of you reading my blog who LOVE having an MRI! For some people and for some reason even breathing becomes difficult in such lovely places. I'm sure that Dad, Laura, and Jeana would find this a VERY attractive place to be. I figured you'd all jump at a chance to have an MRI in this one! If you'll notice the eyeballs of the lady receiving it......it seems as though she's not exactly jumping stumps, instead seems about ready to jump off the Talmadge!

(the Talmadge, btw, is a HUGE, tall bridge that spans the Savannah River. It's REALLY intimidating, but would be a place to consider jumping off if you didn't want to survive- you know, not that I would ever encourage that! ) :-)

Be a Friend NOW!!

I'll not post everything I found stuffed in that book, but I have to introduce you to a little guy named Mattie J.T. Stepanek and his writings. In case you've never heard of him, he's a poet....let me rephrase that. He was a poet. Mattie was born in 1990 and I was introduced to his work around 2000 when I began working in adolescent oncology. Our floor kept a book in the nurses' station - written by him called "Heartsongs." All the kids there on the floor who could read knew who he was and loved to read his poetry. If they were having hard times sleeping at night, they would pop their little heads around the corner and ask for a "Mattie book." He had several volumes that were a collection of his poems... Mattie was born with a severe form of muscular dystrophy that eventually confined him to not only a wheelchair, but also a mobile ventilator. Yet, he never quit writing- even when 2 of his siblings died before him with the same problems he had. At the age of 11, he was homeschooled and had reached the 11th grade. He was way smarter than the normal kid his age.

Mattie died in 2004. I remember his death actually made the news. I guess I remember it, because I knew who he was. One of the poems I found tucked away that he wrote around the age of 6-8 (can't remember exactly) was called "Rebecca's Reminder." This was written when his friend Rebecca died. Now, remember, we're talking 7 year olds here......Here's how it goes......this is also how it's published.....

It is sad when a friend Dies.
Death becomes
Suddenly Painful.
Suddenly Real.
Suddenly Reminding.
When a friend Dies.
Perhaps we should
Suddenly Remember
How real Death is,
And wonder
How our LIFE
Will be,
Suddenly,
Based on
How much of a friend we are
NOW,
Regularly.

Poor Old Yeller!

So, yesterday was not, by far, one of the greatest days I've ever lived through. I was swamped at work pathetically that I barely had time for a lunch break. Had it not been for an interesting email from Aunt Linda - I might not have made it through the day without complaining. LOL!!

Yesterday on the way to work, I laughed gleefully at myself for doing something I had never done before. I had decided to take Jeremy's old faithful truck, "Old Yeller" to work so that he could take my car on a trip a good ways away to help with a volunteer optical clinic. Well, I thought, instead of me being stuck at work without a vehicle, I'll just drive the truck since it's not that far away and he can take my car. The drive there was pleasant and funny. I was not used to driving with no mirrors, well, the one on the driver's side was there, but I had to turn around if I wanted to see anything else.

So, I took my experience with a happy heart and was kinda enjoying the experience. It reminded me riding in some of my dad's old trucks from years ago.

The ride home, however was not as enjoyable. About 10 minutes into my journey, I happened upon some heavy traffic and was not going fast, at all, and a man pulling a red utility trailer with recessed lights in front of me slammed on brakes suddenly. The sun was glaring off the back of the trailer anyway, so I never saw brake lights. I just realized he was stopped. In my attempt to stop the truck, it locked up on me, and in what felt like a slow motion film, I just continued to slide what felt like forever as the gate of that trailer got closer and closer and then I heard and FELT the crash. The poor tires were smoking and smelling like a smoke-stack! Poor "old Yeller." Come to find out, the man had slammed on brakes because a 5 car pile-up had just occurred in front of him.

The policeman (a lady) who happened to be riding directly behind me, pulled over in front of us, without lights (hallelujah) and wrote our info up and let us go. No damage to the truck I hit except for the gate of the trailer is a little bent. Old Yeller, I'm afraid to say, had a bit more damage. Jeremy worked for at least an hour last night before ever getting the hood up. The radiator is a little pushed in. Oh well, we were attempting to make a decision on what we should do next about another vehicle. And we have discovered, that sometimes LIFE (or in this case myself) don't allow you to wait on those decisions....it kinda makes up your mind for you.

So, now, we are en route to take Jeremy to work, so that I can have the car today.....I am currently the butt of jokes now....and I feel that this will follow me for a very long time. A few minutes ago, we stopped behind a car and Addison yells, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING DADDY?" His reply?....."I'm stopping behind this car....unlike your mother!!" We got a good laugh out of it. Oh well, I guess that's what I get! I guess I might as well laugh about it as anything. I'm past the nerves stage of the process. At least I survived to tell about it. I'm very thankful for that ..... :-)

I've heard the metal wrinkling more than once during the night. At least there were no nightmares for what could have been!

The Bridge Builder

I pulled out a book I haven't read in a while last night. I saw some pieces of paper sticking out and a smile crossed my face. They were "progress notes" for charts we used at the University of South Alabama Children's and Women's Hospital. I used to work midnights there, and if there was a lull in work, I'd read and write down notes from what I was reading on blank progress notes that the doctors used to update charts every morning. I had forgotten that I'd written all this stuff down and found some very interesting writings. One was a poem I'd read in a magazine - from Reminisce - August 1999. Since the magazine didn't belong to me, I hand-wrote the poem, and stuffed it inside this book. It's a poem called "The Bridge Builder." I find it intriguing.

The Bridge Builder

An old man, going a lone highway
Came at the evening, cold and gray
To a chasm, vast and deep and wide,
Through which was flowing a sullen tide.
The old man crossed in twilight dim -
The sullen stream held no fear for him-
But he turned, when he reached the other side
And built a bridge to span the tide.

"Old man," said a fellow pilgrim near,
"You're wasting your strength in building here.
Your journey will end with the ending day-
You never again must pass this way
You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide.
Why build you this bridge at the eventide?"

The builder lifted his old, gray head.
"Good friend, in the path I have come," he said
"There followeth after me today
A youth whose feet must pass this way.
this chasm that has been naught to me,
To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be.
He, too, must cross in twilight dim.
Good friend, I am building the bridge for him."

My Life

Just Wonderful!!

I have discovered the beauty of having an electric piano as opposed to a "real" one......it's all about this pair of headphones that fit in it! Especially when you have a little person who loves to bang on it!!! I don't hear a thing. It's just WONDERFUL!!

Steve and Annie Chapman

Steve and Annie Chapman were part of our growing up. Their music was always present in the form of records from when I was small. I remember hearing "Circle of Two," "Turn Your Heart Toward Home," and many others that I could name.

Right now, Michael Booth of the Booth Brothers has a single that has been released to radio - that is played quite often, btw, and he also sang it at NQC. It's called "Secret Place." That song was written by Steve Chapman.

I love songs written for the family. I have always been a fan of theirs and I've bought their music for myself even when I was in my early 20's.....One of my favorites is called "When I Saw You Smile." Every time I hear that song, I think of little Andrew Odom.

I recently stumbled upon some videos of theirs on youtube that are from a recent concert / possibly new recording of theirs. I'm not sure if it's something that was released or not. Anyway, just in case you've never heard of them, or it's been a while, here's a little bit of why I still love them.......

It's Always Something

Jeremy has a never ending saga! It's fixing his truck. Yesterday morning after he was up and about he said, "well, I'm headed out to work on my truck - the story of my life." He has his dad's 1984 Nissan truck that he is driving at the moment because his car has bitten the dust and is waiting to be carried to the graveyard....I mean junk yard!

I ran across this comic strip and it reminded me of him. I hope he feels this way soon!!

Dixie Soup

Well, I've discovered a new recipe that is rather delicious! It's an attempt to get as close as you can to get the Dixie Stampede soup. Every year at our campmeeting, our head cook, Diana, always fixes her version of Dixie Soup. I got the recipe once, but it didn't turn out quite as good as hers did. I found this one, and it's much closer, although the ingredients aren't the same. The difference in our soups and the Dixie Stampede's, is that we use potatoes for our main substance to help cream it up along with half and half or cream cheese. They use (according to the recipe blogs that I've read) a pre-fab cream base from Sysco. Anyway, if you're interested in trying this particular one...and it's VERY GOOD....here's the recipe:

Dixie Soup:
- 1 bag of shredded hashbrowns
- 2 carrots (shredded)
- 1/2 cup minced onion
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp parsley flakes
- 3 cubes chicken bouillon

Place hash browns in a soup pot. Add all ingredients and add just enough water to cover potatoes and spices. Simmer until tender. (I actually used a mixer to puree the potatoes) I didn't want lumps....

Remove from burner, and add one 8 oz pkg of cream cheese. Stir until well blended.

So, there you have it. Let me know if you try it. I made it yesterday and Mom made it last night. She said she loved it, too.

Enough Said!!

You know if I had $100.00 for every time I "fell in" when I was a kid, I would be RICH!!! I absolutely cracked up when I saw this! Had to share it with you!! This is obviously a COMMON problem!! "Falling in" is really a terrifying feeling, btw!!

Sweet Oranges

If you haven't figured it out yet, I'm a huge fan of Dr. Adrian Rogers. I have always enjoyed listening to him on his radio broadcast. I can listen online, too, and so, that makes it even better. I can listen any time I get good and ready.

There's a story he tells in a sermon on prayer that I've dwelt on and thought about for a long time....I heard it probably about 9 months ago. I've thought about posting it before, and never have and this morning I've been thinking on it again, so I thought I'd take the time to share it with you.

Dr. Rogers in his message on "Prayer" spoke on how there are so many things in the "storehouse of God," that he believes, when we get to heaven, God is going to show us what was inside the storehouse and we will be terribly shocked at the good things God wanted to give us. Why don't we have them, he asked? Because we never asked for them. Well, sometimes we ask...but not diligently. We are so busy pursuing to get our own "things", that it usually never occurs to us to ask God for them or continually trust God for them. He said in our human states we are so geared to be as independent of creatures as we can, and in the process, forget that God wants to give us good things. But we're so busy "making and developing our own lives and livelihood" we forget God in the process. And he wasn't referring to sinners when he preached this message. It was directly to me and the rest of the saints sitting in his church that day.

You know what, he's right....if I want something new, I go get it! I don't consider asking God, usually, to get it for me, or provide a way. I worked for the money, I'll buy what I want to and need with it......not being rude, but that's usually the way it works. As a matter of fact, my mom declares up and down that I am the hardest person in the world to buy for because I usually get what I want....I feel the same way about Jeremy and a few others (who I'll leave nameless - but have bought for and will buy for again this year!!) LOL!

He said this concept was made extremely clear to him while he was a very young pastor living in Florida. This is the way he says it.....

"When I was a young pastor in Florida, still in seminary, my wife and I lived in a small one room apartment above someone's garage. One of the church members in my little church down there had given me a HUGE 50 lb bag of the sweetest oranges you ever ate in your life. Being that space was limited, we were forced to keep this big 50 lb bag of oranges in our closet. Every day I'd see someone I'd ask them if they wanted some of the BEST oranges in Florida - and I'd give them some. It seemed like that bag was bottomless. I simply couldn't give them all away......

One day I looked out the window of the apartment and watched a little neighbor boy sneak into our back yard and "steal" a couple oranges off the orange tree in the back yard. I kinda snickered to myself thinking "Buddy, if you only knew how bitter those oranges are, you wouldn't even want one!" But, I watched him sneak back off with what he thought was a prized possession and I was wishing I could be there to watch him take his first bite out of that bitter orange. He was going to regret that he got THAT orange.

I thought about that little boy and the more I thought about it, it came to me.....if he had climbed my steps and asked me if he could have that orange....I'd have told him "NO." It wasn't because I didn't want him to have that orange, but I know that they're bitter. I also knew that if he'd have climbed up my steps and asked me about it I'd have said this....."No, little guy, you can't have that orange, but I'll give you an orange that is the sweetest and best that the state of Florida has to offer."

I stood there as the emotion of the moment overtook me and God allowed me to see that sometimes when I seek and search after things I want, I sometimes get them and then they end up not what I was really wanting. I learned that He not only wants to give me good things and the desires of my heart, He wants to give me better things than I can get for myself - all He wants me to do is seek it from Him.....not my own strength."

I admit, I've been rather frustrated with the fact that God didn't allow me what I wanted, when I wanted it - especially in my younger years! Yet, there's one particular example that comes to mind and I think to myself......."Thank you, Lord, that you were merciful enough to me that You stopped my will and my ability to keep pushing it upon You. Then, later on down the road, I actually got exactly what I asking you for, just in different manner....but to say the answer was much better is not even GOOD enough!"

I want the sweet oranges in life. Sometimes, God doesn't allow me to get what I want for myself, when I want it, because I will fail to give Him the glory! And with Him is where it ALL belongs! Because there's no doubt in your mind or anyone else mind when God hands you a SWEET ORANGE!

Anyway, these are my thoughts for the day.....I needed to write it for ANITA so I can go back and remind myself of it when I want to act like a baby when I haven't gotten my way in the matter!! Jeremy said to me just a day ago, "just because God says "not yet" doesn't mean he says "no." I should be a master at knowing that by now! By the way, there really is nothing WORSE than a bitter orange.....REALLY!!

Diet Humor

Did I ever mention that I hate diets? I do, and obviously I'm not the only one. Just thought I'd give you a few reasons to smile. I made them smaller so it wouldn't take up so much space. So click on each one and it will enlarge it so you can read them and see them better. So be forewarned. If you are not in a place where you can be entertained with some funny stuff, don't look at this, yet.





These pictures are courtesy of my dear friend, Brina....who will, by the way, need a word of prayer tomorrow as she faces a difficult surgical procedure. Please whisper a prayer for her when you read this.

Is It Monday Yet??

Well, this weekend has so much packed into it, Monday cannot get here fast enough.

If you're interested in our busy weekend, we are in the process of planning a fundraiser for tomorrow night after church. It's a BBQ. Pulled bbq pork sandwiches, a bag of chips, a bag of cookies and a drink. All stuffed into a little brown bag. We're kinda excited about it. I've cooked 10 Boston Butts in the past 3 days. Frankly, I'm almost tired of seeing them, but they are some kinda good, if I have to say so myself. We tried not to eat it all as we chopped them up. Just in case you wondered, 81 lbs of Boston Butt is a BUNCH of pork!!

So, today Jeana, Jenna, and Lori (another friend of ours) and I went to Sam's and Wal-Mart to finish our project. We're to the point we are ready for it to hurry and get here and be over. It's been a blast planning, though. The husbands are also involved.....I couldn't even begin to tell you the laughs we had so far. It's been quite a memorable experience... I'll let you know later if there was any profit. We've gotten so carried away with the fun involved, we have let the stress of the "fundraising" part kinda disappear....we have other things to worry about!

BTW, if you wondered what the fundraiser is for, our choir has been invited to sing at the Pentecostal Fire Youth Conference this year. We're terribly excited about that. I've connected the link, so check it out. And believe it or not, it's in the same building that the National Quartet Convention was in. Isn't that interesting. Last year there were close to 4000 present. They expect more than that this year. Never been and can't wait to check it out. It's always a major topic of conversation for months after the kids return home.

More photos

Since I spent so much space and time writing and posting the last few weeks, I'll just double up on pictures this time. Everybody likes pictures! So, here are a few more from our recent trip!

Fish Fry

On Saturday night of the Alabama trip, Dad's church celebrated Pastor Appreciation by having a fish fry. There's nothing quite as good in my book as a good fish fry. I love them. Always have and always will. Fried catfish and bass, along with french fries, cole slaw (made by Sis. Doris or Jordan's fish camp), and a thick slice of onion, and hush puppies....hungry yet??? Now that's a southern tradition worth writing about......that's why I'm doing just that!



So, it was a great occasion. The ladies all behind the counter either gutting fish, battering them, and stirring up hushpuppies. What a lovely scene. And then all the guys pile outside under a small little porch with hot grease every way you turn......telling all kinds of stories and reminiscing. Life just doesn't get much better than that!

Are you wanting to have a fish fry, yet?? I tell you what....how 'bout I just show you some pictures and you just wish you were there eating up the scrumptious fish and fries! You can click on any of the small pictures around this post and they will become larger.

Uncle Jerry, when you get brave enough to cross the Mason Dixon line again and come back to Georgia, I promise you a southern fish fry at my house. I think this would be something that you would love. We have the cookers and all. Deal??

Actually, we used to live in a little hole in the road town called Colquitt, GA. The tradition there and everywhere in south Georgia is to have cheese grits with catfish. Jeremy and I usually do grilled talapia (fish) with cheese grits.

Did someone recently mention a diet? At least I got to enjoy this before the diet started!

Let the Games Begin!!!

During our visit to Alabama, we decided on a game plan for the month of November. It's considered a competition of sorts. There even may be a prize at the end!!

The game is to see who can lose the most weight by Thanksgiving. HOPEFULLY it will be ME that wins!!! It's actually a competition between the girls, but it appears as if Jeremy has started the game also. He proudly announced to me tonight that he has lost 5 lbs since we returned from Alabama! Gotta tighten up girls! Although men don't count because they lose much faster than women. Oh the joy of hormones!! I haven't re-weighed to see if I've lost any at all. I do know that my skirt was a little looser than normal for church tonight!! YEAH!!

Sooooo...............let the games begin!! ( I like dots - lol) May the best one win!!

Here's a little laugh for motivation!!

Let's Throw a "Blog Party!"

You always hear of block parties and such. Well, lets turn the tide there and throw a BLOG party! This is the reason we're celebrating - today, October 17th is Aunt Pudge's birthday, tomorrow, October 18th is Ginger's birthday, and October 21st is Mama and Papa's anniversary!

Let's see how much we can rally around to give well wishes to the three occasions. I'm looking for TONS of comments!

Speaking of Mama and Papa's anniversary, I recently was on the phone with them discussing a marriage conference that Jeremy and I plan to go to in the next few weeks. Papa expressed his shock over the fact that we were going to a marriage conference said to me, "why are you going to a marriage conference, what's the trouble?" I replied that there's no trouble, just an attempt to prevent it. He laughed and said, "yeah, this year makes 59 years that we've been married. Takes lots of hard work - lots of it. Most of that's been on your Mama's part!" I was thinking how interesting it was that he put the credit right in her lap! I'll let that comment hang and you can believe what you want to!! LOL!! He said it, NOT ME!! I'm just repeating it. He didn't say I couldn't!

Anyway, from me, Happy Birthday Aunt Pudge and Ginger!!

Happy Anniversary, Mama and Papa - 59 years!!! This is for you!

Alabama Bound

Sometime tomorrow we'll pull out and head to Alabama and see the folks! I'm looking forward to it. Haven't been there in quite a while, it seems. Life has been so busy for every single one of us, it just hasn't worked out.

I probably won't be on the blog until I get there, and then maybe we can post a couple pictures of the family, or something.

Hope you all have a good weekend.

BTW (by the way), I hear that I need to explain my previous post. I understand that there are a few people who do not know what O.C.D. is. It is called Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. While there are some people who have a serious mental condition of such obsessions and compulsive behaviors, I referred to it only as a joke. If you didn't get the comic strip, it is referring to how neatly the left spider's web is lined up - as opposed to the other web's messy construction. O.C.D for us only means that you want things a certain way or do them a particular way for a particular purpose. My OCD behavior is that all the corners of every towel I fold need to be perfectly aligned.

Any other behaviors out there anyone cares to share?

I LOVE IT!!

This is for a few in the family - you'll know who you are!! LOL!! It's also for Jeana, who claims to be O.C.D - except she claims to C.D.O because that lines up the alphabet correctly!! Sorry for you folks who suffer such a disorder. Couldn't resist playing on your weaknesses! I'll get the favor returned, trust me. I always do!

We want / need / must say thank you

Anita, Mother called yesterday to let me know that Ron was out of colon surgery and did NOT have to have a colostomy. He will be in the VA hospital for 7 days for recovery.

Dad found missing vehicle titles (yesterday) and missing boots (last week). God will always bring the truth to the surface, let’s live in light of that!

Linda

Proud vs. Broken

I'm currently reading a book called "Brokenness" by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. I've actually read it before, just reading it again. It's so disturbing to me. It's a great book, just disturbing to me, personally. I just hit a chapter called "Am I a Proud or Broken Person" - she prefaces the entire chapter with a quote that says, "Pride is the greatest of all evils that beset us, and of all our enemies it is that which dies the slowest and hardest." - J.N. Darby

Let me tell you, the book of Psalms and Proverbs has enough negative to say about proud people that I certainly don't want to fall into that category. Let's just say this is just a book to read only if you're interested in personal growth. If your life revolves around the idea that every sermon and every scripture applies to someone other than yourself, there's no need to read any further....if none of the others apply, neither will this. For others who are looking for ways to be perfected, here's some notes from the book. None of this comes from me. It's a published book that I hold in my hand, so don't think I'm just coming up with stuff.

In this particular chapter she has 10 pages that list the 35 ways in which you can tell a proud vs a broken person. Oh, how it hurts! It covers the difference in the attitudes - toward others, about rights, about service and ministry, about recognition, about themselves, about relationships, about sin, and about their walk with God.

Here's just a sampling. I don't have enough room to include it all: I'll take a piece or two from every category. Remember there are 35. I'll go with some of the shortest, so that I'll not take too much space. They are in the respective order as listed above in the attitudes:

- Proud people focus on the failures of others and can readily point out those faults.
Broken people are more conscious of their own spiritual need than of anyone else's.

- Proud people have to PROVE that they are right - they have to get the last word.
Broken people are willing to yeild the right to be right.

- Proud people desire to be served - they want life to revolve around them and their
own needs.
Broken people are motivated to serve others and to be sure others' needs are met before their own.

- Proud people have a drive to be recognized and appreciated for their efforts.
Broken people have a sense of their own unworthiness; they are thrilled that God would use them at all.

- Proud people feel confident in how much they know.
Broken people are humbled by how very much they have to learn.

- Proud people are unapproachable or defensive when corrected.
Broken people receive correction with a humble, open spirit.

- Proud people become bitter and resentful when they are wronged; they have
emotional temper tantrums; they hold others hostage and are easily offended; they
carry grudges and keep a record of others' wrongs.
Broken people give thanks in all things; they are quick to forgive those who wrong them.

- Proud people have a hard time saying, "I was wrong, will you please forgive me?"
Broken people are quick to admit their failure and to seek forgiveness when necessary.

- Proud people don't think they need revival, but they are sure everyone else does.
(In fact, right about now, they are making a mental list of the people they think need
to read this book!)
Broken people continually sense their need for a fresh encounter with God and for a fresh filling of His Holy Spirit.

OUCH!!! THAT HURTS!!!

Just another little note. Brokenness and humility do not EVEN fall into the same category as being pitiful!! Being pitiful is a manipulative way of drawing attention to one's self. Webster defines being pitiful as "evoking contempt by smallness or poor quality." Constantly reminding everyone how "low" you are is not being humble. It's a vicious thing if it takes hold! God is not fooled! I may be - but he's not.

Well there's the growing pain of the day!!

Above the Clouds

Growing up, one of the most frequent songs that we sang at our church as a choir was page #100 in the old red hardback books published by the Church of God - if I'm not mistaking. Anyway, the name of the song was "Lift Me up Above the Shadows." I'm sure it was sung at least once a week in one of the three services and maybe even more. And we still sing it now at least once a month, maybe more.

One of the verses has a phrase in it that says, "lift me up above the clouds Lord, where the pure sunshine is found. Lift me up above my weakness, lift me up into thy strength......" so on and so forth. I've done some research on this song, and from the best I can tell, it was written by a man named Robert Winsett in the year 1922. It's interesting that he wrote that particular phrase in that song way back then....although I'm sure that there's always been the old sayings regarding the sun being beyond the clouds or above them. This thought intrigues me, and I'll tell you why.

On the way home from the quartet convention, driving down the interstate, we were all taking turns reading inside the jacket covers (one of our favorite past times) of all the CDs purchased there. There was quite a variety, so we were well entertained for a decent length of time. It was my turn to read one of the jackets from a CD by the singer Jim Brady. He's the baritone singer from the group known as the Booth Brothers,but he had a solo album that Jeana had purchased, so I was reading the jacket from that. He's a songwriter, so he had written several songs on the album and beside each one, penned some personal notes beside the lyrics. Trying to remember what he wrote in the particular note that I'm referring to is impossible. I simply cannot remember what it said. All I can remember from it was the first 2 lines where he talks about the view from an airplane being above the clouds. He elaborated on that fact and I remember where the thought process went for him and the thought process it provoked in my own head. And although I thumbed through the rest of them, I couldn't tell you anything the rest of the notes said or referred to. I just got stuck in that thought process.

I can recall the first time I flew in a big airplane. I had flown in a small plane before this occasion- on a clear, cloudless day and was so nervous, I couldn't think....so that memory was kinda like a blur! I have pictures to prove it, though, and to help me remember what it was like. Anyway, I took off from the Savannah airport that morning in pouring down rain. Clouds and rain were horrible....which made me even more nervous. I had never flown before, and so it had never occurred to me that it would take mere seconds in flight to get above the storm. I really had never had the need to realize that point.

By the time we took off and I collected my bearings and got brave enough to look out of the window next to me, I realized those heavy rain and storm filled clouds were a LONG way below me. I was in the middle of the air with beautiful skies and a few pretty white clouds floating around us and lo and behold there stood the sun. It was one of the most awesome and beautiful scenes I had ever seen. The atmosphere was no longer cluttered with STUFF and people and anything else you can name. It was just a beautiful blue sky, clouds that looked like little cotton balls everywhere, and me. In the middle of the air. It was a breath-taking experience.

Jim Brady reminded me how awesome that experience was. Thinking about that also reminds me how in my own human-ness, I forget that above the shadows and clouds of circumstance and situations, there is the pure form of SONshine. I forget that more often than I care to admit to you. I get caught up in what is, what might not be, or what isn't and sometimes the clouds threaten to become a full fledge storm.

I know I'm not the only one guilty here! I have had and probably will have other moments before God to confess my instability in the trust department. More than anything, I want to trust and have faith....but there are moments of relapse where I've doubted that God really was gonna "pull through." AS IF HE REALLY HAS TO PROVE ANYTHING TO ME!!! I've found that when I reach that point of doubt and mistrust, EVERY time, without fail, when I came to God with a broken and contrite spirit to confess my sin, it's almost as though I could feel Him begin to lift me right above the shadows and the clouds that were blinding my view of HIM!!! Once you really get a glimpse of what's above the clouds, when they come, you're not content to let them sit over you and constantly block your vision of God.

When it comes to your vision of God, there are many ways that the scriptures refer to Him. He's a Healer, a Father, a Friend, and the list goes on and on, but one of the greatest ways to view God is the way he came to Moses in the form of a burning bush. When Moses asked God how he was going to explain to the people WHO sent him, God said, "I AM THAT I AM." "Just tell them I AM has sent you." That message is not just relevant to Moses back then - as we know for Moses, God came in many forms......But the message is relevant for today....in what form do you need God? He said, "I AM." Do you need a comforter to just hold you in the rough days....He said I AM. Do you need a father to just put His arm around you He's glad you're His.....He said I AM! Do you need a physician better than yours, who can't seem to fix your ails.....He said I AM. Do you need a pilot to lift you above the clouds of doubt and darkness....He said I AM. He is all that you need Him for!!

The Request

Sometimes on Monday mornings, I get on here and say hello and cut up a little bit about how I hate Mondays. Last night I got on here and did a little bit of that with my little comic strip. This morning, to be honest, I'm not exactly in the mood for all the fun and games. I'm not in a bad mood at all (so don't think I'm just grumpy today) I just want to be serious right now. I will have to be kinda vague here, but suffice it to say, my heart is a little uneasy about something that I need to ask a favor for.

At the beginning of this blog, I mentioned that the inspiration for this came from my brother-in-law, Gregg, who does this for his class. As far as I know, occasionally he looks in on mine to see how it's going. He and his wife, Jeana, are the two we attended the national quartet convention with, and truthfully, I can't think of two people that I could have hand picked that would have been more of a family to me than they have. God truly knew what he was doing when he put Jeremy and myself together. He knew that I would move away and that I'd need a friend. Jeana has been that friend to me and is as dear to me as if we'd been raised in the same family. I love her as if she's another sister to me. I can honestly say, their friendship on the other side of family obligations is priceless to Jeremy and myself.

The reason I tell you this is because this morning I checked out his blog and he had a request on there for his class. I know him well enough to know that he wouldn't mind that I ask the same that he asked of them, of you. This is how it reads.....

"Please say a special prayer for me and Jeana specifically over the next three days...Just pray that God's will be done and that we will be obedient and willing to follow where it leads..."

No, it's not detailed, and at the moment for understandable reasons, doesn't need to be. What I ask of you is to trust me in the fact that it is VERY important and it warrants your prayers. I request that of you. Let me rephrase that. I beg that of you.

I have lived long enough to witness more miracles than I deserved to see in my life, but I truly long to see a miracle in their lives. So this is my request of you for today. If you have a moment or two that you could bring the two of them before the Father, I would be more grateful than anyone!

NOTE: By the way, if anyone reads this and gets a little nervous that I posted this, it was cleared by Gregg and he says it's fine for me to post this. Just thought I'd throw that in.

Takers and Givers

I found a strip that I wanted to post, but I had a few comments I wanted to make ahead of it to express my pet peeves in this area of life. Therefore, I'm taking the opportunity right here. Call it political if you'd like, but it's not. It's life! In a recent song released by the Gaither Vocal Band (recent being within the last 2 years), one of the verses as this phrase in it...."there are two kinds of folks, takers and givers..."

Well, we have reached the society where there is a distinct difference between the takers and givers. It seems every time you turn around, you find masses of people who are "standing in line" for the next handout. This attitude in life kinda rubs me the wrong way! Now it may be different in your state of the union, but in Alabama, laziness and being sorry is probably the most awarded disability that exists. It hit home with me early in my career when I realized exactly how abused the system is these days. I would work 12 hour midnight shifts in the emergency room and normal, healthy men and women would be lined up in there for a runny nose, a zit that needed to be popped, or something else stupid that you can come up with. Then get mad when a chest pain or some trauma got put in line ahead of them and their belly-aching self. Being that I lived in a rural community, there were many of them that I knew personally and I knew they held down no job! Not for lack of abilities or strength. It was merely a lack of will....otherwise known as laziness or being sorry! Their provided insurances happened to be government paid. This made me fume every time I looked at my pay stub at how much was being deducted to pay for their sorry hides to sit at home, feeding bad habits detrimental to their health, all paid for from their disability checks, (excuse me, my / our checks) while their families lived in shacks falling down in unbelievable places.....Then there were others who had major medical problems, who couldn't get a dime without going through an act of Congress to get a small bit of help. These warped concepts drive me INSANE!! THIS IS MY SOAPBOX!! I'll climb down now! Now you know why Alabama ranks pretty high in the poverty states. Why have motivation to improve when bad behavior is rewarded?

Back to the song, I love to give. But I want to give whatever I give to someone other than one who takes it with an attitude that constantly leaves the impression that whatever they get is owed to them. Well, I have discovered that this attitude is not only present in our human race. It's even made it to the animals - well, kinda.....with a little human help! Obviously, the author sees it the same way I do.

I simply couldn't resist this strip to make my point!!

The Pig!

Well, today consisted of a busy day, again... It consisted of a hurried trip to Wal-Mart for a birthday gift for Addison's little friend, Kelton, and then off to the birthday party. We played hard for the next 2 1/2 hours in the 95 degrees. The poor kids were just pouring sweat, but they had sooo much fun. There were slides, swings, tricycles, balloons, cake, ice cream, COKE, and wagons. Kelton turned 2! So, you KNOW they were having the time of their life.

So, right before we got to the party, Jeremy called me from work to tell me of a steak sale at one of the local grocery stores. I'm thinking it's a regional type chain of stores. I know they have them in Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. I think they are also present in South Carolina and Florida, but beyond that, I'm clueless. It's called "Piggly Wiggly" and is nicknamed "The Pig."

After the party, we loaded back up and headed for "The Pig." The whole way there, she talked about going to see the "pig." Some days the pig on the sign is a pig to her and other days, she thinks he should be Mickey Mouse. It's quite humorous!

As we drove up in the parking lot, Addison inquired about what the words on the sign said next to the picture of the pig. I told her "Piggly Wiggly." It's not left her head all day and she's talked about it all day, and so when Jeremy came home, I told her to tell him about her day. When she told him where she went, I got so tickled over it, I ran to grab my camera to capture the moment in time. So, here's her rendition of where she went today. She went to Wal-Mart, then she talks about the "SWIDES" - that is slides at the party, and then off to Piggly Wiggly - but it's a bit funnier than that! Take a listen.....

It's not Piggly Wiggly, in case you don't catch it in her acting....its "Piggy Wiggy!"

By the way, she usually talks in full sentences. This is one of those moments she's trying to show out because she knows she's on camera. Always an actress!

A Note From Linda for Today:

“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” Philippians 4:5

This principle is sandwiched between verse 3 - Rejoice always! and verse 5 - don't worry! Selah

- strikes me in the heart

Linda

Ant Hills

I have to say, one of the most aggravating things about the south and the most wonderful thing about the north is that once you cross a certain line, there are no more FIRE ANTS! They are just awful. If you've never been bitten by a fire ant, you are not missing a thing. It would be an interesting thing to me to know just how much fire ant killer is sold every year in the south. Personally, I like to pour gas on them and ignite them and watch them BURN BABY BURN!! I HATE fire ants. I have been in personal contact with them WAY too many times to appreciate them. As a matter of fact, Addison met one yesterday and didn't like him any more than I did! Haven't figured out a good purpose for them yet. They build enormous"hills" in your yard that are so frustrating. Just ask my dad!

So, other than the work that they do to build that huge ant hill, I've never given much thought to what they do underneath the ground. Obviously someone has. That's where this video came from. I thought I'd share it with you since I've been rather intrigued by it.


Worlds Biggest Ant Hill AMAZING - Watch a funny movie here

Blessed Are the Cracked, For They Let the Light In!!

These are some quotes from somewhere (who knows) that are quite hilarious. My husband would agree with some of them also. He has made a few of these statements before himself. I'll refrain from putting a star by them so you can figure them out!! LOL! Aunt Linda sent these to me. Thank you for the entertainment! Here we go....


- Some people are alive only because it's illegal to kill them.

- I don't suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it.

- Out of my mind. Back in five minutes.

- I'm not a complete idiot -- Some parts are just missing.

- I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.

- Don't take life too seriously; No one gets out alive.

- You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me.

- Earth is the insane asylum for the universe.

- God must love stupid people; He made so many.

- The gene pool could use a little chlorine.

- Consciousness: That annoying time between naps.

- Ever stop to think, and forget to start again?

- Being 'over the hill' is much better than being under it!

- Wrinkled Was Not One of the Things I Wanted to Be When I Grew up.

- I Have a Degree in Liberal Arts; Do You Want Fries With That?

- He who dies with the most toys is nonetheless DEAD.

- They call it PMS because Mad Cow Disease was already taken.

- A hangover is the wrath of grapes.

- A journey of a thousand miles begins with a cash advance.

- Stupidity is not a handicap. Park elsewhere!

- A picture is worth a thousand words, but it uses up three
thousand times the memory.

- Ham and eggs...A day's work for a chicken, a lifetime commitment for a pig.

- The trouble with life is there's no background music.

LOL!!

Sometimes words aren't needed!!