Saturday, September 26, 2009
Smile:)
You are so good to me. I'm sorry I ever doubted You on this one. Seriously...I don't know what I was thinking.
I asked You a few times for Somebody Special. One or two came along, but nobody special. I didn't think You...well, I didn't know what to think, really. I didn't understand Your way of doing things when it came to that.
You asked me to sell everything and move to an isolated mountain. So I did. They all said I was crazy. More than one of them said this was my way of "checking out and giving up". They just didn't get it, but You did and so did I. You wanted all of me.
Now here I am....I can't stop smiling. I can't hardly believe it. Yes, he's special.
The way he is toward me has even taught me more about You. See, he loves me like I am...the good and the bad. He has high expectations but knows how imperfectly human I am. He's trustworthy. I know You are all these things on a higher plane, but it's good to have the example calling my phone every night.
I don't know exactly what You have in store in the future, but the present is just SUPER!
Will You please bless Terry Taylor extra today? Maybe even let his Bama team win 99 to Zip....ahh, well, let's not get crazy here....
Facebook friends click HERE to see video:)
Saturday, September 12, 2009
football revisited...
I am crazy about some Saturday games that involve my sweet buddies Jaxson and Grayson! Today kicks off their football season, and I can hardly wait to see my favorite Valley Cubs! Grayson is on the PeeWee team (had graduated past the Midgets and Widgets, lol) and Jaxson is on the Jr.B team.
Wanna revisit their season from last year? CLICK HERE.
Stay tuned for highlight from today's game:)
Friday, September 11, 2009
...people will be in awe of Him...
...people will be in awe of Him...
...God works...
....God works so that people will be in awe of Him...
Did you catch that? God works so that people will be in awe of Him.
I am in awe of Him. I am in awe because I can't quite make my mind wrap around the idea that the Creator of all that was, is, and ever will be knows not only my name, but also the number of hairs on my head.
I am in awe of Him because He knows all that I do and don't do, and he neither blesses me to reward me nor withholds blessings to punish me. He gives and takes away out of pure love for his children.
God is working. I can see it in my work, in my church, in my family, and in my relationships. He is so real and so is His hand. Just as scripture said it will be, because of His work, I am in awe of Him. I am so thankful that I can hardly contain it.
What's even more wild is that while he knows the number of hairs on my head, He sees at the same time the struggles in your life. He knows what you need and is meeting that need this very moment. While He's meeting your need, He is watching your children and grandchildren, protecting them moment by moment. While He's protecting your grandchildren, there's a surgeon praying for wisdom and a steady hand as he makes his first incision, and God is guiding his hand. While God is guiding the surgeon's hand, there's a drug addict who is unaware that God is keeping his heart pumping so he can have another chance at life. While God is keeping the heart pumping, there is a wife who is grieving because eight years ago her firefighter husband gave his life for others...God is rushing in to comfort her right now. And while God is rushing in to comfort the grieving wife, there's a Christian in prison somewhere in the Middle East who needs hope, so God brings a scripture to the prisoner's mind and puts a song on lips. While God works in the prison, He is also...
God is working.
Isn't He awesome?
who.
am.
i?
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Prince of Peace
Today I am thinking about how much I love my "family" I find in the praise band at church. I feel so blessed to part of such a talented and special group of people, but most importantly, I am humbled to freely worship my Prince of Peace.
Here's one we're singing today. It's one of my favorites. (FB readers click here to listen)
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
jaxson, you're sneaky!
Dad and nephews Jaxson and Grayson at Little River Canyon. They were supposed to jump together. All for one, one for all, right? Wrong. Jaxson is sneaky, I tell you. I love that he gets in position, even swings his arms as if he is about to make the plunge, then PSYCH! I also love that he remembers that I am filming the stunt and looks up at me before he jumps. Kid, you're killin' me!
Monday, August 10, 2009
embarrassed children
I'm referring to Mitch Albom's for one more day, a facinating story of a washed-out profressional baseball player who, on the very verge of suicide, is given the opportunity to spend the day with his mother. Here's the catch...the mother had died eight years previously. "...What follows is the one 'ordinary' day so many of us yearn for, a chance to make good with a lost parent, to explain family secrets, and to seek forgiveness. Somewhere between this life and the next, Charley learns the things he never knew about his mother and her sacrifices. And he tries, with her tender guidance, to put the crumbled pieces of his life back together."
Now that you have the back story, here's the part I was thinking about...
"I didn't mean anything by it, Mom," I whispered.
"By what?"
"Being embarrassed. By you, or your clothes or...your situation."
She rinsed the shampoo from her hands, then directed the water to Rose's scalp.
"A child embarrassed by his mother," she said, "is just a child who hasn't lived long enough."
Wow. The child embarrassed by his mother is just a child who hasn't lived long enough.
Well said, mom.
I would add...A child who bullies another child....A child who disprects his teacher...A child who fears the opinions of her peers...A child who is afraid to try...
I really don't recall ever being embarrassed by my parents. I do wish that I could do some things again...this time a little differently. I'm trying to do some things differently now, so perhaps in the future I won't wish for just one more day.
I think this little novella should be required reading for everyone.
It changed my life.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
my romance...
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
- words can be so very hurtful. it doesn't matter if the person speaking knows better or not.
- speaking the truth can be difficult
- hearing the truth can be more difficult
- love seems simple, basic, innate. but really, pure love is deep, wide, and complicated.
- forgiveness blows my mind
- God's love covers a whole multitude of sins
- God knows how to balance perfect justice with perfect grace. that's why He Is.
Someone, via texting, asked me if i thought i was dr. phil.
I think no.
dr. phyllis maybe:)
nite...
Saturday, August 1, 2009
i don't quote oprah

I'm not one of her disciples.
I don't even watch her show, anymore.
So please don't go getting your bloomers up in a wad over what I'm about to say...
...drumroll please....
I heard Oprah Winfrey give a word of advice one time that I try to live by.
Paraphrased, Oprah once said women should change their hairstyles every year. Even if it's just a small variation...wear it a little shorter, let it grow a little longer, add some layers, brighten the color. Just change it up a bit.
I try to do that. Change my hair up a little bit every year or so.
Earlier this week I went to see my good friend and hairdresser Gequetta (No, she's not black. Yes, she's white. Yes, she's lived on Sand Mountain her whole life, but no, her parents have not.) I purposefully got to the salon early so that I could peruse the hairstyle magazines. As I flipped the pages of one magazine after another, examining each photo of the hottest and trendiest do's, I found myself saying, "I've had that. I've done that. That one's ridiculous. I've already had that one. I've done that one twice...." I hated everything in the magazines. There was nothing new in there.
I realized that the metaphorical bubble of my youth has burst. Styles I wore years ago are coming back. I've always heard that would happen but I never thought it would happen to me. I'm young. Surely, it's not time to recycle my generation's fads and fashions.
Today I splurged on a manicure. When I wrote my check to pay, the little Vietnamese lady who did the manicure checked my identification, clearly studying the information thereon, and commented with a quick "hum."
Me: Hum? What's wrong?
Her: You '74. Me '75.
Well, how in the world am I supposed to respond to that?
And so the mental dialog began. What in the world was she trying to say? She can't believe she's almost as old as me? She's wondering how I stay looking so young? She thought I was as old as her mother? She thinks my crow's feet are deeper than hers? What? Just say it, little girl!
I can't believe I was so baffled, and furthermore, I can't believe I'm writing about it.
But I am.
And I. Am. Over. It.
Really, I am.
Sigh...
Goodnight everyone.
I need my beauty sleep:)
Friday, July 24, 2009
My-big-fat-better-than-average-life...
Then she wrote this on her status...
Today, I was chatting with a friend who had a mirror behind her. She got up and I could see myself in the mirror. I waved to myself. I waved back:)
I finally asked her where she comes up with this stuff. She directed me to mylifeisaverage.com. If I were completely shameless, I would tell you that initially, I thought to myself My Life Is A Verage...hmmm...what is a 'verage'...??? Duh. Average. Not A Verage. But I do have my pride, so I will just keep that information to myself.
Anyway...you must check out My Life is Average. In a nutshell, this is a website where people submit short stories and anecdotes which describe the average and mundane events of their lives. It has just cracked me up at times.
My life feels average, too. Sometimes.
Like for the last 2 days, the remote for the television in the living room has been missing. I have turned the house upside down looking for it. Secretly, I love the fact that it's missing and I hope we don't find it for a while. Since the remote has gone missing in action, it seems that our one and only resident at TWH has been a little more productive. But that's just between you, dear reader, and me...right?;) The remote will turn up...someday...
Another average moment...this morning I let the boys, Barclay and Gilbert (my funny doggies), out of their pen so they could run and play. After about an hour had passed, I went outside to check on them. Barclay, the mischievous Spitz, was laying under a shade tree in the backyard, chewing on a tomato.
Now, I don't have a garden, but my neighbor does. I began to ponder how he got his paws on that tomato. Either A.) He picked it himself and took off like the bandit that he is, or B.) the little old southern lady had had enough of his help in her vegetable garden and threw the tomato at him...in that case, I know Barclay was happy to fetch the red ball for her, refusing, as usual, to return the ball to the throw-er. Either scenario is completely possible, and either way, Barclay got his dose of lycopene for the day, I suppose...
My life is average.
Not really.
My life is waaaaay better than average.
This morning I was walking on the treadmill. Just thinking.
Thinking about all I needed to do today. Thinking about how tomorrow I will be going to watch my nephews play in the All-Stars tournament. Thinking about how sweet those boys are. Thinking about how much I love all of my nieces and nephews. Thinking about how I wish that I lived closer to them and could see them more. Thinking about how exciting it was to know they are playing in the state tournament. Thinking about how much I really, really, hope they win. Thinking about how I really, really, really, really hope that I don't jinx them (I haven't been to many games this season...). Thinking how I can't wait to hug and kiss them like a crazy old aunt.
Before I knew it, I was crying!!! What in the world!!! Right there in BodyVision, on the treadmill, at 6 o'clock in the morning!!!!
How cool is that, I ask you!!! What a good life...my biggest worry is whether or not I will jinx my nephews' baseball game!
Of course, I'm concerned about healthcare reform and the ongoing socialism-a-zation of the United States. Yes, I'm afraid things are going to get bad in the country. Of course, I often wonder if I will get cancer...again...
But these things can't consume me nor my thinking. I would rather think on the blessings of baseball, and family, and friends, and the Giver of all good things.
Thank you, Jesus, for the abundant life and peace of mind that You give!
Monday, July 20, 2009
he asked You for life...

I wish that I were a Bible scholar and knew exactly the string of events that prompted King David to write these words. Did he write this psalm while reminiscing over his encounter with the late-great-giant? Perhaps he wrote it while exhaling in God's forgiveness...so relieved that the Lord granted mercy once again? Perhaps he was celebrating after his season of grief following the death of his friend or even his own son. I don't know, but maybe it doesn't matter anyway, right?
Monday, July 13, 2009
Mission New Orleans

Tuesday, June 30, 2009
After Dinner Conversation...
Baby Aubriana enjoyed her Cinnamon Apples for dinner tonight. After dinner, she engaged us in some most enlightening conversation! She's gonna be a talker, she is!
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Freedom for Iran

I have found a couple of interesting blogs which appear to contain personal and startling insight into the revolution in Iran. Check out Iranian Woman and Winston...
God bless these Iranian citizens, and God bless these United States!
Friday, June 19, 2009
June 19th
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Hope for Every Bad Mood

She sees me staring at her, so she motions for me to give her my phone. She piddles with my phone while she "yes's, no's, and uh-huh's" the caller on the phone.
Lady, you better get off that phone or I'm gonna jump over your counter in about 3 seconds...
A the count of 2 1/2, she finally hangs up the phone.
"Mam, it looks like your phone is still under warranty, so I can get you a new one. I will take about 5 minutes," she says to my great surprise!
Oh, thank you lady. You don't know it, but you were about to get punched, and I really am not in the mood to get arrested today.
My mood was a little better then. I was really expecting to have to question and complain to get a new phone.
New. Well, the phone she gave me wasn't exactly new. It was certified refurbished. Like-new.
Okay. I'll take it. Would rather have had brand-new-never-been-opened, but I'll take this one.
I finally drive home, check the mail, and GUESS WHAT!
There's a $50 check in the mail!
YIPPEE!!!
I recently had a routine test performed at the hospital as ordered by my oncologist. The hospital required $175 payment for the co-pay on the day of the test. Last week, I got the statement from my insurance which said that $123 was billable by the hospital, $0 paid by insurance, and that I owed $0 to the hospital...which says to me that I overpaid the hospital. I haven't had the opportunity to call the hospital yet, but that situation was also boiling in my brain and had been contributing to my bad mood.
Thank Heavens it worked out! The hospital did do the right thing and I didn't have to punch a single person!
Yippee!
Good Mood is back!
But here's my question...
If just a couple of good things happening can put me in a such a good mood, what would happen if I truly did just focus on the blessings in my life?
More importantly, what would happen if I refused to dwell on the little irritations in life which are totally out of my control?
How much energy to I put into feeding my bad moods versus fueling a positive outlook?
I hate to ask the age-old question, but...is the glass half-empty or half-full?
My glass is completely full.
Running over, in fact.
There's hope for every bad mood.
Indeed.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Luv us some Bling!
Sometimes you just gotta get away. Even if it's only for a few hours.
Last night seven ladies piled up in Mrs Renee's vehicle and headed to the big town. We enjoyed a some PF Chang's and a lot of giggling.
To my knowledge, nobody cried. Unusual, I suppose, for a group of this many ladies. Friends. Sisters. Ok, now I'm about to cry! Not really.
We all had on our bling-bling shoes just like we liked them. Toes painted and shiny!
You like???
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
ONE TWO THREE
They were right, I suppose. They, the experts and the experienced, said it would be this way.
They said that grieving would be mere survival during year ONE. "The year of firsts," they called it. First Thanksgiving, first Christmas. My first birthday without you to send me our favorite Pink Tuscanini roses. The first time I needed information that only you would know. There were more firsts than I care to remember. What a nightmare!
Then they said that year TWO would be the year I would wake up from the nightmare and realize that it's all real. This is it. This is how it's really going to be. Things are not going to return to normal, and things will never be the same.
Yes, year TWO was difficult. I just "didn't get it". It didn't make sense. You had been healthy as far as I knew. You never hurt anybody. So many people needed you. It was your time, and nothing on earth could have kept you here. Still, I just could not get my mind around the concept that God took you and left so many who seemed to possess no socially redeeming value.
Year TWO...anger...disgust....
At some point during year TWO, fortunately, I regained some focus. I come to realize that life is brief, and I wanted my life to make a difference.
Priorities shifted.
Doors opened.
I stepped out.
Yes, year THREE is exactly as they said it should be. Those waves of intense sadness still come, but the deep valleys are shorter and further apart than they were at first. Things still aren't the same, and they never will be the same, but times can be good again. Finally I can take all the erratic emotions and focus their energy into positive things. I think you see the positive from Where you are, and at times, I even feel you cheering me on.
Oh the times lately where I so wanted to tell you what's happening...
I bought some doggie clippers and let the girls here at the house give Barclay and Gilbert their summer cuts. Oh my, those dogs look pitiful! They're cool now, so I suppose that's what matters!
I'm letting my hair grow out. It's probably been since high school since it's been this long. You know Gequetta, right? Well, she still does my hair for me, and she always tells me I'm too old to have long hair. What do you think? The other day, I went in to let her touch up my roots and she said- can you believe this- "The next time you come in we're coloring your hair all over!" Why, I asked. "Because you've got gray hairs everywhere!" What!!! How many, Quetta? Get this....she announced right there in front of everybody, "There's too many to count!" Oh! I was mortified! But that's what makes a good friend and beautician, one who tells you the truth, right? I still think she's wrong about me being too old to have long hair....jealous.
I'm still going to the gym early in the mornings...most mornings, that is. I wish you could see some of those old Pawpaws in there. It would crack you up! There's this one old man, who, if he has asked me once, he has asked me 25 times, "Why don't they make a pill that exercises your muscles? They've got a pill for everything else!" Funny. He wears is gym shorts pulled up under his armpits, has his tight T-shirt tucked in, and has his tube socks pulled up tight nearly to his knees. He's dedicated...you've got to give him that!
What do you think of Michelle Obama? Oh wait, don't tell me. I'm sure I already know.
Yes, it's been THREE years today. I can hardly believe it. In some ways, it's all so new and fresh that it seems like only yesterday. On the other hand, it has been THREE very, very long years, so June 9, 2006 seems like forever ago.
I'm hoping that year FOUR will be a year to exhale. You know what I mean, right? So if you can pull some strings on your end, feel free.
Feel free.
I suppose you already do feel free. Indeed.
I love you and miss you.
Still want to be just like you!
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Remembering D-Day
God Bless You, Mr. Seltzer!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
know-what-I-mean-there-Vern?
Who in the world is "Vern"?
This man's name is not Ernest and I doubt he has ever been to camp. As far as I know, he has never been to jail (but parents don't tell their children everything, now do they?)!
That's Dad and me. We went for a little 5K walk Wednesday morning, and this video is his post-walk report. He failed to mention that he about killed me...I just about couldn't keep up with his long skinny legs! I think I took two steps to his every one! Nevertheless, I'm pleased with our time...just under 50 minutes if you didn't catch that in the video (ehem..cough, cough). If you've ever climbed what I call "Chavies Mountain", you will know that time is not too shabby!
Fun times!
Speaking of fun times, tomorrow I plan to lay by the pool and swim with my 4 favorite kiddos...Lauren, Savannah, Jaxson, and Grayson. Stay tuned for a swimming update. I'm sure some form of drama or excitement will develop within the next 24 hours!
Oh...don't forget about the Freedom Fest 5K Fun Run/Walk in Rainsville on Saturday, June 27. You can download a registration form at rainsvillealabama.com.