Friday, November 28, 2008

Blessed and Thankful...


Ham, fresh sausage, collards, smashed taters, corn on cob, fruit salad, mac n' cheese, 7 layer salad, rice, peas, corn bread, rolls....apple nut cake, pecan pie, magic cookie bars... I'm stuffed again. My sister and I decorated two tables to accomodate the 16 expected family members while mom and dad finished the last minute preparations.

Let the holidays begin.............Thanksgiving Day was a very special time for us. We enjoyed good food, family, fellowship, laughter, and singing a little. Being together as a family has always meant so much to my dad. He was very thankful to see each of us and have us at home. Mom blessed our family and meal.

After the meal we spent time at the table just remembering special times. Our family has so much to be thankful for. I am especially thankful for the wonderful husband that I have. I am blessed tremendously to have both of my parents in good health. I am blessed to spend time with both my sister and brother and their families. A cousin was in town and joined us in our celebration. It was nice to spend some time with her.

I am truly blessed and thankful.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Our Special Friend

For over 30 years my husband and I have been friends with a very special couple, Gene and Honks. So many memories were made over these years from following our husbands playing softball to umpiring softball, eating within our homes to eating out, going to church together...just too many to sit here and type each one. They were one of the first couples we became friends with after we married. Their friendship over the years has meant a great deal to us.

Honks as you recall is my "Faraway Friend". Her husband joined a "Heavenly Choir" on Monday. We will sadly miss him but will rejoice together upon our heavenly reunion.


Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Full or Empty...

I was reminded today through an email of how busy my life has become and what little time I have allowed myself to communicate with God. Oh, there are appointments, errands, and work…and my selfish wants. I want to come straight home after work and not leave the house until morning comes. I want to eat from the pantry shelves and not grocery shop until nothing is left. I want to lounge on the couch and read books all night long. I want to listen to soothing music. I want to spend time alone. I want…I want…I want.

Reading a “thought” from The Inspirational Study Bible spoke of how busy Jesus was and that it was not a sin; however, in an endless pursuit of busyness that leaves us empty/hollow, God is not happy. This was a “lightning bolt” statement that sends chills up my spine. Am I “full” busy with things that will edify another/myself OR am I running on “empty” busy with foolishness?

Sometimes, just like today’s email, brings about hard decisions to be made about one’s lifestyle/priorities. Sacrifices bring about blessings and peace. I know that the Cross remains…my decision now…full or empty?

Friday, November 14, 2008

54 Things I love.....



v God
v My husband
v My son
v Ginger
v Family – mine and my husband’s
v Music that is uplifting and praiseworthy
v Books that inspire goodness and truthfulness
v Time spent with people who love unselfishly
v Sweetarts
v Grady’s Fried Shrimp
v Tomato Pie
v Navel Oranges
v Going home (SC)
v Time spent with my parents
v The Lunch Bunch
v Napping on the couch
v Working in my flower beds
v Driving my car with the windows down and sunroof open
v “Wild Hogs”
v “Eight Below”
v Travis Cottrell music
v Simply Red music
v Dancing
v Going to the mountains
v Hiking (although I don’t do it much now)
v Gum
v Reading blogs - especially ~M and ~W
v Hugging
v Traveling
v Organization
v Walking with my neighbor, Gayle
v Coldwater Creek
v J Jill
v surseys
v Checkers Fries (yum, yum)
v Tropical Blizzard
v Auburn Tigers
v Quiet times
v Weekend trips to ASF theater plays w/sister-in-law, Gloria
v Mexican food
v The smell of outside air after a rain
v Leaves changing their colors
v A massage
v Sleeping in
v My dad’s popcorn
v Boiled peanuts
v Snuggling
v Jeans/t-shirt
v A true friend
v Cades Cove – early in the morning
v A good stretch on the floor
v Drakkar
v Life
v November 14th (and not working) ----------------------------

Today is my birthday and I am celebrating some of the things I love…God, Life, family, music, and food. I am blessed with another day of new and exciting adventures God has willed for me. TYL for another day to experience and feel the filtering of my soul through your fingers.



Saturday, November 8, 2008

The Lunch Bunch.....

"No Talking --- stay in line --- Sh-h-h ---???, Is that you talking? ---(OK, we're here. Oh gosh, only 15 more minutes of lunchtime. Where does the time go? We've been in line for 2-3 minute now? Why is she late?) ---Whew! the kids are seated and now I have 10 minutes to eat my lunch."

"Hi everyone! Who watched....................? Dancing with the Stars, Amazing Race, Surviver (especially when Bobby John was on-twice), John and Kate Plus Eight AND let me tell you about our trip to the pumpkin patch, the Peanut Festival, grandma's house, our doctor visit...the list could go on and on! These are some of our topics of discussion at the "Lunch Bunch" round table." Working in a school environment can be a pretty hectic, consistent day but come lunchtime we "got our groove on" for LUNCH BUNCH time.

Oh, we do occasionally talk about our class, lessons, etc. but most of the time we just like to share a little of "ourselves" with each other. There are 6 ladies and 2 men who usually sit at our table (surrounded by our kids). One of the men is our principal so I know we sometimes void out our words before they even leave our mouths BUT sometimes the words come before we realize we've spoken them. Oh well!


This bond we share as ladies has become an unusual friendship rope that leaves each of us knowing that we can depend on each other. We've laughed together, cried together, vented together...and we're still together. We are "The Lunch Bunch".



I have learned that to have a good friend
is the purest of all God's gifts,
for it is a love that has no exchange of payment.

~~~Farmer

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

“We have been friends together in sunshine and shade.” ---Caroline Norton

For as long as I have lived in Alabama, I’ve have a good friend, “Honks”. She is and has always been a very dear friend. We have shared the good and the bad. I really treasure her friendship, and miss the extreme closeness we shared at one time.

You see, I failed her years ago by a simple spoken sentence. With no motive behind the words, it came out terribly wrong and there was misunderstanding. No words ever seemed to be able to repair the damage that was done. I drew myself away from the friendship to give both of us the space needed to nurture the hurt (by both). I wasn’t happy. Joy had been torn from my heart. The joy that comes from having a close, personal relationship with another female --- a friend. Someone you always call to share good or bad news. I was afraid of losing a true, best friend.


Through the years she and I have been recapturing our friendship. I feel greatly rewarded to have another chance at renewing a friendship that has blessed my life. She is my “Faraway Friend”.

To not ramble on and needlessly tire you of my inability to express myself without self-check, I give you “cuff words”. Honks-husband-cancer-cruise-Aruba-brain tumor-alone-nurse/flight-ambulance-hospital-CAT/MRI-family-surgery-over and doing better than expected. She called me with the news. It was great to hear her voice filled with hope. She is an amazing person…and best of all a friend to me.


PANIC~~~

It’s been one week since I began peeling back the layers of my fear of my written word. Even though I have blogged 4 times doesn’t mean that I am “over and done” with the fear. I still run each thought, word, sentence, punctuation…through my mind.

I even posted my GRIT blog after having saved it, edited, saved, edited, saved, edited (yes, that many times), and then even posted it on the day showing when I began typing and not the actual date I completed it. WHOA!!! Talk about going into panic mode. Here my post was added as 10/29 when it was actually 11/1.

My heart started racing not knowing what to do. Here I thought I was doing OK by finally finishing my thoughts only to find out that it was placed “out of order” according to my “rules”. I began to wonder what people would think. I’m such a freak when it comes to order on particular things…this being one. I started to even delete everything so no one would ever have a chance to view this posting or my blogspot. I believe I checked every tab within blogspot to see what to do…and did it again several times. I quit, logged off, left the computer room only to return within 10 minutes still in panic mode.

This is my life at times when I let even the small things spiral me out of control. I lose mind function only to become more obsessive over the matter. How does one let things just “roll off” and let things be?

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Remember the saying "Girls Raised in The South".
Well, I am a GRIT! Born and raised in South Carolina.

Dad and Mom...trying to get back home as much as I can...Spring and Fall Breaks with them each year. Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays alternated yearly between my parents and my husband's dad. So, I'm very blessed when I have the occasion to go home and very,very blessed to have a husband who loves and understands my need to go home.

I fly with anticipation of seeing two smiling faces and the hand wave from my father beyond the glass partition that separates our hugs. As we finally close the gap with a joyful reunion, we are a non-stop talking trio. We can't seem to focus on one conversation topic. I am, as well as mother, flipping "mind channels" constantly. We end up laughing!

Entering the drive area to my home from the highway is and has always been such a rush...knowing that this is "The Country". There is something about fresh air, wooded surroundings, and dirt. My home is quiet and out of the way. It always brings a renewing of the mind and soul to me when I visit. I spend a lot of the time quietly reflecting and cherishing the moments of the day as I mentally store these
precious memories. My parents are growing older, yet younger. I love going home.

Time spent with each one...together or separately...is a blessing.
I am so honored by God to have both of my parents still with me. TYL for the gifts of Pa and Gama.
---Fall Break Memories: October 2008
"Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love and
to work and to play and to look up at the stars." ---Henry van Dyke