Spring has sprung

I am ready for Spring. I LOVE Spring! I love planting, digging and all that therapeutic stuff. My cherry blossom trees are gorgeous! I especially love early morning in the spring. I often go out on my back porch to do my early morning bible study. Birds are singing (for real), the whole earth seems to just be waking up. All the colors are vivid. The green trees are greener, the sky is bluer and God is so evident. I don't know how anyone couldn't believe that God exist. His artwork is all around. I am glad Spring has sprung!

Easter for the first time?

This morning I had the opportunity to sit down and write in my journal all the things I feel so blessed about. My number one blessing is my salvation. I don't know about you, but I am pretty sure my life would be a mess with out Jesus. Easter has significant meaning for me. I am always amazed as we go through Holy Week and all the events of Jesus' life leading up to Easter. This year was very surreal. I had invited any of the team that didn't go home for the weekend to come to Easter services with us. Several responded and came. One in particular surprised me. She is not a believer. In fact, we have had several conversations about whether God exists or not. Have you ever tried to convince someone of this? It seems like an easy argument but not for those who really have no reference points. We are making head way in that conversation. She agrees that there is a God (I guess) and that He probably is the one who decides who goes to heaven or hell (yes she believes in both) but is totally clueless about the criteria (if you will) of going either place. Again, we are making some head way, slowly. But there she sat Sunday--- right beside me. She has only been to church 2 other times in her life, both of them with me. She has never been to an Easter service. Can you imagine that? I was constantly wondering what she must be thinking. I was constantly praying for God to open up her heart so she could understand. After church I inquired as to what she thought. In her native accent she said, "it was quite lovely". She seemed to enjoy it and I think she was paying attention. Maybe that's the most I will get out of her for the time being. But I trust that God is working. He came that NONE should perish and that includes her. She wasn't raised in church and doesn't really know a single Bible story. But Sunday she was faced with the cross and the Christ that died in her place. Will you join me in praying for her salvation?

That she will come to know what you and I have known - HE LIVES !!!

"you asked me how I know He lives, He Lives within my heart"

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

I love snow! I was thrilled last Friday when it FINALLY started coming down. I was like a kid on Christmas morning. Once when I looked outside there were very large flakes- like it was raining snow! Before I went to bed I just had to check one last time to make sure it was still snowing. Yep. It was. The snow gave such a glow that it looked like I had on my outside lights. Everything looked so clean - so pretty. The next morning Hootie and I went slip sliding down our driveway to get the mail. Hootie took off in his normal morning trot only to experience a "splat" of sorts until he regained his composure. Even tho my kids are not home I didn't think that disqualified me from building a snow man. So I got out my snow gear and begged Tim to come out and play in the snow. The snow scrooge said no but it didn't keep me from going. I headed to the back yard to retrieve the snow for my "snow player" I was about to build. I didn't want to mess up the front yard - it was too pretty. As I was working feverishly to get the snow piled up ready to move to the front yard for my masterpiece a snowball came out of the blue and landed at my feet. My first thought was the kids that were out across the street. I thought, "I bet they have no idea that their errant snow ball almost hit me". That was.... until snow ball number two arrived..... and then three , four...... OK that's it.. The fight is on. I packed a good one and launched my attack. I had no idea who I was fighting but hey... they started it. I really secretly hoped it wasn't my next door neighbor out with his grandson. Bam! right to the neck. The snowball was cold and hard and lets just say this isn't your kid fight anymore. I packed quicker and launched faster. I was sure I must be hitting something and then I heard it--- the all too familiar laugh. Mr. Snow Scrooge had come out after all. He finally showed his face and I let him have one right to the chops. It was a good snow fight! Reluctantly Mr. Snow Scrooge helped me create my snow masterpiece. I felt it was the showpiece of the street-- yea first place material.

Well, its been a couple of days now since most all of the snow melted EXCEPT my snowman. There is still the small remainings of a fun day in the snow. I love snow.

The Last Lecture

Happy Anniversary!!!

Well, we've made it to #30. Yep. We have. By the grace of God, good earphones and a whole lot of forgiving!!!! on February 25th, Tim and I will celebrate our 30th Wedding Anniversary in Boca Raton, Florida. We were married 30 years ago in my home church in Pinson Tennessee. It was coming a blizzard that night, but it didn't stop the "faithful" from attending this event. After the ceremony Tim and I took off for the first night of our honeymoon stay at the Opryland Hotel. We could only afford to stay one night and the plan was to head out the next day to Gatlinburg. Only problem was - they closed the interstate! Did I mention there was a blizzard??? Yep. The folks at the Opryland Hotel were most helpful in finding us another hotel close by with more affordable rates. The only room the other hotel had available was the Executive Suite. When we arrived at this hotel and they found out we were on our honeymoon and "snowed in," they gave us this great suite for the same price as a regular room. More grace. We spent a couple of days doing the "Nashville thang" and then came home and settled in for the next 30 years! My, it's hard to believe that was 30 years, 3 kids, a dog, little league, basketball, changing jobs, leaving jobs, moving 8 times-- ago. Time flies when you're having fun.

Like any marriage there have been ups and downs, good years and not so good, happy times and sad, but through it all we stuck together, and this my friends, was the reason why we gladly slipped out of town for a few days and sat by the ocean and celebrated. We are grateful for the memories. We thank God for the years. If you are reading this there is a reasonably good chance that YOU have been part of our story. With a grateful heart, we thank you.

Devastation!

Most all in Jackson are still reeling from the tornado. It doesn't matter if you experienced first hand damage or not you were effected. Tim & I had watched the TV closely from about 5pm on as the forecaster continually said he thought we were in for a very rough night of weather. Around 6pm things seemed to escalate. Tim's middle brother, Marty, is the Emergency manager for the city of Jackson and Madison County. We checked in to see what he was hearing--- same thing. Conditions were conducive for tornadoes. Around 6:30 the red arrow came up. You know the one that tracks a storm right at you. We gathered necessity items ...flashlight, bottled water, pillows, blankets, the dog and headed for the closet. At 6:45 everything went black. Our power went out and there was an eerie calm. We went to the front porch briefly since we now had no information coming in (had not located portable radio yet). No rain, no wind, nothing except...... the sound........ the all too often described sound- the freight train and the tornado sirens. We took cover. In a matter of minutes we no longer heard the sound. We came out. We looked out. Up and down the street seemed OK. Nothing damaged. We both agreed things "seemed" Ok. It was only about 7 or 8 minutes later that sirens seemed to be coming from everywhere. Police, ambulances, fire trucks. The sound was deafening. We knew then things were NOT OK but we had no idea. No idea at all of what had happened only 2 blocks from our house. It would be a few more minutes before we began to know.

The first call (via a cell phone) came from my older sister. She said Jackson has been hit - hit bad. Her oldest son John is a fireman and his truck was the first called out. He had called back to his wife and mom to see if they were OK. It was then that we were told Union had been hit. John was the first on the scene at Union. He found the trapped students and began communicating with them. The extrication would not be easy. They were buried under about 25 feet of rubble. Emergency teams began to arrive. They called for cranes and backhoes. John said it was somewhere early in the rescue that they heard the dreaded news that another powerful storm was on the way. They worked feverishly and never quit. I found a radio and tuned in to 101.5. Calls were coming in to the station from everywhere. There was mass destruction.

People were describing where they were and what had happened. I heard that Medical offices were completely gone. My friends Exxon station - demolished. Jackson Oaks severely damaged. Walgreens contents had been completely sucked out. Our children began to call. Cell phone usuage was random to say the least. We assured the kids we were OK. More phone calls from my sister let us know things were serious. We lit candles and listened to our radios. We checked on parents, siblings and anyone else we could. I had texted the Lambuth coach. He had the team in the gym with him. All were OK there. Tim walked out into the street. So had a few other of our neighbors. The sound of sirens continued to fill the air. It made me nervous. The sounds just kept going. Emergency was definitely in the air. The second wave came around 11pm. The rain was hard, the wind was high, the lighting was scary but all I could think of was the rescue teams and the students that were trapped and perhaps 100's of other people in a similar situation. I didn't know. No one else really did either in the early hours afterwards.

Daybreak brought a horrible reality. Around 7 am the sirens started again. Police, ambulances, firetrucks. My nerves were on end. We saw the trucks go up a street near us. We could hear the commotion of so many emergency vehicles. Lots of information began to roll in as TV and power were restored. Pictures began to confirm what we only suspected the night before. Devastation! Its been5 days now since the tornado and it is still hard to believe. So surreal. Can't figure much out about all this except God is sovereign. He knows the devastation. He knows the need. He promises to meet it. Only God can bring something good from something so bad. I have already gotten glimpses of such.

I'm backkkk... sort of

Speaking of backs, the sign below could have been found on my door the last couple of weeks. Unfortunately I ruptured a disc in my lower back and I was not my normal bubbly, laughing self (when you're under the influence of drugs they say you tend to exaggerate). I ruptured a disc and trapped a nerve all at the same time. Doesn't take a lot of talent as it turns out - nope just one wrong move and yikessss. I was in orbit. The pain was excruciating. It took quite a while to get me seen by a doctor and get me comfortable. I was thrilled when my doctor finally made the call - "lets knock her out". I was in no position to argue. I just needed R-E-L-E-I-F . The next day Tim was instructed to bring his precious little wife back to the doctors office where the course of treatment was discussed and implemented. Little did I know it would involve going to "torture" camp. That's another name for physical therapy. Therapy????

My idea of therapy involves a 1 hour message. Not theirs. No, theirs involves laying on ice packs and contorting your body in ways that you really wouldn't be able to do on a good day. A good day- ahhhhh yes I remember those. Anyway, my physical terrorists- I mean therapist - is a jovial guy. A little too jovial. OK- I've been in pain. Overly happy people are not your friends when you are in pain. Tim said if looks could kill - well my therapists would be long gone by now. Its been 2 weeks now and I am feeling much better but I am leaving the sign up just in case! No need to take any chances. I am learning not to drive when I have on the pain pack. It tends to cause wrecks when your pain electrode comes undone and shocks you all of the sudden.

I'm learning to sit with pillow support, to walk equally balanced on both feet and Lord knows - not to slump. Yep, no slumping allowed in this camp. I find myself dreaming of slumping. You know - just being a slouch---comfortable. But nooooooooooooooooooooo.... if I want to get better I must remain in the position of a Marine private. Oh, well Life is still good. Turns out that they are very interested in totally eradicating all my back pain. Nope - no short term fixes for these guys. We're talking total back recovery here. Now that I can cheer about.

Christian Ways to Remove Stress

"Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what will happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice"

1. Pray
2. Go to bed on time
3. Get up on time so you can start the day un-rushed
4. Say NO to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health
5. Delegate tasks to capable others
6. Simplify and un-clutter our life
7. Les is more (although one is often not enough, tow are often too man)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't' lump the hard things all together
10. Take one day at a time
11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about the situation, release it.
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases
13. Have backups; an extra key in our wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut) This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble
15. Do something for the KID in you everyday
16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line
17. Get enough rest
18. Ear right
19. Get organized so everything has its place
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life
21. Write down thoughts and inspirations
22. Every day, find time to be alone
23. Having Problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until its time to go to bed to try to pray.
24. Make friends with Godly people
25. Keep a folder of favorite scripture on hand
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good, "thank our Jesus"
27. Laugh
28 Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can)
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most)
32. Sit on your ego.
33. Talk less; listen more
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36. Every night before you go to bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before. GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU. "IF God is for us, who can be against us"

When you walk thru the fire........

A young woman I have mentored for a couple of years suffered a devastating loss two weeks ago when her apartment caught fire and burned everything inside. We got the call around 3am Sunday morning November 4th. We made our way to the aprtment near Lambuth. There stood Julie. No shoes and clothed in some firemans heavy fire coat. She ran to me and buried her head in my chest sobbing. I sobbed too. So did Tim and Candace. All we could do was watch the fire burn. My heart ached at not being able to do anything.

We arrived back at our house around 5am with Julie. No one could sleep. We just layed down until daylight appeared. It was Sunday morning. Quietly we all got ready for church. Candace clothed Julie. We smelled of smoked but we went anyway. During a time of prayer at the altar that morning Julie broke down. We did too. So did Pastor Don. We cried, we prayed and knew somehow that it was time to get up and start all over. Julie told me that of all the bad things she had been thru in her life she had never thought about fire. Fire took some of her most prized possessions even though this young woman has few.

The last two and half weeks we have been amazed how God has orchestrated the starting over process. Just recently we found Julie a new place to live. Many people have brought clothes, gift cards, money and the likes. Julie's heart has been filled with hope. She is overwhlemed at the generosity and love sent her way. The other day I gave her a scriputre . It is now posted on her bedroom wall. It is Isaiah 43: 2-3

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior."

She believes it. I do too. God is good. God IS faithful.

Did I mention??

Did I mention I don't do Halloween? I must not have because last night I had 14 "halloweenies" show up at my door. They closely resembled the Lambuth University Women's Basketball Team (coach included-- see picture on left). ThankfullyI got a little bit of advanced notice they were coming. So what was I to do? Turn off my lights and hope they go away? I wouldn't do that. I love these girls. I just dont love Halloween! Besides two of our international gals had never been trick or treating (lucky them). I'm not sure they got the real picture last night either.

They came inside and were treated to hot homemade brownies and Raspberry Ice drinks. Not exactly what I remember from my childhood trapsing up and down the streets with all the other "hungry" children. That is why we went out wasnt it? Why else do kids go begging for food? There has got to be SOMETHING redeeming about Halloween doesn't there? Why else would millions of parents take their kids out? I don't know just guessing here - secular peer pressure? I guess. Nonetheless, I don't do Halloween!

I don't do Halloween

Ok - I don't do Halloween. There I've said it. I did years ago when my kids were small but then somewhere in their middle school years I had to stop and ask myself why? What is the redeeming quality of this holiday? "Some" would probably say its harmless. That's what "some" said about the Harry Potter series and what "some" say about marijuiana and what "some" say about R-rated movies......... "Some" would say instead of trick or treating we should go up to their doors and hand them a christian track. I guess. It's just that I could never get the hang of that.

Anyway, that seemed like MY deal not my kids. If they were out and about they wanted to do what "everybody" else was doing anyway. So.... I had an alternative. I would take my kids bowling, to a movie etc. I would let them buy whatever candy they wanted (they would get to pick the good stuff). I must admit it's been like a fish swiming upstream. It's like walking against the flow of the crowd. I wish I could say I was so noble in all areas of my life but.......... I'm not. However, I am working on it. This may be one small area but its ONE!

This is so funny - you gotta watch!

Eat, Pray, Love

I am not a reader by nature. I read, but I am a very selective reader. Most all of my reading has to do with my faith, teaching bible study, etc. In August my friend Lisa Harper said, "You've got to read Eat, Pray, Love." It was a strong recommendation from a woman who travels all over the US leading christian women's conferences. So.... I bought the book. I thought worse case scenario I'll take it on my trip and read it on the plane. First of all the book is a true story. Elizabeth Gilbert is a real person. She is a magazine writer in New York. So I began reading. I couldn't put it down. I have heard "readers" say this, but not me. But I couldn't put it down. Her story intrigued me. The way she articulated, intrigued me. Her quest for life, intrigued me. I read the book. The WHOLE book.

Elizabeth Gilbert was on Oprah this week. Turns out a LOT of people are reading the book. Eat, Pray, Love has spent 35 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List. Elizabeth's personal quest to find out who she is awakens a similar journey in us all. There are parts in the book that are WAY too honest, way too transparent but its her book not mine. There are things in the book I don't agree with. There are times I wished she had been bolder in her faith statements. But..... with all that said, it certainly evoked something in me. Something good. Something God. It's a good read. During her interview with Oprah this past week she was asked what she continues to do that keeps her life quest alive. She said she does 3 things.

1. She asked herself the question"What do you want?"

Oprah quizzed, "You mean what do you want today or what do you want out of life?" Elizabeth said "No, just simply what do you want?" I have found that the most common answer is happiness but women especially don't really know what would make them happy. So get specific, what do you want?

2. Watch for "happy moments" during the day and journal them at the end of your day.

She said, "crappy moments happen too, I just decided to not keep a crappy journal but a happy journal. It keeps your focus in the right place. It doesn't have to be big. It could be as simple as a trip to the mailbox and sunlight broke out on you." Happy Moments.

3. Change your mantra.

She explained, "Our mantra is the internal talk we tend to do with ourselves. Some people constantly repeat, I'm a jerk, I'm no good, I'm a loser to which I would have to ask, "How's that working for you?" Change your mantra - life phrases that you live by. The medicine man in Bali told me, "Everyday laugh. Laugh from your liver" I remember that. I live by that. It works for me.

Well..... that's my book report for the month (maybe the year, I'm not a reader you know!) I'm thinking about these 3 things. They aren't profound but they are valid. I 'm really focusing on my mantra. I like that.... Laugh from your liver.........

I'm 50 and I'm fine.... REALLY!

This picture was taken on my 50th birthday just recently. I got to turn 50 in London. Awesome! It wasnt planned as a birthday trip but hey it happened. The day was great. My husband sang Happy Birthday (ok that wasnt the great part), I got text messages from all the kids and friends. I had a birthday card under my hotel door first thing that morning. It was a great day. The weather in London totally cooperated. It was blue skies. Great Shopping weather! Well..... a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do. The first couple hours of the day were spent first on the double decker bus as we headed towards Maddam Toussads. She is the lady that developed the true art of wax figures way back in the 1800's. Her museum is filled with wax likeness of numerous movie stars, sports and historical figures. I even had my picture made with the Pope!

From there we went to Covent Gardens. It's a part of London that is picture perfect. An old station has been converted to shopping venues and eatieries complete with string quartets that delight the most reluctant shopper. I got a black leather jacket for my birthday. Tim got one too. Not sure why - hey he's already 50! There were a few other goodies to round out my birthday spree. That night we went to dinner at Garfunkels that serves good European cuisine and then to the London Theater to see the play "Wicked". It was great! It's the story that preceeds the Wizard of Oz. Its not about being Wicked at all. If you get a chance to go see it I highly recommend it! Well.... it was a birthday like none other and I enjoyed every minute of it. I supposed 51 might not be as big but I'm not giving up this early. Oh, no.