I Wanted To Go Home!!

Yesterday afternoon my oldest Grand-daughter was taking guitar lesson at the church. I took the other 2 outside as it was a beautiful afternoon. I stood there and watched them running all over the Church yard, and memories began to come very quickly. Our home was on the corner lot right beside the Church. I had played all over that Church yard, the creek that runs beside it, and up and down that sidewalk that runs from one end of the town to the other. As the warmth of the sun hit my face, tears began to flow down. For the first time ever, I wanted to be a little girl again. I wanted the house that was my home, where I grew up to be in that empty lot. I wanted Daddy to be sitting on that front porch and I wanted to turn around wave, and hear him tell me to be careful on my bike. I stood there in that vacant lot, which is now owned by the Church, wanting my house to be there. I wanted to see Mommy telling me to help her get the clothes off the line again. I wanted to see her walking down that road coming home from work in the cotton mill. I wanted to see my brother and Daddy leaned back in the straight chairs on the porch talking, or see them out in the yard pitching ball. I wanted to sit on the porch swing with my Mommy again, as she brushed my hair. I wanted to see a Sunday afternoon ballgame going on in the big Church yard across from our house, where everyone played, of all ages. I wanted to see Mommy waving at me as I went up that sidewalk back to school after coming home for lunch. I wanted to go HOME, just one more time! Yes, I so enjoyed watching my girls running, playing, and jumping. It really made me think about the wonderful times I had growing up there in that small town. But it made me sad to think the house is gone, Mommy and Daddy are gone, the neighbors I grew up with are all gone. I have become the old, and all that is left of HOME is memories. Live each day as it is your last, because quickly they will pass. Live each day letting God be your guide, because all the matters is his love, and what we can do for the Lord. I guess I will always want to go home just one more time, but I am blessed to watch my girls and remember as often as I can.

Being A Woman!!

What does being a woman mean? You know what identifies who we are. Most of all I think it is how we feel about ourselves. God choose to create me, he had a purpose when he did, and I was chosen by him to be a woman. I think the world of advertising and television along with the movies tries to tell us what we as women should look like. I feel that I should look like the woman God created me to look like. When I was younger I hated my freckles, no one else had as many as me I thought. I remember my Daddy always did what he could to make me feel better about them when I complained. He had a funny saying, "If you got freckles on your butt, your pretty". Well, I do not have them there, but that did always make me smile. As I have gotten older I realize that my freckles are just part of who I am. Just like my short toes, and my long legs. God made me to look exactly like he wanted me to. What I do with what God gave me is what is important. I can not always look back to my past and be proud of the way I have acted as a woman, but I can look back to the day God forgave me of my sins, and be the lady he wants me to be the rest of my life. When I was teaching a youth Sunday School class I used to tell my girls, if you do not want the boys to look at you in a certain way, then present yourself in the way God would have you do. I raised boys, I wanted to teach them that they should not look at young ladies as just sexy, or just their outward appearance, well it is hard to teach them that when the women are dressing a certain way, and acting a certain way. That is not what God intended us to portray to men. We are to be a lady. My Mommy was a good example, she always dressed apporiate, always carried herself as a lady. You know, what is wrong with being the woman who is proud of her man, proud to cook for him, proud to keep her home clean and presentable at all times for her family. I think it is horrible when kids can not take their friends to their homes because they are embarrassed. Now I do think children should be taught to pick up after themselves, but I, as a woman feel like my home is an expression of me. The Bible says that a man should love his wife as he does the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible also says a woman should be submissive to that Husband, well you know what, if that man is loving you like he loves Jesus, respecting you as he does him, he deserves your help, and to allow him to be the head of the home, that is what God intended. I like being a woman, but I like the woman I am now better than when I was 20 years younger. I have more respect for myself, and I see how important it is to be an influence on younger woman is this society. We can teach them by the way we dress, and how we carry ourselves. God made us to be Mothers, to me the most amazing job in the world. We were made to carry little babies inside of us, go through the process of giving birth, and then we were given the ability to have something I call Mother's instinct. I always knew when my kids needed to go to the Dr., I always knew when they were doing something they should not have been doing, and think about this, children love their Fathers, but now as my kids are grown, they will call and talk to Daddy, but most of the time it is, let me talk to Mommy. We are given a most wonderful gift by being a woman, how will the world see you as one? Will you be part of this sinful world, dress like you have no pride because everyone else does, or will you take a stand and be the amazing lady God intended you to be? Don't wait until your my age to realize the importance of how as a woman you portray yourself, start now!!

Getting What I Wanted!!!

I wanted to tell you the story of me getting a bench I wanted from K-mart one time. I had gone in to look at the garden things, the line from Martha Stewart. There was the cutest garden bench in the store. I knew I wanted it, and it was $120.00. I found a saleslady and ask her to help me get the bench. She left for a few minutes, came back and said we do not have any. So naturally I ask her when they would get some in. She left again, came back, and said we are not getting any, and this is the only one we have received, and it is a floor model so we can not sale you this one. I stood there for a few minutes thinking why would you have a floor model of something you are not going to have in the store, and not sale the one you have? I ask the lady again about buying the one on display, repeating what she had said to me about not getting any, but she just refused to sell it to me. There are not many things that I find that I want, but I think because this was such a mixed up case, I was determined to get his garden bench. I left the store frustrated, and on the way home began to think about how this made no sense to me. When I got home I decided to contact the cooperate office in Minnesota. I called them explained the situation, and that the people refused to sell me something that they never plan to get, so I could not get a rain check, and also that they would not sell me the floor model. They agreed with me that this was ridiculous and said they would call the store. I called the local store a little later and the main office had called them and told them to sell me the floor model with a $10.00 discount. This did not make the saleslady happy with me, but I hope they see the reason I did this. Sure it was something I really wanted, but most of all it was the principle of advertising with a floor model something that the store never intended to have in the first place. I am sure I was not the only person who went into this store wanting to buy this garden bench. I was though the only person who was determined to buy it. I am not sure if management, or the sales people in that department made the mistake of placing this bench for advertisement on the floor, but I say if they have it in the store, they should sell it. When I look back at this, I laugh at myself for being so persistent, but I still enjoy that bench when I go out to my front porch and sit.

Little Things!!! Bother You?

Do the little things that people do bother you? or have you learned to laugh at them? I read a devotional this morning about quirks. Do the people in your life have little quirks that identify them? I went into the bathroom this morning, and the water was running just a little. Over the years I have went in many mornings after David has gotten ready for work and found the water not quite turned off. I admit in years past I would get agitated from this, but now it makes me smile. It is part of who he is, and I love him. Just as when I go into the kitchen and all the cabinet doors are open, that is part of my David. I will admit that after our friend Rennie has picked at him about it for a while now, he closes more than he used to, but I have a good laugh now over things that used to make me angry. Why would I let having to simply close a cabinet door make me mad? I think so many times in life we look for the little things people do, or don't do that is different from ourselves. What if God did that? What if he looked at all the little things we do? I thank him that he loves me for who I am. I think I can love David through the little things if God can love me through mine, don't you? I do little things too that I know bugs David and other people in my life. I thank God they can see past them and love me for who I am. I hope all of you will look past the little things that your spouse, your friends, and all the other people in your life do. I hope you can look at them and laugh as I have learned to do, and I promise you I just named two of the little quirks David has. Laughter, and smiles can just make these things just disappear. Because isn't it the little things we love about them too, that makes them so special? Next time someone in your life does one of those little things that seem to always bother you, smile, and thank God they are part of your life.

What A Day!!!!!!

This has been one long day for David, Keely and me. I happened to wake up at 4 this morning, and we had to leave home around 7 to take Keely to Birmingham to University of Alabama Medical Center. My heart is very saddened and hurting for my sweet, precious 12 year old Grand-daughter. Keely has Rheumatoid Arthritis, and it has affected most of her body. In fact today we found out that it has caused some bone damage in her right jaw. We are going to see another Dr. for her to have some injections in her jaw so she does not have anymore damage. To watch your heart, your first Grandchild, being taken to the MRI room crying because they could not let me go with her will just tear your heart out. I know that God's plans are always good, and I do believe we are to give thanks for everything in our lives, but this is hard. I thank God for his blessings on Keely. I do realize this could be much worse, and that we are thankful for. I have faith in God to know that he will take care of my Keely, give her strength, and know that everything she is going through will continue to make her a very strong young lady. I so wanted to take her pain and fear away today! I ask all who read this to please keep her in your prayers. Pray that her anxiety would be less each time she has something done, and pray that God would heal her according to his perfect will for her life. I also ask that you pray that she sees the blessing in this, because when you go to University of Alabama Medical Center, and see all the other kids so sick, you realize that there really is someone worse than yourself. If you are blessed with children or Grandchildren that are a picture of health, be sure to thank God for this. There are a lot of children who suffer each day from many diseases. I pray that God takes care of all of them.May the amazing love of God fill each of your hearts with joy and peace each day.

Local School Puts On Production Of "Grease"

Last night I had the honor of going with one of my best friends, and the one person I have been friends with the longest in my life, Terrye and also her daughter Stacie to see Amanda, Terrye's granddaughter in this play. It was just wonderful! From the start to the finish I was thrilled to see the excitement in those kids faces as they performed for us. Something that really made me smile was to see the young men playing the parts in this musical were loving it. From the young man who played the part of Danny to the guy who played the school geek Eugene, they all were in character and enjoying themselves tremendously. I could really tell these kids had worked very hard. Each one of their faces showed they were into the show, you know really into entertaining us. I love the show Grease, and have seen the movie lots of times, plus saw a production of it put on my adults, but the kids from Clarkdale School made it come alive. Each one knew their dance steps, and they all were in perfect timing together. Another amazing thing to me was the way the guys just sang from their hearts. These were handsome young men, who you could tell were athletics. So many kids do not want to show that side of themselves to anyone, especially peers. I could see that this school has not only provided these kids with an education, but they are also providing them with the right kind of self-esteem. I would also say this comes from the parents too. It really did my heart good to see this. To see kids of today, the 20Th century, being kids. I wonder sometimes if this comes from living in small town Mississippi, or does this happen in small towns all across the United States? I remember being in a musical in high school myself, but I can not remember the name of it. I do remember the fun we had, and the joy it brought to all who saw it, just as last night did for me, and the others there. I would not want to live anywhere else, I do know that for sure. I feel living in small town Mississippi, and living in an area where there is a Church on every corner as the saying says, makes a big difference in people's lives. The smile on Amanda's face made my friend smile all over, and that in itself was a blessing to me. You could tell Amanda was having fun, and isn't that what kids are suppose to do?

Life Is Good!

I am sitting here this morning taking in a lot of thoughts running through my mind. Some are heart wrenching, some are hurtful, some are sad, but when I slow all of that down, all my thoughts turn to good things. As a Mother when things are not quite right in your children's life you feel it, you feel it really deep in your heart. My youngest son is going through a tough time right now. He loves his little girl so much, and I am so very proud of the Daddy he is to her. I could sit here and tell you all the wonderful things he does with her, and for her, but to me the one that stands out is the hugs and smiles he gives her, and the ones she gives him in return. He takes her to Church to learn about God, and at night she already ask him to read the Bible to her. That is a blessing. You know divorce is a horrible thing, it is hurting my son so much, and that hurts me. In spite of this he tells me my faith is strong in my Lord Jesus, and I know that all things work together for the good for those who love the Lord, he tells us in his word. When I have my Grand-daughters here with me, how can life not be good? The youngest, Aubrie, will be 2 in a few days. We are planning a Curious George party, as she loves him. She has really amazed us with her talking. She has been talking none stop for months, and I mean sentences, and remembers everything you tell her. Maggie, the 6 year old, well where do I start. Laughing here!! She is a non-stop ball of energy, who smiles all the time. Her little freckles just shine, and you never know what she is going to say. She told me one night that her Papaw was getting on her nerves! She can make the saddest person in the world smile. Keely, our oldest, and to be honest our angel, has some health issues and that does make me sad. She has RA, and is only 12 years old. She has had to be the bravest little girl. She was a premie when she was born, and I spent a lot of time in the hospital rocking her until she was able to come home. I admit I have a very special bond with Keely. She is growing into a very sweet young lady, kinda quiet now, but I think that comes with her age. When she smiles, wow, the room lights up. She tugs at your heart all the time. You know things can happen in this world that can bring you down, but I have something inside that brings me back up every time. That is a renewing of the Spirit of Christ. In the mist of all these storms, I have a peace, and a joy, that makes life so good for me. How could a person stay down with 3 wonderful little girls loving them? How could a person stay down with the amazing love of God living inside them, and carrying them through? Life is good, it is a journey to the end, and as a born again Christian that end is the beginning of real life. One day when it is my time to go, or when the Lord comes back to earth, I will be with my Lord and Savior for eternal life. Did you read that? ETERNAL LIFE!! The Bible doesn't say eternal death, it says life. I am so blessed, and I realize that each day on this earth things can happen to bring me down, but I stand on the truth, and the truth is that with faith in God there is no way to stay down. Get in the word, read your Bible, so many times in my life I have started a daily time with God, and then got lazy, or allowed something to take that time away from me. I, with God's strength will not stop reading his word. It is so filled with exciting stories, and advice to get through each day. I wish for anyone reading this to just do it! Just spend time with God's word, and in prayer talking to the best friend you will ever have. Ok, I hope I have told you what makes life so good for me. First of all it is the amazing love of God, and second it is the amazing family he has given me. The wonderful thing about my good life, is that you can have it too. All you need to do is trust in Jesus, read the Bible, spend time with him in prayer, and appreciate the family he has given you. This is my prayer today for all who read.