Remembering!!!

As I looked around at some familiar faces, and some not so familiar at the High School Reunion this weekend, I began to think about ways I had known that person at school from almost 40 years ago. It was had to think of memories from some people. I sang in the Chorus and seeing Ms. Saul our little director brought back many laughs and songs. We did a musical in high school, but I do not remember the name or any of the songs, I just remember the fun we had doing it. I do remember a song about an Ant, and a Rubber Tree Plant, laughing at myself here! I was honored to have been part of the special group of girls who sang for special events. I remember one Christmas we went to sing for the office party for the Cotton Mill. We sang the traditional songs of Christmas, and I remember the food of course. I had my first encounter with an anchovy, and I thought it was a piece of bacon, wow did I ever find out different!! It sure didn't taste like bacon, maybe a really bad piece of salt-pork was more like it. Coach Boone brought back memories of sitting on the front steps during lunch break, and talking to him through his office window. Bill Eddins made me think of football games, as did Gay Sanders. If I remember right the football team of 1970 won the Championship, and Gay was a cheerleader. Daddy took me to a few games, and to be honest back then I think it was more important to stay under the bleachers than sat on them!!! I hated my locker, but I see they were necessary! We sat in alphabetically order which put Buddy Toney behind me in many classes, I remember cutting up and talking with him. I also remember election times, and if you got stuck in the rear end with a straight pen by a boy you had to share with everyone who got you. Wow, the things that made us happy back then. I also remember what we called the froot loop on the back of boys shirts, collecting them was everything. I had a scrape book with the loops attached and their names under was awesome!!! I think a few Moms called and fussed at me for pulling those off their sons shirts and tearing a hole in them!!! I could write all day about the memories of high school, but got things to do right now. Just thanking everyone in the 73' class who worked hard to get this reunion together! Hope to stay in touch with lots of people from my past!

Today!

I had plans to go with my friend Debra to church this morning at the church we were members of for over 20 years. Things did not work out for me. I think I am superwoman sometimes and can do anything. I decided no hill was too big for me to conquer on the riding mower yesterday and had to hold on very tight several times to keep from sliding off the thing. That put a strain on my back and I had some pain last night, as I am still having this morning. I miss the people at that church, and this morning just missing going to church anywhere. I have been sitting here listening to some Gospel music, and some of the older songs speak to me more. My Mommy and Daddy went to sleep listening to the Chuck Wagon Gang every night. They had about 6 albums, and I see that old record player and Daddy stacking them on. One would play, and the other would drop down and play. This continued until they all played and the record player cut off on its on. This was a fancy one now that I think about it. Music was important in our home, and I am glad that I still have a love for the good old Gospel music I was listening to as a little girl. What A Friend We Have In Jesus, this was a song I remember singing a lot. Sweet Hour Of Prayer, The Old Rugged Cross, When We All Get To Heaven, and I could name many, many more. Listening to the words of these faithful songs truly brought me to a place of worshipping my Jesus this morning. Thinking of how he left the splendor of Heaven, knowing his destiny, was the lonely hill of Golgotha, there he laid down his life for me. That is love! A love that reaches from the highest mountain, flows to the deepest ocean. All our sins and griefs to bear, what a friend we have in Jesus. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer. All these words to the songs still apply to us today. No matter how old we get, no matter how sick we get, or how tired, we must remember that Jesus loves us, he is there for us, and died for us. He came and took all my horrible sins upon himself and paid a price I could not pay, so that I can live a life I do not deserve in Heaven for eternity. I just want to honor and worship my Lord today. I just want to praise who he is, and show him I love him, and thank him for his love for me. Just listen to some good music, listen to his love for you today!

Trying to Decide Who I Am?

I have been really looking at people, and the way they live trying to decide who I am. I thought I was a redneck, or maybe just a country girl, but I know now I am neither. I lived in the city, but I know I am not a city girl either. I grew up in small town Mississippi, and I think that is who I am, just a small town girl. I want to try and explain who each one of these people are in my mind, and I love all people, so I am not saying there is something wrong with anyone. I think when your raised in a small town, and have friends from all areas of life, you have the privilege of being able to fit in anywhere. Country people always have cows, a garden, chickens, and their little boys hair is always cut real short. I do not have any of those items, and my boys hair was never real short, so I do not fit into that category, but when I am at my Aunt's house I love to ride through the cow pasture, feed the chickens at my son's house, and those little boys are as cute as they can be. City people are never barefoot, always have their make-up on, and their yards are usually very manicured. I do like to go barefooted, I will go to the store without my make-up, and my grass tends to get a little high. Now redneck people, who if you talk to me you would swear I am one, have a few traits that always shine. They can usually chew, dip, or smoke while eating and drinking. As I have been driving through the country a lot lately I have seen several things that I would classify as a true sign that you are a redneck. The first one was seeing people with their working deep freeze on their front porches. Now Mommy would never have allowed this, nor would I want that. Do you not think their power bills in the summer are really high? I am sure in this heat and humidity it never quits running. In the winter the bills might go down some, heck they may not even have to plug it in on some days! Another sign to me is when you have more furniture in your front yard than u probably have in your house, or maybe they just have several recliners, and couches, plus an extra dining room set. One thing a friend told me about and I looked when I went by, was a new add-on to someones house. They parked a storage building next to the house, and I mean next too it, made a door opening and now they have their new add-on. That is redneck for sure!!! I will have to give my friend a hard time, because he knows he is a redneck, but a sure sign for me is that his house is pink, his mailbox and truck are camouflage, and only a REAL REDNECK, would be comfortable with that! As for me I am for sure just a small town girl, with the talent to be country, city, redneck, or whatever when needed!! How about you???

Thoughts!!!

I was sitting here thinking about what brings people to mind. It is strange to me, but every time I go to my kitchen sink and look out the window at the woods, my Daddy comes to mind. I miss Daddy, I miss him terribly. I know we can not go back and spend more time with them, and we should never have regrets, and for the most part I don't. I would like for one more time to sit down and talk with Daddy and really listen. I know Daddy told me the answers to the questions I have about family, and WWII, which Daddy was a proud Marine, but I have forgotten, or as I said I didn't listen well enough. My Daddy had the answers to everything I needed to know! Daddy liked where we built our house, and I know if his health had been better he would have spent more time out here sitting and looking at those woods out my kitchen window. He had always wanted to live out in the woods again, as he did when he was a little boy. I ask God to hug Daddy for me today. I think of Mommy at crazy times it seems. Mommy has been so long, for over 20 years. OK, tears are coming to my eyes. As much as I miss Daddy he got to know all of his Great-grandchildren except Aubrie. Mommy never saw my boys grow up, never knew any of the girls. Toby was in the second grade when she went to be with the Lord. I am blessed to have had the parents I had. They were very loving, and Christians. I feel alone a lot, and have throughout the past few years. I know I am not, and how blessed I am to have my wonderful family. God blessed me with more than I could ever have dreamed of, or deserved, but what I am saying is, I wish I had my Mom to go shopping with, to cook with, and to just spend time with. I have no sisters, or even cousins that I am close to. My Aunt, Mom's sister lives a good way from me, well the one I am close to. Neither of her sisters are able to get out anymore and do things with me. The person I was closest to for many, many years decided one day not to be my friend anymore, but you know she has a daughter, and her Mom, which I try not to be jealous of, but I guess I am. My best friend in the whole world lives 10 hrs from me, and when we are together it is just wonderful, but its hard when you only see her once a year, or twice. I know I am never alone, Jesus is always with me, but if you have someone to do things with, your Mom, your Dad, do not ignore them. Spend time with them. Thank God that you have them each morning you wake up. Hug them real tight, and listen to them, you will wish you could ask one more question someday.

Life, As God Wants For All Of Us!!

What does each day hold for us? In God's word he tells us he will never leave us nor forsake us. I totally believe God's word. Faith in his word and through prayers I know each day can be as God wants it for us, full and abundant. Each day holds what God has planned for me and you. The answer to what is planned is in his word. I am saying this because I am so lacking in my time with God lately. I sit here thinking about all the things that need doing, and the things I seem to never get done. Lazy, or tired? Where is the difference? Looking out the window at the beauty of nature, the flowers in bloom, the green of the grass and trees, and the clear blue of the sky, I realize that God's love is in everything we see each day. In the faces of my grandchildren, in the smiles of people I do not even know, in my husbands eyes, and in my boys concern for my health. Things do not always look good here, but God didn't tell us to be thankful for all things, he said be thankful IN all things. I began to see the difference. The coach's daughter had a bad wreck this past week, no her family is not thankful for the wreck, but thankful she survived. You may ask what if she had not, then her family has the peace of knowing she was a Christian, and the second our life stops here, she would be in the present of Jesus. I want to live the life he has given me here on earth, showing others God's love through my actions, and giving God all the Glory for it. It is only through his love, and mercy that he has given me. Lord I know I do not do everything you want me to in my daily walk, but I ask you right now to show me through your word what you would have me do everyday. "Let others see Jesus in you, keeping telling the story, be faithful and true, Let others see Jesus in you", these words to a song I remember singing as a little girl, should be what I pray for each day. Thank you Lord for bringing them to my mind again. As I get ready for some medical test over the next few weeks, I want to remember that I take the time to have these test, I can certainly take the time to read my Lord's word, and talk to him. I challenge you to do the same! I heard a preacher say one time, and this is not exactly as he said it, but similar, "we have enough time in each day to do gracefully what God wants us to do". How much of our day are we wasting sitting around not listening to God, but to self? God forgive me, and use me today.

Catching Up Again!

To be honest I have not felt much like writing lately. I have been so busy trying to just live life. Sometimes it is hard to fit everything into your day, and then when you do not feel your greatest, it does not help. I thought I was safe from having another little episode with my heart, and a week ago yesterday it hit again. This time is was not as bad as before, and I am so thankful. I will feel so much better after I see this Dr. in Jackson I pray. I do not like the feeling that I could have a stroke or something else at anytime. I want this problem fixed!! I have enjoyed having my grandchildren this summer. Yesterday we took the day and went to a big water park about an hr. away. When you have something to do it helps to keep your mind off yourself. We only had the 2 youngest girls with us, and watching the smiles and laughter from them was worth every pain I feel in my back today. I put my bathing suit on, and went around with everyone else. For years, when my boys were small, I missed a lot by worrying about too large to wear a suit. I decided I would not miss anything with my girls if I could help it. There were people of all shapes and sizes there. I felt comfortable enjoying a lazy ride down the river with my 7 yr old grand-daughter. She went on every slide possible and wanted me to go on the big ones with her, but the steps were just a little too much for me. The youngest conquered her fear of the slides in one quick minute when she ventured down the first one. After that she went non-stop all day at the age of 2. The pool was built like a beach with sand and then a gradual incline into the water. It was almost like being at the coast, except here the water was much cleaner. We spent an hr. or more making sand castles, as the 2 year old torn them apart as soon as they were made, laughing the whole time. Yes, I had a fun time, and yes I am in quite a bit of pain today, but I would do it again. Memories are what it is all about, and children make the best ones. I would encourage Mothers, Grandmothers, and anyone else out there, do not sit back and not do things with the children in your life because you think your too big to wear a swimsuit or to go down a water slide. Just do it!!! It is so worth it. Hope all are blessed by God, hope to write more soon.

Bring It To Me, To Jesus!

This is copied from a devotional I read everyday, but I had to share it with you.



"Bring them here to me." Matthew 14:18 (NIV)"Mo-om," my six-year-old son calls from the den where he is working on math, "I can't do this!"I am in the kitchen washing dishes. "If you can't do it," I call back, "Just bring it to me."And in a whoosh, I hear God's still small voice, coming in on the heels of what I have just spoken aloud. "Isn't that what I say to you?" He reminds me.When I am overwhelmed: "If you can't do it, just bring it to Me."When I am angry: "If you can't do it, just bring it to Me."When I am hurting: "If you can't do it, just bring it to Me."When I am confused: "If you can't do it, just bring it to Me."Thousands of years ago, the disciples faced a situation they couldn't do. They couldn't feed 5000 men and their families lunch even though the people were hungry. They knew that allowing them to leave would mean missing a great ministry opportunity... but their resources were sorely lacking. And then one little boy stood up and offered his lunch. Jesus responded, "Bring them here to me." He took that meager offering—the tiniest bit offered in faith—and multiplied it beyond anyone's expectations.I need God to do that for me every day. When I think that I can't do something, I need to faithfully take what little I can do and place it in His hands. And then I need to stand back and watch Him multiply my humble offering into something amazing.What are you feeling like you can't do today?Take on a challenge God is calling you to?Respond to a ministry opportunity even though it is scary?Stay in a marriage that looks over from where you're standing?Persevere in your efforts to pay off debt?Offer forgiveness to someone who hurt you?Whatever it is, know this: You are right. You can't do it. So bring whatever it is to Him. Picture yourself offering it up, just like that little boy's lunch. Then stand back and prepare to be amazed.Dear Lord, I praise You for being my burden bearer. Thank You for always taking my "I can'ts" and transforming them through Your power and Your blessings. Help me to remember not to be anxious or worried when I face difficulties, but to simply bring my issues to You again and again. In Jesus' Name, Amen.