Well, the end of another year is upon us. Really upon us in like an hour and 45 minutes from right now as I type this. I have been thinking over the past couple days how exactly to sum up this last year. I really have no words that truly summarize my year. I find it totally and completely impossible to put words to the remarkable year I had. Yes, the good, the bad and the ugly are all included in my year. But I think that without the good, the bad and the ugly, my year would have meant so much less to me. You see, with out the bad stuff, the good stuff might not look so great....
To be totally honest, I am really having a hard time remembering just how bad some things might have been. To other people in my life, those bad things might have been harder or meaner. We had some challenges. Some events that were hard and sad and. at times, heart wrenching. We did survive. Nobody died and we are all able to smile and laugh and love. You see, God held our hands the entire year. He never left us and he never forgot us. Yep, he held our hands and our heads up and hearts together. Thank you God for this amazing year of challenges. Thank you for holding it all together and for keeping smiles on faces and love in our hearts.
There were some amazing things this year. Elizabeth and her kids moved back to KM. Just up the hill. I can look out my sun room and see her house. How wonderful that has been. Oh, it may not be forever but for now, it is great. Now, I don't see them everyday but knowing they are close is comforting.
There have been some other great things in my life this year. But one of the greatest and most wonderful things to ever happen in my life was my mission trip to Africa. If you had told me last New Year's Eve that in 2015 I would be going to Africa to serve as a missionary, I would have laughed in your face and called you crazy. God had this amazing plan for me and it all quickly and perfectly fell into place in 2015. WOW.....
So, what does 2016 look like? What amazing plans does God have for me? I can't begin to imagine and will not try to plan. God will let me know when the time comes. This is something I have totally learned this past year.
To all my family and friends, my wish is that you will have the love and laughter that makes life so wonderful. That you will have the patience to listen and follow the plans of the Father. That you will be healthy and happy and wise in your daily life. That you will look to what is important and focus on that. That you will expect the unexpected to come into your life and guide you to something you never ever thought possible. That your relationship with God will grow and strengthen you in the year ahead. Happy New Year.
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Sunday, August 16, 2015
Out of Africa
I think I am finally getting my head wrapped around the fact that I am back on US time. WOW. I guess that's what you call jet lag. don't like..... sleep has not been easy these last few days. Bed by 9:00 or 8:00 or 7:00, up at 3:00 or 4:00. Napping at weird hours in the afternoon and early evening. Stomach issues that are a little understandable considering the eating habits of the last couple weeks. Still having trouble with just about everything I put in my mouth. May never eat chicken again.
But what an amazing trip. I could just stop typing this now because no matter how many words I put down, how many pictures I show or how many stories I tell, nothing will ever be enough. There are simply no words or pictures that can explain my time in Zambia. No words or pictures can explain how those people made me feel, how they looked at us when we came into their village, how they welcomed us into their world, how they loved us with true, undeserving love, how they showed me how a true Christian should live. There are things I experienced that will forever be etched in my mind. People and views and words and songs that I will never forget.
Since coming home, I have had a wide assortment of thoughts and feelings (lack of sleep or strange sleep patterns do this to a person). I have learned so much about myself and the world around me. . Things I hope I never forget.
Here are 20 of the things on my long list: (in no specific order)
1). Hug your toilet on a daily basis. I mean seriously....go hug it.
2). Eat your veggies....these are precious resources
3). Conserve energy. It may not always be available
4). Take your kids to get a Happy Meal. (I know it's not healthy but once won't kill them.)
5). Take your job (whatever it is) seriously and be dedicated to it. Not everybody has one.
6). Hug your toilet.
7). Enjoy a long, hot shower. I mean really enjoy it.
8). Touch a tree
9). Listen to the music....really listen
10). Kiss a snotty nosed kid on the head....you won't die.
11). Hug your toilet.
12). Pray for any missionaries you know(or don't know) their sacrifice is huge
13). Look people in the eye...really look
14). Smile at somebody...It might be the only one they get for a while
15). Be thankful for every single solitary thing you have and remember where it came from
16). Take absolutely nothing for granted
17). Play in the rain and mud
18). Eat strange berries from a tree (under the guidance of a professional)
19). turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth. Water is precious
20). Hug your toilet
But I think the most important thing I learned was that people are the same no matter where they are. We are all doing the same thing. Surviving from day to day. Now, it may be in a completely different way and in a completely different country, but isn't that really what we are trying to do? Just survive? Somebody in Sunday school today said that life is life and living is living. We may do it differently but it's still living. And no matter how different they live or how different the country is, we have one God that loves us; one God that we can live for. The same God that loves me here in little Kings Mountain loves those beautiful people I met in the remote villages of Zambia, Africa.
I think that's pretty cool.
But what an amazing trip. I could just stop typing this now because no matter how many words I put down, how many pictures I show or how many stories I tell, nothing will ever be enough. There are simply no words or pictures that can explain my time in Zambia. No words or pictures can explain how those people made me feel, how they looked at us when we came into their village, how they welcomed us into their world, how they loved us with true, undeserving love, how they showed me how a true Christian should live. There are things I experienced that will forever be etched in my mind. People and views and words and songs that I will never forget.
Since coming home, I have had a wide assortment of thoughts and feelings (lack of sleep or strange sleep patterns do this to a person). I have learned so much about myself and the world around me. . Things I hope I never forget.
Here are 20 of the things on my long list: (in no specific order)
1). Hug your toilet on a daily basis. I mean seriously....go hug it.
2). Eat your veggies....these are precious resources
3). Conserve energy. It may not always be available
4). Take your kids to get a Happy Meal. (I know it's not healthy but once won't kill them.)
5). Take your job (whatever it is) seriously and be dedicated to it. Not everybody has one.
6). Hug your toilet.
7). Enjoy a long, hot shower. I mean really enjoy it.
8). Touch a tree
9). Listen to the music....really listen
10). Kiss a snotty nosed kid on the head....you won't die.
11). Hug your toilet.
12). Pray for any missionaries you know(or don't know) their sacrifice is huge
13). Look people in the eye...really look
14). Smile at somebody...It might be the only one they get for a while
15). Be thankful for every single solitary thing you have and remember where it came from
16). Take absolutely nothing for granted
17). Play in the rain and mud
18). Eat strange berries from a tree (under the guidance of a professional)
19). turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth. Water is precious
20). Hug your toilet
But I think the most important thing I learned was that people are the same no matter where they are. We are all doing the same thing. Surviving from day to day. Now, it may be in a completely different way and in a completely different country, but isn't that really what we are trying to do? Just survive? Somebody in Sunday school today said that life is life and living is living. We may do it differently but it's still living. And no matter how different they live or how different the country is, we have one God that loves us; one God that we can live for. The same God that loves me here in little Kings Mountain loves those beautiful people I met in the remote villages of Zambia, Africa.
I think that's pretty cool.
Thursday, July 2, 2015
8000 Miles
8000 miles. That is roughly how far it is to Zambia. 8000 miles on an airplane. Me, who hates to fly. Me, who can't sit still for 15 minutes and is expected to sit 15 hours on a plane. Me, who hates to be away from home for more than one or two nights. Me, who checks in with my parents on a daily basis (sometimes 7 or 8 times). Me, who has precious grandbabies that I see or at least talk to everyday. Me, whose precious husband is totally helpless when I am away. OK maybe not totally but somewhat. Ok, maybe he can manage but I do like to think he is totally helpless without me. But the point is that I will be 8000 miles away from the comforts of my home and family and all that I am blessed with.
If you had told me a year ago that little ole me, a lowly imperfect human with flaws that outnumber the stars, would be traveling to Africa to share God and His love, I would have laughed in your face. (Sometimes I still laugh.) Ain't God funny????? So many factors have played into my upcoming trip. Even strangers have played a part in my going. I really kept thinking someone would tell me not to go. Someone would say something negative to keep me from going. Someone would explain all the reasons I shouldn't go..................this never happened. As a matter of fact, God put so many people and things in my path to make sure I got the message. "GO". Well, I got it. Loud and clear, I got it.
We have been working for the past couple months on raising the funds for this trip. There are 3 of us going and the cost is roughly 4000.00...................EACH. In a little over 2 months, we have manage to reach and exceed our goal of $12,000.00. (And funds keep coming in.) God is so good. We have had several fundraisers and all have been successful. One guy in my Sunday school class said recently, "You know, we could have a fundraiser for this trip everyday, and if God were not in the center, we wouldn't raise a penny." Amen.
I have been reading a lot and asking a lot of questions about the area I will be in. Though I know that nothing I read and none of the answers will ever prepare me for this trip, I sometimes get so overwhelmed that I can hardly contain my excitement. I was asked recently what I see myself doing there. We were told that we would probably be involved in a children's ministry that would possibly include up to 500 children. Sorry, but I just cant see 500 children. WOW. I was also informed that I will need to prepare a women's bible study for the women in the village and surrounding areas. I should be prepared to do this study more than once. WOW. And I was informed that I should prepare a testimony-like presentation. I asked how long this should be, "what, like 5 to 10 minutes???" HAHA, she said, more like an hour OR SO. WHAT????? We were told that 5 to 10 minutes would be an insult. They want to hear us. They want to hear us a lot and we would offend them if we only shared for 5 or 10 minutes. Time is of absolutely no importance to these people. We were told just to leave our watches at home. (This will be challenging for us westerners.) It's a good thing I like to talk...:)....
We leave on our trip in exactly 4 weeks from today. Tomorrow begins our 40 days of prayer which covers from now until we return on the 11th of August. Please pray for our team daily. This is such an exciting time but there are issues that need attention. Our health and safety, our precious families that will be here and even though they all know we are doing God's will, they worry. Those who will be placed in our path, the missionaries who serve there on a daily basis and many other things. So please just keep our team and our trip in your prayers.
"He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.'" Mark 16:15
If He says go, you go.
If you had told me a year ago that little ole me, a lowly imperfect human with flaws that outnumber the stars, would be traveling to Africa to share God and His love, I would have laughed in your face. (Sometimes I still laugh.) Ain't God funny????? So many factors have played into my upcoming trip. Even strangers have played a part in my going. I really kept thinking someone would tell me not to go. Someone would say something negative to keep me from going. Someone would explain all the reasons I shouldn't go..................this never happened. As a matter of fact, God put so many people and things in my path to make sure I got the message. "GO". Well, I got it. Loud and clear, I got it.
We have been working for the past couple months on raising the funds for this trip. There are 3 of us going and the cost is roughly 4000.00...................EACH. In a little over 2 months, we have manage to reach and exceed our goal of $12,000.00. (And funds keep coming in.) God is so good. We have had several fundraisers and all have been successful. One guy in my Sunday school class said recently, "You know, we could have a fundraiser for this trip everyday, and if God were not in the center, we wouldn't raise a penny." Amen.
I have been reading a lot and asking a lot of questions about the area I will be in. Though I know that nothing I read and none of the answers will ever prepare me for this trip, I sometimes get so overwhelmed that I can hardly contain my excitement. I was asked recently what I see myself doing there. We were told that we would probably be involved in a children's ministry that would possibly include up to 500 children. Sorry, but I just cant see 500 children. WOW. I was also informed that I will need to prepare a women's bible study for the women in the village and surrounding areas. I should be prepared to do this study more than once. WOW. And I was informed that I should prepare a testimony-like presentation. I asked how long this should be, "what, like 5 to 10 minutes???" HAHA, she said, more like an hour OR SO. WHAT????? We were told that 5 to 10 minutes would be an insult. They want to hear us. They want to hear us a lot and we would offend them if we only shared for 5 or 10 minutes. Time is of absolutely no importance to these people. We were told just to leave our watches at home. (This will be challenging for us westerners.) It's a good thing I like to talk...:)....
We leave on our trip in exactly 4 weeks from today. Tomorrow begins our 40 days of prayer which covers from now until we return on the 11th of August. Please pray for our team daily. This is such an exciting time but there are issues that need attention. Our health and safety, our precious families that will be here and even though they all know we are doing God's will, they worry. Those who will be placed in our path, the missionaries who serve there on a daily basis and many other things. So please just keep our team and our trip in your prayers.
"He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.'" Mark 16:15
If He says go, you go.
Saturday, December 20, 2014
My Friend
They say (whoever "they" is) that if you're lucky in life, you get one, maybe two, true friends in life. Seven and a half years ago, that "true friend" fell into my life and my heart with a bang just when I needed her most in my life. Our friendship was not one that had to grow....It was just there from the moment we met. And now she is gone.
I have done pretty good since Wednesday. I've held it together pretty good. Until this morning. My friend, my true friend, is gone and my heart is breaking. She loved me. I loved her. I mean truly loved her. I just hope she knew it. I got to the ICU just in time to tell her one more time how much I loved her and how much her friendship had meant to me. I hope she heard me. I'm going with she did. My heart hurts
I look around my home and see all these precious "things" she gave me over the years. I sat at the dining room table last night she and her husband gave us as a gift when we moved in our house last year. I wore one of the scarves she gave me just this week, I turned on a Christmas Santa Sleigh she gave me once because she knew I would love it. I see her everywhere. I have a coffee cup here with her name on it so she could have a special one when she came to visit. My heart hurts.
My heart hurts because she's never going to be able to jump in the car with me and run to the mall for
a quick nighttime adventure or go with me to get our nails done. I wish I could count how many pampered chef, Mary Kay, jewelry, or thirty-one parties we went to and all the church activities we attended together. My heart hurts because she will not be at family birthdays and holiday gatherings. My whole family, momma and daddy, my sister and her crowd, always expected Frank and Linda to be at our gatherings. She has a big picture of Charly on her mantel and Adalai thought she hung the moon. They WERE family. Frank still is, of course, and he is as dear to us as Linda.
What a husband to her he was. A lot of men could take lessons from him and his 47 years of devotion to her. Like he said this week, "She was a spoiled rotten brat." Well, she wasn't really a brat but he did have her spoiled and he loved it and so did she. After 47 years, her face would light up when he walked in the room.
Over the past year and a half or so, our adventures dwindled because of her declining health. She did come to Charly's first birthday party the end of September even though we all knew she really didn't feel that great. That was the last family outing she was able to attend. She had a couple stays at the nursing home for rehab and many hospital trips and that big trip to Duke. My outings were not the same. I missed her in the front seat of my car trying to buckle her seat belt and know she missed going with me. My heart hurts.
Our church became her family. She walked in that church for the first time and everyone loved her and she loved everyone. She and Frank were baptized just this summer. This was something she wanted so desperately. I am so thankful it happened. It had to be rescheduled many times because of health issues but she and Frank were properly "dunked" as we teased.
On Monday, we will say our final goodbyes. We will all go home and remember the beautiful person that Linda was. We will all be forever thankful for having known her for these few short years. I had this true friend who loved me and my family. I am a better person because I had Linda as the best friend anyone could ever have asked for.
Rest in peace my precious friend. I love you. Thanks for loving me.
I have done pretty good since Wednesday. I've held it together pretty good. Until this morning. My friend, my true friend, is gone and my heart is breaking. She loved me. I loved her. I mean truly loved her. I just hope she knew it. I got to the ICU just in time to tell her one more time how much I loved her and how much her friendship had meant to me. I hope she heard me. I'm going with she did. My heart hurts
I look around my home and see all these precious "things" she gave me over the years. I sat at the dining room table last night she and her husband gave us as a gift when we moved in our house last year. I wore one of the scarves she gave me just this week, I turned on a Christmas Santa Sleigh she gave me once because she knew I would love it. I see her everywhere. I have a coffee cup here with her name on it so she could have a special one when she came to visit. My heart hurts.
My heart hurts because she's never going to be able to jump in the car with me and run to the mall for
a quick nighttime adventure or go with me to get our nails done. I wish I could count how many pampered chef, Mary Kay, jewelry, or thirty-one parties we went to and all the church activities we attended together. My heart hurts because she will not be at family birthdays and holiday gatherings. My whole family, momma and daddy, my sister and her crowd, always expected Frank and Linda to be at our gatherings. She has a big picture of Charly on her mantel and Adalai thought she hung the moon. They WERE family. Frank still is, of course, and he is as dear to us as Linda.
What a husband to her he was. A lot of men could take lessons from him and his 47 years of devotion to her. Like he said this week, "She was a spoiled rotten brat." Well, she wasn't really a brat but he did have her spoiled and he loved it and so did she. After 47 years, her face would light up when he walked in the room.
Over the past year and a half or so, our adventures dwindled because of her declining health. She did come to Charly's first birthday party the end of September even though we all knew she really didn't feel that great. That was the last family outing she was able to attend. She had a couple stays at the nursing home for rehab and many hospital trips and that big trip to Duke. My outings were not the same. I missed her in the front seat of my car trying to buckle her seat belt and know she missed going with me. My heart hurts.
Our church became her family. She walked in that church for the first time and everyone loved her and she loved everyone. She and Frank were baptized just this summer. This was something she wanted so desperately. I am so thankful it happened. It had to be rescheduled many times because of health issues but she and Frank were properly "dunked" as we teased.
On Monday, we will say our final goodbyes. We will all go home and remember the beautiful person that Linda was. We will all be forever thankful for having known her for these few short years. I had this true friend who loved me and my family. I am a better person because I had Linda as the best friend anyone could ever have asked for.
Rest in peace my precious friend. I love you. Thanks for loving me.
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Body Drops
Have you ever wondered where all the people you see everyday come from? How did they get here and why are they here? Those people at the grocery store, the hardware, the doctor's office, the ones you pass in their cars. Where did they come from? And why are they in that particular place at that particular time? WOW! As of 2012, there were 7.05 billion people on the earth. (I know that's right because i just googled it and if Google says it, I believe it...so there.) But what are all these 7.05 billion people doing here....and there?
The older and wiser I get, the more I question the things around me. Now at my wise old age I am seeing answers that I never saw before. I tell my two precious daughters all the time, "I'm 50 plus years old. I don't know everything but I DO know some stuff." And I do. I know how to do lots of things, I know how to make lots of things, I know when not to do lots of things, I know what consequences wait for some of the things I do, and just loads of other stuff. We all do. But what are those 7.05 billion people doing here? Isn't that too many people for our tiny earth to sustain? Isn't that a lot of weight for the earth to hold up?
I guess I could sit around all day and all night for a long time and ask stupid questions but this question about all these people got to me today.
I was driving home around midday from Durham. My dear, precious friend was scheduled for surgery today but the procedure was cancelled this morning and I decided to come home and just go back when it is rescheduled. Now traffic wasn't really bad and, as a matter of fact, I was surprised at how little traffic there was in Durham. I mean you have this major hospital and stuff and I was just expecting a tremendous amount of traffic and chaos. Nope....very calm and easy driving from my hotel to the hospital this morning. It was very calm last night around 8:30 when Frank and I hit one of the major Durham hot spots.....(That would have been the Cracker Barrel next to the hotel.)
Of course I didn't know anyone there except for my friends but I had the opportunity to come in contact with three people who I still can't get off my mind.
After checking into my room, I talked with Frank at the hospital and decided to take the shuttle over and ride back with him. I had to go to the desk and sign in for said shuttle. They were real busy and the guy at the desk was on the phone and helping someone else. While I was waiting, this lady came in. It was extremely obvious that she was stressed and anxious. She couldn't find her room. She said they pointed her in one direction and the room number wasn't there. She needed a cart and there were none available. Her husband was disabled and couldn't walk far. She reminded me so much of my dad's youngest sister. I guess that is why I was so drawn to her and her troubles. When I got finished signing for the shuttle, I went outside and looked for her. By this time this dear sweet lady was in tears. I hugged her and told her I had 30 minutes to spare and I WAS going to help her. I found her room and had her get in her car and follow me around to where it was. (Another car almost got the handicapped spot I had found for them and I was about to lay down in it. Those of you who know me, know I would have.) I unloaded her car, helped her hubby get in with his walker and hung up her clothes. By this time they were both smiling and less stressed. I then asked what else they needed and said goodbye.
Next, There was this lady sitting waiting for the shuttle with me (or so I thought). I was pooped so I sat down and spoke to her (this is what a true southerner does) and she began to talk...and talk...and talk...and talk. Bless. She had so much to say about her poor husband. He is in the VA right across from Duke going through yet another series of chemo treatments. He has had a stroke and now they have discovered that his cancer has spread. According to her, they believe all his problems come from his time spent in Vietnam and the contact he had with, yes, "Agent Orange". Bless her heart. She was so sad and appeared so worried which I guess any of us would be. Of course I had no words....Just I'm sorry. So, I just sat and look her in the eyes and listened and silently prayed for her and her precious husband. I wish I had had a cake. Cake is always good to share when someone is sad. There should always be cake...Note to self......take cake back to Durham.....
I don't share these three people for any reason except to say that God, in his infinite wisdom, put me (one of the 7.05 billion) there for a reason. That couple really truly needed help. She would have been a basket case. That lady at the shuttle stop needed to vent or she may have exploded. I really thought she was there to get on the shuttle with me. When it came, I asked if she was ready and she said, "Oh no, I'm not going. I just came out of my room to get some air." Hmmmmm...I wonder. Maybe I was put there because I needed to experience her sadness with her. To see what others go through on a daily basis that I can even begin to comprehend. Maybe I needed to see how a good wife cares for her disabled spouse when away from home. Maybe God had major lessons for me with these three strangers. Maybe this is why they are are still heavily on my mind and in my heart.
Please pray for my dear friend, Linda, and her husband, Frank, as they wait to see what happens next. And pray for my stranger friends.....My God is amazing. I never cease to be amazed.
The older and wiser I get, the more I question the things around me. Now at my wise old age I am seeing answers that I never saw before. I tell my two precious daughters all the time, "I'm 50 plus years old. I don't know everything but I DO know some stuff." And I do. I know how to do lots of things, I know how to make lots of things, I know when not to do lots of things, I know what consequences wait for some of the things I do, and just loads of other stuff. We all do. But what are those 7.05 billion people doing here? Isn't that too many people for our tiny earth to sustain? Isn't that a lot of weight for the earth to hold up?
I guess I could sit around all day and all night for a long time and ask stupid questions but this question about all these people got to me today.
I was driving home around midday from Durham. My dear, precious friend was scheduled for surgery today but the procedure was cancelled this morning and I decided to come home and just go back when it is rescheduled. Now traffic wasn't really bad and, as a matter of fact, I was surprised at how little traffic there was in Durham. I mean you have this major hospital and stuff and I was just expecting a tremendous amount of traffic and chaos. Nope....very calm and easy driving from my hotel to the hospital this morning. It was very calm last night around 8:30 when Frank and I hit one of the major Durham hot spots.....(That would have been the Cracker Barrel next to the hotel.)
Of course I didn't know anyone there except for my friends but I had the opportunity to come in contact with three people who I still can't get off my mind.
After checking into my room, I talked with Frank at the hospital and decided to take the shuttle over and ride back with him. I had to go to the desk and sign in for said shuttle. They were real busy and the guy at the desk was on the phone and helping someone else. While I was waiting, this lady came in. It was extremely obvious that she was stressed and anxious. She couldn't find her room. She said they pointed her in one direction and the room number wasn't there. She needed a cart and there were none available. Her husband was disabled and couldn't walk far. She reminded me so much of my dad's youngest sister. I guess that is why I was so drawn to her and her troubles. When I got finished signing for the shuttle, I went outside and looked for her. By this time this dear sweet lady was in tears. I hugged her and told her I had 30 minutes to spare and I WAS going to help her. I found her room and had her get in her car and follow me around to where it was. (Another car almost got the handicapped spot I had found for them and I was about to lay down in it. Those of you who know me, know I would have.) I unloaded her car, helped her hubby get in with his walker and hung up her clothes. By this time they were both smiling and less stressed. I then asked what else they needed and said goodbye.
Next, There was this lady sitting waiting for the shuttle with me (or so I thought). I was pooped so I sat down and spoke to her (this is what a true southerner does) and she began to talk...and talk...and talk...and talk. Bless. She had so much to say about her poor husband. He is in the VA right across from Duke going through yet another series of chemo treatments. He has had a stroke and now they have discovered that his cancer has spread. According to her, they believe all his problems come from his time spent in Vietnam and the contact he had with, yes, "Agent Orange". Bless her heart. She was so sad and appeared so worried which I guess any of us would be. Of course I had no words....Just I'm sorry. So, I just sat and look her in the eyes and listened and silently prayed for her and her precious husband. I wish I had had a cake. Cake is always good to share when someone is sad. There should always be cake...Note to self......take cake back to Durham.....
I don't share these three people for any reason except to say that God, in his infinite wisdom, put me (one of the 7.05 billion) there for a reason. That couple really truly needed help. She would have been a basket case. That lady at the shuttle stop needed to vent or she may have exploded. I really thought she was there to get on the shuttle with me. When it came, I asked if she was ready and she said, "Oh no, I'm not going. I just came out of my room to get some air." Hmmmmm...I wonder. Maybe I was put there because I needed to experience her sadness with her. To see what others go through on a daily basis that I can even begin to comprehend. Maybe I needed to see how a good wife cares for her disabled spouse when away from home. Maybe God had major lessons for me with these three strangers. Maybe this is why they are are still heavily on my mind and in my heart.
Please pray for my dear friend, Linda, and her husband, Frank, as they wait to see what happens next. And pray for my stranger friends.....My God is amazing. I never cease to be amazed.
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Marriage....Perfect????
Well, yes, I have been married for 30 years. Well over half my life. So in honor of the 30th anniversary of this union, I decided it appropriate to share some of my observations and some things I have discovered about marriage.
1) IT AIN'T EASY! It isn't possible to spend any length of time at all with a person and not have issues. Dang, I have issues with my dog after being with him all day.
2) Love grows. There is a love there that is so amazing. When God joins you with another person, He blesses you with a love that has no explanation.
3) You honestly do become one. I have seen couples that really do start to look alike as they age. Hmmmm. no comment about that. Lane and I do think alike though.
4) You KNOW each other. I know he doesn't like certain foods. I know what temperature he likes the thermostat set to. I know which socks he likes best. I know his favorite color. I know what he likes to do on Sunday afternoon. I know what kind of ice cream to get at Ingle's. I know how he likes his shirt ironed. I know what songs to turn up on the radio. I just know.
30 years..... I looked at him the other night and asked, "What have we done for 30 years? Where did all that time go?"
Well, we've done a lot. We had three precious children. One now in heaven. We started a business that is still in operation and has provided for us very well for these years. "Logan Plumbing Service for all you plumbing needs. 704-739-6696". We remodeled a house. Not an easy task and here we are 30 years later doing it again. We started out with no heat/ac, one bedroom, cardboard walls in the kitchen and bare plywood floors. I had a washing machine but no dryer and would hang clothes on the line before I left for work in the morning. Fun times...really.
There are a lot and I do mean a lot of things that I would like to forget. We made mistakes and some bad choices. Fortunately, those mistakes and bad choices helped define who we are and what our marriage is today. Perfect. Yes, we have the perfect marriage. Oh, we still disagree and he still drives me crazy with dirty socks and ice cream bowls in the den and forgetting to pick up milk on his way home. I still think we should change the step treads and he thinks we should fix up the sunroom first. He thinks we should paint the potting shed something whimsical and I think it needs to be more traditional. I think we should store my gardening stuff in the garage and he absolutely refuses to let me in there near his precious cars. I think we should have one car each and he thinks he needs 15. There are always things in a marriage men and women disagree on because, believe it or not, we are different. Yes, we have issues, but our marriage is still perfect.
Here is the key to a perfect marriage, GOD first. I truly believe and know and have witnessed that if you put God first in your marriage, everything else falls into place. Is it going to be easy? HECK no. But can you handle things? HECK yes.
So my one word of advice to newly weds and young couples and people thinking about getting married or people thinking about getting a divorce is "Commitment."...People do not commit to anything. This is why our divorce rate is so high. Get tired, get a new one. Just like buying a car or new shoes or a new house. Just move on. Keep your word because you are only as good as that.
Happy Anniversary.
1) IT AIN'T EASY! It isn't possible to spend any length of time at all with a person and not have issues. Dang, I have issues with my dog after being with him all day.
2) Love grows. There is a love there that is so amazing. When God joins you with another person, He blesses you with a love that has no explanation.
3) You honestly do become one. I have seen couples that really do start to look alike as they age. Hmmmm. no comment about that. Lane and I do think alike though.
4) You KNOW each other. I know he doesn't like certain foods. I know what temperature he likes the thermostat set to. I know which socks he likes best. I know his favorite color. I know what he likes to do on Sunday afternoon. I know what kind of ice cream to get at Ingle's. I know how he likes his shirt ironed. I know what songs to turn up on the radio. I just know.
30 years..... I looked at him the other night and asked, "What have we done for 30 years? Where did all that time go?"
Well, we've done a lot. We had three precious children. One now in heaven. We started a business that is still in operation and has provided for us very well for these years. "Logan Plumbing Service for all you plumbing needs. 704-739-6696". We remodeled a house. Not an easy task and here we are 30 years later doing it again. We started out with no heat/ac, one bedroom, cardboard walls in the kitchen and bare plywood floors. I had a washing machine but no dryer and would hang clothes on the line before I left for work in the morning. Fun times...really.
There are a lot and I do mean a lot of things that I would like to forget. We made mistakes and some bad choices. Fortunately, those mistakes and bad choices helped define who we are and what our marriage is today. Perfect. Yes, we have the perfect marriage. Oh, we still disagree and he still drives me crazy with dirty socks and ice cream bowls in the den and forgetting to pick up milk on his way home. I still think we should change the step treads and he thinks we should fix up the sunroom first. He thinks we should paint the potting shed something whimsical and I think it needs to be more traditional. I think we should store my gardening stuff in the garage and he absolutely refuses to let me in there near his precious cars. I think we should have one car each and he thinks he needs 15. There are always things in a marriage men and women disagree on because, believe it or not, we are different. Yes, we have issues, but our marriage is still perfect.
Here is the key to a perfect marriage, GOD first. I truly believe and know and have witnessed that if you put God first in your marriage, everything else falls into place. Is it going to be easy? HECK no. But can you handle things? HECK yes.
So my one word of advice to newly weds and young couples and people thinking about getting married or people thinking about getting a divorce is "Commitment."...People do not commit to anything. This is why our divorce rate is so high. Get tired, get a new one. Just like buying a car or new shoes or a new house. Just move on. Keep your word because you are only as good as that.
Happy Anniversary.
Friday, June 6, 2014
school days and birthdays
Well, today was the last day of school for students. It is kind of a bitter sweet day. I will truly miss some of my students but I am honestly glad to see a lot of them move on over the hill to KMHS. It has been a, well, year. Again this year we had a student with cancer. Fortunately, he went through surgery, treatment and returned to school for the last few weeks. His first day back was very emotional. I could hardly teach my class that day. Praise God for this wonderful miracle.
State testing is always horrible. Scores came in this week. We look for growth from 7th grade to 8th and I was extremely pleased. One of my students had a 20 point increase and most had increases of between 2 and 14 points. Woohoo. Take THAT Common Core..
I received some of the most wonderful notes, calls and gifts from kids and parents. That's what makes walking in my classroom each morning worth it. Monday we do paper work and finish cleaning and then we are out for a few weeks. And no, what's your name in Raleigh, I don't get paid for these weeks I don't work but it is still nice to be home.
Its been a rough year. Some of our kids have issues and challenges that most of us can only imagine dealing with. Death of parents, abuse, severe poverty, etc., only begin to touch what we deal with. Then there's all this junk the state is trying to do to us lowly teachers. I knew when I originally went into teaching that I would never be rich. But, what's your name in Raleigh, it would be nice to have just a tiny little raise. I mean it has been years (I don't even remember how many now). But I will continue to go in that classroom everyday next year and do what I love and love what I do.
Today is my birthday. Can I really be 53 years old????? Where has all that time gone? My grandmother died at 53 and I thought she was the oldest woman in the world. Geeze. My mom's comment was, "what if you had a daughter 53?" It is pretty cool being in your 50s. I see people in the 30s and 40s and I am so thankful I am not them. Whew. Get a grip. A lot of the crap you are stressing about will not amount to a hill of beans when your in your 50s.
So, thanks to all the kids and parents who were really great this year. God bless you with success at KMHS and in your future. Many of you I will hear about in the future because your potential is so great and your future is so bright. Go forth with love in your heart and passion in your soul.
Thanks to all of those who sent me posts, texts and called, sent cards and brought gifts for my birthday. I am humbled at your love and thoughtfulness.
State testing is always horrible. Scores came in this week. We look for growth from 7th grade to 8th and I was extremely pleased. One of my students had a 20 point increase and most had increases of between 2 and 14 points. Woohoo. Take THAT Common Core..
I received some of the most wonderful notes, calls and gifts from kids and parents. That's what makes walking in my classroom each morning worth it. Monday we do paper work and finish cleaning and then we are out for a few weeks. And no, what's your name in Raleigh, I don't get paid for these weeks I don't work but it is still nice to be home.
Its been a rough year. Some of our kids have issues and challenges that most of us can only imagine dealing with. Death of parents, abuse, severe poverty, etc., only begin to touch what we deal with. Then there's all this junk the state is trying to do to us lowly teachers. I knew when I originally went into teaching that I would never be rich. But, what's your name in Raleigh, it would be nice to have just a tiny little raise. I mean it has been years (I don't even remember how many now). But I will continue to go in that classroom everyday next year and do what I love and love what I do.
Today is my birthday. Can I really be 53 years old????? Where has all that time gone? My grandmother died at 53 and I thought she was the oldest woman in the world. Geeze. My mom's comment was, "what if you had a daughter 53?" It is pretty cool being in your 50s. I see people in the 30s and 40s and I am so thankful I am not them. Whew. Get a grip. A lot of the crap you are stressing about will not amount to a hill of beans when your in your 50s.
So, thanks to all the kids and parents who were really great this year. God bless you with success at KMHS and in your future. Many of you I will hear about in the future because your potential is so great and your future is so bright. Go forth with love in your heart and passion in your soul.
Thanks to all of those who sent me posts, texts and called, sent cards and brought gifts for my birthday. I am humbled at your love and thoughtfulness.
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