Just My Thoughts

I generally use Facebook and Blogger to share the funny stuff of life. This one is a little out of my comfort zone. I'm not going to debate with anyone, but just wanted to share my convictions.

**This is not a political post**

Several years ago, I felt a really strong conviction to pray for our leaders. It didn't matter if I had voted for these particular people or not...I was to pray for them in their capacity as a leader. I prayed for everything from leadership at home, school, and church to state and federal leaders. I'm sure it wasn't a coincidence that at about that same time, a Bible study I was listening to had much to say about our willingness to be obedient and respectful of our leaders. God is, after all, completely in control...even of the leaders you and I may or may not have voted for.

In this history-making time, I have felt a need to revisit those feelings and important parts of that study. Sometimes, we don't see the abundance of work that has gone on behind the scenes. Sometimes, the leaders make suggestions that mess with our plans. How dare they ask us to stay away from others over Spring Break? How dare our leaders tell us not to be in crowds? How dare they suggest that play dates are not a good idea? How dare they act as if God can't take care of this virus?

It's taken me a lot of years to see that God is in complete control of EVERYTHING, and he uses many methods to show that control. We don't get to choose how we are healed in any situation. Sometimes, we wear glasses to heal our eyes...glasses God makes available to us. Sometimes, we take life-saving medicine for diabetes or high blood pressure or cancer or...goodness, what a list this could be...medicine God makes available to us. And, sometimes, our healing takes place on the other side of this life. But here on earth, the "doctor-oriented" healing is STILL given to us by God. He uses the doctors and expects us to follow instructions.

Over the last few days, I've read about an amazing movement. Christians are anointing their doors and tying red ribbons on the doorknob.I absolutely love it. It's a reference to the tenth plague in Egypt when Moses was sent to lead the Israelites out after four hundred years in captivity. Those who had the blood of the lamb over the door would be passed over by the death angel.

So...and I know you are ready for me to get to my point...this morning, this thought came to me: What if the Israelites had said, "God knows where I live. It'll be fine." Or "I already had plans made for tonight. We will be ok. We're right in the middle of all the other Israelites. He can't miss us." Or "Really?? Right now? I JUST sacrificed a lamb last week. And now I'm to do it again?" Or "God is bigger than the Egyptians. I'm sure he knows where my house is. I'm not worried."

I'm convinced a major point of God's decree at that time was OBEDIENCE. God told his leader, Moses, what to tell his people, and Moses obeyed. God expected complete obedience from his people and they obeyed. We all know the great miracle that came about because of their obedience!

I'm not a medical professional. I'm not a scientist or researcher who has been working behind the scenes. But I am a Christian who knows the importance of faith and obedience. If we will only listen and obey, we will have our own Big Miracle Story to tell...the pandemic that we stopped in its tracks in 2020.

Or, we can keep ignoring the danger and disregard our leaders. Let's not talk about where that is likely to lead us

Looking Back ...And Lessons Learned

Well, it’s the last day of 2018. I had big plans to blog more often this past year. Oh, well :)

I know that the end of the year is a time for most people to make New Year’s resolutions. I try to be careful of those because I tend to overestimate my abilities and then I get frustrated and feel like a failure. Instead, I like to look back over the year ending and see what I’ve learned, what worked, what I need to do better, and what I need to add. Let’s face it, the old me has handled some pretty tough stuff over the years, so I have to celebrate the person God made me a little bit. And we all know there are areas to improve, so I’ll look at those, too.

Maybe everything I want to remember and do can be summed up in this list (yes, Mama, I even make a list about these things).
1. Self-care is never selfish. Taking care of myself makes me more able to take care of others.
2. It’s never a bad idea to evaluate and re-evaluate how I’m doing a job. Making changes is hard, but often so rewarding.
3. Drama is draining...for everyone. If you want less drama in your life, be sure not to be the instigator if it. If you’re not the instigator, walk away. No drama.
4. What we say is not nearly as important as how we say it. Ever.
5. No amount of money is ever so small that it is not worth saving. Trust me on this one.
6. A good night’s sleep (whatever that means for you) works wonders. You can never “catch up” on sleep lost.
7. As you listen to a person talking about someone else, one thought should be at the front of your mind: This person talks about me, too, when I’m not here.
8. There aren’t enough encouragers in the world. Try being one. You’ll enrich so many lives that way.
9. Some things are worth the money and just cannot be considered a waste. Crock pot liners would be an example.
10. Never underestimate the value of extra toilet paper in the bathroom. Just because you know where you keep the extra doesn’t mean others do.
11. Value those who will be with you the most. Don’t talk more kindly to or treat strangers better than you do your own family members.
12. Discipline is important. Discipline yourself. Discipline your children. Be receptive of discipline yourself. It’s the best way to see and experience growth.
13.  Set a few goals and work to achieve them. The feeling of accomplishment is amazing.
14. Organization brings peace. This one is hard for me, but I’m working on it constantly.
15. Declutter. I think this goes along with organization. Decluttering calms and brings peace to a messy world...my messy world.
16. Meal planning is worth it’s weight in GOLD. It helps with grocery shopping and with having good meals done at normal meals times.
17. Every day, multiple times a day, pay attention to the ways God is working in your life and in those around you.
18. I want my prayers to be more prayers of thanksgiving and less of “I want/need.”
19. Gossip is a terrible and powerful weapon. Don’t use it. Its effects can never be undone.
20. Remember that it’s never too late to make something better. We don’t have to wait for a certain day, month, or year to start over. Mistakes happen only when we don’t learn from them and grow from them.

Mother's Day 2017

Happy, happy news!!! I FINALLY figured out my blogger password!! Yay!! It was an older account and I thought it was gone forever! Oh, my goodness! I'm sooooo excited!! ( I know I have to update my picture, but I had to have one that had all of the babies in it!)

Now, on to the important stuff...

First, for Mama:

How awesome is it that we have a special day to celebrate our mothers?? Isn't that just perfect? I think so. Sometimes days go by...sadly, even weeks...that we don't have a chance to really sit and talk. Life has us just passing by, calling to get a question answered, setting up babysitting help, but not really taking time to say all the important things. A day like Mother's Day (and Father's Day later on) gives all of us the opportunity to celebrate the mothers in our life.

This morning I was looking through some images, and I found one that was just perfect for my feelings about Mama. Many times I've said that I want to grow up to be like Mama and Daddy. Look!!! I have hope!! I mean...it's in the Bible, so...it's happening, y'all.

I truly do want to wish Mama a happy Mother's Day. I remember once when she was taking care of Zack and she got a pan of water to wash his little feet before they went back in. Zack said, "Oh, Nannie, you look just like Jesus." What a precious thing to say, but it's oh so true. Mama has the kindest, gentlest, most sacrificial spirit. I go to her for advice, for support, to see how she would handle things, to tell my funnies, to ask for prayer, for babysitting help...for everything. For all you do and all you are, Mama, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

Next, my other mama...

Robbie's mother, my mother-in-love, has taken me on as her own daughter and loved me unconditionally. We had an awesome day yesterday. We, just the two of us (first time in 37 years) spent a whole day shopping for her. She told me early on that I had one job: find stuff and bring it to her to try on. Her job was to try on and pick what she liked. Ha! That system worked perfectly! If I had a fitbit, I think it might would have exploded yesterday. The highlight of the day was when she decided she really should have gotten a shirt she put back. I ran back in the store to pick it up from the "I am not getting this so you can put it back" rack...and IT WASN'T THERE!! Nooo!! So I started frantically searching for the table where I had seen in...and then I saw a lady carrying it around. I ran her down...she was quick...and noticed her name tag. Thank the Lord she was an employee, but I was not above asking a random person if I could have it back. Got the shirt, checked it out, and back to the truck I went. Win!!  

She also helps with the babies if our schedules mean that we need a little backup with babysitting. Our grands truly are the joy of her life, and they are all so lucky to have her!

Finally...my girls

I am not sure that words can truly express how proud I am of my girls and the mothers they are. All of them are hard working, dedicated mothers who absolutely put their children first in every way. They bless us with allowing us to spend time with the children, and they bless us by being the strong mothers they are. All of them have been through tough times and good times and hard times and hilarious times...and all of them continue to amaze us with their resilience and God-given talent for raising their children. 

Lauren is the daughter God blessed us with at birth, and Vicki and Kandace are the daughers God blessed us with through our sons. We love each one of you, and we love you BIG. We pray for each of you daily in all ways and in everything you do, especially in the raising of your sweet babies. Carsyn and Clay, Grace and Asher, and Dylan, Daniel, and Kaylee are precious and growing so fast, and we are so proud to have you three sweet mamas leading them as they grow. Happy Mother's Day to my sweet girls!

And in the end, all that I've said about all these amazing women can be summed up in 24 words...

My Month of Thankfulness

Well, it's been a while, hasn't it? As much as I love blogging, and as much as I've missed it, there have been days when I honestly just didn't have time. Or I didn't take time. So it's been on my mind for some time now to get started back. I decided that instead of doing the month of thankfulness by posting each day, I would do mine in blogger form at the end if the month. Here goes:

In this month of Thanksgiving, I am thankful for
1. ...my very real relationship with Jesus and the salvation He offers all of us. I do not understand how people get through the things life throws at us without Him.
2...grandparents I was so fortunate to have as a part of my life well into my adult years. They set a Godly example for me and my children and I have been so blessed by that.
3...parents who raised us with a love for each other and for others, who took us instead of sending us to church, and who continue to parent us even as we are grandparents ourselves.
4...a sister and brother I would do anything for. Their children are like my own, and I love both of them dearly.
5...cousins who were a part of my growing up years. Many memories of my childhood include these wonderful people.
6...my sweet husband. Robbie is the love of my life, and I am a better person because of him. Married life with two careers and three children has never been easy, but it has always been so worth it.
7...my brother and sister by marriage. Kenny and Kathy came right in to our family and became one of us.
8...my second set of parents. Robbie's mother and daddy have truly been a blessing to us and our children.
9...my children. Josh, Lauren, and Robert have taught me far more than I have ever taught them. God truly blessed me by allowing me to be their mama.
10...my in-loves. Vicki, David, and Kandace have added to our family and brought joy to our children., and we love them like our own.
11...my sweet grandchildren. Grace, Dylan, Daniel, Kaylee, Carsyn, and soon-to-be-here Peanut give us a new perspective. To be able to be a part of their lives at a time that is slightly less stressful in our lives is such an incredible joy.
12...Sweet Home Baptist Church. It is the church of my childhood, the church of my adulthood, the
church of my family, and the church I will always love.
13...Children's Church. Oh, my goodness...the stories I could tell about Children's Church. Sweet, funny, enlightening, challenging, and, most of all, rewarding.
14...the absolutely wonderful years I have had at Crenshaw Christian Academy. Both administrators
I've worked under have been much more than my boss. They have been my mentors, my friends,  my
confidantes, my encouragers, my teachers. I would not be the teacher I am without them.
15...my home. Yes, I live in a pasture. No, I am not close to any town. And I LOVE it. This is the place that recalibrates , refreshes, and renews my heart and soul.
16...Greenville Gymnastics. To be able to work with the girls on the team and the recreational classes is rewarding and pushes me to be better, find better ways to teach them, and help each one find joy in
her abilities.
17...cheese. I mean, it really is my only condiment.
18...people who accept that cheese is my only condiment and do not harass me with the usual "You'd like it if you tried it. Why don't you like it? You don't eat what?? You've never had a pickle?? You don't know what you're missing!"
19...friends. True friends do not have to talk every day or spend a whole lot of time together. In fact, some of my best friends are long distance friends, and yet I know I can call on them any time.  My hope is that they would know the same is true for me.
20...allergy medicine. Seriously,yesterday would have been a disaster without it.
21...pajama pants. They make time at home after work but before bed completely manageable.
22...Aleve. Used along with the pajama pants, it can set the world right again.
23...Christmas. My whole family plans on it all year, counts down the months, weeks, days, and hours, shop for it, decorates for it...all while celebrating the true meaning of Christmas and sharing that with the children.
24...books. They have taken me places I will never physically go, introduced me to people I will never really meet, taught me things I would never have known, and given me an outlet that nothing else does.
25...apostrophes...and the people who know how to use them. You just cannot make a case for using an apostrophe to make your family name plural.
26...commas...and the people who use them well. It's the difference in We've already eaten Grandpa and We've already eaten, Grandpa. Without the comma, Grandpa doesn't stand a chance.
27...my embroidery machines. I have loved learning the whole new world of machine embroidery. I like to call myself a thread artist.
28...technology. I love being able to look things up on the computer, program the DVR to record our favorite shows, and design things I need.
29...chocolate. It should be included as a separate food group with a recommended number of servings per day.
30...an incredible run for an unbelievable touchdown in the most exciting Iron Bowl I've watched in a long time. War Eagle!

The Faster I Go, the Behinder I Get...

Well, technically, "behinder" is not a word, but it sounds so good right now.

I have really good intentions every single day. In my mind, I can lay my whole day out and I see everything getting done. And then, life happens.

You know what I mean...little bumps that come along that throw everything off track and out of kilter. But I am determined that this week will flow smoothly and lots will get done.

There is sooooo  much I need to blog about...the trip to San Francisco I took with Lauren, summer fun with the babies, the beyond-awesome Kenny Seales Memorial 5K, Discover the Dinosaurs with the kids, weekends at the river with Robbie...

Now that brings to mind THIS past weekend. I missed the Labor Day weekend trip with my sweet family,so Robbie thought we could go this weekend  and enjoy some quiet time. To keep him from driving home and right back, I met him on Thursday night and came home today (Sunday). I will have to say it's been an eventful weekend. Friday while we were fishing, Robbie forgot to put the lid on the minnow cooler. So guess who gets hit in the mouth while going 25 miles an hour down the river?Yep...

And guess who spent almost all of Saturday repairing pipes and drains at the house?  Ummm hmmmm...

And guess who got 25 miles out today before realizing she had forgotten her purse and had to try around and go get it. Right again!


See what I mean about life happening?  I'm determined to have a smooth week, though!!

Signed, Sealed, Delivered...They Are Married!!

I absolutely LOVE planning, decorating for, and directing weddings. It is fun in the planning stages, exhausting in the carrying out of it, and so satisfying when everything comes together just as the bride wanted...or almost :)

Over the years I have developed a strong relationship with the Viers family. I grew up with Carleen, the family mom. My sister Pam and I were always close to her. In 2005, Carleen asked if I would be interested in helping with her daughter Tonya's wedding. Well, of course!! No problem, or so I thought. Turns out, Robert and Kandace had forgotten to tell me they changed the date of their wedding--moved it up a week. Yep, Tonya's week. There was one saving grace: Tonya got married on Friday night, so I was able to go to the rehearsal on Thursday and make sure everything was lined up. Lauren and Vicki filled in on Friday night while the rest of us hosted Robert's rehearsal supper. That was a bit nerve racking, but it worked.

Then Nikki Viers got engaged. Would I help? But of course. Time to redeem myself and actually be there for everything. Or that was the plan...

Robert and Kandace were expecting Daniel, who would be born in July. The wedding was June 10th. No problem. Until June 10th. At 2:00 A.M., Kandace called and said they were at the hospital, but was sure they would probably get to come home. Could we just go to their house and get their stuff just in case and bring it to the hospital?? Sure!

And we did. And she wasn't sent home. As the morning wore on, I got worried. It was 4th down, 25 to go, so what did I do? Yep. Time to punt. Good thing I have awesome receivers. Lauren and Vicki jumped right in and pulled everything off. Thanks to Mrs. Prissy for sending them on to the hospital when things did not go as well as planned there either.

After all that, can you believe the Viers family called me AGAIN, this time for Shannon's wedding?!?!?!?

And I'm soooooo happy they did! I had the BEST time. Shannon is definitely NOT in the running for Bridezilla...she is waaaaaaay too easygoing and sweet to be that. That is certainly not to say that we haven't had some interesting moments....

Like the time she told me they had decided to have barbeque sandwiches and chips at the reception...

Or when she showed me the beautiful teacart meant for the bride's cake...with only one wheel.

Or when the bakery that had agreed to make her cake and had taken her deposit informed her they would be closed the week of the wedding, but they would be happy to freeze her cake and let her pick it up. Hmmmm...

Seeing Shannon's little car literally FILLED with grapevine...the trunk and the backseat...and they still had three passengers in the car!

And then I was attacked by grapevine while we were decorating her arch...really, that stuff could easily win the war in the Middle East. I mean, the way it caught my hair and clothes and skin, I'm thinking all those loose-fitting clothes and some grapevine is a sure-fire trap. I can't believe that southern-grown grapevine is not being used as a weapon of mass destruction. Oh, well.


The groom's cake, supposed to be there at 8:00 A.M., arrived at 2:00 P.M.

Yes, there were some interesting moments before the wedding. And during...which is always the case when you have children in the wedding :) They were precious...and hungry...and wanted daddy...and just, as Noah, said "very, very tired." Smart 3-year-old :)

Sometimes you just know that everything is just the way the bride planned. That's how I felt about this one. Shannon had done so much herself, and she had given me such an awesome explanation of the vision she had. That made it really easy to bring this wedding to a perfect end. Even the one thing I thought I would not be able to give her was accomplished. She so wanted slices of wood for centerpieces and for the food table. Amazingly, the wedding of a former student was done with that very thing, so even that wish came true!!

Vicki and Karissa were invaluable help. We had to have walked the equivalent of a marathon over a few days. Lynn Williams Walker is an absolutely AWESOME caterer...I'd recommend her to anybody -- unless you want bbq at your wedding :)

I truly wish I had more pictures to post, because everything was soooo beautiful. I even got to work with the photographer and saw some of the shots he got...I cannot WAIT to see the actual photos!

Weddings are always emotional. They signal such a huge milestone in the lives of the bride and groom. This one is especially so ... Shannon's mom has shed many tears because the couple will be living in Seattle, Washington -- or, as Carleen tearfully put it, "They are leaving in the morning and moving to the MOON!!"

Shannon and Jacob are such a sweet couple, so very much in love and so ready to begin their life together. Please pray for them as they begin their new adventure, and pray for their families as they adjust to this "new normal."

The food was awesome! Everyone loved the ice cream bar, too!

The groom's cake ended up being two cakes, so a quick redo of the table was in order.

Guest tables were in the huge entry hall of the church...just beautiful. See the wood? She was so happy about that :)

Hugs and Kisses from the new Mr. and Mrs.-- how cute is that!

So simple. So elegant. So romantic. So Shannon :)

Love the pew decor...just perfect

Look Who Turned 2!!!

Yep, it's Carsyn!!! And she is still singing Happy Birthday to herself! Friday, she found a gift bag and started clapping and singing to herself. Too sweet :)

Lauren did and ice cream themed party, and it was a big hit. After all, who doesn't LOVE ice cream in summertime?!?!

Funny story...We decorated Friday night, and then I went back early Saturday morning to finish up. It had to be early-- the party started at 10:00. So I'm zooming around getting everything done, and headed over to the beverage table to "add a touch of pink." (Lauren noticed on Friday night that there was no pink factor on that table.) Never did I notice the big puddle of water on the floor. I really wish there had been a video camera set up somewhere, because I would have won some kind of award. Maybe the Surfing on Flip Flops across the Church Floor award, because that is EXACTLY what I did...arms out, knees bent, sliding across the floor. I absolutely do NOT know what kept me upright. When I caught my breath, I got towels, mopped the floor, and no one was the wiser...until now :)

Vicki did a great job with the treats and kids activities, the photo booth was a big hit, and Lori Mercer did an awesome job with pictures.

Lauren has an amazing blog about the party here!
Thanks to all who came. If you missed it, you missed a treat!