Read My Thoughts...

...on 2,012 things 'to do' in 2012...

2012-01-02T19:47:00.004-06:00

We bought our first home a few months ago. I love our sweet 1962 Ranch. When I drive though our neatly manicured neighborhood, I feel like I'm living in "Leave It to Beaver". The homes are modestly well-to-do, inhabited by many from the Greatest Generation who built their homes proudly...sturdy and made to last!

Yes, I love our sweet 1962 Ranch.

It needs some cosmetic work, but that's the beauty of it. I'm learning the value of a little creativity, elbow grease, and the helpful employees at Lowe's...all to make our house a home.

I made a fix-it-up 'TO DO' list for the kitchen soon after we moved into the house. There seemed so much to be done for this house to become a home that I hardly knew where to start. Making that list helped me to prioritize. Proudly, I have finished 4 out of 7 tasks on the kitchen list. The final three will need to wait for warmer weather or for us to save a little money:)

Much like our sweet 1962 ranch, my life needs some work, a little "tweeking" you might say. Some things are rather cosmetic in nature, but others, not so much:) I'm a little overwhelmed with where to start with said tweeking, so a "TO DO" list is in order.

"TO DO List Disclaimer":
The following TO DO List is NOT a New Years Resolution and should not be assumed as such. It is merely a list to help me determine the most important and most-achievable of the 2,012 tasks I would like to accomplish within the next 6 to 12 months:) I choose to purposely exclude diet, exercise, and spiritual disciplines from the TO DO list as these things are true lifestyle changes...not tasks to be checked off a list. Perhaps future blog posts about these lifestyle modifications are in order for the future.

2012 TO DO List....

here we go...

in no particular order...

1. Track every dime we spend for 2 months so we can see where in the world our money is going. (Started this yesterday).

2. Plant some trees in our front yard. This is a little more complicated than it sounds since I know very little about trees. This will require some research on my and TT's part:)

3. Initiate landscaping for the house. I think this might require a few seasons to get it like we want it...but maybe not:)

4. Plant a flowerbed of Zinnias and Dahlias.

5. Potty Train my baby. Holy Cow.

6. Replace our kitchen floor covering.

7. Sell my property in Rainsville, Alabama. This is a 3.9 acre lot in a nice subdivision. In the cul de sac. Partially wooded. Beautiful property! It's paid for, but I would love the have the equity. It doesn't look like we will be moving back to Alabama anytime soon:0

8. Become debt-free except for our mortgage. We are close. Yipeeeee!

9. Learn to sew scrub tops for work.

10. Grow my hair back out and get back to a healthy blonde:) Sorry, Quetta:)

So that's it. The other 2, 002 things to do in my life will just have to wait until next year.

on the last ten months:)

2011-07-02T21:57:00.005-05:00

The time was around noon, September 1, 2010.

I got a call on my cell phone at work.

This might be IT.

I had only known about this baby for about 6 weeks, and now it seemed he was on his way.

Thumpty-thump-thumpty-thump-thumpty-thump! It seemed I could literally hear my heart beating inside my head.

Oh the excitement. I couldn't stop smiling. I wanted to grab my purse and keys and SCRAM from my workplace as quickly as I knew how.

I stopped myself.

Get a'hold of yourself. This could all blow up. Dial it down a notch or two.

So I didn't leave work. I finished the day.

Fastforward to 10 p.m.

She's at the hospital.

Oh my goodness. Are they admitting her? She doesn't know for sure yet.

I get my bags all packed. Just in case....

Of course, I've had the bag packed for a couple of weeks now. You know, the one with the few teeny-tiny clothes, diapers, and bottles we had allowed ourselves to purchase. You know....just in case everything worked out the way he hoped it would.

I tell TT to go ahead and go to bed. He needed to sleep in case he had to make a long road trip in the middle of the night.

My phone rings again. This is it. They're keeping her. Oh my goodness!

I got the kitchen cleaned up.

I gathered up all the trash.

I emptied all the perishables from the refrigerator.

I can't sleep!

2 A.M.

Wake up, TT. You're about to be a Daddy.

One last status update on Facebook...."Road trip!"

3 A.M.

We're filling the tank and headed south.

6 A.M.

I get a text with a pic. Oh my goodness. This is real!

The phone rings. I answer. I hear the most precious set of lungs....whaling like a little newborn lamb!

Giddiness!!!!

Somewhere around noon, September 2, 201o, I laid my eyes upon the most beautiful thing I had ever seen...my Mark Tallen.

Life changed!

That was ten months ago. Everyday has been just as sweet.

Some moments have been flooded with exhaustion, but somehow, rest always came.

Some moments were for a time for learning to make the best guess....errrr....decision.... I could, then moving on.

Some moments have been for stretching....stretching my patience, stretching my faith, stretching my love. Yes, I stretched, but never to the point of breaking.

I've learned about the love of a child and the love of a parent. I've learned the unconditional love of a spouse. I've known the love of God in a whole new, indescribable way.

In ten months, I've learned that it really doesn't matter if my hair always looks good. I try, but somedays....well...

In ten months, I've learned that 'work drama' is so petty. People....let's just get the job done right so I can get home!

In ten months, I've learned my husband truly is the man I had hoped I was marrying on my wedding day. What a great Daddy! So committed to family and willing to do whatever it takes!

In ten months, I've learned what it is for someone to be Prolife, and I thank God for her daily. I pray for her that she finds Peace in her life.

In ten months, I've dreamed more about someone else's future than I have about my own. I see big, big, big things to come!

Ten.

Win.

Thank you, Lord Jesus!

on little purple & pink rosettes...

2011-06-30T22:22:00.003-05:00

I don't know if it's completely normal, and I don't know if it's even slightly healthy.

But....

Whenever I'm sick, I miss my Mom.

I've got strep throat. I've not had a good case of strep in more than twenty years, but it's just like I remember it...throat on fire, headache, earache, and backache. Aching legs, aching shoulders. I think even my teeth ache. Nothing tastes good...not that swallowing is even a possibility.

I also remember my mom giving me medicine like clockwork, waking me up at all hours to make sure we didn't miss a dose. You could count on it.

You could count on her.

Sometimes she would even sleep with me. I loved that when I was little.

She's not here.

I wouldn't bring her back from someplace that's far better than any place I could ever imagine, but I neither will I lie...I wish she was here and had never left.

Tonight, I went to my closet to find something warm to put on since the chills are still coming and going.

There it was.

Hanging in the back of my closet was the robe Mom gave me for Christmas one year. It's the prettiest pink with tiny pink and purple rosettes on the sleeves and collar. I don't wear it a lot because it's normally too thick and heavy for my comfort, but I've just never been able to part with it.

I put on the robe, and it was almost like she was here.

I'm glad I never parted with it.

I think I'm feeling better now.

Goodnight, friends.

on the final decree

2011-06-16T22:44:00.008-05:00

My hands trembled just a little bit. I knew what was in it...the thick envelope that the mail carrier left in our mailbox today. The return address was from the attorney's office that helped us with the adoption. It was the "on-paper, read-it-with-my-own-eyes" final decree of adoption.

Yes!

My hands trembled, not with fear or anxiety, but with sheer joy and wonder.

I can still hardly believe it all.

Do all women sit and stare at their babies the way I do mine?

Are all babies this beautiful?

Do all mommies fall this hard in love?

I can't imagine loving him anymore if I had given birth to him myself.

In fact, I would not love him more had I given birth to him myself. I do love him as if I had given birth to him. That's the very essence of adoption.

The judge told us that our baby now has the full legal standing as a child who was born into our family. He told us that we, the parents, have all the responsibilities, just as if we had given birth to this infant. It's all legal now, according to the documents that caused my hands to tremble.

Legal.

Somehow, I know it's more that just a legal matter.

It's most importantly Spiritual.

Adoption is a spiritual matter.

"For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not made you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." Romans 8:14-16

Although I'm confident that this passage is so much deeper than my mind can conceive, it has resounded in my heart for the last 9 months. When Christ gloriously gave me his Spirit to live within me when He saved my soul, the made the final decree of adoption. I have the full spiritual standing as a child of God. He, the most perfect parent, has the full responsibility of the good Father....Responsibilities that He fully, perfectly, willingly, and gladly fulfills...no matter what:)

I don't know why God chose to answer our prayer for a baby. I don't know why He chose to do it on the timetable that he did.

I don't know why some families wait years for an infant, while we only waited....well, we didn't wait. God just seemingly dropped this little angel into our arms.

I don't know why.

I'm just thankful.

And just in case you're wondering...

MT is now 9 1/2 months old. He had a check-up today, weighing in at almost 27lbs. He is 29 inches tall. He crawls and cruises. He has 2 little teethies on the bottom. He sometimes says 'Mama' and 'Dada' and 'Baba' (bottle). He loves to eat (everything but beach sand, that is). He rarely meets a stranger. He dances anytime he hears music. He loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Special Agent Oso, and The Little Einsteins. He takes 2 allergy medications. He usually sleeps through the night, but wakes up usually once during the night needing his passy.

I could go on and on and on...

...but I won't...

about some new 'favorite things'

2011-03-24T21:40:00.008-05:00

I have some new "favorite things".

It's mostly girly stuff.

Interested?

Keep reading...

First, some awesome hair product. I apologize to my professional salon-owner friends, but I buy it at WalMart. It's called got 2 b kinkier. It's a curling mousse. And it works. GREAT! I have never been able to do the "scrunch" hairdo...it always makes my hair resemble straw....until now. I wash my hair at night, put it on my wet , and go to bed. I wake up with curly hair. No kidding, girls! I get so many compliments on my new hair!

Next...drumroll please....the Pasta Boat! As Seen on TV! It works! Love it! Cook perfect pasta in the microwave everytime! Dishwasher safe...top rack only! The problem is that my sweet TT and I have started doing the low-carb thing, so pasta is essentially out of our lives. However...you can also use it to steam vegetables which works great too! I bought mine at Walgreens for 9.99.

Finally, my favorite nail polish. It's called Sinful Colors. It goes on so good, and stays on! I think it stays on better than the polish used in professional salon manicures I have recieved. It comes in every color you can imagine...matte, frosty, shimmery, glittery...all of it! The really, really great news is that it's CHEAP! $1.99 per bottle at WalGreens, and sometimes it's on sale for $.99! Can't beat that deal!

This is not a paid advertisement for these products....but that would be nice:)

The end:)

"get over it," He said...

2011-02-12T21:19:00.006-06:00

Arriving early, being the nerd that I am, I sat on the front row.

Being the introvert that I am, I sat in the last seat on the left, squished against the wall.

I couldn't wait to see who the lucky gal was who would sit next to me (humble, I know:). I mean, I'm nice and approachable. I'm still sort-of a "visitor" here. Who would be my new friend? I'm starving for some female friendship. What better place to meet a new friend than a women's Bible study? I've lived in this new state for more than a year now, and apart from some great coworkers, I've not made a single solid girlfriend. This was going to be the night. I just knew it.

The ladies filed in over the next 20 minutes. There must have been twenty or more. All smiling and conversing with each other. I made small talk, very small, with a couple of ladies, but that's the long and short of it.

And who was the lucky gal sitting next to me?

Ummmm....she must have been home sick, because the chair remained empty. EMPTY! Not a soul sat by me. Now, there were two other ladies on the other side of my empty-chair neighbor, but next to me, empty.

"Get over it," you say?

That's what He said. Sort of. The Lord, that is.

As I sat through the video portion of the introductory lesson, I clearly felt God say to me, "...-

WAIT- before you stop reading this- No, I did not hear God in an audible voice, and No, I'm not a prophet who hears from God and reports it to the world. I just felt Him convict me in my Spirit, and I have no doubt what He was telling me.

Now that we have that clarified, continue reading...

As I sat through the video portion of the introductory lesson, I clearly felt God say to me, "You don't need girlfriends, you need ME."

Gulp.

"You need ME to help you be the best wife you can be."

"You need ME to help you be the best mother you can be."

"I have big, big plans for your son, but he is going to face special challenges. You need ME to help you help him. Not girlfriends."

"Pray to Me."

"Listen to Me."

"Study My Word."

"Obey Me."

"Love Me."

"Let Me love you," He said.

Little did I know that I would be praying for my baby boy in only a few hours. At 2 a.m. the next morning, he was vomiting with his first ever virus. Scary, 5 month old vomiting. Hard.

Yes, I talked to HIM...not a girlfriend at 2 a.m.

The virus stayed at our house for a while, and I wasn't able to go to the next week's meeting. I've been working the workbook at my own pace. Now, I'm not at all being prideful, but knowing that there's always something to be learned from a particular scripture, no matter how many times you read it, I have to admit that the points being made in this particular study have already been driven home to me in my past experiences.

Does that make sense???

Not that I know it all, but more like I've learned these lessons the hard way, and I'm past it already.

This week, I've had good, good phone conversations with two girlfriends from back home.

Starvation now satisfied.

God is so good. He provides just what I need when I need it.

It's just like me to go out chasing the objects of my desires, doing things the difficult, exhausting ways. If only I will remember to seek Him. Study Him. Obey Him.

He'll provide those girlfriends when He knows I need them.

He'll help me be the best wife and mother I can be.

He said he would.

Now you know what's been on my mind today...

about a pen name...

2011-02-08T20:46:00.007-06:00

Sometimes I think about creating a blog using a pen name. Perhaps I could be numbered among the likes of Lewis Carroll (a.k.a. Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland ), Ann Landers (a.k.a Ester Pauline Friedman, advice columnist), or Dr. Seuss (a.k.a. Theodor Seuss Geisel).

Sometimes I really think I need pen name.

There are thoughts in my mind that are practically oozing from my pores, but my discerning spirit tells me that those things may be too much for "Read My Thoughts". Not to be politically correct, but I'm afraid some of my writing would be offensive---especially if I am unable to convey my thoughts in the spirit with which I intend. I'm not angry or bitter toward a single soul on the planet, but telling the truth sometimes involves exposing the not-so-favorable qualities not only of myself but of others also.

Oh, oh, oh! The thoughts about the "first year" of marriage! HaHa! Now, I love, love, love being married, and I love, love, love, love, love my TT. Lord knows I do! But do I have some stories? You Betcha, I do!!! Most of these tales would have me as the butt of the joke and each blood-draining moment of embarrassment. Perhaps I would tell of all the ways God has blessed me with my perfect match...even when we have conflict...but somehow this is all still so new and just too personal to share with those closest to us. Perhaps someday I will have a blog called "Memoirs of the 30-something and 40-something, both never-married, educated-beyond-their-common-sense, HoneyMooners".

And then there's motherhood. I never knew love like this existed. How I want to tell the world all the details that fell into place for this precious child to be in my arms. It's chilling, actually, but I know the time has not yet come to reveal these things.

Not here.

Not for everyone.

Not yet, but someday.

And yet, I feel as I might burst to tell all these things.

Maybe I will create a pen name.

But what, oh what, would it be? That's a whole 'nother post.

Sigh:)

what's on my mind today...

2011-01-29T18:52:00.000-06:00

I miss my Mom.

a 'when harry met sally' new year's eve...sort of:)

2010-12-31T21:32:00.020-06:00

I have exactly 1 hour 15 minutes to finish this "New Year's Eve" post.

Yes, I took a break from the wild party to come peck a few words out on the laptop.

Yes, I'm living every girl's dream...

... a dramatic New Year's Eve party wearing a fancy little black dress...

...you know, like the party in When Harry Met Sally....

...with champagne, party hats, and party horns...

...with streamers and confetti falling from the sky...

...the big band playing "Auld Lang Syne" as you fall into the arms of the man of your dreams...

...kissing passionately as the clock strikes midnight.

Well, I sort of am:)

We almost had party horns and hats. I saw some today at WalMart, but I decided they weren't really worth worming and squirming my way through the crowd of 14-year-old partiers huddled around the selection at the store.

And about the confetti...

Well, confetti equals clutter, and clutter gives me anxiety. Let's not do the confetti thing for the sake of my sweet TT....when I have anxiety, I tend to take it out on his most patient and precious soul.

And speaking of TT....

He has a terrible, terrible toothache. He has been to the dentist and has to go back on Monday. For now he has to take antibiotics and put ice on his face to help the inflammation.

Soooo...a passionate kiss is probably out this year.

But I am spending New Year's Eve with the man I love.

And the baby I love.

No drama.

Peace and Quiet.

And I wouldn't have it

any.

other.

way.

Now, finally, for the 'real when-harry-met-sally new year's eve'....

Just a snippet of the Taylor Party, and those who watch til the end gets a special surprise!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

FB friends click HERE to view videos:)

rerun: on keeping it real:)

2010-12-27T20:47:00.002-06:00

I initially started my blog when I was the house mom at The Way Home, a faith-based maternity home for teen moms. In the beginning, I blogged because it was a free hobby. My salary at TWH was sufficient, yet minimal, so the whole blog-thingy was an excellent hobby...free..:)

Eventually I found writing to be an excellent outlet for expression of the thoughts, feelings, ideas that I didn't necessarily have an ever-open ear to tell. The great part was that no one was forced to listen to the quirky stories or mundane details that were my life...anyone who read, read because he wanted to.

The greatest part of blogging....it was my stage for keeping it real. I mean real. There are just some things I can't necessarily verbalize, but I can write. Sometimes it's sad and sappy, sometimes informative, and sometimes plain-ole-embarrassing. Through my blog, I've learned to just be who I am. I love keeping it real.

THIS RERUN is just that...one of the posts where I kept it real, girls. I am who I am, and perhaps this is TMI. Fun stuff from the days at The Way Home...

rerun: pondering my mother

2010-12-23T19:47:00.002-06:00

I can hardly believe this is the 5th Christmas without my Mom.

I've had more mountain-top and deep-valley experiences in the last year than I can number, and this holiday season has completely followed suit. Oh how I wish my Mom was here now. Especially now...to know my sweet husband, to play with my sweet new son, to answer my questions, to tell me how to overcome some obstacles that are causing me to stumble these days.

So the next in my series of "Read My Thoughts....the ReRuns": Pondering My Mother.

I really like that post. I hope you do too.

Merry Christmas!

rerun: the mouse wrestler:)

2010-12-12T18:31:00.004-06:00

It's difficult to believe I've been blogging for almost 3 years!!!

I've decided to post of some of my favorite posts, a series of reruns, if you don't mind:) I will begin with one of the most popular posts ever to surface on Read My Thoughts. If you are a "regular" around here, you've likely read/watched this post many times. If you are a newbie... well, you've just got to see THIS (click here to check it out "The Mouse Wrestler")

Hope you enjoy!!!!

eat your heart out, Martha...DAY 2:)

2010-12-12T15:38:00.013-06:00

Just because I told you I would...here's a pic of the blue and white snowman that I told you I was planning in my previous post. You can all breath a sigh of relief...I know you were just sitting on pins and needles waiting for me to post. HA!

I hope you've all had a fantastic Sunday.

I have.

eat your heart out, martha:)

2010-12-10T22:20:00.011-06:00

I've always wanted to know how people make those beautiful Christmas cookies. You know...like Martha Stewart's cookies. Cookies that are edible artwork. Cookies that are just too stinkin' pretty to eat.

Well, enough is enough. It's time for me to stop envying and do something about it. I searched the world wide web and finally found THIS WEBSITE. It looks simple enough, so I thought:)

I went to WalMart, spent a small fortune, and purchased everything I needed.

This is meringue powder. Well, laaa-teee-daaaah! It's new to me, but actually a neat product. It replaces egg whites in the icing. I'd hate to give my family food poisioning!

On a little side note about the meringue powder...CONSUMER BEWARE!!! Although the label clearly indicates this container contains only 4oz, I didn't really notice that until I opened the really tall (as in "this-is-a-lot-of-stuff-for-five-bucks") container....

...and got a load of this...

...The really tall container is about half full. Just so you know....

Anyway....

I baked my little sugar cookie Christmas trees and snowmen.

Poor little naked Snowman!!!

Then the fun began! I mixed the meringue powder and water in my pretty white mixing bowl. Then I add the powdered sugar and little at a time. Which took FOREVER. Added a little corn syrup. Added a few drops of Almond extract. The beat the fire out of it until stiff peaks formed. I wasn't sure about the stiff peaks, but I hope this was right...

Oh...I almost forgot! In addition to using my pretty mixing bowl (a wedding shower gift that I thoroughly love!), I also used these beautiful measuring spoons given to me by my good friend Alice...

Don't you just love'em???

TT (on baby duty) sampled the icing. He licked the beater clean and said "it's alright". HA! Little MT was already out like a light. Aren't his little pajamas cute???

About 2 hours later, I had me some Christmas cookies all over the kitchen!!! The icing was still wet, but cookies were decorated- the most important part! I don't know how long it takes for the icing to dry, but I'm pleased with them so far. I'm hoping they dry!

Here's a few of the cookies...

Tomorrow, I'm going to get serious about this and try some....

....drum roll people.....

Blue and White Snowmen!!!!

Whoop! Whoop!

I know you will be checking my blog on the hour every hour to see the pics!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

our elf on a shelf...

2010-12-09T20:02:00.004-06:00

I've been hearing all about "Elf On a Shelf". I soooo look forward to a few years down the road when we can do this with MT.

I happened to think....we already have our Elf. Elves (plural), actually.

I remember when I was in about the 5th grade, the year my Mom and her friend Peggy made the cutest little Christmas elves. I have four that my Mother made. This year I have them sitting under our tree like little watch guards over gifts. I love these little elves.

How cool will it be when MT is 3 or 4 years old to use elves that were sewn by my mom some 30 years ago!!!

I miss my Mom.

Especially now.

But she's here...

in all the things she left behind...

material...

and immaterial.

I believe she knows all the good things happening here.

I don't even know how to finish this post.

I'm just glad.

So glad.

on my christmas baby....

2010-12-08T20:13:00.006-06:00

My sweet baby boy discovered his hands today. I know...I know....all babies do this, and it's all sweet. Surely you know how it is. Isn't it somehow different, sweeter, more awesome when the baby belongs to you?

MT held his little fists together and raised them up to his eyes only inches away. He wiggled his chubby little fingers then made fists again before his widening eyes. Down to his mouth went his hands....then up to his sparkling brown eyes...then back to his mouth. It was just beautiful, I tell ya!

Oh how I want to brand this sight into my memory! I want to hide these precious moments in my heart, for I know he's growing so fast and soon he will be using his hands for important things. Will he use them to pass a football someday? Will he play the piano? Will he be a great artist?

Will his hands someday be in chains?

For serving our country...?

For serving our Lord...?

This Christmas season has brought the mother of Christ, Mary, to mind.

I can relate to her a little bit...having a new baby. I don't know if she knew for sure what all was in store for her Son. Without a doubt, I'm positive she was in awe of his sweet little toes. Surely she kissed his little nose and "spanked" his cute little bottom.

She must have wondered what life had in store for Him. The angel had clearly told her, "you shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end (Luke 1:31-33)." She must have wondered just how the details of His life would unfold.

Yes, I can relate to Mary this year....especially when she sang from her full and overflowing joyful heart...

My soul magnifies the Lord,

And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior

For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;

.......

For He who is mighty has done great things for me,

And holy is His name....Luke 1:46-49

Yes, truly He has done great things for me!

I wonder what life has in store for my sweet baby boy. I know God has big, big plan for his life, and I can't wait to see how it all unfolds.

For now...I'm going to tickle his little feet. I'm going to kiss his little nose and "spank-spank" his cute little bottom as my soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior...

Ahhh...sigh...

God is so good, isn't He?

say whaaat?...scientists these days!

2010-12-07T22:44:00.004-06:00

Okay.

You know something profound or distinctly strange is about to follow whenever I begin a post with 'okay'.

Okay. THIS is weird. I mean I'm glad scientists have developed this new use for MRIs and all, and I'm sure there are many, many socially redeeming results waiting to be revealed. It's just that the image is a little weird to me.

That poor baby looks like Achmed the Dead Terrorist!

If you've never watched Achmed, check him out on Youtube. Funny stuff. Not kid-friendly, but funny stuff! Jeff Dunham is a talented ventriloquist!

oh so sad for my BamaSlammer...

2010-12-07T15:53:00.003-06:00

Today I was scrolling through the newsfeed on facebook when I saw the saddest post I've ever encountered. My friend Shay wrote, "rest in peace, daddy. a very sad day for us."

My heart broke. Not because I was so close to Jim, but because I know what Shay will be facing in the coming days. Grief is hard. Grief during the holidays can seem unbearable.

I remember a particularly moving post that Shay, a.k.a. BamaSlammer, once wrote about her dad. BamaSlammer, a hard-working single mom of a toddler, hasn't done much blogging lately, but her posts are still out there. Check out THIS ONE.

I'm humbly reminded of those who may be having a Blue Christmas....praying for all of them.

Praying for you, BamaSlammer....

I can do anything Sandra can do...BETTER:)

2010-12-02T21:38:00.005-06:00

OK...I'm just gonna say it.

I had to search my heart deep and wide.

Do I have what it takes to face the challenges that will surely come?

Do we, TT and I, have what it takes?

Is it fair to the child? I mean, really? What will it be to be an African-American boy being raised by two old white nerds? TT and I aren't getting any younger, you know.

I searched my heart, and found a resounding YES!!!!

Yes we do, through Christ who strengthens us, that is. But I have to admit, on a much more spiritual note (ehem), my buddy-ole-buddy-ole-pal Gequetta gave me the vote of confidence that settled it all. I distinctly remember the steamy July evening, sitting in my lawn chair along the side of Hwy 27 watching the Somerset Cruise-In (a whole nother post for a whole nother day!), texting back and forth with Gequetta, bouncing my thoughts off of my friend regarding the whole race-thing. Finally she said...you can do anything Sandra Bullock can do.

You are so right, Quetta I thought! And that was that!

A funny thing happened today. Waiting in a most lengthy line at Wal-Mart, I realized my baby had been the subject of some ladies' attention when a Wal-Mart worker came up to me, joyfully declaring...

"We finally figured out who that baby looks like!"

"Who?" I couldn't wait to hear this....

"Sandra Bullock's baby, Louis!"

HA!

"Well, I will just go home and GOOGLE him for myself to see what he looks like!"

I did GOOGLE lil Louis....

You can decide for yourself...

MTT...Meet Louis...

I might can see it a little bit:)

Oh, and by the way....

About the whole race-thing...

I don't care if my baby grows up to be blue and red polka dotted! Yes, his race is different than mine, a fact that may create some challenges, but it's not better or worse. TT and I are not at all concerned with his race, but we are concerned with his character. We will do the best we can to teach our baby right from wrong, encourage him to appreciate his heritage, pray for the Lord's wisdom and help, and hope we handle the challenging times in a way that helps MT to grow up to be a man with impeccable character.

Isn't that what parents do...regardless of race.

Yeah, that's right!

Thanks, Quetta!

Pray for Rain in Israel

2010-11-29T20:42:00.006-06:00

I heard just a snippet on the radio today about a drought in Israel. I thought I heard it said that tomorrow is a day of prayer and fasting in Israel as called by Jewish rabbis. Home I came to research if this is fact.

Did you know that Israel is in its seventh year of drought? It seems that many Jewish Rabbis are proclaiming that the drought is a result of the many sins of the people (click HERE for example).

I was unable to determine if tomorrow is specifically set aside as a day of prayer and fasting for rain in Israel, but I know the people there are praying for rain. Some even traveled 1000 feet into the air in a balloon to pray (CHECK it OUT). I'm not sure if going up in a hot air balloon gets them closer to God, but I admire their faith and creativity!

I don't know why this radio news story touched me so much or why I can't get it out of my head. It just did. Perhaps this is God moving me....asking you....to pray for rain for Israel.

The news story got me thinking about THIS STORY. Cool, right? You gotta read it for yourself!

The news story also brought to mind a cool, cool song. Now, Southern Gospel is not my favorite genre, and the singers in this video would probably cringe at their 1990 hair and wardrobe, but the message and harmony is pristine nonetheless! Give it a listen!

FB friends click HERE to view the video.

A Time to Exhale....

2010-11-27T22:00:00.005-06:00

Fifteen.

That's the number of posts I published on Read My Thoughts this year. Fifteen. Actually, my sweet TT wrote one of the posts, so I guess the true number is fourteen.

I used to write all. the. time.

Oh, believe you me, I've had plen-tee to write about. The problem was, some of it was so mushy sweet, I was afraid you, my dear reader, might just not be able to take it! Not that I don't have faith in you, but I do believe that sometimes it's just TMI...

It's been a fantastic 2010.

My first month in Kentucky brought more snow than I had experienced in the first thirty-something years of my life. The snow was just beautiful. Snow...not ice...just snow (Alabama friends and family understand my point here!)

February....the month of BLING! Yes, I got engaged. TT and I had been dating almost six months when, on my birthday, we wandered into a jewelry store, I squealed over some bling-bling, and he slapped his checkbook down on the counter. Holy Cow!

March, April, May.....a blur of beautiful bridal showers, trips to Lexington, and late night Internet shopping in preparation for...

June 12...quite possibly the happiest day of my life....my wedding day.

That's a whole nother post...

Sigh....

After our honeymoon in Hilton Head, South Carolina, TT and I returned to Kentucky and began our life as newly weds. I hardly had all of our wedding gifts put away when....

July 20....The Lord dropped the opportunity of a lifetime on my doorstep when we learned there was a little baby boy scheduled to arrive September 15th...he needed a family.

Wow. What a gift.

We were so excited, yet I was afraid to get toooo excited. These things sometimes fall through....

Sept 2, 2010....MTT breathed his first breath around 5:30 a.m. Approximately 6 hours later, I laid eyes on him. A nurse slapped an I.D. bracelet on my right wrist while I held him with my left arm. He was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

I've been his mommy ever since.

We struggled with legal red tape for 11 weeks....baby and I staying in Alabama while TT was working in Kentucky during the week and commuting to Alabama each weekend.

Finally, on Tuesday of Thanksgiving week, the "powers that be" gave us permission to take the baby out of the state. Thank you, Lord!

So here I am...taking time to exhale.

Both my Sweetheart Baby and little Miracle Baby and sound asleep.

I'm just enjoying the quiet, soaking up the site of our first Christmas tree...not only as newlyweds, but as a little family. Some of the ornaments are TT's old ornaments, some are mine, some were my Mom's, and a couple are new "Baby's First Christmas" ornaments.

I remember a time when I thought all of this was impossible for me.

Was I ever so wrong.

Now, that's hope.

God is so, so good.

TT, MTT, and me on Thanksgiving, 2010, at the home of TT's Aunt Kay in Otisco, IN.

Guest Writer: TT

2010-06-04T21:31:00.007-05:00

On several occasions, I have had special guest writers to post their thoughts here on my blog. I'm excited to have my sweet TT record his thoughts. I think this post is just great:) And in case you've ever wondered how we met...

As my upcoming wedding day quickly approaches, I have to reflect back to a summer day last August. I was 39 years old and it was about two weeks before my 40th birthday. I had just made a new Facebook friend named Theia Chaffin and she had just sent me a message on FB hoping that my CT scan of my abdomen would go well that day. I sent her a reply thanking her for her good wishes.

That seemingly innocent exchange would lead to a series of messages and a first date on the eve of my 40th Birthday. I had just finished two long days of student advising and was coming home to Muscle Shoals, Alabama to celebrate this milestone birthday with my family.However, this time I was stopping in Scottsboro, AL. to have lunch with a sweet princess at a Mexican restaurant called Buena Vista.

She wore a summery black dress and had lots of blonde hair and a beautiful smile. The dinner and conversation were great as we talked about our lives, our jobs and everything else we could think of. Thirty minutes led to an hour, then two hours and three. The staff at the restaurant seemed oblivious to what was going on around them, but I felt it. As is turns out, she did too.

Two days later we met for our second date in Huntsville, AL. After a quick dinner, we went to Big Spring Park where Theia proceeded to step in a pile of duck poop. She got it all over her pair of “yellow box” flip flops. I had no idea what a pair of “yellow box” were before that night. Now I can recognize them anytime/anywhere I see a pair.
This started a series of dates that fall in which we’d get together on an every-two-week basis. Sometimes I was coming home to Alabama and sometimes we’d meet in Lenoir City, TN just to go eat and hang out for the day. Regardless of what we did, I was having the best time ever. Theia Ann was everything a man (at least this man) could ever want in a woman. Beautiful, smart, sweet and could even put up sheet rock if called upon to do it. Over this time we met each other’s families and that went well too.

At the end of December her work at “The Way Home” came to an end and she moved up to KY to take a job at a nursing home doing speech therapy and to be closer to me. Wow. I’d never had a woman actually want to move 5 hours away from home to be closer to me. I have to admit I was a little nervous about it at first. But I soon got used to having not only a weekly date with my sweetie, but two and three dates a week with her.

One month later on February 5th, I took Theia out to Tumbleweeds restaurant for dinner at the Somerset Mall. After dinner, we strolled through the mall and stopped by Roger’s Jewelers to look at some engagement rings. After looking at a few rings that didn’t get her very excited, the clerks brought out “The Hannah.” Upon seeing this ring I heard an odd squeal that was high pitched, but not loud. You know the kind that is normally only heard by a dog. My girlfriend Theia was about to become my fiancé

After a quick stroll around the mall, we went back in to the jewelry store and I surprised Theia by saying to the clerk “what’s your best price on this ring?” After a little back and forth, I had my checkbook out and was soon to be engaged to the best woman in the whole wide America.

The time since then has been filled with tea lights, glitter, dresses, tuxes, photos, showers and moving stuff from London to Somerset. Now with just a few days to go until the big day all I can say to my Bride-elect is “I hate deviled eggs, but I love cheese dip” and “I don’t want to milk a goat.”

Random Update:)

2010-04-21T19:53:00.004-05:00

I thought when I moved to Kentucky that I would have lots of blog material.

Wroooooong.

Well, not exactly wrong....it's just that I've just not had any major emotional epiphanies since I moved, and whenever I start to write a new post, it just seems sooooo boring! On the flip-side, as my relationship with sweet TT progressed to engagement (and now less than 2 months til marriage), I've had some very special revelations that I'm just not ready to reveal here! Perhaps you, dear reader, are thanking me for keeping those thoughts to myself:)

This "blog for today," to quote my good friend BamaSlammer who I miss soooo much, will be merely a random update on my new life in Kentucky...an only slightly-organized blogging stream of consciousness of a woman making a conscious effort to resist the urge to become a BRIDEZILLA:)

First of all...yes, work is going good. It's been an adjustment to get back into the long-term-care-setting swing of things. It's still as dysfunctional as it was the first 9 years of my career. Not much changed during my 2 years away:) My caseload has been plentiful (which is good). For the first time in my career I am working side-by-side with another speech pathologist. I have usually been the only one in the facility, so this is a pleasant change for me. Kissten, the other SLP, is a very sweet girl, and I have learned a lot of things from her! I work with some really intelligent and sweet therapists...they have been quite welcoming. I'm having a more difficult time establishing good working relationships with the nursing floor staff for some reason....It'll get better...The floors in the facility are sooooo hard, and as a result, I'm having a terrible time with pain in my heel. UGH.

The Wedding. I've become and expert at internet shopping. I've had a lot of help from some girls back home. My dress isn't here yet...but it should be in early May. June 12, 2010 cannot get here fast enough! The reception should be yummy. The ceremony will be beautiful! I'm so happy. We're going home to Tuscumbia the first weekend in May for a Tool & Gadget Party hosted by TT's cousin Anita and a Bridal Shower from his home church, Mt. Moriah Baptist. I have a wonderful family, and now I am honored with the blessing of marrying into another fantastic family. I will be going home to DeKalb County the 3rd weekend in May for my GIRLFRIEND PARTY, hair-practice, and bridal pictures. Both TT and I will go to DeKalb County (and maybe to Tuscumbia too) the 4th weekend in May. It's about to get soooo busy!

I've discovered a few new favorite-things....sort-of like Oprah's list of favorite things, except I don't really care for Oprah and that my favorite things can usually be found at WalMart or Kroger.

#1: CoffeeMate Creamer in "Coconut Cream" flavor...my step-mother Kathy turned me on to this one. It's DEEE-Lish! I can only find it at WalMart.

#2. Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers. Yum. Not your typical microwave meals. 6 Weight-Watcher points if you are counting. I've been counting since TT has been counting:)

#3. Jet-Dry for my dishwasher. My duplex has a high-fah-lootin dispenser for Jet-Dry. Wow...it really makes a difference in how clean the dishes are!

#4. The BP station on Main Street in Stanford, KY where I work. They pump your gas and their prices aren't higher than the next fellow's. That's what I'm talking about!!!

I told you it was gonna be random this time....

Until next time!

Love,
The Non-Bridezilla:)

stealing buttercups

2010-03-24T16:54:00.007-05:00

I'm sorry. I just could not control myself.

It happened today when I got home from work as I made the daily walk to the end of Beasley Lane to retrieve my mail.

I saw it.

It was the most beautiful patch of buttercups I've ever seen. Right in the middle of a green pasture full of rolling hills. Right next to a dilapidated house with a rusty tin roof.

I stood there at my mailbox and took in the view of those vibrant flowers, and I just had to get a little closer. There wasn't a fence to keep me out, sooooo....what the hay, right? I tromped through the green pasture until I stood there in the midst of the flowers. There were 2 varieties of daffodils in at least 4 original rows with many other random, wandering clusters scattered about.

They were gorgeous.

Gorgeous.

That's when I lost it. I just started picking buttercups as fast as I could. I felt like I needed them in a vase on my kitchen table now, and the urgency was almost more than I could stand.

I know...technically I was stealing buttercups. I'm sorry. Sue me.

When I had collected as many buttercups my hands could hold, I was was stopped dead in my tracks by the up-close-and-personal-look at the old house that neighbored the beautiful flowerbed. I see the old house every day when I go to the mailbox, but I've never observed it quite like this.

Who once lived in the house and planted the four rows of buttercups? What was her story? Did she peer out from the bedroom window in the early mornings and admire the flower beds? Perhaps she, too, picked them in early spring to brighten her home. As I stared at the old house, I realized that she had planted those buttercup bulbs years ago and, whether knowingly or not, she planted something that had lasted for generations to enjoy. The bulbs not only lasted, but flourished and multiplied.

By the looks of the old house, it's been there on that land for generations and left empty and unattended for years and years. The live flowers, however, have by far outlasted the materials of the house.

I want to be that woman. Now more than ever as I prepare to begin a new life as a wife (and hopefully someday as a mother), I want to plant seeds that will last for generations. Perhaps there will be some literal flowerbeds planted, but I hope more importantly there will be lives affected positively, people who know real love, and more than even this...

Stealing buttercups, at least for today, was a good thing.

I must look for life's buttercups more often.

And now, to quote my friend BamaSlammer, this is my blog for today.

2010-02-13T05:25:00.003-06:00

Today begins my quest for my perfect wedding gown. I'm so excited!

Terry's parents came to KY for a visit this weekend, and I am thrilled that Mrs. Shelia Taylor is going shopping with me. We are going to Danville first and then possibly into Lexington.

How fun!!!

...that's why i'm so goofy...

2010-02-07T20:36:00.002-06:00

Today TT and I attended church at First Baptist Somerset. We were greeted by some friendly greeters at the front door who automatically recognized that we were visitors. Then we were greeted my more nice usher-people who gave us the bulletin.

We walked into the large sanctuary and searched out a place to sit as people were obviously filing in from their Sunday school classes. We found a seat and sat. I began to glance around the place, admiring the beautiful sanctuary with its pipe organ and stained glass windows. Then I noticed something else....except for the nursing home where I work, I've never been under the same roof with so many senior citizens in my whole life.

Yes...I began to count the canes, walkers, and wheelchairs. I'm serious ya'll! I'm glad that God knows the number of hairs on our head...there were so many gray hairs there that I could not begin to count them. After a few "it's nice to have you" greetings and a couple of strange looks, TT looked at me as said, "We stick out like a sore thumb." Yes. Yes indeedy. We sure did. Eventually there were some younger people who came into the large sanctuary, and I felt less conspicuous.

There was this one lady sitting in front of us. I apologize that I don't remember her name (not that I would post it here on my blog anyway), but when she introduced herself to TT and me, I was too taken aback by her perfume to catch her name. I can't really say her age...maybe in her late sixties. She had her gray all covered with her platinum dye, and she had her curly hair-piece up on top of her hair just like she liked it. Now please don't misunderstand...I'm all about having my hair like I like it too, especially on Sundays, but I just want you to get the visual here....short, elderly woman with her platinum-blond bottle-job accentuated with a curly hair-piece, cooridnating sweater, blouse, skirt, necklace, earrings, and bracelet in burnt-orange, walking cane in her right hand, and big purse in her left.

Initially, she just said "Are you new?" She introduced herself politely and welcomed us kindly, then she stopped almost every person who walked past her to engage them in conversation. Awww, people love her I thought to myself.

The service started. The pipe organ boomed as the congregation sang out We have heard the joyful sound! Jesus Saves! Jesus Saves! I was digging it.

Next, a man from behind the pulpit asked the congregation to stand for the Presenting of the Colors by the Boy Scouts. Interesting I thought to myself. The sanctuary was quiet as everyone waited for the scouts to come through the back door with the flags. Awkward delay. Crickets, crickets. Obviously the boy scouts were a little late.

In the meantime, sanctuary still quiet, the lady says to me "Do you live in Somerset?" She kept talking, and I don't even remember what she said. I just knew the boy scouts were walking down the isle with the American Flag. We were supposed to be quiet and reverent and the lady kept talking to ME!

I must have had an uncomfortable expression on my face because she went on to announce, loud and clear, "I'm sorry! I've had a stroke! That's why I'm so goofy!"

Bless her heart!

Sweet little lady. Loud, but sweet!

That's why I'm so goofy!

I love it!

I act goofy sometimes too....at least this little lady has a reason. I don't know why I act goofy sometimes.

When the service had concluded, the lady patted me several times and encouraged me to come back again.

Just so you know, we did enjoy the service, and we plan to go back.

They have a contemporary worship service at 9 a.m. in a different sanctuary. I think we'll go to that service next week!

On the Backside of 30 :0 Holy Moly!

2010-02-04T19:20:00.004-06:00

That's right. This is the last night that I can consider myself to be in my early thirties.

Holy.
Moly.

Thirty.

Plus Six.

But I'm not sick about it! In fact, I would say that life is getting better as I get a little older.

Now that I'm thirty-six (well, almost), I can see rude people for who they are now....rude...and understand that truly it's not my fault. I can encounter a Royal Grouch and remind myself that, truly, behind every inconsiderate deed there is a need.

Now that I'm thirty-six, I can usually remember whenever I'm having a bad day or some personal crisis that somewhere, somebody in the world is having a REAL emergency. You know...at least I'm not searching for a kidnapped child or fighting cancer as some people are.

Now that I'm thirty-six, I can call my Dad, when I know that I've done the best I can do, and ask him for help. I'm not ashamed.

Now that I'm thirty-six, I can go to WalMart and buy the old-timey Oil of Olay. None of the fancy-schmancy-alpha-hydroxy-pro-vitamin-retinol-regerist-kind of Oil of Olay. Just Original Oil of Olay. I can wash my face and then slather it on my face and neck at bedtime. I just might smear it thickly on my arms, elbows, and hands too...merely because it smells sooo good.

In fact, it smells like my MaMa Chaffin's pillow. My cousins who are reading this post will distinctly remember the scent. How comforting! And by the way, the original Oil of Olay worked out just beautifully for MaMa Chaffin...she hardly had a wrinkle the day she died at 86 years young.

Yes, for now, thirty-six is comforting. Life is good for me now.

It's comforting to know ...

....that although I am in a new place, and I hardly know a soul....

....that even though my birthday makes me miss my Mother so much my heart literally aches inside my chest...

...that although I will likely never win American Idol or be America's Next Top Model...

...It's all going to be okay.

I'm so thankful for a fantastic family, an ~~adoring~~ adorable boyfriend (TT=one lucky man, TC=one wonderful woman:), a good job (in the current state of our country, this is a miracle!), some great friends back home in Alabama (you know who you are)...

The list could go on and on and on and on!

I can't fail to mention the most important Reason to be thankful...the Author and Finisher of it all, the Mighty Fountain from whom all these blessings flow, the One who gives and takes away, He who helps me accept the bitter with the sweet, the One who forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases...My Jesus, the One and Only.

Yes, I'm on the backside of thirty. And this backside (not unlike mine) of thirty is BIG.

I can't wait to see what this year has in store!

This is my Happy Birthday blog for the year!

Thanks for stopping by!

Go RED this Friday!!!!

2010-02-01T20:01:00.004-06:00

Today is Feb 1st....the day I pin on my Little Red Dress! This tiny lapel pin is the American Heart Association's symbol for women's heart health, a cause near and dear to my....ummmm...heart:)

February is Go Red for Women Month...the month the American Heart Association dedicates to promoting awareness and prevention of America's #1 killer of women- Heart Disease.

This Friday, February 5th, is not only my birthday:), it's also National Wear Red Day! Wear something red as a personal reminder to take good care of your own heart and to remember those who have been affected by this terrible disease. If you don't have someone special to remember, you can remember my beautiful mother....I remember her and miss her every day!

Someone's Something's Been Walking in My Snow

2010-01-31T16:21:00.003-06:00

I was pondering today about whether Kentucky is a Southern state or not. Given the fact that I have lived here for almost exactly one month and I have seen more snow than dry ground, I'm beginning to believe that Kentucky is NOT a Southern state.

The latest winter weather event began around 5:30 PM on Friday and lasted until about Noon Saturday. In the highest drifts, accumulations were knee-deep on me. I feel safe to say that Somerset, KY received at least 8 inches of snow!

I tried to build a snowman, but the snow was so dry and powdery that it just would not stick together. Yes, TT and I had a snow-fight. Yes, I won. Yes, I did make a little Snowcream, and no, I did not use the yellow snow that the neighborhood animals may have left for us!

Speaking of animals, I decided to go out to the backyard a little while ago, and I discovered the most strange tracks in the snow. I took some pics, but they are difficult to see in the photographs. They definitely were not human footprints. Does anybody have an educated guess as to what creature has been walking in my snow???

Alabama doesn't have Trunk Monkeys...

2010-01-27T19:47:00.005-06:00

I've been in Kentucky for about a month now, and I have made one huge discovery since I've been here. Actually, TT alerted me to this phenomenon prior to my northbound trek, but it wasn't until I settled here that I fully realized these fascinating little gems.

Trunk Monkeys.

In Kentucky, if you purchase a Suburban, you get a Trunk Monkey. Suburbans aren't equipped with Trunk Monkeys in Alabama as I recall.

I want one.

When my lil Honda finally gives up, I'm getting a Trunk Monkey.

You can go to youtube.com to see even more adorable Trunk Monkeys.

FB friends click HERE to watch video.

Dear Brad Paisley

2010-01-24T21:02:00.005-06:00

Dear Brad Paisley,

I came to your concert on Friday night. Oh my, what a great show you have! You sound as good in person as you do on the radio!

I had to travel about an hour to get there from my house, but that's ok- TT was driving! We were a little late so we didn't get to see the opening act...Justin Moore, whoever that is:) Boy O Boy was it raining cats and dogs. Furthermore, there was a detour in the highway and neither TT nor I knew where in the world we were going.

But anyway, back to the concert. The second act, Miranda Lambert, was ok. I would have rather you just skipped her and you have done the whole concert yourself.

Your video graphics and lights were FANTASTIC!

You are just so cute! I'm giggling like a 14 year old even as I type this.

I think I love you more today than I did yesterday, Brad.

I wanted to take my camera to your concert so that just in case you called me up on stage, or especially if you invited me backstage, I could ask someone to take our picture together. PLUS...I wanted to put the pictures on my blog for my friends and family to enjoy. Unfortunately I forgot to take my camera because I was just soooooo excited about coming to the concert. Oh well...I probably would not have been able to take it in anyway. There were security guards checking for stuff...I even had to pull up the pants legs for him to check....my camera has a good zoom, so the would have likely confiscated it.

I found this good video of the concert on youtube, so I guess my friends and family can watch it. It shows clips from the whole concert.

If you ever come through Somerset, KY, please call me. I will bake you a cheesecake or something.

Very Truly Yours,
Theia

FB friends click HERE to watch the video:)

Ahhhh Yes! I've still got it after all these years!

2010-01-20T19:16:00.005-06:00

I remember when I worked at the nursing home in Tennessee. I had a special talent that would sometimes dumbfound the physical and occupational therapists. If ever there was a ~~difficult~~...errrr...~~stubborn~~....errrr...strong willed resident who refused to leave his room to go to the rehab gym for therapy, I could almost always convince the patient to join us down in therapy. I always loved the look on the PTs and OTs faces when I wheeled the resident into the gym after they had unsuccessfully made multiple previous attempts to persuade the resident.

It happened again today. Day 2 on my new job....I wheeled a grumpy little old man into the rehab gym only to be greeted by the dropped-jaw of the other Speech therapist. I love it! Yes! I do still have it after all these years!

As far as the new job goes....so far, so good. For my friends and family who have been asking, I'm working at a skilled nursing facility in Stanford, KY for THIS company.

It's raining here now, and it's supposed to rain through the weekend and all into next week.

It's bedtime for me now. I must get to work early tomorrow, because I need to be home a little early. In case you didn't know, TT and I are going to see Brad Paisley in concert tomorrow night! I'll do my best to get some good pictures...I hope it's not like the LAST CONCERT I attended where my camera was almost confiscated!!!

FB friends click HERE to see video!

i tried something new...

2010-01-17T20:19:00.004-06:00

I tried something new this weekend. I attempted my first ever homemade cheesecake. The real kind of cheesecake! Not a Jello No-Bake deal!

Nikki Wilks...of Nikki's Hair Trix in Henagar...gave me a recipe for a sugar-free cheesecake. Don't get too excited because it's NOT fat-free.

It looked really pretty. It tasted OK. I think I need to call Nikki and ask some questions before I try it again.

I will try again:)

One special note of interest....I sliced my index finger open while attempting to remove the cake from the spring-form pan. That was at about 1:30 p.m. today. My finger is still bleeding. Maybe I need some superglue...or something like it.

end of the era....falling hard into the next:)

2010-01-16T21:03:00.009-06:00

I'm learning that one good thing about getting older is that things that would have seemed really BIG years ago just seem like another page in the book now. After you experience one life change after another, I suppose you just come to expect the twists and turns in the storyline of your life.

You learn to accept it. Go with it. Grab on tightly to the good and bad as it unfolds. If you are brave, you learn to love the suspense of the Great Epic which is your life, enjoying each unique era, and anticipating the future with hope.

I feel like the end of an era in my life-story is upon me.

All the snow has melted now. Almost all of my boxes are unpacked. I've even stocked my kitchen with most of the necessities. The electricity, water, and garbage companies have all received their deposits and the bills will come to my mailbox...with my name on them...oh what joy! I've already received my first bill. The Move to Kentucky is done.

These are the last couple of days before I begin the new era. Tuesday marks its beginning when I start a new job in a new place. I'm very hopeful that this will be a positive chapter in my life.

I'm also settling in to this new "Era of TT"....that's the whole reason I moved to Kentucky, right? To check this man out. To see what he's all about. To determine if he's really a ~~dirtbag~~ gentleman or not. To acquire information about his character.

I discovered a little bit of his character last night.

My Sweet TT took me out to dinner (Mexican, it was very good). Afterwards I wanted to peruse through a store in the same strip-mall as the restaurant...he agreed without a word. Then I wanted to go to WalMart....again he agreed without as much as a sigh, huff, or puff. When we got back to my apartment, he grabbed the bags to bring them inside as I went ahead to unlock the front door.

After I got the door unlocked, I looked back just in time to see Sweet TT, with both hands full of WalMart bags, fall sideways, seemingly silently and in slow-motion, from the driveway into the yard. Not a even a grunt came from of his mouth. I stood there frozen with my mouth wide open for what felt like an eternity!

I knew that fall had to have hurt.

"Are you okay TT?" I finally uttered, my feet still glued to the front porch. By that time he was back on his feet, WalMart bags still in hand, on his way into the house.

He evidently was okay.

Then I lost it. I laughed and laughed and laughed. I tried to stop laughing, but I just couldn't. I mean, it was Obnoxious Laugh. I'm-afraid-i'm-gonna-wet-my-pants-laugh. "What hahahahahaahaha....What hahahahaaaaaaaaaaa Waaahhahahaahah.....What...Happened???" was the best I could get out of my mouth!

Poor Guy! He had escorted me around like Queen Ann all night, was bringing my bags into the house, fell while doing so, and all I could do was laugh! Laugh Hard!!!

Sweet TT just chuckled. He let me laugh. He even laughed a little.

Character....TT's got the good kind. I learned he doesn't take himself too, too seriously.

Yes, he's got character.

Me....not so much!

"I'm gonna let you put those groceries away by yourself," he said slyly.

The joke was on me I suppose....

I guess he had had enough...

....sigh.......

Yes, the former Era has come to a close, and a new one has begun. Sounds like it's gonna be a fun one. I can't wait to see what's next...

KY: Week One in Review

2010-01-06T22:39:00.009-06:00

My landlord says it's not always this cold up here in Kentucky, but I'm not so sure. I have woken up to snow on 8 out of my first 9 days as a Kentucky resident! What a change from Alabama weather, right?

The night before my big move, my good friend Stephanie asked me if I needed a snow shovel....I said no, but I'm beginning to think that perhaps I do. Driving in the weather has not been an issue as the roads have been salted, but getting in and out of my driveway today was a challenge. I don't know how to manipulate the snow, but I just twisted and turned the wheel to get some traction as I gently eased up the sharp little hill at the end of my drive. Hopefully the snow is on its way out, and I won't have to practice my snowdriving skills much longer.

I moved into a little duplex here in Somerset. I had only seen cell-phone pictures of it before I actually moved in, so when I arrived I was a little anxious about what I would find. I had found the duplex on the internet, and after talking to the owner, Sweet T came over to check it out for me. He liked it alot, so I went with it! Sweet T did good... I could not be happier!

The duplex is very, very roomy with an open floor plan. 2 Bed/2Bath. Lots of closets and cabinets. It has a garage...which I love given the current weather conditions:) It is about a year old and looks as if no one has ever lived here. From what I understand, the resident of the other unit is a Psychiatrist who lives there part-time. I've never seen him.....so I don't know about him....Maybe it's Frasier Crane:)

I joined the YMCA this week. What awesome facilities! You can check it out HERE. It feels good to be back in an exercise routine. The real test will be when I start to work....

Speaking of the YMCA, yesterday I wore an Auburn t-shirt to work out. That really got the attention of some of the old pawpaws who were there working out, I tell ya! They had a lot of questions and comments about Auburn and Alabama and why I'm in Somerset and whether or not I will be a Kentucky fan except for when they play Auburn and on and on and on. It was soooo funny! Just hilarious!

....And when I say PawPaws at the YMCA, I mean PawPaws. Old men love me. I guess that's why I'm going back to work at the nursing home...sigh...

That's all I have to report for my first week in Kentucky.

I will leave you with a thought that has been floating around in this brain of mine as I have watched the snow fall so beautifully...

"Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." Isaiah 1:18

blogging nap-time over:)

2010-01-04T19:25:00.004-06:00

My first home-cooked meal of 2010....turkey breast tenderloin, pintos, blackeye peas, greens, candied jalapenos, and cornbread. Not too out of the ordinary for a New Years Day meal prepared by a girl raised in the South, right?

The thing is...I'm not in Alabama any more. That's right, Toto! I'm in southeast Kentucky!

What in the world? I've been here 6 days, and I still find myself sitting in the living room of my adorable apartment wondering what in the world is happening here!

On January 4th, 2009, I would have stood toe-to-toe with anyone who merely suggested that within a year I would have packed everything I owned up onto a Budget rental truck to migrate to Kentucky. KENTUCKY, I SAY!!!!

But here I am...

I've been on somewhat of a blogging nap lately. It's not that I've not had a lot activity swirling around in this brain of mine, it's just that either my thoughts weren't "readmythoughtstoday.blogspot.com" appropriate or my thoughts were too scattered to organize into coherent sentences.

Yes, I do love a good nap...even blogging naps are necessary at times. And yes, all good things must come to an end. I feel confident that this move to Kentucky will open up a whole new can of blogging worms.

To my sweet friends who have been asking about the "Read My Thoughts" blog...

...thank you....

...and stay tuned...

sure could use a lil good news...

2009-10-18T18:45:00.004-05:00

I think everyone should, at least once, sit under the teaching of my Sunday school teacher, Mr. Keith Williams. I love to remind him that he has been my teacher off and on since I was in 9th grade...yes, that's right... for approximately 2o years, Mr. Keith has been my Sunday school teacher. There's a reason I keep going back...he's good. He's always prepared. He's interesting.

Over the last year, Mr. Keith has periodically brought in stories of Good News that he comes across during the week. Sometimes the Good News stories are directly related to the lesson for that day, sometimes not, but the Good News stories are always uplifting and encouraging. It's nice to hear a little good news, right?

If you frequent the network or cable news channels, you already know that Good News is a rare thing in our culture. Take the missing-child-in-a-helium-balloon-story, for example....what seemed like Good News initially when it was discovered that the child was safe and sound, turned out to be a hoax. Well-meaning Americans who followed the story, praying for the child and his family, were essentially conned. It's no wonder when I hear Good News, I wonder if it's just too good to be true.

On a little side-note...I ran across THIS Good News story today. Check it out sometime....

Anyway...back to my point...

Something happened to me this week that really got inside my head, causing me to think about the basic things in life. See, on Tuesday morning I met my good friend Gequetta at the gym...

Bright.

And.

Early.

5:30 AM-bright-and-early to be exact.

We finished up our workout around 6:45. By the time I drove back down the mountain, stopped for gas, and treated myself to my favorite coffee at Kangaroo's gas station, it was a little after 7 AM. I had to meet Alice and Jen for our Tuesday morning staff breakfast at The Strand downtown at 8, so I decided rather than going all the way home I would park at The Strand and wait for them.

Guess what happened next. Yes, you guessed it. While I was waiting on Alice and Jen to get there, my eyes got sleepy. That's what my niece Lauren, now almost 16 years old, used to say as she fought sleep riding in her car seat, "my eyes are sleepy".

There's nothing wrong with a little power nap after a 5:30 am battle with the stairmaster, right? Right! So I in my little Honda Accord just reclined back the driver's seat and headed off to the funny papers.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

What'tha!!!!!

Though my blurry vision and foggy brain, I saw two of the cutest little old men you have ever seen banging on my window. With concerned and curious eyes, the shorter of the two said to me as he peered inside my car, "Are you ok?". Awwww! They were worried that something was wrong!!! How Sweet!

I laughed.

I explained.

I embarrassed.

Myself.

Alice and Jen arrived within mere minutes of The Great Awakening, and when we waltzed in the local ROMEO club (Retire Old Men Eating Out), it felt as if all eyes were on me and my half-up-half-down-i-just-took-a-nap-inside-my-car-ponytail. All I knew to do was wave and smile. The ROMEO club went silent for a moment as some smirked and waved, then I'm sure, they continued with whatever it is they discuss each morning over coffee and eggs over-medium.

How good was that? I ask you! Just tell me!

When was the last time someone took a break from their morning coffee and gravy biscuits to check on your health and safety?

More importantly, when was the last time you (or I) interrupted your schedule, routine, or train of thought to be kind to another person? That's real love. We can say it all day long, but until we do it, it's only words.

Good News! There are people in this world who will take a few extra steps to help another person.

I think it's no news flash that those gentlemen happened to be of The Greatest Generation...I'm not surprised. That's just how they roll!

It's my goal this week to be the Good News to others.

To be Love.

To be Real Love.

To be Christ's Love.

FB friends click HERE to watch video.

girls playing with fire...we have skills:)

2009-10-12T09:22:00.007-05:00

There are certain skills that every girl should have to be able to make it the world. I should know... I didn't achieve 35 and single without certain skills. Of course, there are the obvious and traditional skills ....sewing on of buttons, baking of chocolate cakes, do-it-yourself mani's and pedi's, finding steals on the clearance racks, completely making over a room in your house with a little paint.

Some skills are not traditionally "girly," yet they're equally necessary...perhaps even more necessary. Skills which should be developed, if not mastered....checking of the oil in your car, testing of the tire pressure, walking away from a car salesman when he won't accept your offer, recognizing a slick mechanic who says you need new tires, using drywall anchors to hang heavy pictures on your walls, this list could go on and on and on...

I developed a new skill this week. I started a small bonfire. Well...I helped to start a small bonfire. On Saturday evening I visited with my good friend and general partner-in-crime Alice at her house where she had recently constructed the neatest little firepit in her back yard.

Neither of us had ever attempted the task of igniting a small bonfire, but we were determined despite the fine mist of humidity that was falling all around us. We stacked the logs and used various and intentionally un-named objects for kindling, and before we knew it the fire began to pop and crackle! How Cool!

We sat around the fire and enjoyed roasted hotdogs, baked apples, and yes, you guessed it...smores:) Yum....

Conversation was good around the bonfire too, but I could never divulge our girly-secrets. Perhaps we have the fire-building skills of a guy, but we're definitely still girls:)

FB friends click here to watch video:)

Smile:)

2009-09-26T09:51:00.004-05:00

Dear Jesus,

You are so good to me. I'm sorry I ever doubted You on this one. Seriously...I don't know what I was thinking.

I asked You a few times for Somebody Special. One or two came along, but nobody special. I didn't think You...well, I didn't know what to think, really. I didn't understand Your way of doing things when it came to that.

You asked me to sell everything and move to an isolated mountain. So I did. They all said I was crazy. More than one of them said this was my way of "checking out and giving up". They just didn't get it, but You did and so did I. You wanted all of me.

Now here I am....I can't stop smiling. I can't hardly believe it. Yes, he's special.

The way he is toward me has even taught me more about You. See, he loves me like I am...the good and the bad. He has high expectations but knows how imperfectly human I am. He's trustworthy. I know You are all these things on a higher plane, but it's good to have the example calling my phone every night.

I don't know exactly what You have in store in the future, but the present is just SUPER!

Will You please bless Terry Taylor extra today? Maybe even let his Bama team win 99 to Zip....ahh, well, let's not get crazy here....

Facebook friends click HERE to see video:)

football revisited...

2009-09-12T08:08:00.003-05:00

I love Auburn, but I'm not just CRAZY about Auburn football. I guess it's because I'm a self-proclaimed geek, but I try to keep it all in perspective.

I am crazy about some Saturday games that involve my sweet buddies Jaxson and Grayson! Today kicks off their football season, and I can hardly wait to see my favorite Valley Cubs! Grayson is on the PeeWee team (had graduated past the Midgets and Widgets, lol) and Jaxson is on the Jr.B team.

Wanna revisit their season from last year? CLICK HERE.

Stay tuned for highlight from today's game:)

...people will be in awe of Him...

2009-09-11T09:55:00.002-05:00

"I know that all God does will last forever; there is no adding to it or taking from it. God works so that people will be in awe of Him." Ecclesiastes 3:14.

...people will be in awe of Him...

...God works...

....God works so that people will be in awe of Him...

Did you catch that? God works so that people will be in awe of Him.

I am in awe of Him. I am in awe because I can't quite make my mind wrap around the idea that the Creator of all that was, is, and ever will be knows not only my name, but also the number of hairs on my head.

I am in awe of Him because He knows all that I do and don't do, and he neither blesses me to reward me nor withholds blessings to punish me. He gives and takes away out of pure love for his children.

God is working. I can see it in my work, in my church, in my family, and in my relationships. He is so real and so is His hand. Just as scripture said it will be, because of His work, I am in awe of Him. I am so thankful that I can hardly contain it.

What's even more wild is that while he knows the number of hairs on my head, He sees at the same time the struggles in your life. He knows what you need and is meeting that need this very moment. While He's meeting your need, He is watching your children and grandchildren, protecting them moment by moment. While He's protecting your grandchildren, there's a surgeon praying for wisdom and a steady hand as he makes his first incision, and God is guiding his hand. While God is guiding the surgeon's hand, there's a drug addict who is unaware that God is keeping his heart pumping so he can have another chance at life. While God is keeping the heart pumping, there is a wife who is grieving because eight years ago her firefighter husband gave his life for others...God is rushing in to comfort her right now. And while God is rushing in to comfort the grieving wife, there's a Christian in prison somewhere in the Middle East who needs hope, so God brings a scripture to the prisoner's mind and puts a song on lips. While God works in the prison, He is also...

God is working.

Isn't He awesome?

who.

am.

i?

fb readers click here to watch video

Prince of Peace

2009-08-23T08:01:00.004-05:00

I'm going through a blogging dry spell. I don't know why, really. I have so much to be thankful for in life, so perhaps I should revisit my previous posts on gratitude.

Today I am thinking about how much I love my "family" I find in the praise band at church. I feel so blessed to part of such a talented and special group of people, but most importantly, I am humbled to freely worship my Prince of Peace.

Here's one we're singing today. It's one of my favorites. (FB readers click here to listen)

i am happy

2009-08-16T06:09:00.000-05:00

Today, I am happy. So how can I keep from singing?

Facebook readers click here to watch the video!

jaxson, you're sneaky!

2009-08-15T21:41:00.003-05:00

Dad and nephews Jaxson and Grayson at Little River Canyon. They were supposed to jump together. All for one, one for all, right? Wrong. Jaxson is sneaky, I tell you. I love that he gets in position, even swings his arms as if he is about to make the plunge, then PSYCH! I also love that he remembers that I am filming the stunt and looks up at me before he jumps. Kid, you're killin' me!

Facebook readers click here to watch the video!

i detect fall...

2009-08-10T23:51:00.002-05:00

embarrassed children

2009-08-10T22:12:00.002-05:00

Today I was thinking about a little book I read a couple of years ago at the beach. The book cover is doused in water spots and the edges are tattered. I planted myself under that beach umbrella covered in my SPF 2000 and read the thing cover to cover.

I'm referring to Mitch Albom's for one more day, a facinating story of a washed-out profressional baseball player who, on the very verge of suicide, is given the opportunity to spend the day with his mother. Here's the catch...the mother had died eight years previously. "...What follows is the one 'ordinary' day so many of us yearn for, a chance to make good with a lost parent, to explain family secrets, and to seek forgiveness. Somewhere between this life and the next, Charley learns the things he never knew about his mother and her sacrifices. And he tries, with her tender guidance, to put the crumbled pieces of his life back together."

Now that you have the back story, here's the part I was thinking about...

"I didn't mean anything by it, Mom," I whispered.

"By what?"

"Being embarrassed. By you, or your clothes or...your situation."

She rinsed the shampoo from her hands, then directed the water to Rose's scalp.

"A child embarrassed by his mother," she said, "is just a child who hasn't lived long enough."

Wow. The child embarrassed by his mother is just a child who hasn't lived long enough.

Well said, mom.

I would add...A child who bullies another child....A child who disprects his teacher...A child who fears the opinions of her peers...A child who is afraid to try...
I really don't recall ever being embarrassed by my parents. I do wish that I could do some things again...this time a little differently. I'm trying to do some things differently now, so perhaps in the future I won't wish for just one more day.

I think this little novella should be required reading for everyone.

It changed my life.

my romance...

2009-08-09T06:28:00.002-05:00

My Romance

Look at the way the flowers bloom for you,

They want to show you their beauty Lord

Running waters dance,

You and I romance.

Unto You be all the glory!

Angels dance around You

The earth it sings about You

Open up the heavens Lord

Let your kingdom come to earth

Unto You be all the glory!

My praises all surround

You My soul can't dance without You

Open up the heavens Lord

Let your kingdom come to earth

2009-08-04T00:21:00.002-05:00

Here's what i'm thinking...

words can be so very hurtful. it doesn't matter if the person speaking knows better or not.
speaking the truth can be difficult
hearing the truth can be more difficult
love seems simple, basic, innate. but really, pure love is deep, wide, and complicated.
forgiveness blows my mind
God's love covers a whole multitude of sins
God knows how to balance perfect justice with perfect grace. that's why He Is.

Someone, via texting, asked me if i thought i was dr. phil.

I think no.

dr. phyllis maybe:)

nite...

i don't quote oprah

2009-08-01T23:03:00.005-05:00

I don't quote Oprah.

I'm not one of her disciples.

I don't even watch her show, anymore.

So please don't go getting your bloomers up in a wad over what I'm about to say...

...drumroll please....

I heard Oprah Winfrey give a word of advice one time that I try to live by.

Paraphrased, Oprah once said women should change their hairstyles every year. Even if it's just a small variation...wear it a little shorter, let it grow a little longer, add some layers, brighten the color. Just change it up a bit.

I try to do that. Change my hair up a little bit every year or so.

Earlier this week I went to see my good friend and hairdresser Gequetta (No, she's not black. Yes, she's white. Yes, she's lived on Sand Mountain her whole life, but no, her parents have not.) I purposefully got to the salon early so that I could peruse the hairstyle magazines. As I flipped the pages of one magazine after another, examining each photo of the hottest and trendiest do's, I found myself saying, "I've had that. I've done that. That one's ridiculous. I've already had that one. I've done that one twice...." I hated everything in the magazines. There was nothing new in there.

I realized that the metaphorical bubble of my youth has burst. Styles I wore years ago are coming back. I've always heard that would happen but I never thought it would happen to me. I'm young. Surely, it's not time to recycle my generation's fads and fashions.

Today I splurged on a manicure. When I wrote my check to pay, the little Vietnamese lady who did the manicure checked my identification, clearly studying the information thereon, and commented with a quick "hum."

Me: Hum? What's wrong?

Her: You '74. Me '75.

Well, how in the world am I supposed to respond to that?

And so the mental dialog began. What in the world was she trying to say? She can't believe she's almost as old as me? She's wondering how I stay looking so young? She thought I was as old as her mother? She thinks my crow's feet are deeper than hers? What? Just say it, little girl!

I can't believe I was so baffled, and furthermore, I can't believe I'm writing about it.

But I am.

And I. Am. Over. It.

Really, I am.

Sigh...

Goodnight everyone.

I need my beauty sleep:)

My-big-fat-better-than-average-life...

2009-07-24T21:24:00.003-05:00

Lately I've made a special point to notice one of my facebook friend's status updates. The first one that caught my eye read...

"I read somewhere that if you lick some one's elbow when they aren't looking, they can't feel it. My husband didn't believe it. I told him to close his eyes so he wouldn't see me lick his elbow, and then asked him if he had felt it. He was amazed and said 'No'. I hadn't licked his elbow. He now believes the story is true:)

Then she wrote this on her status...

Today, I was chatting with a friend who had a mirror behind her. She got up and I could see myself in the mirror. I waved to myself. I waved back:)

I finally asked her where she comes up with this stuff. She directed me to mylifeisaverage.com. If I were completely shameless, I would tell you that initially, I thought to myself My Life Is A Verage...hmmm...what is a 'verage'...??? Duh. Average. Not A Verage. But I do have my pride, so I will just keep that information to myself.

Anyway...you must check out My Life is Average. In a nutshell, this is a website where people submit short stories and anecdotes which describe the average and mundane events of their lives. It has just cracked me up at times.

My life feels average, too. Sometimes.

Like for the last 2 days, the remote for the television in the living room has been missing. I have turned the house upside down looking for it. Secretly, I love the fact that it's missing and I hope we don't find it for a while. Since the remote has gone missing in action, it seems that our one and only resident at TWH has been a little more productive. But that's just between you, dear reader, and me...right?;) The remote will turn up...someday...

Another average moment...this morning I let the boys, Barclay and Gilbert (my funny doggies), out of their pen so they could run and play. After about an hour had passed, I went outside to check on them. Barclay, the mischievous Spitz, was laying under a shade tree in the backyard, chewing on a tomato.

Now, I don't have a garden, but my neighbor does. I began to ponder how he got his paws on that tomato. Either A.) He picked it himself and took off like the bandit that he is, or B.) the little old southern lady had had enough of his help in her vegetable garden and threw the tomato at him...in that case, I know Barclay was happy to fetch the red ball for her, refusing, as usual, to return the ball to the throw-er. Either scenario is completely possible, and either way, Barclay got his dose of lycopene for the day, I suppose...

My life is average.

Not really.

My life is waaaaay better than average.

This morning I was walking on the treadmill. Just thinking.

Thinking about all I needed to do today. Thinking about how tomorrow I will be going to watch my nephews play in the All-Stars tournament. Thinking about how sweet those boys are. Thinking about how much I love all of my nieces and nephews. Thinking about how I wish that I lived closer to them and could see them more. Thinking about how exciting it was to know they are playing in the state tournament. Thinking about how much I really, really, hope they win. Thinking about how I really, really, really, really hope that I don't jinx them (I haven't been to many games this season...). Thinking how I can't wait to hug and kiss them like a crazy old aunt.

Before I knew it, I was crying!!! What in the world!!! Right there in BodyVision, on the treadmill, at 6 o'clock in the morning!!!!

How cool is that, I ask you!!! What a good life...my biggest worry is whether or not I will jinx my nephews' baseball game!

Of course, I'm concerned about healthcare reform and the ongoing socialism-a-zation of the United States. Yes, I'm afraid things are going to get bad in the country. Of course, I often wonder if I will get cancer...again...

But these things can't consume me nor my thinking. I would rather think on the blessings of baseball, and family, and friends, and the Giver of all good things.

Thank you, Jesus, for the abundant life and peace of mind that You give!

he asked You for life...

2009-07-20T22:27:00.003-05:00

Psalm 21

1. Lord, the king finds joy in Your strength. How greatly he rejoices in Your victory!

2. You have given him his heart's desire and have not denied the request of his lips.

3. For you meet him with rich blessings; You place a crown of pure gold on his head.

4. He asked You for life, and You gave it to him-

length of days forever and ever.

5. His glory is great through Your victory; You confer majesty and splendor on him.

6. You give him blessings forever; You cheer him with joy in Your presence.

7. For the king relies on the Lord; through the faithful love of the Most High, he is not shaken.

I wish that I were a Bible scholar and knew exactly the string of events that prompted King David to write these words. Did he write this psalm while reminiscing over his encounter with the late-great-giant? Perhaps he wrote it while exhaling in God's forgiveness...so relieved that the Lord granted mercy once again? Perhaps he was celebrating after his season of grief following the death of his friend or even his own son. I don't know, but maybe it doesn't matter anyway, right?

The fact is, David had asked God for life, and God gave it to him.

He knew he was blessed.

David knew joy and cheer simply from being in relationship with God.

Surely David knew that any kingly majesty and splendor donned upon himself was only because God willed it with His own power.

He relied on the Lord and the unfailing love of the Most High.

"He asked You for life, and you gave it to him..." That verse just blows me away!

It reminds me of John 10:10....grab your Bible and look it up!

Being surrounded by bad news, sickness, disappointment, and seemingly hopeless situations, this psalm tells me how to have an abundant life...count my blessings, savor my relationship with Christ, trust God's will, rely on God's love, ask for the life he wants for me!

I don't expect a windfall, but I am confident that my needs shall be met. I don't expect my frustrations to disappear, but I am confident that my joy shall be complete. And that's good to know.

Mission New Orleans

2009-07-13T08:21:00.009-05:00

It's been a very, very busy summer for me lately...last week being no exception. I went to New Orleans with 52 other people from my church. There we were involved in various volunteer community services projects. Our group was divided into 4 groups including a construction crew, sports camp, kids day camp, and puppet ministry. I don't have very many pictures....there wasn't a lot of time for photography!

I was on the construction crew...scary thought, right? We worked on rebuilding the sanctuary at Gentilly Baptist Church.

Gentilly Baptist currently meets in their gym every Sunday and continues to minister to their community. They have a goal of being back in their sanctuary in August...not too far away!
Mr. Jimmy Traylor was our crew leader. He is a very kind and patient man. And I mean patient! I asked him a question or two during the week! Below is our pastor, Jeff Mann, sanding the trim on the sound booth that we constructed. My pal Kim Galloway and I actually cut, hung, finished, and painted the sheet rock for this! Who knew....but, in the words of Mr. Keith "you can't mess up sheet rock..." I believe it!

H.O.P.E. (Helping Others Prepare for Eternity) Puppet Ministries is a group of adults and teens from our church who write and perform puppet shows to share the good news of Jesus Christ. These are not your ordinary hand puppets, I tell ya! I think they performed 3 to 4 shows per day in New Orleans at churches, parks, a juvenile detention facility, and children's hospitals.

The drama team performed the "Everything" drama at the end of each puppet show. It is very, very moving portrayal of the negative things life has to offer as it relates to the life and relationship Jesus offers. Their performance gives me chills everytime I watch! Love it!!!

On our last night in New Orleans, the entire group went to dinner at a Cajun restaraunte called Mulate's. They had live cajun music and a dance floor. Our youth entertained us all with their "Celebration Dance". We have the best group of kids! They worked soooooooo hard all week and you never heard a negative word from them.

Here is a picture of a light pole in the courtyard of our hotel. Our group all happened to be standing behind it, so someone snapped a picture. Duh.

After Dinner Conversation...

2009-06-30T18:08:00.004-05:00

Baby Aubriana enjoyed her Cinnamon Apples for dinner tonight. After dinner, she engaged us in some most enlightening conversation! She's gonna be a talker, she is!

Freedom for Iran

2009-06-20T22:33:00.003-05:00

Freedom is stirring in the souls of this generation of citizens in Iran. I hope and pray that in their quest for justice and freedom, they find it. May they find freedom from an oppressive government and religion, and may they seek The True Freedom, Jesus Christ.

I have found a couple of interesting blogs which appear to contain personal and startling insight into the revolution in Iran. Check out Iranian Woman and Winston...

God bless these Iranian citizens, and God bless these United States!

June 19th

2009-06-19T23:36:00.004-05:00

I have exactly seventeen minutes to finish this post....it must be published on June 19th. Today is my mother's birthday. If she were still alive, she would be 58 years old today.

Having pondered for several days over what to write for her birthday, I'm blank. Completely blank. I could gush, but I won't. I could even write something that would make some of you laugh, but I'm tired and suspect I would exceed my time constraint.

I bought some flowers today to take to the cemetery, but I decided the heat is just too scorching and the flowers would hardly live through the noontime sun. So I'm keeping them. On my nightstand. So I can enjoy them. Myself.

And remember. Good times.

And plan. Good future.

And pray myself to sleep. Good Mom, Great God.

Goodnight:)

Little Basketball Guy

2009-06-18T11:08:00.002-05:00

We have a new baby! De'jon arrive yesterday morning at 3:27. He weighed in at just under 7lb. He is so sweet. Mommy is doing great. I believe we have a basketball star here...his hands are huge! Watch out NBA, we have a hot recruit for ya!

Hope for Every Bad Mood

2009-06-15T14:18:00.005-05:00

I've been chronically in a bad mood for about 2 weeks now. Don't ask me why. I don't know why. I have just been in a bad mood.

I know. It's not nice.

I knooooow.

It's not attractive.

But what can I say?

It's the truth.

I've been in a bad mood for a couple of weeks now.

No, I'm not depressed.

I'm just in a bad mood.

I know one thing that's put me in a bad mood...my cell phone. At completely unpredictable times, it sounds really "static-ey" and the person on the other end cannot hear me. It is soooo annoying, and it drives me nuts!

So today I went to the Verizon store. Remember...I'm in a bad mood already, so I'm fully ready for some confrontation with the first person with a name tag who crosses my path. I go in and "check in" which mean I must log on to a little touch-screen computer and sign up for trouble shooting. They put my name up on a tv screen, listed in order according to the order we "check in". I am #4. Great. Just great. How long will the wait be? An hour? Two?

"Feel free to look around while you wait (smile, smile, blink, blink)" the happy little door greeter says to me. Don't get too close, little girl, or I just might snatch you bald!

Look around while I wait.

What choice do I have, really? There are no chairs in the waiting area. Ugh.

While I wait, I observe the manager-type person instruct a waiting customer to go home and call Verizon's customer service line. Wait a minute!!!! Aren't there live customer service people here? This is a Verizon store, for Heaven's sake!

Next I saw the same manager-lady put another customer on a land line phone and made him call customer service. Something's wrong with this picture. Bad.

About 40 minutes later, a straggly-hair, hippie type with major yankee/smoker-voice called my name. I walk up to her station. She asks me what she can do for me today. Let me just tell you, sister. I proceed to tell her about the problem with my phone, when, about halfway through my second sentence, she interrupts me to ask my phone number. I tell her my phone number. Then she asks me again...what's wrong with my phone. Again, half-way through my second sentence, her phone rings, she says to me, "excuse me please," and answers her phone.

I just stand there and look at her. Hello....Lady....I'm a real live customer. Can't you put the caller on hold??? Hello...Smoker-voice lady....hello!

She sees me staring at her, so she motions for me to give her my phone. She piddles with my phone while she "yes's, no's, and uh-huh's" the caller on the phone.

Lady, you better get off that phone or I'm gonna jump over your counter in about 3 seconds...

A the count of 2 1/2, she finally hangs up the phone.

"Mam, it looks like your phone is still under warranty, so I can get you a new one. I will take about 5 minutes," she says to my great surprise!

Oh, thank you lady. You don't know it, but you were about to get punched, and I really am not in the mood to get arrested today.

My mood was a little better then. I was really expecting to have to question and complain to get a new phone.

New. Well, the phone she gave me wasn't exactly new. It was certified refurbished. Like-new.

Okay. I'll take it. Would rather have had brand-new-never-been-opened, but I'll take this one.

I finally drive home, check the mail, and GUESS WHAT!

There's a $50 check in the mail!

YIPPEE!!!

I recently had a routine test performed at the hospital as ordered by my oncologist. The hospital required $175 payment for the co-pay on the day of the test. Last week, I got the statement from my insurance which said that $123 was billable by the hospital, $0 paid by insurance, and that I owed $0 to the hospital...which says to me that I overpaid the hospital. I haven't had the opportunity to call the hospital yet, but that situation was also boiling in my brain and had been contributing to my bad mood.

Thank Heavens it worked out! The hospital did do the right thing and I didn't have to punch a single person!

Yippee!

Good Mood is back!

But here's my question...

If just a couple of good things happening can put me in a such a good mood, what would happen if I truly did just focus on the blessings in my life?

More importantly, what would happen if I refused to dwell on the little irritations in life which are totally out of my control?

How much energy to I put into feeding my bad moods versus fueling a positive outlook?

I hate to ask the age-old question, but...is the glass half-empty or half-full?

My glass is completely full.

Running over, in fact.

There's hope for every bad mood.

Indeed.

Luv us some Bling!

2009-06-13T13:25:00.003-05:00

Sometimes you just gotta get away. Even if it's only for a few hours.

Last night seven ladies piled up in Mrs Renee's vehicle and headed to the big town. We enjoyed a some PF Chang's and a lot of giggling.

To my knowledge, nobody cried. Unusual, I suppose, for a group of this many ladies. Friends. Sisters. Ok, now I'm about to cry! Not really.

We all had on our bling-bling shoes just like we liked them. Toes painted and shiny!

You like???

Little Men @ Little River

2009-06-11T13:15:00.004-05:00

Today I went to Little River Canyon with Dad, Kathy, Jaxson, Grayson, Erica and Alyssa. I think the boys had a fun day swimming and playing on the rocks. It's difficult to believe this beautiful place is practically in my backyard!

ONE TWO THREE

2009-06-08T22:43:00.005-05:00

Dear Mom,

They were right, I suppose. They, the experts and the experienced, said it would be this way.

They said that grieving would be mere survival during year ONE. "The year of firsts," they called it. First Thanksgiving, first Christmas. My first birthday without you to send me our favorite Pink Tuscanini roses. The first time I needed information that only you would know. There were more firsts than I care to remember. What a nightmare!

Then they said that year TWO would be the year I would wake up from the nightmare and realize that it's all real. This is it. This is how it's really going to be. Things are not going to return to normal, and things will never be the same.

Yes, year TWO was difficult. I just "didn't get it". It didn't make sense. You had been healthy as far as I knew. You never hurt anybody. So many people needed you. It was your time, and nothing on earth could have kept you here. Still, I just could not get my mind around the concept that God took you and left so many who seemed to possess no socially redeeming value.

Year TWO...anger...disgust....

At some point during year TWO, fortunately, I regained some focus. I come to realize that life is brief, and I wanted my life to make a difference.

Priorities shifted.

Doors opened.

I stepped out.

Yes, year THREE is exactly as they said it should be. Those waves of intense sadness still come, but the deep valleys are shorter and further apart than they were at first. Things still aren't the same, and they never will be the same, but times can be good again. Finally I can take all the erratic emotions and focus their energy into positive things. I think you see the positive from Where you are, and at times, I even feel you cheering me on.

Oh the times lately where I so wanted to tell you what's happening...

I bought some doggie clippers and let the girls here at the house give Barclay and Gilbert their summer cuts. Oh my, those dogs look pitiful! They're cool now, so I suppose that's what matters!

I'm letting my hair grow out. It's probably been since high school since it's been this long. You know Gequetta, right? Well, she still does my hair for me, and she always tells me I'm too old to have long hair. What do you think? The other day, I went in to let her touch up my roots and she said- can you believe this- "The next time you come in we're coloring your hair all over!" Why, I asked. "Because you've got gray hairs everywhere!" What!!! How many, Quetta? Get this....she announced right there in front of everybody, "There's too many to count!" Oh! I was mortified! But that's what makes a good friend and beautician, one who tells you the truth, right? I still think she's wrong about me being too old to have long hair....jealous.

I'm still going to the gym early in the mornings...most mornings, that is. I wish you could see some of those old Pawpaws in there. It would crack you up! There's this one old man, who, if he has asked me once, he has asked me 25 times, "Why don't they make a pill that exercises your muscles? They've got a pill for everything else!" Funny. He wears is gym shorts pulled up under his armpits, has his tight T-shirt tucked in, and has his tube socks pulled up tight nearly to his knees. He's dedicated...you've got to give him that!

What do you think of Michelle Obama? Oh wait, don't tell me. I'm sure I already know.

Yes, it's been THREE years today. I can hardly believe it. In some ways, it's all so new and fresh that it seems like only yesterday. On the other hand, it has been THREE very, very long years, so June 9, 2006 seems like forever ago.

I'm hoping that year FOUR will be a year to exhale. You know what I mean, right? So if you can pull some strings on your end, feel free.

Feel free.

I suppose you already do feel free. Indeed.

I love you and miss you.

Still want to be just like you!

Remembering D-Day

2009-06-06T11:58:00.002-05:00

I saw this story on Fox News last night and thought is was just beautiful. I could never write a tribute that could hold a candle to this gentleman's recounting of June 6, 1944. As you watch this story, say a special prayer for him along with all of our brave soldiers who are serving around the world today!

God Bless You, Mr. Seltzer!

know-what-I-mean-there-Vern?

2009-06-04T20:49:00.003-05:00

Who in the world is "Vern"?

This man's name is not Ernest and I doubt he has ever been to camp. As far as I know, he has never been to jail (but parents don't tell their children everything, now do they?)!

That's Dad and me. We went for a little 5K walk Wednesday morning, and this video is his post-walk report. He failed to mention that he about killed me...I just about couldn't keep up with his long skinny legs! I think I took two steps to his every one! Nevertheless, I'm pleased with our time...just under 50 minutes if you didn't catch that in the video (ehem..cough, cough). If you've ever climbed what I call "Chavies Mountain", you will know that time is not too shabby!

Fun times!

Speaking of fun times, tomorrow I plan to lay by the pool and swim with my 4 favorite kiddos...Lauren, Savannah, Jaxson, and Grayson. Stay tuned for a swimming update. I'm sure some form of drama or excitement will develop within the next 24 hours!

Oh...don't forget about the Freedom Fest 5K Fun Run/Walk in Rainsville on Saturday, June 27. You can download a registration form at rainsvillealabama.com.

cute...how does he do that?

2009-05-30T19:29:00.000-05:00

When I am uninspired, this always makes me smile.

I haven't quit...

2009-05-30T19:13:00.002-05:00

...I've just been rather uninspired lately.

I haven't updated my blog in two weeks, so I thought I would take this opportunity to put in a shameless plug. Well, it's not shameless, not exactly.

I have BBQ Plate tickets for sale for the Rainsville Freedom Festival which will be Sunday evening, June 28, 2009. They are $6. The Freedom Festival is in the city park...packed with live music, stuff of the kiddos, food, and a huge firework finale. You don't want to miss it.

Also, I am on the committee to organize the First Annual "Freedom Fun Run/Walk" 5K Road Race. It will be held on Saturday, June 27 @ 8 a.m. beginning and finishing at Broadway Baptist Church in Rainsville. I need all my friends and family to participate! You will get a GREAT T-SHIRT and race bag with goodies, food, exercise, and FUN! You can download the REGISTRATION FORM HERE. Runners, joggers, walkers, and strollers are encouraged to participate!

This is my blog for today....;) bamaslammer...

Hoping and praying that some inspiration will fall down, or bubble up, or something....soon!

nifty! nifty! Look who's...WHAT'THA???

2009-05-14T20:19:00.001-05:00

You're Sixty!

You're Sixty Years Old Today!!!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

I Like Skype!

2009-05-13T21:50:00.002-05:00

I like Skype.

How else could I talk to my former exchange student from Germany today, for 24 minutes, face-to-face, for FREE!!!

The whole web-cam concept is a tad creepy, though isn't it? It's like my image (and voice) is captured in real time, transmitted via a wire into the wall of my house, and within mere seconds lands on a computer screen in Germany! GET OUTTA HERE!!! FAR OUT!!!

I totally DIG IT, though! Don't you?

For anyone who might remember Alina...she seems to be doing great. She has her own "flat" near the "university". She stays there during the week and travels a short distance back to her mother's home on the weekend. She has about a year left of learning at the university before she will have her Bachelor's....the she plans to get her Master's. From what I can decipher, her degree is in communications/marketing/business....something of that nature.

She has a boyfriend, Chris. He is 31, but according to Alina, he doesn't look or act that old. They met at the restaurant where she works as a waitress and he worked as a bartender. He has since finished college and has moved a distance away, so she only gets to see him on the weekends.

When Alina lived with me, she was just dying to get her driver's license. See, in Germany, one is not eligible for a driver's license until age 18. Even then, it is very expensive, and I think you must take an actual driving course prior to being issued the license (perhaps that's one lesson we could learn from our German brothers and sisters, no?).

So today, I asked Alina if she ever got a car. She just cracked up, I tell ya! Yes, Alina does have a car. Her grandmother passed away a couple of years ago, so Alina inherited her car. Evidently, the car is a most unattractive and memorable shade of blue as Alina told me that everybody recognizes her blue car. She proceeded to draw me a picture of the car and held it up in front of her webcam so I could see it...it looked like a tiny VW or something. She said it's very small, unlike American cars, and that her head touches the ceiling! She just laughed and laughed, but also said the car was just fine for her.

Oh, meeeee..... that girl is something else.

Skype....

I like Skype.

Queen Mum, lend me your ear...

2009-05-12T22:50:00.003-05:00

For my Generation X'er peeps out there! Can you feel me???

If I complain about the Queen of England, will HE come visit me? That would be a dream come true, no? That Prince William--he's a cutie! That's fo' sho'!!!

Perhaps I should gripe about the time I was sick on my 30th birthday. My good friend Gequetta and I had concerts tickets to see Him (if you can believe that--- but it's true, I promise!), but I was too sick to go. If I whine loud enough, maybe he would come for a visit, or at least refund my ticket price! That would come in handy about now!

Quetta and I also went to see HIM, but he looked more like THIS. Now, that was a fantastic concert, it was! No complaints whatsoever! I've loved him since the 8th grade, and I will always will!

Another time, we saw Him in concert with Him. At first I wasn't looking forward to seeing the old guy, but he turned out to be fabulous! Braids and all!

Now here's something I'll complain about...I've never, ever heard this arrangement! Who's been holding out on me! I mean, seriously! I'm pitchin' a fit. Kicking and screaming because this is not on my ipod!

JonJonBonBon...do you hear me crying? Seriously...if the Queen Mum can send her grandson, perhaps you could at least send Richie with an autographed pic, right?

...sigh..................

pretty

2009-05-09T20:55:00.003-05:00

Pretty.
(click to listen...)

2009-05-08T22:15:00.002-05:00

“I do not like broccoli. And I haven't liked it since I was a little kid and my mother made me eat it. And I'm President of the United States and I'm not going to eat any more broccoli.”
-President George H.W. Bush

I do like broccoli. I like it better cooked than raw, but I do like it nonetheless. But after reading THIS, I think perhaps the former president was on to something...:)

Ollie Ollie Rooster...

2009-05-08T07:31:00.002-05:00

You know life is good in small town America when your 11 year old nephew is throwing strikes from the pitcher's mound. When it was our turn to bat, these guys in blue chanted from the dugout...

Ollie Ollie Rooster,

Sittin' on a Fence,

Cheerin' for the other team,

Makin' No Sense!

Makin' no sense.

Somehow, it did make sense. Little boys and baseball, chanting rhythimically in echo of a single high-pitched leader on the team, seemingly with not a care in the world.

Ahhh....

I wonder what these little guys will encounter in their lifetimes. Perhaps they will create new forms of technology. Maybe they will travel at unheard-of speed.

What if they fight for my freedom.

Or heal our diseases...

Or spread the Gospel...

Or become the next "greatest generation"...

I sure hope so, don't you?

indescribable timing...

2009-05-06T23:30:00.002-05:00

I love Wednesday nights.

Band practice at church.

I just love it.

I am fortunate to be a singer with an awesome group of people. I feel out of my league most of the time, but still, I look forward to practice. Easily every musician in the group could be working professionally in Nashville or on Broadway, but I am so thankful they choose to use their talents for God here at home. They are incredibly talented, yet equally humble.

Band practice is just plain fun for me. Tonight, for example, we got so tickled about something during practice that I wet my pants just a little bit. Sorry people...I know that's a lot of personal information, but it happens to everybody sometimes. I soooo needed a good hard laugh. It was wonderful.

Here's something even more wonderful that happened tonight. God showed up. Now, don't get me wrong. I know He's everywhere, always. I know He created everything and it's through Him that we live and breathe. Sometimes, however, I believe that God just loves us so much that He would bless us with His presence in an unmistakable and rather humorous way.

We were working on the Chris Tomlin song Indescribable. I had a brilliant idea after we sang the second verse which begins with the lines "Who has told every lightening bolt where it should go?" I look over at David, one of the fantastic keyboardists, and ask if he can make a thunder-sound with his key board. "Yes," he said as he began to press buttons.

"When we sing the part about lightening in the second verse, you should make it thunder really loud," I said.

David began to experiment with the "thunder" on the keyboard as we all ooh'd and aaah'd. We started the second verse again, and David "thundered" at the perfect time. It was so loud and deep that the walls of the sanctuary seemed to rattle. We all had chills, I tell ya.

We stopped singing for a minute. David tried to replicate the sound, but could not do so. "I don't think that was me," he said.

In a few minutes, we heard another huge crash of thunder as the rain came pouring down outside. It was almost like God said to us, you want thunder, I'll give you thunder! You could never imitate ME with your little keyboard!

I just love it! What perfect timing God has. The thunder came almost on cue and it was so beautiful it gave me chills. Perfect, perfect timing it was!

I think of the occasions in scripture when it seemed God demonstrated His perfect timing. Countless times with the Hebrews with the Exodus. What about Jesus' first miracle in turning the water into wine? The raising of Lazarus? Raising of Jesus from the dead on the 3rd day just as was prophesied?

That comforts me when I worry...God will work it (no matter what it is) at the most perfect time.

Oh how Tweat!

2009-05-04T09:53:00.002-05:00

More of our tax dollars at work... Take a Look!

As soap is for the body...

2009-05-03T21:53:00.002-05:00

As soap is for the body, tears are for the soul (Jewish proverb)...

After Brother Jeff's message tonight, I felt compelled to go to the alter at the close of the service. His message was not particularly stirring or convicting tonight, but I just had some things I needed to pray about. As I knelt, I saw the most beautiful thing...tear-stains on the alter.

The tear-stains were most striking to me. There weren't just one or two. There were many, many. Big, cloudy water spots sprinkled the hardwood steps leading up to the stage in the sanctuary of the church.

If only they could speak audibly, surely these tear-stains would tell of why they fell on the alter. They are the fossils of souls being cleansed, sins forgiven, and sacrifices offered. They are evidence of God meeting with man, again and again. Some of the tear-stains must memorialize some one's grief. Some flowed from conviction, and others flowed from physical illness. Of course, some tears flowed from thanksgiving and utter joy. All of the tears that stained the alter, however, streamed from hearts stirred and hungry to commune with The One and Only, the very Creator of emotion itself, Jesus Christ.

I used to hate to cry. I'm an ugly cryer, if you know what I mean. I turn red. My eyes swell up.

I don't mind crying anymore.

Tears are a special part of being human.

Tears are temporary, so we better enjoy them while we can.

"...And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away..."

Oh! My bones!!!

2009-04-27T07:21:00.012-05:00

It's Monday morning. I think maybe I'm about to OD on ibuprofen because I feel like I've been hit by an 18-wheeler. I hear the bathtub full of Epsom Salt calling my name, so I've gotta make this quick ya'll...

Ok, here's the low-down on the race weekend....

I left for Nashville Friday morning, stopping in South Pittsburg, TN to meet up with my friends Miriam and Nicole (both former coworkers, physical therapists). This is the farm where they have a therapeutic horseback riding program in the summer for handicapped children. Neat, huh?

This is Miriam with one of her many horses...

We finally made it to Nashville around 2p.m. where we headed straight for the Nashville Convention Center where I was to pick up my registration materials. They had the registration process flowing like clockwork, so that was really fast. Next we went through the "Expo"...vendors were set up to advertise and sell their products. I spent some money...hat and sunglasses (which came in handy for the race) and guess what else...yep, you guessed it! A little purse. I need a new purse...

Oh, I forgot to mention...just so you know, it cost us $12 to park at the expo. And yes, we still had to walk a little piece to get there. Gee-wiz!

We left the expo and decided to eat supper before checking in to our hotel. We at at Applebee's. I had a difficult time finding something on the menu that had a moderate amount of protein and carbs without too much grease or too much fiber (ahem, prevention of any possible stomach problems on race day...). I ordered the chicken fajita roll-ups with a baked potato.

Finished supper....off to find the Music City Sheraton. We drove and drove. We suspected Jerry had given us wrong directions to our hotel...called the hotel...and guess what....yep, you guessed it again....Jerry gave us wrong directions...bless his heart.

Finally made it to the hotel.

Here's me modeling my new hat and glasses while Nicole fixed my time-tracker-thing onto my shoes...will get to that in a minute...

The little orange sticker on my shoe is what they used to track your time. It has a little metal sensor inside of it. It marks your time at the start line, 5K, 10K, 10 miles I think, and finally at the finish line. You can see my race number 31176. I believe there were more than 32,000 participants in the race.

I got out of bed at 4 a.m. on Saturday after a night of tossing and turning. Got ready. Miriam and Nicole drove me over to the Opryland Hotel where I met up with friends Jerry and Shelly. I had purchased a ticket at the Expo to ride the shuttle from Opryland to the start line. When I was sitting on the bus at 5:15 a.m. and noticed the temperature was already 68 degrees, I knew it was going to be a long, hot day. I was a little nervous, a little excited. Just tried to sit there and remain calm.

Here is Shelly, Jerry, and me outside of the Opryland hotel about to board the shuttle. Shelly lives in Bridgeport. Jerry lives in Rainsville.

We got off the bus at the start line. Don't ask me where the start line was. I have no clue.

Made the trek up to the starting area. Visited the porta-potty. Long lines at all porta-potties. Long lines. Already stinky at 6a.m.

Visited with Jerry and Shelly for a little while. Watch all the people. Whole lotta people. All shapes and sizes of people. All ages. Did I mention there were a lotta people???

We said our goodbyes and headed for our corrals (roped off areas with assigned numbers). They were in 13, I was in 31. Corrals were based up the predicted finish time that you wrote down on your registration. Thus, the longer the time, the higher the corral. There were 32 corrals in all. I had predicted my finish time to be 3 hours 45 minutes.

The race started with wheel chair racers, elite women, and elite men (they started before 7 a.m. I think). I could not see nor hear the start of these races, but Miriam took some excellent pics for me. I would like to share them with you...

Intense, right?

Corrals were released about every 2 minutes. As one corral crossed the start line, all the others moved forward toward the start. My corral was finally released about 8:10 a.m.

The race was on. And it went on. And on. And on.

...and on...

And it was hot.

About mile 2, there was an incline as the racers say. In my dictionary, it's called a "big hill". In fact, the big hill was about 1 mile long. My tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth. Just before mile 3 my heel began to sting and burn like crazy.

I prayed.

Lord, please let the lortab kick in. Please let the lortab kick in. Please let the lortab kick in.

I was afraid that I wasn't going to make it.

The lortab kicked in. Thank you, Jesus. My feet never gave me any more trouble.

I paced myself with the hoola-hoopers. Yes, that's right. Hoola-hoopers.

There were a group of about 20 or so ladies (looked like college-age girls) who hoola-hooped and walked at the same time. They were just ahead of me. Surely, I thought, I can keep up with the hoola-hoopers.

I did keep up with them. For about 5 miles. Then they were gone. They were hoola-hoopin' it on down the line, I tell ya!

I don't remember a whole lot about the actual route, to be honest. The main points were...it was hot. Really hot. It was very hilly. Really hilly. They had water and sorts drink stops about every mile or so, but I was really thirsty most of the time.

I talked to a few people along the way. One was a lady who was about to graduate with her doctorate in nursing. It was her first half-marathon too.

I talked to a lady named Annie. Her real name was Amelia Ann, but in the past few years people had started calling her Annie. She was 77 years old and from California. She had 6 children. Some of her children were running both the half- and full marathons. She was really nice. This was her second half-marathon.

At some point along the way...maybe mile 9...I was just soooo mad. Why on earth did I pay to do this? It hurt sooo bad! My legs and hips and shoulders! I was holding ice on my neck and shoulders because the muscles were cramping up. Ug! I was just soooo mad!

Then I got over it.

I just had to think....It's just walking. Just walk. One step at a time. I am not going to die. And if I do die I will get to see Jesus and my mother. But I'm not going to die. Just get finished.

Mile 10. Only 3.1 to go.

Will we ever see 11? Yes, we did.

Mile 12. Will we ever see 13?

It took a while to get there, but we did.

Mile 13. The finish line must be just around the corner.

Made it around the corner...

No finish line. UGH!!! It's gotta be here somewhere!

Then I hear Nicole calling out to me. She's about 10 yards ahead on the sidewalk. Keep going! Keep going! The finish line is just around the next corner!!!

When I got to Nicole, I took off the elastic belt/pouch thing I was wearing to hold my phone and other essentials, and I handed it off to her. That thing felt like it was smothering me!

I finally turned the last curve, and there it was! About 50 yards away. Miriam jumped out in the road and started taking pictures. I jogged the last little stretch, giving fake smiles to the race photographers at the finish line.

I don't suppose the smiles were completely fake. I was thrilled to have finished the race and proud of myself. But boy oh boy was I tired!

I got the finisher's medal. I took me 4 hours and 26 minutes.

But I finished.

And not last.

Here's me approaching the finish line and getting the medal.

By the way, the finish line was at the stadium where the Tennessee Titan play.

Walked on to the refreshment area. Found a shade tree and got under it.

Drank some water. And some more water. Ate a bagel. And and oreo cookie.

Started the trek to the car. Here is Miriam, Nicole and me on the walking bridge over the Tennesse River. It was so windy, we had to hold on to our caps.

Stopped somewhere at a Longhorn Steakhouse and had the yummiest salad, steak, and baked potato. We also ordered a dessert with 3 forks. CHOCOLATE!!!!! I think I had burned off the calories. I brought more than half of the steak and potato home with me and finished it off Saturday night.

Look at this...

Will I do it again? We'll see...

Ok, that took longer than I meant for it to. Now where's that Epsom salt...

THE END.

period.

2009-04-23T19:47:00.002-05:00

Finally!

The anxious tears and nervous "what-if's" have come and gone. The "i'm getting a little bit excited fluttering belly butterflies" are here. Yes, the big event is less than 48 hours away, and I am actually looking forward to it.

As for a heel update, I did go to the doctor. I do have what I suspected which is plantar fasciitis and a heel spur. The doc said to walk the long distance would do no harm but would only make me miserable. This week, however, my heel has felt progressively better every day, so maybe by Saturday it will be in good shape. Of course the lortab 5 prescribed to me for race day should come in handy if I need it!

A special "thank you" is in order for those of you who offered up prayers for my heel and my anxiety! I so appreciate it. More importantly, however, is a most grateful "thank You" which is in order for the Hearer of your prayers! Amen and Amen!

The race is set to begin at 7 am CST on Saturday. They release the first corral of runners at 7 am and continue to release each consecutive corral every 1.5 to 2 minutes. I figure I will be starting around 8 am as I am in corral 35. I don't know exactly how it will work, but for any friends and family who wish to do so, there is a live webcast of the race (maybe the finish line) HERE. My race number is 31176.

Can you believe that? There are more than 31,000 participants in this event! Whoa!

This will be my last post until at least Monday, but I will try to send important updates to Twitter (I feel so cool...Twitter...HA!). You can read my Twitter updates at the top right of my blog if you want!

Wish me luck!

I just want to finish.

Not last.

2009-04-20T22:57:00.003-05:00

Some of you have emailed me asking about little baby Stellan who I mentioned in an earlier post. In case you don't remember, he is the little fellow I requested prayer for...I've been reading his Mom's blog for several months (I don't know this family...just read the blog). He had a "fatal" heart condition while in the womb, but was born with no apparent signs of heart problems. Now he is about 5 months old and the problems have reappeared. Now, he has been transferred to a hospital in Boston. He was scheduled to have a risky heart surgery tomorrow morning, but I just read his Mom's blog, and it seems they may do the surgery tonight.

Go ahead and save THIS website in your favorites...she updates daily, sometimes multiple times per day. I promise you will get attached to this family, and from reading her blog, I know they covet your prayers....

2009-04-18T22:45:00.002-05:00

This is one of those posts.

It's one of those posts that cause me to feel sorry for you, the reader. Seriously. It's hard for me to believe you would spend your time reading my ramblings. Don't misunderstand....I'm thankful that you do...but it beats the "heck-far" out of me as to why you keep coming back.

I suppose that's the good thing about a blog (which is short for "web log", just in case you ever wondered!)- the blogger can write and ramble all she wants, and people can read as much or as little as they choose to read. The blogger can use proper grammar if she chooses, or she can write like there ain't no such thang as good English. The blogger can be as transparent as she wants to be. She can even go back and delete the post if she regrets ever putting it out there.

Anyway...back to my thoughts for today...

I don't know why I'm making this such a big deal. The race, that is. And my heel.

I've encountered greater stressors than this race and an aching heel. For example, one time I was walking my faithful friend Barclay in my neighborhood when I lived in Scottsboro, when suddenly a big, mean, yellow dog came running out of nowhere and started attacking my Barclay. I thought my heart would surely stop. I'm terrified of big, mean yellow dogs, and I was afraid he would kill Barclay then start on me. Somehow, I scraped up the courage, rared back, and kicked that hateful dog in the ribs with as much strength as I could muster. My Number 9 did the trick. Big mean yellow dog went on his merry way.

Yes, I've had a few stressors. I broke up a cat-fight here at TWH not too long ago. I'll spare you the details, but imagine the craziest Jerry Springer episode possible. Jerry Springer has professional bouncers with big muscles to handle such situations (not that I watch the show or anything, I just notice occasionally as I surf the channels...ahem, ahem...). I'm working out at the gym now and all, but I ain't got no big arm muscles. Nevertheless, I came through the stress just fine I suppose.

Stressor: Doc calls the house and says "Is there someone there with you? I need to talk to you."

There have been other stressors that I don't even care to write about tonight. I try to think "If I can make it through that, then I surely can make it through this race, for Heaven's sake."

It's like I'm really, really scared, but I don't really know why I am scared. I looked at some race videos on youtube tonight, and guess what...Yep! You guessed it! I started crying!!!

What?

Seriously?

For real?

Crying?

Yes, the tears-running-down-my-face kind of crying where you get that funny feeling in your nose right before it starts.

Gimme a break!

What am I so afraid of with this dumb race?

Afraid of the pain?
Afraid that I've not trained enough, especially here at the end?
Afraid of the hills on the course?
Afraid of not finishing?
Afraid of finishing last?
Afraid of disappointing someone if the Doc tells me to stay home? (Got a doc's appointment Wed about this heel problem).

How negative my thinking is.

Sounds like that familiar sin-problem of pride to me. Like...

...I shouldn't have to experience pain...
...I shouldn't have to work so hard for so long to get ready for a single event...
...I'm too good to be last...
...I'm too good to let him think bad of me...

Ugh. How irrational!

This is what I must remember (this is in the good ole KJV, which is handy here on my desk, but I know that I like the NIV better...):

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for our weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. (II Corintians 10:4-5)

These irrational fears (what if I finish last....what if I disappoint someone...what if...what if...what if...) are strong holds in my mind. They are taking the focus away from Christ and His control of my life.

What then, is my weapon? It's bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

Here are the truths which can combat the irrational fears that are taking root in my mind and heart...

When I humble myself under His almighty hand, in due time He will lift me up. (Be gone, pride!)
Apart from Him, I can do nothing. With Him, all things are possible. (Be gone, fear of failure!)
He has loved me with an everlasting love! Only His opinion matters! (Be gone, fear of disappointing others!)

If I participate, I participate. If I don't, I don't. All I know to do right now is listen to the doctor.

And if I do participate (which I'm thinking I will...)

...If I finish, I finish. If I don't, I don't.

If I finish last. So what?

Whew-wee.

I feel better now.

Goodnight everyone.

Empty Nest

2009-04-17T21:48:00.003-05:00

My little baby birds flew away today.

Erica and baby Aubriana moved today to be near the baby's family. I miss them already. That just goes with the territory, I suppose.

Erica has already sent text messages to keep me posted. They got there safely and all is good.

Yes, they were our only residents here at TWH, so that means I am alone in this big ole house. I plan to use this time without girls to have a deep Spring cleaning.

Barclay and Gilbert are begging to come in and sleep with me so I won't get lonely.

I told them no.

....sigh....

Goodnight, everybody!

My heel hurts.....

2009-04-13T20:22:00.005-05:00

...and its 12 days before my "big race" in Nashville. 13.1 miles, I believe it is.

My heel hurts pretty bad. Remember...I was in the band. I'm a musician. I've never been an athlete, so I'm not used to this sort of thing...pain. Ugh!

It seems that I've got myself a good case of plantar fasciitis. That's the big word for "my heel hurts because I've been putting a lot of weight and pressure on it." To treat this plantar fasciitis, I've been stretching it, and icing it, and resting it. I've swallowed more ibuprophen than I know.

...sooooo....

I'm asking all my peeps out there the say a prayer for my heel when you pray. I really, really, really want to do this race and finish!

***04/14 Update...my heel has felt a little better today. Please keep praying! I'm shooting for a good long walk in the morning- the last long walk before the race! Nite!

an Easter baptism...

2009-04-12T16:25:00.004-05:00

We had a baptism service this Easter afternoon for my friend Garry. It was a beautiful and most appropriate day for the baptism!

the Hope in Easter

2009-04-11T22:59:00.002-05:00

"Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in Me. In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:1-3

Fat Albert Easter!

2009-04-11T22:18:00.002-05:00

Do they make cartoons like this anymore?

I think somebody could make a Sunday school lesson out of this one! Can you see sin, forgiveness, and redemption?

Wow, Bill!

Good job!

Baby BamaSlammer!

2009-04-11T21:28:00.003-05:00

I have a good friend named BamaSlammer (a.k.a. "Shay") who lives somewhere in south Georgia. She is home in Alabama for Easter and to introduce her new little Baby BamaSlammer (a.k.a. "Ava Kate").

I had the best time today visiting with BamaSlammer and baby. Thought I would share some baby pics, but I promised Mommy that her image would not be posted!

What a cutie! She's a little Tweety Bird with her great big eyes!!!

I Love You, Baby BamaSlammer!!!

Good...

2009-04-10T00:16:00.000-05:00

...somehow "good" doesn't seem adequate for a Friday like this. It just seems sort of plain to me...."good".

This day memorializes a most special day.

A pivotal day for all mankind.

A very dark day.

A day of grieving in Heaven.

On this day we remember a crossroads of sorts where the justice of God intersected with the sinfulness of man, the sinfulness of me.

On a cross.

Instead of me.

It's breathtaking.

It's numbing.

But good? I just think there should be a better, more descriptive word for this Friday.

...oh yes, I remember now...

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord."

Jesus seemed to like the term "good".

"I am the Good Shepherd; the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep....I am the Good Shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine...I lay down my life for the sheep."

He is Good.

Oh, thank you Jesus.

Yes, oh yes, You are good.

And I...

I am not.

Only grateful.

The Icing of the Tulips

2009-04-07T07:44:00.005-05:00

I heard talk of snow.

I didn't listen.

I didn't buy milk.

I woke up surprised.

Awwww!

I hope the pretty tulips pull through.

April 7.

In the Deep South.

Global warming?

Anyone?

Little Stellan

2009-03-31T17:37:00.002-05:00

Blogging is a weird thing.

It's weird because it's possible to become mentally and emotionally involved in the lives of people, real people with real lives, that you have never met, never laid eyes on, and may not even know where in the world they live. But they become important to you all the same.

For months I've been following the blog of a lady who calls herself MckMama as she writes about her husband Prince Charming and her children Big Mac, MckNugget, Small Fry, and MckMuffin.

I began following her blog long before MckMuffin (a.k.a. Stellan) was born when she and hundreds of other bloggers were praying for a miracle for MckMuffin. See, before he was born, doctors said he would never survive the womb due to fatal heart problems.

Not only did MckMuffin survive the womb, he was born with no signs of a heart condition.

Sadly, MckMuffin is back in the hospital and is not doing well. I believe he is about 5 months old now.

Please say a prayer for this sweet baby and his family. Only God knows what the future holds for them...

2009-03-31T07:12:00.003-05:00

Here's what I'm thinking lately...

None of it really matters.

The little irritations that stress us out don't amount to a hill of beans.

Look around you at all the stuff. Someday it will all just burn.

What He cares about is the condition of our hearts. Do we love Him? Do we seek to obey his Commandments? And how do we even know His commandments if we don't read His Word?
Do we love others?

Isn't that what it boils down to...loving Christ? Obeying Him? Loving others?

Simple as that.

Sometimes it doesn't feel so simple, but my feelings are generally selfish, so perhaps I shouldn't live life based upon my feelings.

In my arrogance disguised as false-humility, I used to think it selfish to dwell on Heaven. Then some people that I love went to Heaven. Things changed.

Now I know. Heaven is why He came in the first place...For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Heaven is the hope given to us by our Hope.

How hard would this life be without the hope of Heaven? What if this (although my this is very good) were all there is? How brief, how treacherous, how dead life would be without the hope of Heaven.

So, yes, if He calls me today I would be so embarrassed that my closet looks like it has thrown up on itself, and somebody will have to deal with the mess. My closet is on my nerves, but in the big scheme of things, it doesn't matter.

What does matter is, if He calls me today, I'm ready.

Come, Lord Jesus!

The Winning HoneyBee!!!

2009-03-26T21:15:00.002-05:00

My favorite HoneyBee guessed the baby's weight exactly...8lbs 12 oz!!!

Good Job, girl!!!

Be watching for you SURPRISE!!!

Ooooo! Aaaaaaaah! Right?

She's home...

2009-03-25T06:47:00.002-05:00

We brought sweet Aubriana home yesterday around noon. She didn't get a chance to get a good look at the place yet because she can't seem to keep her eyes open! All the excitement of the last few days has just left her pooped.

Except for when she's pooping, that is...

Don't forget to enter THE CONTEST! You have until 6p.m. tomorrow to leave your guess of baby's birthweight. CLICK HERE TO ENTER! The guess who gets closest without going over wins a special prize! OOOO! Aaaaaa! Right?

Dear Adrian...

2009-03-24T22:12:00.003-05:00

Dear Adrian,

HI! Do you remember me? It's me...Katie. When I was really, really sweet, you would sometimes call me K.K. When I was especially smart and talented, some people called me Katie Couric. You will testify on my behalf, right? Will you please tell everyone that I used to be sweet. Back when I was a little, bitty Kitty, I was sweet...right?

I remember when you and I first met. Back in 1996, Theia had graduated from Auburn and had decided to spend the summer there working before starting grad school in the fall. I came to live with you and Theia in your apartment there...Genelda Place, remember?

Genelda Place. Now, that brings back some memories. Remember our cute neighbor Andy and his girlfriend Lara? We never could figure out how those two got together, could we? Remember when Craig and Eric brought you some magazines? And the mouse. That stupid mouse was in the fluorescent light fixture that night....you called Eric and Craig. Eric screamed like a girl. Oh good grief!

But then you moved away to finish your clinicals for pharmacy school.

...sigh...

Theia and I moved to a trailer at Dawson Park way down off of Wire Road. At first, it was just great. I used to help Theia study. She would spread her books and notebooks out on the floor so that I could lay on top of them for her. She used to really love when I would do that for her.

You finally came back to live with us. Oh, I had missed you sooooooooo bad when you were away. Remember that game you and I used to play? I would hide under you bed, and when you walked by, I would jump out and grab your feet. You would scream and I would dart out of the room like a bullet! Oh! Those were the good ole days, huh?

Oh, Dawson Park...yes, I think that's where my troubles all started. Remember our weird neighbor? The parole officer? He wasn't too weird, I don't suppose. But all those white cats he had. They were all over the place! How many were there...5...6...9? I can't remember! But they were HUGE. And some of them had had skin cancer (bless their hearts) and had their ears clipped off. Those cats gave me anxiety, and generally put me in a bad mood.

Another thing that put me in a bad mood...when Theia refused to sing my favorite songs to me. I used to love to crawl up in her arms and meow, meow, meow. I loved when she would sing that "A-B-C-D-E-F-G" song and the "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine..." But then she would cut loose in a song about Jesus loving me...for some reason that song hurt my ears. I would slap my Mommy and tell her to stop it. Everytime, she just told me I needed to get saved. That just put me in a really, really bad mood.

I've been in a bad mood ever since.

Theia finally graduated and we moved home to Sand Mountain.

Grandmother and Pepaw hated cats. They hated me, too. I don't know why, really. Beats the heck-far out of me. I don't know what their problem was. I mean, I'm nice. I'm pretty. I'm fluffy and gray. I told them they could still live in the house as long as they understood who was the boss. They just could not understand that I was the Queen.

One day, Pepaw tried to make me get out of the house. I said you crazy, man! He really was crazy...he got this big broom-thing and started swatting at me. I said to him keep hitting at me, and you'll be sorry! He kept on swatting at me. Stop it, man! I'm not kidding! Pepaw kept on being crazy with that broom! That's it man! You have crossed the line! I'm outta here! Now what you gonna do without me?

Uncle Jack had been begging and pleading for me to come take charge of his farm. He had all these dogs and goats and fish and ducks. You should see that farm now...I've really got it all whipped into shape! I don't know what Uncle Jack ever did without me.

I'm still in a bad mood, though. But I just can't help it. People insist on walking by me when I haven't summoned them to my presence. Haven't they any manners? Don't they know they should not speak unless I have spoken to them?

And get this...sometimes they call me "The devil-cat".... whatever! I'd just like to know where they got their information!

Anyway, if you are ever in South DeKalb county, come see me. Consider yourself officially summoned!

Your Old Friend,

Katie

P.S. I hope you like the pictures I am sending to you. I might be 13 years old, but I still got it goin' on girl!

Thank Heaven for Baby Girls!

2009-03-22T22:53:00.004-05:00

Aubrianna Kailee made her debut today @ 5:30 p.m. Her mommy, Erica, is doing just fine. Baby needed some IV antibiotics, but seems to be doing great.

To celebrate Aubrianna's birthday, we're having a contest!

Please leave a comment with your guess of this little angel's weight. The person who guesses the closest without going over will win a special prize! Ooooo! Ahhhhh!

*Friends and family who have already heard the weight are automatically disqualified! Sorry! Contest ends March 26 @ 6 p.m.!

Cup O'Tea, Anyone?

2009-03-21T22:05:00.004-05:00

Even I know this is just wrong.

It calls for a tea party of sorts. A Boston-style tea party, to be clear.

The $800 billion stimulus bill unnerved me from the beginning. Remember this?

I knew it. I just knew it. It seems that my suspicions were right on...the very ones passing the bill had not even read the thing. Oh brother.... HERE is a nice quote to file away.

QUESTION: What now?

CURRENT ANSWER from Washington? H.R. 1586. Nice, Clark. Real nice.

I have just a a few thoughts on this matter....

Seriously? You are a congressman. If your job is to do anything, it's to pass laws. You didn't have time to read it? C'mon man... Priorities, people! Priorities!
I'm not rich, but I don't hate rich people. Why is everybody getting so mad at the AIG executives who received the bonuses? They're human just like you and me, right? It would take a person of exceptional character to refuse a bonus for the good of others. According to the letter of the law, evidently the bonuses were legal. The government who passed the bill is what's wacko in this instance. Perhaps if the company was in dire shape, the bonuses should have never been promised to begin with, and maybe past years of absurd executive bonuses are precisely what crumbled the company to begin with, but that's a mute point today.
90%??? What? If the government allows a certain people group to be taxed at this rate, what keeps them from taxing me at this rate? No circumstances should call for 90% taxation. This is just asinine to me! Is there something I'm missing here? Somebody, please correct me if I'm missing a big point in this matter!

And here's another thing...

Regarding the uproar over the President and his "Special Olympics" comment on Leno. Who gives a flip? A little politically incorrect? Yes. He wasn't making fun of disabled people, he was making fun of himself, which I have to admire just a bit. But who cares anyway? Lighten up, people! It's a late night talk show, for Heaven's sake. Of course, had President George W. Bush said the same thing, Michael Moore would already be making a movie about it...

Oh! But wait! A late night talk show. Our nation is on the verge of the worst economic climate since the Great Depression, and the President is on Leno discussing bowling? Reminds me of a lecture I heard back in Western Civilization class when Marie-Antoinette said, in response to the news that her French subjects had no bread to eat, "Let them eat cake."

...Sigh...

Cake...

Oh yes, perhaps we can have teacakes at our tea party.

Something's gotta give, and I'm afraid it's going to be you and me giving more and more...

Breathtaking!

2009-03-19T08:00:00.005-05:00

Yesterday afternoon I enjoyed an afternoon outing with Erica, my friend Sonya, and her little girl Ashley. We visited Little River Canyon and DeSoto Falls. The weather was perfect!

The scenery was almost unfathomable!

Breathtaking!

It's hard to comprehend that a person could see the beauty of God's creation and still not believe...

Biggest Loser Night

2009-03-17T13:33:00.005-05:00

I love Tuesdays. It's "The Biggest Loser" Night. I love it! I love it! I love it!

I love it like I love Reese's Cups!

What? Did I say that?

Once I remember Jillian the Trainer telling one of the Biggest Loser contestants that there's no stopping unless you are fainting of puking. Well, I had moment at the gym early this morning that would make Jillian proud...and I didn't faint. Catch my drift?

Yuk.

Embarrassing. Totally.

Don't worry! I'm feeling fine now.

By the way, The Family officially has another blogger! First it was me, then it was CUZ, now....check THIS out! I'm diggin' this one too!

Aunt Kathy...what are you waiting on?

A little Erica update...stay tuned. We have an appointment at 2:20 today.

****UPDATE: "When the apple is ripe, it will fall off the tree" said the DOC. We go back to see him again on Monday afternoon...

Oh Boy! Oh Boy! Oh Boy! (...or girl...)

2009-03-16T10:11:00.005-05:00

Erica's getting that look on her face. We're going to see Dr. Coulter today at 1p.m.!!!

I think this calls for a CONTEST!!!

...stay tuned...

***UPDATE: Dr. Coulter was delivering babies today, so we only saw the NP. We have another appointment to see Dr. Coulter tomorrow afternoon...

2009-03-13T17:07:00.004-05:00

I read THIS on the Fox News website today and thought it interesting.

La la la la la laaaaaaaaaaa....

What in the world???

2009-03-12T21:27:00.004-05:00

Had lunch with my good friend Marie *** today. After a brief lull in conversation over our "beans and greens" at Cracker Barrel, she says to me "I heard this story on the radio yesterday about this one-eyed Canadian film maker."

One-eyed film maker??? I just cracked up, as did she! Just the fact that we both found that concept funny...I'm sorry ya'll.

What.In.The.World???

HERE is the story.

Little bit creepy if you ask me!

***Marie is getting good reports from her recent bout with cancer. She's really quite exhausted, but preliminary tests are very positive. Great News!!!

Pray 4 Dustin

2009-03-12T08:43:00.003-05:00

Please pray for Dustin Lewis, a young man from Pisgah who recently had a motor cycle accident. He is in the hospital at Erlanger in Chattanooga. You can read his story HERE...you can even register to receive email notifications when his website has been updated with his progress.

I don't know Dustin very well. I just remember watching him play basketball for Pisgah where he was a fantastic athlete. I know he is very much loved by many people.

2009-03-11T22:00:00.002-05:00

Just a few random thoughts of what I'm thinking lately...

Wednesday has come and gone and the time change is kicking my butt. Is it okay to write that on a "Christian" blog???? Sorry kids. That's just the way it is.

To make matters worse, I'm going through this weird insomnia-thing where I keep waking up during the night to check the clock...fearful that I have overslept. How frustrating! Dont't know what's up with that!

When the girls here at the house complain of not being able to sleep, I smugly tell them that God is preparing them to have an infant, that their bodies are gearing up for sleep deprivation. Oh my, we are expecting a baby any day now, and I hope He's not preparing me for sleep deprivation. That's totally not cool.

The doctor was originally planning to put Erica in the hospital this Friday, but after her check-up today, he has decided to wait another week. Sigh... It's a girl, and we feel like we've been waiting on her for at least eleven months.

A little side note about Erica...she's doing really good. She hasn't missed a day of work her entire pregnancy. She's half-way through her first semester at Northeast. Saving money to buy a car...buy, yes buy....not finance. I'm really proud of her.

A few weeks ago, we had 4 girls in the house, but now we are down to just one. Kiara achieved her goals for being here and went back to her family. Since then, two other girls have made the choice to leave the house. I'm a little sad about it, because I know they are making choices to return to difficult circumstances in a hard world. Sometimes I question if we are doing something wrong here or if we are missing a mark somehow, but I've come to the conclusion that the we would be doing our residents more harm than good if we allowed them behave "any ole way". Because we love them, we set difficult yet reasonable and achievable standards for our residents, and unfortunately, not all of them are up for the challenge.

...because we love them... It seems that love, God's way, has been popping up in my life every way I turn lately. 2 Commandments: Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind and Love your neighbor as yourself. If we love Him, we will keep his commandments. Love is patient, kind, does not envy. Keeps no record of wrongs. Rejoices in the truth. Christ loved the rich young ruler enough to tell him the truth.

God's definition of love is difficult for me to get my mind around sometimes. It's even more difficult to line my actions up with His standard, but I believe it can be done...we should at least give it all we've got to love as He commands us to love. He gave everything for us...

Soooooo...on a more serious note....

Saturday I am registered to walk in a St. Patrick's Day 5K in South Pittsburg, TN. It benefits a food bank and a Christian Women's Job Corp. If it's yukky weather, I'm not going. Sorry kids, that's just the way it is.

Oh, yes...I almost forgot. My cousin Chris who was a guest writer on my blog recently has apparently started his own blog. Check it out HERE. I'm diggin' it personally! Please leave comments on his blog if you enjoy reading it. Comments help.

I'm fine with all the Lurkers who Read My Thoughts, but please don't do CUZ that way! He deserves better!

In the words of my good friend, new-mommy-of-baby-Ava-Kate, and the all-time best Whitney Houston impersonator, a.k.a., BamaSlammer,... This is my blog for the day...

Makes Me Wanna' SHOUT!

2009-03-09T15:46:00.003-05:00

March 9, 2009 is a good day. No, it's a Great day!

Today, I am 3 years cancer-free!

To celebrate, let's all enjoy another video clip from the HOPE Puppet Team!