Saturday, December 25, 2010

Christmas Morning Magic

Christmas 2010.....A White Christmas, a little snow to give us that "post card" Christmas feeling.

As the ghost of Christmas Past brings back the memories of when Christmas mornings were filled with the sounds of happy, excited children, noisy gift wrap being torn from unexpected surprises and Christmas list wishes were brought to life, I think about how different Christmas morning is when there are no longer small children, no longer the magical wide-eyed wonder, no longer the trying to stay awake until the last eye is closed so "Santa" can leave the visions of sugar-plums under the tree.........

In the early years with the boys, the lists were always made early in the fall, then an extra job was necessary in order to fill those lists. On Sunday after Thanksgiving the Christmas tree went up and the anticipation started up as well. Wants and wishes changed daily as commercials and ads flashed before their innocent eyes and convinced them this was the latest and best and they had to have it. Christmas Eve and bedtime was always hard...the excitement seemed to hold those little eyes open and those little hearts racing, making for a late night and then a very early morning.......then along came our little girl and wide-eyed wonderment took on a whole new meaning! Christmas morning was centered around her squeals and giggles....watching her open her gifts filled the morning and everyone was exhausted by the time the long awaited nap-time came so we all could rest. As the boys grew older,  their Christmas gifts soon consisted of guy gear and the latest electronics, but for a few more years, toys were back on the list and so was the magic of Christmas morning.

As the years passed and life brought on change, the boys grew up, the little girl was joined by a little brother and the magic of Christmas morning continued....

This year we were blessed with a White Christmas and the only sounds on Christmas morning were the whispering snow flakes as they fell on a quiet, sleepy little home where a sleeping teenager had to be awakened to open his gifts of guy gear and the latest electronics. The gifts were opened without the squeals, without the giggles, without the fanfare of Christmas mornings past.....but somehow there was still a little magic in the air. I'm not sure if it was the falling snow or if I saw it in the smiles and heard it in the giggles and squeals of our grandchildren as they told us about their Christmas morning surprises.

Merry Christmas

Sunday, November 7, 2010

The Fall Weekend Get Away


Have you ever wanted to just get away? A change of scenery or a chance to turn your focus to things that you are not responsible for and just relax your mind?

Last weekend was one of those weekends....for 24 hours, My husband and I left the farm, the kids, the grand kids, the dog, the cat and the horse and went south.....to the very small town of Linden, Tennessee. The weather was perfect, the sky was blue, the fall colors were brilliant and the drive was slow and lazy as the country roads wound this way and that way. I am surprised I didn't fall asleep as I usually do on long drives, but the breathtaking scenes from the windshield of our car kept me awake and captivated.

Now if you haven't been to Linden and ever get a chance to go, don't blink or look down to change the station on the radio or you will certainly miss the historic down town area....in fact the whole 2 blocks of the city was under construction for new sidewalks. That was fine since a walking tour of the city didn't take that long and we hardly noticed the orange cones warning us of the construction obstacles to avoid. The size of the town was a surprise, but all the more inviting for a weekend get away.

The Commodore Hotel was a treat......a 1939 hotel restored with modern conveniences, but still a step back in time.......how many people get to stay in room # 1 and the key to the door is a real key. This has to be the most unique place we have ever stayed........the room was kind of like an upstairs bedroom, like you would find in a bed and breakfast and was really comfortable. We were told the hotel door was locked at 9:00pm and if we went out we would have to use a code to get back in. Well, we weren't going anywhere, there was no place to go!!

The hotel had a restaurant with a Chef and the Waitress was also the front desk clerk. Since we were there on Halloween weekend, dinner was prepared by a character from Goosebumps and served up by the bride of Dracula....what a frightful night it was....





The meal was excellent, a delicacy in a rural little town where time has stopped compared to hustle and bustle of the outside world. And when I say time has stopped....I mean literally.

Someone forgot to tell the folks of Linden there is crime and criminals out there in the world.....the information book in the room listed under services that guests could have their guns cleaned during their stay, in fact, the hotel would arrange for pick up and delivery for the guests. Then during dinner, cooked and served by very strange characters, trick or treat-ers came in to collect candy from a big bowl set out by Dracula's Bride.......A dad and mom brought in a tiny little goblin with dad in camos and a deer rifle slung on his back.......this was deemed a natural way of life for the small town and no one appeared offended or threatened.....
The night was peaceful, sleep was deep and we awoke rested and ready for a nice breakfast to send us on our way back to reality.....but we took our time, reminiscing about the things we had seen and enjoyed in the last 24 hours.....A quaint little town where the stress of the outside world had not yet penetrated the lives of the locals, the Mennonite farms where we had bought fresh bread made by a sweet grandma who had ground the flour to make it, the Native American PowWow that we happened upon where they were honoring the soldiers from all areas of the military and I found a real Indian Talking Stick, and where time had slowed down to a pace of years gone by.....

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Fall Retreat in Paris (Landing)























Do you remember sleepovers, slumber parties and giggly girlfriend get togethers? Do you ever get to relive those carefree days of years gone by? Well, the ladies of the Branches Sunday School at First Baptist of Dickson spent the weekend doing just that....








This was the second annual Ladies Retreat at Paris Landing State Park. The weekend begins on Friday afternoon with the ladies making their way from different directions with food, special recipes, treats to share, sleeping bags, air mattress beds, our favorite quilts or blankets, and casual weekend attire......lets not forget a fun game for Friday night that will stir the competitive juices, turning these mature, Sunday School leaders into dog-eat-dog no holes barred competitors.It is all in fun and fun it is as we laugh so hard we wake up on Saturday morning with our faces sore and our bodies aching.



And speaking of Saturday....it's shoe shopping day!!!! We have discovered a Shoe Outlet nearby and you know how girls love shoes....and shopping for shoes with your girlfriends is so much more fun. Laughter erupts in the shoe isles as we try on heels, boots, sneakers and flats, making our own selections and ooh-ing and aah-ing over each others wonderful finds,Then we pile back into the van to make our way to  the Christian Book and Gift Store. This little store is a diamond find in the middle of nowhere, but we always visit there when they are having their anniversary sale....bargains!!!!! With our treasures in hand, we head back to the cabin for a nice lunch and a time for devotion. Christ is always at the center of our retreat, sharing His word, strengthening our faith and giving Him praise for bringing us together is of utmost importance.


Saturday night is relaxation night.....after a long walk, taking in the beauty of the fall colors as the sun sets, casting long shadows, the blue skies and even bluer lake, we are in awe of how much God loves us to prepare such a day for us to enjoy. As the sun starts to set, we set out to return to the cabin and the pampering of a relaxing spa.







Sunday morning comes too soon and it is time to go....leaving is bitter sweet, but we make a pact that same time next year will keep that bond strong between us. We pray for each other's safety, health, families and give our Lord thanks for allowing us this time together to share in His love. ..








Friday, October 15, 2010

What is Your Will Lord?


What is your will for me today, Lord?

This was the question I penned on January 6th, 2008. I have always longed for and sometimes have fit a "quiet time" into my day. My quiet times have been sporadic and intentional over the years, but lately, as I grow older and my body is demanding more rest, I find my time to meditate and listen to that small still voice of my maker is often times only a dream.

As I start my day, I will prepare for the weekend at a ladies retreat. This will be the 2nd annual for the wonderful ladies in my Sunday School Class.

I wonder what the Lord has in store for us this weekend.......a renewal of friendship with fellow believers? Sharing our faith and sharing our struggles? Will there be a need met, a heart healed....only God knows his plans for us.....As in my journal entry in 2008 reflected, the stress of everyday living is so great, I long for the quiet time to "be still and listen". The noise of life is most times so loud,it drowns out the soft faint voice of God. I know it is up to me to discipline myself to find that quiet time in my day to be able to hear what He has to say to me. I pray daily for the time to slow down and really meditate and listen, for I know I am not able to handle the pressures of life without the strength and courage that only comes from God. I can only get that strength by taking time to allow God to renew my spirit~~~~~~

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Being Thankful and Feeling Blessed


Sometimes after a stressed filled week, the early hours of Saturday morning are spent enjoying a few moments of quiet time in devotion and reflecting on the week. As I started to read my "Journey" devotion this weekend, feelings of stress I had encountered during the hectic work week began to seem so small to the burdens some people carry everyday.....


"What burdens are you bearing today? A sick child, spouse, or parent? A strained relationship with a fellow believer? The loss of a loved one through death or divorce? Ridicule from unsaved family members and friends? The loss of an income? The grief of a prodigal child? A Chronic or terminal illness? The pains of growing older? The daily challenges of meeting everyone's needs or demands"?


As I read down this list, answering no to each one unless you count the one about growing older-no pain, just growing older, I realized how blessed I am! What have I got to complain about....really...I have a job, I have my health, I have healthy children and grandchildren, I have a peaceful home, I know where my children are, my parents are with the Lord......


This week I will not stress out.....I will be thankful for the problems I encounter, it gives me a chance to help someone-I will be thankful that each morning I can get out of bed, some people can't- I will be thankful for my drive to work because I have a car, some people don't- I will be thankful at the end of each day that I have a peaceful place to come home to, some people don't and I will be thankful I have a paycheck on payday, some people don't.


First Peter 4:12 tells us not to be surprised at our perpetual trials. It has been proven time and time again that our faith grows, our trust deepens and our character is fortified in times of suffering.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Mother's Day Tribute-A Poem for My Mama


 
I took down my memories from the shelf today- inside I found my childhood, so neatly tucked away


First thing that I came across was an old familiar face, upon it were reflections of another time and place


Creases of worry I saw buried upon an aging brow- these lines would be erased if I had known what I do now


There were traces of teardrops, some happy and some were sad, but each was a reminder of the love I have always had


I unfolded a pair of hands, worn and withered, yet strong- in comfort they had held me, but when needed, pushed me on


At the bottom of the stack there lay a heart of gold. It contained the strength of many and more love than could be told


Then I slowly placed them back, each precious, treasured part. Again my childhood memories were locked within my heart


Whenever I chance to wander down that old road back in time, the first one that I think of is that dear old mom of mine


Kathy, 1987

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Our Purpose Driven Life





I received an email today from a dear friend, one of those forward type emails and this one is truly one to pass on.....I wanted to share it and in essence make it a part of my legacy because I truly believe we all have a purpose in life, a reason we were born. Our life may be made up of many purposes occurring at different stages of our life and as we fulfill each purpose another on evolves, but if we follow our hearts and listen to the quiet voice of our maker, we will feel the joy of happiness and satisfaction in living a life pleasing to our heavenly father....

In the interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren, Rick said:

"People ask me, What is the purpose of life? And I respond: In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were not made to last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven. One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body-- but not the end of me. I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal. God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity..

We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.
Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one. The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort; God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy.
We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness.

This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the toughest, with my wife, Kay, getting cancer. I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe that anymore. Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life….No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on. And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for.  


You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems: If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness, which is my problem, my issues, my pain.' But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others. We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people, God was not going to heal Kay or make it easy for her- It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people.

You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life. Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is harder. For instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million copies, it made me instantly very wealthy. It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never had to deal with before. I don't think God gives you money or notoriety for your own ego or for you to live a life of ease. So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do with this money, notoriety and influence. 


He gave me two different passages that helped me decide what to do, II Corinthians 9 and Psalm 72. First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our lifestyle one bit.. We made no major purchases. Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from the church. Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call The Peace Plan to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, and educate the next generation. Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be able to serve God for free.
 

We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions? Popularity? Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? Or am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)?
When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better. God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do. That's why we're called human beings, not human doings."
 



"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask in prayer", Matthew 21:22

Reflecting on My Day

Late summer and early fall are my favorite times of the year......if you don't count late spring and early summer, that is. Today was not one of our Slow Sigh Saturdays, but one that started early and at a fast pace. My husband had an event in Nashville, a reunion with his military buddies and I had an event in Clarksville with some of my home business team, so we went in opposite directions this morning. It would have been great to spend the day lounging and taking our time on deciding what to do, but we had obligations that spoke for us......no regrets, just looking forward to next Saturday that belongs to just us.

This has been another picture perfect day, one that makes the freezing winter, the floods of spring and the30 plus days this summer with near and above 100 degrees seem distant and fuzzy in my memory. As I sit in the late afternoon shade and watch the sun slowly set, I long for the chance to have this day again and spend it looking out over our little piece of paradise after watching the sun come up, listening to the first chirp of the birds while the little community around us awakens to the breath taking start of the weekend. But I will enjoy this chance to see the beauty of a peaceful, relaxing Saturday afternoon and thank God I have some down time to reflect on what a joy this day has been for both of us, spending time with friends. It doesn't matter how much I dream of doing nothing........that is not what life is all about. Life is about building and renewing relationships and it has been one of those days.......Thank you Lord for a good day!!!!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Down on the Farm

In the summer of 1995 we moved from a small apartment in Bellevue TN to a kid friendly neighborhood in Dickson TN, to my long awaited big white house where I dreamed of a white picket fence to go with it. After settling into suburbia life, we were content to watch our daughter grow up with a friend next door, celebrating birthdays together, sleepovers, ballgames, bike wrecks, karate, first dates, school dances and her first car and to watch our son romp the neighborhood with all the other little boys, competing in video games, enjoying camping trips, skate boarding, bumps and bruises and the joys of all the things little boys are made of, while we became workaholics, burning the candle at both ends.

Early in 2004, we got restless to make a change in our lives.... as the kids grew, so did the need to find out what else was out there. Our daughter was graduating and our son was getting ready for middle school and work was becoming more stressful for me, so I knew the time had come.......

My journal reflected my thoughts at this time in and on February 2, 2004 I wrote;

"the year is ticking by and like a wisp of smoke, January is a distant memory. My plans to journal daily have not taken off, but maybe this month will offer me a new start. The week ahead promises to be a busy one at work as well as preparing for Crystal's graduation and looking at the new property that may just be the change we are looking for. We have a lot of praying ahead of us about this one and then waiting for God to open the door".....

Well God opened the door and later the next year on May 10, 2005, my journal entry went like this.....

Philippians 4:6, "never worry about anything, but in every situation let God know your needs in prayers and requests while giving thanks".

"It has been awhile since I put anything on paper, but that does not mean there has been nothing to write about. The last year has taken us from suburbia to down on the farm! "back to our roots" you might say. Who would have guessed we would wind up here at a time when most couples our age would be looking at down-sizing to a place with less physical labor......we find ourselves on a farm where the days are never long enough to complete all there is to do! Sometimes I cautiously allow myself to think of all we have gotten ourselves into, with no end to the repairs and maintenance of our piece of paradise.

During these times I'd feel an overwhelming fear start to surface and then I'd  remember our prayers in asking God to open the doors for us, if this was his plan. So, here we are and if this is were He wants us to be, then I am sure he will provide us with the strength to maintain it".

Life on the farm has been an adventure and some of my future posts will recount those adventures with our children and our grandchildren. Though we have survived,  6 years later, we feel that restlessness stirring again. Our daughter has married, our son is getting ready to graduate in the spring and the wander dust is starting to swirl......where will it take us? Only as we turn the page in our book of life will we find what God has in store for us.

Jeremiah 29:11   For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to to give you hope and a future.

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Dream Chaser


I read somewhere that when you stop dreaming you die.....well if that is true, I will live forever. What is life if there are no dreams? Dreams are Hope and if there are no Dreams there is no Hope! I have always had dreams; dreams of achievements, dreams for my future, dreams for my children and dreams for my children's future....my dreams keep me motivated, passionate, enthusiastic, in turn I try to encourage motivation, passion and enthusiasm in others, especially my children. My daughter Crystal has always been so positive and focused, but occasionally I have had to remind her of what a wonderful creation she is when she has let herself feel defeated and without purpose.....an entry from my journal describes a time when she was still in high school and struggling with her studies. She had a test coming up and could not grasp the concept of the subject.....feeling defeated she was ready to give up and settle for a failing grade. As I watched her in despair, my early morning journal entry reminded her of who she was....a Child of the King!

November 6, 2002~~~~~Today my heart is heavy with the pain I see in your struggles to learn. I know you have the ability to succeed in your studies, but feel you are selling yourself short. You are smart and intelligent, but often seem to want to be so hard on yourself. Sometimes, we find it easier to give up on something than to overcome it. I know you can accomplish anything you set your heart on, but it takes desire and trust in God to get you through the difficulties you come up against. The Bible tell us in Proverbs 1:7- "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." Don't be a fool and turn away from learning, but rather turn to God for the knowledge you need. Then don't expect God to do it all, but have faith the He will open your mind to absorb what He puts before you to learn. Your attitude is the first thing you need to turn over to God because learning starts with the desire and desires begin with the attitude of our heart. In Proverbs 23:12 it says, "Apply your heart to instruction and ears to words of knowledge" and in II Timothy it goes on to tell us, "may the Lord give you understanding in all things." This is my prayer for you, baby girl.....please don't give up and let life pass you by. Don't let these things defeat you and rob you of the vast world of knowledge that God has created for you. Don't let anyone tell you can't!

As my daughter was getting ready for school that morning, I copied what I had written and took it to her room. She got though her test that day and passed....my faith and encouragement in her made her believe in herself, believe in her dreams and believe the future held great things for her......

Life on the Farm

Did I ever say I liked animals? Well, if I did, I don't anymore! I had this beautiful afternoon and I wanted to just sit beside the pond and listen to the water fall, let the sun warm my back while I take in the beauty of the afternoon on this breath-taking day....My quiet relaxation was interrupted by a scratching dog and a snorting horse swishing her tail and breathing down my neck-----I am ready to leave this peaceful country life and try my luck at a relaxing afternoon on the balcony of a high-rise overlooking the hustle and bustle of a noisy city somewhere far away from horses, cats, dogs, chickens, donkeys and any other animal we have befriended, housed and fed over the past 6 years....so much for an evening of solitude! I think I will just sit within the confines of the fenced in area of the barnyard where the animals can only look at me from afar....now I will pen my thoughts about this wonderful day~~~~~~~
2 weeks ago, my husband and I started our SSS....Slow Sigh Saturdays....we had our second one today. Every other Saturday is great if we can't make it every Saturday. Our SSS begins with no alarm going off at 3:15am and we get up when we wake up...me around 6:00am and he around 7:00am. I sip my morning tea on the screen porch until he gets up and then we make coffee. This morning I had to have a blanket on the porch....love this cool fall like weather...Somewhere around 9:00am, we go into town and have breakfast at Ace Diner then check out the local shops and thrift stores just doing what we want and forgetting about the clock.....
Today has been the most beautiful day with fall in the air, a welcome surprise after the summer heat that has beat down upon us for the last 3 months. Our adventure today took us to Vanleer, Tennessee- a beautiful rural area, even more primitive than our little corner of God's country in Tennessee City. As we drove slowly along the very narrow country road, it seemed we were the only thing moving. Time stood still as the bright sunshine fell across the quiet country homes nestled back under the trees as the bright blue sky peeked in from above.....it was truly breath-taking......we visited a bustling Mennonite store out in the middle of this quaint country setting where folks came from near and far to get home-made breads, sweet pastries, home canned jams and jellies or to lunch on fresh made-to-order sandwiches and hot homemade soup simmering in a crock pot in the eating area that doubles as their worship center.......we continued our slow drive home with our goodies from the store in hand and the memory of this day in our hearts....loving a Slow Sigh Saturday~~~~~

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Christmas and God's Gifts to Parents

It felt like Christmas today....I got home from a big event to promote my home business and found a gift from my company in the mailbox...a beautiful watch:) Thinking about how getting a little surprise can put a smile on my face and a giggle in my heart, I starting thinking about how excited my kids always were on Christmas morning....the anticipation, the Christmas lists that kept changing as they saw new toys and gadgets during the holiday season. Often we hear that Christmas is for the children, but for me, Christmas is the gift of children.

When our children are small, Christmas is watching their faces light up as they rip through the paper and bows, unwrapping surprises and desires, but when they grow up and have lives of their own, Christmas seems to be a time to remember and count your blessings. Those precious gifts who once had the wide-eyed wonder on Christmas morning sometimes face problems that can take the joy out of a joyous season.

That was the case a few years ago on Christmas morning when I wrote to my husband in my journal......."as for today my love, Merry Christmas. I am so happy to be here with you, so happy to have you in my life and so happy that God has blessed me with you and our family. At the same time I am sad that life happens so fast that sometimes we don't have the chance to enjoy the present before it becomes the past. It also saddens me that things are not perfect in the lives of our children, but I keep reminding myself that we are not in control and we have to leave it in the hands of the One who created them. That is not an easy task for a mother who's heartstrings stay attached long after the apron strings have been severed. So I will trust that there is a purpose for the trials in our children's lives and feel blessed that God has entrusted us with healthy, intelligent gifts and He is not finished with them yet".


As I write this post, I can't remember what was happening at that time. Evidently the trial passed, something was learned and joy returned to us all. I have been truly blessed~~~~~~~

Merry Christmas to me!

Sunday, August 22, 2010

My Kind of Weekend











This has been a great weekend after a long work week and non-stop commitments last weekend. Saturday morning was spent relaxing on the porch with a cup of tea, then strolling down Main Street, Dickson browsing in the neat little shops after having breakfast at a new diner we didn't know existed until then. Ace Diner, my new favorite place to eat.....we have not spent a day like that in ages and we really enjoyed the slower pace....could this be a taste of what it will be like when I join my husband in retirement and I am not controlled by my employer's clock??? I could get use to ......waking up when I'm finished sleeping, taking my time nursing my cup in the morning while I decide what I will do with the rest of the day.....aaahhhh, yes, I could get use to that. In the meantime I will get up in the morning, go to work and try to make it through another Monday.......I hope no one asks me to make a decision tomorrow because it is Monday and I don't handle Mondays well......

But it isn't Monday yet, so I will take a deep breath and keep it slow for a few more hours.

                                          lake scene from Paris Landing, Tennessee

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Childhood Memories

Have you ever heard people say, "I am so bored with my life" or "my life stinks", or "I hate my life"? I see these comments quite often on face book and more often see it on the faces of people as they rush through their day, filled with stress and tension.
Life is a "Gift from God" and a gift to be treasured. God expects us to value the life He gives us and to use our lives to glorify Him and fulfill the purpose for what He created us for. I was born to a mom and dad who lived their lives as an example for me and my three sisters and loved us with a love that is only second to the love of God. We were not rich in material things, but we were rich in love. Not long ago, the second summer after we moved to the farm, I wrote in my journal about my childhood summers in relationship to the kind of day I was getting ready to have during my summer break from work..........

June 21, 2005- the first day of summer. Such a wonderful time of the year and a day expected to be sunny, hot and humid....right on cue! My memories of summer days as a child were filled with excitement and anticipation of playing with my sisters in the makeshift playhouses constructed with planks, cans and dirt. The days were never ending as our imaginations took wings and we were transported into faraway places with exciting adventures, our dreams soaring with the fluffy white clouds in the beautiful blue sky. We were always secure in the fact that Mama was nearby, usually on the porch swing reading her Bible or singing her favorite hymns. We were not rich in earthly possessions of expensive toys and games or manufactured play equipment, but we had an imagination that was priceless and a mama and daddy that treasured and protected us beyond any price tag.

Today my plans are to play in the dirt (plant flowers) with planks and cans (garden decorations and flower pots) out in the yard ( mow the grass) and tonight I might even run and play in the cool breeze and catch a few fireflies as I listen to my Daddy tell a few stories on the front porch.....well, maybe I'll just sit and watch the fireflies light up the evening and remember four little girls, a mama and daddy and let my imagination run wild.........These are the kind of memories I want for my children ......a childhood filled with laughter, feelings of security and most of all, unconditional love....

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Let me tell you about My Life from the Heart

As I begin this journey though "Life From the Heart", I think back to my childhood and how I have always loved to express myself best though my writings. With pen in hand, ideas, short stories and poems flowed forth. English was always one of my favorite classes in school, not because I liked to diagram sentences or turn in homework, but because of the stories read by the teachers or the wonderful books I chose to read from the school library. I fell in love with books during elementary school and The Secret Garden will always hold a special place in my heart. One of my fondest memories was in 4th grade; my teacher, Miss Ethel Edgemond read the Uncle Remus stories after lunch each day and I was always afraid I was going to fall asleep and miss part of the story. 

I loved to write short essays and poems, some of which I will share as we go forward. One of my dreams has been to be able to somehow create my story for my children and for my grandchildren.....what else can you leave them, but a glimpse of who you were and the pieces of your heart that made you that way. Other than what I share of my inner most thoughts and feelings, I want to leave my children and grandchildren with the legacy of strength, courage, determination, integrity and a sincere love for others. So with that said, I will begin my story of Life From the Heart~~~~lets turn back the hands of time