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.....

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. ..

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~~~~~~

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.

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

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!!!!