Sometimes I Just Sits and Thinks and Sometimes I Just Sits

 

We haven't had a Slow Sigh Saturday in a while..... commitments to be met, appointments to be kept and just pure exhaustion from a too full week have taken it's toll on getting away....not to mention the weather and all the snow of the past winter!!!

This Saturday was no different. There was an appointment and grocery shopping to do....and yard work, laundry..... then all the energy was drained from us both. A nap really would have consumed us if we had given in, but instead we decided to just sit beside the pond for a bit. Of course, we couldn't just stroll to the pond and leisurely sit in a "movie prop" setting, which is what I dreamed of doing.....first we had to pull a bench and a couple of chairs out of winter storage and load them on the wagon that is pulled by the lawnmower and haul them to the pond. We also had to entice the horse to the barn stall with feed and close the barn gate in order to keep her from joining us and breathing down our necks, destroying any tranquility we were trying to enjoy.

Finally, we were able to sit and drink in the sunshine and feel the calmness of the water soothe away the stress and tension of the week before and relax....just the way we planned 7 Spring-times ago when we fell in love with this little piece of heaven on earth....our little Greenacres....in the sleepy little community of Hooterville....aka.....Tennessee City.

As I sat, my thoughts traveled back to a carefree time when I had not learned the meaning of the word stress. This was not a word I heard often, if at all, growing up. If Mama and Daddy were ever stressed, we didn't know it and they didn't either. Life in the country was slow, the days were long and there was plenty of time to relax and dream.

Suddenly, the memory of a poem or a quote I had read somewhere came back to me, "Sometimes I just sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits." by Satchel Paige. I had this framed and on my wall as a teenager and I remember sketching a stool next to the words.......

As we sat for that brief few minutes, time stood still. We watched ducks bathing in the clear, calm water of a brimming pond, a gentle warm breeze stirring ever so lightly the new blades of spring grass......the quietness surrounding us made any other sounds seem far, far away.....

How I look forward to the moments when we can just sit and let the things that rob us of our sleep and put signs of aging on our face fade into the background? Oh, how much I look forward to the time when I can "just sits" and if I chose...."just sits and thinks" about things that will bring me joy, that will put a smile on my face......and not waste my thoughts on things that exhaust me, drain me of my energy or God forbid, raise my blood pressure!!!!

        Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits.

Satchel Paige US baseball player (1906 - 1982)

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

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