You Want Me to What???

Wow!!! This community theatre production rehearsal for "Bye Bye Birdie" is hard work but it's fun-fun-fun!!! These kids are amazing! In high school when we did anything we always had the chorus class period to practice and DID WE EVER!!! Polly Hunter Hardin(Grimes now) worked our tails off! And we were really good-- if I say so myself!!! However saying that, I can't believe the talent these young people have at HHS that do not even have a choral class offered them!!! In one week these teens have learned what it took at least a month for us to learn--- and then some!! WOW!!!!! I am most impressed! I remember David Pettigrew, our musical hero, always rising to the occasion at hand. Of course, he was our 'Conrad Birdie' and was fabulous!!! (Well, Noel Hood is going to give him a run for his money!) lol We had such fun during our practices. I have often said the only reason I went to school was for chorus and our productions. (maybe some truth in that) Anyway, we would get out for days during our plays. It was always a large project! The weeks prior the cast would do promotional spots on the local radio station and would promote at school as well. For example the week before "Bye Bye Birdie", we wore HUGE paper buttons that we made that said 'We Love You Conrad"! We would preform the entire program for the elementary school, Thursday was the middle school performance, and Friday was the high school's turn.(that was always toughest) Friday night was for the public. Later when Ms.Polly married our principal, Mr. GRIMES-- I realized how she got away with so many performances! HA HA just kidding.Although she was great, and Mr. Grimes was also..., we had a fruitcake for a superintendent!!! It is a miracle we got to do anything at all!! But we most certainly did! We did many musicals and tons of talent shows! It saddens me our children don't have the option for chorus at school anymore. What's even sadder is that they really had not taken advantage of it when they had it in the latter years. It seemed to have dwindled down to nothing before it was discontinued. That is so sad!!! So many scholarships lost...so many people never realizing their potential because they were never allowed the chance or opportunity to even be creative! How bored I would have been going to school now. Yeah, I was cheerleader and all that...but all that mattered to me was the music! As I listen to the young people practicing for this program..I am blown away at the raw talent! True, some have been well trained but the talent was born in them!!! I am very hard to impress but real talent--true God-given talent---is my favorite thing to witness! I am, as Daisy Mae said in Lil Abner, "Past my Prime" but am thrilled to be in the midst of young, fresh talent. And although I have been long past wanting -or shall I say enjoying --to be around teen-aged kids and the attitude that comes with it....I must say these young people seem to want to do this and it makes all the difference!! I know my mama(and daddy) would have skinned me alive if I had had the attitude , unfortunately, many kids have today. I have been snubbed by many for whatever reasons why!!(silly but sad) However, Janet Coker has done well this year because I truly enjoy this group! I really think I am too old to learn so many lines and me....spanish?....lol. ME, dance?...well, it is called acting so we'll see. I just am thankful for the chance to be a part of something again that brings back so many wonderful memories. Better yet, an opportunity to create so many new ones. Thanks, Janet, for making an avenue for the young and older to once again stretch our creative muscles and believing in us!!!! You are the best!!!

It's A Mystery

I do believe I have downloaded a European server on my computer! I have special skills like that. I have fallen in total love with a piece of music that I could only purchase on Amazon.com for $100 at the least...so I found a website that I could download it for free and jumped on that! Oh me...entirely new toolbar and on it is the degrees for some distant land as of 3 am...(17A F) What's up with that? My dear friend ,Mike Childs, laughed at me when I got my first computer and told him I was afraid I'd kill it until he came down and realized my computer was so slow because I had contacted over 700 viruses!!! He had underestimated my abilities for sure. It's a gift! However, I do believe I'd download this foreign website again because this music--- I am in awe! Ludovico Einaudi is the artist I am so enthralled with at the moment. He arranged this beautiful work I am listening to at this very moment. It is the most beautiful and unusual I have heard in some time. It gets deep inside my soul and just infiltrates my senses. If you don't know what I am talking about, the only comparison I can make is to when you first fall in love. I know love is not just a feeling but in the beginning...it better be! I am just completely captivated buy this haunting melody and use of chord progressions.Brilliant! You know, this is the very thing that I will never understand about myself. Left unchecked...could be very dangerous I assume.(I know) It's the mystery that captivates me when I get lost in music. It really takes me to a place that literally takes my breath and tears fill my eyes while emotions fill my soul...no words...just music... but heard everything this composer intended to share as he has poured into this masterpiece. Oh...if this could be bottled and sold on a shelf...someone would make a fortune! I actually heard it in the movie remake of Dr. Zhivago. The original movie was filmed in the 1960's ,I believe. Although I'll admit, I never watched it ...it could never be as good as the remake with Hans Matheson and Keira Knightly that was filmed in 2002. The story was the saddest ever but the music alone was worth the watch. (The 1960's music was hokey to me.) This however...oh me. The story of Yury and Lara... I have no words.The title of the piece I am listening to now is called 'The Mystery of Love'. (Did I mention it is beautiful??) At the beginning Yury Zhivago, who is a doctor of medicine and avid poet, posses the question to his friends if they think there is one person in this world that holds the key to the unlocked places of a persons heart.Well...I know the real answer is yes...(Jesus)....but we all know he meant a romantic love of a persons life. My friend, if artists and musicians didn't have this mysterious way to ponder life ...every beautiful thing ever written would be non existent.Even most of the Psalms. King David...I know he'd get this blog!(can't wait to meet him someday) And yes...his passion unchecked got him into trouble. The same great passion but it must be held accountable or it will lead to darkness. This has been the hardest thing to understand in my life. In my early years it was impossible to understand, and I learned many hard lessons. I have never really understood why God created this inside me and placed me in a small town in Mississippi. lol I love my life very much but will admit it's hard to relate to others sometime. What I wouldn't give to be content with the same routine every day!!! Most of the time I fit in just fine...but sometimes I really feel the fact that I will always struggle of some level. I feel ,and always have, like a square peg trying to force myself into a circle.It's never going to happen ,and I am finally at a point in my life that I get that and am ok with that. If others aren't ok with that or don't get it, or me,...well, I really don't care. God does.! Maybe someday I understand this soul-stirring gift and just what I am supposed to do with it. For now, I embrace it and just write it out or I will surely explode. However, I also am aware I may never know or understand this....but that's ok too. For many years thought it must be from the enemy ....but it's just who I am and last time I checked, Psalm 139 said "I am fearfully and wonderfully made". So, I just realize God gave this gift to me and just remember to allow Him to continue to be in control of my life and then all will, or will not, be revealed...His call! If you are reading this, you may be scratching your head thinking , "What is she talking about?"...but for those that 'get it'....you know.... you know....

Lo

My Very Own Christmas Carol

I am baking Christmas goodies…again! Smells of cinnamon fill my little house as I sit here on my computer in the glow of my Christmas tree!! I have loved Christmas since I was a little girl. I remember having my own little Christmas tree in my room with small wrapped items (I already had) for my baby dolls.(we had our own Christmas in my little world in my room) Memories come with every turn it seems. It starts the minute I take out the very first decoration. Ahh…there it is…the ornament I got when Kati was born. At 18 years old, who would have ever thought I’d have had the sense to take care of it and it still be in tact after 25 years!!And there is Marykelli’s Popsicle stick Rudolph ornament she made in kindergarten… and Walt’s Veggie Tale ornament that he loved and his soccer ball ornaments collection. (got one every year for awhile there I believe) Then I see the box with all the kids drawings I have saved since they had motor skills.(and yes…I still hang every one of them up) Then..pictures with Santa, every little decoration that I can ASSURE you has a story behind it, and so on and so forth!!! It’s truly like it’s all fresh and brand new each year as if I have never seen it all before…and yes, I tear up just looking at them! Then there is the music!! Nothing at all, as you know well, makes me recall a memory like a song!!! I love them all. “Hark the Herald” is my favorite hymn …although I love each one!! Then there is “Mary Did You Know” --“Welcome to our World”. … “The Christmas Song” “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”…the list is endless!! Sitting here now however, my heart drifts back to my ‘Christmas Pasts’. I can remember my grandmother and granddaddy’s silver Christmas tree with blue Christmas balls on it as if it were yesterday. My mother was an only child so that made Kathy and I the only grandchildren. Kathy was 5 years older than me and that made me “the baby”…and I milked it for all it was worth! (Alright…I still love being the baby..I admit it!!) I can close my eyes and still see the candles on her buffet that my Mamaw put out each year. One of them was a big candle , and I believe there were elves on a couple of candles as well. The feeling in that little house was soooo cozy. You know, the kind you can feel all around you like a warm blanket. They had a special gift of always making everyone feel welcome and always showered family and friends with love and were known for their great hospitality.(AND FOOD!!)Every Christmas we’d sit around the table FULL of food and every year my granddaddy would ask “Wonder what the poor folks are eating?” Later, we’d be asked if we’d seen Merry. We’d say, “Merry who?” to his reply.. “Merry Christmas!” Oh, to sit in their house around that heater in that den again… or smell, better yet taste, her chocolate pie.(HER DRESSING or anything my Mamaw had made) Mostly, I just wish I could just talk to them, hug them, LISTEN to them…really, really listen to them. Then , of course , I have tons and tons of my immediate family memories growing up as well. That Kathy!! She NEVER EVER woke up with me on Christmas morning with me. Well, maybe when I was tiny, but my memory vaguely recalls it. Lol Bless her…I would wake up about 5am!! I would be bouncing off the walls!! Then, I would run to her room and tell her everything she had gotten. Still , nothing!!! She slept so late…still blows my mind how she slept so long on CHRISTMAS MORNING!! I always was totally enthralled with everything I had gotten! I remember well my 5th grade Christmas. I had gotten everything I’d asked for and was surprised with a tape recorder of my very own. (Everyone else’s nightmare ---that would later be discovered) I also got the record “Hey Deanie” by Shawn Cassidy. LOVED IT!!! Now, anyone that really, really knows me knows I get stuck on a song, and it will be played over and over and over until I am sick of it!! So..yes, even at 10 years old, I did this. So early on Christmas morning, I recorded that song onto a cassette that accompanied us the rest of the day. Often, our family would go to my Aunt Bessie’s in Columbus which we did that year. As I said, mama was an only child but boy did she have extended family! Aunt Bessie’s daughter, Bobbie, had always been just like her sister so we usually spent most every holiday with them. Bobbie was married to Van and it was heaven for me to go stay with them. However, I had a little too much imagination and way too much energy for Bobbie at times. That Christmas, I am pretty sure she hid my tape recorder for a little while. I know she looked at me in exhaustion and asked me… “Do you ever get tired?” At that age, the answer was “never!”That was also the first year I actually got to sit in a chair without sitting on top of catalogs to reach the table. Believe it or not, I remember what I even wore that day. Actually, I encountered a strange coincidence this morning. We are having a family Christmas dinner at our church tomorrow night and as tradition goes, I will sing “The Christmas Song” again this year.(It is a standard request every year) Anyway, I was looking for the accompaniment tape and found a cassette that looked strangely familiar but very old. Come to find out, it was something I recorded years ago on that very Christmas on little tape player. (It’s a miracle Bobbie didn’t pull the tape out) Kathy and I were messing around singing and acting like the silly little girls we were. (Although she was 15 when I was 10…we could always connect on some level) Then, of course, the playing of Christmas songs by my mama. I love to hear her play and that started long ago!!! Oddly, one of my very favorite songs to sing was “Christmas in Kalarney” which is an Irish Christmas song. I have never heard it anywhere but my mama’s house at Christmas and I like it that way. (It’s our special song) Many, many memories standing around the piano singing song after song with her. So many memories…then…Kathy and I grew up and had 3 prissy girls!!(Walt came years later) They took up with the entertainment and ran with it! Kati, our bossy firstborn, came up with Christmas productions. Hands down, all our favorite was the Christmas program in the barn. Kati was in the 2nd grade, Marykelli was in 1st grade (with no 2 front teeth), and Kirbi was in K5! Aunt Tot, however, was about 70. I remember vividly the day Kati handed me a list for the grocery store and Wal Mart. Hank was summonsed to cut down a Christmas tree but only the girls and Aunt Tot were allowed in the playhouse at the barn. The list included ingredients for the menu I was to prepare for the guests they were to invite. Wassail, snack food, pecan pie….then the Wal Mart list..red and green decorative beads , pipe cleaners, paint, and sweatshirts!! I was at least informed on some level about the secret service being planned since I had to do some labor.(And was the financial backer of this production) It touched my heart to watch them plan. Well, Kati plan and dictate but it was well received. lol With the beads and pipe cleaners, we all sat in the floor and made Christmas wreath ornaments. They were soon whisked away to the barn. The sweatshirts…well I did get to design them. Kati and Marykelli’s hands were painted green and red and then placed on white sweatshirts. (Each unique to the receiver) Theirs simply said Merry Christmas! Mine said, Merry Christmas Mommy! Others were for Aunt Tot(of course) Nana and Mawmaw. We were to all wear them at the performance..and we did!!!Christmas Eve before our candlelight service at our church, the guests began to arrive into the little barn. Every family member on both sides were invited and then some others as well. Each of us crammed tightly inside the little barn! As we waited for the program to begin it hit me…. These little angels were about to share a gift with us we’d never forget. Tears filled my eyes as I saw the little decorated tree for the first time. Popcorn string, paper ornaments, and there were the wreaths we made together in the den. Then, it began…. Silent Night, Away in a Manger, Jolly Old St Nicholas (with motions) were all preformed. Then in closing, Aunt Tot said a sweet prayer for the little girls and thanked God for Jesus. Then, Kati in true form, took over and invited all to the house for refreshments and asked for each guest to take an ornament from the tree as a special gift. I still hang that wreath on my tree each year and thanks to modern technology, watch that program over as well because it’s on video!!!I was correct, that gift is one of the greatest, by far , I have ever been given…a gift from the pure heart of children…a gift of love. Then years later, God sent Mr. Walt to our little family! Then, a new world opened up to us. Life through the eyes of a little boy!! Well, even though he didn’t have a sidekick like Kati and Marykelli had, he had/has his daddy, Hank…which was the best side kick he could ask for. Now this little man of mine has loved Christmas as well as anyone. He loves every second as much as anyone of us. He loves family and friends to be in and out and in and out. We really can’t remember our house not being grand central station at Christmas. People know I always have a pot of coffee, spiced tea and hot chocolate are always ready at a moments notice, and Christmas cookies and candy are a given. Everyone and anyone are welcome at anytime!! As time has passed, things and the faces have changed. Kati was married and blessed us with Rivers! WOW!!! Fun gal!!! I have never been one for change but guess what????Life happens and it changes daily!! Now, Kati and Rivers live next door and all my babies are on the hill again!!! So…sitting in the glow of my tree I ask myself…what will it be like next year? Marykelli is engaged and getting married within a few months. Kati, well, I just know this very well may be the last year for her and Miss Rivers to be on the hill also. As much as it breaks my heart, Hank and I always tried to show and teach our children how to live so they could fly someday. I just didn’t expect to feel this way. You know, I have had babies and noise around me since I was 18. Walt has never known any holiday, or life for that matter, without being surrounded by women bossing him.(How will he ever survive..they’ve done everything for him too) We have always been sooo close!!! So knowing this Christmas will be the last Christmas we’re all together like this is tender to my mother’s heart. One thing I do know, we are all extremely close, so I know that will not change. But I sure will miss them. God knew I needed friends. I prayed for best girlfriends all the time after I got married. I really longed for Christian women friends. …and that God….He allowed me to give birth to the best two I’ll ever have! WHAT A GIFT!!!! So, thinking back to Christmas pasts, being aware to drink deeply of each blessing this Christmas and enjoying each new memory we make, make me see the Christmas future with joy! GREAT JOY!! True, Christmas has changed over the years for me. Each year God has given me wisdom to understand what change means and shows me in each circumstance to embrace and treasure always! What will next year be like??I have no idea, but Jesus will still be the reason for the season and that should remain 365 days a year. Many loved ones have passed on, and yes, some will move, but memories warm my heart and still wrap around me like a blanket from all those years ago in my grandparents house. That’s love! Maybe I just noticed it more, as a child ,at holidays…but the love was always there. It’s the same love I have experienced in my adult home all these years and it’s the same love that will remain!!! And you know what…the exact same love that will continue to create many wonderful memories in the future. The love of Jesus! Just like the gift of love I experienced from my childhood…and the gift of love my little girls gave us that night in the barn…God gave us one much more special..The PERFECT GIFT of LOVE!! And yes, through the innocent love only a child can give! But the gift of Jesus was perfect love..spotless…blameless…pure love!! Now that gift He gave us in a barn that first Christmas was the one that truly keeps giving! The real miracle didn’t happen on 34th Street…it happened in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago! John 3:17 says “For God did not send His Son into the world that He might judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” Now, that’s the gift. So true…with our traditions we celebrate in our own way… It may seem strange to some or even pointless to some…but oh-- the true joy that is in our hearts at Christmastime…is the joy only He brings! The message “For unto us is born this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord” is still the heart of Christmas. Charles Dickens once said “A Christmas family party! We know of nothing in nature more delightful!” How true…traditions are rooted in such love..that sure echo the first Christmas to me…LOVE! Billy Graham even said once that the first essential for a happy home is love. For the poor souls that just don’t get it…Christmas is much much more than a time to spend money and eat! If I may quote one of my spiritual heroes, Corrie ten Boom “When I think of Christmas Eves, Christmas feasts, Christmas songs, and Christmas stories, I know it was not a short time and transient gladness, It was-and is-a joy unspeakable and full of glory!!” I whole heartily agree! So after the 25th of December has passed, the treasured memories will remain forever and ever…but most importantly…Jesus remains! Share His love this season and throughout the entire year. Christmas is not really a day of year now is it..it’s actually a condition of a heart!! Renew yours by celebrating and worshiping Jesus this season. No one can truly worship God and remain unchanged!!! Receive the gift of Jesus, renew your gift of Jesus, and most of all share your gift of Jesus! Merry Christmas my dear , dear and special friends! Go enjoy your “Christmas Present”…because God Himself holds “Christmas Future” in His hands! I close with Charles Dickens “ God bless us, everyone!”

Merry Christmas,
LO

Now Where Did That Jesus Go?

Decorating for Christmas is just what I do the day after Thanksgiving. (or should I say…begin the day after Thanksgiving.) There is not enough money in this world I could save or someone could pay, for that matter, to make me shop the sales on that day. I have bad enough road rage and sometimes have issues with rude fast food workers—so the last thing I need to do is be in a wild, mad crowd fighting over Christmas gifts!!!(fighting for Christmas gifts…sounds crazy but it’s true) That just makes my chest tighten up thinking about it. Nope…NO BIG CROWDS for this chick! However, I really am glad the rest of my family have enjoyed this tradition because I have to be alone to create my Christmas “art” from year to year. Lol I remember the early years of my married life when we just put up a tree and possibly a few decorations on a table. I always had a Christmas towel and few red and green items blended in my kitchen décor as well. Somewhere along the way…my imagination grew bigger and bigger and I lost my mind!! Now, everything gets taken down, boxed up, and gets a very good cleaning and then….CHRISTMAS COMES TO THE HARRINGTON HOME!!! My daughter Kati just laughs at me and says she’ll never do all this. Although she, and all my kids, love the decorated “Christmas cottage”…they know for days I am more nuts than usual. Everything, even pictures, are taken off the walls in den and kitchen and replaced with Christmas ones. I look and tweak and re-arrange until every room in the house is to my perfection. Then, I tweak it seems until Christmas Eve. I just love it!! Don’t get impressed, these are not some vogue decorations. I have been collecting and buying for years. Red and green baby…no color theme for me!!!(does help that I have a green den and red kitchen though) Traditional all the way!! My kids have created things over the years , and I saved each one of them and still put them out each year. A few items have a staple spot each year but for the most part,it is always a new surprise. I just love it! One of the things that has the same home each Christmas season is my crystal holy family my nephew gave me years ago when he was in my elementary children’s choir at our church. (He’s now a doctor of education and is married with a little girl but I have always treasured that gift) Each year it is placed on a small shelf near the front door. From it hangs a lovely crystal cross that one of my very best friends gave me years ago. Above the shelf is a frame with a poem I wrote entitled “The Star”. On the frame is a crystal star that I hot glued on to enhance the effect and make it all tie in together. The strangest thing started happening about 3 years ago however. Every day or so, I would lose baby Jesus. Now as we all know, that is the entire point …Jesus. So the fact that He was missing was very noticeable. A few things that really puzzled me is that it was glass-did it break, who’d pick it up and move it,(Rivers was a tiny , tiny baby then or she’d been the number one suspect) and if it just fell off then where in this little house did it go?? I looked for the entire day inside cushions, under the furniture , in the greenery ---it was hopeless. I had no clue where it could be. Then, I decided that someone must have just broken it and threw it away and had forgotten to tell me. So, later, I walked out the front door and guess what I found on the front porch? Yep! Baby Jesus! I was confused on how he ended up there but was soooo happy. I placed him back with Mary and Joseph and went on my way. A few days later, it happened again…then again…and again. I just don’t know he kept getting on the front porch but it became very entertaining to me. Well, the next year, I went to put the little crystal holy family out and Mary had been beheaded during the unpacking or at some point during the year. This was not good..not good at all. I think everyone would notice if Mary had no head so I began looking. Miraculously, I found her head and hot glued it on.( I do pretty good work if I do say so myself with my hot glue gun) It fell off a few times, but I kept the glue gun handy, and it worked. We only found Jesus had slipped off a few times that year. Same place…front porch. I know…that’s just strange. Well, this year there was my poem, the cross, and Jesus, but no sign of Mary and Joseph. ANYWHERE!! (Not even a head or anything) So, I thought I would place everything else and come back and decide what to do with that later. Two days later when everything was finished I sat back to admire my work. How cozy and Christmasy everything looked! Perfect. Then- I saw it. My wall with my star poem, the cross below and baby Jesus..all alone. Of course greenery but no Mary and no Joseph. My first thought was how sad it was because my Matthew had given it to me. My second thought—well, I’ll keep Jesus but replace Mary and Joseph. Now, finding a crystal holy family like that may be easier said than done. Sure enough, I looked at Fred’s , Dollar General, and another local dollar store in town –but no luck. I had decided I bet I could find one at the Dollar Tree in Tupelo. I had remembered seeing one a few weeks back and smiling because mine is so special to me. Now…I’d just have to wait until a trip to Tupelo was on my to do list and would be sure to check on it then. So days have passed. I was touching up and adding to a few things in the house last night and for some reason my gaze went back to baby Jesus. Then…it hit me!!! How appropriate He have a place of His on to be displayed. After all, the star shown on HIM as HE lay in the manger and the cross beneath my lovely display…praise HIM…for dying on that cross for all our sin. He came from heaven to earth to show us THE WAY….Him! So…there is no way I am replacing or looking for a new holy family. I think it is as it should be…Jesus…simply Jesus. My prayer is that will be the theme for myself and my entire family this year—just simply Jesus. In all the excitement of the holidays and festive events--- Christmas caroling, programs at church, family, Miss Rivers , family gatherings, friends, shopping, wrapping, and all the wonderful things I enjoy doing –I pray with all my heart I truly keep Christ in my heart the entire time. Not just during the holiday season but every day after. I wrote a Christmas song many years ago that spoke of this very thing. We open packages and make a mess every single Christmas morning , and I have heard many say the saddest day is the day after Christmas. May it never be!! In the song I remind each of us that Jesus is the only gift we can share, yet we get to keep. Actually, we grow in Him each time we share the good news about Him as well. Wow!! Now, if we focus on Jesus and give Him the place of honor He deserves our December 26 will also be full of joy!!!Jesus isn’t to be packed up with the decorations nor is our joy we sing about coming to the world. While we’re giving gifts, let’s each remember to share the gift, the true gift that keeps on giving…Jesus. As the last line in my Christmas song says, “He said ‘Go Tell it on the Mountain’—my Son is born today.” See, Christmas Day should just recharge our batteries so we can go tell on the mountains we’ve been given. We remember Him as a baby --being born at Christmas –lying in the manger -- Truth is, He grew up, died for our sin, and sits at the right hand of GOD!!! And someday…He’s coming back to get all His children!!! Now that’s what we need to celebrate in our hearts—Jesus. All of Him. Not just a part of Him! Don’t get me wrong…I LOVE EVERYTHING about Christmas…but I certainly don’t won’t to forget to love Jesus during this time of hustle and bustle. So…this starts a new tradition for me. Jesus has His special place all His own in my décor this year and from now own. And when I pack up this year…He’s going in the china cabinet! I really want to take care of Him, so I’ll be sure I pay special attention and keep an eye on Him all year. After all…isn’t that what we are supposed to do… Keep our eyes on Jesus!!! I know from experience when I take my eyes off Him for very long…I lose sight of Him. My prayer is He’ll overwhelm each of us this holiday season with His glory!!! Until later….

LO

The Lizzy Miracle

In reflecting over this past year…it sure has been what we call here in the south “ a doozy”! I certainly don’t wish to repeat one like it, but I must say that God, once again, has shown Himself faithful. We all are in a much better place this Thanksgiving than last year hands down. You know, in James 1:2 it says, “Consider it all joy ,my brethren, when you encounter various trials.” Now for years in my early walk with the Lord, that one made me scratch my head! Surely the joy in the Bible didn’t mean J-O-Y . You know…joy , joy! Well, I am afraid it most certainly does. It took a little while to realize joy and happiness were totally opposite. Happiness, of course , depends on circumstances while joy is from deep within. True joy must come from God. And nothing at all can steal that joy!!! The enemy certainly will try. I tell you…this year was tough. I have had my heart broken by watching my family endure one of the hardest things ever. Nothing breaks a mother’s heart like watching one of her babies hurt and not being able to do one thing about it. On top of that, my family had to face the fallout from that painful situation. Words getting twisted, and those twisted words believed by others- Loss of close friendships that were rooted deep inside our hearts- not being able to mend broken relationships and having to heal without reconciliation. These things literally shattered me! Nothing has ever broken my heart just like it. And knowing that I hurt others, even though not on purpose, but just the same, I hurt others as well. My heart aches just remembering…however, God is Jehovah Rapha….God who heals! And healing is exactly what He’s been doing! Every single member of our little family is in a better place than we were last year. Our lives are in God’s hands and He is in control and there is so much to be thankful for! I would start naming a few but could never stop so just know I am overwhelmingly thankful for every blessing that God has given me. I have love, so much love, in my heart for those also I never got to bridge that awful gap with also. In my heart, I pray God has truly let them know that in their hearts also.(I KNOW He has been working and blessing them as well- which is one of the things I too am thankful for) Back to this “consider it all joy” business. Well, I told my Hank just this morning I could honestly say I really am thankful this is all over and thankful that ,even though Satan taunted and taunted me and my heart was hardened for a while, my joy remained. See, this was not my first rodeo with Satan trying to steal my joy. No…that scoundrel has been after me since 1986(that’s when I gave my life to Jesus) and bet He’ll try me till I see Jesus face to face!! (But…WE WIN) I know he came to “steal, kill, and destroy” but my God says.. “I’ll never leave you or forsake you” . I know this isn’t so but I like to think God put the verse, “Lo, I am with you always..” in the Bible just for me. It’s true…He’s always , always with us. I will never forget the first time I really began to understand all this. It was actually 16 years ago today. November 20,1994. It was a Sunday morning and I was 3 months pregnant. I woke up in labor and was rushed to the Tupelo hospital where we lost our little baby. I WAS A MESS!!! That day , God took the “D” in disappointment and changed the D to and “H” and made ‘Dis appointment’ –‘His appointment’ because that day changed the course of the rest of my life. I will not , at this time, go into all the ways this took place but it started with taking God at His word!!!(as Beth Moore says, “I’m believing God”) Then choosing to walk in it out in obedience—and He did the rest. It took time…but oh…DID IT WORK!! That is also exactly why we have been married for 25 years and it was cause to celebrate and take that cruise! Did God want or cause me to lose our baby…why of course not!!! However, he sure used it to His glory. It’s all about choosing God in every situation. Have I always chosen God’s way?? Let’s say one way or the other, He knows how to get my attention. He’s allowed me to take the long way many times only to show up exhausted and repentant. Think that’s just what He had in mind. Humbled and bowed at His feet. (best place you’ll ever be) Let me go back to November 1994 for a bit. God sent a friend into my life a few years earlier named Chrissy . I know now that God sends forever friends and seasonal friends into our lives.I really thought she was a forever friend but now there’s no doubt … she was a very special seasonal friend. Now, we’d been friends for a couple of years and had dealt with a lot of life together. We were thrilled to be pregnant at the same time. She was further along and her baby(“boy”) was due in December. As hard as it must have been for her mama to call me on the evening of November 21, 1994 to tell me Chrissy had gone into pre- mature labor, it was as if God had it planned all along. I was in a fog and my heart was depleted. I had cried until I had no more tears and had been in bed all day. It was about 8 PM when she called to tell me that Chrissy had gone into labor that morning a month early and it was not a boy…IT WAS A GIRL!!! She and her husband named her Lori Elizabeth. They call her Lizzy. Tears… many tears….flowed straight from my heart. I could just feel God there in the kitchen chair with me as He hugged my soul with those words of her birth. I have a love for that little girl.(Not so little anymore…she’ll be 16 tomorrow) Although I haven’t seen her in years, she(AND her dear mama) will forever remain in my heart. God used that little baby and her family to help begin to heal a very broken heart! I am so glad I didn’t allow Satan to steal my joy at that time of suffering. I may have missed the blessing of Lizzie!! I could have been upset that she was allowed to be born and my baby wasn’t but I didn’t choose that option… and PRAISE GOD, I didn’t miss it! I was counting it all joy even though I did not ‘feel’ like it. Those emotions sure are unpredictable!! Mine sure change like the wind.(POOR HANK) But My God is “Faithful and True”!!! AMEN AND AMEN Have you noticed God loving on you? I’ll bet if you stop right now, you can think back of times He’s loved you through a situation. If not, maybe you weren’t looking. Don’t miss your “ Lizzy miracle”!! If God did that for me…He’ll show you His love as well. Don’t miss it!!! Keep your heart eyes open because He loves to lavish His love on His babies! Open your arms wide so He can just snuggle you right next to Him so close you can feel His heart beat. Listen…hear it? Let’s truly give Him our thanks and praise this Thanksgiving…and maybe we can make everyday be a day of giving thanks in our hearts! Happy Thanksgiving friends! God bless each of you! And I am praying a special blessing for you Miss Lizzy! Hope you have a wonderful 16th birthday!!

LO

Ahoy 'Mon!

Ahoy from the high seas! Well, Hank and I are exhausted after another long, but lovely ,day at sea! Snorkeling was a blast!!! Thought at any moment I may see Sponge Bob jump out from the coral reef. Lol Rainbow Fish, Blue Fish, and many other tropical fish were swimming right there close enough for us to reach out and touch them. Amazing! The water here in the Bahamas is truly a turquoise blue and very clear. Paradise! Well, I thought I would die on board the first night. We got settled in our state room , went to Third Day Concert by the pool, made dinner plans, and then it happened….the boat actually started MOVING! Rocking was more like it. The captain (I like to refer to him as Captain Stubbing personally) had warned us the waters would be a little choppy until midnight…but oh my word!!! I have never once suffered from motion sickness of any kind but …OH ME!! First time for everything. Somehow, I managed to freshen up my makeup and actually walk down two flights of stairs to the deck that our dinner was being served on. The line was rather long as we all waited for the doors to the Moonlight Dinning Room to open for the 8:OO pm reservations. Just know , the last thing in this world I felt like doing was eating…gross…but a lady in line beside me had convinced me that eating bread would help my feelings out greatly. So….Hank sent me to sit down on this centerpiece made of marble while he stood in line for the both of us. How ironic—Hank is always the one that gets any kind of motion sickness! ALWAYS! Thank goodness he had a nausea patch on so he wouldn’t get sick. He had offered me one before we boarded the ship but assured him I would be fine. “Pride goes before the fall” Lol Well, I was sooo wrong! I sat on that cool slab of marble and was feeling some better. Then I heard singing. (Duhhh…It’s a music boat cruise) But….this was not expected but was however the cherry on top of the entire day. An Asian band was singing in the lobby while we waited on our dinner doors to open.{ I felt like I was in A Christmas Story for a minute.} You know when the Christmas dinner gets ruined and they eat Chinese and they sing “Deck the Halls”…well, yep. Not only am I on my death bed turning green on a cold hunk of marble--but I am listening to an Asian lady sing “ Proud Mary”! I thought surely I was going to pass and Hank would just have to throw me overboard. Well, finally , the time came to enter the dinning room and true, the bread saved my life!!! We ate with a lovely couple from North Carolina and enjoyed our dinning experience immensely. However, leaving the dinner we noticed the girl had stopped singing and now an Asian man was singing. “Don’t tell my heart, my rakey , rakey heart….” Please…that was just too funny!!! Off to a late Denver and the Mile High Orchestra concert then off to bed! (LOVED THEM) After a wonderful nights sleep, we woke up ready for a fun day in Nassau, which we did have!!!Snorkeling was an absolute blast! After dinner, we listened to baseball player Josh Hamilton share his journey with the Lord and how God uses him in his profession in ways he never imagined he’d ever be used. I am not a real sports fan but I love hearing anyone, especially people with some fame, discuss how Jesus changed them and now works in their life because they’ve surrendered all to Him! We were about to turn in and as we walked by another lounge we noticed it filling up rather quickly. That is when I saw her---Mandisa. I was really glad to finally she she’d made it to the ship. (she flew in and met us in Nassau) I went over and introduced myself and told her how real she seemed— and how the love of Jesus just shows all over her. I also told her how Houston, Ms had voted many , many times for her while she was on Idol.(However- my husband wasn’t much help because that’s the same year he developed his man crush was on Blake Lewis -lol) We talked a bit about when she did praise team music for Beth Moore’s Living Proof Ministries .She said during the Idol competition she did the sign that we all memorized ….sign language meaning I’m believing God!! That prompted the two of us into a high five!!! I then told her I sure would like to hang out with her! Well, we have a few more days.{commercial…’Like sands through the hourglass..so are the Days of our Lives—ok new day} Today was beautiful , so Hank and I took a ferry to the CocoCay Island, “ Mon” NOTE TO FAMILY….HANK’S GOT A NEW WORD!!!! For now—it’s “Mon” . Prepare yourselves!! Lol Oh me….I just love him though. We are really having fun. An island band played the entire day as we shopped, ate, shopped, drank, shopped , laid out, and shopped. The group 4 Him had their chairs just beside us! They were funny! Tonight we went to hear Dave Nasser and Mandisa perform then off to dinner. My girl sang “Shackles”…OH ME!!!!!!!After that we heard a George W. Bush impersonator! HILARIOUS!!! He was a hoot! Then it was off to the pool deck to Premier Cruise Idol. I was standing just behind the judges. Mandisa, Third Day lead singer, and Dave Nasser. Of course the battery in my camera died! Never fails! Oh well, we had a really good time! It’s late now and people are still scattered around the ship. Hank was sleepy but I wasn’t ready just yet to turn in. It is way after mid night and I am on the promenade deck in a lawn chair listening to the waves rush beside this massive ship.(Oh ‘the promenade deck’ sounds so much like the Love Boat doesn’t it?) I am in total awe of the beauty I have seen this week. This afternoon, Hank and I watched the sun set from sitting on the back of the ship! At some point, just before the sun gave up it’s glow, for a brief moment…the reflection that the sun cast was a glowing, perfect cross. OH MY IT WAS LOVELY!! This is a new beauty for me. Now I am not a “beach girl” for sure…but I do love the ocean! Love the beach but don’t like to sunbathe or deal with sand grit. I don’t like to play in the beach or ocean but I love it!! The only thing I can say when I see it’s beauty is…WOW GOD!!! How could you think any other way. The name of our ship is Majesty of the Sea. Well, they can call it that if they’d like but that is all I can think of when I look out across the water! HE is THE MAJESTY of the sea! Where is seems to have no end I softly hear in my heart… “as far as east is from the west I’ll remember your sin no more.” Looking out, it’s pitch dark but the stars are like little diamonds. God is such an amazing and majestic God! I was also reminded of that when the dolphins swam along the side our sailboat the other day and as we snorkeled, God really made it all!! He cares about every single detail of this universe and everything does glorify Him. This afternoon ,Bello Nock, a former clown from Ringling Brothers circus, broke a world’s record by walking the tight rope across the length of the 11th deck! (WOW) While he walked ,he had praise music in the background. When “I Stand in Awe of You” began to play...I thought ‘now that says it all’! In a nutshell…I am standing in total awe of God!!! He’s everywhere I look!! Sure, musicians and speakers are great…but God’s creation is what has spoken to me the most here. The waves make me feel as if I am being rocked to sleep by my daddy…you know, I am. The wind is a love song to my soul reminding me I am His and I am loved! Well, just now I am realizing how sleepy I am , so I’d better go back to my cabin and get some sleep! ( sure hope I remember how to get there—Just kidding—well sort of anyway) I know tomorrow God has even more blessings in store for us, and I certainly don’t want to miss a thing!! That’s all I know for now….but I am learning more every single day!!! Hope you all have a blessed day—‘Mon’!

LO

Just Flying Around With God

Hank and I are sitting in the Memphis airport because our plane has been delayed for 2 hours. We should have known when we stopped at Starbucks and the total was $6.66. MERCY! There should be a rule to automatically up the amount up one cent in a case like that. Ya think? We boarded our plane and waited only to be informed there was a problem getting fuel into one engine because the handle broke.(That’s just what I wanted to hear) But wait—there’s more! After we got off the plane, within minutes , we were told to board back onto the plane—ONLY TO WAIT!!! Again, we were informed of the same problem they never had fixed and were told to get off for the second time! Well, our obstacle course in getting here began long before we actually ended up here. Weeks ago, Hank had been for his annual check-up at our family doctor’s office for insurance purposes.(pretty routine) Well, the outcome wasn’t pretty routine. He was told he had high cholesterol and high blood pressure and was immediately written a medication for both. That weekend he and I were out of town on a weekend retreat and by Saturday night, he was having a definite reaction to the meds. Well, after that scare, he was told when he reported back to the doc to stop usage at once and they would try to find meds more suitable for his system. Well, as if that weren’t enough, he then developed gout in his elbow! Bless him!! So…he battled that and then I got a really bad sinus infection.(listen closely and you may hear the actual violins in the background) Yesterday ,Hank took me to get a shot and a z pack before we left for South Haven to spend the night with his brother. Thought we would save time by staying overnight…HA HA!(Ahem…delayed flight) Well, so glad we stayed with Ryan though.(like I knew I was even there because I was stoned on prescription cough syrup!!) Hank also took me to get a spray tan after we left the doctor’s office so…I had on his pj bottoms, a zip-up sweat jacket, house shoes, and no make up on. Everyone knows you just can’t put on regular clothes after a spray tan , so I had to wear loose clothing. I know I was not really feeling up to getting that spray tan, but there was NO WAY I was going to the Bahamas looking like an Irishman.( or Irishwoman should I say) As my friend Tammy told me once, “Dark fat looks better than white fat”! So…fever or no fever…. I got sprayed!!! Now, we are waiting. Hey, but on our on board/off board experience, we met the couple across the aisle from us. They are from Arkansas and are too going to Bahamas on the same cruise ship as us.{ PRETEND IT’S A COMMERCIAL HERE..A DAYS OF OUR LIVES PROMO WOULD WORK FOR ME} Well, I now return to you from 35,000 feet in the air!!! Yes folks, we FINALLY are in the air! Hank just said, “This is a new high for ‘LO’”! I think that’s clever. Well, anyway, we are in the sky and I have my laptop, ipod, and diet coke. Life is good! I’ll say it was interesting being stranded in the airport. People always just fascinate me. On the way out the first time, I realized I was sharing this flight with Dr. Watt Bishop…he was my orthodontist when I was in high school.( Of course I had to go speak to him.) Then, as we just sat there…I listened to the different conversations around me.(Me? Nosey? Why yes… maybe just a little) Some were talking of lunch plans, some were fussing about the delay, and some….I didn’t understand one single word they said! Felt like I was at the nail salon getting fake nails. Lol Hint: they don’t speak English very well to say the least! It just amazes me to see the variety of people God has created. The song I am listening to is a Billy Squire song called “Nobody Knows” . I love this song. Of course it was just one on a random album not ever made popular.( we are experiencing terrible turbulence…hope you all get chance to read this blog -lol)Man, this shaking of the plane just made me drop the complimentary peanuts down my shirt! Well.. anyway…. the song I was listening to talks about nobody really knows what’s going on inside in someone else. No one knows the dreams, fears, or insecurities we each experience. It goes on to say everybody has a place and time. “ We all have something that we care about and I propose that we find it out”. Now that is what Billy Squire says…a musician from the 80’s. But God’s word says in Jeremiah 29:11 “for I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper and not to harm you, to bring you a hope and a future.” Man that God is good!!! I feel much better hearing that quote from Him rather from some song that Billy Squire sang. (no offence Billy -but…..) I’ll admit , flying around the friendly skies…that scripture takes on a whole new meaning!! I do love how I can leave all I am in God’s hands and He is such a God of order and perfect love that I can trust him with my past, present, and future.(and flight) It’s all time to Him!!(oooo…He’s shaking the plane around just to make sure He has my attention) The answerer is “Yes Sir, Lord…I’m all ears, eyes, and everything else You’d have me be”! I brought my computer bag as my carry-on and stuck few items of clothing in just in case they lost my luggage.(and I’d have fresh clothes to shop for new clothes with the voucher I’d get from airline.) And I am so glad I did stick extra underwear in there because I am going to pee in my pants the next big shake of the plane.(sorry I said pee on my blog Mama) OH ME!!! Anyone that knows me well knows this is so true about me though! Lol Well, I know I have watched too many movies. Airplane, Snakes on a Plane, all Airplane movies from 70’s –you know those---when they barely land the plane…. You get the picture. Come to think of it, a swig of my cough syrup may have been a good idea for this flight! Lol Really, the view is breathtakingly beautiful and it reminds me of how tiny we all are. Even the earth is too actually. In this flight, we have a oil rig worker, sales rep, orthodontist, and a nail tech that I know for sure. Many different people with a variety of backgrounds, world and religious views…just all different in general. But…God created each of us. Like it or not….we really are all equal. Not one is more or less significant in God’s eyes. Yes.. “ He’s got the whole world, in His hands, He’s got the whole world, in His hands, He’s got the whole world, in His hands, He’s got the whole world in His hands”. Well, I can bet it He can hold us all in His hands, imaging what else He can do. Talk about a shoulder to lean on….WOW!!! I am thankful He loves me and is holding me close. Even those times I hurt so bad I wanted to blame Him because everyone else seemed to be blaming me. He has loved me when I bucked Him, ran from Him, and kicked and screamed while digging my heels into the ground only to find out God was smiling saying, “oh yes you will, Lori”. Through all my brokenness and hard headedness, I am so thankful he chose to love me “Through It All”—HE LOVED ME AND STILL DOES!! Now there’s a song…Mr. Andre Crouch… “ If I never had a problem, how would I know He could solve them?” Amen!! “What a Mighty God We Serve” Well, whatever you find yourself doing this week, notice what and who you are around you. This very well may be part of God’s plan. Yep, even a “random” trip to Wal Mart may be a mission He has sent you on that only YOU can do. Listen to him. Let Him be your pilot. I know I am SOOOOO thankful, along with the other passengers, that I am not flying this plane! Well, living on our own is almost as silly as me flying this plane. Let’s all remember to let THE PILOT fly our plane. He knows the correct pressure our gages we need for our flight to be a success, the right amount of fuel we need to get there(and how to fix any leaks we may not even know about to arrive safely to our destination) , and can not only get us to our precise designation, but see that we land safely! Now, we can not ask for more than that. So, thank Him now and then move out of His way and let’s let Him be God and Lord of our lives! Well, it’s time for me to pack up my laptop and I had best go take a potty break before we hit another air pocket or ‘Lo’s going to blow!’ Remember, Hank is sitting beside me and his humor is infectious! Besides, this is all I know for now!!

LO