This Really Happened

I actually overheard the following conversation this morning.

Person A: Let's go to Target this morning.
Person B: Good. We need milk. Kroger has a grocery section correct?
Person A: Kroger is a grocery store. I'm pretty sure they have a grocery section.
Person B: I meant Target has a grocery section.

It was way funny. Wish you could have been there.

Tacky Light Tour - Success!

Thank you to all who participated in the first annual Tacky Light Tour. It was a small group, but distinguished. Definitely the cream of the crop. I will post a picture or two soon so come back to view the lovely sights we saw. I may even get brave a do a slide-show on my MySpace page. Ohhhh..... the thought. If so, I'll post a link to that as well.

Quote On Waiting

In reference to my post on waiting dated December 20, 2006, I read the following quote and thought I would share with all of my blog followers:

The idea of waiting for something makes it more exciting.

** This is my 100th post....I'll celebrate with a more exciting number. Check back to see what that number will be. **

Merry Christmas

"...I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10-11

A Savior born for me. WOW! May you not cease to remember the true reason why we celebrate today.

Tacky Christmas Lights Tour

What: A tour of the tackiest Christmas lights we could find in the Maryville area. We'll be going back to A's house after the fun for hot chocolate, chocolate chip cookies, and a few laughs at the good memories we will have just made

When: Wednesday, December 27, 2006, 6:30 PM

Where: Meet at the Target parking lot

Why: Why not!

Waiting

Waiting is so hard. And it is so hard to pray when you are waiting. You keep praying and praying and waiting and waiting, but it seems as if nothing ever happens. (And I'm not talking about praying for patience: that is a bear in and of itself.) I have really thought a lot lately about what it means to wait on God. To wait on Him to reveal Himself and not to take things into my hands. It's so hard. By nature I want to take charge. Or at least dictate to someone how to do something. I can't very well tell God what to do. He just sits up there and laughs at me when I do. And rolls His eyes all the while thinking, "My dear child, I have your best plans right here in front of Me if you will just sit back and wait. Don't rush into anything or take rash measures. Continues to seek Me and in My time I will reveal my ultimate plan which is bigger and better than any Earthly plan you could ever dream." I know this, yet I am not fond of the waiting.

My small group is doing the Experiencing God study this semester. In day 5 it says the following:

In waiting you are shifting the responsiblity of the outcome to God -- where it belongs! (Can I get an "Amen!" ) *

Then when God gives you specific guidance, He will do through you more in days and weeks than you could ever accomplish in years of labor. Waiting on is always worth the wait. His timing and His ways are always right. You must depend on Him to guide you in His way and in His timing to accomplish His purpose. **

This is so true. I can try and try and try to figure out His plan for my life, but all of my efforts to figure it out before He is ready to reveal His plan are just wasted years of my life I could have spent studying more about Him and praying for His will for my life as well as for my church, friends, family, etc. Sometimes as a human I feel so stupid, but then He comes to me and comforts me with His words and I realize it's ok. He is still waiting on me.

* Words in parenthesis are mind.
** Experiencing God, Henry T. Blackaby & Claude V. King, 1990

How Was Your Day?

Seasons of Love

One of my favorite songs is "Seasons of Love" from the musical RENT. The lyrics read:

525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear.
525,600 minutes - how do you measure, measure a year?
In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee.
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.
In 525,600 minutes - how do you measure a year in the life?

When you read the number 525,600 it seems so large, yet living this time it seems to go by so fast. So many things happen over the course of all these minutes. I pray as you reflect back over the minutes of the past year that you will see how far you have come and how much you have grown. I pray God has opened doors for you in ways you never imagined. I pray that you have a testimony to share of how He has grown you this year. And mostly, I pray that in the next 525,600 minutes that you will continue to seek Him and grow in ways you can't imagine. I pray you will make the adjustments that He asks so that you can go with Him into His perfect will for your life. This is also my prayer for myself. That He will have complete control and that when He opens doors and shows me the way He wants me to go, that I will be willing to make the adjustments needed in my life to go.

Ode to H

My roommate, H, turns 27 on Monday so everyone who knows her, please call/email/text her on Monday to say "Happy Birthday!" But please remind her that I am still 11 months old than her, so as her elder she should not talk back to me. So, Happy Early Birthday, H. I'm so glad we are friends and that you get to hear me do my best rendition of whatever song is on the radio each and every morning.

7 Months

I learned this morning that I will be let go from my job effective 08/01. The most awesome part is that I have a complete peace about the whole thing. My God is bigger than any company could dream of being. He has prepared a path for me that is perfect and most importantly from Him. Thank you to everyone who has lifted me up in your prayers during this time of the unknown. I love you all!

And My Fate Is...

First and foremost in the hands of our almight Lord. Secondly, I will find out from my current employer if I will be part of the retained organization or if I will be replaced by an outsource vendor. This takes place at 8:45 AM on Wednesday, December 13. Now, every cloud has a silver lining. Since I am 99% confident that my job is being replaced, I have found that silver lining. I get the rest of the day off! We have to come into work and work up until our appointment. Then we get to take the rest of the day off. Since I don't usually go to work until 8:30 AM, I'll pretty much get a free vacation day! So, my sub-team is going to breakfast at Pete's (I'll miss that place) and then I'm getting a manicure. I'm pretty sure a nap will be included for the afternoon.

I Worked Hard Today

LOST is Moving

Yes, you've read it correctly. LOST is moving to 10:00 PM when it returns from its hiatus. So much for knowing what happens. I could barely stay awake through the 9:00 PM timeslot.

I'm an A

My favorite cousin J had to write a paper about me for one of her college courses. And guess what!?!?!?! She got an A. Who would have thought my twenty-something years would be so interesting and entertaining. But then again, the professor could have given her an A because she felt sorry for having such a dull cousin. I may never know the real reason, but a paper written about me receive the grade of an A. That's the coolest thing I've heard in weeks!

Let's Say Thanks

I was investigating a fraudulent email the other day. You know, the kind that says something bad will happen if you don't put your name on this list or such and such household cleaner will cause major harm to you and the people who live in a 10 mile radius of your house. So, I was on the Snopes website and was looking through their top 15ish or so most requested inquiries and I ran across this true website. It's http://www.letssaythanks.com. You can go to this website and create a postcard which will then be printed by the Xerox(r) corporation and put in packages that go to the U.S. troops stationed overseas. The cool thing is that all of the designs were created by children! So, take some time and do this. It doesn't cost you anything monetarily and it will greatly brighten the day of someone who is far away doing their part to give you and I the freedom we so love and cherish.

Philippians 3:12-14

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

How many times have you heard Philippians 3:14? More than you can remember I can probably guarantee. It wasn't until recently that I read the 2 verses prior to 14 and realized how much more Paul was telling us about God in these verses. We aren't already perfect. We also are forgiven. As humans we constantly sin. Whether it is a blatent sin that the public can point out to us or a sin we know we commit in private, we still sin. And oftentimes we hold on to these sins as a barrier to us moving forward in our work for God. But as Paul points out to us, when we ask forgivenss we need to put behind us (forget) our past sins and keep straining ahead for the goals that God has in mind for us. God does not remind you of your past sins. He has forgotten them when you repent of them. Satan will constantly throw them in your face so that you feel unworthy of what is ahead on God's path for your life. I pray that you will take hold of these verses and remember that while you are not perfect, you are forgiven, and through God's graces you can have the strength to move beyond your past (and forget it!) and toward the goal of the prize which God promises to those who believe and follow His will.

Football Is Done!

WooHoo! No more football games for 2006 for this girl. I worked my last game today. It was quite interesting since the can our popcorn oil comes in sprang a leak somewhere near the end of the 1st quarter. We had nasty, buttery oil everywhere! It only took UT until the end of the 3rd quarter to get someone to our stand to clean up the mess. But all is well. We didn't lose a lot of sales because of it and we managed to not slide and fall on our tails (though my tennis shoes need a bath now!) Now it's time to start working basketball games on Sundays. Thankfully they are indoors though and don't last near as long.

And Step 3 Is...

I have made it to round three of the interview process. I go in on Monday to take a personality test. They will then contact me about the next step. The more steps I take, the more nervous I get, but it is in God's hands.

Home In Heaven

My mom's dear friend J lost her battle with cancer today. However, she is home victoriously with her Lord Jesus. J was such a testimony to her Christian faith during her entire battle. I last saw her at Baby Emma's burial, and I choose to remember her from that day. She was very thin and frail, but she was there for my mom. That's the kind of friend she was to everyone who knew her. Please by praying her her dear husband and sweet daughter as they go through this loss so close to the holiday season. It is the holes left in the hearts of us on Earth that suffer, not the ones who have made it home to heaven.

Random Updates

It has been a while so I'll post a few random things.

1) I got a call-back interview for November 21 at 11:00 A.M. This will be with a broader group of individuals. This makes me nervous. But God is in control. His will be done.

2) I will find out the status of my current job the week of December 4-8. It looks even less promising than before. 40 people from a seperate department were told yesterday they would not be part of the retained organization. All total, that department cut 85 positions, 45 being held by contractors and temporary employees.

3) My friend J and I had our monthly date night yesterday. We went to Regas and have decided that we should have careers in the food critique business. Maybe I'll write my Regas review on here in a day or so. It was wonderful though! Much better than last month's date location.

4) My little doodlebug is coming to spend the night tonight. This is her first trip to stay overnight with me since Emma went home to be with Jesus. I figured my sister would keep a tight reign on her so I haven't really asked for her to come. However, the doodlebug believes I have disowned her because she hasn't been down here. So she's coming twice during the next weeks timeframe. Tonight we will be going to see the movie "Happy Feet." It should be interesting.

5) The M.C. Hammer turkey card. Your Thanksgiving will not be complete without viewing this one.

6) I changed my blog settings to allow anonymous comments. So blog-stalker you can now comment. Have at it.

7) My friend Sheriff is my blog-stalker. I have a blog-stalker. I feel like I am really something in the world of blogging now. I guess knowing who my blog-stalker is takes some of the fun out of it, but still. It makes me happy. :-)

I should probably end this now. I've rambled on long enough. I need to go meet my sister so that I can have my quality time with the doodlebug.

Where Have You Been?

create your own visited states map

I think I need to visit WV, PA, and New England so they don't look so lonely...

Job Interview

I have an initial job interview on Thursday @ 4:15 PM. Pray for guidance as I take this first step.

Prematurity Awareness Month

November is Prematurity Awareness Month. Emma would have been 10 months old yesterday had she lived. However, she is 3 months into her eternal life with Jesus. Amen and Praise God! However, that doesn't stop us from needing to be aware of the fact that hundereds of thousands of babies are born prematurely each year. There are various ways you can help these babies and those who help them as they fight to survive.

1. Pray - Pray for the babies, their families, the doctors and nurses who will be a part of their tiny little lives. Sometimes their stay in the hospital is short. Sometimes it is long. However, the prayers that are lifted up for them mean all the difference.

2. Donate - give to your local Children's Hospital. In Knoxville there are various ways you can donate. You can pledge an amount during their annual fundraiser each Spring. Or for some fun, you can attend the Fantasy of Trees the week of Thanksgiving at the Knoxville Convention Center. Funds from this event help the hospital raise much needed money for purchasing new machines that help in the ever-present fight for the lives of these children.

3. Donate - give to your local Ronald McDonald House. These homes provide a restful atmosphere that feels like home so that families can stay near their little ones while they are in the hospital. You can give by providing funds, cooking meals, and various other volunteer activities.

4. Support the March of Dimes.

5. Support a ministry like Gus's Gang. This was started out of one family's loss of their child, Gus. The family used Gus's name to stand for God Understands Suffering and titled their ministry Gus's Gang. Gus's Gang maintains a blog for families of chronically ill children with updates so others can be praying for the families and rejoice in their steps and pray more fervently with their setbacks. They also reach out to the familes and the other siblings in these families who are also affected by a sick sibling.

** Thanks to JD over at Gus's Mom blog for the idea for this blog today.

My List

So, my friend J wants to know what is on my list. My tangible items are:

1) A Fanklin-Covey organizer.
2) A label maker by Dyno.

However, considering I spent last Christmas sleeeping in a hospital chair next to my sister's bed so my mom could be at home with my dad, I'll be most thankful if we can just have all family members together again. Last Christmas my uncle had passed away only a few weeks prior and my sister was on bedrest in the hospital keeping Baby Emma in the oven for as long as possible. So, even though both the grandparents are not in the best of moods with their current situation (have someone sit with them 24/7), I am just asking for time spent together with my family. If we can manage that with no tirades, I'll consider that the best present ever!

The List

I have read a lot of blogs about Christmas lately. It's less than 2 months away which seems insane. I guess this year has been so full of so many things that it has flown by. I sent my mom my Christmas list a couple of weeks ago. I am the nice daughter though. My list didn't contain anything too outrageous. I am just prayerful that we will be able to spend this Christmas as a family (and NOT in a hospital.) If we can spend it together, then I'll forgo all gifts to be with those I love. It doesn't promise to be an easy Christmas, but my cousin and I are planning our entertainment in the form of Rook and Jeopardy battles.

For some light reading, visit the Gus's Mom link to the right and read her dad's response to her Christmas list (which is posted below the response.) I laughed because I've had the same responses from my dad on lists before...so now they only go to mom.

A New Book Idea

My friend J and I had our girl's date night tonight. During this time she told me she was reading a book on silent rhetoric. I said, "Is it a story about a mime?" So we decided that a mime should title his/her autobiography "Unspoken: My Story." Is that not hilarious and perfect! And maybe it has already been done, but oh well. We thought it was funny. And it was much better than our rendition of Toby Keith's "How Do You Like Me Now." All I can say is that my roommate is much more tolerant of things than most would be. I am blessed.

Lost...

is back! Wahoo!!!! That's the most exciting thing that has happened in weeks. The opening segment was awesome...can't wait to see what is next.

I'm a Card Carrying Member Now

I finally joined the Knox County Library. I was partially inspired by E over at To Blog Is Human when she posted on being able to download audiobooks for free if you are a member. I am all about being able to add something new and exciting to my ever wonderful (and pink!) iPod mini. So, now I'm a member. I think if I could ever live somewhere unconventional I would pick the library. I love to read and am able to neglect important things for hours (or days) when faced with a good book. I'd just start in the A's and read to the Z's. I bet I would learn a lot.

Hmmm... makes me wonder if they have a book on Jack Handy quotes. I think I'll check on that next week.

"Clean" vs. Explicit

I recently purchased a CD off of iTunes. I had the option of buying the explicit version or the "clean" version. Because I don't completely understand why they should even make an explicit version I purchased the "clean" version. You are probably wondering why I am putting quotes around the word clean thus far into my blog. I am going to explain now. The CD I purchased was anything but clean. Yes, they removed the words that would have gotten it an R rating at a theater, but there will still PG-13 words as well as lyrics so suggestive that even my friend's 9 year old gave the CD back to her mom and said it was too gross. If you can't give a "clean" CD to a 9-year-old then should it even receive the label clean? Whatever happened to a song being on the Top 40 hit list and being able to know that it would be ok for your child to listen to the CD? I think it is a shame that this is what popular music in America has come to. These "musicians" pretend to be roll models to young children, yet they can't produce a product that is safe for their young ears.

I'm Back

Ok, I've been back from my so-called-vacation. I'm working through a few ideas for new posts, but nothing is complete yet.

News to report:

1) Kimberly-Clark will be letting approximately 200 people go from their Knoxville location. Doesn't look too promising for me. Just pray they keep me until January 1, 2007 so I can be fully vested. Thank you President Bush for signing new laws protecting us after 3 years of employment rather than the traditional 5. WooHoo!

2) Alzheimer's is the cruelest disease. Not to the person who has it because they don't know what is going on. But it is cruel to those who have to care for the person with it. But alas, God will get the glory for everything in the end.

3) B is coming to town this weekend. YEAH! She is bringing her friend S to a ballgame. B and S will be hanging at my house so it will be fun.

4) H moved in this weekend. It is nice having a roomie again. We are going to go on a diet/exercise regime together. I wonder how long we can make it last. I'm sure it will be the subject of future blogs as me having to cut out some of my favorite fast foods will not be fun.

5) Last home game for UT for a few weeks is this weekend. That means my feet will get a much needed break from standing behind a popcorn stand for 6+ hours until October. I am thankful for the extra money I am making, and thankful for the break I will be getting.

Well, that is more than I intended to post on. Wow! I guess I had more to say than I thought.

Happy Vacation to Me!

Yes, I'm on vacation this week. In fact, my whole family is. Mom, sis, and niece are at the beach (much needed break for the 3 of them!) Dad has taken to the mountains for some camping and staring into the woods (he enjoys hours upon hours of this!) Me, I'm staying in Knoxvegas for some R&R. Well, as much R&R as one can get when they have something planned for each day. However, I'm doing things I don't normally get to do and that is why it is a vacation. So, no more posts for this week unless something really crazy or random takes place.

Remembring Emma

The following article was in the Knoxville News Sentinel on Saturday, September 2. Chandra Harris started interviewing my sister before Emma passed away, and when she heard the news, she wanted to finish the story as a tribute to Emma. I'm glad she did. No sweeter words could have been written. Thanks, Chandra.

Remembering Emma
Her infant daughter was taken away too soon, but the memory of their time together and her bright-eyed 3-year-old help young mom find strength for the future

By CHANDRA HARRIS, harrisc@knews.com September 2, 2006

TALBOTT - Strands of necklaces drape around her dolls' ears and then underneath their noses.
The beaded decorations, to 3-year-old Gracie, symbolize oxygen tubes that wouldn't be enough to save her baby sister's life. Born at 23 weeks, weighing a pound and five ounces, with barely formed lungs and a heartbeat that could be seen through her thin skin, ailing Emma Faye Cody fought for her every breath for seven months. She lost the fight near the end of July.
It didn't matter that a glass window barrier stopped Gracie from planting kisses on Emma's forehead at East Tennessee Children's Hospital. The question was always the same: "When is Emma coming home?"
"Soon," her mother, Jessica Cody, would say. She would quickly follow up her answer with a quiet chat with God asking Him to please "lessen the close calls (of Emma dying) and keep her baby's heart beating so she can see, play with her sister."
"I have a baby sister. Her name is Emma," Gracie says to strangers in grocery store aisles. "She's in the hospital now. But she will be coming home soon."
Emma wouldn't be coming home.
Her pastel nursery would remain empty. Her pink baby clothing would stay neatly folded and affixed to hangers.
Still the big sister, Gracie asks: "When will Emma be coming home?"
Her Nana answers: "Baby Emma went to live with Jesus in heaven. She's not coming home with us because Jesus knows best."
Temporarily satisfied, Gracie scoots off to play with her dolls, still adorned with her necklace oxygen tubes.
Carole and David Turner know their granddaughter will ask the same question later but "we'll just keep answering her the best we know how."
At 24, Cody's questions aren't dissimilar from her daughter's: "Why couldn't Emma have made it? Why couldn't she get better to come home?
"I am angry with God."
Dreaming that the loss of her child isn't real, Cody can hear what Emma's cries might have sounded like in her sleep.
"I never heard her cry," Cody said, remembering rubbing Emma's tiny chest night after night.
Soothing Emma soothed Cody as she dealt with the heartache of going through a divorce.
What became normal was driving to and from Hamblen County to Knoxville; hearing the microwave-sounding beeps of Emma's monitoring machine and resetting it herself; handing her bills over to her parents; figuring out when her mother could stand in her place at the hospital; and checking in with her dad, who took on the roles of father and grandfather, to tell Gracie "goodnight and I love you."
"I would whisper the same thing in Emma's small ears every night," she said.
"She looked like me, with her fat cheeks and her big brown eyes. She was stubborn like me, never wanting to give up.
"Emma taught me how to be a fighter for every moment in life.
"She was the littlest thing that I ever put my whole life into," Cody said with a tear-stained face.
She finds her refuge in what seems like buckets of her tears, her parents' patience and strength, and homemade meals from her surrogate grandparents, neighbors Bill and Betty Pearson.
"While I know God doesn't give more than you can bear," she finds herself asking rhetorically, "Lord, haven't you given me enough?"
"I don't know where or what to do from here," she said.
"I eventually want to go back to Walters State (Community College). I want to get married again. I would even have more children. I want a family life like my parents gave me and my sister.
"But right now I can only concentrate on the next five minutes, the next 10 minutes and Gracie keeps me looking forward to the next minute because her life helps to continue mine.
"I do thank God every night for the short time I had with Emma. And then I thank Him that I still have Gracie."
And Gracie thanks God for her "Mommy, Nana, Bop-Pa and God, can you please keep Emma's diapers changed until me and mommy can come and get her? Amen."

Sweet Memories

Every Tuesday night is card night with my grandparents. We usually play with my aunt, but sometimes my cousin J or my friend J will join in on the festivities. This past Tuesday night as we were putting away the card table, my grandparents and I started singing old hymns. After I got all of the stuff put away, we broke out the old Cokesbury Hymnal and went through singing the songs we knew the tune of without the music. What a blessing this was to me for many reasons. To start, my grandparents know so many of the words. At a time in their life where we are dealing with them forgetting so many things, they still know the words to the "classics." Secondly, I got to hear my grandfather sing again. One of my fondest memories as a child was hearing him singe "O Holy Night" during the Christmas season. It was his solo during that time of year. Thirdly, it made them happy. They were comfortable singing these songs. It was something they knew how to do. And they weren't just sitting in their house feeling sorry for themselves or worrying about what might be going wrong with their health. I pray that God will bless me with many more sweet memories to add to the collection I already have of these dear people. I love you, Granny and Papaw!

A Pluto Funny

Deep Thoughts

Every Sunday morning I retell Deep Thoughts by Jack Handy to my Bible Fellowship (aka Sunday School) class. Here are a few new ones I found as well as some old favorites:

If I ever opened a trampoline store, I don't think I'd call it Trampoland, because you might think it was a store for tramps, which is not the impression we are trying to convey with our store. On the other hand, we would not prohibit tramps from browsing or testing the trampolines, unless a tramp's gyrations seem to be getting out of control.

The memories of my family outings are still a source of strength to me. I remember we'd all pile into the car - I forget what kind it was - and drive and drive. I'm not sure where we'd go, but I think there were some trees there. The smell of something was strong in the air as we played whatever sport we played. I remember a bigger, older guy we called "Dad". We'd eat some stuff, or not, and then I think we went home. I guess some things never leave you.

Laurie got offended that I used the word "puke", but to me, that's what her dinner tasted like.

Whenever I see an old lady slip and fall on a wet sidewalk, my first instinct is to laugh. But then I think, "What if I was an ant, and she fell on me?" Then it wouldn't seem quite so funny.

It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man.

Children need encouragement, so if a kid gets an answer right, tell him it was a lucky guess. That way, he develops a good, lucky feeling.

I can't stand cheap people. It makes me real mad when someone says something like, "Hey, when are you going to pay me that $100 you owe me?", or, "Do you have that $50 you borrowed?" Man, quit being so cheap!

My Very Eager Mother Just Served Us Nine ?????

I'm hopping mad. Pluto is no longer a planet? Is this a conspiracy by the textbook companies to make money because all science books will have to be rewritten to remove Pluto from the line-up of planets? And what to do with the catchy little jingle that students all over the place have learned their planets by? Not to mention Pluto was my favorite. Just a tiny little planet hanging out in the middle of nowhere, minding its own business, when a bunch of astonomers in Prague (they were probably not in their sober minds when decidint this!) have taken away its right to be a planet. Poor little Pluto. I mean, it's tough enough being the smallest planet, but to now be in the genre "dwarf planets." Kick a planet while it's down. I think I will rebel and continue to think of it as a planet. And that will be my tribute to Pluto.

Mr. Nice Guy.... NOT!

I have a friend, P, who I always thought was one of the nicest guys I had ever met. He appears quiet and reserved upon meeting him. Once you get to know him he has a quick sense of humor and is much fun to be around. I always thought he was the type of person who would never hurt a fly, more or less a human. However, it has come to my attention (as well as Brown Sugar, Tryphena, and JT) that this is not the case. On Wednesday nights (after churhc and walking), a group of us meet at a local tennis court to play a friendly game of doubles. Last Wednesday night P and I were playing doubles against Brown Sugar and Tryphena. Out of nowhere, P slams the ball across the net and hits Brown Sugar in the stomach (appendix area.) SMACK! You could hear it from the back of the court where I was hanging out. That was aggression #1. P apologized and we thought all was well in the world and that it was an innocent mistake. However, after the tennis match last night I'm not sure we all feel the same way. Brown Sugar and I were playing doubles against P and JT. P was serving to Brown Sugar. Suddenly the ball is headed straight for me, not Brown Sugar (as it should have been.) Needless to say, my reaction time was not good so I got nailed in the thigh. Aggression #2. P, you get one more chance. If you hit someone next week, I'm afraid we're going to have to take you down with our rackets. I still consider P a nice guy....just not on the tennis court.

An Easy Button

Do you ever wish life had an easy button? You could just push it like they do in the commercials and everything would be all better. Sick people would be healed, hurting people would be relieved of their hurt and those who hurt them, lonely people would surrounded by others, and so on. As I look back over the last few years of my life I realize they haven't been what most people would call easy. Granted, life has not dealt me of my family as many hard times as some have. We have been blessed to have food on our table and shelter over our heads. We have been warm during the winter and blessed to be able to turn the A/C on during the summer. However, the loss of loved ones and dealing with the news of Alzheimers has hit me and my family hard. It is during those times that you wish you could hit your easy button and just make it all better. But that is not God's plan for our life. Suffering draws us closer to Him. As hard as it is to go through these life events, I can't imagine what it must be like for someone who does not believe in Him. By turning our pain and suffering over to Him, He surrounds us with a love that is unexplainable and completely amazing. He wraps His arms around us, and though we cannot see Him, we know He is there. So, if having an easy button meant giving that up, I'll take the pain and suffering any day. After all, none of us have it as bad as Job did.

Favorite Childhood Toy

A couple of blogs I read have recently named favorite childhood toys. Contrary to what my dad may think, my styrofoam boomerang was not my favorite. Hands down it was the Smurf big wheel. Man, that thing could fly. I don't know if it was because it wasn't weighted down by the baby seat like my sister's Cabbage Patch big wheel or if I just had super human strength in peddling the blue machine to insane speeds. Whatever it was, I just remember some of my happiest times on that big wheel. I remember when I wore holes through the wheels in the first one... my next big wheel had to be a Smurf. They only replacement for a Smurf big wheel was a Smurf big wheel.

What was your favorite childhood toy?

How Times Do Change

I hope your computer will let you make this image bigger so you can enjoy the irony.

Something to Think About

Well, we made it back from Memphis is much less time than it took us to get there. We dropped K off in Nashville for a conference and then A and I headed home. Lots to do today so I want to leave you with a quote to think about. Maybe I'll blog on it more later, but just read it and think about it.

“There is a direct relationship between expectation and disappointment, and much of our disappointment in relationships is not because people have actually wronged us, but because they have failed to meet our expectations." -- Paul Tripp

Patience Part 2

So, yesterday I said I was praying for patience. I also said I would catch every red light on my way home. Well, I didn't catch many red lights because there aren't a lot between my work and my house. However, last night my friends A and K joined me for a car trip to Memphis. There are no traffic lights on the interestate so one would think we were safe from my prayer for patience. However, we hit three traffic jams. At one point we sat barely inching forward for about 30-40 minutes. I shared at this point that I had prayed for patience. My friends were not happy. I was not minding the wait as I was enjoying the visiting time for them, but they minded. It was all my fault. I did learn one area of my life that I need to work on having more patience: slow cars in the fast lane. Now, one would think a girl who doesn't mind sitting in traffic would not be irritated by having to go slow in the fast lane. But it bothers me. So now I'm praying to have more patience with the slow cars in the fast lane. It will be a process, but an area I know God can work with me in. So, today I am still praying for patience...just don't tell A or K or I might be driving home by myself tomorrow!

Patience

The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
and patience is better than pride.

Ecclesiastes 7:8

I am praying for patience in my life. I know, I know. Everyone always says, "don't pray for patience" because you'll get it. I am usually a patient person. I don't mind waiting at red lights for the most part (except the one exiting the interstate to Emory at 11:00 PM. It takes forever.) It irritates me when people are late, but I'm usually the one who is late. As of late I have become very unsettled about some issues and realize that I can't just make them go away with the blink of eye or the snap of a finger or by just saying I want them resolved. So I guess I am praying for specific patience. But I know I'll still catch every red light on the way home today. And I'm ok with that.

Discipline

Pray for my poor mother as she decides which path to take in life. She has been teaching special ed for 31 years. However, the emotional toll of the past 8 months on her life coupled with the discipline problems of the children in her classroom are really taking a toll on her mentally and physically. I got an email from her just a few moments ago saying she had been bitten. I was shocked at first but then I remembered she told me that one of her kids this year is a biter, kicker, hitter. It's only the second day of school and my mom is on her way to the doctor because the child bit her and it broke the skin. The sad part is, because of state laws, you can't even punish the child. I pray my mother can find a way to retire. This is no way for her to be treated on a daily basis and I fear that things will only get better if she sticks around.

Praises During Storms

It amazes me that people can be so mean. My sister received a message on her instant messenger yesterday from a person who told her that if she did not change that my other niece, G, would have her life ruined as well. The person used Bible verses out of context to say really cruel things to her. My sister is not perfect. None of us are. Satan will attack using anyone and any circumstance. It breaks my heart that people can be so mean under normal circumstances, but to attack when someone is already so broken is reaching to a low only Satan could bring a person to. I guess the biggest surprise was that this commonly happens to parents who lose a child. A friend of ours who lost her son at the end of May said that she had to delete comments off of her blog that people left saying mean things about her.

My prayers now are first for my sister, that she will remain strong and God can continue to work in her life. But I also pray for those who would be so cruel as to say these things. I keep hearing the words of Casting Crowns over and over in my head. Unfortunately the storms never pass as quickly as we would like, but God knows His plans for us and I know the sunshine will eventually pass through the clouds in His timing. I have posted the lyrics below so you can read them as well.

Praise You In the Storm
Casting Crowns

I was sure by now, God, You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again I say "amen" and it's still raining
And as the thunder rolls I barely hear
You whisper through the rain "I'm with you."
And as your mercy falls, I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away.

And I'll praise you in this storm and I will lift my hands
That You are who You are no matter where I am
And every tear I cry You hold in Your hand
You never left my side and though my heart is torn
I will praise you in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind you heard my cry to you and raise me up again
My strength is almost gone how can I carry on if I can't find You
But as the thunder rolls, I barely hear You whisper through the rain "I'm with you"
And as your mercy falls, I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away

And I'll praise you in this storm and I will lift my hands
That You are who You are no matter where I am
And every tear I cry You hold in Your hand
You never left my side and though my heart is torn
I will praise you in this storm

I lift my eye unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

And I'll praise you in this storm and I will lift my hands
That You are who You are no matter where I am
And every tear I cry You hold in Your hand
You never left my side and though my heart is torn
I will praise you in this storm

Underwhat?

Tomorrow, August 9, is National Underwear Day. Yes, you heard it here first. It's a day to celebrate in your skivvies. Now, I recommend that you celebrate in the privacy of your own home. But in Manhattan they will be celebrating in the streets. So go home, wash your favorite pair, and celebrate in style tomorrow. But if you leave your house, please put clothes on. And always remember what your mother said, "Put on clean underwear in case you are in a wreck." Everyone knows how much worse it is to have a wreck with dirty undies.

For more information on this topic, read Sam Venable's column.

A Wild Night

Friday night I went home to spend the night with my best friend from high school, CJ, so that we could have a yard sale on Saturday. By the time CJ and I connected it was past 11:00 due to different obligations on both of our parts. We started talking as she did various chores around her house (and her husband and baby slept!) We talked our way into her room as she folded laundry and I quickly snuggled into the overstuffed chair in the corner of her bedroom. When she finished folding laundry we continued our conversation. At a quarter to 4 we decided we should probably go to bed, but we needed to determine our plan of action for the yard sale. We somehow got distracted onto a different topic so at 5:00 AM we decided to go eat. Did you know that at 5:00 AM there is a hostess and a chef working at Perkins? That's it. We had the whole restaraunt to ourselves. It was so nice. We ate then went home. I took a 10 minute power nap while CJ did some more laundry then we proceeded with setting up our yard sale. I am thankful that after all these years CJ and I can still spend this time together. We're going to try to do it more often so we don't have to spend the whole night catching up though!

Three Times a Lady

I went back to work today for the first time since last Thursday. I had the work of three people waiting on me. It's flattering that they feel I am competent enough to do the work of three people. It will be even better if they would decide to pay me the salary of three people. Oh well, until then, I guess I'll just do what I can for what they pay me.

The Big Day

Today is the day S and S will tie the knot. There is a Jewish Proverb that says "God is a great matchmaker." He certainly is. These two were perfect together from the start. They are a great encouragement to me in what a relationship that is Christ-centered should be. I wish them the best for today and for all of their tomorrows. I love these two and am praying for them!

Baby Emma

I'm sure most of you know by now, but Baby Emma passed away on Thursday night. She fought a courageous battle and is now where she can breathe on her own. Thank you all so much for the encouraging thoughts and words and most especially the prayers you have lifted up for my family over the past 7 months. I could not ask for better people to work with. Please continue to lift up my sister in your prayers as she is the one hurting now.

There is a song by Casting Crowns that says, "And as your mercy falls, I raise my hands and praise the God who gives, and takes away. I'll praise you in this storm, and I will lift my hands, for you are who You are, no matter where I am. And every tear I cry, you hold in your hands, you never left my side, and though my heart is torn, I'll praise you in this storm." These words have spoken to me so much over the past couple of weeks. God has never left our side through all of us, and He will continue to be with us. His plans are mightier than ours and He blessed us with the fiestiest little girl for 7 months. And for that I can be thankful.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! God has blessed me and will continue to bless my family. He never gives us more than we can take.

Carrie

Bring Back the Bread

I don't care about the carbs, I don't care if it's whole wheat, honey wheat, white, enriched, etc. I just want the bread. Lately restaurants really jilt you on the bread portions. While A and I were in Hotlanta we had to ask for bread at one restaurant. One of my favorite restaurants in downtown K-town used to have the best cheese bread. Now they offer you a small (and very hard) roll as a replacement. Today I dined at Patin's Field of Greens. You guessed it. The tiniest crescent roll I have ever seen! I almost missed it beside the 1" cube of apple. Get a cup of soup at Panera? Barely enough bread for the first 5 bites. So, I say we start a petition and say "bring back the bread!"

Stress?

How bad is the stress in your life? A friend asked me yesterday if there was anything I had dreaded more than anything. Lately it has beeng going to work. I am in a job I would enjoy if I could just do my job and go home. But I can't get my job done for more work piling up on my desk. On top of that I have meetings to attend, phone calls to make, and people to appease. Then there are the performance reviews, meetings about the performance reviews, and on top of that people are leaving for "greener pastures" and we are stuck with their work. Yes, I dread coming to work. But one of these days our sole responsibility will be to be at feet of Jesus singing praise songs to Him. So, until that time, I will continue to get up and come to the job God has blessed me with, I will praise Him for allowing me this job, and I will look forward to the future.

Ode to the Embassy

So, for the past 2 days I have been staying at the Embassy Suites with my good friend A. The second best part of this stay (the first being A is here with me!) is the quotes that the Embassy puts on items in the room. I would like to share these with you at this time.

On the drink coasters: Because sometimes you need a cup of coffee to go downtstairs to get a cup of coffee.
On the room key: If you are late to a meeting held in your on room, buddy, you've got no excuse.
On the door hanger: There's a good reason for you not to knock right now.

I hope you enjoyed these little plays on words as much as A and I did.

Top 10 Songs - July 19, 1986

WOW! 20 years ago. That's a long long long time. So, here they are:

10. "Love Touch" - Rod Stewart
9. "Your Wildest Dreams" - The Moody Blues
8. "There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)" - Billy Ocean
7. "Glory of Love" - Peter Cetera
6. "Who's Johnny" - El DeBarge
5. "Holding Back The Years" - Simply Red
4. "Danger Zone" - Kenny Loggins
3. "Nasty" - Janet Jackson
2. "Sledgehammer" - Peter Gabriel
1. "Invisible Touch" - Genesis

#4 and #7 are great additions from great movies...Top Gun and Karate Kid 2. You just have to love songs from soundtracks.

A Poem for A

Ok, I have to say I did not write this. A gave her students an assignment to write a poem about death following a study of Huck Finn and how Mark Twain satirized bad poetry. This is the poem her junior girls wrote.

Oh! Poor Arynda.
She is now in Heaven.
She was sweet as Splenda
And died at the young age of 47.

While she was watching Gilmore Girls
And grading our plagarized work,
She swallowed a pearl,
And then croaked with a smirk.

She will go down in history
As being one of the best,
Her death is still a mystery,
Yet when she died she messed.

For P

Factorials were someone's attempt to make math *look* exciting.

Watch Out Williams' Sisters...

C and A are on the move. I enjoyed a nice game of tennis with my good friend A tonight. I fully expect us to be at Wimbledon next year. The little trophy in the picture....yes, it will be ours. So, to all of you would be tennis players out there, if you want a real challenge just call A and me. We'll take you on any day. We'll even let you win so that you can feel better about yourself. After all, no one should ever intentionally show some one up. It's just not nice.

Baby Emma Update

We have not received good news from any of the doctors today. Please continue to lift up Emma and my sister in your prayers.

A Quote

Talk to a man about himself and he will listen for hours.

-- Benjamin Disraeli

More Things I Am Thankful For

In an effort to overcome what I have deemed as a less than desirable Tuesday, I am going to take Wednesday to put down some things I am thankful for in regard to the prayer requests from yesterday.

1. I am thankful for getting to hold Baby Emma last Friday. She has the prettiest brown eyes (like her mama.) Such a pretty, sweet baby she is. I think I'll call her Babybug. After all, big Sister is Doodlebug.

2. My sister. I know we don't always get along (ok, we rarely get along), but she was my constant playmate growing up. We raced our bigwheels all over my parents farm.

3. The times that God has blessed me with being able to spend with my grandparents. Growing up it seems like the best place to visit. Whever we were sick mom always took us there. I have so many memories of being at their house when I was young. And the sayings that my papaw has left me with are priceless. I still treasure being able to go to their house now as an adult and entertain them once a week. I praise God He is giving me this time with them now so I have all the happy memories.

4. My mom. The rock in my sister's life and the best Nana her grandbabies could want. We may not always see eye to eye on things, but she raised me and I haven't done anything too bad yet. Besides, if it wasn't for her, who would my dad and I have made the butt of every joke growing up. We all know Jess couldn't take it.

5. My aunts. They have given above and beyond the call to take care of their parents. From getting called in the middle of the night, to going to my grandparents multiple times per day just to calm them down when they knew nothing was wrong. I hope I can be as good of a daughter as they are. (Note: I've told them all I will not be that good so they better find a good nursing home and get their applications in now!)

So, in light of all the downs, I'm thankful that God has allowed me to reflect on the negative and see the positive. It's all in His hands and He would never give us something that He didn't see fit into His perfect plan.

Prayer Requests

Please pray for the following:

Baby Emma - she is not doing well. The doctors are very frustrated. She is not keeping her oxygen rates up well at all. She goes into the teens and 20s and stays there even when they bag her.

My Sister - pray that she will accept God's will no matter the outcome of this. She has been away from church for a long time and I pray she won't lose faith over this situation.

My Grandparents - they were both diagnosed with early stages of alzheimer's today. This means no more driving and someone is going to have to stay with them pretty much all of the time.

My mom - strength to be there for both my sister, her granddaughter, and her parents.

My mom and her sisters - pray for strength for them as they deal with their parents. They will take the worst of the yelling and fighting over lost independence.

I praise God that He will not give us more than we can handle and that He uses all things for His good and perfect will.

A Poem For J

A prophet
She is not it
But a good friend of mine
And now I end my rhyme

Thankfulness

I am thankful for:

• God's grace, it's sufficient for even me and all of my faults and shortcomings.
• Family.
• Friends.
• My health (even with my 80 year old hips!)
• The doctors and nurses at Children's Hospital for being God's aides in getting Emma to 6 months old.
• Freedom.
• Blessings exceedingly above and beyond what I deserve on any day.

So often we get so caught up in the negative of the world that we forget to stop and count the blessings we do have. I hope you'll take the time today to stop and remember how much you truly have. And while you're remember, remember to thank the One who provided it. Without Him, you wouldn't even exist to enjoy the blessings.

Me Time

This afternoon I decided I had earned some me time. So I called around and got an appointment for a massage. WOW! It was amazing. Anyone who laughs at the idea of spending money on something like a masage has obviously never had one. It's a time when you have someone else focus on you for 60 minutes (or 30 or 90.) In college I got manicures once every two weeks. A guy in one of my class groups asked why I would do that. I simply explained that for one 30 minute period every two weeks someone focused on me and I focused on nothing. I didn't answer my phone, I wasn't studying or working, it was just for me. At the end of the conversation he decided he needed to find something he could do that was for him, and noone else. I miss those times and find that I don't spend the time pampering myself as much as I should these days. It seems I am always going and doing and I simply forget that in order to keep my energy level up I need those special times for myself. So, find something that "pampers" you and indulge yourself.

The Adventures of J and C

This past weekend my friend J and I went to Brevard, NC, to visit with her parents. Fortunately for you who read this blog, we kept a travel log so you could experience the high points of the trip with us. Get ready for the read!

Thursday:

18:23 - J said, "Generic protein shakes taste like a cross between c---t and Goodwill underwear."
19:07 - C said, "Not all water tastes the same."
19:30 - Walter let one rip.
19:34 - J sat stiller.
20:18 - J lost her ability to sit stiller.

Friday

(The morning's travel log is MIA.)

14:35 - J demonstrated "Thinking woman's pose.
14:39 - Discovered hair/lint wad in rental car.
15:00 - 19:00 - Made sweet plates and cups.
19:29 - C was right.
19:34 - Wal-Mart has no movies.
19:55 - Belk closed.
20:01 - The town has officially shut down.
20:12 - Woman spotted in spandex shorts w/ lime green tube top.

Saturday

11:30 - C knocked limeade into J's seat.
12:34 - J knocked over the cards. Twice.
13:17 - J rolled the window down with her foot.
16:09 - C said, "we need to make a list of things to get accomplished and done."
16:10 - J made list.
17:30 - Saw camel on the interstate.
18:32 - Bought sparklers: got 1 free!
18:55 - Girls from Oshkosh, WI, were "peeved."

And that was our adventure. I'm sure you wish you had been there. But at least we kept a travel log since you couldn't. Until the next adventures of C and J.

Thank You!

Thank you to:

My Heavenly Father, who blessed me by allowing me to be born free.
My father, who served in Vietnam.
My grandfather, who served in WWII.
My cousin, who served in Iraq during the first Gulf War.
My cousin, who served in times of peace.
To my friends who have served.
To those who gave their life so that I might enjoy the life I have.
To all those who serve and have served.

I thank you and pray that God will give you a peace about what you are doing and that you know you are doing it because it is part of His plan for your life. Thank you!!!!!

My Personal Prayer

Luke 11:2

"...Thy will be done...."

It's not about me. It's about Him. It's not about what I want, but about what He wants for my life. It's very hard to "let go and let God" but that is what we are to do. It is His will for our lives that matters, not ours. I found myself sitting and thinking tonight about that very thing. When we pray we so often ask for the specifics of what we want. Psalm 37:4 says "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." This doesn't mean that just because we pray and ask for a specific we get it. No, it must still be of His will for us. Garth Brooks sang the song "Unanswered Prayers." That is so wrong. God answers all of our prayers. He may not answer them in the way we as humans want them answered, but He answers them according to His will. After all, it is the only good and perfect way for our life to be led. I am praying for God's will for myself and for all of my friends. It's the only way to live life and know that it is being lived to the fullest.

Bravery

Bravery comes when you know the risks might happen, and you still go on with life.

*** Quote from "True Courage" by Dee Henderson

Quote of the Day

Patience is a virtue
Possess it if you can
Found seldom in a woman and
Never in a man.

A Lost Art

I went to see the movie "The Lake House" last night. This movie got me to thinking about the lost art of letter writing. Now, the letters in this movie were nothing grand, but still, the two people communicated through letters. In my favorite book, "The Notebook" by Nicholas Sparks, Noah Calhoun wrote Alli a letter every day for 1 year when she left town abruptly. She never receives the letters when they are sent, but years later her mother gives them to her. Who would do that now? Someone might shoot off an email or two, but write a letter? Probably not going to happen. How long has it been since someone wrote you a letter? Thankfully I have a friend who loves writing letters to people. In fact, I received one upon my return from vacation. It means so much to see that a person sat down and using a pen (not a typewriter or word processor) wrote me a letter. Imagine that? Someone wrote me, non-impressive little old Carrie, a letter. WOW! I felt so special. Yes, sometimes I receive an email from a friend I don't speak to often and it means a lot to me, but a letter in the mail...that has a special place in my life. I save these letters. I have them in a folder at my house along with birthday cards from my family. They can travel with me wherever I go and I don't need a phone line or high-speed internet to read them. The can be read at anytime and anywhere. So, here's to letterwriting. Hopefully I will write more letters myself in the coming months. I want others to feel special also.

A Note Before Leaving

Well, it's 5 days of vacation in the warm Charleston sun that this girl is seeing in her immediate future. While I am gone I hope that you will read these verses and know that God knows you intimately, created you just the way you are (so He loves you the way you are; no plastic surgery required!), and will be with you no matter where you go or what you are doing. So, while God is going to Charleston with me, He's also going to be right where you are, wherever that is. What a mighty (and BIG) God we serve! Amen!

Psalm 139

O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.
You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,"
even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.
If only you would slay the wicked, O God! Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name.
Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD, and abhor those who rise up against you?
I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Vacation

Growing up vacation time seemed endless. You got out of school in the late May/early June time frame and had at least 2 months of vacation. Plus there was Spring Break and Christmas Break with a few long weekends in between. Now I have 17 days of vacation. The game now is to figure out the best way to monopolize those 17 days along with holidays to get the most time off.

It just hit me that God never takes a vacation. Yes, He created the earth and all that is within it in 6 days and then rested on the 7th, but He doesn't get any vacation days. He is on the job 24/7. Listening to our prayers, working in our lives, guiding us down the path of our life. We however, do not give Him the same devotion. We turn to Him when the path is rocky or when we hit a fork in the road. His desire is for us to dance with Him down the straight, wide-open paths as well. He desires that we take a vacation from our daily lives and just spend time with Him. That vacation time is way more important than the 17 days I have accumulated in an Earthly job. My prayer is for more vacation time with God. He will give me the rest I need.

Pick-up lines, cooky looks, etc.

So, my friends A, B, and K decided to practice flirting on the way to our fantabulous Hotlanta get away this past weekend. It all stems from this new show on TV about how to get the guy. Apparently you should look him in the eye for 4 seconds, smile, then look away. It all sounds pretty funny to me, so I asked D last night what he thought about it. Apparently he did an indepth study in college on the very subject and explained to me how to do it. Then we learned I am horrible at it, that guys probably think I'm evil, and thus why I am still single. HAHAHA.

So, that got me thinking of pick up lines. My all time favorite is "Do you believe in love at first site, or should I walk by again?" That's awesome! How can you compete with that?

Here are some other classics:

• You must be tired because you've been running through my mind all day.
• If I could rewrite the alphabet I would put U and I together.
• You must be a broom because you have swept me off my feet.

If any guy or girl ever uses a horrible pick up line on your (or they just aren't your type), simply reply "I like your approach now let me see your departure."

What do you think are classic pick up lines?

Extraordinary Cousins

I spent Friday and Saturday in Atlanta with some close friends and my cousin J. I blogged about J's brother D in my previous blog. I found it facinating he held the record for most hit batters by a pitch in the ODAC. Well, I failed to mention his sister is equally as talented. Below are just a few of the things J has done well in her short life:

1) She hit 7 batters in the first softball game she ever pitched.
2) She has survived being run over by a boat (life jackets really do save lives!)
3) Her t-ball team consistently ranks last (or at least near the bottom) in their league
4) Had her dad had his way, her initials would have been ARG (pirate speak) and she coaches the pirates. However, her initals are JGG and that just isn't as exciting.
5) She's the youngest grandchild. It's always the hardest to be the youngest. (For more info on this, ask friend J.)

I am sure there are many more facinating things about J I am leaving out, but one can only blog on such a facinating person for so long. So, hat's of to J. You are far cooler than your brother. After all, he has it so rough as the only male grandchild.

Oh To Be Good At Something

I had the pleasure of spending some time with my Aunt S and Cousin D at a ballgame last night. It is times like this that you truly realize how wonderful your family is at being great. D plays baseball for Emory and Henry college. Go Wasps! So, as we were watching the game and recounting memories of baseball games played over the years by Cousin D, I learned how truly great he is. We have always been told in life to pick something we are good at and excel in that. You know the old saying, "find something you love and you'll never work a day in your life." Well, I'm not sure Cousin D interpreted that correctly. I learned last night that my one single solitary male 1st cousin holds the record in the ODAC for most batters hit with a pitch. Yes, you read that correctly, my cousin has hit more batters with his pitching than any other pitcher in the conference. I think we need to tell him going forward to find something he's good at that does not harm others or hinder his team and excel in that! But, hats off to D, at least he's good at something.

NASCAR - How Bad Have You Got It?

Ok, so I'm an admitted NASCAR fan. I've watched it my whole life. I went to my first Bristol race when I was in the 4th grade. I used to be a member of the Darrell Waltrip Fan Club back in the day. I am not that devoted to any driver now. I have those I cheer for (Elliot Sadler, Tony Stewart), but more importantly I have those I cheer against (Sissy pants pretty boy, bug eyes, the Busch brothers.) I think part of what I like about this sport is the history...it is Southern through and through. It has its roots in moonshining and souped up old cars. Who can cheer aginst the #43? It's legendary, just like the man who drove it to 200 victories (Richard Petty, for those who didn't know.) The best naps are on Sunday afternoons when I can lay on the couch with the sound of the cars running in the background. It's soothing. And the wrecks, there is nothing like them. How many times did he flip? 6? 7? 8? I miss some of the old things: driver rivalries, one car teams beind successful (Alan Kulwicki), and the close contact with the drivers. Corporate America has come in and made it an expensive sport. Cars cost millions to build and maintain, and the ticket prices are ridiculous. But as long as there is racing, I suppose I'll still be going...

Courage

So, yesterday I posted on fear and that has brought about several conversations. D sent me a quote that says "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you are scared to death." That says so much. But in talking more about fear, I have come to the conclusion that the answer is simply to "trust and obey, for there's no other way." God tells us to trust Him. If we do that, we have nothing to fear. If we are in His will for our lives, then everything will go as He wants and our fears are nothing more than our human minds letting Satan in to control them. So, conquer your fears. Take the first step. The second will be easier, the third even more so, and by the fourth you'll be dancing so gracefully you'll forget you had fears to begin with.

Fear

Sorry for the double-post Monday, but this has been heavy on my heart and mind lately.

What do you fear? Spiders? Heights? Commitment? Airplanes? Children?

When I was young my parents took me on one of those sightseeing helicopter rides over Pigeon Forge. I remember thinking, "I bet I could make a huge splash if I jumped in the pool at Ogle's from this height!" (I was too young to understand that would kill me!) Then in elementary school we studied airplanes and space shuttles so we walked to the local airport and road around M'town in a little plane. I thought it was so cool to see all the little things. Then I did not flying for the next 15 years. After graduating from college I had to fly to Wisconsin for some training for a new job. I wasn't big on the thoughts of flying, but I decided it was ok. I have flown several times since but each time it seems my fear grows. Even the thought of getting in a plane terrifies me. I look up at planes in the sky and half the time I feel scared for the people on them. I know this sounds ridiculous, but I really fear this.

A friend and I have talked about fear a lot lately. It's ironic that no matter what the fear is, it drives us drastic measures. We can't eat, we get nervous, we clam up, our emotions get out of control. What fear does this to you? I had begun researching this subject in the Bible and last night at church God handed it to me via our student minister in the service.

Psalm 27

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?

When the wicked came against me
To eat up my flesh,
My enemies and foes,
They stumbled and fell.

Though an army may encamp against me,
My heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me,
In this I will be confident.

One thing I have desired of the LORD,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD,
And to inquire in His temple.

For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.

And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;
Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.

Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice!
Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

When You said, “Seek My face,”
My heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.”

Do not hide Your face from me;
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not leave me nor forsake me,
O God of my salvation.

When my father and my mother forsake me,
Then the LORD will take care of me.

Teach me Your way, O LORD,
And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.

Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And such as breathe out violence.

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the LORD
In the land of the living.

Wait on the LORD;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the LORD!

My fear of flying is still there. It isn't going to disappear overnight. I just have to remember to hand it over to Him and He will take care of me.

Windows...Open!

Ah, the female brain. Such a complex subject. I think as women we often wonder what is going on up there as much as men do. However, we now have new insight as to why women process things so differently than men do: women are constantly focused on many things while men focus on a single item. Now, I know what you are thinking, "Men have a one track mind." Yes, it's true. If a man is working on something, he will be completely consumed on that one item. Women however always have multiple thoughts running through their heads.

And this is where I get back on my soapbox about whatever happened to Mrs. Cleaver.

I believe that what I know now about how the female brain focuses on many things at once while the male brain is single-task oriented backs up my theory of women being homemakers and men being the breadwinners as the ideal lifestyle. Women being able to multitask leads them to being able to care for a child, clean a house, cook dinner, wash clothes, and still have time to make some chocolate chip cookies all in a days work. However, men being able to focus on one task leads them to be better at business: they can enter a meeting and focus solely on the task at hand, making wise decisions, and doing what they are programmed to do best.

Now, before you all get hostile on me, I think some women make very good and successful business women. However, I don't believe the majority of women are capable of the determination and single-mindedness that it requires. And I also know men who stay at home and keep a perfectly functioning, well run house. But, I'm going to stick to my theory that well run households are made up of a husband who works outside the home and a wife who works inside the home. Each are putting in well over 40 hours per week.

The Deal Is Never Closed

I became a big fan of Shaunti Feldhahn after I listened to her speak on her book For Women Only. She and her husband, Jeff, have now released the follow-up book For Men Only. My friend, D, lent me a copy of the book to read. WOW! Did these people look into my head while writing this book? I believe so. This book is a guide for men to the "inner lives of women." Scary, I know, as sometimes I think my own mind is too much for even me to handle.

A couple of nights ago I read the chapter "The Deal Is Never Closed." This chapter dealt with the fact that just because you have sealed the deal and married a woman (or committed to dating them exclusively) that doesn't mean you can just quit letting them know that they are important to you. I found myself being taken back several years to the last serious relationship I was in. As I read the words of the book I felt myself reliving the thoughts and emotions I experienced during the last few months of that relationship. There was no reassurance. And when I did ask (or pester) the person they would say the words I needed to hear and then say they felt they were contributing to the emotions I was struggling with. Now that I have read this chapter I could better have communicated to them what I was feeling. Even reading this as a female I can see where I could have seen where the person wasn't serious in their words (especially since their actions didn't back them up) and saved myself some heartache or I could have given it to them to read so they could see that they weren't meaning what they said and were in fact adding to my emotions because of it.

Men, just because you may be romantic clods (which Shaunti explains in her book), doesn't mean you can't try. Now granted women need to be more patient with you as you learn and know that criticizing your efforts will not help themselves feel more appreciated and loved in the future as the man will not try again. But it is the little things we (as women) look for. The simple compliments, a hug, a reaffirmation (even if we just got one 30 mintes ago.) And men, find where you can "shine" for that special someone in your life and go for it. If you aren't into the whole romantic thing, it still wouldn't kill you to stop by the grocery store and pick up some fresh flowers for that special someone in your life. Women know that not every man is programmed for romance, fine dining, and dancing, but all men can contribute their own special touch that is just for that special woman in their life.

So, I'm sure I didn't cover all my thoughts on this chapter and I'm sure those who read this will have their own opinions of my opinions, but they are my opinions.

A Tribute to My Friend A

Today is A's birthday. She is the most humble person I know. She hates being in the spotlight so hopefully she won't read this post. God has truly blessed me by allowing her to be a part of my life for the last year or so. I can always count on her to be there when I need her and to be praying when I ask. She encourages, listens, jokes, plays, loves, laughs, and exhibits Christ in her life every day. Thank you God for my friend A. May You allow us the pleasure of spending many more years in her presence.

So Happy Birthday, A. I love you and count myself truly blessed to know you.

Success

The pig roast was a success! We had approximately 45-50 people attend the event. D, S, A, J, and I started the party 24 hours early with a small chicken roast. Then it was time for the boys to dig the hole. From 9-10:30 p.m. they were able to get the majority of the hole dug. J and I went down to visit about 10:30. The guys leveled it out some then the rains came so we headed to the house to relax. A little after midnight everyone turned in for the night. The guys got back up at 2:30 and started digging again to level the hole out. Then it was time to light the first bag of charcoal. About 14 hours later the guys pulled the most delectible pork out of that hole I have ever eaten. I look forward to experiencing this again next year and hope that this tradition will retain its vigor next year.

Learnings from the weekend:
1) D makes a killer bbq sauce.
2) Sasquatch did not find us. He must not live near Walland because I know we made enough noise.
3) Red recluse spiders are more poisonous than brown recluse. *
4) I still don't like the sound of guns being shot.
5) I am better at croquet than J. Finally something I can do better than she can!
6) A pedicure at Wal-Mart is the best there is.
7) 2 pecans and a strawberry make a filling breakfast.
8) Nothing on earth is better than good times spent among my Christian friends. Thank you all for the wonderful weekend.

* Note: there is no such thing as a red recluse. Please don't tell A though. He thinks they are very bad.

Baby Emma

Emma Faye looking like her Nana!

Today Baby Emma is 5 months old. She also had a very serious surgery. When the doctor went in to operate he found her liver to be very inflamed. This is due to her chronic lung disease. Unfortunately he knicked her liver so she had to have a blood transfusion during the surgery and the surgeon was not able to do her Fundoplication as well as he had hoped. However they were able to get the feeding tube put in so that is a blessing. Please pray for little Emma as she heals from this surgery. Pray that what part of the Fundoplication that the surgeon was able to do will hold and be sufficient to prevent her reflux. Also pray that her lungs heal so that her liver size will decrease. God is in ulitimate control and my family has placed Emma in His hands where we know she is safest. In that we take constant comfort for His ways are so much greater than our ways.

"The Lord bless you and keep you,
the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace."

Numbers 6:24-26

I'm An Admitted Blog Stalker

No, it did not take a 12 step program. I just happened to meet one of the pepole. So, I admitted I was a blog stalker. The other people, they don't know yet. I like having a little mystery remain in my blog stalking. So, E, this blog is dedicated to you.

Pig Roast

This Saturday our Bible Fellowship (Sunday School) class will host a pit roast at my good friend J's house. We are praying that the guys do not dress in native gear, but you will have to show up to see. All are welcome to come, so join us. Hopefully (we're crossing our fingers here) the food will be edible. The entertainment is a guartantee. Real pictures of a roast from 2006 to come I am sure.

Bird Flu Hits Florida

We all knew it was coming...

These are the Days of Elijah, Part 1

Sunday morning was awesome. First, the choir sang "Days of Elijah." This is one of my favorite songs that they sing. I have even heard them sing it on their mission trip to NYC last year! How cool is that. Then we went to Bible Fellowship (aka Sunday School), and our lesson was on Elijah. As I listened to and read some of Elijah's stories again I was astonished by how God really spoke to me about this prophet and his life. In 1 Kings 17:7-24 Elijah is instructed by God to go to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. When he arrives Elijah is instructed by God to ask the widow to feed him. The widow only has enough to make one small cake for her son and herself and then they plan to lay down and die due to the drought and famine in the land. However, she does as God has instructed. God then provided for them for as long as they needed. How often does God ask us to give from what little we have? Do we do as he asks? One area of my life I have really felt convicted about in the last year has been in my giving through tithes and of my time. God gives me so much yet I always struggled to give Him back even the smallest bit. As I reflected on these verses yesterday I realized that since I have been more obedient in giving as God instructs He has blessed me and given me a peace about what He has provided to me. Yes, there have been several occasions where I would rather have paid extra on a bill or gone out to eat a little nicer, but I knew that if I did not give to God what was rightfully His (after all, it is really all His and He could take it away at any time!) that the meal wouldn't taste as great and other bills would probably come up with more urgency. I also realized when reading this passage that when the woman's son passes away she questions Elijah and his God as to why this happened. We all do this. We obey God's commands when the going is good with no questions asked, but as soon as God does something that isn't in our plans we are questioning Him and His logic. God's logic and reasoning are always perfect, and I pray that I along with my friends will rely on God knowing our best interests rather we have plenty or we are in want.

What's in a Name?

Ok, so I've admitted that I blog stalk. I enjoy the different blogs I read, some for entertainment value, others for the insight into God's word. But I must admit that this morning I blog stalked an entry (A Boy Named Sue) that really disturbed me. Now, since I don't know the person I am going to retaliate on here. After all, isn't the purpose of stalking to not get caught? So, this person decided to make fun of unique names. Now, I will admit that I have made fun of some names in my time. There is a lady at work who chose a unique name for her daughter that I personally do not care for. But I would never say that out loud nor to her face. I have several friends who have unique names. A and S are special to me and I can't imagine their names being anything other than what they are. Now, in reference to my friend J's blog on our identities, would A and S be as special to me if their names were Ann and Beth? Yes, but they aren't. And to me part of who they are is their name. So, please don't make fun. After all, your sons will probably marry girls who have "different" names just because you don't like them.

The Songs in My Head

Most of you know I love a good pop song, but I've found myself listening to Christian music more and more lately. I have also found it so refreshing that the song going through my head during the long days at work is often one which I can use to praise God. When I find myself getting a bad attitude at work I often just need to listen to the song in my head and it gives me such a complete peace. Today the song is Kutless "Strong Tower." I hope you have heard the song. If you haven't, I suggest you find it somewhere and listen. Such power in knowing that God is our shelter and we only have to turn to Him and he will provide shelter for us. I pray God will be your strong tower and your shelter from the storms life throws your way.

When I wander through the desert
And I'm longing for my home
All my dreams have gone astray
When I'm stranded in the valley
And I'm tired and all aloneIt seems like
I've lost my way

I go running to Your mountain
Where Your mercy sets me free

You are my strong tower
Shelter over me
Beautiful and mighty
Everlasting King
You are my strong tower
Fortress when I'm weak
Your name is true and holy
And Your face is all

I seekIn the middle of my darkness
In the midst of all my fear
You're my refuge and my hope
When the storm of life is raging
And the thunder's all I hear
You speak softly to my soul

Blog Stalker?

Are you a blog stalker? I am. I read the blogs of people I don't know. People link to other people's blogs on their webpage and I read them. I once met a person whose blog I read on a regular basis. I told her I agreed with something she had written. She got a good laugh out of the fact that I knew the story and could relate to her take on it. My friend J and I had the discussion the other night on whether we think this is bad or not because we will often say "did you read person X's blog yesterday?" We decided it isn't wrong because if they didn't want anyone to be able to read what they were writing they should not be posting on public space. Would I be offended if someone I didn't know was reading my blog? No. I hope they find humor in the things I find humor in, are inspired by things that inspire me, and can learn from situations I have learned from. So stalk my blog. I hope you enjoy.

Men Step Up, Women Step Down

I just read an interesting article on boundless.org. Dr. Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, wrote an article in defense of a message he delivered at the 2004 New Attitude conference. In the address, he spoke of the immaturity of adults these days, mainly men, who want to act like they are in their early 20s well into their 30s. I agree with what Dr. Mohler is saying in this article. Society has made both men and women so career driven that the desire for marriage is taught to be "minimized" while in these years so the free time you do have can be acted upon as if you were still in the early years of college. Is this Biblical? Paul speaks of the call to celibacy as special for those who could only perform the ministry that one is called to do as a single person. But in order for us to see the opportunities that God places in our lives, men need to step it up a notch in pursuing these Biblical relationships and women need to back down on their quest to be the most successful woman in their career before deciding to settle down with one person. Many of you have heard my "Whatever happened to June Cleaver" speech on several occasions, but was life really so bad back then? I know there are you Rosie the Rivetor types who will argue we have it so much better these days, but is that really true?

What Bible lesson would you want to hear?

Our Bible Fellowship teacher (that's Sunday School teacher to all of you old-school people) is giving us the opportunity to submit ideas for lessons once we have finished Romans. (Yes, he has also told us we will eventually finish studying through Romans.) Now, I know that numerous times throughout my life I've thought to myself "I wish I could hear a lesson on this topic or that topic," but I can't think of them now. I shall start writing them down from now on though so if I am ever posed with this question again I will have my list to fall back on. But for now, I must move forward. I think I am going to suggest he teach on the twelve disciples. Who were these men before they were disciples? What are their backgrounds? What happened to them after Jesus was crucified and resurrected? How did they continue their ministry? How did they die? Some of these questions are very obvious and touched on in various other lessons, but I still think to hear it all at one time would be very educational. Do you have any thoughts or suggestions for lessons that you have always wanted to hear?

The Humor of Being Single

I was surfing the internet today and stumbled across Christian comedian Kerri Pomarolli. What caught my eye was a humerous cartoon on her webpage. As I read more about her, I learned she had recently released the following book: If I'm Waiting on God, Then What Am I Doing in a Christian Chatroom?: Confessions of a Do-It Yourself Single. I think that so many of us feel that way so often. My friends and I have had numerous conversations on this topic. One of their moms said to me yesterday it seems the girl has turned into the pursuer in the relationship these days. It is so hard to know exactly what we should do, but we need to make sure we are seeking God every step of the way. I pray that God will not allow me to be a Do-it Yourselfer, but that He will guide my steps to be completely and totally in His perfect will when the correct person is ready to seek out a relationship with me. That doesn't mean I won't be reading this book though!

Click here for some humerous comic strips.