tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52116424647436305092024-03-14T07:10:28.796-06:00Mornin' Thoughtsmornin'http://www.blogger.com/profile/14622044146323915360noreply@blogger.comBlogger146125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211642464743630509.post-91473093504052274632011-08-07T13:04:00.009-06:002011-08-07T14:36:59.141-06:00No Good Deed Goes Unpunished...It was raining like crazy and I was hungry, so I was giving serious consideration to a Texas muffin from the vending machine. Bad idea. But thankfully I was saved from myself by a ringing phone. It went downhill from there.<br /><br />Most of the people who work at our company are legally or totally blind, so transportation is a huge issue. I've forgotten to give non-drivers messages a couple of times in 29+ years and I can tell you I feel almost as rotten as they feel mad. Being transportation-challenged myself, I take such things seriously.<br /><br />Back to the story...The husband of one of my employees said he was broken down and he wanted me to find his wife who was still on the property. He had tried her cell phone, but it kept going to voicemail. I said, "Sure. What do you want me to tell her when I find her?" He suggested she call her nephew to pick her up.<br /><br />Off I go to deliver the message and wouldn't you know the trek takes me right by the vending machine?! But I'm on a mission; maybe then a muffin as a reward? Obviously the wife is not inside the building. Do you know what rain sounds like on a tin roof? Now imagine what a monsoon sounds like...and I'm going out in <em>that</em>?<br /><br />I push the steel door open an inch and get a face full of water, so I step back and regroup. The glasses come off and go in one pocket. The watch comes off and goes in the other. I take a deep breath and step outside. With what I thought was a firm grasp on the door, I yelled toward the weather shelter. And then it happened. The monsoon wind yanked the door from my hand and slammed it shut...LOCKED.<br /><br />I wish I could take take a moment to think, during which time the door would magically open. <em>It ain't gonna happen</em>. And this is not a pouring-straight-down rain storm. The wind is whipping the rain in all directions. I'm under an awning and already drenched to the bone. There's no help for it; I'll have to walk around to the front of the building.<br /><br />I walked to the end of the sidewalk and yelled again. Thankfully she heard me and I relayed the message. Now I have to make my way around the building. Did I mention I'm blind? Okay, it probably took about a minute instead of the 45 minutes that it felt like. I didn't fall down, for which I can only thank Jesus.<br /><br />You know how hard the air conditioner works to cool in this kind of heat and you still feel hot? It's a lot cooler when you're soaking wet. I was making little puddles with ever step I took, so I knew I couldn't sit down in my office. Paper towels had to suffice for the dripping hair. And I did wring a half cup of water out of my blouse. But nothing help the wet jeans. Now that's not a good feeling; wet jeans are heavy and clingy.<br /><br />I'd like to stop and give a Shout-Out to the people who make Merrill shoes. While I was drenched from the top of my head to my ankles (not a dry thread on me, as they say) <em>my feet were completely dry</em>!!! Thank you, Merrill folks!!!<br /><br />You know, for about 30 seconds after I refused to put my hand between the wind-driven steel door and the steel door frame I was very angry at myself. Then I stopped and considered that no real damage was done. I might rust, but I wouldn't melt. It was RAINING, which we so badly needed. The temperature had dropped about 20 degrees. And more importantly, the employee got a ride who picked her up within 15 minutes. Several good things did happen, and there was no punishment - only a little discomfort. Now what's that verse? Oh, yeah. <em>And we know that God causes all things to work for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to </em>His<em> purpose.</em> Romans 8:28 (NASB)mornin'http://www.blogger.com/profile/14622044146323915360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211642464743630509.post-9188802855160217052011-07-23T15:33:00.006-06:002011-07-23T16:18:58.297-06:00Family Doin'sOur Sunday school lessons this quarter are from Jeremiah. In this week's lesson God has Jeremiah write a letter to the Hebrews who were already in exile. The letter was to encourage the exiles in their current circumstances. He told them to build houses, marry, have children, and support and pray for their communities. In other words, He wanted them to re-establish some normalcy while they waited for God to bring them back to their homeland.<br /><br />After a season of tension and uncertainty, I'm getting some balance back in my life...especially in the 'family' department. The last 2 weeks have been filled with family activities.<br /><br />First, the kids and kidlettes took Terry & me to Mountain View, Arkansas. We really like that place. We had 2 cabins within walking distance of the square so there was lots of trekking around. And early morning coffee on the front porch is a nice way to start the day. But don't let anyone tell you it's cooler in the mountains. The day we left the temp was 101*. We had a great time, though and it was the greatest gift ever.<br /><br />For the last several years, Terry's siblings and their families have gotten together one Saturday in July. It's always such a great visit that lasts all afternoon and into the evening. There are some really good cooks in the Peters family!! Oh! The highlight of the day for most of the kids was the horse ride. A very gentle, very old horse was perfect for the smaller children and they seemed to love the experience.<br /><br />Sunday afternoon we had a family b'day party for Tucker at our house. He suffers from Lego-mania so his Aunt Laurie made him a cake that looked like a giant Lego block. Too cute. And a happy Tucker got lots of $$ for his birthday.<br /><br />Thursday evening we joined Tommy & Nancy (Katey's in-laws) in their 45th anniversacelebration at Romie's Grocery - a misnomer, if ever I heard one. They have some really fine food. Again, a time of fellowship with blended family.<br /><br />We really are blessed that holidays and family celebrations include in-laws and outlaws <g>who love each other and get along. My return to normalcy and balance is working out very well. My sanity seems to be intact. (You laugh?) And there are certain to be more challenges to my routine, but I'm refreshed and relaxed from all the family time. That should help!!mornin'http://www.blogger.com/profile/14622044146323915360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211642464743630509.post-40914028711568019712011-07-02T17:05:00.007-06:002011-07-02T17:46:23.634-06:00Divine LaughterI have a friend who knows you and I was wondering if you know him. His name is Jesus. I'd been going to church for a long time and I knew <em>of</em> him, but I didn't <em>know</em> him until I was 19 years old. You see, I followed some friends down the church aisle during revival when I was 10. I spent the next 9 years trying to figure out the next thing I could do to try to please him because the last thing I had tried hadn't worked.<br /><br />One Wednesday night during prayer meeting, on my knees, I tried to rededicate my life to Jesus Christ. He spoke very clearly to me, saying, "You can't rededicate what you've never dediccated." And in that moment I surrendered and Jesus took over. What a relief! What a joy! What a peace! And all that can be yours!<br /><br />There's something else you can think about. We're told in the Bible that the angels rejoice when someone surrenders their life to the only Way, Truth and Life - Jesus - who gave his all to make that possible. With all he gave, I wonder if there's more to the heavenly rejoicing...<br /><br />He's waiting for you; he's sent his Spirit to work on your heart to draw you to him. He's sitting there beside the Father...waiting. Then Jesus sees the door to your heart open in surrender and he smiles; then he grins from ear to ear. <em>And then</em>...He SHOUTS with glorious, divine laughter born of victory, joy and undying love! For a moment all the hosts of heaven stands in stunned silence at the beauty of that laughter. Then they, too, begin to laugh, sing and praise God in joyous thanksgiving that another soul has surrendered to "joy unspeakable and full of glory"! Divine laughter - it's how Jesus' love for you sounds.<br /><br />I have a friend who knows you and I was wondering if you know him. His name is Jesus!mornin'http://www.blogger.com/profile/14622044146323915360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211642464743630509.post-39939113957999407712011-05-21T12:19:00.016-06:002011-05-21T14:01:58.538-06:00Mountain-High / Valley-LowMine is a simple mind; the obvious sometimes eludes me. If our lives were made up of mountain peaks, how would we know? The valleys are a <em>must</em> if we are to know the wonder of the mountaintop. I know this because the last several months have been filled with both.<br /><br />There have been some unusual and challenging times at work, but it's been that way for the last 16 years. Believe me, I've learned some hard lessons during my time as leader of an average of 45 people in a manufacturing setting. First, if you have more than one person working in a business, there will be personality differences; learn to deal with it. Second, pick your battles; no one can fight <em>all</em> the battles and have enough energy to fight the ones that really matter. Third, be sure to have a friend who will let you vent, keep all your confidences AND hold you accountable.<br /><br />One thing you can count on when on the mountain - SNOW. And we had some beautiful snows in January and February. But April brought deadly tornados and May brought devastating floods. See, there are even highs and lows in the weather.<br /><br />As a family we rushed to Molly's side when she had 2 serious seizures. And we mourn, even now, the passing of our friend, Tony, who died much too soon. We prayed as we awaited tests results which would reveal whether our cousin had multiple sclerosis. Today Molly is doing much better on meds. Tony's death has been another time for God to show His glory as we looked back on his life and the impact he had on all of us. And my cousin doesn't have MS!!<br /><br />Our church family has seen the home-going of several precious saints. Their absence has left a hole in our hearts, but we know we will see them one day. We've also seen God heal some folks here on earth. We celebrate with those who are in remission, and we love on the ones whose health becomes more precarious by the day.<br /><br />There have been two very personal mountain-high experiences for me. On Palm Sunday morning the BBC choir, orchestra and audio folks led us in worship through the musical, <em>Love Is Alive</em>. Those who know me, know that music touches my soul and spirit in a way only God can manage. And this past Thursday morning as I read Psalm 15 and Isaiah 40, I released a burden that has caused me much pain over the past months. In Isaiah 40 I saw the greatness of God and was reminded that He is sovereign and nothing happens without His directive or permissive will. I was also reminded that I cannot change other people; I can pray for them, but that power of change is not in me. In Psalm 15 I was reminded that there is a particular way that God calls me to live and I will do better to work on that in the power of the Holy Spirit and leave the heart-changing work in others to the One who can handle it.<br /><br />The release of this burden to my Holy Father was a freeing experience. As my pastor told me weeks ago, there was a mighty warfare going on over me and it was making me sick. Now I can smile and laugh again; major irritations are now only minor and better laughed at than cried over. I think Chuck Swindoll was quoting someone else when he said something to the effect that <em>Peace is that moment between battles when both sides stop to reload</em>. I don't doubt the devil will try to create havoc in my life again; he hates that we love Jesus and want to be like Him. But God has given me this respite to rest in Him and reload through His word and prayer.<br /><br />Mountain-Highs and Valley-Lows. They're the stuff of this earthly life. But with Paul we say, <em>I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.</em> Philippians 3:14 (NASB)mornin'http://www.blogger.com/profile/14622044146323915360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211642464743630509.post-45025154747701083482011-04-16T07:40:00.017-06:002011-04-18T13:56:05.233-06:00Important ThingsThere was no single point that screamed, "WATCH OUT!" This week started out like most other weeks. Because the paths of our lives are never completely flat and smooth (who'd want that?), I really didn't notice that the grade was mostly downhill until it got steeper and I had trouble keeping my footing. Before I knew it the steep downhill grade had become a slippery slope and Friday morning found me going over the cliff. Dealing with personnel issues is a challenge, but Tuesday brought three very surprising and unusual, uh, people-problems. Sending an employee home with a cold (he works with food-condtact items), having a grown man leave in tears and finding a ride home for an hallucinating employee would tax the wits of anyone. Then, there are shipping issues. Do you deal with longhaul carriers? Enough said? Usually the brokers, dispatchers and drivers are salt-of-the-earth people willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. And at other times, well, l et's just say that by the end of the day we were all ill and LaRue wound up being the bad guy (gal). That was Wednesday. Have you noticed that when the ba*etric pressure starts dropping, all of us get a little anxious? When it actually starts to rain things get a little calmer, but by then some irreparable damage can be done with words that hurt. But what happened Friday morning made me realize that all the events leading up to Friday were absolutely nothing in the -grand scheme of things. Tony died Friday; he was 46 years old. It's hard to type in past tense when describing Tony, so I may slip up. Tony, Sandi & their two boys lived by Katey & Andy on Marquette and they quickly became a part of our family. When we had get-togethers, they were there. Sandi & Katey share a birthday so there were great parties. Tony razzed me unmercifully because I was a Rusty Wallace fan (NASCAR). I gave him grief because he was a Dale Earnhart fan. But we laughed and grinned all the while. When Katey & Andy moved, we didn't see them as much, but there is still a connection that bonds people for life that time, distance and absence can't break. So my heart hurts. It hurst for the 2 teenaged boys, other of Tony's family members, his friends and church family, Andy, Katey & others who loved him like a brother, and for myself who thought of him as another adopted son. Tony, I'll miss you, but I know you're keeping everyone laughing in heaven. Have you seen Earnhart yet? Y'all will have a ringside seat for Talladega, so enjoy the race and we'll see you someday! Love you, son!mornin'http://www.blogger.com/profile/14622044146323915360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211642464743630509.post-8058920817808808222011-04-09T04:53:00.003-06:002011-04-09T05:22:47.480-06:00Our MollyEaster Sunday, April 11, 1977, was High Attendance Day at our church. Druther David told me that being due to deliver a baby at any moment was no excuse for missing church; he'd have an ambulance waiting outside at noon on Sunday just in case I went into labor. The best laid plans... Molly had other plans and those included being born on Good Friday! Wanda, Druther David's wife, came to visit while I was in labor. I don't remember this, but she told me later that I looked at her with tears in my eyes and said, "I'm going to miss High Attendance Day." Dr. Bourland was there at the beginning, but he went off duty and when Dr. Sanders came on my mama said, "Surely that young boy isn't going to deliver my grandbaby!" Dr. John asked Dr. Brouland if he should give me an epidural (sp?) and Dr. Bourland said, "Son, you won't have time; you'd better get in there right now." (I'm one of those blessed women for whom 4 hours of labor was a long time.) I don't remember much else except that I was in a semi-private room with a woman who smoked. (Shouldn't they have already known that smoking is bad for everyone, especially newborns.) Maybe this is the reason Molly was plagued by allergies the first 3 years of her life. The allergies were bad enough that Dr. Hilbun sent us to LeBonheur for allergy tests and Molly had shots for several times a week for a few years. It always surprised Nurse Delores that an 18 month old toddler would want to give her hugs and kisses right after she had given that same toddler an allergy shot. All grown up now, Molly teaches 6th grade math and scored 5th out of 54 sixth grade teachers in her county in a composit teachers' evaluation in her county. She would tell you that she doesn't know if she has any impact on her students. (6th graders = raging hormones) But her 6th grade principal and her Middle School principal would tell you differently. The kids learn more than math from her and all those other values stick, too. She'll be here in a little while and we'll go to breakfast and spend a little time together on this, her 34th birthday. Happy Birthday, Molly! Blessings all day long!!mornin'http://www.blogger.com/profile/14622044146323915360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211642464743630509.post-79490883206137804522011-04-02T12:11:00.006-06:002011-04-04T15:27:30.744-06:00They'll Always Be Your BabiesAre you a young mother? Were you ever a young mother? Then you know that feeling of wishing you were sick yourself if it meant your child could be well. You know that feeling of wanting to take the shot or the finger-stick or the bllod-drawing yourself rather than have your baby go through that. Let me tell you - they're always your baby. It doesn't matter if they're 3 or 33, you'll always feel that way. Molly (she'll be 34 in a week) had a medical crisis yesterday. Kevin said when Molly got up yesterday, he heard a muffled scream then a crash. He found her on the floor of the toilet room in the middle of a grand mal seizure. He body was in rigor, eyes fixed, small tremors and drooling. He moved her to the middle of the bathroom, arranged towels around her head, made sure she was breathing and grabbed his phone to call 911. She was unresponsive until the EMTs started moving her to the ambulance. I learned many of the details later, but this is not something a mom wants to hear. After many phone calls Laurie & I were going to the hospital. Katey was going to take me to meet Laurie, but decided she would go, too. I called Mama & she wanted to go, also. Meanwhile, Kevin called back and said the ER doctor had gotten to her quickly and into a CT scan. As soon as they finished the CT, she had another seizure. Having refused anti-seizure meds initially, Kevin gave permission for them to administer by IV. (He had refused until Molly saw a neurologist b/c he didn't want them treating what they didn't know.) But he knew after the 2nd one that they needed to prevent it happening again in such short order. Yesterday they did the CT scan, EEG & MRI and she saw the hospitalist. I was very impressed with her - a no-nonsense doctor who said emphatically, "We want to find out <em>what</em> happened to you and <em>why</em> it happened." She came back in today and is ordering physical therapy for the soreness in Molly's neck, shoulders, back and legs. This is probably due to the fall and being in rigor for about 10 minutes 2 separate times. The neuro- nurse came in and asked a lot of questions and said the neurologist would be there in a few hours. Both the doctor & nurse implied she would be in hospital again tonight for observation. Oh, I forgot to mention her heart rate went to 180 for several minutes, so she's on a heart monitor. We are so grateful for prayer warrior friends, prayer warrior church staffs (Southwoods, Belden, Parkway & others) and prayer warrior family members. What a blessing to know Molly's name was so constantly going up to the Great Physician!! We are also grateful for compassionate, skilled medical professionals who continue to take care of her. I'm grateful for a dear friend who lives in Molly's area and has made herself available to help in any way they need. Is it not an amazing thing to see, hear and feel God's people being God's people in times of need !! So as I said, this is scary stuff for a mom whose baby isn't feeling well. It doesn't matter that she's almost 34 years old. She'll always be my baby, as will her 38yo sister and her 36yo sister.mornin'http://www.blogger.com/profile/14622044146323915360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211642464743630509.post-69884479509862196492011-03-11T17:19:00.002-06:002011-03-11T17:42:31.690-06:00Laurie LeeToday is my Laurie's 36th birthday. Wow! Where did the years go? Our <em>big</em> girl, she weighed 9lb/12oz (the exact same weight as both me and my brother). And as red as her hair is, we didn't know it was red until we got her out in the sunlight that beautiful day when we took her home. When she started talking, Katey had to translate for the first 3 years. And since then I've noticed that's not unusual with first-born & next-born. As she grew, the hair got redder - not strawberry blonde or auburn, but every single shade of red all mixed together.<br /><br />Those of you who know her now will be surprised to know that when she was little, she would hardly talk to anyone besides Katey, Terry & me. Even people we saw frequently caused her to scamper behind me with an occasional peek around to see if they were still there. Yes, you read that right. Do you <em>know</em> Laurie now? She never meets a stranger. The first time she meets you, within 15 minutes she will have found an acquaintance, friend or family member that you have in common. And she will remember you forever. No longer that shy little girl who hid from everyone!!<br /><br />I've been thinking about her all day. (And you wonder why I'm tired?!) The mother of 6 children ages 9, 7, 5, 4, 3, and 1 she still finds to cook amazingly delicious meals, make craft-y things out of sheet metal, sell Taste of Gourmet food mixes through networking and work/serve in her church. (Are <em>you</em> tired yet?) Oh, and she homeschools her children!!<br /><br />Smart, beautiful and very artistic, she walks her own path. It's not always easy, but I do so admire her for being more concerned with what God wants her to do than with what others think of her. She and husband Dewayne trust the Lord and follow Him.<br /><br />My Laurie. She'll be here soon and we'll eat spinach/artichoke dip from Old Venice. We'll talk and laugh and she'll be on her way. (Tonight she's helping Katey with Kids' Disciple Now - the craft part.) And I'll be tired when she leaves. I do love that girl. Happy Birthday, Laurie.mornin'http://www.blogger.com/profile/14622044146323915360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211642464743630509.post-81543675255028764132011-01-20T06:35:00.002-06:002011-01-20T06:43:51.354-06:00Happy Birthday, Katey!!There was an ice storm in January 1973. I remember this because Dr. Walter Bourland called me and told me not to step foot outside my door. Good advice considering I was 9 months pregnant. The storm came and went, but still no baby. I use the generic term "baby" becuase in those days doctor's didn't order sonograms to determine the sex of the child. (Gee, Katey, that makes you sound <em>old!</em>) I also remember - and this is rich if you know anything about Katey's life today - that on January 11th (my due date) I went to an evening women's event at Parkway Baptist Church. (Katey has been going to Parkway for 16 years and is Children/Education Minister.) Someone at the event asked me when I was due and when I said, "Today!" they wanted to know why I wasn't parked at the hospital.<br /><br />But it would be another 8 days before Terry & I made that trek and 9 before she would be born. On January 19th at my regular doctor visit Dr. Bourland said as I walked out the door, "I'll see you tonight." Too naive to panic, I went home, washed my hair, took a bath and waited...and waited...and waited. Terry came home from work and we went about our normal routine. Of course, by this time I was having contractions, but it didn't seem so bad; and besides, Terry wanted to watch Johnny Carson. As The Tonight Show was going off we were headed to the car because these mild sensations were a lot closer together.<br /><br />Let me apologize publicly to that nurse - the one that I back-handed when she tried to put a needle in me. Too bad she was between the bed and the wall because that made her a fairly easy target. Yes, she got her revenge; the needle went in. And I was out like a light and remember nothing about the birth of our first daughter at 4:16am on January 20, 1973.<br /><br />But I remember a lot that's happened since. She's a grown woman now with children of her own. What a joy and a blessing she has been and is. I love you, Kitty-Kat.mornin'http://www.blogger.com/profile/14622044146323915360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211642464743630509.post-26353517154506002992011-01-16T15:47:00.007-06:002011-01-18T06:21:52.816-06:00Friends & Memories<em>The Backstory...</em><br /><br />In early 2009 God put an old friend on my mind; someone I hadn't seen or talked to in <u>years</u>. The throughts were so strong that I called Debbie (Rankin) Herring and asked if she had heard from Bethellen (Lowe). A few weeks later Debbie called me and said that out of the blue she had heard from Bethellen. We connected on Facebook and it was great. In September that same year another school friend's mom died. Several of us talked and made plans to go to the funeral. We went to the funeral and a reunion broke out. Judy (Dye) Harrison's mom, who had died, would have loved it!!<br /><br />There were six of us who ran around together all through school and I wanted us to get together. We made plans for Oct 17th and along with those already mentioned Susan (Shumpert) Schlicht and Sharyn (Johnston) Knight all came to my house to spend most of the day. We stayed in touch, some of us more than others, by email and facebook and the occasional phone call but we didn't get together again until October 2010.<br /><br />In 2010 we met at Riley's in Nettleton for lunch and several hours of visiting. Judy Harrison didn't get to come, but Peggy (Weeks) Burnside did. We decided then to meet again in January 2011.<br /><br /><em>Happening Now...</em><br /><br />Through email, facebook and phone calls, we let others know we were gathering at Riley's again on January 15th. We weren't sure who would show up and I was pleasantly surprised at the number of folks who came. Thirteen of us gathered and shared some great memories and a lot of laughter. We realized that several of our friends have passed away; we would miss them. And we decided that it was important enough that we needed to gather again. Maybe in April there will be even more people there, adding to the shared memories of wonderful years of growing up in a small town.<br /><br />To me, personally, it has been a true blessing from God to reconnect with Bethellen. For one thing, she has been gracious in picking me up for all these events. But more, it is such a joy to see who she has become in the LORD. There was a definite purpose that God put her on my heart in early 2009. We may not know the full reason until we step into glory, but for now her friendship has added tremendously to my life.<br /><br />Our class will turn 60 this year. I'm sure that all of us begin to deal with this season of our lives, we will need each other from time to time. Reconnecting through regular meetings will strengthen bonds; we'll be more aware of needs in others' lives. It's hard to put into words how much I love these folks - the ones I know well and the ones I don't know so well. What a blessing this has been in my life. God is good all the time!!<br /><br />Present: Buddy Coggin, Mem Riley, Jimmy Bryan, Bill Farrar, Shelia Morgan Sudduth & husband, Peggy Weeks Burnside, Sherry Hipps Ashley, Debbie Rankin Herring & grandson, Sharyn Johnston Knight, Susan Shumpert Schlicht, Bethellen Lowe Nicholson and LaRue Gregory Petersmornin'http://www.blogger.com/profile/14622044146323915360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211642464743630509.post-74428256319060388292011-01-11T09:33:00.004-06:002011-01-11T09:49:48.791-06:00Call Me WeirdThere's a huge snow out there and it's beautiful. I'm off work for two days because of the weather, which I have no control over. So why am I miserable? Lots of people would be jumping for joy if they didn't have to go to work. Yet I'm anxious. Yesterday wasn't too bad. I studied my Sunday school lesson and caught up on some computer work that I had put off. We had pinto beans, mashed potatoes and cornbread for lunch and that was good. And I watched too much TV.<br /><br />Maybe that's the problem. The non-stop coverage of the tragedy in Arizona can wear on the spirit. It's not that I don't feel for all concerned; it's just that a surfeit of bad news isn't a good antidote for cabin fever.<br /><br />And I blame my parents for my heightened sense of guilt when I don't go to work...even if I <em><u>can't</u></em> go to work. Don't get me wrong - my parents are/were great. (Daddy G has gone home, but Mama G is still around to make sure I do what's right.) But surely they didn't have to instill such a sense of responsibility. Yeah, I guess they did, and it stands me in good stead most of the time. I'm just feeling.......miserable.<br /><br />Are you tired of my whining? I am. So, I'm going to put the clothes in the dryer, fix some lunch, turn off the TV and go vote (later). Sounds good to me.mornin'http://www.blogger.com/profile/14622044146323915360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211642464743630509.post-91431058196768042222010-12-28T08:10:00.009-06:002010-12-28T08:48:55.347-06:00It's A Wonderful LifeAm I the only person i the world who has never seen the movie, <em>It's A Wonderful Life</em>? It seems to be everyone's favorite Christmas movie, but my attention span doesn't usually allow for movies. But I'm living <em>a wonderful ife</em> so maybe that's why I have no desire to see the movie.<br /><br /><br /><br />It's the time of year for reflection and evaluation so here's a look back in no particular order of priority...<br /><br /><br /><br />The holiday season last year was very different at work. We had some very large orders in one department from November - February so we only got the usual paid holidays and not a full week like we're getting this year. Some were a tad disgruntled at not having time off but we all kept reminding ourselves of how fortunate we are to have a job. We got a breather after the facial tissue orders, but in May we started seeing large orders in plastic flatware. Overtime, <em>again</em>. And this time it lasted all summer. Do you have any idea how complicated it is to schedule production when 90% of your employee group has a cap on how much they can make in a month. Talk about disincentives to work! But we have jobs!!<br /><br /><br /><br />In our family we were anticipating the birth of the 8th grandchild. At one point he was breech, but we prayed & prayed and then he wasn't breech!! Easter morning I talked to Laurie & she was getting her 5 children ready to go to church before she went to the hospital to have Harris. After five uneventful, fast birthings, we weren't anticipating any problems. HA! Harris wouldn't drop into the birth canal & contractions were squeezing him to death. A "splash&grab" C-section (less than 30 seconds start-to-finish) relieved his distress and he was fine immediately. Then Laurie lost 2/3 of her blood volume on the operating table but Dr. Crecelius is a great doctor and Jesus is THE Great Physician. Today both Harris & Laurie are doing great.<br /><br />Katelee surprised us all by going out for cross-country running <em>and doing well</em>. (I think she takes her athletic abilities from me.) Tucker plays baseball and basketball and loves them both. Who knows which he'll gravitate toward! The Witt family went on a cruise in the spring and then on a familymission trip with <u>8 Days of Hope</u> in November.<br /><br />Carter was saved in July at Kids' Camp. His dad, Dewayne (an ordained deacon) had the privilege of baptizing him with many family/friends in attendance.<br /><br />We were blessed to get together with extended family several times through the year to celebrate birthdays, holidays and other special events. When I say "extended" family, I mean all our girls' in-laws. Our joys and our challenges are shared by one and all. What a tremedous gift God has given us in the Witts, the Phillipses and the Tates.<br /><br />This year has seen some "old" friendships reforged. I keep using the word <em>blessing</em>, but I just don't know how else to describe all these events. It has been a delight to get to know the grown-up versions of childhood friends.<br /><br />There have been so many other blessings this year that I can't count them all. My Heavenly Father has blessed me beyond measure and far beyond what I deserve.mornin'http://www.blogger.com/profile/14622044146323915360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211642464743630509.post-34035713334448395682010-12-12T13:28:00.007-06:002010-12-12T13:54:09.932-06:00Middle of the Day ThoughtsYesterday was a wonderful day. Bethellen came down from Horn Lake to get me and we went on to Nettleton to attend the celebration of Mr. Lester & Mrs. Gracie Weeks' 65th wedding anniversary. WOW!! Sixty-five years together! He's 89 and she's 87; they married when they were 24 and 22 respectively. As Peggy, their youngest daughter, said, "In those days Mama was an old maid." Well, she didn't stay an old maid and here they are 65 years later. Their 3 daughters did a wonderful job on the reception - decorations and food. And amazingly, they cooked <em>lunch</em> for an indeterminate number of people. There was fried chicken, bar-b-q chicken, meatballs, roast beef, all kinds of vegetables and all kinds of salads and desserts. While the food was <em>very</em> good, the fellowship was even better. I got to talk to many people that I haven't seen in years - people I went to church with, former teachers, friends of my mom & dad and so many more.<br /><br />And I really enjoyed spending time with Bethellen. She's one of the friends I went all the way through school with, got in trouble with, laughed with, cried with and then separated from. Funny. We tell ourselves we'll be friends forever, then life happens and we move on. The blessing is that some of us have gotten together through Facebook, email and {gas} telephone. Oh, what fun!!<br /><br />This morning we woke to light snow flurries and they have continued throughout the day. Did I mention that it's <em>extremely</em> cold and the Weather Channel alert for tomorrow predicts a wind chill of 3*. Can you say B-R-R-R-R? It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.<br /><br />I have the absolute best Sunday school class of older ladies. Last Saturday we had our Christmas party at Old West. You'll never meet a group that enjoys life more. There's always plenty of love and laughter and some pretty sneaky tricks. For one thing, how did everyone get such nice Dirty Santa gifts for just $5? Methinks someone spent more!<br /><br />Our Christmas lunch at work will be Tuesday. Everyone always gets a nice gift and a nice gift card to Wal*Mart. We're hoping the nicest gift will be the decision to close the plant the week between Christmas and New Year's. It's been quite a few years since we've had a full week off and we'd all love that Christmas gift!! Our orders have slowed and we have some good stock, so as one of my employees said, "I'm just having a lot of faith this will happen."<br /><br />Don't you think it's about time for a cup of hot chocolate?mornin'http://www.blogger.com/profile/14622044146323915360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211642464743630509.post-62609922336162386762010-11-13T08:03:00.003-06:002010-11-13T09:12:54.896-06:00By definition...<em>Accident</em>: An unexpected and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">undesirable</span> event, especially one that results in damage or harm; an <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">unforeseen</span> incident.<br /><br />Yesterday business unit managers were "invited" to a big pow-wow (conference call) to discuss the increasing number of accidents at work. Believe you me, I don't want anyone getting hurt at work, or anywhere else for that matter. That's the very first consideration. But I especially don't like it when employees get hurt on my watch. But there seems to be some unreasonable expectations - we're supposed to foresee and correct any potential for an accident. If I were omniscient I can guarantee I wouldn't be working for a living. How am I supposed to perform this superhuman feat?<br /><br />The last three incidents at work have been in the category of <em>Slip/Trip/Fall.</em> Two employees tripped over each other while rushing to the time clock. An employee was trying to unstop a toilet and slipped on a wet floor. Two employees were going to their work stations and one tripped over the other employee's cane. In all three cases, the potential was there for an accident, but how do you stop these accidents before they happen?<br /><br />By definition, an accident is unexpected, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">undesireable</span>, or unforeseen. If you asked the people involved in the incidents described above, all of them would tell you they did not plan the accident; <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">nor did</span> they <em>want</em> it to happen. So how do we eliminate accidents? Because, yes, as the responsible person at our facility I'm being held accountable and responsible. It's a huge <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">stressor</span> and burden.<br /><br />So when I go back to work Monday staff will do a walk-through and try with all our human might to see the potentials for accidents. But if we correct every single possibility for an accident, we might as well close the doors and go home. What to do? What to do?mornin'http://www.blogger.com/profile/14622044146323915360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211642464743630509.post-79866718450716814562010-10-30T10:15:00.002-06:002010-10-30T10:29:21.879-06:00Can you hear the laughing and fussing and encouraging? And can you see me smiling? My 3 girls and oldest granddaughter and oldest grandson are having a craft-y morning here at our house. They saw some "picture frames" at the Mistletoe Merchant Event in Memphis earalier this month and decided they could do that very thing for very little money.<br /><br />And now Laurie is making a white chicken pizza for lunch, along w/ some sort of chocolate/peanut butter concoction that's already making my mouth water. I hear Katelee outside hammering on sheetmetal and they're still discussing the pros and cons of certain colors and decorations for the frames.<br /><br />We all spent a few minutes congratulating Molly on a job well-done. Scores are in for teachers in the Desoto County school system and Southaven Middle School 6th graders scored <em>very</em> high marks. Out of 54 6th grade teachers county-wide, all six of the 6th grade teachers from last year scored in the top ten. And Molly is #5 overall. Yea! Molly! See..what you do matters for a lifetime.<br /><br />We'll eat lunch and all go our separate ways - Katey to a State game, Laurie to Ole Miss, Molly to her in-laws, Katelee & Tucker to a fall party and me to the BBC Fall Festival - but it's been a wonderful morning. It's been a blessing to have all my girls here.mornin'http://www.blogger.com/profile/14622044146323915360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211642464743630509.post-31711070028670295742010-10-27T13:07:00.002-06:002010-10-27T13:23:29.756-06:00It's usually a riot at the Phillips Phamility abode. When you have six children and you homeschool, they're always there to provide entertainment. Laurie posted this on fb today:<br /><br /><em>My 3yo daughter asked my 4yo son, "Marcus, you think I pretty?" My son replies,"I guess so." My daughter tilts her head a little, smiles, and begins to bat her eyelashes. "Ok, Marcus...NOW you think I pretty?" He says, "Yeah Marlee...you're real pretty!" (He was sincere!). When I find out who taught this little "move"... to my daughter, I'm going to hurt you. Then lock her in her room until she's 30.</em><br /><em></em><br />Reminds me of the saying... <em>She's payin' for her raisin'.</em><br /><br />Yesterday was Katelee's 12th birthday. Gracious! We went over last night for a pizza/cake/ice cream supper for friends and family. She's growing up fast, as are all our kidlesttes. Before you know it, Harris (almost 7 months old) will be crawling, then walking; and I won't have a lap baby anymore. Hey, MOLLY!!!mornin'http://www.blogger.com/profile/14622044146323915360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211642464743630509.post-9355946683971565012010-10-25T13:57:00.003-06:002010-10-25T14:19:45.597-06:00All the negative things I anticipated happening today didn't. I told Terry this morning that he was being mean to make me go to work, but it didn't sway him. He brought me right on up to the end of the sidewalk and told me to get out. Well, actually he said, "OK, I love you; bye-bye; have a good day," all in one breath. It's not that I don't like to work; I do. But I've been coming to the same place for <em>29 years</em> next Tuesday and a body gets tired of the sameness. Or maybe I'm just tired of dealing with folks who don't appear to be grateful for a job in this stinking economy. And besides, what would I do at home by myself all day, every day? I'd last 2 weeks, max!<br /><br />On a brighter note, we had a wonderful, unusual, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">beautifuly</span> worship experience yesterday at <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Belden</span>. One of our members is from Central America and some of her family, not conversant in English, has been visiting <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Belden</span>. Yesterday when Bro. Jim got up to preach, Margie went to the pulpit with him. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hmmmm</span>..what's going on? She stood right up there with a microphone and translated the entire sermon. You could tell it was an effort for both of them, but it was beautiful and not distracting at all. One of the men told the congregation, through Margie, that he could really feel the presence of God in that place. He was very appreciative of the love and acceptance he felt from our congregation. Looks like we have a mission field closer than we knew as our area has a large population of Hispanics and Latin Americans.<br /><br />It's hard to believe, but <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Katelee</span> will be 12 years old tomorrow. Seems like only yesterday we were welcoming a tiny 3lb/12oz girl into our lives. Now she sings at church and school and has started running cross-country. I wonder if Katey feels any older?mornin'http://www.blogger.com/profile/14622044146323915360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211642464743630509.post-17868119878657749432010-10-24T17:19:00.004-06:002010-10-25T14:37:36.305-06:00It's been a while - about 2 years - since I've posted here. First was the move to xanga; then the move to Facebook. fb is the fast-food of networking, but I've felt the need lately to write in more detail about my daily life. A few friends and family might be interested enough to read occasionally, but that's okay.<br /><br />A lot has happened in 2 years. Terry & I have another grandson - Harris. He's our miracle baby and his mommy is a walking miracle, too, after a harrowing Easter Sunday afternoon birth. We're thankful every day to have both of them with us. Another momentous event (2 of them, actually) is reconnecting with dear friends from high school. We got together in October '09 and again in October this year. We're going to make it a more regular meeting and try to include some others.<br /><br />One more thing that has happened, and probably the reason I feel the need to post here, is the rapid decrease in my visual acuity. Over the last 2 years I've lost more peripheral and central vision. And recently there have been several times when everything has gone very dim. It won't surprise you if I say this is scary. A friend asked me recently how I kept from getting mad about going blind. As I told her, I got over <em>mad</em> a long time ago; I can still throw a fairly dismal pity party from time to time, but I'm not mad. I believe God is sovereign, working in all events through His directive will or His permissive will. Blindness didn't happen to me without His permission so I have to believe He has lessons for me to learn through this. No, it's not a pleasant process, and I pray I'll continue to learn the lessons God has for me. And I'll continue to post here occasionally to vent, to praise God and to record what I'm going through.<br /><br />Truth is, God has graced me with so many wonderful blessings, that it's hard to be mad about one little inconvenience.mornin'http://www.blogger.com/profile/14622044146323915360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211642464743630509.post-76189202638282486792008-09-24T10:15:00.002-06:002008-09-24T10:20:12.951-06:00A few weeks ago in SS we were discussing the difference between joy and happiness. It seems Christians have a different perspective on these two emotions. We decided that happiness is dependent on <em>happenings</em>. If I lose two pounds I’m happy; if I gain one pound I’m not. This produces a rollercoaster effect on our emotions. Other people can make us happy or unhappy, leaving us with little control of our feelings.<br /><br />Joy, on the other hand, is something very different. While Webster’s gives similar definitions for joy and happiness, using them almost interchangeably, to a Christian, there’s a huge difference. Joy is something God gives us. It isn’t dependent on people or happenings; it’s dependent on our dependence on God.<br /><br />Try to explain joy to someone; it’s an almost indescribable peacefulness deep inside. True joy from God is not an up-and-down feeling. Even when I’m not on top of the world, even when I’m struggling with challenges that seem to overwhelm, even when my heart is heavy, I can feel joy. It’s not worldly giddiness; it’s peace in the midst of the storm.<br /><br />Joy is knowing that our Heavenly Father is in control and that Jesus is seated at His right hand to intercede for us. Joy is waiting for the Father to heal the hurt and knowing that He will. Joy is deep inside where others can’t see, but it produces outward calmness, wisdom and peace. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit and comes directly from having a relationship with God. As Peter the Apostle says in 1 Peter 1:6–9,<br /><br /><em>In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the </em><em>proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.<br /></em>mornin'http://www.blogger.com/profile/14622044146323915360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211642464743630509.post-33283363555190140682008-09-05T09:16:00.002-06:002008-09-05T09:44:29.778-06:00It’s time to start a new church year. Our class has just wrapped up a study of <em>The Acts of the Apostles</em>. It’s my favorite book in the Bible! (Inside joke: Every time we start studying a new book I say it’s my favorite.)<br /><br />The study of <em>Acts</em> has given me a renewed awe regarding the power of the Holy Spirit to impact our world. The writers of our SS literature do a very good job of putting together lessons that build on each other each week. From <em>Acts</em> we learned that there are some things that only God can do through His power. But we also saw Him at work in individuals – Paul, Peter, Stephen, Philip – using their unique personalities in the work of Kingdom growth. We also studied different cities/towns where churches were planted and we saw that many of the challenges we face today are the same as they faced in the first century.<br /><br />As I read through the first chapter of <em>Acts</em> last week (one more time before we closed out the study), I could just see the apostles and other Christ-followers trudging up the stairs to the place where they had been staying. After Jesus’ ascension, don’t you know they were confused, frustrated, concerned, <em>downcast</em>? As they sat in that upper room I can imagine that Bartholomew was asking himself, “Why did I run away that night in the garden? What’s going to happen to me now? What did He mean, ‘…the gift the Father promised?’” And wouldn’t Peter have been beating himself up over the fact that he had verbally, and very publicly, denied even knowing Jesus? Not once, but three times? The silence in that room must have been deafening.<br /><br />But then, maybe in a back corner, Matthew stood up and started praying. He sat down and after a time, Philip stood up to pray. Slowly their moods began to lighten as they turned their focus to the Father and stopped thinking about their shortcomings. Maybe in painful honesty Peter admitted his sin and others began to do the same. And then there was more of peace than of a pall.<br /><br />And then they heard it…the sound as of a mighty rushing wind. And it was inside, not outside; but nothing stirred. As they held their collective breaths the appearance of the fire flaming over each of them is a sight I hope to see on God’s heavenly TiVo some day.<br /><br />These same people who trudged up those stairs in despondency would now trek down those same stairs in determination. The change was not of their making; it could only have been the power of the Spirit. And that power would change the world. Today I can give thanks that those 120 men and women waited in obedience for God to indwell them, then moved in obedience to the Spirit’s leading. The church was born that day and nothing can ever destroy it. How fortunate we are that they obeyed. It’s time for us to do the same. My prayer is for a fresh indwelling and working of the Spirit in my life. And may I be faithful in obedience to His leading.mornin'http://www.blogger.com/profile/14622044146323915360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211642464743630509.post-33595665485822286422008-08-26T16:55:00.003-06:002008-08-26T17:19:20.410-06:00Mama told me there would be days like this...<br /><br />First, I didn't sleep well, possibly anticipating the harrowing day to come. When I got up about 4am there was a visitor - pleurisy. Not an horrific case, but aggravating, nonetheless. (Why do I use that word when I write, but seldom use it in conversation?) Anyway, pleurisy, sniffles and a sinus headache were my morning companions.<br /><br />Right after morning break my favorite tattler came to tell me about some other employees' work habits. I told her to go back to work. I should have known it wouldn't be that simple. Another employee came to tattle on her and we went downhill from there. I've never had a problem with tattlers until this particular person came to work a little over a year ago. Makes me want to pull my hair out. None of the usual tricks stopped her. Oh, was she ever gonna get her comeuppance today, and all by her own hand.<br /><br />Not one to take anything with a grain of salt, my problem child burst into my office as I was investigating a charge of harassment, demanding to know what was going on. I told her I was busy and would talk to her later. Well, who am I to put her off? She demanded more loudly to know "what you're going to do to me" and again I told her I would talk to her later. I instructed her to go back to her workstation. "I have a right to know what you're going to do to me right now," she shouted at me. I firmly told her to go back to her workstation. Out she flounced, slamming the door and screaming, "I'm going home." Oh, yeah, please don't anyone stop her. It's called job abandonment and is considered self-termination. She screamed and hollered her way right out the door and I finally breathed a sigh of relief.<br /><br />I won't even stress over going on vacation in October now that the troublemaker is gone. In my own defense, I went several extra miles to try to save her job; she has some deep-seated issues that I'm not equipped to deal with. Maybe there's someone out there who can help her because I certainly don't wish her ill. I just wish her on someone else. Sorry, potential employer, but she's all yours.<br /><br />And so it goes in the life of a working girl...mornin'http://www.blogger.com/profile/14622044146323915360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211642464743630509.post-87968689093076007212008-08-25T14:49:00.002-06:002008-08-25T14:52:55.641-06:00We had a Women’s Ministry brunch at church Saturday. What a wonderful time we all had. After all the games, food & general hilarity, Dr. Leanna Hollis spoke about different women of differing gifts and talents carrying on the work of ministry. It was a very inspiring talk. There were over 60 ladies of all ages bonded together by a love for the Lord and His church and by a love for each other.<br /><br />As an <em>Icebreaker</em> we all had cards with a question. We were to talk to as many people as possible, write down their names and their answers. Mind you, all of us had different questions. One lady approached me (who was that woman?!?) and asked, “What’s your favorite book of the Bible?” I almost fell out of my chair laughing and my Sunday school members around me thought it was too funny. You see, each quarter we start studying a different book of the Bible, and for as long as I’ve been teaching the class – 7 years – I start each quarter by telling them, “This is my very favorite book in the Bible.” Yes, I have lots of favorites; 66, as a matter of fact.<br /><br />It rained off and on all weekend and we’ve been thankful for every drop. In this part of the state rain has been scarce this summer. But the rain didn’t stop us. Even when the umbrella turned wrong-side-out we just laughed and trekked on. All of us were sporting that wind-blown look.<br /><br />And it’s been a calm day at work, strangely enough. I have several projects going on so I only get out of the cubbyhole a few times a day. Never have understood how I’m supposed to “supervise” when I’m tied to a computer. Oh, well. I’m glad to have a job and benefits. I’ll leave the “understanding” to my bosses.mornin'http://www.blogger.com/profile/14622044146323915360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211642464743630509.post-851525575784037412008-08-23T07:19:00.002-06:002008-08-23T07:30:10.722-06:00As they gathered 'round to sing <em>Happy Birthday</em>, the young waitress asked, "Are you 29 again this year?" "No," I replied, "I'm 57 and proud of it." They sang anyway. I'm not sure why people are ashamed? embarrassed? to tell their age. And it's not just women; men don't like to tell, either. Of course, the older we are, the closer we are to the grave, but why not be thankful for life and all the years God has graced us with?<br /><br />I've been celebrating all week. My Sunday school class went to Olive Garden Monday night - our monthly get-together. Thursday night Katey, Andy, Katelee & Tucker took me to Outback. And today I'm going to a brunch at the church. All of these were not birthday celebrations, but I'm enjoying them all nonetheless. I'll see Laurie & Molly today, so you can see that it's been a good week.<br /><br />Last week I went for my yearly physical. Pami was impressed with my weight loss (at least 39 pounds since last year) and my cholesterol & triglyceride counts. (Except for this week) I'm eating a lot healthier and staying with the treadmill & cardio workouts. My tendency to start well, then backslide is something I battle all the time, but feeling better and the prospect of longer quality of life keeps me grounded.mornin'http://www.blogger.com/profile/14622044146323915360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211642464743630509.post-51981838535035515872008-07-04T04:30:00.003-06:002008-07-04T04:51:30.603-06:00I've always envied people who can "sleep in". It's a holiday and I didn't have to get up early, but guess who was awake at 4:30? Yep, yours truly. Part of it is my normal routine. I'm usually up by 4:15am so I can be at work by 6:15am. Being a <em>morning</em> person, my brain works better that time of day; it's the best time for me to have my devotions. Since Brad put the NASB on my iPod, I can listen to about 7 chapters and then spend time in prayer. As you might have surmised, getting up this early leads to going to bed really early, too. I used to think my parents were just weird for going to bed at 8pm. Company would have heard my daddy say, "Well, Sue, I think we'd better go to bed so these folks can go home." If the phone rang after 8pm, daddy answered with, "<em>WHAT?</em>" Now I understand why they retired early. And my family completely understands.<br /><br />It will be a quiet day for me: Terry will be at work and the kids will be at in-laws' homes. It will be a good day to finish Part 2 of <em>Pilgrim's Progress</em> by John Bunyan. I hadn't realized until a few weeks ago that there <em>is</em> a Part 2. Christian's pilgrimage makes up Part 1 and so far as I can tell from the Prologue, Part 2 is the pilgrimage of Christiana, his wife, and their four children. I read this classic when I was a teen so was surprised at how much I remembered. But I didn't know about Part 2 and I'm excited about starting it today.<br /><br />I'll have to be very careful about downloading to the iPod. <em>Pilgrim's Progress</em> was a free download, but let me tell you, other books are not cheap. You'd think that since publishers don't have to pay for ink, paper, shipping, etc., these downloads would be less expensive. Not necessarily so. I'm trying to find some trustworthy sites with less expensive products. Cathy, if you see any downloads by some of the Christian authors you know I like - Lucado, Swindoll, Tozer, Blackaby - please let me know.<br /><br />Have a happy and safe 4th.mornin'http://www.blogger.com/profile/14622044146323915360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211642464743630509.post-9885286163978446102008-06-26T11:56:00.000-06:002008-06-26T11:57:32.732-06:00Don’t you just love nice surprises? Monday afternoon I was working hard…smile…at my computer when I heard the front door open. I looked up (with my computer glasses on, which prevented my seeing anything except a blur) and saw a wild woman standing at the counter waving big-time. Quick! Change glasses. Oh my stars, it’s Cathy. How great is that?! She had spent a couple of days w/ her grands and was on her way back home. We only got a short visit in, but Friend Cathy, it was wonderful to see you.<br /><br />This past weekend was a sweet one for our family. Katelee was baptized Sunday morning with lots of family there to share the experience. It turned into a really busy day. Some of us went to lunch after church; then L & I went to a bridal shower. At the house K & kidlettes came by twice and M dropped in for a while. WOW! How often do I get to see all my girls in one day? Not nearly often enough.<br /><br />I finished my work projects that were stressing me out so much. Of course, there will probably be things to correct but it will come in smaller, more manageable increments.<br /><br />I fell off the wagon last night. Yesterday was our 37th anniversary so Terry & I went out to supper. Do you know how hard it is to manage portions when you go to a place that is strictly buffet? Oh well, let’s just say it was a reward for making a drastic lifestyle change. I’m back on the healthy eating wagon again today so maybe there wasn’t too much harm. On Monday afternoon I added a cardio workout to my routine. I can tell you, about 10 minutes into the program I could feel every single one of my 57 years. Can you say “the oldies were sweating”? Oh…but I feel so much better.mornin'http://www.blogger.com/profile/14622044146323915360noreply@blogger.com0