Decompression reading

As you know, I am an avid reader. This season of my life finds me trying to decompress, destress and reprioritize what is important, and what I need to let go. I just finished reading this book, "The Rest of God; Restoring Your Soul By Restoring Sabbath."
Several good points I picked up while reading;
1. Our biggest obstacle to rest is leisure time. Think about it!
2. Generous people sanctify their time and give it away. They treat their time like a gift and not a possession and therefore, they have time in abundance.
3. Sabbath means: the day over which no other day has claim, to cease from what is necessary, and embrace what life gives.
4. Sabbath is when we listen to God, and when we listen to God we enter into His rest. If you don't enter into his rest, you will never listen.
5. A well kept Sabbath is a dress rehearsal for heaven. In finding the rest of God on earth, we prepare our hearts for the fullness of God one day.

The birthday that never was

If you read my 40th birthday post, you'll remember that Wayne pulled out all the stops for my big 4-0. Of course, I wanted to make his birthday, which was also his 40th, extra special. So I got him what every rednecked, southern boy would want------a chance to drive NASCAR. I am terrible at keeping secrets, so I have been about to bust for the last 2 months.

We went camping this weekend, one of his favorite things to do, and after a leisure, campfire breakfast of sausage and eggs, I presented him with his gift and he went wild with excitement. Ok, well he smiled and said "That's cool!" That's about as wild as he gets!

We stumbled out of bed last Sunday morning at 5 am, drove 2 hours south of where we were camping in the misting rain to get to the Atlanta Motor Speedway. The excitement was palpable, Ok, well me and the girls slept the whole way while he munched on a chocolate donut and drove. Let me just say, I had a bad feeling this day was going down the tubes the closer we got to the track. The whole setup was really neat, and he got registered despite his expired license which I covered in prayer, thank you Jesus! He got to attend his class on drivers safety, hand signals, whatever the heck they tell you while me and the girls watched to misting rain and the stupid "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie they played for our entertainment.

After his class was over, he joined the other drivers in these big trucks that went around the track while we watched and wondered why we didn't stop for breakfast, because the only thing there was to eat, was stale coffee cake they gave us and a beat up apple I found in the bottom of my purse.

Finally, after staring at the track for another 30 minutes, they decided to call the day and offer a "rain check" (no pun intended). We were almost relieved, as we were comatose from the early morning drive/sleep. Wayne assured me 15 times that he was not disappointed and then we headed off to Waffle House for some grub and then made the 2 hour trek back to the campground. The best part of the day was the 2 hour nap in the camper while it poured rain outside. Seriously! I love to sleep when it pours rain on that metal roof!

As a consolation prize, we ventured out to see Star Treck and ate at Outback, so I didn't feel too badly for his botched up birthday. Anyways I get a weekend to Talledega out of the deal this summer, heck I might even get a Bill Elliott T-shirt out of the deal. Don't you dare ask who Bill Elliott is in this house. That is blasphemy to Wayne!

Knit one Purl two

This is my latest hobby attempt. I grew up with mother that crocheted constantly. We have all been the recepiants of beautiful afghans, crotchet baby blankets, sweaters and booties. We all learned to crosstitch. (Anybody from the 80's??) So I feel somewhat behind in the learning curve and figured I better pick up some kind of sewing/creative/hobby before my grand kids come over and I have nothing better to do than watch "Three's Company" reruns with them all afternoon.

I mean, I want to be the cool cat at the baby shower who gets all the ooohs and aaahs when my gift is opened complete with "Oh my gosh, did you make that? It's beautiful!" comments. Instead I usually show up with the 14th set of onesises and pack of diapers. Necessary, yes, stunning, no.

So I picked up a couple of needles, a how to do it book and a ball of yarn at Walmart this afternoon. If my niece Megan can pick it up in an afternoon with her grandma, surely I can teach myself.

Yeah, you guessed right, if things work out, you are all getting knitted scarves for Christmas!

A voice from the past

Are you a good long distance friend? It's one thing to be close to someone you see everyday, or friends in church you interact with weekly. But do you keep in touch with those friends that seem to have drifted out of your life? Heck, I don't even call my sisters who all live in other states, much less anyone from college. I guess that's what Facebook is for! :)
I called up an old and dear friend today. Sarah is those once in a lifetime friends. We met in college and were virtually insperable, the kind that you carry a deep bond with. We never keep in touch anymore. Oh, I know her address and phone number, but our lives are so polar opposite, that just the day to day grind keeps us from staying close.
Funny thing is, 3 seconds in to our conversation, we were laughing and talking at the same time while simultaneously hearing and understanding the other. Some things never change. She is one of those few people, who know me better than I know myself. Loves me unconditionally and when we talk, there are never awkward pauses. We just start up where we left off, even if it has been over a year since we talked.
Those kind of friends, will only happen once or twice in a lifetime. They are precious, yet effortless. If you have a friend like that, give them a call tonight....... it'll make you smile.

It's official, I'm old

I just ventured out of the house by myself for the first time in a week. I had a lively conversation with the old lady in Walmart about our surgeries last week. She had bunion removed, if you're interested. I paid for my Prilosec, then listened to NPR all the way home. If I call you up to talk about my bowels, slap me please!

If you had no fear.....

Fear can be beneficial, but most of the time it holds us back. If you had no fear what would you do?

.............get a tattoo?
.............go mountain climbing?
.............sing in front of a stadium of people?
.............ride a roller coaster?
.............ask for a raise?
.............start your own business?
.............run for president?
.............go across the ocean on a missions trip?
.............be honest with the people you love?

Saying no to fear is like signing a blank check. Could be a disaster, but then again, it could pay you more than you could ever imagine!

Sunday's song

God will make a way
where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me.
He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way...
He will make a way.

By a roadway in the wilderness He leads me
And rivers in the desert will I see
Heaven and earth will fade
but His Word will still remain.
He will do something new today!

God will make a way where there seems to be no way.
He will make a way...
He will make a way.

I'm a bad patient, but I've got a great nurse

Well, by God's grace I survived lap surgery yesterday. It was quite an ordeal. I suck as a patient. The nurse in me 1) always allows for the worst case scenario 2) does not want any assistance with personal hygiene, or exposure of my body parts to the world 3) has no tolerance for pain whatsoever and I'll pass out at the drop of a hat. There you go. I'm a terrible patient but I must admit I've had some fantastic nurses.
To begin with, I had my own personal cheerleading group at the hospital on Thursday. You would have thought I was having open heart surgery, but it was so sweet to have my precious girlfriends there to pray over me. My pastor Andy was there too! So sweet, even though he's not my official pastor anymore, he'll always be my pastor! I was so glad he stopped by.
I go to church with David, the CRNA who put me to sleep. That was good, because I told him I wanted to be WAY out before any tube came near my throat. He obliged and all I remember is him asking me something about work then I responded blah, blah and next thing I know, my sweet friend, Jessica the recovery room nurse was talking to me and I was in recovery minus 1 gallbladder. She was so sweet and I am glad I was with her, in case of any offensive or inappropriate comments I may have made under the influence of anesthesia. She loved on me and then the next thing I remember from the fog, was Wayne helping me inside.
He has been the best nurse ever, besides poking pain pills down my throat every four hours, he has waited on me hand and foot, made me grits and brought me drinks, patted me on the back when I cried and reassured me I was fine. I love him. He puts up with alot.
I'm gonna go, my friends brought me dinner. It's times like this that you realize it's kinda nice to be needy once in a while.

Happy Birthday Geoff

Happy Birthday to my brother in law. I remember the first time I met him. My sister brought him home from college for a visit. He stayed for a week. We had actually never been that close to a Yankee before. We laughed at how he said "pop" for coke. Even though he talked with an incredible accent, he made us laugh with his quirky sense of humor. Now many years later, I know that he will be the life of the party when we get together. I wish you many years of irreverent laughter and fun. Happy Birthday Geoff!

Just like your mother

All my life I've always heard people say "You are just like your mother." I think they meant I look alot like her, but as I've aged I realized that I too, act alot like my mom. This can be good, but as adult daughters, it can make us cringe. Who of us women does not have a complicated relationship with their mother? Today, however is Mother's Day. There will be plenty of other days to think about the variety of ways we drive each other crazy, but for today when you say "You are alot like your mom", I'll smile and say thanks. To be alot like my mom means.......


................I find most people incredibly interesting.

................I can make friends with anyone, I mean anyone.

................I'm friendly and talkative and can make anyone fell at ease.

................I can make killer Mexican food, enchiladas are my specialty.

................I make my girls feel like queen for the day, birthdays are special around here.

................Selfless when it comes to my kids, You will not leave house unless I give you something!

................Me and the husband are very best friends.

................I will pray for each daughter, their husbands, and children every single night.



Today I welcome your comparison of me to a very special lady. Hope that I can be as good a mother, and I'm not the only one who thinks so, my sister Heather thinks she's pretty special too!

Happier than anyone has a right to be.....

............Eating this warm brownie (Ginny just baked) and sipping this cup of decaf (so I'll sleep)
wondering if anything can taste better!
.............Listening to Wayne and Ginny laugh (serious hee hawing) in the next room watching TV
wondering how I'll feel in a few years when it's quiet.
.............Feeling my big girl give me a big hug and hearing her hum to her ipod while she cleans
wondering what I did to make her so happy! ( Who cares if I'm hugged?)
.............Seeing the rain fall on my plants that are brilliant green
wondering how rain can smell so good!
............Hearing my dryer buzzer tell me the sheets are dry
wondering if it's possible to love sleep more than I do.
............Talking to my Mom give me her full surgery report
wondering if my girls roll their eyes on the phone with me too.
...........Catching Wayne wink at me when I walk by
wondering if he sees what I see when I look in the mirror.
............Listening to Toby Mac sing about gaining the world and losing his soul
wondering if God knows how much I want to lose myself in Him?

Top 10 TV shows from my childhood

10. Gilligan's Island
9. Little House on the Prairie
8. The Muppets
7. Laverne and Shirley
6. Eight is Enough
5. Magnum P.I.
4. CHIPS
3.Love Boat
2.Happy Days
1.Hee Haw

Where has all the quality TV programming gone? We got along just fine without reality TV. 80's TV... I miss you!

Fearing God

When you fear God,

You fear nothing else.

When you have no fear of God,

Everything else makes you fearful.

Saturday afternoon.......

.......rented "Secret Life of Bees" to watch tonight.
.......ate the most fabulous mandarin chicken salad from Wendy's.
.......took a nap that lasted and hour and a half! Ginger was curled up next to me. It was so nice, I woke up with a huge drool spot on my pillow.
.......fit into my new 2 size smaller pants than I wore last summer.
.......picked Leslie up from the pool and heard how horrendous the SAT was for her this morning. That's OK baby, there is next year!
.......bought a new book to read at the Christian bookstore.
.......getting ready to go eat out supper with the whole family (that rarely happens on the weekend) at Cracker barrel then go wander around Walmart and see if I can find some cool nail polish.

Who says I'm not easy to please?