tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21884269427656182024-03-18T20:21:15.244-07:00His Plan For MeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474094682366369412noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188426942765618.post-12391445863694498132016-12-31T19:32:00.000-08:002016-12-31T19:32:53.672-08:00Christmas 2016<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Dear Hearts,<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is not the first time that I’ve been late with my Letter to you
and I apologize for that, but this year is totally different. Today is actually New Year’s Eve and I am
sitting down to do a most difficult task.
How can I talk of happy times over this past year when my heart just
hurts? This year makes 20 years for my
Christmas Letter and this year will always stand out in my memory. For those of you who are my friends on
FaceBook, you’ll know that I lost all of my addresses and the digital copies of
my letters when my external hard drive crashed earlier this year, so some who
have received the letter in the past probably won’t get it unless they contact
me. I’m relying on FaceBook to propagate
it this year…..<o:p></o:p></div>
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I need to just start with the closest thing to me, and you all know
that is the fact that I lost my dearest Friend, my greatest support, my biggest
Fan: my Mother. Momma was known by many names by many people: Mom, momma, sister, Aunt Lucy, Granny, Bicky,
Sis Lucille, Sis Taylor, and so on.
Momma had not been well for many years because of her asthma which she
had from childhood. She had gotten to
the point where we deemed it necessary for her to come and live with us a few
years ago. I felt guilty many times
because we lead very busy lives and many times, Momma was not able to go when
we went and do when we did but I know that just being around all the activity
that goes on in this household with our business being in our backyard and in
the house and the in and out of grandchildren did make a difference. Momma was a very independent person who held
her privacy paramount. I know that it
was an adjustment on her as much as it was on us, especially with her having to
let go of many possessions that epitomized her independence. She would make little comments about little
things that she wished I hadn’t “put in the yard sale” (LOL), even if I hadn’t. She was raised in her early years during part
of the Great Depression and, as many who came thru that time, had a tendency to
hold on to “things”. In going thru her
things since she passed (a very hard thing to do that will take me a long time
to finish), I’m finding evidences of that tendency. One thing that has made me realize that she
did feel a part of things she actually didn’t get to participate in is looking
thru her calendar that she kept of the year.
She noted everybody’s birthday that she knew: including every person at Church. She made sure she got the bulletin every week
so she could write down those dates.
There were notations of weddings and funerals, all revivals, happenings
and events in other people’s lives, weather changes, family doctor’s appointments,
etc. Traumatic happenings to folks
around us, birthday parties whether she was able to go or not. Births, such as the first one of 2016 was
Baby Luke Thomas Erickson (only those in our Church Family will understand the
importance of that one.) I love this
one: April 4<sup>th</sup>: “open pool, to ready for swimming.” I don’t know if Momma was ever able to step
foot inside the pool fence. For sure not
since she came to live with us. And then
on May 12<sup>th</sup>: “Girls got to
get into the pool. Brrrr cold.”
Nothing is written, other than a few birthdays she wrote earlier in the
year, for October or November. On
October 23<sup>rd</sup>, Momma went into the hospital thru the ER to never step
foot outside of it again. I stayed with
her as much as possible, only leaving the few times someone else convinced me
they would be there. The last morning
before she was finally admitted to Hospice, I spent by her side, holding her
hand and praying. Momma was ready to go
but she didn’t want to die. She loved
life. We talked about it a little: enough to get a few details that she wanted
for her funeral, but, like a lot of things, Momma didn’t really talk openly
about it. I probably would have felt
better if she had. I think she realized
that it was her time but I’m not sure she wanted to admit it. I am thankful that God was merciful and He
didn’t let her suffer. He confirmed that
fact to me later. He is ever Faithful
and Loving and He answers prayer. I miss
my Momma and I think I always will. It
really “threw me for a loop” to use one of my phrases. I know she’s happy, singing and dancing with
the Angels around the Throne, breathing deep and singing those high notes that
so many that loved her never got to hear, but we who did know the joy she must
be feeling. I don’t want to start naming
people who did so much during this time because I surely would forget someone
and that would truly be tragic. I want
to thank everyone who had a part for everything they did. We truly felt the love of friends and family
alike. I know I’m not the only one who
is hurting and missing her like crazy:
Her grandchildren (and mine), her siblings, her close friends, her
church family. I know she would want me
to live my life and continue the work that God has for me. Though she did think that I overloaded myself
a bit. I say every year, and it is true,
each year my letter takes on a life of its own, a theme, and I feel this one is
“Remembrance.” Last year I wrote of the
loss of Terry’s mother and this year mine.
With those last few thoughts in mind, here is my year……<o:p></o:p></div>
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This year had its share of gains and losses, births and deaths. My BFF Barbara lost her husband in February
and it has been a rough year for her. I’m
doing my best to hold her up in prayer and I know she’s going to pull through
but things will never be the same. I
know it is TIME. As we age, those around
us do too. We’re not ready . . . I’m not
ready. I don’t want to get old but I
have to face it: I’m there. As Momma noted in her calendar “Shonda’s ‘lil
angel was brought into the world” speaking of Joe and Shonda Coleman’s precious
preemie Mary Anna. I know she has
obstacles to face but God is control of that situation as well. It seems that we have so many who are working
for the Church in that way (LOL), so many more babies: little Reagen Dillon, Cason Kitchens, Wallace
Johnson, (Lord, I hope I’m not forgetting anybody….), a miraculous adoption
with little Gracelyn Faith Johnson, and
it seems we now have 3 babies more on the way.
But we lost a precious Lady, Sis Gay Nell Mask. She was ready to go and her funeral was a
celebration of her life. And weddings: Leah and Patton, our nephew, Justin Meskimen
and Catie Price, and, ending the year with Taylor York and Beth Ann
Frazier. Looking forward with great
anticipation to the upcoming wedding of our good friend, Carl Sheppard to his
sweetheart Brandy Robbins. Life does not
stop. In fact, the older I get, the
faster it goes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My children. Del and Jen made
another major transition this year. They
moved back to Pontotoc and Del went to work for us in the Lab. We have high hopes in that regard. At least it won’t die with us. They began attending church with us at Cedar
Grove and Del made application with the United Pentecostal Church for his
General License which he received. He
has dreams of Pastoring a Church again, hopefully in the not too distant
future. Just waiting on God. And in the meantime, he and his dad have made
application for their Ordination with the UPCI which will happen (hopefully)
this coming March. Del and Jen are
beginning to work in the Jail Ministry and were certified to participate in the
Parchman Crusade, which they attended for the first time in August along with
us. Jen is working in Children’s Church
and they are both heavily involved in the music at the Church. Homeschooling continues with ABeka Academy
and, in fact, several families in the Church have jumped on that wagon and so
they have a group to do fun things with throughout the year. Rachel and Jordan attended Youth Camp which
was a life changing experience for them both.
The week after that the family went to the Memphis Zoo for Ellie’s 6<sup>th</sup>
birthday. Rachel is now in the Youth
Group and singing in the Junior Praise Team.
Rachel and Jordan are participating in Bible Quizzing and doing rather
well, I must say. Ellie won’t be far
behind on that when she is old enough because she always does so well with her
Scripture memorization with her schooling.
Speaking of Ellie, she was baptized this year AND received the Holy
Ghost! She graduated from Kindergarten
and is doing so well with 1<sup>st</sup> grade.
She reads so good. They all three
participated in the Christmas Drama with Rachel being the “leading lady” and
Jordan the “Rock Star”. Ellie was a star
in her own mind and she always is in my book.
I’m kind of proud of my girls.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My Sister-in-law, Diane, finally landed a job with a hospice company in
Union County. I miss getting to see her
as much as I did when she was job hunting on my wifi but I know her and Perry
both are so relieved that she found work.
She has been a great comfort to him with the loss of Momma too. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Back in January, my husband received a call from Pastor Robbins asking
us to consider coming on board with the Staff at Cedar Grove as the Keenagers’
Leaders. These are the 50 year olds and
above. We accepted and it’s been a fun
year. We feel inadequate but we are
doing our best to be of service to these precious people. So many of them are older and wiser than we
are but they are so appreciative of any and everything you do for them. They have become dear to us and we are
looking forward to greater things.
Working with that group, leading an outreach team, working in the music,
Terry working in Guest Services, the Jail and Prison ministry, Elder Care, and
any other way we can serve keeps us pretty busy but our desire is to be used by
God in any way He chooses.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I said earlier that Del came to work with us this year: in February.
The Lab has grown and we’ve had the usual growing pains. We were able to provide some training
opportunities for our employees (Del and my brother Perry). In fact we took the entire families to the
Lab Association summer meeting in Biloxi where we rented a house and us girls
explored the shores while the guys “went to school”. We had two fairly significant Trade Shows
that have reaped some business and hopefully will continue to do so. We’re
looking forward to bigger and better things in the coming years should the Lord
tarry His coming. With some time and a
lot of help, they built me a new office!
I’m loving it. I have all my “stuff”
out here. I’m not totally settled in
yet, but working out of it as far as the Lab is concerned. Shipping and Receiving is moved to my
office. I am getting set up with my
scrapbooking/cardmaking business as well.
The plan on that end is to begin making video tutorials on cardmaking
and sharing them in a blog on the internet, connecting that to my Stampin’Up
website in order to generate business there.
It’s been a long time coming but I am excited. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So much has happened this year with the economy, on the political
front, etc. Uncertainty on every
side. More reasons to trust God because
He is our only hope. We feel and believe
that God is giving America another chance to get things right and I pray with
the coming year that she takes advantage of it.
I believe this is our window of opportunity to reach our families and
friends for Christ. I pray that I can
use the experiences I have come through in this year as a springboard to work
harder, love deeper, reach farther, and go higher in Him. I want to seek His face more than His hand
this year and I want to bring somebody with me.
My prayer for you is that you will feel His love and His peace in the
coming year and that you will experience everything He has for you. I love you all with all of my heart. I am sure this letter does not cover the half
of what I feel but it is all I can do. I
love you.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Leslie<o:p></o:p></div>
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For The Tritsch Family<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474094682366369412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188426942765618.post-57416376048042289152015-12-21T15:00:00.000-08:002015-12-21T15:00:01.699-08:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Christmas
2015</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">My Dearly Beloved……<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Why not? All the Biblical writers started that way
and, besides, I like it and it’s true.
What can I say about 2015?
WOW! What a Ride! I must admit, it bothers me when I hear people,
especially kids, say, “I’m bored.” I
have to say there is nothing boring about my life! Sometimes I think I would like a little
boredom… I think. Maybe a little less “stuff.” As I look back over my calendar, review my
posts and other’s on FaceBook, look through my “Box”, I’m overwhelmed. I’m so thankful that I know Who holds my
world because, if it were not for Him, I’m afraid I might shoot off into
oblivion, my world seems to spin so fast!
Let me start over . . . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s that time of year
again when I look back over my year and I attempt to put it all down on paper
to share with all my Friends and Loved Ones.
Next year will be 20 years running.
Unbelievable! Each year my letter
seems to develop a theme and I’m sure this year will be no different. Right now the word “Change” comes to
mind. I’ve probably used that one before
and I will more than likely be able to use it again, but, to date, this year, I
think, ‘takes the cake!’ A little
disclaimer: I said a couple years back
that I was going to stop mailing out so many of these and, if you are my Friend
on FaceBook, I will share a link and you can read it online. I still mailed out a bunch and to some who
were on the web. This year I am holding
to that. You probably will appreciate
that more anyways. You won’t have to
chunk it after you’re through reading.
So, grab a cup of your favorite and let’s visit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The year started on a
sad note. Terry’s mother passed away on
the 12<sup>th</sup> of January. Her
funeral was a very tender service on the 17<sup>th</sup>. Our kids and I were so honored by Terry’s
siblings and their spouses to be asked to provide the music for the
service. She had gone into the hospital
on New Year’s Eve and Terry had the opportunity to go and see her before she
passed. I mentioned in my last year’s
letter that we were in Arkansas with our girls for Thanksgiving and was able to
spend time with her then as well. It was
bittersweet time before and after her Homegoing as we spent one last time at “the
Farm” as we affectionately called their home place, and with family. I was so touched when my sister, Becky Hill,
surprised me by coming to the funeral. I
hadn’t seen her in many years and it meant so much to me to have her
there. I love you, Becky.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">January also held the
birth of my new nephew, Benjamin Asher Robertson, whom I have yet to meet. Thank God for FaceBook! We also began the process of completing one
of my goals from last year of obtaining our Concealed Carry Permits. We completed the class for our Enhanced
Permits that month. A lot more of January
but too much for the space here. February
was also full to the brim with Revivals at Church, the passing of a dear Saint
of God, Sis Mildred Carter, Limu convention in Memphis, SNOW!! and ice in the
weather, and a fun-filled time at my annual Scrapbook Retreat I try to
attend. This time it was hosted by my
God-daughter, Missy Reynolds, in Heber Springs, AR. My cousin, Carla Martin, went too and we had
a blast even though I was sick the whole time I was there! This trip had been planned for a long time
and because of that, and a date change, I missed the wedding of Joe and Shonda
Coleman. Shonda is my partner in Jail
Ministry. I don’t think they missed
me. Lol!
They were preoccupied… Lol! I
also had the distinctive delight to attend a concert with some of my Red Hat
Sisters to hear the piano stylings of Jason Coleman who is the grandson of the inestimable
Floyd Cramer! What a treat! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">March brought more snow
and ice but with that, the tragic accident of the Joey Mask family and death of
a dear mother and wife. I was with my
brother when he had his pacemaker replaced that month and I ended the month
helping my BFF with a project for the ALJC Spring Conference Women’s Esprit
program and helped with the music for the Conference. April brought Easter, Christian Prisoner
Fellowship training in Grenada, NCTI Real Colors class, my son’s 35<sup>th</sup>
birthday, and another funeral: this time for my cousin Mary Killough (known to
us as Betsy)’ husband, Andy, who passed fairly unexpectedly. Our Church, Cedar Grove UPC, was honored to
host the Tupelo Tornado Memorial Service which was attended by many Dignitaries
from the City and the State. You will
remember, I talked about the terrible tornado that tore through Tupelo, April
2014. Perhaps the brightest spot in April
is the night we took our girls, along with their Mom and Dad, to see Cinderella
in the Russian Ballet at the Ford Center on the Ole Miss Campus. It was definitely a night to remember!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In May we went to
Little Rock to celebrate the 85<sup>th</sup> and 80<sup>th</sup> birthdays of
my Uncle James and Aunt Jewel Chrestman.
So thankful that my mother still has all her brothers and sisters
alive. We finished the process for our
CCP’s and just had to wait for them to come in. Mother’s Day was very special, of course, and
then our anniversary on Memorial Day weekend.
My cousin, Carla, and her family spent the weekend with us. June brought graduations and my Ellie’s 5<sup>th</sup>
birthday! She wanted a pool party and
that’s what she got! “Not anything big!”
was what her mother said, BUT! The girls
and I have always wanted a slide for them to have at the pool and I ‘happened
upon’ a bouncy castle with a slide at Sam’s that was reasonably priced so I
picked it up. Papaw decided that we
needed an extension on the deck to accommodate this item, so he and Uncle Perry
promptly built one. So we had a
PARTY! Invited lots of little (and big)
girls to celebrate with her and she had a blast! Father’s Day was special with my kids in
Church with me that evening. Rachel, my
oldest, impressed me with her note-taking of Pastor Robbins’ sermon. I still have the notes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We celebrated my Aunt
Jean’s 80<sup>th</sup> birthday with a surprise party put on by her daughter,
Jamey, and my other Aunt, Emma. It was
sweet but another reminder of how short life is. As I said, I’m thankful my mother has her
siblings but I’m very aware of their ages and how time takes a toll. Never take family for granted! Love each and every member with all your
heart and let them know every day! My
brother introduced us to a new friend of his that became my new Sister-in-law
in October. Linda Diane (now Taylor) is
a sweet heart. She’s pretty, funny,
smart, very educated, and loves the Lord with all of her heart. I say this and hope that no one takes this
the wrong way: I cannot make choices for
other people and sometimes the choices they make affect others, including
myself. I love my Sister-in-heart, Mary
and she will always be that to me. But
thank the Lord, my heart is big enough to welcome and love my new Sister! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Speaking of
family: We made the difficult decision
this year that my mother no longer needed to live alone. She’s been with us since November of last
year but nothing was ever spoken audibly about her future situation. We probably worried about it more than
necessary because when we finally broached the subject with her, it was
relatively painless. I know it is a
mental adjustment for her and a definite physical adjustment for us but I think
we’re gonna make it. I had to empty her
mobile home and attempt to assimilate her necessary and desired things into our
home in order to make things more like her ‘place’. This meant I had to get rid of some of my
things as well. Can you say, Yard
Sale? I’m talking huge! And after I had it here and got rid of a
bunch of ‘stuff’, I moved it to my daughter-in-law’s and she had several yard
sales, too! Then, in September, Terry
went to his Mother’s place and met with his siblings to go through her things
and brought a bunch more home with him. Can
you also say, Critical Mass? That’s
where my home is and I’m still working on that!
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In August we celebrated
Pastor Robbins’ 15 year Pastoral Anniversary with a reception and awesome
services! We are so thankful for our
Pastor! There is a quality about him
that is hard to describe but we appreciate his wisdom and his love for
people. His driving passion for lost
souls is evidenced by the many Ministries he trains and equips the congregants
of Cedar Grove and, indeed, the members of the entire State of Mississippi
UPCI. He is an inspiration to all who
know him. One of those ministries is
North American Missions and an arm of that is Christian Prisoner Fellowship of
which we are a part. Through that
Ministry, again, we had the immense privilege of participating in the Parchman
Prison Crusade, also in August.
Miracles, baptisms, and souls saved was what it was about! And it was a wonder to see! We had
the great privilege of attending a Ted Cruz rally in Tupelo in August that
greatly helped cement in our hearts and minds who is our choice for President
of these great United States of America.
I will say more about that later.
September brought Ladies’ Conference for me and Men’s Conference for
Terry. Both were awesome! Another wedding, Katie Morgan married Cody
Mullins Labor Day weekend and I was honored to provide a little music for the
occasion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In addition to the
afore mentioned wedding of Perry and Diane, in October we were privileged to
have Mark Condon at our Church for his Power Worship Conference. Many people from different churches and
organizations were blessed to be able to attend. My friend, our Music Director, Shelia
Kitchens, did an awesome job of pulling this event together and I’d have to say
it was a game changer in many ways! We
enjoyed a trip to Amish Country with our Church group that month as well. In November we had a bang-up time celebrating
Rachel and Jordan’s birthdays at Premiere Lanes in Oxford. This is a very nice place and we will
definitely be going back there again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">December. Wow.
On the 5<sup>th</sup> my cousin, Cullen Chrestman, who has always called
me ‘Aunt’ married Lindsey Bernard who is the daughter of Dr. David K. Bernard,
who is the General Superintendent of the United Pentecostal Church
International. And WE attended the
wedding! It was beautiful! We took a few days to kind of take a break in
the beautiful city of Austin, Texas.
While we were gone we received the sad news of the passing of my daughter-in-law’s
Uncle Dennis York and then the next day on our way home we received the news of
the tragic death of 19 year old Dallas Martin.
His parents have been friends of ours for several years. We returned home to attend both
funerals. Dennis’ funeral was a
testimony of his life of service to the Kingdom of God. Dallas’ funeral was a testimony to the lives
he had touched with over 4000 in attendance at his viewing and probably ¼ of
that for his service. He was named
honorary General Superintendent of the Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ by
the General Board and present by GS Kenny Carpenter. It was awesome. Friday, the 11<sup>th</sup> we took our girls
and their Nana for a ride on The Polar Express!
It was so much fun! Love making
memories with my babies! I discovered a
new love this year. It’s really an
extension of one I already have:
Scrapbooking. And that is Card
Making. I made all the cards for our Doctor’s this
year for Christmas and I was pleased with the outcome. I joined a company, Stampin’ Up, because of
this new hobby and am looking forward to sharing this with anyone who is
interested.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I have just given you
the very tip of the tops of the events of my year! Add to all of that working every day in our
business which continues to grow exponentially, working in our Church in
multiple ministries (music, jail, prison, ladies, etc.), taking care of my
house and household, and trying to squeeze in a little time for me. No, I’m not bored. In all of that I have tried to make a focused
effort to increase my prayer life and Bible study. Even though I fail miserably so many times, I
am more acutely aware of my need to be close to my Lord. This world is changing so fast and the events
that have transpired in our Country and are still happening makes me know that
surely His return is soon. I can only
hope! I’ve probably lost some “friends”
this year because I’ve come to realize that I can’t be silent any longer. I’ve got to be saved and I want to take as
many with me as possible. It is hard for
me to fathom the things that people accept as normal and good when these things
are so diametrically opposed to Godly values!
I want to stand for Truth. I want
to save my Family. I want to protect my
Family. I want to change my World. I mentioned before that I am a supporter of
Ted Cruz. I urge you to check his
record. The only hope this world has is
Jesus Christ, but I believe Ted Cruz will, to the best of his ability, point
our Nation in that direction. I’m sorry
if you feel like a Christmas Letter is not the place to ‘get political’ but,
this is my letter. Lol! I believe if you want to know what a Man will
be when he is in power, look at his life before he came to Power. Know them by their fruits. I challenge you! I can’t help but put a plug in for Ted’s book
‘A Time For Truth’. I never thought
before that I could read and enjoy a political book but I did and it increased
my respect for this man and I pray to God that He has mercy on this Country and
gives us a Leader like this……… or that He just takes me home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I don’t know what this
new year will hold but I trust Him! More
changes are surely coming as we endeavor to follow His leading. I didn’t say a whole lot about my kids but
God is working in their lives as well and I’m excited to see what God has in
store. My prayer for you for the coming
year is that God will bless you abundantly and keep you in His Will. I love every one of you and pray that you
still love me! Lol!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Have
a blessed Christmas and a Very Happy New Year<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Leslie
(for the Tritsch family)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474094682366369412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188426942765618.post-46376076342614364662014-12-20T22:15:00.001-08:002014-12-20T22:18:54.961-08:00Christmas 2014<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
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2014 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Dear Friends,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Wow! Here it is the end of another year. And we’re still here. Amazing.
I really mean that. But I will
say more about that later. For some
reason, it has been really hard getting started this year. It’s almost like I’m afraid. It’s similar to the feeling I have when I am
going to start a sewing project. I’m
scared stiff to cut into that beautiful fabric.
I guess I’m afraid I will mess it up.
It’s not like cutting my husband’s hair because it will grow back, but
not material! I think it also has to do
with age because the older I get, the more OCD I get about organization and not
missing something I’m supposed to catch.
So, when I sat down with my Box of memories to relive the year, I also
used my calendar (which those who know me well, know I’m stuck to), and
FaceBook! Ah, FaceBook! I love how I can relive the year with
pictures, posts, and videos. They still
bring a smile to my face. Like the video
I shared of my granddaughters, Rachel and Jordan, and their “news reporting”
last summer! By the way, for those new
to this letter, this is my annual Christmas letter that I do every year since
1996 to bring family and friends up to date on my life. If you’ve just become my FaceBook friend, you
might want to look that video up….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> The
thing that blows me away about this year is how much has happened. How much Life has flowed under my “bridge”. Things that seem like they happened two to
three years ago actually occurred this year.
This year was filled to the brim with triumphs and tragedies. I count at least 10 deaths that affected us
in some way. And then there were births
as well. New friends, new places,
growth, and life-changing experiences.
Miracles and those in the making.
And so, endeavoring not to bore you, let me just dive into a few of
these events.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> The
year began with several deaths either in or closely connected to people in our
church and for fear of missing a name, I won’t list them but our hearts were
grieved for those affected. I will
mention Sis Beatrice Hutcheson, the mother of Glenda Putt. This precious lady was loved by everyone at
Cedar Grove. I had the pleasure of
hearing my son preach for our Church the first Sunday evening in January. I know a lot of great preachers but he’s
still my favorite! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">He and Jennifer and
the girls were blessed with a new home in Oxford. It was really a miraculous thing and we are
thankful for God’s blessing in that.
They have become very involved with a program with their Church, NCTIS,
which is a chemical abuse program with other aspects. They were both certified later in the year
and are very happy and excited about this work.
They work through the Drug Court to receive participants in the program. The Church expanded their programs to include
the ACTS program which is a more faith-based program of a similar nature. It keeps them very busy but they are working
together on something that they both are passionate about and this makes me
very happy. Terry and I were privileged
to sit in on the ACTS training to become certified with that program. We are still feeling our way as to how we can
be used in this avenue.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Terry
and I attended the Christian Prisoner Fellowship conference in Atlanta in
February and became certified as Volunteer Chaplains with CPF. We have begun working in the county jail with
our Church’s existing program and are learning to love that work. My timeline will be off here just a little,
but I cannot leave this subject without talking about our participation in the
Annual Conference held at Parchman Maximum Security Prison in August. Life-changing is an understatement. Terry was privileged to go last year but I
was unable to due to illness. This being
my first year will not be my last!
Watching those prisoners respond to the message and to the worship,
seeing their lives changed forever, hearing the stories of those on Death Row
being baptized in water and with the Spirit, working with the people from all
over the state who came to help. I’ll
never be the same and I can’t wait till next year!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> March
was filled with a Marriage Conference at Pickwick, Mom’s 85<sup>th</sup>
birthday celebration and all that incurred, the beginning of our new Website
for The Denture Lab (<a href="http://www.thedenturelabonline.com/">www.thedenturelabonline.com</a>)
, thanks to Arthur Dillon’s great efforts and a photo shoot for the Lab with
Amelia Robbins. We took our girls to
Arkansas in April to see “Grandma Skimmens”, as they say. Terry attempted to take care of some repairs
that were needed on her home and the girls enjoyed the Lake and climbing on the
rocks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Back at home, Easter was a
blessed time. I helped with our Easter
Program doing the music and the song selections. It was an awesome program by Lori Ann Dillon
and I was honored to be a part. Then I
was able to go spend that afternoon with my babies being the first time to do
so in almost 5 years! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In an effort to
get exercise and become more healthy, we purchased bicycles and tried out the
Tanglefoot Trail with the girls. This is
a “Rails to Trails” project that runs from Houston, MS all the way to New
Albany, MS: some 50 miles more or
less. The first trip me and the girls
made about 6 miles. The second trip,
Papaw joined us, and, along with a pull-behind trailer for Ellie, we made about
11 miles! It was a blast but perhaps a
little much for starting out. We’re
going to get back to it, I promise….! It
was rather cute, however, to see Jordan on the Trail with training wheels! March was also sad because of the unexpected
passing of our friend Susan Davis who was an integral part of Christ the Rock
Church and also Bro Ellard who was the sweetest man you could ever meet and
also Rev Clement who was a dear friend of our Son and his family. Our long-time friend, Hank Hansbro, also went
to be with the Lord to be liberated from a life of illness and confinement to
be forever with the Lord. Thankfully,
all 4 of these were so very ready and we have a promise we will see them again!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Normally
the old saying says something about March winds and April showers but this year
April brought a devastating wind when a bad tornado hit Tupelo. The neighborhood around our Church was one of
the worst hit but thankfully our Facility was spared. Lots of tree damage and some vehicles but the
structure was virtually untouched. The
Lord used this situation for us to be a blessing to our community by the people
of our church stepping up to help those in need and our church becoming a Disaster
Relief point: serving meals, distributing supplies and other support for
workers and those affected by the storm.
Several in our Church received damage to their property but thankfully
no lives were lost in the storm. The
only life lost during that time was due to a traffic accident involving the
wife of a friend of ours. God knows all
things and we trust Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> May
brought Mother’s Day with my own Mother being one of two Mothers of the Year
crowned at Cedar Grove UPC and my children surprising me at Church that
evening. The girls’ school year ended
and as a part of their awards program we had a music recital with the piano
students and the Rhythm Band. That was
an experience! I am learning a new
measure of patience as I work with these littlest ones and again this school
year. The youngest this year is Ellie
(4). I will tell you now, I do not see a
repeat of the recital performance for Rhythm Band this upcoming year! LOL!.
It was cute, though, especially when Jordan broke the tambourine mid
performance! As far as piano is
concerned, I am so very proud of Rachel and Jordan. Rachel has such a natural talent and can hear
anything and then play it….. with the harmonies. She is becoming better at reigning herself in
to read the music, which was a concern for me.
I think it has finally clicked with Jordan and, when I can keep her
focused, she reads pretty good. She
keeps telling me that I’m supposed to call her to remind her to practice…. Then they and the Church welcomed little
Adelyn Hill into the world and to their Church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Terry
and I celebrated 35 years of wedded bliss this year and we took a trip of a
lifetime! I’ve always wanted to go to
Niagara Falls so that’s what we did. We
got our passports and everything and went to Canada. It was breathtaking! There is no way that I could encapsulate the experience
in mere words on this page but the beauty touched my very soul. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> My
desire was to fill my grandchildren’s summer with good things that would
challenge them as well as entertain so I signed them up for the Pontotoc County
Library’s Summer Reading Program.
Actually, their Mom had to take them to sign up day since I was in
Canada at the time but thereafter we enjoyed learning about bats and bobcats,
instruments and puppets, nutrition and book readings. We even met an author and the Mad Scientist
of the Mid South! They checked out books
and read those books to Mamoo and to each other. I hope to do this with them next year and
every year thereafter. I want them to
love books like their Mamoo does. (Their
Papa loves books, too…) We also made a
trip to the Blueberry farm where we picked blueberries. This had nothing to do with the Library but
had everything to do with summer fun.
They played in the dirt and played in the sand, snapped beans with
Mamoo, had ice cream days, made play dough creations, drew pictures and colored
and even made “books”. They lost teeth
(at least Jordan did) and went to Buffalo Park to see the buffalo and other
animals with their cousins Max and Alex who came to visit with their Momma and
Daddy and Layloo. It was a full summer
that I hope they will never forget.
Mamoo won’t, that’s for sure!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> My
BFF, Barbara and I made another trek to Arkansas for a Scrapbook Retreat. This time with my God-daughter’s group (Missy
Reynolds). Loads of fun and exposure to
yet another form of this art:
Stamping. I’m hooked. Ellie had her 4<sup>th</sup> birthday at the
Skating Rink, Frozen style. We welcomed
little Zoey Ashcraft into the world in June.
I was honored to be asked to play the piano for the funeral of my dear
friend, Charlotte Weatherly’s husband, Jimmy.
Jimmy had told me years ago that he wanted me to play for his funeral
and I am so happy I was able to do just that.
We also found out that Terry’s Mom had fallen and broken her back. She was in the hospital for quite some time
and then transferred to a Nursing Facility.
Her health has gone down and we worry about her. We are thankful for Terry’s brothers that
live near her, especially Kurt and his wife Carol.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> I
don’t really know how to preface this next thing but to call it a near tragedy
turned Miracle. My sweet friend, Carolyn
Fisher fell through a ceiling head-first to concrete and was unresponsive. She was rushed to the hospital where she
spent several days. The family didn’t
really know what hope there was but every day a new miracle was revealed. Bleeding on the brain stopped. No drilling of the skull required. Broken collar bone, yes, but God took care of
that in time. It was a bonafide miracle
for which I thank God!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> I
had the pleasure of taking part in our friend, Amanda Permenter (now Foster)’s
wedding with the music as well as the reception, providing an Ice Cream
Bar. It was a first and great fun! Terry celebrated his 62<sup>nd</sup> birthday
and we made the trip again to Biloxi to the Dental Lab Association’s summer
meeting. It was a very growing
experience for the Lab which has done nothing but grow all year. God has blessed abundantly and we are praying
for His direction on how to handle all these blessings! We sent my brother, Perry, to Sarasota, FL
for training and he is growing in his knowledge and expertise. I know God is going to provide the means and
the direction to properly do this business.
He keeps sending new doctors our way.
We want to be a blessing to the Kingdom and to others through our
business and I know He will help us to accomplish that! Jennifer left the Lab because they needed the
greater income that her nursing could provide and we have not made the decision
to hire anyone at this point. We are
looking for God’s leading and provision in this area. We are very happy that our former employee,
Josie Pannell, is helping out a couple of evenings a week which is a tremendous
blessing!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> My
mother’s health continues to decline and she is now on oxygen 24/7. She spent several days in the hospital at the
end of the summer and then came home to spend a week or so with me. She has her good days and her bad days but
God has been good to her and to us that we have her. This time of year is not kind to her. She does not tolerate the cold well, or the
damp. We are thankful for every good
day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> School
started and Ellie began 4 yr pre K, Jordan went into 2<sup>nd</sup> and Rachel
moved into 4<sup>th</sup> grade! Ellie
has done really good which surprised me.
Not that she would do good but that her teacher and her class would
survive her! Lol! She’s so cute. I love to see her lead the Pledge!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> In
September, I was privileged to attend Ladies Conference which was life-altering
and Terry attended Men’s Conference.
Delbert got to go with Terry and my brother and they all really enjoyed
it. We made another trip to
Arkansas. Bro Carl Camden went home to
heaven and in support of his daughter, Annette Parmley, we were able to make
the trip. Delbert and family went with
us as well. He was a precious man of God
and he will be sorely missed. We love
that entire family and Church. We were
able to visit with Terry’s Mom. She had
been moved to another Home. This one is
absolutely beautiful and does not seem to be a Nursing Facility at all. They give excellent care. Mom gets confused but she knew us and the
girls clearly. Little Ellie can make
anyone feel better. She’s so
solicitous. She immediately goes to
Grandma’s side and says things like, “Grandma, are you okay? I love you!
I missted you!” And just hugs and
kisses and pats. Back at Cedar Grove,
Bro Odis Brown turned 90 years young and we helped celebrate that
birthday. We were honored to be able to
oversee and prepare for the Pastor Appreciation Reception for Bro and Sis
Robbins. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> One
point of prayer I would like to request is for Rev Travis Montgomery. He was thrown from a horse in early October
and is paralyzed from the waist down. He
is still in the Hospital at this writing but we are believing from his
healing. He is able to move his toes
some and the Rehab people are optimistic.
He keeps having obstacles: fever,
pneumonia, etc., etc., but God is bringing him out! His wife is very wore out, to say the
least. This is my best friend’s
sister. Please lift them up in your
prayers! This is the Miracle in the
Making I mentioned earlier….. And while
you are praying, also pray for my friend, Dawn, her niece. She has struggled with her health for quite
some time and now has been diagnosed with lymphoma. She is currently going through chemo which is
devastating her. God is going to bring
her through, I know….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> We
celebrated Rachel and Jordan’s birthdays at Rockin’ Hop Town in Ecru. This is an awesome place that is full of all
kinds of bouncy houses, slides, etc.
They treat you right and take care of your every need. The girls had a blast as did everyone
there. We made one more trip to Arkansas
with the girls to see Grandma for her birthday and to have Thanksgiving with
Terry’s family. It was a very sweet,
much needed time together. Then we had
our Christmas play at Cedar Grove. This
is the children’s play but I got to play the Grandma and I loved it! It was fun working with the kids and our
music director, Shelia Kitchens….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> My
friend Edie lost her sister very unexpectedly which was very hard on her and
her other sisters but the Lord brought joy again with the birth of her new
grandbaby, Ariana Rosalyn Cates!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> My
Christmas letters always seem to have a theme and this year is no
different. With all the deaths and then
births this year, I am more acutely aware of the ebb and flow of life. But it also makes me more cognizant of how
temporal this life is. I was listening
to a familiar Christmas song the other day:
I’ll Be Home For Christmas. I
thought back over my life and I don’t really have a place that I can call “Home”
from my past. I didn’t grow up in one
place and all the friends I grew up with live in different places than they
did. Neighborhoods have changed and my
family is scattered. Where I live right
now is the closest thing to Home as any place on earth. But that’s the thing. This is where I live but this is not my
Home. Right at the end of last year I
had the privilege of meeting a new Author, Merle Temple. He’s from Tupelo, MS and, at the time, he had
written one book. It is a fiction work
based on his life as an undercover FBI agent during the drug war. Woven throughout the book is the story of the
main character, Michael Parker (Temple), and his struggle to find his way
spiritually. Temple has such a command
of the English language that he almost weaves a spell to draw you in to his
struggles. He was working on his second
book which he has now completed and I was at the book signing at the Pontotoc
Library the day after he got them in. It
is titled, “A Rented World.” It is a
continuation of Michael’s story.
Compelling to say the least but the premise is: this world is not our home. It is only “rented”. Now, I don’t want to die but I would love to
be able to say, “Jesus, I’ll be home for Christmas.” But I can truly say, “if only in my dreams.” This is where I live but Heaven is my home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Here’s
praying and hoping that you and yours have a blessed, happy Christmas and that
Jesus is the center of your celebration.
I love each and every one of you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Love,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Leslie
(for the Tritsch’s)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474094682366369412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188426942765618.post-33317567583288988992013-12-10T19:50:00.000-08:002013-12-10T19:50:35.699-08:00Christmas 2013<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Dear
Friends,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Wow! What a year!
At the risk of sounding cliché, I must say, ‘My, how this year has
flown!’ And it really does seem that
way! I’m really not sure if it is my
age, or if it is the ‘Times’. I can’t
believe that it’s only an age thing. The
world seems to be rushing toward a destination and sweeping all of us along
with it. I know what that destination…. Or
destiny…. Is. And I’m ready for it. More than ever before. Ever. *Sigh*
*Pause* Oh. I didn’t see you there. Hello.
My name is Leslie Tritsch. And
this is my Christmas Letter. I forgot,
for a moment, that I’ve got a lot of new readers this year who are not aware of
what this is. I’ve been doing this since
1996: the year I moved to Mississippi. I’ve got a lot of friends and family who live
all over the country that I don’t get to see very often and who want to know
what’s been going on in my life. I take
a little time each year to sit down and ‘visit’ with them and sort of ‘catch
up.’ I’m going to try and keep my new
readers in mind, however, and not bore them with too much useless
information. My letters are more than
just newsy, though. They seem to always
take on a theme….. or, more like a feeling…. An emotion that is what my year
has been. And I’m trying not to assume
too much. I do hope you will read it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I have a
box that I put things in all year that I call my “Memory Box.” As I sit down to write, I pull out this box
and take a walk down ‘memory lane’ and re-live my year with you. I’ve got a new box this year. My other one finally wore out! 17 years!
My bff, Barbara, gave me a box last Christmas filled with Christmas
goodies that she made and I immediately thought, “what a wonderful new box for
my memories!” It’s an elegant
Victorian/vintage looking box with a flap-type lid and a Velcro closure (the
only modern part of it). It’s
beautiful! And it’s bigger. I was always over-loading the other box as my
years got fuller and fuller. Don’t
worry, I, very reverently, laid Memory Box 1 to rest: thankful for it’s years of service. It went on to it’s reward in the Pontotoc
County Solid Waste Landfill….. *smile*
Anyway, when I sit down and start to try and remember my year, thinking
that it has passed in such a flash that not much could have happened, my box of
memories reminds me that, indeed, my year has been full. Full of love, full of family, full of you,
full of Life! And, as you know, full of
my grandbabies! So…. Let’s turn this ‘pile’
of memories over so we can start at the beginning of the year……<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We always
begin with Christmas. Last
Christmas. It was our first Christmas in
our new Church home. We were just
beginning to become acquainted with people who have become very dear to us over
this year’s passing. We experienced our
first Cedar Grove Children’s Musical and it was awesome. We just witnessed this year’s musical and, I must
say, they get better and better. I’m thrilled
to see children, growing up in the House of God, excited to worship! And I see it in other Church settings as
well, through FaceBook. That gives me
hope for the future. I will say more
about Cedar Grove later. I am thankful
for the new relationships that were begun and have grown this year. And others that are beginning….. Christmas with family was…. Well…
eventful! We always spend Christmas with
all of our family that live around us.
That includes our grandbabies’ Nana and Papa: trading off where we get together. Their place…. Our place…. Last year we were set to celebrate at Nana
and Papa’s but calamity hit! Their home
was flooded right before Christmas! It
was very stressful for them and took several months for things to get back to
normal. (I’m not sure, even now, if
everything is taken care of.) It was a
reminder, at least to me, and I’m sure to them as well, that ‘things’ are just
that: things. I know that we have precious things to us
that are irreplaceable, but furniture, walls, floors… they can be
repaired. Family is what is
important. God is what is
important. We just moved the celebration
to our place and tried to be a comfort and support. That’s what families do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Then
January hit! Full to the brim! <i>The </i>Wedding
of the Year was first on the agenda! I
got to try and repay just a little of my debt to my bff for her help with my
son’s wedding as her one and only son, J.J. Winter was wed to his lovely bride
Janae. It was absolutely breathtaking
and a lot of fun ….but a lot of work! I
even got the privilege of playing a little keyboard at the Reception. Right after the wedding, Terry and I started
our Daniel’s Fast that we do at least once a year. We were put on the platform rotation at Cedar
Grove, playing keyboard and singing in the Praise Team. New little piano students began with me. And the month ended with a weekend in
Greenville with our children as our precious middle granddaughter, Jordan, was
baptized in the precious name of Jesus Christ! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUR_QwruKu1t46C0GbdJENl78fhFeTq3S-kE1Bp6SLN2NMDU5ToyhquY9XTB_Uv8MsU9KywYa4pEqSPSM9q-cdrxkKKE2yLDUra4qVbMTHcAjPhHbsxKepcMOAJZ0ahK3DZsghh6S1cm0/s1600/IMG_0514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUR_QwruKu1t46C0GbdJENl78fhFeTq3S-kE1Bp6SLN2NMDU5ToyhquY9XTB_Uv8MsU9KywYa4pEqSPSM9q-cdrxkKKE2yLDUra4qVbMTHcAjPhHbsxKepcMOAJZ0ahK3DZsghh6S1cm0/s1600/IMG_0514.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
Turned out to be my birthday celebration as well. It just occurred to me that you can see
pictures of my year, for the most part, on my facebook page…… (for those of you
on facebook.) My brother, Perry, was
put in the ICU in Oxford for bleeding complications. He’s a heart patient and on blood thinners so
it was a concern. Not a pleasant thing
to end the month with, but he ‘recovered’ and seems to be doing fine, thank the
Lord! In February I took my mother and
her sister to Arkansas to the funeral of their first cousin, Virginia Christmas. I got to meet some extended family for the
first time. My babies spent Valentine’s
with me and I took them to Doodlebugs Paint Party where they each painted a
picture and decorated cupcakes! We had a
blast! Barbara went with us, thankfully….
Three are quite a handful! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XBAamgQpNHUbYWQOov_o9j8AsN9YckijDqR1uXmdcl0j1nVTN6jvs4Yb3_wtgBaCqz7o9dc7C0wgEbUPD4h3eaU-Va49H3SYx7OCXWhNSnYrJ4VBBe9jJ2NczRZSv4FkpxGOzy4L-tw/s1600/IMG_0579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XBAamgQpNHUbYWQOov_o9j8AsN9YckijDqR1uXmdcl0j1nVTN6jvs4Yb3_wtgBaCqz7o9dc7C0wgEbUPD4h3eaU-Va49H3SYx7OCXWhNSnYrJ4VBBe9jJ2NczRZSv4FkpxGOzy4L-tw/s1600/IMG_0579.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
Speaking of
my grandbabies, my box is full of their artwork. I think Rachel has really got a gift for
it! She can really portray ideas on
paper. She could use training, of
course, but I don’t have any trouble recognizing what she is drawing! I have to smile. Some are pretty funny. But sweet.
And her little notes….. I tell her, “we gotta work on your spelling!”
and she says, “I know, I know!” I really
think she is just in a hurry because she does well on her spelling in her
schoolwork. Who knows? She might be a writer one day, though. She loves to make ‘books’! I have several in my possession. All three of them came and spent more time
with me in March as their parents took a trip to celebrate their
anniversary! The bff and I went to our
second Scrapbooking retreat in Arkansas and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves! Terry, I, my brother and my mother went to
Arkansas to the funeral of a dear old friend, Rev John “Jay” Fuller. It was sad but joyful at the same time. It was so good to see friends I hadn’t seen
in a very, very long time. Easter at
Cedar Grove was wonderful, although I missed being with my babies. Pictures from Nana helped soothe my
heart. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-nQwWQuZqbywsfj2uam47eQd1elbABCZtFZm3EMj5qQFCTopDPvtjjOcMWHnUEnsa1fWFJdFS16SYnC32tOeKbO3SQ6gflyzZYVjcyv1JHufVYsE9Hi3-T-Xo41ZHriodcPrQr8tyBU/s1600/Easter+2013+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-nQwWQuZqbywsfj2uam47eQd1elbABCZtFZm3EMj5qQFCTopDPvtjjOcMWHnUEnsa1fWFJdFS16SYnC32tOeKbO3SQ6gflyzZYVjcyv1JHufVYsE9Hi3-T-Xo41ZHriodcPrQr8tyBU/s1600/Easter+2013+012.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
My brother took, and passed, his
GED. He had taken classes here, which he
did not need (and they told him that) but he wanted to get in all he could. Very proud of him. All of this is just the first quarter of my
year! And I didn’t nearly put everything! <o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrDDcZCZbY_kGS8jaFdEe42Z8puUcx4mgA59N4bDY3C687aonrQHoAiK-QnKZds6uLu0oeuIVKlcQ9-kuOaFZjYVWCaJWduSxZZM3RyRlcFYzhq3x7I4lkML5drqyT-8uNWJwfWesgPX8/s1600/902986_442859855800190_612229939_o+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrDDcZCZbY_kGS8jaFdEe42Z8puUcx4mgA59N4bDY3C687aonrQHoAiK-QnKZds6uLu0oeuIVKlcQ9-kuOaFZjYVWCaJWduSxZZM3RyRlcFYzhq3x7I4lkML5drqyT-8uNWJwfWesgPX8/s1600/902986_442859855800190_612229939_o+(2).jpg" height="200" width="170" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZ0ve5lQqpuZo4Ps_rsTQhyzyoaPtTqhCwXKg1IawlNI2oeJVCSvOqA6p_9lEYVtA6BRW5R2q6nFErLfL2iE8Qsb_mm0AeaAjeZkN-cZywIDPDePGeBWm7mlk8GRlO7vbrVJ2Vi_D_hc/s1600/P125025052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZ0ve5lQqpuZo4Ps_rsTQhyzyoaPtTqhCwXKg1IawlNI2oeJVCSvOqA6p_9lEYVtA6BRW5R2q6nFErLfL2iE8Qsb_mm0AeaAjeZkN-cZywIDPDePGeBWm7mlk8GRlO7vbrVJ2Vi_D_hc/s1600/P125025052.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
second quarter was no less full but I don’t want to bore you. I do definitely want to mention a few things,
though. I attended a Ladies Day in
Greenville at our son’s church, which was very special. I love all of those ladies at Greater Faith
Tabernacle and count them as dear friends!
Then we had our Ladies Tea at Cedar Grove. Be sure and check out my pictures on facebook
of all the decorations: hats and all!
</span></div>
<br />
May was graduations: my brother
graduated at ICC with his GED and my Jordan graduated kindergarten! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1F9UJzhHCHpvlPHc7yr7BYewV4eZJmcGJDIRIGofYFgxXC65xARYYuuJwAsg-MXYLmQtVhBIQmkttqkZYspYhE-0pZZBEVVCW9H9pRwxePcmQRemk3gdYPPWP5I4GMXVCz1QUdUxZSgM/s1600/IMG_0881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1F9UJzhHCHpvlPHc7yr7BYewV4eZJmcGJDIRIGofYFgxXC65xARYYuuJwAsg-MXYLmQtVhBIQmkttqkZYspYhE-0pZZBEVVCW9H9pRwxePcmQRemk3gdYPPWP5I4GMXVCz1QUdUxZSgM/s1600/IMG_0881.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
I spent Mother’s Day with my children in
Greenville and then my babies came and we went camping (RV) for our anniversary
weekend (Memorial Day)! We had so much
fun! Again. Be sure and check out the pictures on
facebook: Rachel baiting her own hook
for fishing, Jordan fishing, new friends, the campfire, Ellie’s marshmallow
face! Memories! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTvDLnctu2daHhF63bmqdK2M7DVLEqQU8fb5KHGZ3yxotPt1JSt_AWSZN2VItD3UD0uOOq9HWWJouUvwwo7P2JBRRlcDuj9xFMj8rusLCvbvHne7RqZNyFYSZ23gCLDRFXkaGxsne3J8/s1600/IMG_0914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTvDLnctu2daHhF63bmqdK2M7DVLEqQU8fb5KHGZ3yxotPt1JSt_AWSZN2VItD3UD0uOOq9HWWJouUvwwo7P2JBRRlcDuj9xFMj8rusLCvbvHne7RqZNyFYSZ23gCLDRFXkaGxsne3J8/s1600/IMG_0914.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
April and May was the beginning of our garden. Uncle Perry did most of the work in the
garden and, as the harvest began to come in, I tried to keep up with the
preserving of its fruits. We spent
Father’s Day in Greenville, where Papaw (Terry) and Papa (Glenn) preached at
GFT. Then my girls came home with me for
two whole weeks plus! Our pool certainly
got a lot of use this summer! Del and
Jen came for the Fourth of July along with Nana and Papa. We had a big cookout and then went to see the
fireworks at the Park. Memories!<o:p></o:p><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">August
was life changing. Terry and I attended
the Mississippi Dental Lab Association weekend conference in Biloxi,
Mississippi where he began the process of reinstating his certification. He received a lot of valuable training and
information. We went deep sea fishing
and I caught a big one! It was so much
fun! (See my picture…..!) </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EZOdCy0ZibLS3wRtepiQc6Qdfws9iYwpfbnhCTE_P7A8tEn396OsEzXwdlihG9TUzlYdz8hfSmGJNZiz6G-qi6s_W7CgYZJxMOlO5_kIQ5tCPlqqoz5mB2JUJlxF3FuXekTVHAaWbC8/s1600/IMG_1102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EZOdCy0ZibLS3wRtepiQc6Qdfws9iYwpfbnhCTE_P7A8tEn396OsEzXwdlihG9TUzlYdz8hfSmGJNZiz6G-qi6s_W7CgYZJxMOlO5_kIQ5tCPlqqoz5mB2JUJlxF3FuXekTVHAaWbC8/s1600/IMG_1102.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
I also caught the smallest fish on our boat
and won a prize for that! The
professionals we met helped convince Terry that facebook was a good thing, so……
the rest is history. I don’t think they
were talking about Candy Crush. He
completed the second portion of testing in September in Heber Springs, Arkansas
and received his certification in late October.
Also in August, I was privileged to participate and help in the
celebration of my bff’s 60<sup>th</sup> birthday with her new daughter-in-law. I must say, we actually surprised her! Then Terry had the awesome privilege to
participate in the annual Parchman Prison Crusade with Christian Prison
Fellowship. This is a two day event
where several churches work together and flood this maximum security facility
with preaching, witnessing, worshipping and basically transforming the lives of
those men incarcerated there. I was
supposed to go as well but got sick and was unable to. There is no doubt that I will not miss it
next year! I wish I had time and room to
tell of the miracles and conversions that occurred! I am so thankful for the out-reach focus of
our Pastor and our Church. We are all
about touching lives. From jail and
prison ministry, to ACTS classes (alcohol, drug, etc.), to daughter works and
preaching points: it’s all about
souls! Terry began to feel early on this
year that he should pursue re-obtaining his ministerial license with the United
Pentecostal Church, which was accomplished in September. I am looking forward to all that God has in
store for us in His Kingdom! One of the
more surprising joys that has come into my life began in August as well. I began teaching music (piano and theory) at
Oxford Christian Academy one day a week.
I love these kids! Hopefully I am
impacting their lives in at least a small way.
In September we had the joy to take part in the wedding of Brittany and
Brad (now Cates). Terry performed the
ceremony and I played the piano.
Precious memories. And remember,
these are just the highlights of my year!
In October I created “Leslie’s Kitchen” as I began to get back in to
making homemade whole wheat bread. Our
Ladies had a bazaar. Now, I’ve never
been to a bazaar, much less took part in one but it was an experience. I baked and I baked and I baked! And I sold out! My machine broke a couple of times so I added
a new one to my kitchen. I’ve been
baking pretty regularly ever since. My
family sure loves it….. and so do those who have partaken of my labors (or so
they say). I grind my own wheat. It is awesome! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wYlNuInuAFR4JcHtUIWLIr1E4-BO2geJl0jijl6MfIh9iu_A31FlyEM3IqfmYKLWxFCWz4o43G3ksoaVp9Wuc3uDZrgvPXc1A8RwchZ6zarTDEvxfNGzw10fpxzmynTHKAbnO5ikO1o/s1600/Bread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wYlNuInuAFR4JcHtUIWLIr1E4-BO2geJl0jijl6MfIh9iu_A31FlyEM3IqfmYKLWxFCWz4o43G3ksoaVp9Wuc3uDZrgvPXc1A8RwchZ6zarTDEvxfNGzw10fpxzmynTHKAbnO5ikO1o/s1600/Bread.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
Then I was asked by one of our Assistants to
head up our Pastor Appreciation Reception which was a lot of fun… and a lot of
work. I think it turned out pretty
good. I couldn’t have done it without
the help of Sis Ashley and all the Ladies.
Terry made what, I’m sure, is to become his famous Sausage, Chicken, and
Shrimp Gumbo. Maybe one quart of a 22
quart pot left! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_EImkMHcRXGi6pBqPwJd1e1qs-t1zKPl8Z3rd1lvSKUT8dbLyBeWRQpnwysMS1faHv2SQiIhW2VmanWjyyUApvY3f86uPqGVlfuQc8NS-slS_xsOtKqskp9EEihi_nbE3SCOPbru8gfI/s1600/IMG_1196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_EImkMHcRXGi6pBqPwJd1e1qs-t1zKPl8Z3rd1lvSKUT8dbLyBeWRQpnwysMS1faHv2SQiIhW2VmanWjyyUApvY3f86uPqGVlfuQc8NS-slS_xsOtKqskp9EEihi_nbE3SCOPbru8gfI/s1600/IMG_1196.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJc2tK6bavDO3pupo8mNQZytNnsZycTc5OLALGuueqbdAdrBMwz6B6zY04NWtjwDKQ7oMD8646vMWoqsAJrHdGR5FfQucevVYtU_khys773fk_izHApfI3PvU42nGcgRaG0ZFy5E7EQs/s1600/IMG_1201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJc2tK6bavDO3pupo8mNQZytNnsZycTc5OLALGuueqbdAdrBMwz6B6zY04NWtjwDKQ7oMD8646vMWoqsAJrHdGR5FfQucevVYtU_khys773fk_izHApfI3PvU42nGcgRaG0ZFy5E7EQs/s1600/IMG_1201.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><br />
The next week I went to
the Pumpkin Patch with my babies and the school….. busy making memories! (See pictures!) I attended a Mark Condon Power Worship
Conference with our Music Director and really enjoyed myself. We celebrated Rachel and Jordan’s birthdays
in Oxford at the school with all the usual fanfare plus! Even had a bouncy house! Then Terry and I flew off to Sarasota,
Florida for almost an entire week. No. We weren’t vacationing. Well, I guess I was, kind of. Terry was taking some training on a new
system that we are adding to the Lab. We’re
very excited about the growth potential that it will bring. And, speaking of the Lab, we have experienced
some major growth in our business for which we are very thankful. God has truly blessed us and we are trying to
be a blessing to the Kingdom and to others through it.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7G3nuRG6fKXAncs4oCsb14tGk5hDbuthsgm7RPUBew-eghlhtibEQ6RSBcRE1UbaJzIIhyMqekGti79pvJAiBHMZtVQq_qw3OHd85_39H_MI1PrHxVzS2uMj457zke07ND271OfyOIM/s1600/IMG_1327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7G3nuRG6fKXAncs4oCsb14tGk5hDbuthsgm7RPUBew-eghlhtibEQ6RSBcRE1UbaJzIIhyMqekGti79pvJAiBHMZtVQq_qw3OHd85_39H_MI1PrHxVzS2uMj457zke07ND271OfyOIM/s1600/IMG_1327.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I
purposely left out something in October because I wanted to give it a little
more attention. As most of you know, our
son has been pastoring Greater Faith Tabernacle in Greenville, Mississippi for
the last two years. They have worked
hard and loved the people and really thought that they would be there for many
years to come. God had other plans. God began dealing with their hearts months
ago about leading them in a different direction. In the beginning, I’m sure they were not even
aware of exactly what they were feeling.
Finally in late September they made the decision to resign their
Pastorate in Greenville and move to Oxford.
God had already prepared a door without their knowledge. He was working on both ends of the
situation. It was very hard for them to
leave the people. They loved them. They still do. Their lives are forever meshed together. And, just as God had another plan for my
children, He has another plan for those precious people! Delbert and Jennifer have taken the position
of Youth Pastor and Assistant to the Pastor at Christ The Rock Apostolic Church
in Oxford. That’s a whole lot closer to
Mamoo! And the icing on the cake is that
Jennifer has come to work for us in the Lab and she seems to be really enjoying
herself! The girls are in school at OCA
and Ellie comes to Mamoo’s house every day and runs around with me!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1y2i6gx4K4CVZ4vqjXqfPo5O2luDhUobZOgvKpnzteW2883ownt9HZg44fUbjIPqLDZnG_W_nwJGlkyxRz7nSmZwK8_7Eisw6Qd-aYi-fvf4y1ukbHNKz14FfBR0VjsnR0vXk4_HgA2M/s1600/IMG_1158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1y2i6gx4K4CVZ4vqjXqfPo5O2luDhUobZOgvKpnzteW2883ownt9HZg44fUbjIPqLDZnG_W_nwJGlkyxRz7nSmZwK8_7Eisw6Qd-aYi-fvf4y1ukbHNKz14FfBR0VjsnR0vXk4_HgA2M/s1600/IMG_1158.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And that
brings us to the present. I am
overwhelmed at the blessings that God has poured out on us. I am thankful for His pull in our lives for
greater service for Him. This Christmas
I am more keenly aware that this Season is all about Him. We have made the decision to scale back
somewhat this Christmas on the gift buying because we want our focus to be on
Him. Now don’t worry, my babies will be
taken of, trust me! But I want to teach
them what it really is all about. We
have determined to make a sizeable contribution to a program called Christmas
For Christ </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmAruD3JF1yoF8y23xWLzXLLSNXqpdOwB_XuNoNKnnIed0y4XI3OWO2p3mfBnDneoSGHK8nurqxgtcvf5TH1-3shMwEvNf8nykJtZ_Mh3Iug-7i_b2KU6j4K9DT1QTI1ctYUerLdZeGU/s1600/Christmas+For+Christ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmAruD3JF1yoF8y23xWLzXLLSNXqpdOwB_XuNoNKnnIed0y4XI3OWO2p3mfBnDneoSGHK8nurqxgtcvf5TH1-3shMwEvNf8nykJtZ_Mh3Iug-7i_b2KU6j4K9DT1QTI1ctYUerLdZeGU/s1600/Christmas+For+Christ.jpg" /></a></div>
that helps fund new Churches in North America and helps them get on
their feet until they are self-sustaining.
It also helps fund Christian Prison Fellowship and the ACTS
program. All of these programs are
designed to change lives. If we have
bought you a gift in the past and we don’t this year, and for all of those that
we would want to give a gift, know that we are giving to this cause in your
names. I truly believe that our time
here is extremely short. Things just cannot
go on the way they are headed. I want to
make my time here matter. Who knows what
the future holds? Only God. And I put my trust in Him. My wish for each of you is that you would
know, experience and rejoice in the spirit of Christmas, which is peace, the
miracle of Christmas, which is hope, and the heart of Christmas, which is love.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">With all our love,</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Tritsch Family</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Leslie, Terry, & Sarah </span><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1"
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474094682366369412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188426942765618.post-8625185657756427572013-01-15T03:32:00.000-08:002013-01-15T03:34:24.049-08:00Stepping Heavenward<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3c90Y6MwKlXE6UNoIVh3NTS-adtYIzyu0th-xbrwfs9gzSmfIyPVHntlnahN-MqkeOyEsUVIgAqqssul61bO8SAdz7knGgbTdbIlj0QapA2qRt6OxDhXThRtEEAOa3a-7oa2KGz_P3BE/s1600/stepping-heavenward.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3c90Y6MwKlXE6UNoIVh3NTS-adtYIzyu0th-xbrwfs9gzSmfIyPVHntlnahN-MqkeOyEsUVIgAqqssul61bO8SAdz7knGgbTdbIlj0QapA2qRt6OxDhXThRtEEAOa3a-7oa2KGz_P3BE/s200/stepping-heavenward.jpg" width="123" /></a>When I was just a young girl, I read the book titled "Stepping Heavenward" by Elizabeth Prentiss. Mrs. Prentiss lived from 1818 to 1878. I can't seem to locate my book at this time: I have a rather large library for a home library and I have books everywhere so it could be anywhere; so I'm not sure what printing my particular copy is. It is quite old, however. The book has been reprinted numerous times and, in my estimation, it is a classic. I see in looking on the internet that you can even buy it as an e-book. I'm not sure if my copy had the subtitle that is on the reprinted ones or not, but I like it and I think it sums up the book quite well: One Woman's Journey to Godliness. The way I have always described it is: it is about the struggles of a young woman as she strives to become what she should be in Christ and...step Heavenward. I love the description that Amazon gives, and I quote it here: ""How dreadfully old I am getting! Sixteen!"" So begins 'Stepping
Heavenward' by Elizabeth Prentiss, the journal-like account of a
nineteenth century girl who learns, on the path to womanhood, that true
happiness can be found in giving oneself for others. ""This book is a
treasure of both Godly and womanly wisdom told with disarming candor and
humility, yet revealing a deep heart's desire to know God,"" says noted
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Stepping-Heavenward-Journey-Godliness-Inspirational/dp/1577483421#" id="_GPLITA_0" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="Click to Continue > by Text-Enhance">Christian speaker</a>
Elisabeth Elliot. ""I do not hesitate to recommend it to men, who need
to understand the wives they live with, and to any woman who wants to
walk with God."" <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Stepping-Heavenward-Journey-Godliness-Inspirational/dp/1577483421">Stepping Heavenward: One Woman's Journey to Godliness by Elizabeth Prentiss</a><br />
<br />
This book made quite an impression on me as a young girl and I have thought about it and it's concepts many times down through my life. Stepping Heavenward is a process. Paul talked about it a lot. He had to "die daily." He talked about the struggles of the spiritual man against the flesh and how he would end up doing the things he didn't want to do and the things he wanted to do, he didn't. He vowed to bring his body under the control of the Spirit. I could relate to Katherine, the "Woman" in the book, as she endeavored to pray and all kinds of distractions bombarded her. Her thoughts would wander and she struggled with what words to say. Stepping Heavenward is, indeed, a journey. I speak as to what we are trying to do, not the title of the book.<br />
<br />
That brings me to the particular point in "the journey" where I find myself today. As some may know, we began yet another Daniel's Fast just over a week ago. I have been blogging about our experience on a physical level in my health and wellness blog: <a href="http://mytritsch.blogspot.com/">Take Charge of Your Life</a>. I promised to blog on here about the other side of things. Fasting is one of those spiritual disciplines that nobody likes to do. It is easy to find an excuse to not do it. But I am afraid that it is a necessary and vital part of our journey to Godliness. Jesus said, in Matthew 6:16, "When ye fast...." not "If". This is right after He taught them how to pray and gave them the example of what we call "The Lord's Prayer." Fasting definitely should be something that one does under the leadership of the Spirit and is coupled with much prayer. In fact, as I have heard it said and read it several times: Fasting without prayer is just a diet. While it is physically extremely healthy and good for you, even that part has, or should have, a spiritual end or purpose. When I start to think about what it does for the body, I always end up with spiritual results. Fasting is physical. Our bodies are the temples of God and we are to take care of our temples. We are to deny our flesh; to "keep it under", to practice self-control, to diminish the physical so the spiritual can flourish. Fasting effects a physical change that makes way for a spiritual change. How? The detoxification that occurs when you fast brings a clearing of the mind, improved health, more energy, keener senses, greater understanding, and a heightened spiritual sensitivity. It helps us develop the fruit of the Spirit of Self-Control. Of course, you must be searching for those things in order for you to find them.<br />
<br />
Some things, as Jesus told His disciples, "come only through prayer and fasting." This proves to me that Fasting should have a purpose. That purpose could be simply to draw closer to God. Daniel fasted in order to stay away from defiled things but also to stay true (come closer) to His God. To separate himself from one thing and to cling to another. To define a line over which he refused to cross. A quote from the book I am using in this particular fasting time says: "Sometimes you are so hungry, the only way to be fed it to fast." I am seeing God move in our lives, my husband's and mine, in this Fast and before, as we contemplated beginning the Fast. I am sure we have varying differences on what we feel as our individual purposes for Fasting, but we are unified in many of those goals. We have joined with our family across miles as our Son and his family and church participate in a corporate, Called Fast. Even though I am not there in the flesh, I can sense, through our phone conversations, a unity and a oneness in purpose in them as a family unit and I see God's Hand hovering over them and blessing them and drawing them to Himself. An evidence of that very thing came in our phone conversation last night: during their dinner conversation, our granddaughter's began to ask about Fasting and why Mommy and Daddy were fasting. As a result of that questioning, our 8 year old declared that she wanted to fast with Mommy and Daddy and, when asked why, it was that her younger sister, 6-year-old Jordan, would receive the Holy Ghost. Jordan agreed on both accounts and even included that she wanted to be baptized! So they are Fasting today, at least for breakfast, and their purpose, and ours, as we continue our Fast, is for Jordan! Fasting is a powerful tool in our Spiritual Arsenal if we will just use it and allow God to use us in it! Our God is amazing!<br />
<br />
My favorite scripture about Fasting is found in Isaiah 58:8, and I quoted it in my posts on Take Charge of Your Life: "Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily...." That's where I stopped in my quoting, but I love the rest of it: "And thy righteousness shall go before thee, the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer, thou shalt cry, and He shall say, 'Here I Am.'" Such an awesome promise. And, no, I didn't miss-spell that word. It is "rereward." I've wondered about that word and, in attempting to understand it in the Hebrew and Greek dictionaries, my understanding is that it means that the Lord is going to gather together everything that we need and He will destroy totally everything that is against us! Wow! I stand on that Promise and the knowledge that, when I call, He will answer and say "Here I Am!" What else do we need as we continue to 'Step Heavenward'?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474094682366369412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188426942765618.post-31507088610872561472012-12-30T13:51:00.003-08:002012-12-30T13:57:44.909-08:00What Do I Want From 2013?"<span class="userContent">You can't change your past, but you can learn from it to make your future brighter!" I shared this status post from one of my FaceBook friends just now because it so concisely says what I have been thinking today about this past year (2012) and the up-coming year of 2013. We can't undo our past, but, we are not wise if we do not realize that our past is what brought us to our present. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="userContent">There is a mathematical concept that has fascinated me ever since I learned about it: the Fibonacci number. To quote Wikipedia, "</span> By definition, the first two numbers in the Fibonacci sequence are 0
and 1 (alternatively, 1 and 1), and each subsequent number is the sum of
the previous two. In mathematical terms, the sequence <i>F<sub>n</sub></i> of Fibonacci numbers is defined by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recurrence_relation" title="Recurrence relation">recurrence relation</a>. In <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathematics" title="Mathematics">mathematics</a>, the <b>Fibonacci numbers</b> or <b>Fibonacci series</b> or <b>Fibonacci sequence</b> are the numbers in the following <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integer_sequence" title="Integer sequence">integer sequence</a>: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, ... A number is added to the previous number to make the next number. This concept is used in computer algorithms and biological settings, to name just two.<br />
<br />
The relation of this series to what I am talking about is, that it would
not be possible, without using the past, to direct the future. It was said, "Those who cannot remember their past are doomed to repeat it." At the very least, by looking at our past, we can learn what NOT to do and, hopefully, we should have learned what TO do. With that being said, we should not dwell on the past but we should use it as a springboard to propel us into our future. Paul said, "Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus". It's like using the side of the swimming pool to push yourself forward and give yourself a head-start, so to speak. <br />
So what do I want from 2013 because of 2012? What do I want to do with 2013? Who do I want to see in the mirror in 2013? I lost some things in 2012 but then I gained some things. I learned some things in 2012. I learned I could survive losses. In 2013 I want to have a greater appreciation for what God has given me. I want to show that appreciation through my life, actions and words. I want to honor God in every way, especially by taking care of what He has given me: my life, my body, and my gifts. I want a greater understanding of the fact that everything I have belongs to Him and everything I am is because of Him. I want a greater impact on the lives of others, through actions, lifestyle, and words. I don't want to take anything or anybody for granted. Life is precious and I want to nurture it in every way. I want to be a Voice. I want to speak Truth. I want to know when to speak and when to keep silent. I want to stand up with confidence and, knowing that my God is Faithful, take back what the enemy stole from me, with full reassurance that I will recover it all! <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTqIBTZix5w">God is Faithful!</a> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474094682366369412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188426942765618.post-19566675075865064862011-08-24T04:43:00.000-07:002011-08-24T04:43:23.635-07:00Don't Listen For the ImperfectionsMy oldest granddaughter has a voice that carries....loudly. And she knows how to use it. She has to be reminded to use her "inside voice" quite often. I know she gets on a lot of people's nerves, including her mother's. That's not surprising since her mother has a lot of voices pulling at her with three little ones and her many needy patients in her work, just to name a few. I have to admit there are times when I even get a little frustrated with Rachel but overall, her voice is music to me. From the time I first heard her cry outside that hospital delivery suite when she made her loud entrance into this world to the time I first heard her coin the name Mamoo at 1 year of age, to the present, the sound of her voice always captures my heart. Now, understand, my other two grandchildren mean as much to me as Rachel, but they are all unique in their own special ways. I love them dearly. They are the light of my life without a doubt. But a thought that occurred to me from a recent comment made to me prompted this post.<br />
<br />
Rachel is much like her daddy. She is musical. She is always singing. I remember her daddy, when he was little, would sing to the top of his lungs while sitting on the potty! It was funny.....but precious. He was always making noises or singing or drumming on his chest....or whatever was handy at the time. I'm afraid not much of that has changed, though, thankfully, most of his has been channeled constructively into beautiful original songs and melodies, both vocal and instrumentally. Rachel is extremely independent and very extroverted. She's going to be a song writer as well, I'm sure. She makes up her own songs and melodies. Some of them need work. She already has a beautiful voice and can carry a tune very well. But, also like her daddy, she likes to make up silly songs and this is where the rub is.<br />
<br />
The family was sitting in our living room relaxing recently after a delicious meal prepared by my daughter-in-law and Rachel, along with Jordan and Ellie, were in the other room playing. I'm so accustomed to their sounds of playing that a lot of things that might give pause to someone else doesn't even register with me. Rachel was making up another one of her silly melodies and her mother, who was very tired after a long day of traveling prior to making dinner, commented on the chalkboard scratching effect it had on her tired ears and asked me if it didn't bother me. And, truthfully, I hadn't even noticed. I thought about it later and this thought occurred to me. I think there comes a softening with age to a lot of things. Grandparents, especially, have had the "edges" rubbed off to where irritations don't "catch" as much. We don't notice the imperfections. I think love plays a part in it, too. Not that we love any more than our younger children, but we definitely love differently. And then another thought occurred to me. I'm so thankful that when my Heavenly Father listens to my pitiful cries and the messed up melody of my life that He doesn't hear the imperfections. I am music to His hears! <br />
<br />
Sing on, my little one, just use your "inside voice" when it's appropriate! <br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474094682366369412noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188426942765618.post-2186094846481632362010-07-28T13:51:00.000-07:002010-07-28T13:51:25.962-07:00Life Happens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLJHiegSb33305fmMti2bITOEull_oTFTllFbNIMQabgdWYh24-Xx15PsCM163j3-6Xdv5PWeqgi2bM3U9VlSnhL5SECa2-eWBEKgNNDa4sHkolB3EClDGcePQr9Xhu468O7kJSVWNIg/s1600/life_happens_skaneateles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLJHiegSb33305fmMti2bITOEull_oTFTllFbNIMQabgdWYh24-Xx15PsCM163j3-6Xdv5PWeqgi2bM3U9VlSnhL5SECa2-eWBEKgNNDa4sHkolB3EClDGcePQr9Xhu468O7kJSVWNIg/s320/life_happens_skaneateles.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>When I first began this blog, I explained my theme thus: <br />
<br />
"And then, the theme. What is the point? What is the common thread that ties all my letters together? It hit me about a year ago. They're about <span style="font-style: italic;">becoming</span>. Life really does have meaning. Even in the little, ordinary, sometimes dreary details. It's all a process. And the verses in Jeremiah 29 came to me (vs 11-14): "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive." No, I don't think Mississippi is captivity! (Is it apropo to say "LOL" in blogging?) It's all about <span style="font-style: italic;">His Plan For Me</span>. It <span style="font-style: italic;">is</span> a journey, and I love it!"<br />
<br />
My next letter is from Christmas 1999. The one reference I want to take from that letter is one of those instances where an almost tragedy in the present time can be viewed from the future with more wisdom and hindsight to realize that it is a part of <i>His Plan</i> as well. It certainly taught me about trust. Trust in God and His response to that trust. Desperation can affect our posture towards God and indeed increase our faith. God, you have to do this for me. I cannot do anything about it but You can and I need You to take care of it! I do not minimize it to the point of it being the "rain" that showers on the just and the unjust alike, but, many times, it is a part of life. . . and life happens. And I quote:<br />
<br />
"Delbert finished his first year of college this year. He did very well - especially in the bands, of course. We did a lot of traveling to hear him play and he and several of his friends from Bruce High School were featured a lot as soloists in the Jazz Band - especially Jeremy Freelon, who plays the drums really well. (Jeremy came to our family reunion with us in September and played with Delbert and I as part of the entertainment. We also performed for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life in Oxford.) Even though he did well at Northwest Mississippi Community College, Delbert was not really happy and was very confused as to what to do with his life - at least as far as his education was concerned. One thing he was and is very sure about is his main purpose in life - serving God. He accepted his call into the ministry this year - a fact about which we are extremely pleased. He considered going to Bible College but knew that he would have to work a year to be able to afford to do so. He worked a short while at Office Max in Tupelo and then went to work at Southern Quality Meats in Pontotoc. On July 29th he was on his way home from work and apparently fell asleep at the wheel. He lost control of the car and had a "run-in" with two big trees. The lady who got to him first felt sure he was dying. His car was totally demolished and he was trapped in it. It took the EMT's almost an hour to extricate him from the car with the "jaws of life" tool. They felt sure his legs were all broken up and his shoes are still "buried" in the car. They said that he had several broken vertebrae in his neck. X-rays at the Pontotoc Hospital confirmed the fractured vertebrae. He was very disoriented and could only get his last name out at first. It seems a tiny bubble of air had gotten into the lining of his brain through a deep laceration above his left eye and was causing the disorientation. Needless to say, I was very distraught when they finally located me and I got to the hospital. Delbert looked a mess! There is no way I can describe how I felt, but you mothers probably have a good idea. They transported him to the North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo and I rode in the ambulance with Him and prayed all the way. I told the Lord I needed Him to touch Delbert - especially his neck. I was so very scared. God is truly a miracle worker! When we got to Tupelo, they x-rayed him from one end to the other! They did a Cat Scan and all kinds of tests. Their x-rays showed NO FRACTURED VERTEBRAE, NO CONCUSSION OR BRAIN DAMAGE, and only a tiny piece of bone pulled away with a ligament under his left knee. He has a plate and a screw in the orbital socket above his left eye, two plates in his left hand and a screw under his left knee. The small scar above his left eye only adds "character" to his already handsome face! The bubble of air dissipated and Delbert finally realized where he was. (At first, every time someone asked him if he knew where he was, he replied, "At Church." - I believe he was. In his spirit - resting in the arms of his Lord. I wished that I could read minds! Nevertheless, Delbert is a changed person! His speech, his preaching, his whole outlook on life is transformed! He now has a new job with Presley Publications and Fax of the Day as their Web Administrator. He does their e-mail and Internet work, designing and maintaining their Web Page, etc. He loves it and finally feels that he may have found his niche vocationally. He's taking Web design and other computer and Internet classes and takes his work quite seriously."<br />
<br />
I can still recall those same intense feelings of desperation I had back then when I think about it. I'm so very thankful when I look at him now . . . at the fine man he has become . . . and the beautiful grandchildren he has given me! Which thought requires me to give you the next little paragraph of my Christmas 1999 letter:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAwaQSPb566CxWdQBcLF5v2WvM6kYLSg-ArHlgRAhKFB1Sby8SIGDJ_-pxoaPATCyVyu6hD2vAifH4NG4eDNx1H-inRXnNun4LFDx4G4E8M86LGXopU_3J3UuHPL6_6L4pBDe3XENf5Yk/s1600/Jen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAwaQSPb566CxWdQBcLF5v2WvM6kYLSg-ArHlgRAhKFB1Sby8SIGDJ_-pxoaPATCyVyu6hD2vAifH4NG4eDNx1H-inRXnNun4LFDx4G4E8M86LGXopU_3J3UuHPL6_6L4pBDe3XENf5Yk/s320/Jen.jpg" /></a></div>"Do you recall in my letter last year the "female" friend that I hoped I would be able to write more about this year? Well, I got my wish! Her name is Jennifer Ervin and she is a sweetheart! I could not wish for anyone more perfect for Delbert to have in his life. She's beautiful, talented (sings like an angel and plays the piano wonderfully), very good natured and gracious, and, best of all, she adores Delbert. (She even likes me, too. :o) ) Needless to say, the feeling is very mutual! Jennifer begins her last semester of nursing school in January after which she will be an RN. I can't say enough good about this subject and, I'm sorry, but I can't hide how I feel about it, either. Jennifer's parents are really super people and they have done an excellent job in raising the daughter!" And, as they say, the rest is history!<br />
<br />
Just another example of how<i> Life Happens</i> in this wonderful journey of <i>His Plan For Me</i>!<br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474094682366369412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188426942765618.post-3682018817763516112010-07-13T19:31:00.000-07:002010-07-13T19:37:27.503-07:00Leaders Have Leaders<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9c5Azm_9uX5f8pFgEDu6r_ppLj2tr_mhyOMknCB4gdTbZnSC6Kz-5l79wx5PC36-vbQc0YuPOmAspME-rHppclZfI13-OiAxOCAkKHeU_WTGNBqnGaWegZP_GsKF1T0eLGK3Qk9hA9A/s1600/leadership_penguins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9c5Azm_9uX5f8pFgEDu6r_ppLj2tr_mhyOMknCB4gdTbZnSC6Kz-5l79wx5PC36-vbQc0YuPOmAspME-rHppclZfI13-OiAxOCAkKHeU_WTGNBqnGaWegZP_GsKF1T0eLGK3Qk9hA9A/s400/leadership_penguins.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> Confused? Don't be.<br />
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I have been conducting a discussion with a group that I created on a social networking site about John Maxwell's book, "Everyone Communicates, Few Connect" for quite some time now. I have mentioned this book in my blog to you previously as well. This, my latest message to the group, was something that I feel very strongly about and thought you might find it interesting as well. I began my message as follows:<br />
<br />
Confused? Don't be. I want to take a little break from my discussion of John Maxwell's book to talk a little bit about a very important aspect of leadership. The book we've been discussing is about leaders connecting with their "audience" (whatever shape that term takes). And this is a good place in our discussion to detour somewhat because we have covered the five principles of connecting and part 2 is about connecting practices - putting those principles into action. In other words, we know what and why, we now need to know how. So, here in the middle, I want to give you a little insight of my own.<br />
<br />
I've had some experiences this week that have really brought what I'm about to discuss to the forefront on my mind. I don't want my title to confuse you, but maybe you'll understand if I say it a different way. <br />
<br />
Leaders are followers. Plain and simple. You cannot lead if you do not know how to follow. For one thing, you will not be able to relate to your followers because you will have never been in their shoes, so to speak. How can you teach if you've not been taught? You first had to learn. And some may say, "Yes, I had a leader, a teacher, but now I'm the leader and teacher." The thing is, if you quit learning you become stagnant. If you quit receiving, you begin to dry up. If you quit growing, you begin to die.<br />
<br />
And so, it is extremely important that you, as a leader, have a leader. Or you could use the term Mentor. I'm very thankful for the leaders in my life. I believe they have taught me well. I lead in many different arenas. I've managed employees. I've raised children, for sure. I've run several offices. I am a musician and I lead in that area, as well, as a teacher, a director, and a department head. I could never do any of these things if I was not willing to be taught and to learn from others. <br />
<br />
I know that some of you probably have different opinions from myself where spiritual matters are concerned, but I am thankful for my spiritual leader. I actually have two of those. Biblically speaking (contrary to popular belief) my husband is a spiritual leader in my life, and then I have an awesome Pastor. I am not afraid, ashamed, or threatened to submit to good leadership. In fact, that leadership gives me the confidence to aspire to and achieve greater things in life than I could have ever imagined.<br />
<br />
Some leaders in my life, don't even know me. I have submitted myself to their teachings of my own accord because I believe that what they have to teach me is of great value. I will readily admit that I don't know it all. I follow these individuals' writings and attempt to assimilate the principles they teach into my own life because I want to be as successful as they are. You can probably guess that one of these individuals is John Maxwell. And Darren Hardy is another, along with the late Jim Rohn and others.<br />
<br />
It's all about submission, really. And I know that that word is not a popular word in this society. I'm sure that when some think of the word submission they put it in a wrong context. It's not about slavery. It's about taking advantage of the knowledge and expertise of that leader and being willing to learn from them and glean all that you can. You must have a hunger for knowledge. And then, what you receive, you can turn around and let it flow out of you to someone else and the circle will be complete. <br />
<br />
I concluded my message in a different way than I want to conclude it here, although, you may be interested in checking out one particular site that I encourage the group to check out. There is great value to be had in learning how to be successful and the pitfalls to look for when searching out money making opportunities: <br />
<a href="http://mytritschcareers.com/" onmousedown="UntrustedLink.bootstrap($(this), "71714", event);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://mytritschcareers.com/</a><br />
<br />
But, to conclude my message here. . . .<br />
<br />
The last point I want to make about following in order to lead is that one must be willing to put aside preconceived ideas and notions of self-promotion and take instruction, which could (and probably would) include constructive criticism, before learning could ever occur. You've probably heard the term, "Man up!" We have to swallow our pride, admit that we need instruction, and "take it like a man!" We have to remember that others are following us and they learn from our actions. Let's teach them to be great leaders and give them the knowledge that <i>Leaders have Leaders</i>.<br />
<br />
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<div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden" /><!--Session data--><input id="jsProxy" onclick="jsCall();" type="hidden" /><div id="refHTML"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474094682366369412noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188426942765618.post-31514329647289696742010-06-06T13:46:00.000-07:002010-06-06T13:46:02.003-07:00Get the Picture?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNCnL27J_wNNC5HAzSzYuLaNwGr61b0kG4v7CWjif1xy4JMyzpR7eVpiaUiYWXF4wvKHqlT-AnOBgWYvr9odNFF8o1YFR-V6ikaEztuQajadwH9BolkJNvBk9SVdzXMg4wHoANW_fGCM/s1600/I+know+what+you+mean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNCnL27J_wNNC5HAzSzYuLaNwGr61b0kG4v7CWjif1xy4JMyzpR7eVpiaUiYWXF4wvKHqlT-AnOBgWYvr9odNFF8o1YFR-V6ikaEztuQajadwH9BolkJNvBk9SVdzXMg4wHoANW_fGCM/s320/I+know+what+you+mean.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Back to Christmas 1998 . . .<br />
<br />
Well, history repeated itself and I was able to obtain a copy of the lost page in my 1998 annual Christmas letter, thanks to my mother. That's the way mothers are . . . . they never throw away <i>anything</i> their kids do! So my collection is complete . . . again.<br />
<br />
When I originally thought about putting my letters into book form, I envisioned just inserting each year "as is." But, I soon began to realize that I needed to revisit each letter and sort of flesh them out and, as I said before, omit some of the mundane (to others, not me) things about personal happenings of the years and get to the essence of each letter. This became even more important when I decided to put it in blog form. Another factor was, is, that my earlier writings were a bit more elementary in form even to my untrained eye. I think I've gotten better as the years have gone by.<br />
<br />
I started on my 1998 letter a couple of posts ago talking about the value of time and, having found the lost page, I have one more thing I want to say about that. In addition to my letters being evidence of how very busy my life is and how my time is filled to the brim, I talked about my son in the last paragraph of that lost page:<br />
<br />
"What about (my son)? He finished his senior year at Bruce High School with honors. He has said it was the best year of his life (he'll probably say that about some other years, too.)" <i>[And he most definitely has.] </i>"He lived with a dear friend <i>[name omitted]</i> while he finished after we moved and she can never know just how much her hospitality meant to him and to us. He received a lot of recognition for his musical abilities and in fact started at Northwest Mississippi Community College on full music scholarship, instrumental and vocal. It just amazes us the ministry God has given him in music. He even got to audition for Ace Cannon! Speaking of ministry, he accepted his call into the ministry this past summer, and this may change the direction he goes as far as college is concerned. He will still have a major focus on music, especially as a vehicle to further his preaching ministry. Pray for him as he decides what he and God wants to do with his life. He became a published author this year for his poem <i>"Precious Time"</i>. He continues to write music, songs, and poetry prolifically. We are so very proud of him. . . ." I could not possibly talk about time without sharing this poem with you. . ..<br />
<br />
<i>Precious Time</i><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">By T. Delbert Tritsch, Jr.</span><br />
<br />
<i>I try not to consider</i><br />
<i>What will become of you and me</i><br />
<i>When our time here is over</i><br />
<i>And we both have to leave.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>I can try to deny or ignore it,</i><br />
<i>Whichever be the case,</i><br />
<i>But no matter how hard I try,</i><br />
<i>This question stares me in the face.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>Sometimes I think that maybe</i><br />
<i>It would've been best if we</i><br />
<i>Had never even met;</i><br />
<i>Then I would be free,</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>But to be prisoner to this love,</i><br />
<i>Even with uncertainty,</i><br />
<i>Makes me less a captive</i><br />
<i>Than if I were free.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>I only know the past,</i><br />
<i>And the future's yet unseen,</i><br />
<i>So while we're here together,</i><br />
<i>Spend the present with me.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
The other thing that strikes me about this letter is my redundant use of the phrase, "<i>You get the picture</i>?" When I write, I try to pay attention to words and phrases that are repeated and, when I find them, I change them to other words and phrases. Apparently, back then, I wasn't paying that much attention! I talked about turning 40 and feeling like I was fading into the background (I grayed early), accentuated by having my driver's license picture taken against a light blue background. Sort of like wearing camo in the woods. But that physical evidence only amplified what I was feeling emotionally. And I said, "<i>you get the picture?</i>". I also talked about the marvelous opportunity that was afforded my husband when he went on a medical missionary trip to Mexico and made false teeth for poor people there. I did not get to go and that disappointment was compounded by the fact that we moved into a new house (to us) and one or two days later he left on the trip. I was left to pick up the pieces, so to speak, with unpacking and everything that goes along with a move. Again, I said, "<i>you get the picture?</i>". <br />
<br />
The whole idea behind that phrase is that I know you, my readers, can relate. You can probably think of examples and experiences in your life that are very similar to mine. And that fact gives me comfort. I'm not alone in this world. You really do "get the picture!" So why should I ever have a pity party? And I think that's what the writer of Ecclesiastes was pointing out when he said, in chapter 1, verse 9, "<i>The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.</i>" Somebody, somewhere, has already experienced what I am experiencing right now. Isn't that neat? If we need help, we've just got to find the right person. <br />
<br />
And . . . in light of that fact also, we need to offer the benefit of our experiences to others so they won't feel alone and out-numbered in their life either. <br />
<br />
<i>You get the picture?</i><br />
<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden" /><!--Session data--><input id="jsProxy" onclick="jsCall();" type="hidden" /><div id="refHTML"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474094682366369412noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188426942765618.post-10039084730799861322010-05-10T06:07:00.000-07:002010-05-10T06:11:36.614-07:00Lean on Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXchvdnKkgSYte2nmtQNmyS4iAde5tIs3S8eMYLjszGImxzOu7-INn8XqwkA9aQkE4Q1IqbyihntjbtG8xtTr7scYU8fmUChjnvdgubFMDGx5xEcqflmO-AgEl8cRCqPspIxVHwggJNQ/s1600/keys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXchvdnKkgSYte2nmtQNmyS4iAde5tIs3S8eMYLjszGImxzOu7-INn8XqwkA9aQkE4Q1IqbyihntjbtG8xtTr7scYU8fmUChjnvdgubFMDGx5xEcqflmO-AgEl8cRCqPspIxVHwggJNQ/s200/keys.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>For 13 years now I have participated in an annual Mother-Daughter Banquet at our church, and, for 3 years now we've also had a Mother-Son Banquet. For this year we combined the two banquets due to scheduling conflicts. Our combined themes were: <i>My Sister's Keeper</i> and <i>My Brother's Keeper</i>.<br />
<br />
Our focus was this:<br />
<br />
All women have problems that they are afraid, or too embarrassed, to talk about. Many have the exact same problems. They suffer in silence, feeling they are all alone in the world. If we would just dare to become vulnerable to each other, we would find a wealth of support and empathy in our sisters around us. The unique friendships of women offer a web, or network, of support unparalleled in humankind. Women connect with other women on an emotional level. They have a gift for intimacy. Even as little girls they openly show more affection to their friends than do little boys. They share confidences. Why not take advantage of those natural tendencies in the friendships of women and lean on each other in our times of trouble? Who knows, our burdens may seem a little lighter, when we realize that we're really not all that different from each other.<br />
<br />
Men are different. They connect differently. When the biblical question was posed: "Am I my brother's keeper?" it indicated a feeling of responsibility. The answer, of course, was an unspoken, but loudly understood "YES!" We are focusing on the Mentoring aspect of men's relationships with other men. Especially older to younger. If one generation fails to mentor and train the next generation, where will we find ourselves? Mentoring occurs in big, as well as small ways. And the terms "older" and "younger" can also apply to spiritual age as well, without regards to physical age.<br />
<br />
We had three very excellent segments given by two dear ladies in our church and one man - my husband. These dealt with, first: Secrets Women Keep (I'm Hurting and I Wish Someone Knew); We're Not All That Different (I've Got the Same Problems); and I Am My Brother's Keeper (with a focus on Mentoring). They were all wonderful, but I didn't write them so I'm not publishing them here (maybe later, with their permission).<br />
<br />
We did an activity set to the song "Lean On Me" where different individuals stood and voiced a problem in their lives that they faced that caused them distress of some kind and then one or two other individuals who had faced a similar situation offered support by word and action, saying, "Lean on me, when you're not strong! I'll be your friend, I'll help you carry on!" And with other words of their own.<br />
<br />
My topic was "<b><i>Creating a Web of Support</i></b>" and I offer it here for your enjoyment.<br />
<br />
Not long ago I took part in a personal development program that involved taking a very hard look at my life: my past, my present, and my future. It called for some rather deep contemplation on what my life had been up to this point by looking at where I'd come from: regrets of the past, things I wished I had and had not done. Through a series of worksheets and blog posts, I was required to write my own obituary and my epitaph. I identified my core values, wrote a mission statement and a vision statement. I attempted to identify my strengths, my weaknesses, my opportunities and my threats. All of this was very difficult because I took it very seriously. I would, however, recommend it to anyone . . . if you have the guts. Up to this point, it was me looking at me.<br />
<br />
Then came the really hard part.<br />
<br />
In order to get what they call a 360 degree view, I had to ask three people, who knew me well, to be bruttaly honest with me and answer three two-part questions about me. I needed them to be extremely frank with me because, if they didn't, it wouldn't be of any use to me at all. You see, I was to pick one or two things that they saw as a shortcoming and work on those things for the next year.<br />
<br />
The questions dealt with what they thought was my best quality and what skills and attributes I had that they felt gave me an advantage in life. Then, what is my worst quality and, if I could improve one thing to help me better succeed, what would it be. And finally, where they saw me sabotaging myself and what behaviors, lack of discipline or attitudes they felt held me back the most.<br />
<br />
Surprisingly, or perhaps not so surprisingly, some of their answers, between the three people, where the same. However, one was slightly different. Now, mind you, I've been told this before . . . in different words. . . but when I was told before, I wasn't trying to be creative and overcome this issue, because I didn't think I could. I didn't know how. I felt helpless. I thought it was just the way it was.<br />
<br />
Now, I'm going to give you the full answer, but I'm going to focus on one part of it. The question was: What is my worst quality? The answer: "Reserved or distant at times. Reluctant to speak what you are really thinking. Your kindness probably prevents you from doing this." And the second part of the question: If I could improve just one thing about myself to help me better succeed with people and in life, what do you think it should be? And the answer: "I believe some people feel inferior or intimidated (actually jealous) around you because you are talented, bright and intelligent. (Their problem, not yours.) <i><b>Help people feel at ease and confident around you."</b></i><br />
<br />
Several weeks ago I was praying in the altar with everyone else, and we had several women getting prayer and I thought about the fact that all these women, my sisters in Christ, had problems that I knew nothing about. It occurred to me, also, that they might be the same problems that I have. Then I thought about the woman with the issue of blood. I'm absolutely sure she didn't talk about her problem to anybody -- other than those "many" physicians. She suffered in silence. We've been talking here (<i>previously in the meeting</i>) about being our sister's keeper and being our brother's keeper. We've discussed the fact that we all have problems, that we feel isolated and all alone, and we often don't take advantage of the support that is available to us. We've heard about the responsibility of the mentor in a man to other men. What I want to look at is why are we afraid to reach out for help. Why do individuals fail to receive mentoring when it's offered? I believe, a lot of times, the answer is contained in my friend's answers to me. Others see us as unapproachable, inaccessible. They feel intimidated by us. I mean, its not that we intend to come across that way, but we just do. So what do we do about it? That answer is also contained in my friend's answer: <i><b>"Help people feel at ease and confident around you."</b></i> And you do that by learning how to connect with people.<br />
<br />
How many of you like spiders? I don't like spiders but I admire spiders. They are amazing creatures. They are masters of the "Law of Attraction"! They create this intricate, beautiful, delicate, but incredibly strong and effective, web in which they catch their prey. They actually do it to harm their victims, but I want us to look at it as a way to draw in those that need us and need our support. A spider web is made up of many connections. And that's what I want to talk about today: Connecting. And the way I want to relate it to a spider web is that when we learn how to connect, we teach, by example, and others learn to do the same thing and eventually, we have this intricate, beautiful, delicate, but incredibly strong and effective, web to catch those that are falling and need to be supported by our love and compassion. There should never be one who goes out from our midst, hurting and alone, who needs our support and we didn't give it!<br />
<br />
So what is connecting? I've been reading a book by John C. Maxwell, titled "Everyone Communicates, Few Connect", and I highly recommend it! (<i>quotes are in italics</i>) Dr. Maxwell says that "<i>Connecting is the ability to identify with people and relate to them in a way that increases your influence with them.</i>" He affirms that "<i>the success of your relationships is determined by how well you can connect</i>." In reading this book, it occurred to me that Jesus is, and was, the Master Connector, and I think you will come to understand that. Obviously, the women with the issue of blood was not afraid to approach Jesus. Even though she was, in her condition, considered unclean and no one was to touch her. Somehow she knew that she could go to Jesus . . . and, yes, even touch Him! She knew instinctively that He wouldn't turn her away.<br />
<br />
<i>Just because you are talking to someone or going back and forth doesn't mean you are connecting. Communicating and connecting are two very different things</i>. As mothers and fathers, you can probably understand it better by thinking about your children. Have you ever felt like you just weren't getting through to them? When you see that "light" of understanding go on in their eyes, you will have finally connected! <i>There is an invisible barrier between you and whomever you're talking to and you have to break through that barrier to really connect.</i> You can tell when someone is really getting what you are saying . . . and, also, when they've turned you off!<br />
<br />
<i>The ability to connect begins with understanding the value of people</i>. It's all about others! It's never about me (or you, as the case may be.)<br />
<br />
The principles behind connecting are: 1) focusing on others; 2) realizing that it goes beyond just mere words, but includes actions, attitudes, behavior, and body language; 3) being willing to put forth the effort and energy required to make that connection; and 4) learning from those who know how it's done.<br />
<br />
You have to find common ground. Keep your communication simple, capture their interest, inspire them, but, above all, be real.<br />
<br />
<i>Talk more about the other person and less about yourself. Bring something of value to the conversation.</i> Ask if there is anything you can do for them. Jesus always gave His full attention to the individual, offering compassion, help and healing to them . . . at the point of their need. And He always asked them if He could do something for them . . . ."wilt thou be made whole?"<br />
<br />
I love this quote: "<i>If you want to connect to others, you have to get over yourself.</i>" A<i>lmost everything we become and all that we accomplish in life are the result of our interaction with others</i>. You have to tear down the "ego" wall and use those very same stones to build <i>a bridge of warm compassionate relationship.</i><br />
<br />
I mentioned before, you have to find common ground. <i>It's difficult to find common ground with others when you're the only person you're focused on!</i> And there are barriers you have to overcome in order to find common ground. You cannot assume anything. You can't put people in a box. People have different temperaments and that is not going to change. I've said this for years: Everybody thinks differently and just because someone is acting in a certain way doesn't mean they are thinking the way you would be thinking if you acted that way. You have to work at understanding others. You cannot be arrogant. We need each other. You cannot be indifferent. <i>Comedian George Carlin joked, "Scientists announced today that they had found a cure for apathy. However, they claim no one has shown the slightest bit of interest in it." Indifference is really a form of selfishness.</i> The final barrier to overcome is control. Finding common ground is a two-way street. You have to be open. It has to be give and take.<br />
<br />
<i>If you want to help people and truly make a connection with them, you have to communicate an attitude of selflessness . . . not selfishness. If you can learn to care about others, you can learn to connect.</i> You have to forget about your own worries and needs and focus on the other person's. <i>Calvin Miller says, when most people listen to others speak, they are silently thinking:</i><br />
<br />
<i>"I am loneliness waiting for a friend,</i><br />
<i>I am weeping in want of laughter,</i><br />
<i>I am a sigh in search of consolation,</i><br />
<i>I am a wound in search of healing.</i><br />
<i>If you want to unlock my attention,</i><br />
<i>You have to convince me you want to be my friend."</i><br />
<br />
They have to believe that you really care.<br />
<br />
Whether you, or even the other person, realize it or not, when you communicate with someone, they are asking three questions about you: 1) Do you really care for me?: 2) Can you really help me?; and 3) Can I trust you? That's a big one.<br />
<br />
<i>If you can make that other person feel valued, then you will have connected.</i><br />
<br />
And your message must be sincere. It must contain a piece of you. You must be the message. It's been said that "<i>nothing can happen through you until it happens to you.</i>" I like the word "empathy". What's the difference between sympathy and empathy? Webster's describes sympathy as "the sharing in the emotions of others, especially the sharing of grief, pain, etc.; a feeling for the ills, difficulties, etc. of others." But empathy is described as "the power to enter into the feeling or spirit of others." Sympathy can almost vie a sense of detachment, but empathy requires total involvement. And it's all a function of attitude. Dr. Maxwell says, "<i>Attitudes are the real figures of speech</i>." People know if you care. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "<i>What you are speaks so loudly that I can't hear what you say</i>."<br />
<br />
We did a little exercise earlier showing both sides of this subject: individuals identifying a problem they had, voicing it to their brothers and sisters, and others responding with offers of support. One thing that made those responses extra convincing was that those same problems had happened to both individuals. But I think you will also have to agree that the feeling of sincerity was genuine. We were focusing on each other's problems, rather than our own. And I have just barely touched the surface of this subject of connecting, but it's a start. It's a place for us to begin and, to quote Saint Francis of Assisi via John Maxwell, "<i>Start doing what is necessary, then do what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.</i>"<br />
<br />
At the end I invited everyone to take hold of a gigantic spider web that I had made with the help of my husband and mother, in another activity to give a visual for what I was talking about and we sang the song:<br />
<br />
<i>You're my brother, you're my sister,</i><br />
<i>So take me by the hand:</i><br />
<i>Together we will work until He comes!</i><br />
<i>There's no foe that can defeat us</i><br />
<i>When we're walking side by side.</i><br />
<i>As long as there is love we will stand!</i><br />
<br />
And I want to extend the same sentiment to you, my Reader: <i>Lean on me</i> . . . . I'll be your friend!<br />
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<div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden" /><!--Session data--><input id="jsProxy" onclick="jsCall();" type="hidden" /><div id="refHTML"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474094682366369412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188426942765618.post-27987066563455059342010-04-18T13:43:00.000-07:002010-04-18T13:43:00.409-07:00The Value of Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6c-9cfND6RNNHNWmOeIoGcrCBDwEdmbmWofSrJkMxBXpJzm6tWVXoC8XZH1x3LaVnK0lwNqTqmWp3pGENkXp6jI5pKCMbKqMFMYIF3f8ccj8cS4Ugt_ZH-UiuivBHW4m-8rfLFOphlB8/s1600/time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6c-9cfND6RNNHNWmOeIoGcrCBDwEdmbmWofSrJkMxBXpJzm6tWVXoC8XZH1x3LaVnK0lwNqTqmWp3pGENkXp6jI5pKCMbKqMFMYIF3f8ccj8cS4Ugt_ZH-UiuivBHW4m-8rfLFOphlB8/s320/time.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Christmas 1998.<br />
<br />
Dear Loved One and friends, both old and new,<br />
<br />
I hope you didn't think I had forgotten you because I haven't. Every year I think that I couldn't be busier and then the next year I'm busier. I have realized this year, however, that I am going to have to slow down. I've learned so much about the value of time this year because it seems I have had a shortage of it. I've started this letter twice and was not happy with it so maybe "third time's a charm."<br />
<br />
And so began my next letter . . . .<br />
<br />
The sad thing is that I've lost a page out of this one and I know what I lost was very important. The paragraph at the end of page one goes like this:<br />
<br />
"We've received excellent "instructions in righteousness" from our Pastor. He has been very instrumental in helping us see some things that we knew all along but seemed to ignore. We've set some goals in our lives this year and are striving to obtain them. It is amazing how God seems to go to work for you when you try to do the right thing. I mentioned time before. Bro. T has . . . . . . ." <br />
<br />
. . . . . . . .and the next page is missing. I can only surmise what I wrote, but obviously it had something to do with time. . . and the value of time. This got me to thinking.<br />
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How much is time worth? Can you actually put a monetary value on time. Of course, from a marketing perspective, your time is commiserate with your training. A doctor's time or a lawyer's time is worth more than a data entry clerk's time, for instance. I submit, on the other hand, that time is priceless. Time lost is time lost forever. My time is as valuable to me as any specialized surgeon's time. The Bible instructs us to "Redeem the time". Here's my take on some of the more familiar "time" phrases you may know:<br />
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<b>Time management.</b> There is no such thing as time management. There is only self-management of the time available. (Don't know who said this first.)<br />
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<b>Time flies.</b> Sometimes yes, and sometimes no. Birthdays seem to come at an ever increasing rate but I've still got a year to pay on that two-year note that I feel like I've been paying on for five years. My grandbabies were just born yesterday even though they're five and three. Hey, their daddy, my son, was just starting kindergarten yesterday! <br />
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<b>Time and Tide wait for no man.</b> ~ Mark Twain. I think he, himself aptly put this one to rights: <i>"A pompous and self-satisfied proverb, and was true for a billion years; but in our day of electric wires and water-ballast, we turn it around: Man waits not for time nor tide."</i> "Electric wires and water-ballast?" Boy, Mr. Twain, if you could see us now!<br />
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<b>No time like the present.</b> And, <b>don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today</b>. Time is too precious to waste.<br />
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<b>Time changes everything </b>. . .<br />
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The writer of Ecclesiastes had a pretty clear grasp of what time is and the best way to utilize time. Put everything in its own time.<br />
<br />
<i>"For everything is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace." </i><br />
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Henry David Thoreau said, about wasting time, <b>"As if you could kill time without injuring eternity."</b> Oh, if we could ever really grasp this, what awesome things we could accomplish. You must realize the value of time. Understand this: time spent in relaxation and rejuvenation is not wasted time. But don't masquerade time spent in pointless pursuits and time-robbing activities as relaxation and rejuvenation time! All activities, or non-activities, should have a true purpose and focus. And I'm preaching to the choir here. And I'm a member. Reading a book is much more rewarding, relaxing, and rejuvenating than playing a video game. Taking a nap is far more relaxing and rejuvenating than watching a television program. Actually, a task accomplished, finished, and done is way more relaxing and rejuvenating than procrastinating about it!<br />
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I, for one, want to look for ways to make better use of my time. That is not to say that I will never mess up. But I want to manage "me" in the time that is available to me so that my time will be the maximum value that it deserves.<br />
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I like what Benjamin Franklin said: <b>"Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that the stuff life is made of."</b> And finally, from Captain Jean-Luc Picard: <b>"Time is a companion that goes with us on a journey. It reminds us to cherish each moment, because it will never come again. What we leave behind us is not as important as how we have lived."</b><br />
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What is the <i>Value of Time</i> to you?<br />
<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden" /><!--Session data--><input id="jsProxy" onclick="jsCall();" type="hidden" /><div id="refHTML"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474094682366369412noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188426942765618.post-28304762006406202062010-04-01T13:19:00.000-07:002010-04-01T13:19:57.232-07:00Are You A Leader?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD-SyFii_4wVCeLBgb4gz8dQw2WbVnGls-DPvYh34brc5_1KANqEq1kCLMltaHMY7F6LWLViwOm0GpO6kEzJPd-SYoRpvJ2P2DIrbIgxiSxzPi1ZUm8YCLXxcJWgWHL3F5MZkVbj8vIc4/s1600/leadership-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD-SyFii_4wVCeLBgb4gz8dQw2WbVnGls-DPvYh34brc5_1KANqEq1kCLMltaHMY7F6LWLViwOm0GpO6kEzJPd-SYoRpvJ2P2DIrbIgxiSxzPi1ZUm8YCLXxcJWgWHL3F5MZkVbj8vIc4/s320/leadership-2.jpg" /></a></div>Did you think I'd left you? I guess you might say I've had a case of writer's block but it really was more an issue of distractions. I apologize. I won't let it happen again. I'm working on myself (as I've said before) and that is a very important point about what I want to write about today - leadership. <br />
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I've been thinking alot about this lately and reading many articles, listening to CDs, reading books and generally contemplating about just what leadership is. Obviously, there's an extreme amount of information out there for anybody to see and study if they want to be a leader.<br />
<br />
Just a few examples (and links - for your reading enjoyment):<br />
<br />
Darren Hardy, Publisher and Editorial Director of SUCCESS Magazine states that someone is a leader . . ."when he or she is willing to do what others are not, even when -- and maybe most especially when -- the right thing to do might not be what's popular." He says: Leaders are doers. Leaders . . . . lead. <a href="http://blog.success.com/?s=The+Unpopular+View+of+Leadership">The Unpopular View of Leadership</a><br />
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John C. Maxwell, America's foremost expert on leadership, best-selling author, speaker and founder of EQUIP, a nonprofit that has trained more than 5 million leaders in 126 countries, has much to say about the subject. He avows that time management (actually an oxymoron - it's really self-management) is the most important aspect of leadership: "Nothing separates successful people from unsuccessful people more than how they use their time." He also says leaders see the vision of their dream clearly, have a strategy on what it will take to get there, and have prioritized the steps it will take to make it happen.<br />
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Mel Robbins, nationally syndicated radio talk show host, speaks of a "<i>leadership gene</i>". I don't think we are born with one (the gene) but, if we lead, we will do it on purpose and by effort. She says, "Leadership is . . . taking the lead." (Back to doing what others are not willing to do.) Robbins writes, "A true leader leaves the bathroom cleaner than they found it." Maybe a little humorous, but extremely true. <a href="http://www.successmagazine.com/the-leadership-gene/PARAMS/article/1020/channel/1915">The Leadership Gene</a><br />
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Chris Widener, best-selling author, tv co-host, and candidate for U.S. Senator for the state of Washington, says that, "<i>Leadership is influence</i>." On this topic, he quoted John Maxwell who said, "If you think you are a leader and no one is following you - you're not really a leader, you're just taking a walk."<br />
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Perhaps my favorite is Robin Sharma, litigation lawyer turned leadership coach, when he says, "You cannot lead others until you have first learned to lead yourself." <a href="http://www.successmagazine.com/robin-sharma-leads-without-a-title/PARAMS/article/1006">Robin Sharma Leads Without A Title</a> He quotes actor Steve Martin, who, when asked how a person could be as well-known as he is, replied, "Be so good at what you do that people cannot ignore you." Robin's dad told him, "When you were born, you cried while the world rejoiced. Live your life so that, when you die, the world will cry while you rejoice." I love that! Sharma states that "the world is in a crises of leadership." I do not believe truer words have ever been spoken - of the time we live in. He encourages "leadership at all levels:" being a leader in whatever position of life you are in by giving it your all: adding value, cutting costs, "wowing" the customer and being innovative. He admits that leadership is not without its struggles and difficulties. BUT! He says, "Your next level of excellence is hidden behind your next level of resistance." and "You really don't grow unless you grow closer to your areas of discomfort." If you don't fall (fail), you're not getting better.<br />
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My question is: what does personal leadership entail? I think leaders are learners. I think leaders know how to follow and what it is to follow. Leaders listen. (They don't have five mouths and no ears.) Leaders are examples . . . . of good habits. (Actually the opposite is also true but I'm talking about good leadership.) Leaders take risks - calculated ones - they consider the cost. Leaders are always striving for excellence in their personal lives so that they can affect the lives of others. Leaders are servants. Leaders realize that the authority arrow (downward on the organizational chart) is also a responsibility arrow (upward) and that submission is a two-way street. <br />
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If you want to be a leader . . . . then lead. What do you admire in the leaders you know? What disciplines do they exhibit. Do those things. And when you do, no one will have to ask, "<i>Are you a leader?</i>"<br />
<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden" /><!--Session data--><input id="jsProxy" onclick="jsCall();" type="hidden" /><div id="refHTML"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474094682366369412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188426942765618.post-84417005238644136742010-03-09T09:46:00.000-08:002010-03-09T13:53:19.634-08:00Where Does All This Dust Come From?!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8SeFCSiUscEPey-msH8UwZNMx8ebNriKbGy0k2F_z2_BXWji8Gx1c7tJYRs6CYHTMylh88kEgNqQDXXDwl3cTe7e46FOWKaEpLu3ll9ZMMBuhURk1Rj0e3QXdM7wxcU6kMoJz_FvxHYE/s1600-h/dusty_broom.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8SeFCSiUscEPey-msH8UwZNMx8ebNriKbGy0k2F_z2_BXWji8Gx1c7tJYRs6CYHTMylh88kEgNqQDXXDwl3cTe7e46FOWKaEpLu3ll9ZMMBuhURk1Rj0e3QXdM7wxcU6kMoJz_FvxHYE/s320/dusty_broom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446736940946161106" border="0" /></a><br />Where <span style="font-style: italic;">does</span> all this dust come from?! It seems I can dust my furniture and, in a matter of a few hours, there is this light dusting of . . . <span style="font-style: italic;">dust</span>! Right back where I banished it from! Why me, Lord? Can't furniture stay dusted for just a day? And leave it to me to want a black ebony miniature baby grand piano in my front room and a matching black shelving unit to stand right beside it! Nothing . . . I mean, nothing . . . shows dust like black furniture! And, not only do I dust, but I run my Thermax Vacuum in the room that I dust for at least 30 minutes to remove (hopefully) any dust from the air! But does that make a difference? Obviously not! And come to find out, I'm not the only one who has this problem! My BFF remarks about it as well! So it must be a universal problem.<br /><br />Now, one possible reason for the dust could be that you live on a dirt road. I do know that makes a difference. But! I don't live on a dirt road. I've come to the conclusion that my problem with dust is because I live in an old house. There are places in and around my house that I am afraid to go. Actually, there are two places: in the attic and under the floor. I have never been either place, although I have looked under the house. You could not pay me to go into my attic. For one thing, we have an ongoing battle with red wasps every year and they love my attic! No place for me! I'm sure that, because of normal wear and tear and deterioration of materials dust gets worse as a house ages. This is due partly to normal processes but also probably to lack of upkeep and repair. A lot of the time, things are let go until necessity forces you to take action and update such things as flooring, plumbing, roofing, etc., etc., etc.! I know old carpet is a major culprit in the battle against dust - no matter how good a vacuum you have!<br /><br />I think I can draw a spiritual parallel here. Many times, in our spiritual walk, we allow things to go and we don't maintain our relationship with our Creator like we should. Our prayer life gets lax and we don't read the Word as often as we should. (I'm preaching to the choir here [metaphorically speaking] and I'm a member.) Then, all of the sudden, our lives get really dusty! We realize it and we try to do a little "dusting" and it works for a little while but, before long, we're right back where we were before. Revival comes along and we get all spiritual and our "furniture" sparkles! Revival is over and life comes rushing back in and so does the dust. <br /><br />What is spiritual dust? No joy. Tension and stress in the home and in our marriages. Depression. Doubt. All the works of the flesh: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like . . . You ask, "Is it possible for a Christian to be plagued with these things?" Well, all I can say is that Paul wrote the book of Galatians to the Church at Galatia and thus to the Church today, so. . . I guess so. Remember that the spirit of these works are present long before any action is ever taken. I would say, it is imperative that you and I keep the spiritual dust out of our lives!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Where does all this dust come from</span>? It is, indeed, facilitated by the enemy of our soul but it comes from our lack of upkeep!<br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474094682366369412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188426942765618.post-36653235117205524552010-03-02T13:32:00.000-08:002010-03-02T19:31:07.085-08:00Plans: Subject to Change . . . Without Notice<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh463HIVvmQGRoHH_v3EyWDeryq_V9UPBuNnAxW-IYM2RBY8RnUKZkKFEz9t7ha9JCwSiWe9NhZ5UrvDHCOvn6RklHBHbDNn6nPtK6e_DU61BwsCMuN_O0FuN6d30MvsKcDqxBfJonvbhc/s1600-h/Subject+to+change.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 295px; height: 295px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh463HIVvmQGRoHH_v3EyWDeryq_V9UPBuNnAxW-IYM2RBY8RnUKZkKFEz9t7ha9JCwSiWe9NhZ5UrvDHCOvn6RklHBHbDNn6nPtK6e_DU61BwsCMuN_O0FuN6d30MvsKcDqxBfJonvbhc/s320/Subject+to+change.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444163901731695266" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Before I begin this post I wanted to address my readers. Thank you for taking the time to read my ramblings. I invite you to please leave comments if something clicks with you or you have something to share that may have come to mind because of something I said. Interaction with you is what I am reaching for in this venue. Thank you, again, for sharing this time with me!</span><br /><br />My intention with this blog was and is to "immortalize" my annual Christmas letters in the midst of all the other posts containing my current thoughts. I plan to take one letter a month and use how ever many number of posts it takes to cover that year's letter. This is a new month and so I move to Christmas 1997. I did touch on this letter briefly in an earlier post, but extremely briefly.<br /><br />It is sometimes quite amusing, in looking back at the plans I made . . . and the assumptions. Most people never have to "own up" to those type of things because they didn't write it down. When something is on paper, it's hard to deny it. But it just proves that the best laid plans are very subject to change . . . and that without notice! It also proves my overall point: that life is a journey and it is all about "becoming". Thankfully, His plan for me, is HIS plan: not mine. And the more I discover about the past that I didn't know at the time, the more thankful I am that God is in control of my life.<br /><br />My second letter was largely in part a bragging session about my son. And I quote: "Speaking of my son. This is where I begin to brag. During the summer, we decided that we would allow him to go back to public school for his last year. We felt that we had given him a good solid basic education and that he would not be hurt academically and the experiences would be good for him. So far we've been right. He has made principle's honor roll every time and the teachers cannot say enough good about him. I think there have only been about three times that his name and/or his picture has not been in the local paper since school began. He is involved in the band with his saxophone and doing very well with that. He has had solo parts in the new pieces that the marching band has done this year for the ball games. He is a member of the High School Chorus, the bass singer for the men's quartet, and participates and has a solo in the show choir. He performed in the school talent show with his saxophone (as well as other singing groups) and received the only standing ovation of the show. Do I sound like a proud parent or a bragging mother - or what? He is very popular and, I am proud to say, that he is that way without compromising. These things, however, are not what I am most proud of him about. Inasmuch as our soul purpose for being on this earth is to worship and serve God, it gives me great pleasure to know that there is a definite calling in my son's life, although I cannot say what the full extent of that calling is, and he is acknowledging that calling. It goes without saying that a big part of that calling is in music, which I feel is a direct gift from God for me. My son is going to be able to fulfill dreams that I had and was not able to fulfill. He will go far beyond any place I would have been able to attain to, however. God is using him greatly to write and arrange songs as well as poetry. He is also opening doors for him to pursue his dreams of having his songs published and possibly becoming a recording artist. We recently visited Belmont University in Nashville,TN which is where we hope he will be able to attend, the Lord willing. Belmont is the leading University for the music industry and many well-known people in music ministry attended there as well as other secular recording artists. The school has many advantages. There is an 11 to 1 student to teacher ratio and it has an excellent reputation. The school is, however, very expensive, but we will be applying for academic as well as performance scholarships and every grant, etc. that we can. (My husband says, "Everyone who receives this letter, send $5; duplicate the letter 5 times and sent it out." Ha! Ha! Very funny!) Seriously, we are looking to God to provide and we know He will. We will keep you posted - maybe one day you can say, "I know him." I hope I haven't bored you with my bragging." end quote.<br /><br />Needless to say, many of those grandiose plans we made never came to fruition. But do I think that we failed because they didn't? Absolutely not! God has a plan for our lives. His ways are not our ways. We cannot even begin to imagine the things we might face if our lives took the path that we desired. I'm extremely proud of my son. He's no big recording artist. He still writes awesome songs that I firmly believe will one day be published and perhaps performed by big names. He may not even think that that period of time was his finest hour but his father and I believed in him . . . . and we still do. I can see the hand of God in his life all through these, soon to be, 30 years. King David, in the Bible, was not a perfect man. But he had a heart for God. He desired a relationship with God. And the Bible says he was a man after God's own Heart. He made his plans but when God changed those plans, he accepted it, realizing God knows best.<br /><br />There is nothing wrong with pursuing your dreams. Just remember you must be flexible: allowing for God to work His plan in you. That way, you won't be surprised, or shaken, when you discover your <span style="font-style: italic;">plans: subject to change . . . without notice!</span><br /><br /><br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474094682366369412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188426942765618.post-62643175680811123902010-02-25T05:21:00.001-08:002010-02-25T06:00:05.018-08:00I Finally Understand Why My Mother Threw the Monopoly Game Away<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxB_VI6Ql_cWHBFVBHyydohJTW7JhyphenhyphenKVQnLoB5NfCiWkiNWSXdHiSul9QvgKI307EtULrn7tOzH2kQGU_NbKqkz9fQ5EoDxgyG1J7WLZWyA7Wsv09-YmErEqKvp4D2UTnoJh7QydUKpdY/s1600-h/dramaqueen.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxB_VI6Ql_cWHBFVBHyydohJTW7JhyphenhyphenKVQnLoB5NfCiWkiNWSXdHiSul9QvgKI307EtULrn7tOzH2kQGU_NbKqkz9fQ5EoDxgyG1J7WLZWyA7Wsv09-YmErEqKvp4D2UTnoJh7QydUKpdY/s320/dramaqueen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442170812944063762" border="0" /></a>I finally understand why my Mother threw the Monopoly Game away! I totally didn't understand it at 13 but now, at 52, I finally understand! All these years I thought it was so unfair! I thought, there had to be a better way for her to get her point across! My favorite game! It was so valuable! How could she???<br /><br />I guess you want some background. I have an older brother: 3 years my senior. That would have made him about 16 at the time. Just imagine: a 16 year old boy with a 13 year old sister. A very strong willed 13 year old little sister! Capitalize "sibling rivalry"! We did get along on occasion but we had our "bouts"! I don't remember a whole lot about the situation in question, except that we were playing Monopoly and we were having some "disagreements". About what, I don't remember. I do remember lots of "disagreements", though. Onlookers might have thought we were "mildly violently dangerous". It's comical now but it wasn't then. I know. Those of you who know me now are rolling in the floor! (ROTFLOL!) I remember a few times when sharp pointed objects were "brandished" (but never used, thankfully). This particular time, whatever the disagreement was about, I just remember reaching over and grabbing my brother's nose and twisting! He ended up with a blister on the end of his nose! Quit laughing! I guess my mother had had all she could take! She took that game and threw it in the trash! Of all the indignities! How could she???<br /><br />They say that we pay for our "own raising" when we have kids of our own. I was mercifully spared the trials of sibling rivalry with my children because I only had one. I realize now there <span style="font-style: italic;">are</span> benefits to not having more than one child. But, I now have grandchildren! With all the glories and wonders that grandparenting holds, but also with all the added "benefits" of learning what it is like to have more than one child at a time! I have the privilege of caring for my two granddaughters: 5 and 3 year olds. Extremely strong willed little girls. Very different from each other but very much their own "persons"! The oldest, Rachel, has been dubbed "Drama Queen", a title which she proudly claims. We thought that the youngest, Jordan, was going to be the mild-mannered, sweet little pixie, but I think "urchin" may become a better description as time goes on! I love them to death! They are the joy of my life! But, as I told a friend the other day, I have to repent all the time because I get so mad at them! I'm trying to teach them good values: how to get along, how to control their emotions and reactions, how to find more creative ways to express their frustrations, how to be sweet and kind, how to be good little girls. I think that I should do this because I'm beginning to think that perhaps some of their "drama-ness" may have been inherited . . . . . from their Mamoo.<br /><br />Just this morning, the "drama queen" was voicing her frustrations (thankfully not towards her sister) and she acted like she was going to throw a half-way expensive toy simply because it didn't do what she wanted it to do, and I instinctively said, "If you throw that, I'm going to throw it away and you'll never see it again!" And it hit me: <span style="font-style: italic;">I finally understand why my mother threw the Monopoly Game away!</span><br /><br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474094682366369412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188426942765618.post-57086616492654860452010-02-23T07:59:00.000-08:002010-02-23T11:32:09.124-08:00His Way<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1N4-49rzYUOVIPff6G-vtsNNrctg87yDaIRMcFsEhsKVfyRq5jj_VzPpfrjl0hVBA9HsFzadZcSkB564yzsiYaWtXMJxZlw42ocJm9_Xv3IVjUMzkfJp6eND430TfahR6AeWrREGX72o/s1600-h/His+Way.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 244px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1N4-49rzYUOVIPff6G-vtsNNrctg87yDaIRMcFsEhsKVfyRq5jj_VzPpfrjl0hVBA9HsFzadZcSkB564yzsiYaWtXMJxZlw42ocJm9_Xv3IVjUMzkfJp6eND430TfahR6AeWrREGX72o/s320/His+Way.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441495224059751666" border="0" /></a><br />There are so many things that have happened in the last few days. Extremes of emotions, from one end of the spectrum to the other, have kept me on a virtual roller coaster ride mentally. I've had trouble focusing on a single clear thought to be able to write about, so I just haven't. Written, that is. They buried my friend on Saturday and I was privileged to sing and play according to her wishes. I was reminded by the minister that we didn't need to worry about living a life full of many years but, more importantly, we should attempt to live years full of life. Then Saturday evening was a time of fun and friendship as my fellow Red Hat Sisters and I celebrated a belated Valentine's with our hubbys. All weekend I battled a physical condition, of which I will spare you the details, that, because of the sheer length of the time I have suffered with it, has tended to cause me mental depression. And then Sunday morning I was reminded of how much God loves me and that He still answers prayer. Since then I have rested on that knowledge as I carry the burden of the sufferings of those that I love and care about. The second paragraph in my second letter (Christmas 1997) says this, "I've learned some things this year: A person can be happy, even in the midst of hard times, God does love us and He is mindful of us at all times and in every situation, and family and friends are two of the most precious possessions a person can have. Of course, I knew these things before, but not like I know them now." I actually could repeat that paragraph every year, especially that last sentence. Why would I, or anyone for that matter, give up that security for something temporal?<br /><br />The society we live in today is obsessed with the idea of being independent <span style="font-style: italic;">from</span> God. The song, "I Did It My Way", is typical of the prevailing attitude of the masses. They don't think they need God. They think they're self-sufficient. The other buzz word we hear a lot these days is "Change". We need change. And change is what we are getting! In every arena, change is coming so fast that it is scary. I'll grant you, some change is good. If we're going in the wrong direction, we need to change. But what is the measuring tool with which we can determine if change is needed or not? I present to you, my opinion is this: if MY way runs parallel to HIS way, then I don't need to change. And the vice versa is true. I've seen so much "stuff" that masquerades as good when, all along, it is My Way. I guess we could call it the "New Good". I can't imagine how we could think we could improve on the most perfect proven system ever created!<br /><br />I think one reason I have been feeling these extremes in emotion is that I have been working on myself for a while now, attempting to make myself better by examining my life to this point. I've taken a hard look at my past: my failures and my successes, my victories and defeats. Things I would change if I could do it over. Lessons I've learned and people and things that have influenced me. Risks taken, contributions made. Changes I need to make. I've looked at my "assets", both physical, mental, spiritual, tangible and intangible. I've considered what I would do if I had only 24 hours to live. I've looked at what I want my end to be. I've written my obituary. My epitaph. I've determined what are my core values. I've written a mission statement and a vision statement. I've interviewed myself and attempted to determine my strengths, weaknesses, obstacles and threats. Then I've interviewed others to get a picture of how they see me. I've tried to pick a few things that others see I need to work on to make them my project for the upcoming year. As you can imagine, the emotions evoked by all of this activity bring me to a particularly vulnerable state. There are certainly things in my life that I would like to change but then there are those things, core values, standards and beliefs that I wouldn't change for all the gold in the world. I see people making apparent "paradigm shifts" in areas that are "Landmark" in their importance. I don't understand how they can expect to get the same results with different actions.<br /><br />There may indeed be an easier way but, all I know is that I want MY way to be <span style="font-style: italic;">HIS way</span>.<br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474094682366369412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188426942765618.post-39203340113452780372010-02-17T13:24:00.000-08:002010-02-17T13:55:17.232-08:00Missing You<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicxDWg-dnJhZRp8EIpzUq9iP003NUgr2PCB0H0yuWF25a6ubcfsB4h4zA3-xxVXaIpHmOd-NpzD9mOvnngZPPV5mXNit8_mcUPptAeAo3flAKQtr2cuxQiKDJwL3AYKtEeh3PVugN43xQ/s1600-h/Black+rose.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 245px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicxDWg-dnJhZRp8EIpzUq9iP003NUgr2PCB0H0yuWF25a6ubcfsB4h4zA3-xxVXaIpHmOd-NpzD9mOvnngZPPV5mXNit8_mcUPptAeAo3flAKQtr2cuxQiKDJwL3AYKtEeh3PVugN43xQ/s320/Black+rose.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439327318406677042" border="0" /></a>I lost a dear friend today. She has been fighting the fight of her life - for her life - in a city far away from her extended family and host of friends. Just over a month ago, she didn't even know that she was really sick. And now she's gone. She knew immediately, however, that her time was short and she began making plans. She was calm and serene - at least that is how she appeared in her posts on the internet and personal messages to me. I'm sure it was the same to every one she communicated with. She was always a giver. It not only was her profession (social work), but, by nature, she was a nurturer. She was always concerned about others. But she wasn't afraid to receive. So many times, people who give to an extreme, don't know how to receive. It's hard for me to explain, but, perhaps her own words, will give you a clearer picture of how she drew on the strength of those that loved her: <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"in my fused world, on the left side of me is a small box, it sits just above my heart, and though it seems small, it never feels like the content ever changes. . . it is full of the prayers and love you have sent . . . when I need a prayer, I reach into the box and pull one out . . . it is very tiny, so I use my fingertips and . . . drop them onto my heart . . . this is where God has placed your prayers so I can find them . . . funny thing is that sometimes I can see your face. I love it! We cannot choose how we die, only how we live and I choose to live in Christ with the earthly help of each of you! Most tests today . . . love you all."</span><br /><br />I don't know if that touches you in the way that it touches me, but I hope that I can face death with such tenderness. I've seen my friend go through some very dark times and I've seen her fight her way out of that blackness. She's not fighting anymore.<br /><br />I'm <span style="font-style: italic;">missing you</span>, my friend.<br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474094682366369412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188426942765618.post-34914220852458230822010-02-16T13:57:00.000-08:002010-02-16T15:10:26.236-08:00Life is Butter Dreams<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3m5f7-Ll46cL6hMRkPRipx_LkfAN7fsycmrF-QxZCwu34sF5xRq0wjwQUwUQBVHIeywDfdm8whioOzMx4oaqpAF1RZnv7UgpZjR7hokUFOUDALDy8M8NqFBGkDLtvSmOaLJZaB_wAL4/s1600-h/9_sweet_dreams_angel_star.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 297px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3m5f7-Ll46cL6hMRkPRipx_LkfAN7fsycmrF-QxZCwu34sF5xRq0wjwQUwUQBVHIeywDfdm8whioOzMx4oaqpAF1RZnv7UgpZjR7hokUFOUDALDy8M8NqFBGkDLtvSmOaLJZaB_wAL4/s320/9_sweet_dreams_angel_star.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438965681977344690" border="0" /></a><br />There is no way that I could wait to get through 7 years of letters before I mentioned the most precious part of me: my grandchildren! I haven't even gotten to my 1997 letter and the first one was not born until 2004! All the letters in the world are not enough to contain my feelings for them or their antics and cuteness (and "orneryness" [it's in the dictionary]). I've wished so many times that I had kept a little journal with me to write down all the things they say, and maybe I'll do more of that with this venue!<br /><br />Those of you with children, - especially small children - or grandchildren, know how it is: there is always sound. In the background. All around you. And every once in a while a little bit of that sound registers as words to you and you pay attention: "What was that?" This happened the other day. We were sitting in my kitchen and in the background my oldest granddaughter was singing as she often does. Thankfully their lives' (my grandchildren's) are filled with music. Music is an integral part of my life as well as my children's lives. Rachel has a tendency, however, to substitute words. She gets all the syllables in there, and the melody, but sometimes she doesn't catch the words and so she just improvises. Her mother caught my attention and caused me to listen to her singing: "Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is butter dreams!" And over and over and over again. Every time it was the same. "Life is butter dreams!" Oh, to be a child again. That <span style="font-style: italic;">is</span> what their lives are! "Butter Dreams". What are butter dreams? Soft, smooth, problem-free, innocent, perfect lives. Lives that add flavor to everything they touch! This culture would try and destroy that but we must protect that with everything that is in our power. Children are our most precious responsibilities! Jesus blessed the children and said, "Suffer the little children to come unto Me and forbid them not: for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven." (Mark 10:14) And in Matthew the 18th chapter, he gives stern warnings to those who harm these little ones (and those of a child-like attitude). <br /><br />And so, sing on, little One! Live in that perfect world. Give us glimpses, every now and then, into that life of <span style="font-style: italic;">Butter Dreams</span>! We'll let you live there as long as you possibly can! Our love will protect you and the One who created you, who loves you so much more than we ever could dream of, will keep you in His love. And that's not a dream. It's for real!<br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474094682366369412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188426942765618.post-58554758020558274092010-02-12T07:57:00.000-08:002010-02-12T18:06:54.602-08:00My Sweetheart<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvRjGPxUiW2hqlKkRwfwNXbcMwEDTaw0vI1i9CSuPPOBpt71E5bDxLwsN8SelbMXVWzEJW_nRVxR4-cq95FMrOx3Nv8H9BrRBnQPC_5hIRfShMt44ENB6-Ecu84DAP-JDRISzcBb48_cA/s1600-h/sweetheart.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 292px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvRjGPxUiW2hqlKkRwfwNXbcMwEDTaw0vI1i9CSuPPOBpt71E5bDxLwsN8SelbMXVWzEJW_nRVxR4-cq95FMrOx3Nv8H9BrRBnQPC_5hIRfShMt44ENB6-Ecu84DAP-JDRISzcBb48_cA/s320/sweetheart.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437395710720230498" border="0" /></a>A friend of mine posted something on FaceBook that made me decide what I should write about today. She said,<br /><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}"><span class="UIStory_Message">"It is Valentine's. A time of love. Take time and let all your FB friends know how you met your sweetheart."</span></h3>Yes, Sunday is Valentine's Day. A day when we think about love. Some think more about who they love, and focus on doing romantic, or sweet things for the object of their love. Some think more about who they hope loves them, and spend their focus wondering what they are going to get. I think my friend has a good perspective. Focus on the moments where love has happened in your life. Treasure those memories and use them as a springboard to create new memories. After all, it's like someone else said:<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128);font-family:Arial;" > <span style="font-weight: 700;font-family:Arial;" >Life isn’t measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away. </span> <span style="font-family:Arial;">(<i>author unknown)</i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128);font-family:Arial;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"><i><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">So, where did</span></i><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> I meet my sweetheart? Some of my story will not be a surprise to many of you since you think you know me, but, I can guarantee it will be very surprising to many. I met him at a church service (no surprise). It was at my church. He was visiting with his Pastor. I was definitely not the only eligible girl in the room. And I was also definitely not the only girl in the room that felt like fainting! LOL! Wow! <span style="font-style: italic;"> Who is that</span>?! Here was this extremely good-looking young fellow, dressed in a classic '70's style, hair just right, with a smile that made you think the lights had been off before he smiled! And he was SINGLE! It was unbelievable! I was right up front on the piano bench and do you think he saw me? No, he did not! Some other 'thing' had caught his eye! I won't belabor this point because I don't want to embarrass him or her (the other 'thing'). But, suffice it to say, I was devastated. </span></span></span></span>To make a long story short, however, he did finally come to his senses. And he did notice me. (Of course, I did my share of praying. . . LOL!)</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">What is going to be surprising to you is that I never dated my husband. Oh, I was with him all the time. But he was at my home (where my divorced, handicapped mother was all the time) or we were at church or with other young people. I'll be honest, it may have been different if we had lived in another "culture" than what we were surrounded by. But, we did have honest, sincere desires to be virtuous and to save that special part of our relationship for the sanctity of marriage. But . . . . we weren't engaged long! And, apparently, it worked. We will celebrate 31 years this May. </span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">The journey has been . . . interesting, to say the least. But, I have to say, he's my best friend. He's been my refuge when I felt ravaged and abused by this world. He's my rock when everything else seems so shaky. And, as I've told him before, when he believes in me, I know I can accomplish anything I attempt.</p><p class="MsoNormal">I'm thankful for <span style="font-style: italic;">my Sweetheart</span>!<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128);font-family:Arial;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span></span></span></p><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474094682366369412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188426942765618.post-12220813581801032342010-02-10T14:03:00.000-08:002010-02-10T14:35:11.079-08:00Birthdays<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFhAKnxgEeEyJPnDlNAJ16ws7ZEPyGRdV-CS_gQpl_fcisdICzBwYUDRIHGjqFyg4J_wWWL5LStigSfPYpcN14PMAWPmbfj1FyEN8FH06u6PvCHNUS_jtz-Yf65p3SEmQN5gBWTGpe1C4/s1600-h/HappyBirthday.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 287px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFhAKnxgEeEyJPnDlNAJ16ws7ZEPyGRdV-CS_gQpl_fcisdICzBwYUDRIHGjqFyg4J_wWWL5LStigSfPYpcN14PMAWPmbfj1FyEN8FH06u6PvCHNUS_jtz-Yf65p3SEmQN5gBWTGpe1C4/s320/HappyBirthday.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436739165381062498" border="0" /></a><br />No story about my journey would be complete without speaking of birthdays. I'm sure I'll tell about certain birthdays and the events surrounding them as I go along but yesterday was my forty-first birthday. You think I'm older than that? Actually yesterday was my Spiritual Birthday. Now, that terminology may be foreign to some of you, but to most, you know exactly what I mean. <br /><br />I think we should celebrate our "second" birthday even more than we do our first. When I was born into this world physically, I didn't have a choice about it. No choice about who my parents were. No choice about what nationality or race. No choice about my gender. But my second birth was all about choices. I had to decide how I wanted to live my life. I had to decide WHO I wanted to live for: myself or my Maker. I had to decide what I wanted my life to represent. At the ripe old age of eleven, I'm sure that I didn't consciously think about those things individually. I just knew that something and Someone was tugging at my heart. I knew I loved Him and wanted Him to be with me forever. I knew I needed a Saviour!<br /><br />I'm so thankful that I made that decision at a young age. It's so hard, many times, for adults, who are "set in their ways" to surrender their will to another Power. I'm a very strong-willed person, and, if I had waited, I'm afraid it would have been a much harder decision. That's why it is so important that we teach children, at the earliest age possible, the right way to go: the truth. And the most effective way of teaching is by example. Children learn what they live.<br /><br />I don't remember anything about my physical birth. But I remember everything about my Spiritual Birth! I remember my thoughts, my feelings, my tears, even the dress I was wearing. I remember the place (I even know the street address), the time . . . . (you know the song). Those memories are forever etched into my mind. I'll never forget it.<br /><br />The journey that began on February 9, 1969 has been one full of ups and downs, joys and sorrows, and victories and trials (tests), but never have I wanted to go back and undo it. I'll have to admit that I've actually had times physically that I would rather to have not been born but never have I wished I had never been born again. In fact, it is that foundation that makes this physical life more secure and more worth living.<br /><br />If you have not experienced what I'm talking about, I invite you to try it out! You'll love it!<br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474094682366369412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188426942765618.post-32332703406014336202010-02-08T10:35:00.000-08:002010-02-08T12:17:28.294-08:00Lost and FoundGoing to take a little sidebar today . . .<br /><br />Do you remember the parable in the Bible that Jesus taught about the woman and her lost piece of silver? It's found in Luke the 15th chapter. Jesus was being criticized for fraternizing with sinners. He gave the example of the woman having 10 pieces of silver and losing one of them. He said she would light a candle and sweep her house, seeking diligently until she found that one lost coin. And . . . when she found it, she called her friends and neighbors together for a party to help her celebrate her find! It was lost but now it's found! Jesus went on to say that the Kingdom of Heaven is like that, in that "there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."<br /><br />That story was brought home to me this past weekend. Not everything I own is worth a whole lot. And the worth of a possession is not always in its monetary value. (The woman in Jesus' example had 9 other pieces of silver, after all.) What something represents adds much more value than simply dollars and cents. Thus, pictures lost in a fire are, many times, the most devastating of all losses. <br /><br />I lost something over the weekend that is extremely valuable to me . . . my wedding band. More than the considerable monetary value, my distress was caused by what it means to me. It's irreplaceable. Even if I had the money to replace the object, I wouldn't be able to replace the spirit of it, if you please. When my husband and I were first married, we couldn't afford some of the bare necessities, much less a ring. That fact, along with a few other extenuating circumstances of a totally different nature, determined that our ceremony did not include rings. On our 15th Wedding Anniversary, however, we renewed our vows. Like most married couples, we had had our ups and downs and ins and outs and had survived with renewed purpose to "make this thing work". I even wrote a letter to Focus on the Family about the event and what it represented. It was then that my husband gave me the wedding band that I wear today. It's beautiful. It is in the Anniversary style, yellow gold, with 11 channel set diamonds. Not as expensive as some, but certainly expensive by our standards. My cousin performed the ceremony, and he brought out a different meaning about the wedding ring than I had ever heard. Of course, we know that it represents the token of a covenant - which is what a marriage should be. Not a contract, but a covenant. Basically what he brought out was that, as we age, we lose physical beauty as well as ability, but when my husband sees that ring on my finger, it reminds him of his awesome responsibility to love and protect the bearer. It reminds him of beauty past - even when I have morning breath and "over-night hair" (LOL!). It reminds him that I am still the person whom he married in the beginning. It reminds him of why he married me. I guess you could say, it's my leverage!<br /><br />So, you can imagine how I felt when I looked down at my hand during Sunday School while my husband was reading aloud in class participation! If anyone was looking, I'm sure I looked like I had seen a ghost! I kept myself from crying and I maintained my composure until he was finished reading and making his comments and then I reached over and quietly told him, "I've lost my ring." He immediately assured me, "We'll find it." And he got up and left. He searched the house: he said he didn't clean house like the woman in Jesus' story but he said he looked everywhere he could think I might have left it. He returned empty handed. After service, I asked him if he had checked our friends' car as I believed I had removed it to apply hand lotion while in their car going to eat with them. He went and checked. No ring. Finally, as a last resort, I asked him if he would take me to the restaurant, where we had gone, to look in the parking lot. I had called the restaurant and asked if anyone had turned in a ring to lost and found but to no avail. <br /><br />My story does have a happy ending, thankfully! As we drove into the parking lot, I remembered exactly where we parked. I knew that if the ring had been in my lap as I got out of the car probably which direction it would've rolled. There was a car parked in the space next to where we had been. I told him, if it was in the parking lot it would be under that car. He said, "I guess you want me to get down and look . . ." "yes, unless you want to wait until they come out to leave." The car was very low to the ground and he basically had to lay down to see underneath it. "There it is!" Unbelievable! Right in the middle where it would not be run over and scratched up! Right in the middle so that no one walking by would see it! Our friend said, "You're lucky". I said, "I'm blessed"!<br /><br />And so I know how the woman felt. I called my friends (although we didn't have a party, but we did rejoice!) And it also brings home the purpose of Jesus' story and how it applies in my life. I once was lost. But now I'm found! I know God values me so much more than a mere object of possession! He loves me. And He loves you.<br /><br />Don't ever forget that!<br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474094682366369412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188426942765618.post-63507175342238995732010-02-05T09:14:00.000-08:002010-02-05T13:08:16.152-08:00Small Towns<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgy3Xbxj2W-MozmirJrH404-iZG6Gw-dM75hssfJJRcL6xwJP57M3GLajh49Ix29-ahpK7jQa-Vy_LijnMiORnDQKS_WxEn-ybWIWpPaYHbYByoAySpCW2SVn59HVs4IQTgKLEyKXftz8/s1600-h/townsquare.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 127px; height: 80px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgy3Xbxj2W-MozmirJrH404-iZG6Gw-dM75hssfJJRcL6xwJP57M3GLajh49Ix29-ahpK7jQa-Vy_LijnMiORnDQKS_WxEn-ybWIWpPaYHbYByoAySpCW2SVn59HVs4IQTgKLEyKXftz8/s320/townsquare.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434809606111918770" border="0" /></a>I've lived in some fairly large cities in my life, but I much prefer a small town. I quote from my first letter (with the exception of the name of the town), "(Town) is a nice small town, where the people are real, the streets are clean, and the nights are peaceful. We have made many friends already and feel that, after only a mere seven months, we are truly a part of the community. Our neighbors have been neighbors, and that is saying a lot. One neighbor greeted us on the second day we were here with a welcome and a strawberry cake. We have fallen in love with the people in our church and feel that the feeling is mutual." <br /><br />There are places in the world where one might close their eyes and imagine they've gone back in time. Places where crime is very minimal and usually petty. Places where you can leave your doors unlocked. Places where everybody knows everybody (that can be good and it can be bad!) I realize these places are vanishing quickly as perpetrators of those non-existent crimes from the big cities discover this untapped source of "gullibleness" (if that is a word). But we enjoy them while we can.<br /><br />When we moved to this small Mississippi town, we were moving from a semi-unpleasant larger city (don't want to offend anyone but their major industry was a very smelly one), and before that, we lived, for many years, in a town whose major industry was tourism. You would think that outsiders would instantly feel like insiders in a tourism town: but not so. Even though we lived there for almost 20 years, we never felt like we were a part of the community. Hard to explain or understand. I think there were a lot of undercurrents, maybe even on a spiritual level, that struggled for power. That's why it was so refreshing to come to a place I described as having "real people", "clean streets" and "peaceful nights." We have since moved to another small town, also in Mississippi, where we still live. What is so interesting to me is that, in spite of the short year and a half that we lived in that first Mississippi town, we are remembered by more of those acquaintances from that town than from the previous one where we lived for so many years. We do, however, have some very dear friends that still live in that town, as well as family, which will always tie us to it to a certain extent.<br /><br />I have voiced a fear in the recent past that small town America is in danger of extinction because of technology, the environment with all of the talk of saving it by changing transportation modes, and a number of other contributing factors. I guess it could go the other way because of computers and the internet: people working from home, purchasing everything from clothing, to cars, to groceries online. That option has my vote! Let's get back to our roots. Plant a garden! Get to know your neighbors! Get a horse! (LOL!) Don't get a motorcycle . . . . (another story)!<br /><br />Cheers for <span style="font-style: italic;">small towns</span>!<br /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Leslie/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Leslie/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.jpg" alt="" /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474094682366369412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188426942765618.post-49082478953338411132010-02-03T14:04:00.000-08:002010-02-05T13:26:44.243-08:00FriendsChristmas 1996. It just seems like yesterday, but a whole lot can happen in 13 years! This is really weird: going back and re-reading my letters, knowing all that has happened since then. It's like time travel. It's like looking at pictures from the '70's and thinking, "I can't believe I wore my hair that way!" I think, "I should have written it this way. . . or that way", but it was who I was at the time. And we're talking about a journey. And about <span style="font-style: italic;">becoming</span>.<br /><br />Each year, my letters seem to take on a life of their own and develop a theme all by themselves. These days, I do try to figure out what that theme should be, but in the beginning, it was not quite so organized. The theme of my current letters revolves around the life lessons I've learned from my experiences during the year. Thankfully, as I grow older, I seem to learn more lessons, more quickly. That being the case, my posts on here will be numerous from a single letter. And the memories that are evoked by what I read . . . and the things I forgot at the time . . . and the things I didn't have room to say.<br /><br />I would have to say that the theme for that first letter was <span style="font-style: italic;">Friends</span>: old friends, new friends, temporary friends, friends in need and friends in deed. Now, I've been blessed with many friends. In fact, because I have friends, I consider myself successful, fulfilled, safe and extremely wealthy. I have friends that I know would come close to laying down their lives for me. I met one of those really good ones in my first letter. She's my best bud and I believe she'd take a bullet for me. Is that not riches?!<br /><br />There are times in our lives, though, when we come across people who befriend us when there is no possible way for them to ever reap a reward for it - other than in the life to come. I tell about such people in that first letter. Shortly before we moved to Mississippi, I made a trip with my mother to see my brother and his family and my Dad and step-mother. My hubby had to work so he stayed behind at home. We began our trip home on a Sunday in the morning. We were traveling in the middle of nowhere in Arkansas when "the thing that I feared the most" happened to us. We broke down! In the middle of no where! Very few houses in sight. I can't remember how many people were with us, but it was more than just mother and I. We had several children with us, as I recall.<br /><br />Who wants to see a bunch of strangers standing on their doorstep on a beautiful Sunday morning just in time to interrupt their day?<br />Not me.<br />I met some true-to-life good Samaritans that Sunday morning. This precious, older couple, took us in, fed us, and let us stay in their home <span style="font-style: italic;">all day long</span>! First of all, I didn't have a cell phone and when I tried to phone my husband from their phone, he was at Church and no one would answer the phone! Why do Churches have phones if no one is going to answer them? For goodness sakes, it could be an emergency! It was an emergency! I'm stuck in the middle of nowhere! To make a long story short, it was evening when he arrived to rescue us. Those people were angels, as far as I'm concerned. They wouldn't take anything for their trouble and were the most gracious of hosts to these strangers. We could have been criminals as far as they knew but if that thought ever crossed their mind, we never knew it.<br />That's friends in deed.<br />And I wouldn't even remember their names if I didn't have it written down.<br /><br />I know that I have written many times, over the years, about my friends, so you'll hear about them as well. I treasure them. I like the words of Emily Dickinson, "My friends are my estate. Forgive me then the avarice to hoard them. They tell me those who were poor early have different views of gold. I don't know how that is. God is not so wary as we, else He would give us no friends, lest we forget Him." Our friends help shape who we are, who we become.<br /><br />I thank God for the blessing of <span style="font-style: italic;">Friends</span>.<br /><br /><br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474094682366369412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188426942765618.post-90242417503448056262010-02-01T15:01:00.000-08:002010-02-01T17:16:53.002-08:00Yes, I'm Going To Do It.Yes, I'm going to do it. I'm going to write. I've always wanted to do it. I already do it in bits and pieces: a paper here, a note there, a post here, a tweet there, a letter once a year to all my friends. Thirteen years ago, after moving to another world (Mississippi), leaving all the people I knew and loved and coming to a place where I didn't know anybody, I vowed that I wouldn't let them forget me. At least once a year I'd bring them up to date on me. Of course, "me" includes "mine": my immediate family that made this move to "outer Mongolia" with me. We moved on June 1, 1996, and the very following Christmas, the "journey" began. I kept a box and stuck bits and pieces of things in it to help me remember what happened; and then, once a year, I'd get it out and write my letter. As the years progressed, I began to have a desire to put my letters into book form. I had limited encouragement from some of my "readers", so I thought it might make it. It seems that every year a different person would be touched in a special way and they'd find a way to let me know. It has never been the same person. Never. That fact has always been my motivation to stay the course. I love doing it, but I must admit, there have been times when I really would have just rather foregone that one time. I always have self doubts and think, "This one is just not good enough." But amazingly, somebody appreciated it. Wow!<br /><br />For the last several years, I would think that I'm going to finally compile my book, but life always gets in the way, and the year passes, and no book. I saw the movie "Julie & Julia" this year, and it piqued my interest in this form of communication: blogging. I didn't, however, connect that idea with the idea of my book until just recently. I have endeavored to begin creating an online presence over the past year and have come to the knowledge that blogging is a good way to further that cause. You must have something to write about. . . . and then I realized: I have 13 years of stuff to write about already! I always tried to make my letters as short as possible because of my love/hate relationship with the good ole' U.S. Postal Service, and even then they were five and six pages long. But they could've been a lot longer! And the nice thing about blogs is that they are open ended. A book has an ending.<br /><br />And then, the theme. What is the point? What is the common thread that ties all my letters together? It hit me about a year ago. They're about <span style="font-style: italic;">becoming</span>. Life really does have meaning. Even in the little, ordinary, sometimes dreary details. It's all a process. And the verses in Jeremiah 29 came to me (vs 11-14): "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive." No, I don't think Mississippi is captivity! (Is it apropo to say "LOL" in blogging?) It's all about <span style="font-style: italic;">His Plan For Me</span>. It <span style="font-style: italic;">is</span> a journey, and I love it!<br /><br />And so, this is the beginning. But it's really more like in the middle because I'm going to go back just like I would've done in a book and start at the real beginning. I'll probably take side roads now and then and certainly will "flesh out" my original letters. I won't use real names (to protect the innocent), and I more than likely won't include every mundane detail (this one got married, this one graduated, etc., etc.), but I will include the spirit of those details. Current events will most definitely be interspersed here and there. And eventually, I will pass the current letter by, and everything after that will be my new letters. Hopefully, it will be something that you will enjoy. I know I'm going to enjoy doing it!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474094682366369412noreply@blogger.com0