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Tuesday, October 30, 2012

It's only a tire!

If there is anything that I've learned its that things never really go as planned!  I once read that if you want to make God laugh just tell him your plans!  :)  It's so true!     So, I didn't get to see the beautiful leaves that I planned on seeing Saturday, but the the ones I did see were BEAUTIFUL!   The day was filled with sweet memories for me to treasure.  ~ My new favorite country artist is Jamey Johnson (who knew?).  Fred Flintstone lives in Tennessee!  WalMart can be entertaining for 2 1/2 hours.  Potato pizza is actually very good!  And most importantly - There is a downstairs level to The Knife Store that I never knew existed!


Yeah, sometimes there are 'curbs' that pop up out of nowhere and seem to throw us off of our planned route.  We have a choice - we can either get mad and be miserable, or we can fix the tire and smile knowing that we are safe!   After all, it's only a tire, right? ;)  
Wednesday, October 24, 2012

This is what it's all about. . . making a difference for a child!

 
 
I can't watch this without crying!  You have to watch the entire video to understand.  This is for you, D! <3 
Monday, October 22, 2012

My Pond

 
 


My mother has a new camera and is having way to much fun using it! ;)  I've been getting emails of beautiful pictures the past few days. Friday I received an e-mail with the subject "Your Pond".  To say that my mother knows me all to well is an understatement.  She knows that this pond is where I go when I need time alone - time to pray or just sit and think things out. 

On the day of the tornado, after I had made sure that Mom and Kellye were taken care of and with people I trusted at the time, I made my way to the pond.  I hadn't even had time to cry yet - I was taking care of them and trying to be strong.  There is so much of that day and the following days that are a blurr to me, but I distinctly remember that when I came back into the house after being at the pond momma told me that some of our friends were panicking because they couldn't find me.  She whispered to me that she knew where I had been - my pond!

This is my favorite place! 




Friday, October 19, 2012

DO NOT FEAR

 
 



Isaiah 41: 9-10, 13
 
9 ~ I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’;
I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
10 ~  So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
 
13 ~ For I am YHWH your God
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.
 
 
This is  my new favorite scripture!  I've made time to read it over and over this week - even sneaking to my car during my planning period. ;)  What a precious reminder that I am his servant and that he is my God.  Why should I fear?
 
 
 
 
Thursday, October 18, 2012

Josh's Bridge

 
 
 
 
 
Josh was working on this bridge just before we lost him.  His friends decided to get together and finish it in his honor shortly after his death.  There is a small memorial for him at one end and a time capsule is buried with things that his buddies wanted to keep with his memory.  Isn't it beautiful?  Josh would love it - I know we do!
Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Homemade BBQ

I decided to make some homemade BBQ this week.  Every time I make this meal  I think of my mother making it so often and telling me (almost every time) that she learned how to make it from Sis. Esther Poole.  It's one of those meals that I LOVE to cook! It's super easy to make and OH SO GOOD!!! 

I am learning, with age, to treasure these moments of sweet memories.  There are so many people in my life that are examples of standing strong - Sis. Esther is one of them.  It makes my heart smile that I have a special recipe that is hers. 





Sunday, October 14, 2012

Just when I think I need to move. . .

Ok - I had a brief moment this weekend that I seriously considered selling my house.  I hate that I can't take care of everything on my own and that my sweet Daddy has to help me with so much.  Just last week he was at my house at least twice working on different things!  I LOVE my house and really don't want to move, but I sometimes feel like I'm a burden on my family (and friends at times) and I don't love that feeling! I even looked at a place Friday, but then ~  this is what I saw on the drive home this afternoon. . .









Yeah, I'm not moving! :)  

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

This is my "good"!


Romans 8:28 ~ And we know that all things work together for the good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.

Sometimes it's hard to find the good.  But . . .  

This is my good.  I love you, Ash!  











Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Why blog?

I realize that some of you who are seeing so many blog entries may wonder why in the world I blog.  I've always been a "journaling" kind of girl.  As a teenager I kept a journal that I shared with my mother.  I would write in it at night and leave it on my bed in the mornings for her to read.  She would occasionaly leave me messages back and I loved it.  I still have many of those journals and I hope to pass them on someday.  I'm not so sure that Andy will treasure them, but maybe Gracie Beth or Little Bit will one day. 

Back to the blog. . .

I thought that keeping a blog would force me to remember.  Okay - here is the deal.  When Andy's dad and I divorced I prayed to forget.  Forget?   You see, my heart was broken and I wanted to forget all of the memories we had made together because then I might not hurt so bad.  But, when we lost Josh, I BEGGED God to help me remember EVERYTHING!  I realized that all I had left  were my memories.  I was angry at myself for wanting to forget things and quickly realized that if I wanted to remember (the good and the bad)  I needed to start keeping a better record.  It took a long time for me to let go of some bitterness and reclaim the memories that I so desperatly wanted to forget.  So, about a two years ago, I began this blog. 

I am not the best writer in the world.  In fact, I would say that I'm not a good writer at all.  But, these are my memories - my story.   Life isn't always picture perfect and I'm not attempting to protray that it is.  But yes, WE ARE BLESSED, and I hope to capture it all in this blog.  I write about Josh when I think of different memories. . . some sad, some funny.  I  write about all of the amazing things that Andy does.  I write about my parents and how special they are.  I write about the everyday kinds of things and the not so everyday kinds of things.
I write to remember! 

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Looks like I've been upgraded!

It seems just like yesterday I was bringing Andyman home from the hospital.  (He was the prettiest baby in the world - don't try to argue the point, you will not win!) ;)  It's hard to believe that he is 12 years old!  Friday night he wanted me to take him and some of his buddies roller skating.  I do believe it was Gracie Beth's idea!!  At any rate, I loaded up my car and meet others there.  The kids had a big time!

Now, those of you who know me well know that there was NO WAY I was going to leave the skating rink!  Thank goodness Tammy Primm and Bubba stayed with me.  We sat in the back and stayed out of the way, but you better believe that we were watching things closely.  Well, Bubba was there - need I say more? ;)

I sent this picture to my mom while I was still sitting at the rink.  Her reply?  "Looks like you've been upgraded to middle school!  I remember those days well!  Love, Mom"




Tuesday, October 2, 2012

I am not skilled to understand. . .

"I am not skilled to understand, what God has willed, what God has planned. . . "

I have had this song on my mind all day.  As I was getting ready for work this morning, it kept rolling over and over in my mind. 

Life is never what we think it's going to be. . .just when we think we have things all figured out - BAMM!  I realize that change is inevitable.  I realize that we grow and learn from different trials and experiences.  What I'm learning along the way is to NOT guestion God's will.  During one of the hardest trials of my life I was given this scripture -


Ecclesiastes 7:10
Do not say, "Why were the old days better than these?" For it is not wise to ask such questions.

I've thought back to this at different times since then and remind myself that all things happen for a reason - God's reasons!

But, as I look into the future I find myself worrying about things.  Isn't that silly - worrying about what God has planned?  Maybe one day it will sink into this hard head  that it is not mine to understand.  I need to trust that HIS will is ALWAYS perfect! 


So, thinking on this today, I say Amen to whatever it is that God has planned.