Top Ten Favorite Things From the Week

10) "Shower"-ing my future daughter-in-law with gifts as she gets ready to marry my son next month!

 9) Singing "Jesus is the Living Stone" in church on Sunday.

 8)  Laughing with some great kids as they sang in their VBS musical Sunday night.

 7)  Sharing an Arby's roast beef sandwich and tea with my granddaughter.

 6)  Smooth work week.

 5)  The boss was in a good mood.

 4) Choir rehearsal!

 3)  Red/white/blue skirt from Kohl's

 2) My baby grandson waved at me!

 1)  I finally gave a difficult situation to the Lord...should have done it a long time ago! He is my Helper.

Jekyll

Leigh and I waited at the curb at the church with our suitcases, snacks, and beach chairs on Thursday morning.  Cheryl had to get the car washed before we could leave for our little girls' getaway.  She was so excited!  We had a nice scenic drive through small towns on our way to Jekyll Island...stopped in Perry for lunch and then hit three Dollar Generals to try and find Cheryl a beach chair. No luck!

We arrived at the Hampton Inn...quite a lovely place with a beautiful boardwalk bridge to the ocean.  A couple of funny things happened at check-in.  First, we noticed a sign that said "Senior Adult Choir Festival".  Oh no!! We can't escape our jobs evidently...we enjoy that part of our job though!  Anyway, we took a pic of that sign and emailed it to our boss. He says we can look into that festival for next spring. We say we'll be glad to go along and help out! Ha!  Secondly, as we checked in, the young lady at the desk said, "Welcome to the Hampton Inn...have you ever seen a Hampton Inn with a bar in the lobby? Well, we have one here!"  Little did she know she was talking to tee-totaling Baptists!  She stressed this "wonderful" bar several times as if she figured three ladies on their own would love getting smashed while away from their families.

We finally made it down to the beach where Cheryl seemed to float on air...so happy to be there (Have you figured out yet that Cheryl hasn't been to the beach in years?)  We loved watching her.  The beach was gorgeous...clean brown sand and the water was tranquil like a lake.  There were jellyfish everywhere on the beach, however, so we had to be careful as we walked.  Later we went to St. Simon's Island and ate at Barbara Jean's....I had pork chops, ambrosia, and squash casserole.  Yummy!

The second day (after a 4:45 a.m text message to me and a 5:00 a.m accidental alarm left on by Cheryl...UGH) we set up our umbrella and chairs on the beach and just lounged, rested, and talked for 4-5 hours.  (Yes, we used lots of sunscreen).  We went on to the pool and hot tub after that and then cleaned up for another dinner out.  This time it was Crabdaddy's on St. Simon's.  I had blackened chicken and cheese grits.  Umhmmm!  We shopped a bit and then dropped exhausted in the bed.

The third day we shopped some more, went on the beach and sat for an hour as we watched a huge thunderstorm approach. It came slowly but when it caught us it was obvious we were in for the afternoon.  That evening we visited a restaurant named Bennie's Red Barn. I had "barnyard pimp", the waiter's name for fried chicken.  I had an interesting experience while there. I needed the restroom so I followed the sign for it.  I saw the Mens door and then walked around to the other side and saw the Ladies door.  I started to open that door and, lo and behold, there was a man standing there in a little outhouse type bathroom. OOPS! I realized both doors led into one toilet area. Wow! I just laughed and walked away. I don't think he saw me. Hope not!

Sunday morning came too quickly and we had to pack up and leave. I went out with Cheryl at 6 a.m. to see the sunrise. We took pictures of the progression as it rose over the water. The water looked silvery and the sun and sky were a peachy yellow. It was gorgeous! So worth getting up for.

We missed our church and choir and as we drove down the road we put in a cd and sang the choir anthem at the time we'd have normally been in the choir loft at church! HA.  I know, we're hopeless!  We had a safe trip back, still love each other after all those hours together, and plan to do it again next year.  I seriously wondered how things would turn out...there is quite a difference in working with folks and then going off and spending 24 hour days with them.  I did learn several things...Cheryl never sleeps (she catnaps) and Leigh is not a morning person!  Okay, no big deal on either of those revelations! 

Woohoo!! Off to the beach!

A beautiful boardwalk to the beach! Jekyll is all sand dunes and wild vegetation.

My friends are going to get me for putting this one up...it was very windy the whole time we were there.

Los Tres Chiflados  (the Three Stooges as we are often called)

The beach was obviously not crowded!

On St. Simon's at the King and Prince Hotel

"HELLO LADIES!!!" (Ha)

Ahh...peace...

UH oh....Thunderstorm approaching!

10 year old flip flops! I will NOT throw these away...too many fun times in them!

The lovely pool at the Hampton Inn

6:00 am on Sunday morning

Wow!

God's beautiful creation!

Perfect way to end the trip!

Hello, Mr. Roly-Poly!

I count among my many blessings the distractions that my grandchildren provide after a very hard, busy week at work.  Madison and I went on the hunt for roly-poly bugs yesterday.  She is quite fascinated with them after I found one a week ago and showed her how they roll up.  Yesterday, she found one under a tree as we looked through the dirt and grass.  She said "Hello, Mr. Roly-Poly!" and was ready to make a pet of the poor thing.  We put it in a dish with grass and dirt so she could study it.  I'm afraid she worried it to death literally.  It was moving slowly last time I saw it.

Maddie says "cheese" as she poses with her "pet".

Mr. Roly-Poly is up by the flower.

Such fun to spend time with a 2 year old...puts things in perspective!

"Hi, Mr. Roly-Poly...no sleep...you play!"

"Me hold him...no...Ganmommy hold him"....she was a bit timid...

Every Road

Every Road (by Dave Clark)

 Lord, I give You every road

Guide my steps and take control

Til this journey leads me home

Lord, I give You every road.

Lord, I give You all my past

Finally holding nothing back

Cleanse me, make me free at last

Lord, I give You all my past.

Lord, I give You every storm

When my spirit's weak and worn

Give me grace to trust You more

Lord, I give You every storm.

Lord, I give You all I am

All my dreams and all my plans

Now I place them in Your hands

Lord, I give You all I am

Til this journey leads me home

                                     Lord, I give You every road.

Creative Essay (another one for my teaching certificate)

Black Balloons

In my kitchen drawer I found a little cake decoration – five plastic black balloons on a stick. I've kept it for three years. Must be the thought of sharing it with someone else, to put it on their birthday cake. This unattractive decoration was used on my own 50^th birthday cake.

I remember driving to work that morning and repeating to myself: “I am 50! I'm 50 years old! How can I be 50?” I then called my parents and asked them the same question. They replied that they felt the shock even more. After all, I am their first-born. How could they be parents of a 50-year-old woman?

That workday was full of surprises and jokes made by my coworkers. I walked into an office full of more black balloons, so many that I could hardly walk through them. (In fact, I tripped on one and fell. Now that was icing on the birthday cake!) There was a wheelchair, a cane, Geritol, Exlax, and various hot flash remedies. It was all in good fun and I enjoyed myself. In fact, I felt somewhat “freed up” that I'd made this wonderful milestone. I was very thankful that the Lord had given me 50 years of good life, of blessed life.

But those black balloons were just the beginning of my struggle to discover the answer to this question: Now what? I've raised my children and I'm in a job I love but will I continue to just coast through life in an oblivious haze? These last few years have been re-examining years.

The real shock to my system was born in March, 2009. She was beautiful with flaming red hair. My first grandchild. Then a second tremor, a blond and blue-eyed baby boy, was born 18 months later. Now I am known not only as John's wife,  my parents' daughter, or Joe's assistant, but Maddie and Landon's grandmother. How could I be the grandmother of two? I'm only 53. I feel too young.

I am overwhelmed by God's gifts to me in these two happy and loving babies. Every so often I struggle some against my roles. I'm a wife, mother, sister, daughter. I'm now a mother-in-law and a grandmother. I am amazingly blessed. I know God understands my very contrary state of mind these days. He is teaching me so much through it.

I would never want to go back to age twenty, thirty, or even forty. I am at a peaceful place in my life and marriage for the most part. Here in my fifties, I love my routine, my rut. I like to sleep in my own bed. I don't want to rock the boat. Yet, I become restless at times and ready to rebel.* But, in order to continue to grow in awareness of my purpose here on earth, I must be willing to take risks, to travel, to do something as simple as going on a lunch “date” with my husband on a moment's whim. I have to be willing to drop what I'm doing to play with the babies. Those babies will be grown very soon.

One of my favorite Bible passages sums it all up for me: Psalm 16:2, 5-6, 11

2 I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.”

5 LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.

6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.

11 You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.

*Note to reader: Women in their fifties can be unpredictable. A mentor of mine once told me that was the only time in her life that she honestly thought she was going crazy. I know what she means now!

Huey, Dewey, & Louie

Huey, Dewey, and Louie

I think it's about time I write about my "partners in crime".  These two ladies pictured with me are two of the several reasons that I LOVE my job!  We are seriously like family.  We love to hang out, we get on each others' nerves, we protect each other, and we laugh most of each day. (When we're not working diligently, of course!) Our boss nicknamed us Huey, Dewey, and Louie a long time ago.  I don't know why...those are some cartoon ducks I think.

On the left is Cheryl.  The red lipstick, the hair (no further words needed), the smiles and laughter and love she brings to others. That's Cheryl.  She's also a riot!  The woman can take a normal, routine event or story and turn it into a stand-up comedy act.  She is also excellent at her job and tends to be OCD on the details. But that's what makes her good!  She and Leigh run the TV (cds & dvds) ministry mailouts.  She's such a soft touch that, occasionally, when little old men or sweet little ladies say that they really can't afford that DVD but, Oh how they loved the message by our pastor, and OH how they know someone who needs that message, then somehow or another that DVD gets to those sweet little 'ol folks. (Yeah, she pays for it herself).  Besides working hard, Cheryl is also known for being able to fall asleep anywhere, anytime.  I have actually seen her fall asleep standing up!

Leigh (on the right) has beautiful eyes and with those eyes are amazing ears for details. She knows everyone who ever belonged to our church, their family history, their extended family. She remembers events, small and large, and the details of those.  She is the one we depend on for overseeing the decorating of the Worship Center for all seasonal events. Leigh knows when things look exactly right or when the smallest little tweak needs to be made in a Christmas bow, a banner, a Christmas tree, 4th of July bunting, etc.  She is devoted to her family and to her church.  She and her husband can be depended on to do anything that's needed for sick members or bereaved families even with their own busy schedules with their children. They are a very caring family.  She has quite the wit and can tell some hilarious stories. The funniest things always seem to happen to her and her family. They also have had a crazy succession of dogs named after UGA football players.

Cheryl and Leigh keep me entertained as I sit at my desk.  I'm not a jumpy person but those two can scream with the best when our co-workers come up behind them quietly in the dark halls of our basement offices. I've seen piles of music fly up in the air as they were startled by certain folk in our office (who shall remain nameless here).  Our fellowship is sweet within the whole music team.  What one lacks the other has as a strength and vice versa.  We complement each other well in our talents, gifts, and personalities and we appreciate our boss who knows how to allow us to do just that!

This is a job that I feel so blessed to have. My absolute favorite.   I don't dread Monday mornings...I look forward to a new week, EVERY week.  We are privileged to be able to work for the wonderful people in our choir, orchestra, and congregation and with our gifted pastor and minister of music. It is very cool to be able to see how the worship services come about from behind the scenes not to mention the big Christmas presentations, Good Friday and Easter worship services and annual patriotic celebrations.

I love my job!  Bless you, girls!

Fun at staff meeting? YES! Staff meeting!

They Called It a Near Miss... (another writing assignment)

They called it a near miss but I called it a miracle from God.

"Keith's been shot!" Penny spoke breathlessly. "They had to do surgery but he's okay!  He was driving home from a church service and two people stepped out of the bushes and tried to stop him and then shot at him as he tried to drive on by."

Penny and Keith were my co-workers in Guatemala.  We were all missionaries whose work was planting churches, overseeing medical and construction teams from the States and living and working among the indigenous people there in Central America.  The crime she described was common.  Someone would flag you down on a deserted road, acting as if there was an emergency.  Then they'd rob you or worse.  Keith knew it was a trap and kept driving.  The bullet hit his right shoulder.  He could not move his shoulder nor his arm and he had miles to go to the nearest town and was driving a stick-shift.

"How'd he get to safety, Penny?" I asked, amazed. 
"We don't know.  He could not shift, could not move his arm and was in terrible pain but he somehow drove through miles of mountain roads without having to shift.  I think we know an angel or the Lord Himself was driving that car."

After we hung up, I sat quietly. I was happy but yet totally in awe of my God and His protection.
When I look back on all my experiences there in Guatemala, that one comes to mind as the most dramatic rescue.  Such a reassuring feeling that He does not sleep.

A Color Essay (homework for my certification class)

I am blue...varied in creation...both nature and human.

I am the sunny blue of an April sky with the lime-green leaves pasted up against me.  In July, I am the gauzy, almost white searing blue of Georgia heat. I am an obscured blue-gray as the thunderstorms blow through before I politely give way to the pink and amber of sunset.  I am the October blue sky that sharpens and glows against the reds and oranges of the leaves that bring such delight to the "peepers" in the Smoky Mountains.  I am the steely-silver blue sky of January reflected in the ice and snow and sometimes a mellow shade when the weather teases with a preview of spring.

I am the clear beautiful blue of baby Landon's adoring eyes as he looks at my daughter, his mother.  And the green-rimmed sea blue of two year old Madison's mischievous stare as she contemplates her next stunt.  And finally, I am the very pale aged blue of Madison's great-grandfather's eyes as he watches her and laughs.  No time to be blue in her presence.

Untitled Hymn (Come To Jesus) - Chris Rice

"Rejoice"

An unusual type of post for me.  This one is not really personal but I wanted to write about an amazing group of folks in my church who fill an important role in our community....encouraging and ministering to those in assisted-living and nursing homes.  This group is our senior adult choir named "Rejoice".  I work with them because my boss is their director.  Joe takes them out on a small bus once a month.  They put in a full day doing this important ministry.  I hope when I'm 70 or 92 years old that I can be that active and energetic!  Yes, our oldest member is 92 and he's pretty amazing!  Our folks are healthy and happy and sharp and they enjoy visiting with their peers in these homes.

Our minister of music enjoys a discussion with a resident

Favorite bus driver, David!

The 25 choir members sing 10 great hymns of the faith during their program and Joe ties each hymn together with the presentation of the gospel of Jesus.  He talks about our sin, our redemption through Christ, our abundant life here on earth and then the wonderful prospect of heaven.  The residents usually sing along (they have song packets that the choir brings to give out) and enjoy reciting scripture with the choir.  A gospel message is given, an invitation is presented to ask Jesus into their lives and hearts, a closing prayer, and then the choir members visit with the residents and give them a gift.

One of my favorites!

"Rejoice" is made very welcome in all the places they've visited in the county, not only by the residents but by their caregivers also.  It is a way to share Jesus' love to those who very rarely get to church and to those who have few other visitors.  Sometimes the minds are not clear in those who are listening (such as in the "memory" unit we visited the other day) but God works miracles...we never know when He will give a moment of clarity to hear His Word.
I admire and appreciate these sweet folks.  I loved getting to see them work their magic this past week and see what a needed ministry this is in our community.

Our choir members love to sing the hymns.

They never know what age "piano" they will find at some of the homes.

One perk of the day is going to lunch! They like home-cooking places AND the Varsity!

Which one is 92 years old? The one on the left! He's amazing.

Getting ready to present their program.

Listening to Joe as he presents the story of Jesus

A resident holds a cross that one of our choir members made for her

Leading the choir

Terrific and Terrible

The "Terrific Twos" have begun! 

My daughter warned me this week that this was happening.  The CHANGE has occurred.  And I'm not talking about the one that should be happening to me at age 53 which, by the way, has not.  I have mixed emotions about that but this is not the time nor place to go into that subject.

 Sweet Maddie is still very much an even-tempered girl.  Well, except when it's time to get out of the PJs and go shopping.  She has new princess PJs and loves them.  She cried dramatically when I tried to change her clothes.  Her hair stuck up everywhere and we just put shoes on her and let it ride.  She looked like an urchin.  But she was a HAPPY urchin. 

Off we went to Babies 'R Us and into the buggy she goes.  It was time for her "gofish" (goldfish) snack and apple juice.  Then two little suckers in the diaper bag.  I gave her one and turned my head and she had the other also. One in each hand.  She licked on them and then threw one to Landon.  We got it in time.  Landon is not ready for suckers. 

Then it was time for "mypeepee". Did I mention she's already potty-trained?   Off she went with "Ganmommy".  The bathroom has one of those little child seats that you can strap a child in while the adult is using the bathroom.  Maddie hopped up on that and strapped herself in.  She's always been good with buckles and belts. No problem!  We're finished up and she didn't want to leave the little seat.  "My seat"! She yelled several times.  She got a little louder each time as I tried to distract her.  We went back into the store as she yelled.  Then she saw the cribs all set up on display. "My nightnight" became the new yell! This time add tears and dramatic faces and motions. As we moved further up the aisle the cry changed several times as she saw new things that were hers. "MY shoes", "My dress", "My socks", "My backpack"!   We got our shopping done quickly and headed to the car.  (By the way, Landon, the 6 month old, was an angel during the entire trip.) 

Down the road to Lifeway where I had to pick up a bunch of VBS shirts for work.  A video was playing with an unsuspecting little girl watching peacefully.  Maddie grabbed a chair, brought it over and shoved it up against the little girl's chair.  Ready to watch with her new "friend" who looked a little alarmed.  Okay, chore done and back to the car.  Down the road we went into 5 o'clock traffic.  Landon was crying now, needed his pacifier.  Maddie gave it to him then took it away.  She wanted the blue paci for him not the white.  We got that settled.  She stuck her bare foot close to his face.  She loudly sang "Everyday", a song she's learned from my choir CD.  She unzipped her new backpack and put it over her head.  We had an entertaining drive home.

What a stinker! But I'm looking forward to this new phase...it will be a challenge for the whole family.  I can't believe that little redhead will be 2 next week.  I'm so thankful for her. She is pure JOY.

Sweet girl!