This holiday season is going to be so much different! My Mom and Step-Dad had an accident on November the 17 and I have stepped into the role of primary caregiver. I realize that many before me have been in this role too but it was like if I am not the one then it doesnt affect me. Funny how we don’t take the time to really see another’s pain.

Last week I was really stressing out as to how I could be at my Mom’s home and also be at my home cooking the Thanksgiving meal all at the same time. Luckily one of my daughter’s stepped into my role for a night and allowed me to go home and cook. I ended up bringing my Mom to my house for Thanksgiving as my Step-Dad was in the hospital and couldn’t come.

As soon as the day was done and leftovers put away and dishes washed, my Mom and I came back to her house and left my family guests at my house. On Saturday morning  I got my husband to sit with Mom so that I could go home and change bed sheets and tidy up.

One of the very favorite things in my home is a Hummel Nativity set as I collect Hummels and this particular set I leave out all year long. As I entered the house that day my eyes immediately went to the Hummel set and Baby Jesus was missing! My youngest granddaughter loves that set too and always wants it. I had it pushed back in the china cabinet as far as I could so she couldn’t reach it or so I thought. I called my husband at Mom’s and asked if he knew where Baby Jesus was, I texted my granddaughter’s parents and asked if they had seen Baby Jesus but they didn’t see my text at first.

I decided the Baby was probably gone forever and just kept cleaning and doing laundry.

While straightening the living room, I spotted Baby Jesus up on the fireplace mantle. I was so happy! I texted my son and daughter-in-law and told them to disregard my previous text as the Baby had been found!

My daughter-in-law answered back immediately and said she had put it there as little granddaughter had gotten it and kept trying to pull His halo off!

As I put the Baby back in His usual spot I got to thinking how Thanksgiving had stressed me and how Christmas was stressing me even more. For all who know me I absolutely love Christmas and I have trees in every room of my house and all kinds of little trinkets sitting around everywhere.

As I stared at my Baby Jesus and His halo I began to think that I had been trying to take the halo off of His head too! Christmas is all about Jesus and how He came down to earth for us all.

This Christmas will be like none I have experienced before and my house will look nothing like it usually does because there is no time but I plan on keeping Jesus in His rightful place and honor and serve Him the very best that I can. After all, serving others is serving Him!

This is an article that I wrote a while back when the kneeling during the National Anthem first started. Today is Gold Star Mother’s Day and I thought it appropriate to post this article again in honor and memory of the families and the lost loved ones that died.

It was Melinda’s senior year in high school. She was on a basketball team that was predicted to win the state tournament and bring home the gold. As the season neared it’s end and it was tournament time, Melinda was passed over in the district and the regional to get an all tournament trophy.

I never said a word out loud about it but in my heart I hurt for her because I knew she was a really good player. In her heart of hearts she played because she loved the game and because she chose to set up the plays and make assists which made easy shots for the other players and unless you really know the sport would seem as if she was a mediocre player.

As we rounded the curve in the back road to the Murphy Center in Murfreesboro that day of the state tournament finals I prayed to God a very selfish prayer. I prayed that Melinda would make the all tournament team and receive the trophy and the glory that she deserved.

To make a long story short, the game didn’t go anything as planned and our lady cats lost in the last seconds of the game and were devastated to say the least. When it came time for the runner up trophy to be handed out our players were so stunned that they were either still crying, mad, or just licking their wounds. Melinda slowly got up and walked out alone on the court to receive the loser’s trophy.

I didn’t think a lot about Melinda’s act that day because I was also hurt and disappointed but mostly not understanding God for not answering my prayful request.

The next day as I walked into work a coworker pulled me over and said, I just want you to know how proud I am of your daughter at the state tournament and how she walked out there and got that loser’s trophy and in spite of disappointment and hurt she acted like she had some home training. My thoughts immediately rushed back to my plea to God to let Melinda receive the glory she deserved.

After the coworker spoke with me and I continued on into the hospital that morning I passed by the Tennessean newspaper stand and Melinda had also made the front page of the sports section holding the loser trophy.

God taught me a huge lesson that day. His ways are not our ways!

All this fussing and bickering in this country and trying to change history is hurting all of us. Our men and women have fought and died throughout the centuries to make US look good…. to make Americans who they are in the world today. They are the ones that the flag stands for. During all these natural disasters and bad things happening lately our cops, fireman, rescue workers, doctors, and nurses work round the clock without rest and risk or give their lives many times and that is what that flag stands for.

My Dad was a farmer plus he worked another job during the day and plowed fields sometimes into the night and that’s what that flag stands for. My Mom was a stay at home Mom in our early years and then a Mom that worked later and that’s what that flag stands for.

America is the melting pot of all religions and all races and there is good people and bad people in every one of them. We need to respect and honor our heritage. Sure, we have disgraces and evil acts in our past just like our own personal families do sometimes. We can’t go back and change the past one iota but we need to build from it and admit our mistakes and try and better ourselves and honor our raising.

We are Americans and we are all family. I disagree 100 percent with not standing for our anthem or disregarding our flag. It riles me up fast but just like the Melinda story I know God is going to work it His way if we will get ourselves out of the way and kneel to him instead of all this ME stuff going on. So, as Forrest Gump would say, That’s all I got to say about that!
We are better than this people! Let’s show we got some raising……

This morning as I was up early and driving into town to run some errands I realized why I love the mornings so much and why I am so thankful that I found the Lord in the morning of my life.

The temps outside are just perfect! The humidity is low and the skies are clear. Finding God as a child was just the same. The innocence of the day and the low turbulence of those days prepared me for the days of life that would later be hurled my way.

No one was at the post office this morning as I went to get Mom’s mail and all the parking spaces in front were empty. It was easy getting in and out of there so unlike later in the day when everyone decides to go. The same with God, I started early and had years of relationship building one on one with a Father that was and is there with me all along my way.

I drive down highway 111 to go and babysit my grandson and the construction crews were just beginning their day and the school back up traffic had not started yet. In my childhood of faith I had the time to build and nurture my way in life before all the hustle and bustle of the world crowded and pressed in on me. I have memories of happiness with God and writing letters to Him and just being thankful to be in His family.

The McDonald’s line was shorter than yesterday morning but still crowded. Yesterday I chose the slow line but today I choose a better lane. My teenage years were full of choices and I chose wrong more times than not but God gave me a hands up and said, ” Go on my child and remember your mistakes and choose better next time.”

And now I sit on my daughter’s front porch, waiting on laundry to wash and grandson to wake, I am so thankful that I found God in the morning of my life and want to share this little article with you to hope that you find God no matter what season of your life you are in.

Morning, Noon, or Night…. God says YES to them all! Just let Him come in today!

I decided months ago to put this candle holder up for sale. My little granddaughter, Bri, just loves to play with it each and every time she comes to my house and has even cracked one of the candles.

As you can see, I only had 39 views and have kept lowering the price until I am just practically giving it away at 5.00.

A couple of days ago I tried to renew the ad for the candle holder and it has been renewed and lowered 7 times and it would not let me renew it any more. I almost deleted it at that moment but decided to give it one more shot.

Last night I received a message out of the clear blue and wanted to ask if this was still available and I replied yes. The lady on the other end said that she wanted it and that she lived in Gainesboro and worked in Baxter and would pick it up on her way to work. I thought this is good.

This morning I got up early and did all my little chores around the house and then messaged the lady and asked her what time she would be coming through and that I could meet her at Ragland’s vet clinic as it was right off highway 111. I also told her that I was asking because I was about to jump in the shower and didn’t want to stand her up.

She said we could meet around 2pm. So I jumped in the shower and went about my business of the day and asked Mark if he wanted to ride with me to meet her later and then go on to Cookeville and get a bite to eat. He jumped at the chance as he had been working outside and was hot, tired, and hungry. Our plans were set.

In just a little while the lady messaged me again and told me that she was new to the area and didn’t know her way around very well and that when she pulled up on her GPS the directions to our meeting place that it was not even the route that she planned on taking. I told her that we were heading to Cookeville anyway and that we could meet her somewhere else if she liked that was more convenient to her. She then told me that she was heading out to Jackson Tennessee today to pick up her wedding dress and would leave her house in about 1 hour.

I had also been checking her route and realized that she needed to come from Gainesboro to Baxter and get on interstate 40 at that point and head to Jackson via 40. I volunteered to meet her at Speedway at the Baxter exit at around 1pm. She was to text me when she left her house.

Of course Mark was driving when we headed out and somewhere in the conversation he came to realize that we were headed to the Baxter exit which was out of our way to sell a 5.00 item. He was giving me that look (the one that I hate). I was wishing in my heart that I had just left him at home.

I ended up just telling him that she was new to the area, did not know her way around, and didn’t have much money and that I felt sorry for her and was just helping her out and I know it is a stupid thing to do but I just felt like I should do it. He still had that look on his face and drove on in silence.

We got to the destination and I texted the lady and told her we were already there and what I drove and where we were parked. She wrote back and gave me her vehicle description. I did not recognize the name of her vehicle and just knew it was gray. I asked Mark if he knew what that vehicle looked like and he said yes, that is an old car and not even made any more. He had that look again!

She texted that she was 10 minutes away. I met her in front of the store and carried my item over to her car. I told her that she had a really long drive ahead of her and to be safe. She said that she had cancelled the trip and that she had just broken up with her boyfriend and called off the wedding. He was supposed to make the trip to Jackson with her but just yelled all over her and she told me that she got to thinking about it and thought to herself, “Why would I even want to marry someone like that”. I told her how very sorry that I was and she said it is ok, I will just use this candle holder in my house and it will be fine.

As I walked away a “not enough” feeling came over me. I know I should have said more to her, I should have shined Jesus all over her but I didn’t.

I got back to the car and told Mark what had just happened and he said, She was covered in tattoos and I quietly just said, “So was Danny and just because a person has tattoos that doesn’t mean that they are a bad person”

All day today I have thought of her and know that I was placed there today. I should have done more. I should have said more.

In John 13:15 (KJV) it says this:

“For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” 

God has been so good to me all of my life! I talk about makeup I sell and cleaning products that I sell and health giving oils that I sell and I believe in the good of all of these things and promote them. What makes it so hard to promote the Christ, the Living God that has done more for me that any earthly thing I have ever owned?

I feel ashamed tonight of myself and ask you to pray for the lady that bought my candlestick. Pray that not only does that candlestick give out light for her but that the Light of Jesus shines upon her and gives her peace in her time of brokenness.

Each day we are being placed in our spot in life to make a difference. Wake up! Myself included……our time is short!

I wrote this 6 years ago but feel it is worth sharing again. My oldest son died January 8th, 2013 and his 3 siblings ran the St. Jude half marathon at the end of April 2013 in his memory. I wrote this after watching them all 3 cross the finish line.

I woke up this morning thinking that just last week in this same kind of rain that we were all at the St. Jude Country Music Marathon. I had so much fun and Melinda already has another one in the making for us in September.
As our kids were growing up we always watched and loved the Olympics. I remember one time that Matthew had a tooth that was barely hanging for days and we watched the Olympics one night and he did a bunch of flips off our couch and the next morning he woke up with no tooth. I panicked thinking he had swallowed it in his sleep but found it later hiding under the covers.
I have always felt like my life with my kids was like an Olympic runner carrying a torch and today is my run but someday I will hand that torch off to them and they will continue on. Whatever values and thoughts that I hold dear they will continue on through them……the cycle of life they say…..
Last Saturday morning as I stood and watched in the pouring rain for our three children to round that last curve and run to the finish line, I have never had my lifelong thoughts to appear more real and more vivid than at that moment! I cannot put into words how proud that I felt! With their hands stretched upward towards the sky and fingers in the air representing their late brother, I knew that Danny was right there with them and that the torch of my life was carried by not just three that day but by all four. This mother stood there and bawled like a baby and I know in my heart that my life has not been in vain. Mark and I have a fine legacy following us and even though Danny preceded us in death, he left his mark on all of us and he will travel down through time with the rest of them. All four have been amazing persons and I am so honored to be called their MOM!

Today as I was driving back from Hilham I passed by a road all too familiar to me. The road that runs alongside my dear Flat Creek where I was raised. It was a beautiful sunny day outside and before I knew it my car had turned left onto that dear road that I knew so well. First memory that came across as I passed it was the baptizing hole where many a saved soul had come up out of that water a new born baby in Christ.

Next thing I noticed was the road was chip and oiled and no longer the dusty gravel that I had remembered so well while racing my pony alongside my siblings and trying to keep from eating their dust.

A few short turns later I remember the billy goat that had escaped from our farm and was chased down by Daddy and us in that little Datsun car. Daddy grabbed that goat and pitched him right in the back seat floor board right along side us as we headed home. I remember feeling all up close and personal with that goat with his wild eyes and long stringy beard giving me the stare down.

A few feet from there was our car washing spot where the creek crossed the road and we’d pull right in the middle of that water and everybody would  jump out and hand wash our car on those hot summer days. I was so disappointed to see that the road was now built up and the creek ran under the road…. no more showing this spot off to my grandkids.

I soon passed the home of Dude Gilpatrick and remembered how my siblings and I had dammed up the creek in his cow pasture to make us one fine swimming hole and how he came and gently scolded us and told us that his cows needed that water. He wasn’t mean about it and didn’t even tell Mama and Daddy. We soon put all the rocks back like we found them and the water began flowing again.

On up the road from there I remember the time my brother and I rode our horses off the beaten path up in the hillside and happened on what later in life we realized was a still. We wondered at the time what all the raucous was about and why the men chased us away.

Down at the foot of that hill was where my sister and I hid behind a big fallen tree with our knapsack kerchiefs tied to sticks the time we decided to run away from home. Mama and Daddy drove back and forth yelling our names and we heard them but never answered. We needed our butts busted!

As I pulled out on to Upper Hilham road there was Flat Creek bridge where my brother and I used bacon as bait when we fished from that bridge.

I drove on and I was almost to our farm. Everything looked so different and much smaller than I remembered. Where was the pond where my pony decided to lay down with me instead of drink? Oh, there it is! I thought for a minute it had dried up.

The next stop was our driveway and I had to get out and take that picture. That long winding road that led to the happiest place on earth and the place that made me into the person I am today.

Young parents we had who played with us like big kids. My siblings and I were so blessed to be raised the way that we were. We worked hard but we played hard too. We had every kind of animal you could think of and all our friends that came to visit never wanted to leave.

Today was such a good day of remembrance for me and I just wanted to share it all with you.