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The last few lines of Loretta Lynn's song, "Coal Miner's Daughter" have been haunting me, lately. "Not much left but the floor, Nothin' lives here anymore, 'Cept the memories of a coal miner's daughter." So, I woke up around one this morning, and here's what I wrote. Call it a poem, call it whatever you like. Just don't throw anything at me. Ok? lol Home with Mamaw was making that last turn and seeing the afternoon sun reflecting off the trees at the bottom of the hill Home with Mamaw was walking up the front steps and going right in Home with Mamaw was cornbread in the microwave and Pintos on the stove Home with Mamaw was “Coffee’s on!” and visitors after church Home with Mamaw was the scents of fresh cut wood and earth in the summer Home with Mamaw was the bite of a fresh snow and woodsmoke in the winter Home with Mamaw was seeing the moon on a clear night Home with Mamaw was impassable roads covered in ice Home with Mamaw was an old dolly piled with laughing kids Home with Mamaw was a slightly flattened ball after a game of Andy Over Home with Mamaw was well water, biscuits and sweetened rhubarb Home with Mamaw was warming yourself by a wood-burning stove before school Home with Mamaw was sled riding down the hill on Christmas Day Home with Mamaw was too many bee stings out in the yard Home with Mamaw was “Can’t make it through the day without a song about the Lord.” Home with Mom was plenty to eat Home with Mom was noise...always noise Home with Mom was ball games all weekend long Home with Mom was “Get out of the way! Let me sweep up this hair!” Home with Mom was toys everywhere I step Home with Mom was sisters sleep together Home with Mom was “Are you ready to go?” Home with Mom was “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” Home with Mom was her way or the highway Home with Mom was church when we could make it Home with Mom was hearing her sing “Thank You Lord for Your Blessings on Me.” Home with Mom was baby sisters to hold Home with Mom was left over biscuits in a baggie to take on the bus back to the blind school Home with Mom was home made breakfast to go on long bus trips to school on cold mornings Home with Mom was hot chocolate or tea to keep me warm before catching the bus on those cold mornings Home today is TV’s blaring so loud I can’t hear myself think Home today is the happy sound of children laughing Home today is Saturdays beside my man, not needing to say a word Home today is laundry that seems never done Home today is dishes that never stay clean Home today is quiet enough at night to write Home today is reading the Bible at the kitchen table Home today is learning to bake sinfully sweet treats Home today is long talks with my man after listening ears are asleep Home today is joying alongside my children when they learn something new Home today is playing in the yard, Home today is ticking baseboard heaters in the winter Home today is a noisy air conditioner in the summer Home today is neighbors way too close Home today is too small for visitors after church

Priorities

The morning before I left for Columbus, I couldn't sleep. So, I turned on the mac book and wrote this blog entry. Thought I'd wait until I came home to post it, so here ye go. We are such a smart bunch of people. Did y’all know that? I mean, we know things our ancestors could only scratch their heads over, and we have done things that used to be science fiction. For instance, people have walked on the moon. Normal everyday folks went in to a man-made craft, punched some buttons and flew to the moon. Not only that, they stepped out and planted their feet on it...well, maybe planted is a strong word. If what they say about gravity is true, and i have no reason to doubt them, then it would be nearly impossible to set both feet at the same time and stand still on the moon. But, I wasn’t there, so maybe they did that. Here’s what’s funny, I can’t see pictures from space. I can’t see the videos taken in space, so can I really say it happened? lol Here’s something else amazing. We know what kind of bacteria ticks carry, and not only that, we know the signs and symptoms and how to treat them, successfully. There was a time when every fever and chill, every runny nose and cough, no matter how you came by it was simply called the Ague. Every high fever that affected your brain in any way was called scarlet fever. Today, we can take pictures of the inside of our bodies and know exactly what is going on in there. Today, antibiotics can kill most bacteria. Today, simple cleanliness saves lives. There is a robotic airplane that can fly without a human inside of it and can measure things like air temperature, barometric pressure and lots of other stuff, just to help predict how bad hurricanes will be. The robot can not fly in to a hurricane...as if it would want to, but people can fly a plane in to a storm that strong. They often do this, just to study the storm. Not so very long ago, all folks had were their eyes, common sense gathered from living in a certain area all their lives and possibly a barometer to forecast weather. Today, we can turn on the TV or radio or internet and get all the latest details on how fast the wind is blowing, how much rain is predicted to fall and what we should do about it. As they say on the weather channel quite often, “You can be prepared.” Now, i have a few questions. What are we preparing for? 2. Why is it so important to preserve life? 3. What does knowledge about space do for me down here? These sound like stupid questions. Don’t they? I mean, didn’t I go to school and learn anything? Answer: I did go to school, and I think I learned a few things. And, I don’t think these questions are as dumb as they sound. So, let’s start with question number 3. Why is it so important to know about space? When I was 8-years-old and in third grade, I remember I couldn’t wait until science class. I loved learning about space! Don’t ask me why, because I couldn’t see any of the pictures they showed. It could have been all a fairy tale as far as I was concerned. But, something about space appealed to me. Later, at the age of seventeen when I got the chance to go to space camp in Huntsville, Alabama, I learned I would never get to go to the moon. For one, I’m too blind, and for another, I’m too short to fit in to the suits. lol So, we know the sun is 93 million...or is that billion...miles away from the earth. We know the planets revolve around the sun. We know there isn’t as much gravity on the moon. And, this helps me today, because... Don’t know about y’all, but one thing it does for me is help me appreciate God’s handy-work just a little bit more. But, can we stop an astroid from slamming the earth, just by knowing it’s out there? If we have to put on all this equipment just to breathe in space, why would we want to live there? And, as for life on other planets, why do we care? I mean, we’re killing our own babies, so life isn’t that important. Right? Stick with me, ya’ll. Ok, so since I mentioned life, let’s talk about question number 2. Why is it so important to preserve life? Folks, there are doctors out there now who will do an abortion during delivery. Did y’all know that? Killing babies when they are just coming in to this world! Ahem, is it appropriate to talk like King David and say, “Destroy them, O God. Let them perish from off the earth.” Ok, maybe that’s being harsh, but it’s how i feel, and someday they will answer for the deeds they do. Anyway, if we’re so stuck on saving lives, why don’t we start with the healthiest of us all; our babies! It’s a good thing to kill bacteria with antibiotics. When I get sick enough, I go to the doctor, and I’m real glad she can give me a shot or a pill that will cure me, because I know that 100 years ago, I would have died if not for that stuff. I’m thankful for defibrillators, ventilators, oxygen tanks, MRI’s, bone scans, hypodermic needles and all that other stuff, but let’s get our priorities straight! And, finally, what are we preparing for? This is the question you probably think is dumb, but that’s ok. Hear me out. A few weeks ago when Isaac was on his way to Louisiana, I watched a lot of the weather channel. Call it boredom, call it curiosity, but I wanted to know if it would destroy places like Katrina did. Men and women alike were outside in all that wind and rain, telling you how it felt, how fast the storm was coming and what you should do about it. And, yet people still stayed behind and had to be rescued, which put others’ lives in danger. That’s no skin off my nose if you want to get stuck in a flood and wait to be rescued, all the while clinging to your roof, but what bothered me was people were more concerned about pets than other people. Shelters for pets is great. I’m going to go get a dog today, and I’d be mighty worried if something happened to that dog. Don’t misunderstand me, here. I just think...once again...our priorities are messed up. People are paid a lot of money to get on TV and tell you a storm is coming. I don’t want anybody to be out of a job, but couldn’t we put some of that money to better use. I mean, come on, we know a storm is coming. Let’s help folks evacuate. Let’s help build levies. Let’s feed the hungry. Oh, boy, I don’t want to get started, but i think I already have. We spend too much time, energy and money on the wrong things and wonder why the country is in debt. A true leader, one who was concerned about his country would not use tax payers’ hard-earned dollars to go on vacation. A leader who truly cared about those he represented would be more concerned about those people and quit worrying about appeasing other nations. A true leader would do all he could to make his country one that did not rely on foreigners to sustain it. A leader who cared would not try to squelch one person’s religious beliefs while fully embracing another’s. And, this talk about being fair, well, I tell y’all like I tell my little girls, “Nothing is fair!” And, folks, it never will be. Yep, we’re a pretty smart bunch. And, to prove it, here’s one more tidbit I find interesting. Fifty years ago, some kin of mine made their own moonshine. Today, the President is having his staff make beer in the White House. Hmm. Wonder why it used to be wrong but ain’t wrong now? Is it because the government wanted control? Maybe. Well, now, I’m tired enough to sleep, it’s almost time to get up and get ready for the day, and I’m thirsty, so reckon this is goodbye until next time.

Four Days

What comes to your mind when you hear, “Four days”? Let’s see, there’s a four day work week, something most people wish they had. There’s a four day weekend, something else most folks wish they had. :) There’s a song called “Four Days Late”, which, BTW is an awesome song. And, the only other four days i can think of is four days left until I leave to get my knew dog. Y’all knew that was coming, didn’t ya? hahaha! This morning I went to the Post Office to see if my bus ticket to Columbus was there. Sad to say, it was not. After that, I let my homeschooled girls play outside while the weather was good. Then, I brought them in and got them some lunch to munch on. After that, my aunt came and drove us down to the Hospice House to see my grandfather’s sister. She isn’t doing well, so your prayers would mean a lot. As we were leaving, a cousin of mine leaned over her bed and said “I love you, Grandma.” Made me remember my own grandma. For now, though, my cousin has the peace of knowing she left the place, her grandma still living. The last time I leaned over my mamaw and told her I loved her, was the day I left knowing she had died. See, y’all, death isn’t a graduation. Death isn’t our friend. It’s the enemy. But, death is swallowed up in victory! Oh, grave, where is thy sting? Oh, grave, where is thy victory? Jesus overcame the grave, and someday, we will, too. Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. So, my beloved brothers and sisters be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. For, as ye know, your labor is NOT in vain! Jesus is coming; ready or not, He is coming back to receive us unto Himself that where He is, there we can be. Amen? Amen! Wow, ya’ll expected a post about getting ready for guide dog school. :) I’m not sorry, though. After all, this blog is called “Old Time Christian”, and what kind of Christian would I be if I left my saviour out of it all? Why, I’d be a hypocrit, that’s what. I am starting to feel overwhelmed, though, and I haven’t even started packing. Tomorrow is my major laundry day. Gonna wash everything I can, including my shoes. I not only have my things to pack, but some stuff to pack for my kids while I’m gone. But, if I can’t think of anything to be thankful for at the moment, it’s first of all I’m alive to think, and second, I ain’t gotta do it tonight. Tonight, I’m gettin’ ready for bed! So, until next time, ZZZZZZZZZ

A Miracle Named George

To understand the story you are about to read, you will first need to understand three important things about me: I have issues with trust, for the first nineteen years of my life I was terrified of dogs, and until that July day I knew very little about unconditional love. It was a Monday, July 20, 1998 to be exact, and it was around one o’clock p.m. I was standing in the doorway to my room at The Seeing Eye in Morristown New Jersey, anxiously waiting to hear my instructor call my name. All sorts of questions were running through my mind, and in the forefront was the fear that I was making an awful mistake. One by one other names were called. Each time a name was called, a few seconds would go by and then I would hear the person and her dog walk quietly past my door. I wanted to bite my nails. I probably cracked my nuckles a time or two. I shifted from one foot to the other and sighed enough for thirty people. Finally, shocking me out of my own thoughts I heard my instructor’s voice. “Shannon?” I don’t remember responding, but in seconds I was seated in a chair in the lounge, my instructor standing beside me. “Shannon,” she said, “ this is George.” At her words, two huge paws touched my knees. “Down, George,” my instructor said, and the dog obeyed immediately. But, all I could think of was, “His name is George?” George, though, didn’t give me time to think on his name. We were taken back to my room where the door was closed, leaving us alone. I petted him, he put his paw up to shake hands, and he sat so pretty, as if to say, “I’m a good boy. I promise.” After several minutes, George got bored, I think, and went to the door, pressing his nose against the tiny space between the portal and the frame. He sniffed it, then licked it and then whined. I could almost hear him crying out for the lady who had trained him. I sat down in the chair in the corner of the room and dropped my hands in to my lap, feeling at a complete loss. “Okay, God, you got me here. Now, what am I supposed to do?” Some time later, my instructor, who, oddly enough was also named Shannon, took George and me on a walk outside. George wore the harness and leash, as well as a second leash that my instructor held in her competent grip. It felt like I stumbled around that path instead of walked, and I kept stepping on poor george’s feet, but he never stopped and neither did I. Still, I was worried. If this stumbling around was what I could expect, maybe this guide dog thing wasn’t for me. From the beginning we were taught to feed, water and care for our dogs without any sighted assistance. We were also taught how to use a plastic baggie in order to pick up after our dogs when they left their droppings at our feet. Cleaning ears, brushing teeth, grooming, feeding, watering, and giving our pups pills were all things we had to know how to do well before we left the school. Sometimes, it was easy, and sometimes it was not, but always there was a positive atmosphere. The day that stands out in my memory took place on Tuesday, July 21. I can’t remember if it was morning or afternoon, but I do remember it was a bright, sunny day. I also remember my confidence was sorely lacking. I was still wondering if maybe God had brought me up here for nothing more than to show me how crazy getting a dog would be. Our instructions were simple. Take up the handle of your dogs’ harness and walk down the sidewalk before us. The instructor would be right behind our right shoulder, watching our every step. No need to worry. Looking back, I can’t remember if we were told anything about the sidewalk or not, but I don’t think so. I stood there at the corner and took a deep breath. Quite literally, my instructor was asking me to put my life in to the hands...ahem, paws of a dog. Could I do it? Was God calling me to do it? I hooked George’s leash around my wrist, lifted the leather handle and took another bracing breath. Here goes nothing, Lord. “George, forward.” Suddenly, where there was calm and quiet, there now was this seventy-eight pound dog pulling me down an unfamiliar sidewalk. Several times I cracked my toes on parts of the sidewalk that jutted up from the ground. “Toes up, Shannon!” came the voice of my instructor. “Oh, Lord,” I whispered, frantically, “what on eartha m I doing?” Swirving around trees and overhangs of leaves and branches, George and I flew down that sidewalk of slate. I had never walked that fast in my whole life. It kind of felt like a roller coaster ride that your friends have talked you in to trying. You are barreling along, and your feelings are ranging between terror and amazement and a thrilling joy. And then... Then, without warning, george stopped, and for a moment I just stood there in awe. I heard the traffic in front of me and my instructor’s words, “You did it!” I had done it! i had walked down an unfamiliar sidewalk at a pace that most sighted folks would later call running, and I was still alive to tell the tale. I had... Wait! I was forgetting something...someone. Right then and there, I knelt down on that hot, slate covered sidewalk and hugged that big, Labrador/Golden Retriever mix. I, who had never hugged a dog in my life, threw every reservation aside and wrapped my arms around him. “We did it, George! You did it! Oh, thank you God!” For the next eight years of my life, I was covered in blondish dog hair. For the next eight years of my life, I did not feel like a blind person. George and I went to school, went to work, walked in ten degree weather, walked in four inches of snow, walked in rain and mud, went to grocery stores, went to concerts, went to restaurants, visited elementary schools, took a plane to visit a friend in Savannah Georgia, slept side by side in the floor to the sounds of an audio book or two, shared pizza after attending a week of church camp, and spent many happy hours just enjoying one another’s company. Many was the time George lead me up a church’s isle to the piano where he lay quietly while I played and sang. Looking back, I know there were things I could have done different. I know all my decisions back then were not always the best ones, but George never stopped loving me, and I never stopped loving him. Some said that having a guide dog wasn’t worth the clean up, but those are the ones who never knew how much we meant to each other. Today, some say I shouldn’t get another dog, but, again, those are the ones who are not yet aware of the bond between a guide dog and a blind person. Sadly, I had to retire George in August of 2006. He past away in February of 2007. I was not there for his last moments on earth, but the George that I remember was happy and healthy, not dead or dying. George, who liked to rub his body against your legs like a cat, lives on in my memory. And, it is because he taught me how to give up my own control and trust, I am ready to move on. Out there somewhere is a new dog just waiting for a blind person who needs him or her. I have applied to a new guide dog school, and once again I find myself feeling a tendency to fear the unknown. Will I be able to trust God again with a new dog? Because, see, it’s not the dog or myself I need to remember to trust - it’s God in whom I am placing my trust. “So, God,” I pray, “get me ready to take that first walk, again and remember I’m scared. Prepare a gentle soul, like George was, but, Lord, help me not to compare this new dog with my first one. Give me confidence, Lord, because no matter how broken up the sidewalk, no matter how many obstacles lay in my way, I can do it, with you and my new furry friend in the lead.”

Ramblings of a Fevered Brain

My talking thermometer can't decide if my temperature is 101 or 99.3. Can a person's body temp be different from one ear to the other? I have an older thermometer that you put under your tongue, but the batteries haven't been changed in it in like forever, so I'm leery of it, as well. Note to self: Don't buy a cheap thermometer from that particular company again. :) Do to the fact that my feel bad is hurting, this post might not be the nicest or cheeriest, but I have a few things on my mind and wanted to jot them down. Recently, I received an email from that wonderful new part of our lives called face book. It said that a particular person just accepted my friend request. I don't remember asking this person to be my friend, but since we used to go to school together, I left it alone. Now, keep in mind this person past away several months ago. I just figured the person's family kept the face book page up for folks to post memorials to them. No harm in that. Well, here's my gripe. First of all, this person, as far as I know, never claimed to be a Christian. They may have been. I don't know, but I do know this person spent quite a lot of time in a particular bar. Does God say in His word that it is a sin to go to a bar? No, but the Bible does say to abstain from the very appearance of evil. Anyway, whoever is posting on this person's wall, talks as if they are this person talking from heaven. They say things like, "Hello my families and friends. I made the sun to shine because I want you to know I love you." This person, bless their heart, can't spell very well, and needs to learn more about punctuation and correct grammar. Now, i know me saying that is kind of like the pot calling the kettle black; I'm not the best when it comes to punctuation, but it irritates me how bad this person's posts are. Regardless if you believe Christians who die go straight to heaven or not, that person, if they are in heaven, has no control over the sunshine. And, if there are no tears in heaven, why would they be able to look down and see all the suffering going on down here? Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and this is a free country; you can say what you want. You can even think what you want, and you can even type what you want. So, I did. I mentioned in my last post that I had been doing a lot of crocheting. Well, I finished another Mother's Day gift. It's a bit misshapen, but the recipient, I hope, won't mind. :) I also finished 2 more tiny garments, which are also crooked. lol I have one more gift I hope to complete by Sunday. As for baking, haven't done any of that this week. Didn't make brownies last week, after all, but the cookies, I believe where a hit. :) Are you looking for a new author to check out? Look up Rachel Hauck. I bought a book by her from http://www.audible.com/ the other day. It's called "The Wedding Dress", and I really enjoyed it. A heroine with a gift that had nothing to do with a man, a longing for love and romance and a deep faith in God. A hero whom I liked from the get-go, even though he needed to learn a few things along the way. I couldn't hardly put the book down, and it even made me dream about my own wedding dress, which i haven't seen in twelve years. lol Go look it up. You'll be glad you did. A glass of sweet tea, 2 cups of coffee, a couple of Aspirin and a chocolate doughnut. Yep, I think I'm gonna make it...ok, make that 2 doughnuts. lol Actually, on a more serious note, all sugar and caffeine will do for a person is hype them up and then a few hours later leave 'em high and dry and feeling worse than before. A dose of God's word, now, that will last for quite a while. And, a dose of the Word has no calories. :) "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;" 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 KJV A song puts it this way: "When I think of the love that you've given When I think of the price you paid for me, The trials on earth seem like nothing, When compared to dark calvary." Y'all have an awesome Thursday, and remember, you ain't gotta be perfect, but you'd better be forgiven. :)

Lunch Time Thoughts

It's lunch time, and I only have a few minutes, but I wanted to post an entry while it is still Monday. lol I have been lacking when it comes to writing on here, and to you faithful readers, I apologize.

As an update, we still have wasps, or if you are from around here, "waspers". lol There has been at least one in our house every day since last Wednesday. My husband has been killing them, but the 4-year-old is freaking out. I'm planning on googling, here in a bit to see if I can't find a way to discourage them from coming in my house. We'll see. Maybe you aroma therapy folks out there might have a suggestion? would love to hear it.

I did some baking over the weekend. This time, however, I had a couple of helpers. My daughters and I made muffins. We used silicone bakeware for the first time, but instead of making my own muffin mix from scratch, I cheated and let the girls pick out the flavors they wanted from the grocery store. We had chocolate chocolate chip and strawberry. The muffin cups were those tiny ones, and half of them were heart shaped. Those heart ones were mighty floppy, and it was difficult getting the batter in there without it running down the sides and on to the cookie sheet. But, thankfully, we have dish cloths and water, and the mess wasn't too difficult to clean up. I think I needed to bake them another minute, and I think I tried to take them out of the cups too soon, because a couple of them broke apart. But, they tasted good, and the heart-shaped muffins were cute. I didn't use any oil or nonstick spray with the bakeware, and surprise, surprise, the mix didn't stick. Some of the muffin cups need a little more wiping than the others, but all in all, not hard to wash. So, over all, it was a good baking experience. The 4-year-old got to stir and pour, and the first grader got to measure out 1/2 cup of milk for each batter. Reckon we did science and math class, and on a weekend, too. :)

Unlike many homeschoolers, I don't use a prepared curriculum. I use a science book from 2000, mostly because I'm not a science person. I have a large print copy for Faith and a braille copy for me. Not that she needs large print, but it's free, and it's the exact same copy that I have. This way, we can read along together, and I know for sure what she is doing. As for anything else, I didn't like the math book we started to use, but since numbers do not change, I think I can handle that subject. I might change my mind when we get to long division, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. lol Since I don't use something someone else has planned out, I have to do extra planning, which takes up a lot of time, I don't mind telling you, especially when it comes to Bible lessons. I spent all weekend looking up lessons for Bible class. I skimmed and read and prayed, and I'm starting to realize something; time spent in God's word is not only good for my children's school time, it's good for me, too. Thank you, Lord for forcing me to study your word. It's making a difference already. Shame on me for not being prepared before now, but thank you so much, Lord, for mercy and grace.

Happy Monday, y'all, and be sure to come back on Wednesday. I'll try to talk about writing. :)

A Season of Sickness

WARNING: This post is not for those with a weak stomach.

Haachoo! Cough-cough! Get out of my way! Hand me another tissue. Where is the fever medicine? Oh, my head!

These are just a sampling of the sounds heard in the Wells' house these last two weeks. So, please forgive for not posting an entry this week before now. First, the 6-year-old had a fever. it lasted about a day, and then it was gone. Then, over the weekend...not this past weekend but the one before, the man of the house had a fever. During that same weekend, the 4-year-old woke up on Saturday morning, throwing up. We were all pretty much better by that Sunday morning, so we went to church. But, that evening, the 4-yer old's nose started to run. That Tuesday, the one when i was supposed to go to the book event, the 4-year-old started throwing up, and that lasted for about 24 hours. She finally got over it, and I thought we were home free. No such luck. :( Around midnight this past Saturday night, the 6-year-old wakes me up, and says she doesn't feel very well. Lemme tell y'all, for the next 8 hours, my poor lil girl had it coming out both ends. Not fun. Needless to say, we missed church again that day. As if that wasn't annoying enough, 2 days ago, I started sneezing. I think it's starting to get better, but I'm not sure. My food has no taste, I can't breathe very well, and I just want to laze around. But, lazing around is out of the question. Dishes need washed, laundry needs done, messes need picked up, sheets need washed and school is in session. :)

On Sunday, after the 6-year-old was sick all night, I washed the dishes in bleach water and washed her sheets. I mentioned doing all this on face book, and I got one of the strangest responses. Someone commented and said something like, Wow, you're wonder woman. I was like, "What? You wouldn't have washed your child's sheets if he or she threw up on them?" If your family had been sick, and you were trying your best to kill the germs, wouldn't you try to get everything washed up? Now, granted, some people argue that bleach isn't the best germ killer, but, folks, that's all I got, and I'm gonna use it!

That day I decided to stay home with my baby instead of going to the book event, I can't tell you how many folks said what a good mommy I was. Come on, y'all! What's up with people anyway? Are they stupid? I mean, who wouldn't stay home with their child when she's throwing up? Now, I know people have to work or they don't get paid. I know my husband could not have taken a day off to stay home with her, but I could. And, doing so, in my opinion, was not an attempt to be heroic. I was just doing what is right. Since when is doing right something strange enough to mention?

I potty trained both my girls, and do you know what other parents' responses were when they found out? They were like, "Wow, I couldn't do that. I sent them to my mom's." Shame on you for that," is what I say.

Ok, I'm climbing off the soap box, now. lol

So, here's some funny things that happened during the bout of sickness we have had.

The morning Kierstin got sick, I'm on my knees with a big towel, trying to wipe it up, and she asks, "What's that?"

I'm like, "What's what, baby?"

"That stuff you're cleaning up?"

"It's throw up," I said. "It's what you just did." hahaha!

During that long night when Faith was sick, she kept telling me what it looked like. lol Now, this can be a blessing. I knew when she threw up the meds and when it was just saliva. But, it was pretty gross.

So, sorry if you were expecting a post about writing, but I haven't been doing much of that, here lately. I wish I had time and the energy to bake, but no luck so far with that, either. After school, I'm just ready to crash.

Speaking of school, I just want to say that things are coming along better than I could imagine. It's hard, sometimes, getting all 3 of us motivated, but I'm having a blast. I love to teach, but I'm glad my class is only big enough for 2 kids. haha! In trying to teach them, I learn so much. For instance, a couple of nights ago, Kierstin prayed that the Lord would help her learn to read. She prayed, "Lord, please help me learn to read, cause I want to read really really bad. Please, Lord!" How can you ignore that? So, we're working hard on recognizing those ABC's.

One more thing, and then I got to go start that wonderful teaching, last night Kierstin said something else in her prayer that I want to share. She said, "Lord, hold this world in your big, warm hand. Hold us tight so we don't get away." Now, I don't know about y'all but I never thought of God's hand being warm. I think about how strong His hands are, and how big and mighty they are, but I never thought of them being warm. I believe children have a closeness with God that we adults can't even begin to imagine.

Well, that's about it for today. If you liked the excerpt on Friday, drop me a comment and let me know. If you liked it, I'll post a little more this Friday. Thanks for reading, and keep us in your prayers.

A Writing Wednesday, but on Thursday, Instead

I have a lot of stuff inside my head that needs to come out. In fact, there's so much, I don't know where to start in writing it down. I've been reading a lot these last few days - too much reading, if the truth be known. That reading has given me the beginnings of a new story idea, one that isn't quite within the genre I usually write. Just so you'll know, I am up to 13,400 and some odd words with "A Place Called Home", and I haven't stopped writing on it. In the real world, I'm missing my mamaw this morning, and I think my girls are coming down with nasty colds. Sigh.

The books I've been reading, well, think medieval, Scottish Lairds, feisty modern women and healthy doses of time travel. As if that wasn't interesting enough, add in the fact that these books are, for the most part rated PG, and there you have it. It leaves me wondering how to also add in a Christian element. Not hard. Already have an idea... Well, I have some characters in mind with a teensy idea. :) How about this? Modern woman named Samantha Kathleen. She enjoys modern luxuries like we all enjoy. You know, running water, furnaces, TV, iPhones, laptops...yatta, yatta, yatta. Been taught all her life, time travel isn't possible. Been told all her life that Christians aren't supposed to imagine such things. Now, think highland laird. We could call him Hamish or Colin or something like that. Maybe, he has a horrendous scar and lots of folks, including himself thinks he's ugly. Thinks he's going to have to find a woman he doesn't want, just to have a wife. But, he wants someone who will love him for himself, not for his money and position. Not real sure about my hero, yet, though. Maybe, he's afraid to love again, because he has lost so many of those he loves: first wife, children, brothers or father. Now, something happens to get modern woman and highland laird together. But, is it fantasy, the time travel stuff, or is it a dream or vision? And, can there ever be a chance for love between Samantha Kathleen and Hamish or Colin or whatever his name is?

Ha! I've just mapped out a story! Deed. Reckon there is something to be said for planning out a story line ahead of writing. Hmm. Who'd have thunk it? What do y'all think of my story idea? Be forewarned, though, anyone who steals my idea will be in danger of Hamish/Colin's dungeon. lol

A year ago today my mamaw was still alive. This coming Monday will make a year since her death. I keep thinking about all the things I'd like to tell her. Then, I start thinking about the things I'm glad she doesn't know about. I keep remembering the day we buried her. It was raining and cold, and yet, I wore the best outfit I had, including hoes and dress shoes. Not for her; I knew she didn't know what I had on, but I dressed up to honor her. When I was a teenager, I sure did get threatened with my papaw's belt, if I didn't go take them pants off and put on my church clothes. :)

But, whether we like it or not, and whether it feels right or not, time has a way of changing us and our surroundings. Nothing ever stays the same, except God and His word. I can write about Mamaw now without crying. I miss her at odd moments, like when my husband bought me a fruitcake for Christmas. I cried and cried, because she wasn't here to share it with. Yeah, I'm weird; I like that stuff. Haha! But, the grief doesn't hurt as bad as it used to. Maybe, I'm dealing.

A line of a song comes to me. It's a song written by one of the men who passed away, recently, and it says, "He gave me a future. He gave me my dreams." That line runs through my head quite often, and i know it to be true. God has given me what I have always dreamed about. God has given me a future, not only in this life but in the life to come. He has given me more than I ever asked Him for, and I have no plans on giving up, now.

Sometimes, the way gets a little dark, but that's when I remember He's there. So, I just grab Him by the hand and ask Him to lead me on. Sometimes, I get aggravated at things I can't change. But, that's when I step back, ask Him which way to go to get around the obstacle, grab His hand again and trust Him to lead me on.

I can hear y'all now. "So," you ask, "what about when the path is smooth?"

Are you kidding me? Smooth? Uh, I don't know about y'all, but usually whenever the path ahead is real smooth, I fall flat on my rear. Smooth? Nah, I think I'll stick with a bit of a bumpier way. Less chance of falling, that way.

I have no idea what y'all will get out of this post. It's too early for me to put together a coherent thought, much less try to make sense. But, there you have it. Happy Thursday!

Who is Your Valentine?

It's everywhere! Hearts, candy, cards, flowers, romantic dates between lovers. I mean, love is everywhere! Or, is it?

What if the one you love forgot to say those all-important words? What if the one you love never bothered to surprise you on Valentine's Day with a romantic gift? What if the one you love never said sorry...for anything? Would you still love him or her?

What is love, anyway? Is it spending all your money on another person? Is it giving in to them all the time, just to keep them around? Is it a stay of mind? Remember that song, "Rhiannon"? A line from that song says, "Dreams unwind. Love's a state of mind." Is that true?

Here's one more question for you. Why does love and Valentine's Day have to be concentrated on boyfriends and girlfriends, husbands and wives and romance? Ok, so I have one more question. :) Why can't Valentine's Day be about everybody we love?

I get so aggravated when someone asks my 6-year-old if she has a boyfriend! I mean, as if! Last week, said 6-year-old asked who her valentine would be this year. I'm like, your sister, me, your daddy. "Oh," she said, "so, it’s everyone we love, like family and friends?" Yep, sister, you got it.

So, in honor of Valentine's Day, love and just because I can't think of any better way to say it, here's what God's word has to say about it all. Take heed that you pay attention, because from what I see on FaceBook, a whole lot of folks got this love thing all wrong.

1 Corinthians 13
 1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
 2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
 3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
 4Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
 5Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
 6Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
 7Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
 8Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
 9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
 10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
 11When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
 12For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
 13And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Did y’all catch all that? It’s worth reading again, and again, and again, and... Charity, AKA love is an action word. It is not proud, it does not remember wrongs, it never fails.

Last, but not least, y’all, love is a choice. I choose to love by forgiving, even when my pride does not want to forgive. I choose to love by putting my loved ones’ needs, wants and feelings over myown.

I want to share two more verses from the Bible concerning love. John 15:12-13 also KJV. “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

That chapter goes on to say that Jesus no longer calls us servants, but friends, and that we are His friends as long as we follow His commandments.

Think you don’t have a valentine to celebrate the day of love with? Jesus loved you enough to lay down His life for you. Sad because you don’t have that man or woman to make your life complete? Don’t be. ;) They are a lot of trouble, after all. Ha! But, when you do feel sad that you don’t have that guy or girl on Valentine’s Day, remember you can have a friend that will stick closer than a brother. His name is Jesus, and He loves you more than you can ever know.

So, happy Valentine’s Day, and remember the one who loves you the most.

A Saturday Morning Post

Well, as y’all can tell, I didn’t get my usual entry posted on here yesterday. I sure hope this is not going to become a habit, but I had another memorial service to go to on Friday. I sang at this one. Surprisingly, it didn’t bother me as much as I thought it would. I hadn’t sang that particular song since my grandmother’s funeral, but I was asked to sing it yesterday. I practiced before I left the house, thinking that it would probably get to me, singing that song and hearing everybody cry. But, it didn’t. Does time heal all wounds? Maybe, if it doesn’t heal, it at least puts a scab over the booboo. :)

We were gone from around 11:30 a.m. until around 6 p.m. There was the memorial service itself, then the dinner at the church, and then we stopped at my aunt’s house, so my husband could look at something on her computer for her. My aunt and I chatted, while my girls took turns playing with my aunt’s foot massaging pillow. lol My 6-year-old would put it on her feet and say, “Ahh! That feels so good on my aching feet!” lol

Dinner last night consisted of sandwiches for my husband and I and Raman Noodles for the girls. I ended the long day with a cup of decaf coffee and a powdered sugar doughnut. :) All four of us were in bed by 9, and I got a whopping 6 hours of sleep before waking up at 3 a.m. I got up around 4ish, fixed a cup of caffeinated coffee, ate the last doughnut and spent some time in the 1860’s, writing on my story, “A Place called Home”.

There is nothing so wonderful as the mundane. Friday evenings at home with the family, eating poor man food and wearing fuzzy socks to keep your feet warm. And, strange as it may sound, there is something comforting in the sameness of things.

I got to thinking...and please stick with me here...that for me, there is a level of comfort in the fact that most of the funerals and memorial services I’ve been to were at the same funeral home. I’m weird, I guess, but I like to think of my loved ones who have died, resting in the hills around me. When I moved away, even though I liked it up there in Romney and would move back in a heartbeat, I never felt quite as home as I did, here in the Kanawha valley. I’ve always lived close to the railroad tracks, so the sounds of trains in the middle of the night are familiar to me. I’ve always lived near the river, so to live away from it, kind of feels strange. I don’t know what I’m trying to say, here, but these are just some thoughts that have been running around in my head.

I remember hearing a minister say once, that he liked the thought of being buried next to his wife, while they wait for the resurrection of the dead. His words startled me, at first, but then I considered them. The man’s wife had died recently, and I’m sure he missed her a lot. The thought of lying next to her and being close when the Lord comes back, filled him with peace. And, maybe, it’s the same with me.

Many family members have died. A lot of the men and women who were pillars in the church when I was a child are dead and gone. They are buried in the hills around this valley wherein I live. Someday, if the Lord hasn’t returned, yet, I’ll die. If I am put in a casket and buried, I want it to be near those loved ones. If I’m cremated, scatter my ashes over those graves, cause when the trumpet sounds and the dead in Christ rise first, I’m going to rise with those who taught me how to live for Him. Ain’t no grave gonna hold these bodies down, and when we rise to meet Him in the air, I want to rise with those who used to shout the glory down. There ain’t nobody I’d rather meet Jesus with than my grandfather’s brother, Charles who used to preach for all he was worth. There’s nobody I’d rather sing redemption with, than my grandmother who used to stand beside me in church and belt it out.

“Dust shall sing on resurrection morning. The saints will rise and let their voices ring. Those that remain will be changed in a moment. We’ll hear the shout, the trumpet sound, and dust shall sing!” Amen!

Introducing "Love Like This Life"

Love Like This Life

by

Dana Brown Ritter

Hey y'all! Shannon and I have become blog/Facebook friends over the last year or so, thanks to a random Google search.  And I'm so happy to have this opportunity to share about my life, and the blog I write with my husband, www.lovelikethislife.com

 

My husband Michael and I were married in a beautiful beach wedding on the North Carolina coast, Labor Day weekend, 2009.

 

I had always dreamed of marrying on the beach. I wasn't sure, when the time came for me to get married, if I would be able to pull it off on the beach.  Because the man I fell in love with, the man who made me a little movie slideshow, and played in in front of a big fountain in Washington DC at night, and asked me if I would make memories with him for the rest of our lives, that man is in a wheelchair.

 

When Michael was 17, he broke his neck in a gymnastics accident on a church youth group missions trip.  Because of this, he's paralyzed from the chest down, and has limited use of his arms, and no use of his hands.

 

We got to know each other because of a chance e-mail in the beginning days of the internet.  We kept in touch via e-mail for 8 YEARS before we admitted to each other that there may be something there. You could say we took our time. More like God took HIS time!

 

Several airplane trips later, we were engaged, and a few more airplane trips after that was that dream wedding I mentioned.

 

When we got back from our honeymoon, I started a new job as the White House Producer for CBN News (Christian Broadcasting Network). This was not only an answer to prayer, but a dream come true! Well, more than one dream actually! I had always dreamed of covering the White House, and here I was, doing it!  I stood in the East Room as the first living Medal of Honor recipient was pinned since Vietnam. I stood on the South Lawn as the President of China was welcomed.  I had a seat in the White House Briefing Room.  My life was feeling very "West Wing." And I loved it.

 

Behind the scenes, though, I was struggling.  My new boss and co-workers had no idea that I was getting up between 2:00 and 4:00 in the morning, so that I could take care of all of my husbands needs before I embarked on my nearly two hour commute to work.  I would get up, take care of the dogs, stretch my husband's legs, transfer him to his shower chair, help him go to the bathroom and bathe him, dress him, transfer him to his wheelchair, fix us breakfast, then get myself ready for work. Then, walk to the bus stop, ride the bus to the metro, the train to DC, stop at Starbucks, then walk in the office at about 6:30am.  Exhausted.  But thrilled to be there, and with a smile on my face.

 

This pace almost killed me.  I lost 30 pounds without trying. (That part was nice.) My hair started falling out, and I found myself very emotionally unstable.

 

I remember breaking down on New Year's Eve.  We had been married just a couple of months.  I had been so looking forward to being together, and living happily ever after.  And, Michael had an accident, I cleaned him up and realized he had a small pressure sore.  I felt completely overwhelmed.  He needed to stay in the bed, to stay off of his sore.  So, I cleaned the house, cooked for him, helped him eat in the bed (at that time we did not have a bed that sat up).  Then, he fell asleep before midnight, and I watched Dick Clark ring in 2010, and I sat up in bed alone, crying.

 

It was one of the lowest places I had ever been.

It was about that time, that we started the blog.

I just poured myself out onto it.

All of the emotions, the guilt, the feeling of being overwhelmed.  The good things too, like the happy times we were enjoying as Newlyweds, and all of the new things I was learning to do in the kitchen.

 

Michael really stepped it up, and started doing more on his own.  We sought some counseling.  I started hearing from people who were reading my blog, and got to know some other couples out there, in similar situations as us. I suddenly didn't feel so alone.

I felt like maybe I CAN do this? Little by little, the strength came back, I believed in myself again, and I gained all that weight back.

 

And little by little, my faith in the Lord was patched back up, sustained, and is now finally in a place of growth again.  It is wonderful to be on this side of the mountain.  I am now embracing my role as a wife and a caregiver and as a career woman, living out her dreams.

 

I now know that it is possible to be happy and sad at the same time.  I have gone through the grief process, and now life is so much better, and is generally filled with a lot of acceptance.

 

I don't know how I would have done it without the blog. And now, God is using us and our blog, and we are just thrilled.  We are hearing from more and more couples that are going through that dark season we went through, and not that I want anyone to go through disability – but once you realize that you an make it through – you realize that you can do anything.  And that's a feeling I will happily lead other couples to have.

 

Thank you so much for taking time to read our story. Follow along on our life on our blog: www.lovelikethislife.com

Can We Be Too Holy?

1 Peter verses 15-16 says, and I quote from the King James 1611 version, “but as he hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

I listened to a sermon the other day, where the minister spoke against women waring pants, watching television, the internet and FaceBook. He didn’t get too many amens, just FYI. His message did have a positive effect on me, though; it made me think. So, here’s the results of my much thinking. :)

When I was growing up, my dad was not a Christian. Praise the Lord forever, today he is! Yay! But, a conversation with my dad when I was a teenager has stuck with me all these years. We were talking about someone we knew, and for the sake of privacy, I’ll call her Mary. I don’t know what we had been saying about Mary, who BTW is a Christian. What I do remember is my dad said, “A little holier than thou, isn’t she? I mean, from the way she acts, you’d think her name was Mary Christ.”

From what he said, I believe my dad felt like Mary had reached a level he felt he could not reach, so why bother. I believe there are lots of folks out there, who probably feel the same. Someone told me a few months ago that she had no use for organized religion. Let me say, that I think the reason for that, is quite possibly, organized religion had no use for her.

In the book of Luke, chapter 19, Jesus passes through Jericho, and in Jericho, there was a rich man, a tax collector named Zacheus. Now, Zacheus was real short, but no one felt sorry for him. In fact, no one liked him, much, I’d bet. When people saw Zacheus coming, they probably hid, like a lot of you do when the Jehovah’s witnesses or Mormons come up your front walk. Zacheus deserved people being hateful to him; he cheated folks out of their hard-earned money. Well, on the day Jesus was coming through town, Zacheus was curious to see him, but he couldn’t, because he was too short to see over the heads of the crowd. Wonder why he wanted to see Jesus? I’m sure he had heard all the stories about Him, and like any nosy person, he wanted to get a look at Him for himself. So, he climbed in to a sycamore tree and waited.

Pretty soon, he caught sight of the famous man that everyone was talking about. But, something wasn’t right. I mean, this man who reportedly healed folks and raised them from the dead didn’t look like anything holy. Why, in fact, He looked a lot like everyone else. He wasn’t especially nice-looking, either. Had Zacheus misjudged Him?

Then, as Jesus passed under the tree, He looked up and saw Zacheus hiding there. He told him to hurry up and come down, for He was going to his house to stay, today. Somewhere between that moment and the moment when Jesus left Zacheus’s house, something happened to the tax collector’s heart. And, wonder of wonders, Jesus never said anything about do’s and don’ts. He didn’t say, “Now, Zacheus, your wife and kids got to put on church clothes.” He didn’t say, “Um, Zach, buddy, better stop cussing, ‘cause the son of God is eating with you today.” He didn’t say, “Now, Zacheus, you got to start treating folks right and not cheat them anymore.”

Nope, Jesus didn’t lay down the law and expect Zacheus to obey. Instead, he just offered to be his friend, ate a meal with him, I’ll bet, and was just Himself, Jesus. Because of the Lord’s willingness to seek and save that which was lost, Zacheus had a heart transplant. :) After his heart got right, then he, Zacheus, told the Lord that he, Zacheus would pay those folks back, plus some. Zacheus’s heart was changed, and only then, did he seek to please the Lord.

Now, only you know if FaceBook is wrong for you. Only you know whether you should ware a dress or pants or a paper bag. lol Only you can make things right between you and God. If that TV keeps you from reading your Bible or going to church or praying, turn it off. If you spend more time on FB than you do praying, then stop it. But, don’t judge what is sin in another’s life. I think it’s high time, we start being real careful about saying, “Well, God told me this or that.”

Is there a such thing as being too holy? You tell me.

I took a break from blogging three times a week, but I’m going to try to get with it. :) So, come back Wednesday, when I’ll write about writing. Y’all take care, and remember Jesus loves you!