Believe

Here I sit in Believe rehearsal. Woodlawn Church has a Christmas service each year that is looked forward to by many. This year we are doing a full scale production.

I have wept at every single rehearsal. The story is a 21st century adaptation of the life of Mary. I can't tell you more. I'd be flogged .
December 20 at 6 pm is the night of our production. As Pastor Mitch says regularly, "If you live within 100 miles of here, this is where you belong!"

If possible, make a point to be there. You will NOT be disappointed. And you will...Believe.

Thankful

It has rained enough days to carry one of these and never repeat. I like it though cause this time of year rain means cool is coming. Well, sometimes it does. I seriously would love to have this many umbrellas. I have a porcelain stand at my front door with about half a dozen. I'm working on my collection.=)

My youngest is on his way home as I type. My middle child arrives Friday. In mine and their lifetimes, this is the longest I've gone without seeing one of my three offspring. Now if I could just do the Dr. Spock thing and teleport my eldest home, the world would be perfect. I must settle for time with the two youngest for now. I have readied my home for company. I simply love to entertain, whether it be my children or guests. Flowers bedside, fresh towels stacked, candles in place, fresh baked goods, and my Fall scarecrows and pumpkins out.

My next thought process is of my dear friends the Ragsdales in Nashville. I grew up with the 3 Ragsdale children, and adore their mother, Boots. I've always wanted my children to love me as those 3 do their Mother. The youngest, Josh has been found with leukemia. As my son drives home, I try to imagine the terror of "knowing". My heart cries out and I desperately pray that God will heal Josh. Strength is my next prayer, for both Josh's parents and siblings.

Why does it take something of this magnitude to make me thankful for the health of my children and I? How we take that for granted.

Say the name of Joshua Ragsdale in prayer. And then say a prayer of thanks.

Sheer Happiness

I have a niggling sense that someone mentioned this to me months ago, but I never watched it. I deeply laughed and then tears flowed. I simply don't doubt that this will be an eternally happy couple. Why? The fertile imaginations, the "I am happy and don't care if you think I'm nuts" attitude.

Simply put, we all need this sort of abandonment ever so often.

Go ahead. Laugh at and with them, then cry if need be.

Smiles Anyone?

Those are my tears. Blue today, school started and I no longer have children school age. They are grown and for now 2 of the 3 are living in different states. In Nashville last week I spent sporadic time with all three. Leaving them alwaysalwaysalways makes me blue.

So, I surfed blogs for inspiration, happiness. Foolish I know, but finding pictures that are awe-inspiring help.



I want to drive this car to this picnic. I picture my 3 and Jen there with me. We all have new books we are dying to crack the covers on. I have plenty blankets and pillows for us to stretch out on.

Silly I know. Just looking for smiles. Think that car and a picnic will help?

"Teachings"

It is learned from your Mother. It can be taught, but is intensely effective for a lifetime if learned at a young age. It is constant loving reminders, a continual probing of what is good and the right thing to do.

I recently had a house guest who definitely had a “teaching” Mother. When she arrived and was introduced she handed me a lovely basket. It included a large bag of Starbucks coffee, English Breakfast tea bags, and homemade truffles. There was black sheer fabric draped beautifully with large faux diamonds sprinkled around. Saying the least, it was exquisite. Again saying the least, I was duly impressed. My guest was a lovely, very young, 20ish year old lady.

During her stay, I rarely knew she was there, save spending time with her. She was conscious of keeping her things in order, bedroom and bath. (I have a luggage stand I always provide. Her things were all place neatly on and around it.) I cooked dinner and she immediately offered to help then began clearing the table when we finished. She never left the kitchen until all was back in perfect order.

I enjoyed her stay. Yes, I loved the gift basket. But no, that is not why she impressed me so. It was her teaching. Her Mother had absolutely taught her well.

The next person that comes to mind is a 9 year old. He is infinitely kind.

I slammed the door of my car with the side door of the church in sight. Choir practice had already begun and we simultaneously began rushing across the parking lot. He was at a full run, me a walk. He beat me to the door and when he swung it open, I could see inside that the elevator door was being held. He looked back and made a split second decision. His head swung back and forth twice in just a few seconds. His decision was whether to continue running inside to catch the elevator or hold the door for the lady approaching. Be aware, I still had a good ways to go. He paused, and held the door. He waited patiently while I finished walking up. I couldn’t help but smile. He wanted to run inside and catch the elevator, but the positive influences in his life, his “teachings” won. I was so proud. And he is a mere 9 years old. I applaud his Mother and Father. If he’s got it at 9, it will only be enforced and will carry through his life.

For now, I'm your Mother. So listen. Take a hostess gift. It doesn’t have to be expensive. A simple candle, homemade candy, or package of funny cocktail napkins is perfect. Just let the person you are visiting know your appreciation. Leave the area you are staying in tidy. Don’t leave your shoes in the middle of the great room floor. Clear your things from the bathroom. Rinse your drink glasses. Be as invisible as possible, yet hospitable. (Remember, house guests are like fish. In 3 days they begin to stink.)

Speak out loud the compliment that crosses your mind. Hold the door for the lady with the baby in the stroller. Mail a card to someone grieving. Invite a friend to lunch.

Ok. You’ve now been told. Heed please.=)

P.S. Brittany and Jayce, you know who you are.

The Exact Place I Wish To Be Right Now

I wish to be lying in that very hammock. How stinkin' cool is that? Misool Eco Resort in West Papua, Indonesia looks to be a perfect place to melt away any and all stress, which is a main component in the perfect vacation. Below is a view of some of the 11 cottages available with 8 being on stilts over a quiet lagoon. I'll have nothing less than a stilted one. They are built from reclaimed wood and all furnishings are from local craftsmen. There is also a dive shop, restaurant and private pier.


Oh how I'd love to wake up to this view. The sound of the waves would wash away the cobwebs. Only improvement I can imagine is someone calling out, "Here's breakfast." That chair is for me to savor my breakfast in. I've a stack of books to read which I would take along. I want to laze around all day for 10 straight days, right here. Get a slight tan and go to dinner each evening. And no, I would not get bored.


Funny how my mind goes to what wardrobe I'd take. Linen, long, flowing swimsuit cover ups, big fat sunglasses. Total comfort all day, but something lovely for dinner. Please notice the outdoor shower below. (I recently bought one for my backyard at Dirt Cheap. I love rinsing my feet and hands before coming in from yard work. Of course mine is not made from a lovely tree trunk, just lowly teak.)



Wanderlust is stirred up. Awwww, let me dream.......=)

Cause of my "Missing"

I am regularly outdoors as I love gardening, cultivating my exterior spaces and entertaining al fresco. (Hence, "missing". A lovely hand written note I received this week spurred me to post. Thank you, Danette, it meant the world.)



This is my "piece de resistance" for the summer. I collected wooden windows and doors from roadside after Hurricane Katrina. Here is a dream come true. My zen place. It is 10' X 12' and will eventually have a pea gravel floor. The path winding to the door is comprised of pieces of sidewalk from the front of the house. The sidewalk was ruined during Katrina and my sons busted the huge broken slabs into smaller pieces. I then fashioned a walkway from my back patio to the new greenhouse. I still have not made a decision whether or not to paint the "shed". I love the primitive look, yet know I'd enjoy it painted pristine white also. What's your opinion? Also, what to call it? I refer to it as a garden shed, greenhouse, etc.

Do give your opinion....

p.s. The statue is actually a fountain. Water pours from a vase in her hand into another vase at her feet. The hand you see holds a small pot of blooming impatients. She is a Dirt Cheap find.