My Daughter, My Friend, Janna!

"A daughter is just a little girl who grows up to be a friend." ~ Anonymous

I remember from my teen years longing to be married and having children. I wanted a girl to dress up! Of course, if I wanted a girl, then God would give me a girl, right, because Scripture says He “wants to give us the desires of our heart!” I confirmed I was pregnant on New Year’s Eve day in a pay phone booth, as I made a call back to my Doctor following a morning office visit. Long story…..ask me sometime and I’ll explain!

During the pregnancy we decided to move from our home in Lynchburg, TN., closer to my family, about 90 miles away. We purchased an unfinished house owned by the bank. Rodney went to work daily, came to my parents’ house for dinner, then went straight to work on our new home to try and finish it before our baby was born. I was extremely nauseous the entire pregnancy, and confined to the bed or couch!

After a 23 ½ hour labor, Janna Brooke was born, and we were elated! She was absolutely perfect! Perfect APGAR scores; adorable little button nose, rosebud mouth, and her skin tone was gorgeous! Little did we know that the reason for her beautiful skin was that she was jaundiced! The day we were released from the hospital I was overjoyed and so ready to be a mom! All my dreams had come true! I was fortunate to be able to be a stay-at-home Mom and raise our daughter. My family was close by, and more than eager and willing to help! I quickly discovered that their help was needed and so appreciated. Janna has been an amazing blessing, so today (at 27-years of age) I honor her on my blog.



Janna had an astonishing vocabulary by the time she was a year old! The first word her Daddy taught her was “photosynthesis”! Seriously! She would say “photosinsis”! Her world consisted mainly of adults, so she learned to carry on adult-type conversations early on. She could sit and communicate with most and amazed everyone she came in contact with! She mastered her ABC’s and 123’s by the time she was 18-months! Janna is smart!

Music always interested her. She loved to sit and bang on the piano, making up words as she went along! She had a sweet little voice, stayed right on pitch, and even wrote her own tunes for whatever she was doing at the time! She also loved to draw…with crayons, markers, chalk, anything she could get her hands on. To this day she enjoys doodling, drawing, and doing crafts. Janna is artistic and creative! (Do you sense my pride, yet?)



Janna is particularly gifted when it comes to working with numbers, administrative skills, and organization! She will make a list, and then re-write it because it is not neat enough! I’m not kidding! Problem-solving is another gift she has been blessed with. In other words, even when discussing the laying out of a privacy fence, how to repair a leak under the house, etc., she thinks things through with an analytical mentality that amazes me! Having 2 small children makes it a bit more difficult to be organized all the time, but she still tries. So, Janna is organized! Janna thinks from both sides of the brain!

Those less fortunate or down on their luck tug at her heart strings! She is very quick to acknowledge her many blessings, and rarely complains about what she doesn’t have! She would give the shirt off her back if it would help someone out! Janna is compassionate!



Janna and Mike have been married 9-years, and I believe she is more in love with him today than the day she married him. As parents, they are unified in issues dealing with the children, and they support one another! I SO admire them for that. They are committed to their marriage and to their children, no matter how hard times may be, and no matter the sacrifices that have to be made. Janna is loyal, dedicated and committed! (Are you getting my drift, yet? I’m so proud of her!)

Janna expresses love in various ways, none the least of which are verbal expressions. I believe this is almost a “lost art”, as often people assume others know they are loved. Yet, there are no sweeter words than “I love you”. She tells her Dad and me she loves us nearly every time we talk; being a wonderful note writer, she expresses it in written form, too. Like me, Janna loves to share hugs and kisses, with her family! Janna is loving!




Janna is our pride and joy; our firstborn beautiful daughter, whom we are so proud of and love so very much! It is an honor and privilege to be her Mother!

I love you so much, beautiful Janna!

Mom

The Calm After the Storm!!!

On Good Friday Middle Tennessee was pounded with severe thunderstorms, some of which became tornadoes. Murfreesboro, TN., about 45-miles from my house, received the brunt of the tornadic damage. I just heard on the morning news that the damage in that small down alone is estimated to be a minimum of $33 million! It took only a matter of a short few 5 minutes or less to touch down in the surrounding area, then it was over!

One minute people were sitting in their homes, safe and sound...in a split second the storms came and left behind it's incredible devastation! One minute life is normal! In the blink of an eye "normal" is a word that has no meaning to those in the direct path of the storm! Life takes on a "new normal"; shock and awe set in; assessments are made; then clean up begins!

Is not life like that? Life can seem to be fairly "normal"; we go along day after day, our same routine of life, and suddenly...or maybe even gradually...a storm in life heads our way! It may arrive quickly and without any warning ~ no time to prepare! Other times we may have brief warnings; yet it arrives before we have much time to prepare for it; still other times we know it's coming, and we may try our best to prepare; yet we may have no idea the devastation that will accompany it! About the time we pick the pieces of THAT storm up and begin putting our life back together again, there's another one brewing somewhere.

Here's the reality: we have no control over weather conditions; what we ARE in control of is how prepared we are for the storms to come, and WHEN they come how we will handle them! We are assured that life will have it's storms~ even for the believer! We are also assured that Jesus will be with us IN the storm...just as He was with the disciples in that boat on the sea during the storm~ He was asleep while the disciples were frightened of the storm. Jesus spoke and the storm quieted!

Homes can be rebuilt; "stuff" can be replaced; new cars can be purchased; but lives lost cannot be replaced. (FYI: 2 lives were lost in the Murfreesboro tornado here: 1 lady and her 9-week old child; her husband remains in critical condition! By all accounts, it is a miracle that more lives were not lost! Yet, 2 deaths is 2 too many, so please pray for this husband/father left behind!) How prepared are you to receive the storms that WILL come? Do you truly KNOW the One that can speak and calm the storms of lie? Is your relationship with your Heavenly Father such that you can cry out during the storms and know that He hears you and promises to answer? Do you know Him personally enough to believe His promise that if He brings you TO it He will bring you THROUGH it? If not, I pray that at this moment you will invite Him to live in you, so that you will be able to walk in victory, no matter the storms of life.

See, Jesus faced the greatest storm anyone has ever faced: His very life being given through the most cruel of punishments, reserved only for the most hardened criminals: death on a cross! Why would He do that? He did not have to! He did it because He loves YOU SO MUCH that He wanted to pay for you sins, so you would no have to! All He asks in return is that you invite Him into your life for a real, personal, living relationship~ not just for what happens to you after you die, but for how you enjoy the remainder of this earthly life! Sometimes Jesus will calm the storms of life; other times He will totally eradicate them; still other times He will allow them (He doesn't "cause" them, but He DOES allow them~ and always for our good, though we may not be able to see, feel or identify it at that moment). ALWAYS He will be with us through the storms!

Yesterday we celebrated His resurrection from the grave! We know that He is alive, and because He IS alive, we can have a rel, living, personal love affair with Him! Then when the storms come, we hold tight to His hand and press on! Remember: after the storm comes the calm~ the sun comes back out, a new day dawns, and joy returns!


If you don't know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, please take care of that right now by praying this prayer: "Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen."

If you did just pray that prayer, please let me know, so I can add you to my prayer list, as you begin your new life with Christ! If you DID just accept Him as your Savior, know this: there's a party going on in Heaven in your honor right now! WOW! And congratulations to you on making the most important decision of your life! Welcome to the family of God, sister/brother!

Ps. 30: 5 says this: "For his anger lasts only a moment,but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning."

I so grateful that God's protection and His provisions are enough!

He is not here! HE IS RISEN!

Happy Easter to us all! This is the most important celebration to us as Christians, as we celebrate our Risen Lord!
Friday I watched "The 700 Club" on CBN, and saw two video clips that absolutely amazed me. The first one shows the fulfilling of many OT prophecies in Jesus' life, deat and resurrection. The second one shows images from Jerusalem, and details some of the controversies between archeology and tradition. I listened to both clips, writing down word for word what was said. I have also included the links, and would encourage you to watch both clips online for yourself. I stand in awe yet again, of our God and His Word!



The first one is entitled: "The Jewish Jesus: Lamb of God"

Many Jews came to celebrate Passover. Among them was Jesus. Christianity began as a part of Judaism. The Jewish groups had their focus on a single person, Jesus. Five days before Passover, the lambs were brought to Jerusalem to be chosen for sacrifice. On the same day, Jesus entered the city for His last time before His death.

500 years earlier Zechariah announced His arrival: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zech. 9:9, NKJV) The donkey represented a Messiah coming who was meek and lowly, not of political power or as one with a sword in His hand to overthrow the Romans. Christ arrived and the people shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Ps. 118: 25-26, NKJV)

The first stop was to wash in the Pool of Siloam and there He saw the fulfillment of Isaiah 35: 4-5 (NKJV): “Say to those who are fearful-hearted, ‘Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.’ Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.” It was here Jesus healed the blind man by putting mud on his eyes. Why? The waters were considered to be of the highest purity, because they issue out from underneath the Temple itself. So Jesus waited to make sure he got the best. The blind cannot see and if they touch something unclean, they cannot go up into the Temple. Now he could go in the Temple. This is a great example of “I have a fact that supersedes your law and reasoning. I was blind, but now I see!”

The west wall of the Temple mound has booths. In Jesus’ day they would be filled with merchants and money changers. Some say it was here He fulfilled another prophecy~ Malachi 3:1: “Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” says the LORD of hosts. (NKJV) So God said the Lord would come to the Temple and purify the religious system. Christ fulfills what has to happen before the 2nd Temple is destroyed. Jesus overturned the tables of the money changers, as spoken by the words of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah:

“Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of thieves in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it,” says the LORD” (Jer. 7:11, NKJV).

“Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Isa. 56:7house of prayer for all nations” (Isa. 56:7, NKJV).

If we rightly understand the Hebrew Bible either Jesus is our Messiah or there can never be a Messiah. The Messianic Era had to begin before the 2nd Temple was destroyed. Otherwise, there can be no redemption.

Jesus himself predicted the destruction of the Temple in Mark 13:2: “And Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down” (NKJV). The chief priests saw Jesus’ words as a threat. From then on they planned to kill him; and they got help from one of his disciples, Judas.

We will never know what was going on in the mind of Judas Iscariot. We do know that in the mind of Jesus’ followers this was a great betrayal. On the night before the Passover Jesus and His disciples gathered one last time to celebrate the Sater. Jesus is preparing His disciples for the trauma about to unfold. He said, “Now let me tell you what it means to be the Messiah. I’m going to be arrested; I’m going to be mocked and beaten; I’m going to be put to death and on the 3rd day I will rise again.”

During the meal Jesus handed Judas a piece of bread, identifying the one who would betray him, a signal David had prophesied in the Psalms: “Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me” (Ps. 41:9, NKJV). The chief priest paid Judas 30 pieces of silver to hand over Jesus, the price of a common slave. Overcome with guilt, Judas later tried to give back the money. The priests refused. So Judas threw the silver on the floor of the Temple, then went out and killed himself. With the blood money they bought the Potters Field. Tradition says this is where Judas hanged himself. And today it is still known as “the field of blood”.

Five hundred years earlier, Zechariah had predicted the price on Jesus’ head, as well as the act of Judas throwing the money into the house of the Lord to the potter: “Then I said to them, “If it is agreeable to you, give me my wages; and if not, refrain.” So they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver. And the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—that princely price they set on me. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD for the potter” (Zech. 11: 12-13, NKJV)

While Judas carried out his betrayal, the rest of the disciples finished the Passover meal. They sang a hymn called, “The Great Praise”, or “Halal” in Hebrew. The words written by King David a thousand years earlier took on new meaning as Jesus headed closer to the cross: “God is the LORD, And He has given us light; Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar” (Ps. 118:27, NKJV).

This is the song Jesus sang after He lifted up the cup of the New Covenant in His blood ~ “I will take up the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord. I shall not die, but live; and declare the works of the Lord. This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it (Ps. 116: 13-15; Ps. 118:24, NKJV). Then they sang the same words the crowds had shouted a few days earlier when Jesus entered Jerusalem: “Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. We have blessed you from the house of the LORD” (Ps. 118: 25-26, NKJV).



The second one is entitled: "The Journey to the Cross”

The road Jesus is said to have walked down on the way to His death is the “Via Dolorosa”, which means “The Way of Suffering”.

The Gospels tell us Jesus spent his last night on the Mount of Olives, in the Garden of Gethsemane. Here Judas betrayed Him, and the Temple guard arrested him. They led Jesus down through the Kidron Valley and up to Mt. Zion, to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest. There is now a church built on the ruins of the house of the high priest. Under the house is a cistern, the prison where Jesus may have been held the night before He died. It’s a very interesting room. It’s carved out of rock and is a place where you could store water, but in this case a prisoner could be lowered through that opening (a photo) and have no way of escape. It makes us think of the Psalm where David writes, “Oh Lord, I’ve been cast into the pit with no way of escape”. (Clarie Pfann) The next morning Jesus was taken to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. This is where archaeology takes a detour from tradition. The real archaeology of Jerusalem began in a serious way from 67 on. That means for the last 40 years there’s been a real opportunity to get down to the 1st Century Jerusalem and to find out where things lay in that city at the time of Jesus. (A diagram is shown)~ This is Station 2 of the way of the cross. In Jesus’ day the Antonia Fortress stood here, the headquarters for the Roman Army. Tradition says this is the place where Pilate put Jesus on trial. Archaeology says tradition is wrong. “We know that Roman soldiers were encamped in that area of the Antonia Fortress. The NW Corner of the city was a garrison for Roman soldiers who were keeping peace and watching over the Temple mount. But, of course, the governor doesn’t live in the garrison with the soldiers. The governor lives in the palace with the guards.” (Claire Pfann) That palace was a half a mile away, on the western side of the city.

Under this tower (photo) are the remains of King Herod’s palace. When Pilate came to Jerusalem, this (photo) is where he stayed. Just outside the tower wall is an ancient stone platform. Archaeologists say this is the judgment seat where Jesus was tried. “The palace of Pontius Pilate and the palace of Herod lay behind this wall (photo). So this is really the most likely candidate for Jesus having come from the South, outside of the city wall, to His trial. (Photo) This is where Pilate washed his hands, and made his famous statement “Behold the man!”

Scholars may disagree on the path Jesus took, but most agree his final steps led here (photo), to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher”. The Roman emperor, Constantine, built the church in 335 to mark the site of Jesus’ death and burial. It’s one spot where archaeology and tradition agree. “Helen, the mother of Constantine, went around and interviewed Christians who lived here to find out what their memories were – the memories that the local church preserved. She finds this spot (photo) which local Christians have venerated as the burial place of Jesus”. (Claire Pfann) in Jesus’ time, Golgotha was a rocky cliff that may have looked something like this (photo). Today what’s left of the original hill is inside the church. “This bedrock, which begins here, extends up over our heads about 40 feet! This little bit has been left to show us because this “I the traditional site of Golgotha, or Calvary, where Jesus was crucified. John’s gospel says Jesus was buried close to the place where he died. Inside the church is a tomb that’s said to belong to the man who buried Jesus.” Traditionally ascribed to Joseph of Arimathea, here right next to Calvary, we find in the rock quite distinctive 2nd Temple period tombs.

Every year millions of Christians visit the Holy Sepulcher and walk “The Via Dolorosa’, while authentic sites like this one (photo) are still unknown to many tourists. For the followers of Jesus the important thing isn’t where He walked, but what He accomplished: “I think it’s kind of ironic and powerful to think that when Jesus might have walked down this road (photo) the first time, and He went to pray…yeah, and on the Mount of Olives, he has to make a decision: is He going to stay and see it through to His death, or is He just going to run over the hill, because on the Mount of Olives you could run off into the desert, and never be found again. And He stayed, He had the victory in His prayer, and when He came back, He came back ready to lay down His life for all of us”.


Again, I wish you a blessed, holy, happy, and joyous day of celebrating our Lord!

And... I grateful I am alive and able to freely worship at church and celebrate the risen Savior, the Lover of my soul, my Redeemer, my friend, my Lord, and my bridegroom!"

It's All About Me! ~ NOT!

I visited a blog yesterday that I found through one of Lynette's featured bloggers. She had made this list called "100 Things About Me", which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I mean, I felt like I knew her when I finished reading. That inspired me to do the same, which was not easy, let me tell ya'! But while I was doing it, I felt a little weird~ like who cares about all this stuff? I mean, I feel like this is all about me, which it is! I don't like to focus on ME...but when I thought about it, I decided it IS a good way for people to get to know others better. So, since yesterday's post was kind of heavy, I though I'd do this more for fun! So, I hope you enjoy...but please read this disclaimer: I truly do know it's not all about me! It's all about God!

1. I was born in Bowling Green, KY., but have lived in Nashville, TN. since I was about a year old.
2. I learned to walk in a house on Gale Ln., just off Belmont Blvd.; I ended up going to undergraduate and Grad school at Belmont University many years later.
3. My parents (now just my Mom as my dad is deceased) have taken all of our family on a vacation every year since I was born (except for the summer following my father’s death).
4. I have been in or through most states of the USA.
5. I have traveled to: Hawaii, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Mexico, Grand Cayman Islands, St. Thomas, Guatemala, Dominican Republic
6. I have 2 sisters and no brothers.
7. I received my undergraduate degree and Masters degree in Early Childhood Education.
8. I took tap, ballet, and gymnastics as a young girl.
9. I was a high school and college cheerleader.
10. I took piano lessons for many years.
11. I taught piano lessons off and on for a few years.
12. I was church pianist for about 10 years at my former church.
13. I went on mission trips to the Appalachian Mountains of KY. as a youth and later as a youth chaperone.
14. I became a Christian in 1967.
15. My husband used to be a youth pastor, as a 2nd job, at my home church.
16. Our current pastor was a youth in my husband’s youth group!
17. I do not like to sew—it makes me nervous!
18. I don’t like to do yard work of any kind; yet, I want it to look like something out of “Southern Living”!
19. I love being creative; or, as I like to call it “Artsy-Fartsy”.
20. I watercolor paint when I take the time, and love it, though it is a very difficult medium.
21. I also enjoy doing 3-D art that I call “Funkydelic”.
22. I enjoy scrapbooking, but I don’t like to use templates that others have done~ I like to create my own, which takes so much more time!
23. I am the mother of 3, the grandmother of 2.
24. I also have a Dominican daughter (at least she calls me Mom and I call her my daughter) who is married to a dentist in Arizona and they have one baby boy, Luke. I also have a Dominican son, Amaury, who recently married Catherine, who is a full-time missionary in the DR.
25. I have 2 dogs, 2 cats, and my son has a Balled Python named “Princess”!
26. I teach a ladies Bible Study, a couples Bible Study, and I co-lead another ladies Bible Study.
27. I have 3 bridges in my mouth and multiple crowns—“Cha-Ching!”
28. I have a 1967 VW Convertible Bug, a beautiful turquoise color, which my husband gifted me, and is trying to get it in better shape for me to drive.
29. I have never been in a tornado, and hope I never am!
30. My favorite flower is the Iris, which happens to be our state flower.
31. I was raised in the Missionary Baptist Church until my teen years; then we went to the Southern Baptist Church; and now we are members of a non-denominational church (Cross Point Community Church)
32. I love to snow ski!
33. I also love to water ski, which I used to do a lot when my girls were younger.
34. In high school I bowled in a league and I played on the tennis team! FUNNY! You’d never know it if you saw me do either now!
35. I’ve been married almost 29 years!
36. My husband is from Lynchburg, TN., home of Jack Daniels Distillery, where he was working when I met him.
37. My first teaching job out of college was in Lynchburg, TN., a 90-mile drive one way from my home. A friend who also was hired to teach there, and I rode together to and from, commuting a total of 180 miles round trip, just to teach school.
38. I taught Special Education, grades 4-6.
39. I absolutely LOVE children and adults with Downs Syndrome!
40. My son-in-law is currently building Tim McGraw and Faith Hill’s house!
41. I have been 3 times to Ghost Ranch, NM. with my art teacher to paint; I hope to return for her last gig there in September 2009. Ghost Ranch is in Abiqui, NM, and was the site of many movies~ onewas “City Slickers”. Also, the infamous watercolorist, Georgia O’Keefe had a home there.
42. I hate Sushi, anchovies, liver, and most fish.
43. I LOVE lobster, crab, shrimp, Cajun catfish!
44. I love the mountains in the winter. I particularly love the mountains of NC and the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee (in and around Gatlinburg).
45. I’ve lived in Nashville most of my life and never been to the Grand Ole Opry.
46. I like most types of music, except heavy metal, blues, rap, and hard rock.
47. I’ve always wanted to write a book!
48. I’ve also always wanted to write a song, preferably a praise and worship song!
49. I love to read, mostly inspirational books. Occasionally, however, I like a good romance novel.
50. I used to collect children’s books, as many of them have powerful underlying messages in them.
51. I also used to collect Santas, birds and rabbits; now I collect Nativity sets.
52. I haven’t been blogging very long, and I don’t blog every day, but I hope to do better. I want my blog to be inspirational and fun, not controversial, and I want any and everything I say to be said with integrity and to honor God.
53. I do not like to cook~ my family is picky!
54. One day I will go to Africa; I have friends who are full time missionaries there: (1) in Uganda, a young single girl, Katie (Amazima Ministries) and a couple and their girls, Brenda and Gary Kean in Kenya (Kean & Co., Inc.)
55. Growing up we had cats and dogs, and they were allowed in the house. My husband will not allow our animals in the house.
56. I LOVE the beach. For the past probably 15 years my sister and I have taken my children and sometimes a friend or 2 of theirs to Destin, FL. for spring break! LOVE IT!
57. This summer I will make my 7th mission trip to Santiago, Dominican Republic. My husband and son will go as well. (through GO Ministries)
58. My middle daughter just graduated from college and is now a NICU Nurse at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in Nashville, TN.
59. I have a 27-year old daughter, a 23-year old daughter, and a 15-year old son!
60. For years I have said I want to win a car! Still do!
61. Before I die I want to own an upscale junk/antique/thrift store, where people rent booth space. I also want to be able to purchase and sell my own things from estate/yard/garage sales, AND have a little tea room in there, AND an art studio, where I can have various art teachers come in a teach classes. Parents can bring their children to class, stay and shop, get a bite to eat, etc. Main problem is $$$$$ and location, location, location!
62. I want to learn to play the guitar!
63. If I could I would have a therapeutic massage weekly.
64. I have some type of headache nearly every day of my life and have since I was in 3rd grade; many are tension, some are migraines, AND I have 2 bulging discs in my neck, so many are caused by the way I sit at the computer, sit in a car, etc.
65. I am legally blind in my left eye (20/280) and almost perfect vision in my right eye (20/30); so even though I should wear glasses, I see very well without them.
66. I LOVE Christmas and start decorating my house the weekend following Halloween! I take it all down the day after Christmas.
67. I go to “After Christmas Sales” the day after Christmas, with a list of people in hand, and buy most of the following years’ gifts on sale! I bring them home, wrap them and label them, and store them in the attic in those large Rubbermaid containers.
68. For the last several years I have done a Christmas painting that I have scanned, shrunk and printed into our Christmas cards!
69. I love cruises – been on 2 major cruises PLUS a Hawaiian Island cruise.
70. I am blessed with some incredible girlfriends, and I so enjoy spending time with my GF’s!
71. I am a giving person, with the gift of “helps” and “hospitality”. Nothing thrills me more than to be able to help someone in whatever way they need! I receive so much blessing in return!
72. Last year I slept in a tree house in the rain forest in Guatemala with no electricity; my roommate was a friend who though I was insane when I volunteered us to sleep in it! It was definitely an adventure.
73. I do not like anything Sci-Fi; I don’t get into movies or books like “Harry Potter”.
74. I don’t like to fly; I used to until I had children; then I started being afraid. However, I think I would like to be a flight attendant, but only on Southwest, my favorite airline!
75. Garage sales/yard sales are a favorite past time! I absolutely love getting a bargain!
76. I stay with a 97-year old bedridden adorable lady in her home on Tuesday evenings for 4-hours; then on Wednesday evening I go in at 5 and stay until Thursday morning at 7 AM. I LOVE older people!
77. I have spent every Christmas Eve of my life in my parent’s home (and we live on the same property; yet I still want to spend Christmas Eve at their home!) In other words, I like tradition!
78. I do not like change-period!
79. Winter is my favorite season, though Tennessee winters are no longer like they were when I was growing up. We used to have several deep snowfalls every year, lots of days out of school, and tons of fun. My children have never known that, and that saddens me!
80. I had my tonsils and adenoids taken out at age 3 and I can still vividly see the room I was in, the OR room, and feel the sore throat I felt in my mind’s eye, as if it were yesterday!
81. I am a frou-frou kind of lady!
82. I love color! My living room and dining room walls are a deep red; my den walls are terra cotta stucco; my kitchen walls are butter yellow!
83. My favorite books include: The Bible; The Shack (William P. Young); Redeeming Love (Francine Rivers); The Screwtape Letters (C.S. Lewis); Blue Like Jazz (Donald Miller); Heart of the Artist (Rory Noland)
84. I don’t watch much TV; when I do I just watch bits and pieces most of the time, like: Dr. Phil, Today, Anderson Cooper, The Bachelor/Bachelorette, American Idol, Dancing With the Stars
85. The car I’m driving is a 1996 Mercury Villager Van, which we purchased new; it has 250,000+ miles on it.
86. I’ve had my hair several different colors, but not necessarily always by choice.
87. I’ve worn my hair in many different styles, long and short. My husband once made a photo album entitled: “The Many Hairstyles of Lisa”---NOT FUNNY!
88. I have broken my right arm, my right ankle; I have had several surgeries, none serious, praise the Lord!
89. I have a shoe-fetish! My husband says he will have to have a separate casket to bury my shoes in. So, I guess he believes I’m going to die first. But, it IS true that I cannot wear the same pair of shoes in Heaven everyday. I mean, seriously! 
90. I love turquoise jewelry—really turquoise anything!
91. I love Native American Indian history, artifacts, jewelry…and enjoying going to the NAIA Pow-Wow in Nashville every October.
92. The only type of pottery I really like is Raku, and one day I want to learn how to make it.
93. I would enjoy traveling much more often than I am able to. I would like to visit Australia, Sweden, Scotland, Alaska, back to Switzerland and Austria, and more cruises would be fine, too.
94. I do not like the fragrance of rose except on real roses.
95. My birthstone is the Opal, but I do also love diamonds! Image that!
96. Most of my really nice jewelry is yellow gold. Years ago, my dear friend, who only really wore Sterling Silver, stayed on me for a long time to begin wearing Sterling. I did not want to. However, after a long time I agreed to wear a little of it. Well, guess what! I never wear yellow gold now! In fact, I recently sold much of my gold, as gold is at an all time high.
97. One day I’m going to start exercising regularly (after I stop procrastinating!) I want to do it to the point that I crave it, so I won’t have to force myself to get up and walk or work out!
98. I’m a huggy, touch, feely person, as is most of my family!
99. It’s hard for me to relax and not be busy doing something. For example, if I’m watching TV, I’m usually doing something else, as well. I find it hard to “stop and smell the roses!”
100. I’m bored writing about me, and my hat’s off to you if you took the time to read all of this! If so, please leave a comment!

Our Passionate Christ!

Happy Good Friday! Happy only in that we know the end of the story, and that the grave was not Jesus' final destination! Today we reflect on the brutality imposed upon our Savior...the beating, the flogging, the mocking and condemnation, the horrific inhumane treatment reserved only for the most hardened criminals of that day; yet our precious Lord, who knew no sin became sin for us, so that we may have life NOW and eternally! I cannot wrap my brain around that; I do not understand why He would so willingly endure the horror of crucifixion for me?!?!?! Yet, in faith, I know HE did! HALLELUJAH! What a Savior! What a man!

Our pastor, Pete Wilson, received an email this week that he posted on his blog; an excerpt follows: "Pete, do me a favor this year and celebrate the resurrection of Christ as if you were there to witness it in person. Be amazed and marvel at it all as if it’s the first time you’ve heard it."

Pete follows up with this: "That statement kicked me in the teeth. Like many of you I’m up to my eyeballs in the details and logistics of pulling off a major Easter weekend. I’m distracted, maybe a little stressed and certainly carrying all kind of concerns. But I just want to issue this challenge to all of us as we draw closer to this weekend......Worshipers, I pray you’ll open your heart and raise your voice and pour out all you have and all you are in honor of a God who has defeated death so you may have life...I pray this weekend we’ll all drop our cynicism, egos, and agendas and will stand amazed and marvel at the wonder of a God who has set us free from the penalty and the power of sin!"

I, too, pray that each of us will treat this Easter like it's our first ~ our first celebration of His resurrection; and maybe we should treat it as if it's our last celebration! Next stop? Face to face with our Savior! IF this were your last celebration of the resurrected Lord, how would you worship differently on Sunday? Would it really matter what you wore to church? Would it make a difference if your hair was perfectly groomed and your makeup applied just right? Would you wear a smile on your face even though you are screaming in agony inwardly? When people asked you how you are, would you give the expected pat answer "fine", even though your life is falling apart?

Finite man has limited tolerance and understanding of our lot in life; infinite eternal God knows our individual lives from beginning to end, and He cares about every single detail of every life....passionately, endlessly, lovingly, and mercifully! I pray this Easter you will lay yourself on the altar of Christ, naked, without pretense and ask Him to bathe you in the reality of all His resurrection from the grave means to you. WORSHIP HIM! ADORE HIM! THANK HIM! BASK IN HIM! Oh, how he loves you and me!
Again, I ask: Why would Jesus willingly endure the cross? I don't know! But God does:

WOW! The gulf between us and our God was bridged by Jesus Christ! AMEN!

I pray for each of you a most blessed, joyous, reflective, precious Easter season!


Yesterday I forgot to include in my post my "Attitude of Gratitude", so I will post 2 today:

I am grateful to live in a country of freedoms...freedom to live and worship where I choose!

I am grateful that my Lord knows everything about me and loves me anyway~unconditionally!

The Passing of a Local News Icon

Last night Nashville, TN. lost a local news Icon, Dan Miller, of WSMV, our local NBC affiliate. Dan actually served two stints in Nashville ~ he was here doing the news when I was a child, and I had a big crush on him! He then went to California and did a gig with Pat Sajak (who used to do the news in Nashville, too)! Nashville loved him and missed him SO much that he came back, and he's been here ever since. He was the only newscaster my family watched, night after night after night. We knew Dan was telling it straight! Oh, how Nashville is going to miss him!

I suppose until someone like that is gone, you really don't realize the impact he/she had on you. I never knew him personally; yet I felt like I did. He smiled a lot; he had a calm, gentle demeanor; he liked to joke, but appropriately so; his co-anchor, Demetria Kalodimos, had been with him for years and years doing the news. At the end of the broadcast they would bump elbows. I doubt most people even noticed-I didn't until my husband pointed it out not long ago.

Dan was from Augusta, GA., and he loved going back "home". He was actually in Augusta and "The Masters" Golf Tournament with 2 of his best buds, Rudy Kalis and Terry Bulger, both also newscasters on WSMV. They had spent the day at the course, mixing and mingling with the golfers; they had dinner; then he decided he wanted to walk the streets of the neighborhood where he grew up. Rudy was already dressed for bed, but decided to walk with him. After a few moments, he got winded; a few minutes later he grabbed Rudy's arm and collapsed. He never regained consciousness.

He was an incredible husband; a wonderful father and grandfather; and so respected by this community. His absence is going to be felt for a long time! It's just a reminder that each of us should live every day as if it were our last. If you were to live like that, how would you be spending your last day?

We would appreciate your prayers around here! I'm sure you can find videos on YouTube, and you can check out and read about him and the impact he had!

Blessings on you this beautiful Easter season, as we celebrate our risen Savior! HALLELUJAH!

Wednesday's Walk Down Memory Lane

***Hope you'll join us each Wednesday as we share memories! Just click on the link on the side bar and join in the fun!***

I’m coming up on my 29th wedding anniversary June 21! Twenty-nine years is a lllloooonnnngggg ttttiiiimmmmeeee to be married to one man, huh! He would probably say it was a long time to be married to me (and I wouldn’t blame him!) It’s been a love that has matured over the years; there have been various compromises made on both sides; there have also been situations we perceive differently, and never the twain shall meet; there have been abundant blessings, namely our 3 children, our son-in-law, and our two granddaughters! Rodney is a Godly man, who works relentlessly for his family! He has amazing talent to do anything he sets his mind to. I would not know what to do if we had to pay a plumber, electrician, mechanic, or any other “fix-it” person! He can repair virtually anything, which at times presents a challenge; yet that motivates him even more to figure it out! It’s pretty amazing! He is an engineering manager at a water heater company, and I’ve been told he’s an awesome “boss’! Rodney is very artistically inclined, and can draw anything you ask in~ in 2-D, 3-D, on a CAD System, by hand, in exact perspective, with no pattern or plans to follow! As an artist myself, that amazes me! In fact, suffice it say I’m particularly envious of that gift! Oooopppppssss---can I say “envy” as a Christian and not be sinning? Oh, well, it won’t be the first time, and likely not the last….praise the Lord He loves me anyway. Have I mentioned that my husband is very good looking? Well, see for yourself! One of the first things I noticed about him when I met him on a blind date at his brothers house was…..are you ready for this?.......hope no one is offended by this……still ready?......OK, OK, OK…..be patient…..ssshhh….don’t tell him because he would be embarrassed I blogged about it…..promise you won’t tell?......OK,…….his cute butt! THERE! I said it! Now the whole world knows! Well, just sayin’……at least I’m being honest!



So, having prefaced the real thought behind today’s Wednesday’s Walk down Memory Lane with a thorough introduction of my husband, let me continue…

When I met Rodney he was enjoyed spelunking! He was enamored with caves! Growing up in Lynchburg, TN., (yes, home of Jack Daniels Distillery, where he was working when I met him—I was a school teacher at the Elementary school there, and his sister-in-law introduced us), he had caves all around to explore. He knew some of them like the back of his hand. One weekend, while I was staying with at his brother and sister-in-law’s house, Rodney asked me to go “caving” with him. That was not alluring to me in any way, shape, form or fashion! I did NOT want to go! But he pleaded with me, so I agreed. However, I had no appropriate spelunking attire! “Not to worry”, he said, “you can wear a pair of my coveralls! And your tennis shoes should do!” Don’t you know I made a fashion statement !



We arrived at the cave entrance and I was petrified! I asked him if anyone else would be in there; he assured me it would only be us. He led the way in, and I gripped his hand with all my strength. The ground was like slick clay, so much of the time I was in a most unnatural quasi-split pose! He was especially patient while I regrouped; then we continued on. It was dark; it smelled musty; it was cold (56 degrees year round); the only light we had came from the helmets on our heads. You should have seen me! Oh my goodness! Femininity would not be a word that described me that day! Can you say “homely”?



I asked repeatedly, “Are you sure we are the only ones in here?” He promised we were! We finally made it to a huge rock where we could sit down and “rest a spell”! Trust me, I needed rest! (and Valium!) What I really wanted was OUT OF THERE! We sat there, shining our lights on the graffiti written on the cave walls, and Rodney said, “Uh, Lisa, remember when I told you we were the only ones in here?” “Yep”, I said, “did you lie to me?” “Well I didn’t really lie”, he said, “but there are a few bats above us!” I almost wet my britches! SERIOUSLY! I said, “Get me out of here, right this minute!” He tried his best to calm me down with his sweet talkin’, calm spirit….I demanded we leave! I felt like I had done my duty and gone in a cave with him; I assured him it would never happen again! Just before we left he said, “Can I ask you a question first?” “Hurry up”, I said. “This is not funny, Rodney!” He said, “You don’t have to answer me now, but would you marry me?!” The audacity, I thought! He tricked me just so he could propose in this dark hole! My response: “Get me out of here and I’ll do anything!” It wasn’t until he safely got me back out of that cave that I gave him my “final answer’ of yes! When my mother saw the photos of us before entering the cave and after exiting the cave, she said, “Honey, if he proposed to you looking like that, he must really love you!” A word of advice: IF you ever go into a cave, pretend you are under anesthesia, and follow the same post-op instructions: don’t make any major decisions and don’t sign any documents!



And the rest, as they say, is history!

Although we’ve had our ups and downs, highs and lows, good times and bad times, we have managed to hang in there one day at a time. Some days are just plain hard! Others seem much easier! I thank God for 29-years and pray there will be many more!



Oh, and one more thing~ below are a couple of photos of his mid-life creativity! He built it out of an old pick up truck chassy and (2) Triumph GT6 bodies. He cut the truck off the chassy, he took the Triumps apart and used pieces from each, put it together, complete with a roll-bar inside, painted it his favorite color of green, and calls it "The Green Machine". Gets about 5 MPG; has people pull him over on the road when he test drives it because they are so curious! I'm afraid he may cause someone to have an accident!












~ I'm grateful for a husband who loves me even when I’m unlovable…and doesn’t give up on me!