Paradise:  This Side Of Heaven

(Gulf Shores, Alabama)

 

So, on the last morning of 2014 I happened to wake up at the break of dawn.  I drew back the curtains and gently tugged on the sliding glass door.  Low and behold!  God said, "Good morning Debra!"

 

I said, "Good morning Lord. Thank you for the show!" 

 

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Psalm 19:1

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Christmas Confessions

It's true. For years and years my husband and I "lied" to our children.  We told them that Santa had visited our house on Christmas Eve and brought them presents while they lay sleeping in their beds.  We participated in this fairy tale tradition as born again believers. We never once regretted doing so.  At some point along the way our children got a clue it was really Mom and Dad and that it was just a fun way to make believe.  It was fun and games. To this day I've yet to have one of my children confront us on why we "lied" to them as children. All three of my children have grown up to be mature, well adjusted Christians.  None of them seem to be angry with us that we hoaxed them all those years at Christmas time.

Recently, a pastor from Harlem, Georgia posted three words on his church lawn signage. Santa is Satan. 

What?  Really?

I suppose Satan could disguise himself as Santa. Satan uses many disguises. He disguised himself  as an angel of light. Is it possible he could be disguised as a preacher from Harlem, Georgia? Sorry, but that sign was really mean!

And as some of us know, "there is nobody as mean as people being mean for Jesus."  (Rev. Welton Gaddy)

If one looks for evil he will surely find it.
If one looks for goodness he too will surely find it.

At Thanksgiving this year my grandchildren were visiting. I had purchased quite a pitiful and puny Christmas tree. Almost a Charlie Brown Christmas tree.  We decided to decorate it anyway. I thought it would be fun for us to cover it in tinsel. And cover it we did! We had the most fun throwing that stuff all over it. What a mess!  But what a memory!

My grandchildren without a doubt know that  the Christmas tree is a decoration.  The tinsel we plastered it with is a sparkly decoration. Bells, lights, ornaments, AND Jolly Old Saint Nick (Santa) all decorations and play like stuff.

They know as most every Christian knows that the reason for the season is Jesus. His birth. Oh Holy night that it was!

Isn't there enough war on Christmas by unbelievers?
Must supposedly believers now join in the same war?

I've never known one person to say Santa Claus kept them from knowing Jesus.

So stop with the Santa is Satin stuff.  It just makes you look mean, cold hearted and hateful.  It does nothing to promote grace, kindness, love or mercy. No one will come to Christ or your church because you hate Santa Claus.

Merry Christmas everyone AND Happy Holidays too!
(Yes, I am one of those rare breed of people who happen to love Jesus, live in the South and be quite liberally minded. After all the title of  this post is Christmas Confessions and I don't understand when the greeting Happy Holidays became a curse word. )

Blessings of peace and all that is good,
Debra

*photo from www.allposters.com*
  

TRAINS

(www.allposters.com)

 

If I were to ever to write a book the opening scene would involve the main character on a very long train ride. At night. And the  rhythm of the clickety-clack, clickety-clack would be exceedingly hypnotizing.

 

At some point--perhaps at the onset of my "Golden Years"--I fell in love with trains. I've known of many men that have this fascination and I've visited many of their blogs.  I just don't recall reading about many ladies with this interest.  Why I got to always be weird I don't know.

 

A long time ago my husband was going through a difficult time at work.  I advised him that he needed to just take a mental vacation to relieve the stress. Just take a trip somewhere in his head.

 

So, this morning, having just got off of work, I shared with him my woes at work.  It seems the moon has been full forever. This morning driving home I actually howled at it to just please go away! Full moons really affect the mood of my unit.  I ordinarily like to run a very tight ship. But it's more like a ship without a sail when the moon is full...without a sail and a whole lotta cray cray. But I digress.

 

So, I was sharing my woes and he advises me I just need to go lay down and take a mental vacation.

 

And that is just what I will do.

 

I'm on a very long train ride. At night. And the  rhythm of the clickety-clack, clickety-clack is exceedingly hypnotizing. Clickety- clack, clickety-clack, don't come back...

 

I feel better already... 

 

 

  

Bidding October Adieu

 

October is my favorite month of the year.  I said goodbye to her today.  It was a most beautiful day today in South Mississippi.  The weather was wonderful all day long!  The high being in the high 60's for most of the day.  The wind blew scattering the fallen leaves everywhere.

 

My children, grandchildren, and great grandchild visited.  Special friends and love ones too.  They entertained me with their life like costumes of Super Heroes. Awesome! I think next year I will dress up too. I have no idea who I will be. Maybe I will dress up as a detox nurse, I will have some magical power to rid the world of  drug and alcohol addiction just by waving a wand. I can dream can't I?

 

I met my husband in October when I was fourteen years old.  He asked me to dance and dance we did!

 

Football season gets cranked up really good in October.  Don't know if anyone has noticed but looks like it might be a pretty good year for Mississippi! Right or wrong we really do live, eat and breath football here in the South. Nothin' ever really gonna change that. 

 

The best friend I ever had, AKA my daughter, got very good news on Thursday of this week concering a potential health issue.  We praise God He answered favorably.  Our hearts hurt for those that whose reports might not have been as good.  Lord bless and help them is my prayer. 

 

I will miss October.

 

It will be a year before I see her again!

 

October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came—
The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand,
Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the band.

The Chestnuts came in yellow,
The Oaks in crimson dressed;
The lovely Misses Maple
In scarlet looked their best;
All balanced to their partners,
And gaily fluttered by;
The sight was like a rainbow
New fallen from the sky

 

 

 

 

Blessings of Peace Ya'll

 Debra

 

 

  

How Did It Get So Late So Soon? 

 

 

My husband and I at Grand Canyon National Park. This month(October 2014) we will have been together 47 years since we first met. I am amazed at God's greatness and His faithfulness!



 

 

Will someone please tell me where 2014 went?  And for that matter I would like to know where the last 30 years went!  No, I don't have Alzheimer's (yet).

 

In recent days I have given much thought to the brevity of life. We are all here for such a tiny, tiny span of time. It seems like just yesterday that I was a kid.  It was yesterday that I was a new bride.  Yesterday that my children were small.  There are days (not many mind you) that I want my babies back.  Now my babies have children and grandchildren of their own.  How is that possible?  Where did all that  time go?

 

 

"How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon.  December is here before its June.  My goodness how the time has flewn.  How did it get so late so soon?" ~~Dr. Seuss~~

 

Psalm 103

¹⁴ For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
¹⁵ As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
¹⁶ For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
¹⁷ But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;

Desert Spaces And Places






Badwater Basin Death Valley

This past July my husband and I went to the desert.  About a year before I had become fascinated or more aptly put , obsessed with the desert . I had watched a documentary about ultra marathon runners that run a 135 mile race in Death Valley-- in July.  That's 135 miles in July -- in temperatures often exceeding 120 degrees!! Sounds impossible doesn't it? If you google Badwater Ultra-marathon you can read all about it.

I'm never going to run Badwater. Nor walk it. Nor crawl it. But I thought I might be brave enough to drive through it-- in July-- in a rental car --perhaps? Nah...we opted for a tour of it instead. Amazing is all I can say...and hot--very, very hot!

The only thing bad about visiting Death Valley is having to stay in Las Vegas. The nearest adjacent metropolis.  I can't think of two people more out of place than my husband and I in Las Vegas.  It was comical really. And I almost died in the Cheese Cake Factory, deep within the recesses of Caesars Palace, but that's a story for another day.

Las Vegas is a desert within a desert. A spiritual desert of vast proportions. But where sin abounds grace does much more abound.  And oh my! The potential for grace there is off the chain. 

Sin abounds...Grace does much more abound...took me half a life time  to learn that. 

I got it now.

Blessings of peace and all that is good.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Dabs of Mercy

 

I came across this quote the other day that really resonated deep within my spirit. It's from the movie "The Secret Life of Bees."

 

"The world will give you that once in awhile, a brief timeout; the boxing bell rings and you go to your corner, where somebody dabs mercy on your beat-up life.”
― Sue Monk Kidd, The Secret Life of Bees: 

 

Now I've not seen this movie in a very long time and I don't really remember what this quote is related to, but it surely spoke volumes to me just on the surface of it.

 

This is sad to say, but some of the meanest, harshest, most unforgiving, unloving, judgmental people I've ever met were at church! Shocking, I know, but so very true. You may ask me well, where in the world have you been going to church? The answer is I've been going to your average, ordinary Baptist church for at least 39 years now. 

 

And yes, I have also met some of the most beautiful, loving, forgiving, kindest, Godly people in those 39 years as well. The ones that "dab mercy" instead of misery if you will.

 

It's the "dab misery" ones that bother me though.  You know the ones that always seem to take some sick, self righteous pleasure in kicking "the least of these" when they are down.  If you live long enough your going to mess up. Make a very costly mistake. Get a divorce. Compromise your Christian witness. Miss a Wednesday night church service. Miss two Sundays in a row! And heaven help the Christian who against all odds has given in to the evil desire for an all you can eat crab leg buffet at the local casino! When you do mess up,  trust me when I say those that "dab misery" will be there in full force to make sure you feel guilty, insignificant, condemned and less of a Christian than they are.

 

People often come to church seeking a time out. The world has not been good to them. They need a place of refuge. They need nourishment, comfort, support. How disappointing it must be to sometimes be met  with judgment instead of love and kindness. I would remind my judgmental brothers and sisters( dabbers of misery) that where sin abounds grace should so much more abound. 

 

Oh! but those that "dab mercy"! Those blessed ones who dab out mercy as if there were oceans full of it. Those that are like healing streams found by a weary desert wanderer. Those who uplift the misfit and misunderstood. Those who mimic the Father of mercies and God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3).

 

Oh! don't you just want to be a dabber of mercy?

God help me to be a more of a dabber of mercy and less of a dabber of misery! That is my prayer.


2 Corinthians 1 King James Version (KJV)

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

² Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
³ Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
⁴ Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
⁵ For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

Blessings of peace and all that is good
Debra aka MeMaw

 

    

The Agony Of Defeat
 

Through the years of my writing this blog I've shared some painful experiences.  Not all were painful but some were very much so.  I found that putting things in writing were very healing to me and I got a sense of peace about issues that I didn't expect to otherwise have.  So with that in mind, I'd like to share once again.
 

The issue is trivial, at best, in the grand scheme of things. I know that and I realize that.  There are people that wake up everyday and have REAL battles to fight. Some fight cancer, sickness, poverty, loss of limb, loss of mind or loss of loved ones.  And while we're talking about it, loss of spirit is no walk in the part either.  So, with that in mind indulge me, if you will, with my sad song.
 

About a year ago I set out to walk a marathon.  For those who may not know, that is a distance of 26.2 miles.  I have for years dreamed of going to New Orleans and completing the New Orleans Rock and Roll Marathon.  In 2010 my daughter and son-in-law completed this race in my honor and I wanted to reciprocate.  In my mind it was also a way for me to claim a final victory over all the negative things that had ever happened there from my childhood.
 

So about last April my husband and I began a journey that would culminate on a cold/rainy/ foggy Sunday morning in New Orleans, February of this year.
                                   

After months and months of walking--walking in the heat--walking in the rain--walking in the cold,  the day had finally arrived.  The goal was very realistic--walk 26.2 miles in 7 hours.  In the marathon world that is at a snails pace!  Thankfully, my daughter was there to walk with me as I knew she would keep me on pace.  I also knew that my husband at some point would walk ahead of me as he is faster.
 

Things started out pretty well.  As best as can be expected I guess.  No lofty goals for me except to finish.  The temperature went from cold to hot pretty quickly.  It tends to do that when your in constant movement.
 

Well somewhere between mile 4 and 5 things went south.  Big time south! Simply put, I started pooping in my pants and could not stop pooping (sorry, there's no other way to explain).  I could have handled one "accident" or even two,  but this was an "accident" of volcanic proportions the likes of which I have never experienced. 
 

By mile 10 my continual "accidents" had made it into my shoes. My pretty, hot pink, special race day, shoes!  Thankfully, I was wearing long black pants. At that point I sat down on the curb of the street. I was done. I asked my daughter to see if she could get us a taxi back to the hotel.  She could not. All the streets were closed on the race route.  It was 4 miles back to the hotel and 3 miles to the Half Marathon finish line.
 

I didn't want to do a half marathon.  That wasn't the plan. I had already done a half marathon and was here for a FULL marathon.  Without much choice and with my daughter's encouragement, I got up and started walking toward the half marathon finish line.  Who knows, it might stop, right?
 

Wrong. The "accidents" continued and continued. At about mile eleven I decided that if we could just find a water hose, my daughter could just  hose me down, I would dry off from the heat of the day and still have a chance at completing the marathon.  We happened upon a service station but as luck would have it they did not have a water hose.  But...they did have gallon jugs of water.
 

Yep!  We stood right there in that service station parking lot and my daughter poured 3 gallons of water down my pants, right there in front of our good Lord and everyone.  What a sight we must have been to behold.  My daughter said it was a real Steel Magnolia moment!
 

I wished I could say at this point things got better, but they didn't.  The water made things messier and more uncomfortable than they already were under my clothes. If you know what I mean. And to top it all, I kept right on going in my britches. Mile 12 I knew there was no going on to finish a full marathon.
 

I hated it because I knew my daughter wanted me to continue. I knew my husband  and other children would want me to continue and most of all I wanted to continue. But I could not. Not on this day.
 

This day would be the day I finished a Half Marathon...13.1 miles...covered in poop from waist down at 4 hours 12 minutes and 7 seconds.
 

And that dear friends was the agony of my defeat!
 

PS: My husband went on to complete the full marathon in 7 hours and 29 minutes.
 

"Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checked by failure...than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat." Theodore Roosevelt

   

  

 

10 Things About My Mother

She liked to color her hair red. I don't remember a time her hair was not auburn or red... except for maybe the brief period of time she wore a platinum blonde wig. She had bought a mink coat to go with it.  Apparently Daddy's credit was still good at D. H. Holmes department store.

She had pretty green eyes. When she cried they became a bright emerald colored green.

My Mama had an affinity for flawed people.  Apparently that is a trait that is passed on in DNA.  With Mama it was a social thing. I made it an occupation.

Mama used to gather up all our old clothes .  When we would go visit my Granny  in Monroeville, Alabama she would take them to Maebell-- my Granny's long time colored maid--who had at least 10 children.

Mama liked Maebell and would stay and visit with her for what seemed like hours on end.  Sometimes I went with Mama down to Maebell's tiny shack.  I can still see her sitting on one end of Maebell's bed--Maebell on the other end nursing her newborn-- them laughing, talking and carrying on just like they were best friends.  It was the first time I ever seen someone nurse a baby. It seemed weird to me at the time.

Another time while visiting Granny I had two baby teeth pulled right before the trip to her house. After arriving my gums began to bleed and would not stop. My Dad and Grandmother were very nonchalant about it.  But I kept bleeding...and bleeding .  Mind you my Grandmother lived in a very rural area and who knows where a dentist might be. Well my Mama put me in the car--by herself--rushed me through those red dirt back roads into Monroeville--found a dentist at a baseball game--who rushed me to his office and finally got the bleeding to stop.  The dentist thought at the time I might be a "free bleeder".  As it turns out I was not as I never had a bleeding episode like that again.

One year Mama got everyone socks and underwear for Christmas.  She passed on to me the same knack for gift giving. 

Mama like to play poker. She had a little red coin purse. Sometimes that little purse would be bulging with money-- other times it would be empty . Such is the life...sigh. My daughter says one time Grandma was babysitting her and asked her if she wanted to play "52 Pick Up".  Grandma was shuffling a deck a cards. My daughter--@ 5 years old-- says sure! Next thing she knows the cards are scattered all over the floor and room.  Grandma laughed and said--there they are! Now pick them up!

In 1966 Mama bought a 1952 aqua blue Cadillac.  I don't think we ever went anywhere in it.  It broke down soon after she bought it. It stayed parked in front if our house and became a great place for me and my friends to sit and have long talks in.

My Mama is in heaven now.  I didn't know how much I loved her.  How could I have not known for so long?

I love you Mama

Happy Mother's Day in heaven.

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8

Silent night

It is the wee hours of Christmas Eve morning here.  I notice the silence of this cold, dark night most especially this morning. The silence seems to bring back memories.  It calls me way back to a Christmas past.

One of the sweetest Christmas Eve memories I hold is singing that precious song "Silent Night". I was just a third grader and my cousin had come to spend the night with me. We lived in one of those very large "shot gun" houses in New Orleans. Coincidentally , at the time, we lived on Music Street. My grandmother had bedded the two of us together in one twin bed as she was to sleep in the other twin bed. In this room was a big 'old  television --early 1960's style.  On top the TV was a small aluminum Christmas tree. Quite popular of that day and time. I thought that was just the most beautiful tree in the world! 

So here it was Christmas Eve and my cousin and I snuggled into bed all warm and cozy. We were excited it was Christmas Eve and excited and happy to be spending the night together.  We had a perfect view of the Christmas tree. Granma had turned the lights off and that tree just glowed and sparkled in the dark with the blue, red, gold and white rotating flood light shinning upon it. 

We could not contain our joy and we broke out singing Christmas carols as we lay there! After awhile we started singing "Silent Night". We sang it over and over again! It was as if we could not stop. Silent night! Holy night! All is calm! All is bright!

In that childhood moment I felt such peace, happiness, calmness and security.  Feelings that were foreign to my little troubled heart and home life.

There is not a time that I sing Silent Night-- even now --after all these many years--that it does not take me back to that particular time and place. It never fails to put a lump in my throat and brings tears to my eyes!

Silent night, holy night!

All is calm, all is bright!

Christ the Saviour is born!

Merry Christmas everyone!

My Christmas wish for you is that you may have the peace, happiness, calmness and security that only Christ our Lord can give.

~~~the words to silent night were composed by a Catholic priest by the name of Joseph Mohr.~~~

While I Was Gone

It's hard to believe that it has been nearly a year since I wrote anything on this blog.  It wasn't planned to take a break but one day the words stopped coming.  Even now it is still difficult, but in my spirit I feel it is time to at least try. And so I will.

Much has changed in the past year and yet much remains the same. Quite frankly I don't know where the time went. Seems it just flew by.

Time, what a precious commodity that is!  My children don't like for me to say this but I will--I have more days behind me that I have before me.  But I hope to be a good steward of how ever many days the Lord has left for me.  I hope I can at least do that.

Earlier this year my precious son in law lost his mother and her presence has been and will be sorely missed this holiday season.  There have been others that have gone on before her.  My own Mom and Dad, grandmothers and grandfathers--aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.  I can only imagine what a wonderful time they must be having in heaven. I miss them all so very much but when I think of them all together in gloryland it causes my heart to leap for joy and brings tears to my eyes because I know, let me repeat this, I KNOW, that this life is not the end of our story. There will be a great reunion day someday and as the song says, what a great day that will be!

 Blessings of peace & all that is good.
 Merry Christmas everyone!

 Gone From My Sight
 By Henry Van Dyke

I am standing upon the seashore.
A ship, at my side, spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

 Then, someone at my side says, "There, she is gone"

 Gone where? Gone from my sight. That is all.

She is just as large in mast, hull and spar as she was when she left my side. And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port. Her diminished size is in me -- not in her.

 And, just at the moment when someone says, "There, she is gone," there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!"

"In the Midst of Winter, I Finally Learned That There Was In Me An Invincible Summer” (Albert Camus)

It is a clear day--and it's true, you can very well, nearly, see forever. The sky and ocean are the same hue of deep aqua marine blue. The only degree of separation being the thousands of watery diamonds that reflect a bright white sun. There is a point, as one looks over the vast horizon, where you simply cannot define where the sea ends and the sky begins. It is very cold--forty-four degrees at high noon. The snow birds might say that is not cold but, for one that has been born and bred on the south shores of Louisiana and Mississippi, it's cold.

The seagulls are amazingly graceful creatures. If by some strange stretch of the imagination I could not be a human, I think I would like to be a seagull. The sheer elegant fashion in which they fly and go about their daily business intrigues and fascinates me for hours on end.

The rhythmic sound of the waves breaking gently on the shores are calming and the sea spray is like some sort of magical healing medicine. My husband and I have been visiting this tiny south Alabama town with its beautiful sea shores for some forty years now. We have both acknowledged and agreed it is our favorite place to visit. We brought our children here in the summer time--the summer of our lives and journey together. We're likened to the snow birds now--flocking here in the dead of winter-- standing on the precipice of the winter of our own lives and journey here. I am not afraid though. I promise I am not.

I used to say (when I was younger) that I would grow old "gracefully". Now that I'm just about there I have no idea what that looks like or even what that is suppose to mean. Can anyone make wrinkles go away forever? Skin not sag and hair no longer be gray no matter how much dye you have used to cover it up? I could go off on a tangent here but, I would digress.

My family and I had a wonderful Christmas together. We celebrated a few days early. I finally waved the white flag on trying to have everyone gather on the 24th or 25th. It was getting a little crazy to accommodate everyones schedules in that short of time span, so we celebrated on December 22nd. My family has  multiplied and grown and with growth there is always change.  The good news is change  brings blessings as well.   I did so enjoy having everyone together. There's a certain peacefulness I feel in my heart when we're all under one roof--despite the noise and chaos that comes with it. It's a package deal I would take any day of the week or month of the year. To me it's always Christmas when we are all together.

I am looking forward to the new year regardless of Washington, DC, fiscal cliffs, bad politicians and other calamities that may await us. Some may call me naive but I can't help but to believe that everything is going to be alright. I've read the book of Job and my particular understanding of that book of the Bible is that-- even if everything is wrong--it's alright. Naive and simplistic too, I guess.

One thing is certain though.  I confidently step into the new year--my sixtieth year--remembering a sermon by Rev. Fred Luter, Pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church New Orleans, once entitled, "It May Be Over My Head But It's Under HIS Feet."

Blessings of peace and all that is good,
Debra

Ephesians 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet...

MY TURN: ELECTION THOUGHTS

 

(View from room 325 on the detox unit. The cross turns a neon red at night. I can't tell you how often, in the middle of the night, while working, when this room has been empty, I've sought comfort, refuge and prayer here.)

  I am looking forward to the day that we can all one day look at each other not as "liberals" or "conservatives" but as "Americans". It makes me very sad to see what amounts to a religious war being declared between the two parties. I know Christians that belong to the liberal party and the conservative party. I also know atheist that belong to each party. I'm not grieved at all about this election or any election for that matter. God is God. He is the same God I served when Richard Nixion was President and the same God when Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton was President. My God knows no party lines contrary to what many would have you believe. Many Christians have bought this lie hook, line and sinker.

 And while I'm at it, it will be nice to have pulpits preaching the word of God again instead of giving poliitcal speeches and holding what amounts to be political rallies at church. Politcs has never saved one soul, it's the Word of God that changes hearts and minds and saves souls.

 If all your faith, hope and help and future is being placed in some politician, well my friend, your faith is in sinking sand. There is hope for America, we are a great nation, and I look to nothing but a bright and shinning future for this country because our God that hung the moon and the sun, our God that placed each and every star in the sky, our God that created the heavens and the earth and yes, our God that placed every black hole in the universe, is the SAME God that watches over you and me and this great nation.

 Isn't it time? Isn't it past time that Christians turn off Fox News, CNN, MSNBC etc and I know it seems unthinkable, but maybe even tune out of Facebook, Blogger and other distractions, and return to the Word of God, seek His face, love Jesus and love your neighbor as the Word of God commands us to do? And yes, I speak of myself as well.

 OR Christians can for the next four years continue to post mean nasty photos of President Barak Obama, bad mouth our country, remain negative about everything that happens, and turn away the very people we should be offering hope, love, and real change to.

 You know...the kind of change that changes hearts instead of political persuasions?

The Land Mass between New Orleans and Mobile

Bless their hearts....bless our hearts--Louisiana--Mississippi.

Here we are on the seventh anniversary of Hurricane Katrina once again experiencing Hurricane Isaac. No, Isaac is no Katrina not by any stretch of the imagination. But Katrina at least had the courtesy to come in, do her dastardly deeds and leave. Not so with Isaac. He thinks he'll just hang around a while. He was never welcomed here but,even if he was, he has long out worn it.

We live a good 200 miles away from the eye of Isaac and its been raining and blowing since last night. Seemingly, there is no end in sight.

Being the news junkie that I am, I can't help but be amused by the weather forecasters on the various news channels. Sometimes I just find myself yelling at the TV...JUST GET OUT OF THE RAIN FOR PETE'S SAKE! Don't they know we'll take them at their word if they tell us it is raining and blowing??? Apparently not!

I've also been quite amused this time with the "land mass between New Orleans and Mobile" controversy. It is "alleged" that someone on the Weather Channel referred to Mississippi as the "land mass" between New Orleans and Mobile in reports of Hurricane Isaac. I don't know if this really was said but no matter, it has cause an Internet outrage among Mississippians(please see "the land mass between New Orleans and Mobile's Facebook page).

What outsiders don't realize is that after Katrina many if not most Mississippians got their feelings hurt because the media's focus was primarily on that of New Orleans. It was as if the media was not aware that the Mississippi Gulf Coast had just experienced something equal to that of nuclear weapons being dropped on them! Even today any mention of Katrina always brings to mind what happened in New Orleans and not Mississippi. We Mississippians will remind you that what happened in New Orleans was a water event (the levies failed). What happened to the Mississippi Gulf Coast was a Hurricane Katrina event.

Ergo, Mississippian rage at meteorologists "land mass" comments.

I should not find it funny, but in a strange way I do. Don't get me wrong, hurricanes are never funny, but meteorologists, news people standing in the rain, and Mississippians at war over land mass comments, is pretty funny stuff--in the grand scheme of things.

I am a daughter of the South. Born in Louisiana, live and love in Mississippi, with deep paternal roots in the red clay hills of Alabama. At this very moment I have hanging in my closet a purple and gold LSU tee-shirt. I also have a maroon and white Mississippi State one as well.

Still working on that red and white Alabama one though...LOL!This could be the year I connect "the masses" and buy one.

God Is Good...All The Time!

Folks this is a tad late in posting but you know what they say...better late than never. Please allow me to introduce you to my sweet baby Gracyn. My first great grandchild! She arrived June 14th and she is just as pretty as she can be! Don't seem like I should be old enough for a great grandchild but it is clearly apparent that God thinks that I am so that settles that! Ha ha!

Blessings of peace & all that is good!

Memaw

Roots


(Pictured right is the Louisiana Cypress tree surrounded by "knees" that grow up from the roots. They say the Cypress tree roots grow as deep as the tree is tall. I've come to appreciate roots--the Cypress tree roots and that of my own as well)

It will forever be a moment frozen in time--in my mind and in my heart.

There we stood in that small tiny bathroom. Just the three of us. Three representing three generations. Mother, daughter and granddaughter. Just an ordinary afternoon of getting myself primped and all prettied up to work the night shift. The only exception was the now unexpected pleasure of a impromptu visit with my daughter and granddaughter. Life is good like that sometimes.

I recall a brief period of small talk--pleasant chatter and catching up as I hurriedly applied powder and lipstick. By now daughter had made herself comfortable perched on the commode seat and granddaughter sat Indian style on the floor. And I standing at the mirror trying desperately to camouflage what the process of oxidation had done to my fifty-nine year old face.

There came a pause to our light banter--a silence actually that looking back now seemed to stretch out for an eternity--though it was only a moment in time. Mom, my daughter finally said, Granddaughter has something she would like to tell you. Oh? I said as I turned from the mirror and looked down at my granddaughter.She looked up at me and as our gazes met no words were necessary. I knew.

All I could do was stoop down and embrace her in my arms. I can't explain the love I felt for my granddaughter in that moment--on that day. Time past, time present and time future all seem to mesh together. We were no longer three generations in that tiny bathroom but to my surprise, four! Mother, daughter, granddaughter and great-granddaughter as well!

In just a few hours from now I will be welcoming my first great-grandchild into this world. It's unbelievable to me! As I type this tears roll down my face. It's indescribable... During my bout with cancer twenty-four years ago, I struggled to believe I would live long enough to see my youngest child graduate from high school--he was only five years old at the time. Now I have seven beautiful grandchilren and in a few hours a new great-grandchild to boot!

I'll never know why or how I deserve such kindness from the Lord. I'm overwhelmed with His goodness, kindness and grace. Excuse me just a moment while I have church! Thank you!

Blessings everyone of mercy, grace, goodness and peace.
Debra

No Change Please...

Well, you leave blogger for a few minutes and then when you come back all has changed. I've not been a fan of change lately, yet everything is changing. What in the world happened to our dashboard and why is it gone? Does anyone have a dashboard or is it just me? May I have my old dashboard back please? I would like to ask blogger a lot of questions but I can't find where to ask them. Luckily it looks like I may be able to post this so I will give it a whirl and see what happens. I guess I will keep looking and searching till I figure things out! 

Had to get new cell phones today and oh my what a chore. Ended up with the Iphone. Paid more than we really wanted to but any hoo we are now officially updated. No matter, I suppose, that I have no idea what to do with all the technology of this new phone. As I write this I am missing my old outdated cell phone! I long for simplicity...boo hoo! Lol!

On a lighter note *sarcastically speaking* in a few weeks we will be going to a complete computerized charting system at work. "They say" it will make everything "easier" and "more organized". I've heard these words before and for some reason hearing this makes my heart race, my hands get sweaty, and head pound! So what to do? Hangest thou in there I suppose.

I remain thankful for the one thing in my life that never changes though. My rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my strength and salvation. My Lord!

Shalom

Like grains of sand through the hour glass...

Well, I turned 59 yesterday. Funny, I don't feel any different than I did the day before. Some people dread birthdays but not me. I love them and want to have as many as the Lord will allow me to have. I had a very pleasant, enjoyable day in the company of my husband. It was great to hear from each of my children--all three on the same day! I'm a blessed woman and grateful for each and every precious day I get to be here.

I have to confess though that I spent a good many days thinking of my mother leading up to this birthday. You see, she was just one month past her 59th birthday when God called her home. I wasn't there to see her off and have regretted that to this very day. There will be a great day of reunion someday though-- with me and my Momma-- and that thought makes me very happy! There will be other reunions but I especially look forward with great anticipation to that one!

Life is so full of joy and pain--love and loss. I cannot comprehend how one lives a life without an anchor. The Anchor. I speak of Jesus. My Rock and my refuge. It is only in Him that I find balance to the days that my life consist of. To God be the glory!

Dear friend, if you happen to find yourself in need of an an anchor, a refuge, a rock, a hiding place, I ask you to consider Jesus.

Blessings of peace & all that is good,

Debra

"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."Psalm 18:2