Sunday Sermonette

I love Chris Tomlin and on my way to Waverly today I heard this song and knew I had my blog post for today. I have been so low for so long that being at the bottom of the barrel and seeing some daylight is refreshing. As I drove I looked into the sky and saw the vapors of two jets crossing before me...forming a perfect cross...it was at that moment...I knew all was well. God speaks to me sometimes in the weirdest way...yet everytime he does speak it is always when I am still...very still...and listening. Today was one of those rare days...I was tuned in and paying attention. Enjoy the song by Chris...listen to it...read the words...claim it for your own...it fits my life as it is right now...at this very moment. I hope you can glean something for yourself from the lyrics. God Bless You Real Good Today!

Motorcycle Mama

Whoooo Hoooooo....my cousin Amanda's husband just called and asked me if I was coming to the Valley today. I told him yes, he knew my cousins wanted me to come and get some of their mom's clothing for my mom. I was glad about this too because somehow over the years my mom's clothing has become sad looking. Amanda told me that there was a striped blouse she wanted to make sure my mom got because my mom would borrow it from time to time....so I took care of my errands and headed for the Valley. Randy called me just as I crossed the river bridge and asked me where I was. When I told him my location he told me he would meet me at the house because I was having my motorcycle ride today. Randy has an awesome Harley....now...did I mention that I am terrified of motorcycles? My dad had a motorcycle accident when he was in the service and spent 18 months in the hospital trying to fix his leg. He always walked with a limp. The only motorcycle I had ever ridden on was with my cousin Terri...and she scared me to death. It was time...and Randy put my helmet on, went over some basic rules, got on the bike, and I stepped up...swung my leg over the back...and grabbed his sides. The bike cranked..and begin to move and I held my breath. Before we made it to the stop sign at the end of my aunts road I was relaxing a bit and by the time we returned I was loving the feeling of the breeze rushing over your whole body. It was awesome. At one point during the ride I thought I could actually fall asleep. It was so comforting being behind Randy, holding on to him, enjoying the beauty of the day...and the ride. I LOVED IT! To be honest with you...sad Karen got on the bike...the old real Karen got off. For the first time in over a year...I felt like myself again. I felt like there was some life left in this old body...I owe you big time Randy. BTW a couple of my friends, Susan and Mary, called just before my ride began...and when I told them what I was about to do....they told me to call them as SOON as I returned. I did...and believe me...it was a natural high. I don't know if you have ever ridden on the back of a Harley...but it is an experience I am glad I was afforded....Whooo Hooooo....look out world...another motorcycle Momma has emerged!

"Be Still...and Know..."

Psalms 46:10 says, 10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations,I will be exalted in the earth." Today is my be still day. I took today off from work because I am exhausted. I am exhausted to the bone...emotionally, mentally, and physically. I, who never sleep past 6, actually slept until close to 10 today. I have to admit that it felt awesome. I woke up feeling better than I have felt in a while. Susan and I had coffee, dressed, and ran errands that I have to take care of. We bought flowers for my dad's and brother's graves and went to the cemetary and placed them. We went to Walmart, Roses, and Longleaf and then went home and chilled until Chuck got back from his Pawn Shop excursion with Hugh (Hutch) Mask. Hugh thought Chuck might want to have some male bonding time since Frank was working and I have to admit it was great to have some alone time with Susan. After we all got back to the house we drove to Lanett for one final gathering of family to celebrate the birthdays of Ramona, Elin, Drew and Wheeler. Drew and Wheeler were actually one during the last couple of weeks...but things got tossed by the wayside because of my aunts illness and death. It was like a wake latino style. We all gathered...some 20+ of us at Del Rios and ate, laughed, cried, visited, and said goodbyes...some would be heading home in the morning. Most of us have been tied up with Bethany House for the past week and a half and it is time to return to life as we knew it. Monday...we will all return to work...and pick up where life stopped on Tuesday, March 2nd. Thank you all for your prayers and sweet comments. Happy Friday and I hope you too take some time to be still this weekend!

My House Hates Company

I discovered today that my house hates company. It does not mind small groups of two or three...but if the crowd gets much bigger than that it completely shuts down. When my dad died, the toilet AND sink in the guest bathroom stopped working. The toilet flooded like the Great Flood of Noah's time and the sink just stopped....period. We put a new flapper on the toilet and seal around the base. A plumber had to be called to fix the sink...Hey...House...we have people here...we need things working! I entertained somewhere between 50 - 75 people during that time with one completely working bathroom. We all thought that day was rather humorous...after the fact of course...BUT enough is enough. Today, Susan(my dear friend from Tennessee) and I were feeding the masses for my Aunt Shirley's funeral....and you are not going to believe this...the flapper on the toilet...in the guest bathroom messed up AGAIN! It has only been four months since the last time....but...the sink was fine! Whooo Hooo....reason to celebrate....or so I thought. I had to run pick up a DVD that was being made for us...and when I returned Chuck, Susan's precious husband, was gone....to the hardward store AGAIN...it seems the sink in the kitchen (you know the one you have to have to cook)...was non functional. We cooked yesterday...washing what we needed in the bathroom sink...while Chuckles worked on the sink. This is one of the disadvantages of an older house...stuff tears up. Oh....two of my dining room chairs broke too...it just is not my day....but you have to laugh....This would only happen to me! Happy Thursday to All. Maybe nothing else will happen this weekend!

Portrait of a Family

What is your definition of family? Well I used to think it was related people...you know kinfolks. But through the years that definition has changed. The definition I found that best fit my own thoughts and feelings would have to be the following: “We define family as any group of people related either biologically, emotionally, or legally. That is, the group of people that a person defines as significant for his or her well-being” (McDaniel et al., 2005, p. 2). Yep, that would be us. If you have been around for a long time...whether you are blood kin or not...you are family...This picture is just part of my family. The three women on the back row are my Aunt Shirley, Aunt Jo, and my mom. My grandparents Emma Jean McCain and Lee Terrell Prophitt are in the middle and the two boys are my Uncle Trollis(dark hair) and my Uncle Larry (blonde). Two Uncles, Willie and Toby are not pictured in this family shot. This family has always been one of love and music. Most of us are musical, we either sing or play something. If one of the children did not...then one of their kids did. We all grew up in singing in church and at home. Amanda and I were grown and married before we realized that everybody's family was not as musical as ours. I would have to say that our motto is "Have guitar, will travel." Music is always around. When my grandparents had been married 50 years we had a huge celebration at the Alexander City Independent Methodist Church. There was a massive crowd...but as you can see from the picture most of the crowd was us. Several of us have gone on and new faces have been added. Most of the little ones in the picture are now married with children of their own. I love my family. We are a tight family for sure. Every year we do our best to get together at least once....usually in April and catch up. We talk on the phone, we facebook, we email, We are Family! Sometimes part of us have gotten together at Thanksgiving, always at Aunt Shirleys...sometimes at Christmas, Amanda's yearly Open House, weddings, and once every few years we get together on Father's Day Saturday. That was my grandfather's birthday, June 15th. When we do that ALL the Prophitts come. It is a really large event. My grandfather was one of 14 children...and a twin to boot. Yep, my family is a large one. What a family I am blessed to have. We are all livers of life, singers of songs, lovers of family. I wish for each of you the kind of love and life I have been afforded during my 56 years. It has been a great ride so far and I look forward to many more years of the journey. Bless You All today!

Life Goes...and Life Goes On

The lady on the left is my mom in better days. The lady on the right is my Aunt Shirley. My heart is broken right now and I really needed my momma to just hold me today, but that is not going to happen...for one thing she does not know why...because I can't tell her...and for another thing...it might send her over the edge and I could not bear that thought. This week we are giving the AHSGE(Exit Exams)at school. Today was my day to be a test administrator. I got up this morning and saw where my cousin Terri had posted on her facebook account that Aunt Shirley was having seizures...and it made me feel eerie. I went to work and told my boss what was going on and prepared to give the exam. We are not allowed to have our phones on us during the test, and since my friend Mary was NOT giving the test today I gave her my phone and told her to answer it if it were from Amanda. The first break came at 90 minutes and there was no news so I relaxed a bit....but the relaxation was short lived. At 10:45 they consolidated the kids who had not finished yet and the assistant principal asked me if I had seen, or talked, to Mary. I knew something was wrong then....and began making my way to where Mary stood. She told me Amanda had just called, she had already gotten a sub for me, helped me get my lesson plans together, and got me out of the building in less than 15 minutes. I actually beat the funeral home to the Bethany House. I was glad because it meant I could have one last moment with my aunt before I let her go. I sat down beside her and touched her arm, it was still warm, and whispered to her to please take care of my dad and brother. At that moment a funny thought hit me...it is strange how humor can sneak in on grief. Since my Uncle Charlie died...my Dad had had two wives, the one he married and the one he adopted. Once when my dad was having open heart surgery the doctor asked him which one of the lovely ladies was his wife...and both Shirley and Mom answered, "I am." What a strange thought at that moment...but now it is reversed...now Shirley is the wife of two men! An era has ended...a lifetime of love, laughs, song, did I mention love is over. She will be sorely missed by all of us. She touched all of our lives in a powerful way and I am struggling right now wondering how we will continue...but continue we will...because that is what she would expect of us. My heart hurts for Terri, Amanda, Linda and Missi tonight because the tenderness of loss is still with me from the death of my father in October. My heart hurts for me because Aunt Shirley was just like a best friend/mother rolled into one package. Her legacy will live on...we will grieve for this great loss...and once again...Life goes...and life goes on! Amen!

Sisters, Sisters, There Were Never Such Devoted Sisters.

You have heard me talk about them for the past couple of years....and here they are. Terri, the oldest of Shirley's girls, is the one on the far left. She lives in California. She is a year and four days younger than I am. Amanda, is the second one from the left....she is the blonde one. She is married to Randy Brown (who we all adore)...and they have David(Susanna) and Ramonda(Dustin)...and are the grandparents of precious Drew and Wheeler. I am the middle one. These are my sisters....by another mother. Even though, Aunt Shirley will tell you in a heartbeat that I should have been hers too. I love everyone of these girls. Linda is the one to my left...and she is one of the middle children. She has blessed us with precious and handsome Lee. Melissa (Missi) is on the far end. She is the baby...and married to Clay Smith(we adore him too). They live in Nashville, Tennessee. This picture was taken one Thanksgiving at my Aunt Shirleys...we have a tradition...Thanksgiving was always at her house...she and my mom prepared the meal. Christmas was either at Amanda's or my house...and all the girls chipped in for brunch. Randy always has to make his delectable sausage gravy....I don't even like sausage gravy....but eat Randy's every year. That man can cook! I am blessed in so many ways. I have a wonderful husband, a precious daughter, my sisters, my mom, the ability to sing, ...I could go on for a long time...and no matter what life holds for me and my family....we have each other...and you just can't put a price on love like that. Happy Monday to All!