Memories of Mrs. Faye

I think in all of our lives we have someone who gives us wonderful life stories.  I have many of them.....remember I have 96 first cousins....so that is a lot of story potential.  This week has been a tough one for me.  My first cousin Cindy died on Monday night unexpectedly and then one of our congregation passed away Thursday morning.  She was one of those special people you write stories about.  So my week was filled with funeral homes and gravesites.  Thursday night was Cindy's visitation, Friday at 2 was her funeral....near Ashland, AL....which I left and went straight to Mrs. Fayes visitation in Roanoke.....At the funeral today (Frank's first) my darling husband told some tales that the family had shared at their home...all of them I have been here and experienced.  My favorite....well ok...one of my favorites was one Sunday, during prayer request time, she stood and told of a person who needed prayer.....and spent a good bit of time explaining why this person needed prayer.  When Frank went to do the prayer....Mrs. Faye leaned forward and told Meagan that she had asked for prayer for the wrong person....and then said..."Oh well, they can use prayer too."  Mrs. Faye was one of those people who cared for everyone.  She was precious.  The other story took place at Thanksgiving this year.  J's boyfriend had to leave the dinner early because his aunt had died and he was going to the visitation at the local funeral home.  As he was saying goodbye to everyone Mrs. Faye asked him where he was going and he told her "to the funeral home to see my aunt."  She then asked why she was there.  The whole room was silent....and we were all trying to keep from laughing out loud.  J's boyfriend responded sweetly, "she's dead."  Mrs. Faye never missed a beat and never realized what had just occurred until several minutes after the young man had left.  We all laughed....even her.  She was something else.  Mrs. Faye did for everyone.  She shared herself with everyone. She loved people and they loved her.  Mrs. Faye had many names....grandson, Chris, named her Dammy (We don't know why....it may have been because Grammy was hard to say.)....and grandson Todd called her Whoop.  We asked him if it was because she had spanked him before and he said he could only remember a couple of times she spanked him.  Wherever the nicknames came from....and for whatever reasons.....she was lovingly called both by everyone who knew her.  She and her husband Yater were instrumental in founding the Rock Mills Volunteer Fire Department.  She was active in the community and her church. She never missed a Sunday at church unless she was sick. Wednesday night when we got the call that the family was taking her to EAMC because she was having a heart attack....we did not even bat and eye....jumped in the car and headed to Opelika.  We got there around 11:00, Frank annointed her and had prayer, we talked and she seemed to be settling down.  We left a little after midnight and about 15 minutes down the road we got the first call saying they were taking her in to do the balloon test on her heart.  We got home around 1:00 am and they called again to say the doctor was there....she had crashed and they were working on her.  At 2 am we got the call saying Mrs. Faye had gone to be with Jesus.  Her presence will be sorely missed.  Many people relied on this spry 80 year old.  Her passing has left a huge hole in the lives of her family, friends, church.  Thursday morning when Mrs. Faye left her earthly body and went to her heavenly home I know the angels were rejoicing because she had come home.  Now those of us left behind need to follow her earthly example of what a Christian should be so we can see her again someday.  RIP Mrs. Faye.

This Little Light Of Mine

I was asked on New Years Eve, “Have you have already taken down your Christmas lights?” (This was 6 days after Christmas Day….and I had only gotten my tree up a week before Christmas!) When my response was “no!” I was then asked….“Well, when are you planning TO take down your decorations NEXT week?   I thought a minute and thought about Epiphany….and told them, “no….I will take mine down after Epiphany.”  They proceeded to tell me a story of someone they knew who kept their tree up all year round.  I personally think that is a great idea.  I wish I had a Christmas tree room that I could just close off after Christmas….and leave my tree up…..that way when I am feeling not so Christmasy in my actions….I could go into that room and experience the day all over again.  I LOVE this idea!!!!  Normally I am a Christmas fanatic….this year….not so much.  Once I put my tree up….I thought….you know….this gives me one of the greatest pleasures in the world…..so why can’t I experience it all year long.  Is there some kind of Christmas tree Nazi out there who is going to report me to the Republican party????  I have to tell you all that  there is something magical to me about Christmas lights.  Those sparkly little lights to me symbolize brightness, love….everything Christmas is about.  Christmas lights create such a warm ambiance to me.  I love them.  Christmas lights remind me of something  Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16.  God used lights for more than just holidays.  When I stand outside at night and gaze at the moon and the stars….I feel special.  I love the kids song, “This Little Light of Mine.”  It reminds me that I have a light that I am to carry into the world and share with others.  My efforts sometimes  are puny….and sometimes I feel insignificant….I mean come on….I am just one light bulb…..and then I remember that I am plugged into a mighty power line….His name is Jesus and my ability to share His light hinges on my holding HIS light inside of us. The light that makes us valuable to God comes from Him – not ourselves.  I have this light for a specific purpose….and need to be quiet and listen to the whisper when He tells me to let it shine!  Matthew  5:14-16 says,  "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.  So I stop and ask myself…..exactly what’s the purpose of my little puny light?  I know!  I know!  It is to help others see God….and glorify Him!  Being the Light of the World comes by my shining Jesus’ light (not my own) and my purpose in shining that light was so that God would get the glory. But this shining of light is so important to Jesus that He gave us an example of someone who did just that.   Jesus said: “John (the Baptist) was a lamp that burned and gave light....”in  John 5:35…get it?  John the Baptist was a light of the world!!  And because John was a light of the world - Jesus was impressed.  Jesus was SO impressed that He lifted him up as an example to us.  But, what had John done that so impressed  Jesus?   John the Baptist stood up for righteousness and you can’t stand for Jesus if you’re not going to stand up for righteousness.  When the people came to him to be baptized John didn’t just take them down to the river. He drove home the fact that they needed to change their lives. He called them to live righteous lives. And  he was so righteous that even his enemies couldn’t find anything to accuse him of.   Can I say that about myself???  I am not so sure.  For John, the most important person was Jesus and thus John served his ministry for God by standing up tall for HIM.  Do I do this????  There is a Country and Western song on the radio that says, “you’ve got to stand for something, or you’ll fall for anything.”  You know that song could be the lyrics to a country song….because if you don’t stand up FOR HIM….you can’t be the light of Christ!  You can’t be a light of the World….if you are not willing to stand tall for Him!  It doesn’t matter how many times you have been to church….how many attendance medals you have for Sunday School….or how much you give to the church….what matters is that people know that Jesus is the most important thing in your life….because your light shines for Him!  When Jesus said “you are the light of the world” He wasn’t calling for holiday lights. He wasn’t calling for CEO’s (Christmas/Easter Only - you know…the ones who show up periodically). He was telling us He wanted us as lights that would shine all year round.  Are you shining?....or is your light hidden under a bush?
In the words of the Chris Rice song, "Go Light the World!"

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Wednesday Hodge Podge- Volume 61

It is Wednesday and that means it is another great day for Hodge Podge.  My blogger buddy, Joyce, over at "From This Side of the Pond" is our gracious host and comes up with great questions each week.  Want to join in?  It is a great way to get to know random things....and not so random things about the people you blog with.  Click here and go check out Joyce's site.  You won't regret it.  I promise you!

Here are my answers to the questions for this week:

1. Lake Superior University has once again published a list of words/phrases they think should be banished from the Queen's English in 2012- amazing, baby bump, shared sacrifice, occupy, blowback, man cave, the new normal, pet parent, win the future, trickeration, ginormous, and thank you in advance. Which of these words/phrases would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why? Go here to read more about how the words are chosen.  I would have to say that our language is continually evolving and new words are being added to our vocabulary lists daily...and I am a word freak.  I love anything that has to do with words....but, with that said...trickeration, ginormous, and blowback are three I think we can do without.  Why?  There are better words to describe what they describe. 

2. Are you easily embarrassed?  Yes, even though I try and fake it and act like I am not embarrassed my face gives me away with this warm, rosy sheen.

3. What is your go-to snack?  Pretzels are my favorite run of the mill go to snacks.  When chocolate is in the mix I love plain M&M's.

4. Have you ever been to Washington D.C.? If not do you have any desire to go? What site/attraction would you most want to see in that city? If you have been, what's your favorite site/attraction? I have been to Washington D.C. many times.  I love the Vietnam Veterans Wall, the Korean War monument, the Holocaust Museum, the Smithsonian.  I hope to get a chance to go back this summer. 

5. Sit ups-planks-lunges-squats...which do you hate the least?  Lunges, because they are the most like simple walking.

6. What's a small act of kindness you were shown that you've never forgotten?  One of my way former students bought mine and Frank's lunch at Pizza Hut without letting us know.  I had not seen him in over 20 years.  It was fun to catch up and his gesture made my day.  It was a time when I needed to know I make a difference in the lives of children.

7. Have you ever been a blood donor?  Yes, I was a multi gallon donor at one time...but anemia ended my giving.

8. Insert your own random thought here.  Ok...my profound random thought for today is a verse from the Bible that is one of my power verses  from Psalm 118:5-6 and I thought I would share it with you today.  “In tight circumstances, I cried out to the LORD. The LORD answered me with wide-open spaces. The LORD is for me—I won’t be afraid. What can anyone do to me?”  Can I get an AMEN!

It's So Hard To Say Goodbye....

Last night at approximately 7:30....just as the BCS Championship game began, my cousin Cindy went to be with Jesus.  I made it 9 days without a death in my family in 2012.  Cindy was very special to me.  She was born when I was 7 and she was like a living doll baby to me.  I loved dressing her up in different clothes and pretending she was mine.  We have been not just cousins....but friends for many, many years.  It is one thing to love your family....you kind of have to do that....but it is a joy when you actually like them.  I liked/loved Cindy....and her husband, Johnny, and her son Quinn.  Cindy had a kidney transplant in 2009.  As a matter of fact she was notified that she had two hours to get to UAB hospital the day we buried my father.  I always liked to think that my dad had a hand in that.  Today...there is one very sad family in Hackneyville, AL.  Johnny, Quinn (his wife Angela), and granddaughter Braylei (who they were raising as their own.....by daughter Rachel) have a huge hole in their lives.  Cindy walked softly through life....but believe me she made a huge impact on the lives she touched.  There are a lot of people at Liberty Church, in the Hackneyville area, and in my family that are missing her right now and heaven is rejoicing to have another angel home.  It makes me feel kind of comforted to know she is watching over us all.  You will be missed my friend and even though it is hard to say goodbye....I know we will be together again on day.  Until then....¡Vaya con Dios!

Tagged!

Mary tagged me this morning and since this is 2012 and I knew year I figured that this this would be a fun way to get acquainted, so I hope if I tagged you, you will play along.
1. Post these rules. 
2. You must post 11 random things yourself.
3. Answer the ques­tions the tag­ger set for you in their post.
4. Cre­ate 11 new ques­tions for the peo­ple you tag to answer.
5. Go to their blog and tell them that you've tagged them.
6. No stuff in the tag­ging sec­tion about ‘you are tagged if you are read­ing this.’ Blah blah blah, you legit­i­mately have to tag 11 peeps!
And the questions forMary's 11 tag-ees are at the bottom of the post:

My 11 Random Things:
1.  I .am addicted to auctions.
2.  I'm hooked on Hanging with Friends and Words with Friends.
3.  I love to watch Storage Wars and Pawn Stars on television.
4.  I have love to clean to classical music.
5.  I sang in our church youth choir, New Dawn.
6.  I never joined a sorority when I was in college.
7.  I love a good sandwich on pumpernickel or rye bread.
8.  I love dill pickles.
9.  I have non-diagnosed - ADD (OS) - Attention Deficit Disorder (Oh Shiny!)
10. I have sung for two sitting presidents (Kennedy, Nixon)
11.  I was a three day returning champion on the TV show Top Card!  

Here are my responses to Mary's 11 questions:
1.  Who is your favorite singer/music group?  
Come on...you all know I have hundreds of favorite songs so that means equally the same number of favorite singers.  My all time favorite is Still Magnolias....think I am prejudiced or what?
2.  Do you have a favorite game to play on the computer/tablet/iPad/iPod?  If so, what is it?
Easy...Words with Friends and Hanging with Friends...I am all about some word games.
3. What is your favorite movie?
Another easy one....Still Magnolias
4.  How long did you know your spouse when you got married?  If you're not married, what is the longest  you have seen someone?
4 years. 
5.  Were you involved in music in high school/college?
I sang in the chorus at school and in the church youth choir, New Dawn.
6.  What special group were you involved in during high school/college?
None.  I was a non-conformist and non-joiner back in the day.  I went to school.  I went to church....period.
7.  When you're all alone, what do you like to eat for dinner?
Oatmeal or a sandwich
8.  Left or right handed?
Right handed
9.  How tall are you?
5'5" with the heart of a 6 footer
10.  What is your favorite pair of shoes?
My BASS Weejuns
11.  How long have you lived in your house/apartment/condo?
Hummm...I am a pastors wife and we live in parsonages....so far this time....two years

And my lucky 11 people are:
Be Still and Know
Bugs Eye View
Jeannie's Happy World
Jerralea's Journey
Just Breathe
Marty's Musings
My Little Life
Random Thoughts
Screaming Mimi
Ladner's Latest
Zambeste

And your questions are:
1.  What is one item on your bucket list?
2.  Where did you spend your most favorite vacation?
3.  How many are in your family?
4.  What is your least favorite chore to do?
5.  What is the best thing you cook?
6.  What is your favorite restaurant?
7.  When you were younger what was your dream job and are you doing it now?
8.  Do you play a musical instrument, and if so what is it?
9.  Where did you meet your best friend?
10.  What is your favorite television show?
11.Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Thanks for playing.  I hope you enjoy doing this as much as I did.  Have a wonderful Tuesday and if you are traveling home from the BCS National Championship keep it between the ditches.

Just As I Am

Yesterday our closing hymn was one of my old favorites, "Just As I Am."  I stood in my seat and sang the song and all of a sudden I had this urge to burst out in laughter.  I was reminded of a story that involved my father, me, and "Just As I Am."  When I was active in the youth group of First United Methodist in West Palm Beach we sat on the right left side of the santuary every Sunday.  If you were a visitor to our church you would have never found a visitors card or offering envelope because I wrote poetry on them each Sunday and my friends wrote notes to each other on them.  Some of my most profound preteen love poems were scribbled during a sermon on one of those cards.  One particular Sunday the youth were cutting up a bit in the front....giggling, writing lots of notes....and I was one of the culprits.  Sometime during our reverie I could feel someone looking at me from behind.  I knew it had to be one of my parents....so I chose not to look back.  The intenseness of the gaze continued and finally I turned....to see my father glowering at me with one of his bushy eyebrows raised....and the finger (my dad lost the tip end of his finger in a bridge accident when I was young).  A sick dread came over me because I knew what was going to happen to me after church.  I quickly straightened up my church act....and when the invitation came around I hurried to the altar and fell on my knees asking for forgiveness and grace.  I prayed through all six verses of "Just As I Am."  My father told me in the car that he was not going to do anything to me....because he felt like God and I had already hashed everything out.  He was right....and I never misbehaved in church again.  To this day whenever I sing, or hear the song....I smile and can still see my dad....pointing that finger at me....with that caterpillar eyebrow raised.  So, today I want to share the song with you.  Click here to listen to it, close your eyes, and imagine a white haired man....pointing his finger at you.....and raising his eyebrow....and I hope you smile.  I always do.  Happy Monday!

Project 365 - Week 1

Good morning and welcome to the first official week of Project 365 - 2012 edition.  I know that you wanted to hook up with us last year so this year you can have a fresh start.  It is really fun to photo journal your year by taking a picture (or in my case several pictures) each day.  There are quite a few who participate and if you would like to see what kind of pictures they have to offer hop over to Sara's blog and check them out.

Sunday, January1st

School starts tomorrow so today I got my school bags out and began loading them up with all the things I would need on Monday.  I also finished reading my book I got from Women of Faith.  I have become addicted to books about the Amish and this one had three separate stories in it.  Loved it!

Monday, January 2nd

I passed a house in Daviston on my way home today and saw this tree.  There are no leaves and it has these orange ball looking fruits growing on it.  I have no clue what they are and since this was in someone's yard did not stop and walk up closer.  I am wondering if it is a persimmon tree.  Any guesses out there?

Tuesday, January 3rd

Frank and I joined the Athletic Club this evening after I got home from work.  We joined for a year and Frank will pick up our special key that lets us in after hours sometime tomorrow...and no, this is not a New Year's Resolution.  I don't make them.  I have a 40 year class reunion coming up in August.

Wednesday, January 4th 

I collect unusual crosses and my friend, Carol sent me this one for Christmas.  It has a nativity at the base, but it is so lovely I am thinking of leaving it up all year long.  What do you think?

Thursday, January 5th

It was cold this morning and they have been working on the bridge at Hillabee Creek since we moved to Rock Mills.  This morning there was a flagman holding traffic while they moved big equipment from one side of the bridge to the other.  It looks as if we are getting close to finishing this job.  I loved watching the men try to keep warm with the barrel fire.  It was blistering cold.....that is southernese for 32 or less.  

Friday, January 6th

The house was my grandmother's house.  It is amazing how it has shrunk.  When I was a child I thought that house was huge....and today it just didn't make the huge list.  The bottom picture is the back side of my high school.  I realized I had not ever posted a picture of where I work.  I will try and get a front shot this coming week.  We will see.

Saturday, January 7th

I thought I would leave you with a beautiful Rock Mills sunset sky.  Hope you have a wonderful week and I can't wait to see you next week and see what all you guys have shot.  I love a camera.  Don't you?