Show Us Your Life -- Singles

Kelly at Kelly's Korner http://www.kellyskornerblog.com/ is having a "Show Us Your Life - Singles" blog, where we can introduce people to their single friends and family.

Let me introduce you to my friend and daughter Natalie!

Natalie is in her mid-20s and lives in the Nashville, TN area, She's a Christ follower and loves the Lord. She's witty and fun and a true friend. Natalie loves music and movies, Elvis and cupcakes! She formerly worked at Starbucks, where Ricky Skaggs and Taylor Swift were among her regular customers. She now works in customer service at a Nashville media conglomerate. Natalie enjoys hanging with friends, going to concerts, or simply watching a movie at home.

You are truly blessed if you can call Natalie your friend!

Why We Do What We Do

In orchestra rehearsal tonight, Keith made a great point. Some songs we may really enjoy playing (singing) and others may not be our favorites. However, we should remember that each song touches someone else. It doesn't matter how we personally feel about the song. Our job is to play (sing) it for His glory.

Much of what we think is important is actually not. How we feel doesn't matter. What does matter is that we are obedient. We may think we're in limbo, but if we stay focused on Him and obey Him, He will use us in remarkable ways.

So it doesn't matter! We might love a worship song or might have the perfect ministry career. Or we might not.

If you don't like the song, play it like it is your favorite! It is His!

Has it really been that long?

I really must get back to writing this blog! I can't believe it has been so long since I've touched it.

I think I struggle with knowing what to share. There are some days that nothing happens and some when you don't want to hear from me. I can write pages of stuff, sharing my heart, then realize you don't need to know all that. I know writing can be therapeutic, but we don't want to go there.

The folks at my work church lost three people yesterday. One man was in hospice, another elderly lady with medical issues, and another younger woman who just dropped. Then I heard today of a young man who lost his sister in a car accident yesterday: his birthday. I grieve for him and these other families. I hurt for the families who lost loved ones in the shooting in Tucson. In the days following our tornado experience in '06, it seemed so strange that while we were rushing around tending to salvaging our home and belongings, other people laughed and seemed to have no care. It is the same when families experience death. While we laugh at a joke, someone's world is upside down.

Loss is hard and affects each person differently. I lost my dad when I was in college. I lost a vocal cord 15 years ago with thyroid surgery. I lost my career two years ago.

But I have life and a warm home. I have a loving husband and wonderful children. And I have a heavenly Father who knows the course I'm traveling. Thank You!

Fun dinner and mixed feelings

The kids came over for Sunday dinner tonight, though it was Tuesday. I had splurged and bought a roast for Sunday dinner two days ago, but then they had lunch plans with friends. So we made it today. We--it was mostly David. He got the roast started before I got home. The kids (our new name for Zach and Marie), plus resident daughter Natalie, and David tried my new recipe for creamed corn. It calls for a 3-hour stint in the crockpot, but we skipped that and microwaved it to death. It tasted great, but didn't look like the corn I had when I got the recipe. I guess next time I'll use the crockpot! The good thing is that marriage has expanded Zach's food choices. He won't turn down Marie's meal, even though she used mushroom soup or something else he hates. He used to give me major grief. So it was important that the cream cheese in the creamed corn melt so he wouldn't know it was there! :)

Today a man we know from church was featured in a major news story, not in a good way. It really gives you a sick feeling, both for the possible crime and for what the person is going through. I'll never forget the time a couple of years ago at work when I started chatting with a young guy who worked for the caterers at the cafeteria. It doesn't make sense not to make conversation when you see the same people every day. He was a friendly guy, with a gentle quietness. Then one day he was on the news, arrested for physically abusing his child. It was so hard to believe. Truthfully, that sinful behavior lurks inside all of us; it is just the people on the news who do it and are caught.

This is random, but I saw a website today with cute photos. I don't recall the address, but if you search "piglet" and "dachshund," you'll find it. Such a sweet story of a mama dog and her adopted baby pig!

Well, that's two blogs in two days. I know you can't believe it. Thanks, Renee, for your encouragement!

I'm trying this again, plus My Wedding Day

Well, I'm going to try to write again. I write everywhere else, so I might as well do it here.

The last year has been so difficult. Thankfully, the Lord has provided a job with sweet, loving people that allows me to heal. I have to admit that I have occasional setbacks, but I guess that's normal.

To start things off, I thought I'd start with a questionnaire that my friend Renee posted on facebook. It was fun to do.

My Wedding Day

1. What was the date of your wedding?
July 5, 1980. We scheduled it for a holiday weekend so that family would have an extra day to travel.

2. Was this your first wedding?
Yes for both of us.

3. How many times were you a bridesmaid?
At least 6. I was a flower girl in a couple and photographed a couple. Now I can say I've been mother of the groom at one.

4. Did you get married in a church?
Yes. Two Rivers Baptist in Nashville, where I belonged.

5. Did you write your own vows?
No

6. Who walked you down the aisle?
My uncle Lacy. My dad had died 4 years before.

7. What were your colors?
cornflower blue and peach, so 80's!

8. How many attendants did you have?
5, all bridesmaids. I'd wrestled too many flower girls in my time to have children in my wedding.

9. What was your something old?
I think I wore an old handkerchief within my dress

10. What was your something new?
my dress and veil

11. What was your something borrowed?
earrings from Mom, I believe

12. What was your something blue?
Garter

13. What kind of flowers did you have in your bouquet?
white roses and gardenias

14. What were your centerpieces at the reception?
no. We kept the flower budget low--one main arrangement for the church, my bouquet, and silk arrangements for the girls.

15. If you could go back is there anything you would change about your wedding?
spend more time with people. Our photographer rushed us through the whole process.

16. How old were you when you got married?
I was 25 and David 29.

17. What was your first dance song?
did not dance

18. Did you have alcohol at your reception?
no. It was a simple punch and cake event inside the church

19. How many guests did you have?
About 200

20. How long were you engaged before the wedding?
5 months

21. How long did you date before you were engaged?
1 month. We married 6 months to the day that we met. And we met on a blind date.

22. Where did you go on your honeymoon?
Florida. We spent one night in Birmingham, AL, then several days in a travel trailer park in Panama City Beach, FL. We left there for the Tampa area and visited a little lady in her 80s who David knew.

23. What did your wedding band look like?
gold band with cut swirls, same as what we wear today

24. What was your most memorable moment about your wedding?
the first moment in the foyer after coming down the aisle after the ceremony

25. Were you nervous at your wedding?
no, just excited

That's all for now!

Maybe I'm back!

Well, after quite a while off, I thought I'd crawl back here. Let's see if I can stay with it!

I'm still waiting for God to reveal what is next in my life. It has been 7 1/2 months since I lost my great job of ministry. It has very nearly killed me. I don't know when I've felt so broken and wounded.

But God is faithful and provides! I know He has a plan and my responsibility is to be obedient. I'm hoping I'm climbing out of the valley I've been walking of late. It will be nice to feel normal again.

I'm going to try this again!

Well, nothing like about spending 10 weeks away! I haven't been sure what to post or if I had anything post-worthy these days.

Nothing is new on the job field. I've averaged a little more than 1 application a week since August 1, and only 1 interview with no result of that yet. The whole process is getting old and I'm praying that God will reveal something soon! There just aren't any editorial jobs open and few others that I qualify for.

Natalie has moved home since the last time I wrote. Even though we don't have much extra space, it has been good having her back. And it came at the perfect time, just before she left her last job. The office situation there was terrible, so I don't blame her a bit. But she is having as much trouble as I am finding new work. So our unemployment rate at home is 50 percent! Yikes!

I did have a three-week period of a little steady work. The job interview I had in October was for a small publisher that produces children's books and teacher supplies, such as certificates, games, and workbooks. Well, they called and needed some freelance work done. I worked about 15-18 hours a week for those three weeks. The drive into Nashville was bum for only half a day's work, and their hours stink
(8:30-5:30), but it was some cash and I am grateful. Plus, the work was fairly enjoyable. But I wonder how serious they are about hiring someone full time, since they haven't made a decision yet.

I'm still working at church for 2-3 hours a week. Budget trimmings affected the publishing of a newsletter, so the 12-15 hours I used to work have disappeared. Oh well. I still hope that God will give me full time work at church. If I can't be at LifeWay, I'd love to be at church.

Natalie and I went to a job fair last week that my career placement guy told me about. But what a disappointment! We drove the 45 minutes to Smyrna to spend 10 minutes walking around a small ballroom with less than 15 vendors/employers set up. And then the job choices were security guards, insurance sales, and cellphone customer service. We walked the circle, then hit the road again. Our time together was fun, though.

Last week I had the opportunity to be part of a writers conference for Student Ministry at LifeWay. It was strange to be a writer/participant instead of the editor/facilitator. They put me up for 2 nights in the Holiday Inn and bought a few meals, so that was nice. I did get to experience my first visit back inside the LifeWay building for lunch one day. I was a little concerned about it, but it was OK. Several folks seemed glad to see me. And being at the conference with my good friends was great!

So, if I don't have any other major freelance work in the next couple of months, I have my hands full writing youth Bible studies. This is a new challenge and I pray that I won't be a disappointment.

Other than that, nothing much is going on. I still work the church library on Thursday evenings and enjoy that.

Today I pray for another family who lost a LifeWay job and the wife was just diagnosed with breast cancer. A health event isn't fun in itself, much less with an unemployment issue.

I'm so thankful for God's provisions! He is faithful and I trust Him.

Till next time!