Revive!

Well, I think I've had a long enough break from writing this blog! I really should revive it and continue this endeavor. After everything that has colored my life in the last four years, I understand now how blogging was not the best thing to do. I'd need to share some of my heart, and I've been working so hard to heal it. In finding new adventures and ventures in which to fill my mind and heart, I've discovered that I'm in love with home decor. I usually have to avoid Home Goods and Kirkland's stores since I love so much there. But my house has been in flux forever. Hopefully things can began to come together. Maybe writing about home decor, among other things, will help me accomplish things. More to come!

Sad Day

The last few days have been interesting, with treacherous driving conditions in the most recent snowstorm and the passing of a 26-year-old family friend.

A snowstorm hit yesterday afternoon, making a huge mess of everyone's commute home. I left work around 3:30 and was home in almost 2 hours. My normal drive is about 25 minutes--10 miles. Folks downtown had huge trouble since traffic just stopped. Some people reported 5- and 6-hour commutes! Son left a little early, so missed the worst of the driving. Daughter got some good driving experience, as her normal 40 minute drive took 2.5 hours. She did great!

Roads were still covered today and temperatures very low, so we stayed home from work! That was nice!

We were saddened to learn that our daughter's friend, who had recently been diagnosed with colon cancer, was being transported to hospice right in the middle of the snow yesterday. She had abdominal issues in the fall, with severe pain that led to exploratory surgery. That exposed stage 4 cancer, with the colon and liver affected. They tried alternative health treatment since her liver was too affected to endure chemotherapy, and had plans to go to the West coast for treatment last weekend. But instead, they had to take her to the ER, where they determined her liver had shut down. She passed today. We are so thankful that she knew the Lord, so she's there ahead of us!

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!