Thursday, June 23, 2011

Sometimes I Need to Be Reminded.....


From a Beth Moore study I am doing:

He is my strength when I am weak.
He is my rock when I am slipping.
He is my deliverer when I am trapped.
He is my fortress when I am crumbling.
He is my refuge when I am pursued.
He is my shield when I am exposed.
He is my Lord when life spins out of control.

"I will shout with joy, Lord God, when You make me victorious, and I will lift up a banner in the name of my God." Psalm 20:5

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Embrace the Camera.....finally.

I have been thinking a lot about the Embrace the Camera idea that Keely blogged about here. I am the world's worst at having my picture taken by someone. I do not want to be in the picture. Ever. But, after reading the original blog I determined that I was going to do better.

Have I? No. Until yesterday. We had some friends over for Memorial Day yesterday and our daughter Blair who doesn't live at home got to be there. She and my daughter Katie were in the kitchen with me and started taking cell phone pics of themselves together. All of a sudden I whipped around the counter and said "Take one with me!" I think they were shocked. But...............here it is:

Saturday, May 21, 2011

A Prayer for Friends

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”

Monday, May 16, 2011

A Writing Assignment

I was cleaning up some files on my laptop and came across this assignment from an online writing class I took about a year and a half ago. We had a two part assignment: we were to write about what we remembered and what we didn't remember. It was a free form exercise. We weren't supposed to worry about punctuation or spelling, just let our minds prompt our fingers as we typed. I thought you might find it interesting to see my mind at work....oh boy.

I REMEMBER
It's funny that the assignment is called "I Remember" because it is a family joke that my memory is so poor. I have a hard time remembering things from years ago and from seconds ago. Memory just isn't my strong suit. things that trigger memories for me are smells and sounds. i can smell a certain kind of perfume and think about a first boyfriend. i can hear someone's voice and think that they sound like someone from my past. I remember being at Nanny and Poppa's and lounging on that chaise in the back bedroom. I loved that so many of us slept in one room. I remember sleeping out in the yard when it was hot. I remember the stemmed glasses with the circles etched in them and those awful metal glasses that made anything you drank taste like metal. i remember going to the pump and pumping water. i remember sitting on the tractor in a big cow pie. i remember playing slapjack with Nanny and thinking that we were so daring. I remember getting that cool blue dress at Christmas that had the hat and pink polka dot tie. i remember playing with cousins in the yard around the old tree with red paint. i remember the pretend horse that was really just a big stump with a saddle on it. i remember riding the runaway pony and ending up on the porch. I remember locking a couple of boys in the outhouse and laughing as we ran away. I remember the spot on the rug where Poppa poured the Vitalis into his hands and slicked down his hair. I remember. Hey, I remember!

I DON'T REMEMBER

I don't remember that we lived with Nanny and Poppa one summer but everyone says we did. I don't remember grandpa jernigan. I don't remember christmas time until we were living in Idaho. i don't remember anything about the kitchen or living room in our house behind the church on Frank street. i don't remember how can you write what you don't remember i don't remember it so i can't write it i don't remember the names of most of the people i went to church with at clovis i don't remember much about being pregnant with Blair i don't remember planning my wedding i don't remember celebrating anniversaries in the first 20 years or so of our marriage i don't remember ever hugging Uncle raymond or Uncle Palmer but I remember hugging uncle joe and uncle beryl. i don't remember when dennis and i decided we were going to get married because it was never asked and answered.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

My Mother-a true Proverbs 31 Woman



A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

It Did Not Disappoint

You would think that it would get old or boring or tiresome. Well, I have news for you: It doesn't!!!! Once again, NG was great and wonderful. I just cannot imagine having a better time than I have with my sisters.




A few snapshots that show you the many faces of NG8:






Decision making is always fun. I am not going to admit that we are directionally challenged but there was quite a bit of discussion regarding left and right!!! (For the record..........I was wrong. I know you are shocked.)



The Riverwalk in San Antonio is beautiful. The weather was perfect. I have never walked so much in my life. At the end of the first long day I declared that I managed to keep up and I did not die. That was my goal.




We did more "tourist" things this year than we normally do at NG. But, you can't go to San Antonio and not see the Alamo, Market Square, Riverwalk and King Williams District. We honestly did walk everywhere we went. The only ride we had was on the Riverboat Cruise:



We celebrate several traditions at NG. There is the giving of gifts. Nora generously took care of ALL of our lodging as her gift to us this year:



Rhonda gave us personalized luggage tags in great fabrics---so perfect for each of us.




Debe had coffee cups made with many snapshots of Nettie's Girls-old and young-for each of us.



I made frames with a photocopy of a page from our mother's Bible. It contains her favorite verse, which she had underlined and noted as her favorite verse.




Another tradition is to share what we did to honor Mother in the way of kindness or generosity (two qualities that she taught us by example). The stories are always moving and inspiring of ways we found to show Christ's love to individuals and families each year.

We also give a financial gift each year from the four of us. This year we will be donating for a benefit for our sweet friend Lindsey. And a new feature, in honor of our sister Vicki, will be to help our nieces and nephews with church camp each year.

Debe gave our Saturday night devotional this year. She challenged us to be women of character. It is always a joy to hear Debe speak. It is truly one of her gifts.

Plans are already made for NG9 which will be held in Branson. The countdown has started....................359 Days.

Monday, April 11, 2011

I Can't Breathe




I am so excited. That's why I can't breathe. Just one more day and I will be enjoying the company of my three best friends...my sisters. Yes, it's time for NG8!

NG8 is happening in San Antonio this year. This is one of the biggest trips we have taken. Plus, we are adding an entire day and night to the whole experience. This year starts on Wednesday and goes through Sunday.

We have been firing off the emails daily, building up the excitement and anticipation. By Wednesday morning when my Taxi by Terry picks me up I will be absolutely giddy. I am hoping the giddiness will help me overcome my fear of flying. Flying is one of my least favorite things to do. You can say a prayer for me.

I am anxious to hear what each sister did for her random act of kindness in mother's memory. I am anxious to see the little gifts we will have for each other. I am anxious to hear what Debe has prepared for our reflection time and see what challenge she will make to us for the next year. I am anxious to help decide whom we will reach out to with encouragement this year.

Every year when I write about our trip I always try to encourage others to start a tradition like this with their sister(s). It doesn't matter if you just have one or have five or just have a brother.............do it! It is the greatest gift we give each other and ourselves all year.

I thank God for my sisters and for our times together.