Jesus is Waiting

I have loved ones who've gone on before.

I have friends I am longing to see.

But the face of my Savior awaits on that shore,

And I know He is waiting for me.

As I journey down life's rugged pathways,

And I struggle for riches untold.

If I'd just stop and look up toward heaven,

Oh the beauty my eyes would behold.

King Jesus abides in that city.

And He's preparing a mansion for me.

So when I'm gone, please spare me your pity,

For King Jesus is waiting for me.

---Written by Brenda Keefer

A lesson to be learned

On this day in 1989, as punishment for betting on baseball, Cincinnati Reds manager Pete Rose accepts a settlement that includes a lifetime ban from the game.

Now, to many of you, that doesn't mean a thing. But if you grew up in a household where your Daddy was a die-hard Cincinnati Reds fans, it was a sad, sad day. I remember the many hours of debate and discussion on TV, on the radio, in the newspapers: Did he or did he not do what they said?  His fans loved him. They didn't all agree on his guilt or innocence, but they did all agree that he WAS the Reds. Pete Rose and the Reds went hand in hand like peanut butter and jelly, like a pencil and eraser. Baseball changed for them on that day. Many maintained he was innocent because he said he was. Many thought he got a bum rap. Many thought he was guilty. But no matter what they thought about what he did, he was Pete Rose and they still loved him.

Now you may wonder why I am posting this, considering I'm not much of  a sports fan. But I believe there is a lesson to be learned. What Pete Rose did was not a good thing, yet he was still adored by his fans. He was still loved by thousands.

How many times in our lives do we do or say things we know God does not want us to do or ignore doing the things He asks of us, thinking we know best? Yet, how many times does God forgive us for our foolishness and stubbornness in trying to manage on our own? No matter what we do or don't do, He is still there for us. He stands beside us, He carries us, He shows His undying love and support in so many ways and we take it for granted. I don't understand why we as humans are so willing to forgive and forget when we love someone; yet, we find it hard to accept that God feels the same way about us. We need to quit being so hard on ourselves when we fail and just take it to God and leave it there.

God hath not promised skies always blue,

Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through;

God hath not promised sun without rain,

Joy without sorrow, Peace without pain.

God hath not promised smooth roads and wide,

Swift easy travel, Needing no guide.

He hath not promised we shall not bear

Many a burden, many a care.

But God hath promised strength for the day,

Rest for the labor, light for the way,

Grace for the trials, help from above,

Unfailing sympathy, undying love.

--- Annie Johnson Flint

I was sitting here this morning preparing for Sunday School and this poem came to my mind. I hadn't read it for years, but it is just as encouraging now as it was then. The Lord is my love, my life, my all. I have overcome many battles in my lifetime, but only with His help and guidance. The last line of this poem says it all. I am who I am today because of his unfailing sympathy, undying love.

I hope each of you have a wonderful day today!

Femininty

In 1963, Summer Magic hit the theaters. Mom took us to the Keith Albee to see it. I fell in love. I wanted to be like Nancy Carey (Hayley Mills). She became my idol. She could work in the house cleaning and repairing. She could put on an old pair of pants and work shirt and work up a sweat with the rest of them.

Or she could curl her hair and put on a lacy, frilly dress and be a feminine young lady. This picture and video are my favorites scenes from the movie. I often think she was my role model.

I am a contrast of different women. I can be the professional woman who handles business and designs new marketing campaigns to increase business. I can be the partner in helping my husband lay brick when we built our fireplace or the carpenter who helped build the deck on the back of the our first house. I can be the gardener who helped plant the potatoes and hoe the corn.

But when all is said and done, I can be the feminine woman who soaks in a bubble bath, lathers up with lotion and does her own manicures. I can be the woman who wears the silky "unmentionables" and the baby doll tops. I love my frilly night gowns right along with my flannel pants and t-shirts. I love my high heels and can't wait for winter so I can wear my Candies Hiking Boots. I can be the strength and the shoulder to lean on for my kids or I can be the the one who needs comforted by my hubby.

I can catch a 20" catfish, but I can't bait a hook or touch the fish when I reel it in. (eeeewww) I can buy auto parts or I can buy purses.

I am a contrast of personalities. But when the day is done, I'm still a girl and I still like my girlie things. I think Nancy Carey (Hayley Mills) inspired me more than I realized. I saw that movie when I was about 7 or 8. I own a copy of it and here I am 47 years later and I'm STILL watching it.  

School Days, school days....

I remember fondly the first day of school. I remember my little plaid dresses with white peter pan collars. I remember Mary Janes and bobbi sox and saddle oxfords. I remember new book bags and Barbie lunch boxes with thermos bottles for my KoolAid. I remember new crayons and school glue. I remember the thrill of getting a little carton of chocolate milk for morning break. I remember Junior High with basketball games and Pep Squard and Home Ec class. I remember high school and football games and being a Pirate with our Red & White pride. I remember lunch at Pirates Corner and Drivers Ed. Here are some photos of my school days (I'm not in them so don't try to find me.)

My first school Barboursville Elementary Grades 1-6

A typical first grade class room at B'ville Elementary

Barboursville Junior High School - Grades 7-9 (This picture was way before I went there. But it still looked the same. It was the old Morris Harvey College)

Math Class at BJHS

"To thee we sing, our gracious Alma Mater. Among the hills, her home so tranquil lies. We promise now to pledge our all allegience, to thy ideals and to thy way of life."

Barboursville High School Grades 10-12. Home of the Barboursville Pirates

Our fabulous Barboursville Majorettes, known as "The Pirettes"

My senior year, we took the AAA championship in basketball. The sign still stands in glory at the entrance to Barboursville.

Lunchtime at Barboursville High School usually meant a trip to Pirates Corner, even if you ate in the cafeteria, you still jaunted over to see and be seen. It was THE place. I can still taste their hotdogs. Best in the world.

The Barboursville High School Marching Band

Proud to be a Pirate. Always have been and always will be!!

I've been at it again.....

I just couldn't help myself. I was at Sherrie's yesterday and she mentioned a lady was having a yard sale today. Last time I went to her sale, I found some good bargains. So I told Sherrie to count me in and off we went.

I had walked around and looked at some things and next thing I know we are discussing...you guessed it, BASKETS.

I don't know why I have such a weakness for them. But I do. So I ventured to the back of her garage where she had some small baskets. And $2.75 later I was walking out with these....

They are all small baskets and I have no idea what I will do with them, but I'm sure I'll think of something. The white one is going to get spray painted for sure, but I don't know what color yet. I'll keep you posted on what happens with them.

When inspiration hits.....

I have had a wonderful day today. My wonderful husband took me to AC Moore, JoAnne's, Walmart and to Texas Roadhouse for lunch.

I love AC Moore and JoAnne's. I saw some wonderful things that inspired me with many new ideas for crafts when cooler weather starts. They had some awesome Christmas material that will make adorable little pillows to toss in a basket. I also picked up some new yarn for a Santa craft I want to do. Then there was really cute material to make a few snowmen to set around. Just came away full of Christmas crafts I want to do.

But the most inspirational idea I got today was nothing to do with crafts. There was a sweet lady in line with me named Donna at AC Moore. When it came her turn, she was asked if she had a rewards card. Now I don't know about you, but I have several I use on a regular basis. I keep them in the little holder with my credit cards, debit cards, ID's, everything. So each time I need one, I have to dig for it.

I know they all come with key chain size cards as well. But if I put them on my key chain, it is overloaded. I already have my car key, my alarm/door lock gizmo, two house keys, the PO box key. Adding my rewards cards would just make it to bulky.

But Donna solved that problem. She carries a separate key chain that has all her rewards cards in one place. She just flipped through, found the right one and that was that. Now some of you may already do that and I commend your brilliant minds. But it just never occurred to me to put them on a separate key chain. So guess what I did? That's right I came home and put them on a keyring. I have to find the rest of them, but for now I have my basic ones on there. I don't know why this impressed me so much, but it did.