Ten Things I Discovered Today

One- Friends will be encouraging when you really need them to be.

Two- Encouragement can come in many different ways. Today friends gave me physical hugs, blog, text, and phone hugs, prayers through text, in person and on their own personal time. Love pouring from all directions.

Three- My brother does not know how to fill out paperwork at the doctor's office. His wife must normally do it. ( I went with him to meet with a surgeon today)

Four- Some receptionists at some doctor's offices are RUDE and slow. But some NURSES are awesome!

Five- Didn't discover this today but I was reminded that O'Charley's has the best Grilled Chicken Salad on earth mainly because it is loaded with candied pecans and strawberries.

Six- When doctor's communicate effectively it helps eliminate some of the worry and stress before a surgery.

Seven- I found a new water at Publix called sparkling Ice. I'm in love with water now. It's carbonated and comes in a variety of flavors. I'm drinking grapefruit right now!

Eight- Very pointed high heel shoes make my calves look slimmer and shapely ( in my own mind) but are so uncomfortable after wearing them a few hours.

Nine- I want to mother my brother when he has a major problem arise. Since mom is not here I guess I'm trying to do what she would have done.

Ten- Putting Freon in a car when the air hasn't been working for several weeks is an awesome thing.


Blogger's note: for those of you who don't know my brother has not been well and needs your prayers. He will have surgery Monday. A biopsy will be done and we are believing for a benign tumor. God is great and we are trusting Him in all things.

A Little Ramblin' A Little About Me

I missed my family reunion Saturday. I was sick and suffering from a swelled up head and sore throat but in truth I really wasn't motivated to go. As relatives pass away the numbers get smaller and it's kind of sad to go when so many are missing.

I remember even just 6 or 7 years ago it seemed the place was packed. Ever heard of Pendergrass Georgia? Talmo? Well that's where I go every year of my life for Christmas, the family reunion and various other events. Pendergrass is known for having the world's largest flea market. Literally it is huge and takes hours and hours to walk through. The treasures you can find there are amazing. I bought a leather recliner last year for an awesome price and it's still reclining.

My family who live there are very near to Athens the home of the Georgia Bulldogs. Yippee. Obviously I am not shaking my pom poms for this team. (Yikes I better hide I could be killed for saying this). Actually I am an Alabama fan because my parents loved them. They so hated the Bulldogs because our North Georgia family were consumed with the team and that pushed them right into the arms of legendary coach Bear Bryant and his Alabama boys. So that's where my loyalty remains. Love them and love that they haven't lost a game this season!

I've spent many years traveling the roads from here to there and believe it or not even after 500 trips I didn't learn to drive flawlessly to Pendergrass until I got my GPS a few years ago. I know it's sad but a sense of direction and short term memory are 2 qualities I have never possessed. For example, today just so I could remember to pick up soap and dry cleaning I wrote it on a large sticker and stuck it to my purse before I left this morning. Tell me I'm not alone in this please!

Anyway back to the subject. Traveling there for years my brother, parents and I always had a good time. We listened to the old, old country music, I'm talkin' Patsy Cline, Merle Haggard, George Jones,  Loretta Lynn. Remember I was a small, small child at this time so don't age me by the music. But I will say I still have a great love for country gold.

We slept on the back ledge of the car and no seat belts! The car was filled with smoke and we played games until sibling fighting began. When that happened we were made to sit on our hands and keep our mouths shut the rest of the way.

North Georgia and the people who live in Pendergrass, and Talmo have given me a lifetime of memories that I will carry in my heart the rest of my life. Talking about those times causes to me think I'll keep on making those memories for years to come. Bittersweet memories are good too.

The picture above is Hurricane Shoals, the place several of our family reunions have been held. It's a beautiful place with lots of history.

What's A Girl Worth To Him?

The Past

Life’s about making everyone happy. I try but fail miserably. And do they let it slide like I do when they mess up? No way. They make a point to let me know just how bad I loused everything  up. I only hear the negative not the positive. The thing is I never try to hurt anyone it just comes off that way sometimes. It’s as if when it doesn’t turn out the way they want it to then I have purposely let them down.

I bury this anger, resentment and bitterness. A hard shell builds around my heart causing numbness. I wonder what would happen if I did let it out. I have on occasion and an explosion erupted. Explosions are not good for a relationship so I continue to bury my feelings.

Fast forward to about 4 years ago.

 It finally sank in that my God loved me. Oh I knew He gave His Son to die in my place but I struggled to live a Christian life. I was missing something. The missing piece was the love. I didn’t have it for the Father and I wasn’t clear on His unconditional love for me.

Upon really getting a grasp on this truth, my worth and value began to take shape in my soul. I was created by Him for a specific purpose and I was His child precious, beautiful , holy and righteous in His eyes. I was still imperfect to the people around me but my attitude changed from “I need you to accept and love me” to “I’m me and you can love and accept me or not.” The chains that held me bondage most of my life were broken and I saw myself as one who had the choice to say “no” if I wanted. And I didn’t even have to give a reason for saying “no”. Wow! What difference the love of God can make.

When I began to be filled by Him instead of trying to be filled by the people around me I walked taller, more confident, spoke without wavering, and no longer straddled the fence. I knew what I wanted and went for it.

Living abundantly is not about wealth and riches, although that may be part of the blessing, but it’s about being me, the real me, the me I was created to be.

What’s a girl worth? She’s worth God’s Son, and that makes her priceless.

Tell me your story in the comments. What's your worth?

I'm linking up with Tamara Out Loud. She got such a huge response to her post What's A Girl Worth that she decided to do a link up here to give us a chance to write about it ourselves. Please consider going here and reading our stories.

I Will Have You As Mine

I control all things, every human here on this planet. I am the only love you need and I will have you. My hypnotic voice draws you in and once there you cannot leave. There is no way to escape my power, and plan for your life. By the time you have fallen under my spell of delicious enticement it’s much too late. You are entangled in my world forever. You will do as I say, when I say it. There are consequences to be paid for those who step out of the circle of my power. Those who have attempted were found, convicted and sent away to a prison that has been compared to hell.

You may not be drawn to follow me after reading this ad. You will be frightened by these words but the alternative is much, much worse. I provide a home, food, clothing, a job and an all consuming love for those who follow me. The other option is unthinkable. Come to me and join the Company. Believe me when I say life will be more bearable here with me than it will be out there without me.

This gives you a little more insight into the character Alec from my latest Sci-Fi story. You can read the other entries here, Is There Life Out There?  The Secret's At the Cemetery,  Rachel's Grace,

This week’s assignment was to write a personal ad, looking for love. It could be from the perspective of a character, or one for you or someone you know.

 

Women and Bears

My trip to Gaitlinburg and Pigeon Forge with my sister-in-laws and mother-in-law was a blast. A hilarious blast! While Control Freak drove us home, I sat in the front holding on to the seat. We rounded the mountains right on the edge and I feared Bug Hater would grab Control Freak's hair pulling it out causing her to go off the side. Bug Hater was even more terrified than me and yelled from the back seat constantly "watch out", "slow down", "he's putting on his brakes!". She offered to drive but none of us would have had the nerves to handle it. Bug Hater doesn't like to drive far past her front door so we were sure the Blue Ridge Mountains just wasn't the right place for her to begin getting her feet wet.

Big Mama didn't drive home because she didn't feel well. She got in the very backseat and when she wasn't puffin' and talkin' she was sleepin' and snorin'. Sweet Talker shared her wisdom all the way and no kidding she really has a lot of it. And where most women won't or don't give their wise secrets away, Sweet Talker shares in abundance. I love her for her willingness to talk through all the twists, turns, close calls, yelling, snoring, and phone calls.

On the way down one of the mountains cars began slowing down and we came to a stop. Control Freak said, "There's something going on up there. Julie roll down the window and get your camera ready."

As we moved closer we saw people out of their cars standing near a tree. Some had cameras, some pointing up and all looking up in the tree. I had my camera ready and as we drove by very slowly this is what we saw.

Yep it was a mama bear and two cubs. As we drove by the mama bear was on her way down and  people stood by taking pics at the bottom of the tree! I suppose they didn't watch the documentary about a mama bear protecting her cubs when she feels they are threatened. Control Freak needing to tell someone what to do made sure to yell out the window," You better get out of there! That mama bear is gonna attack to protect her babies." Then we drove on by.

This was an amazing experience for me. Wildlife just living life right out loud for everyone to see. Reminds me that I should be living my life for Jesus right out loud for everyone to see. This is my heart. May I go about life allowing Him to live, love and laugh in and though me. Out loud. No hiding who I am.

Where Is The Happy Me?

The heavy patchwork quilt made of soft cotton lay against my numb body. The colors of bright pink, light olive green, dark evergreen, mauve, and clean crisp white that once stood out to me now seem drab and dull. Colorless. This covering that once brought comfort gives nothing now.

The chuncky chicken salad sandwich with mayo, salt and pepper on the night stand might have made me hungry once upon a time but now only a Big Mac with special sauce, a large order of greasy fries and a large creamy vanilla shake will do. But it will only do temporarily. It won’t be long and I’ll be searching for the Snickers and M & M’s picking out the brown ones, savoring the red, blue and yellow. Never giving the milk chocolate a chance to melt in my hand but only in my mouth.

I need a hot shower. It just takes too much energy for this task. My body feels like it weighs 1000 pounds. At the rate I’m eating I may just get there before long.  I can hardly hold this head full of rocks up off the pillow. My legs drag as I walk to the bathroom, the only place I can carry myself, and only because I have to.

Everything I see around me is lifeless and gray. HD television offers the same old stuff; that stack of books can’t hold my interest, people irritate me. Conversations consist of me shaking my head, as if I’m listening to the mindless chatter that creeps in one ear and out the other. I spend a lot of time pretending to be the happy me.

 The me with the clean smell of Dove soap from a fresh shower. The me that likes a green salad with tomatoes, oranges, red cranberries and candied pecans. The me that loves conversation with friends and a good cup of fresh brewed Maxwell House coffee.  The me that longs for the feel of the pages of a crisp new book in my hands. The me that laughs out loud at the Cosby Show and Andy Griffith. The me that snuggles under the quilt that belonged to my mother and is warmed by the love of it. Where is that me?

~~~~~~~~

Then I utter the words.

Help. Me. God.

In time the thick dark covering that hides me from the world is lifted.

In time.

And I wonder why I didn't ask sooner.




Don't forget to pop over to Grace Full Women and check out my lastest post Why Do Bad Things Happen and How Do I Respond?.

If you like what you read here be sure to subscribe to the RSS Feed or by Email located on the side bar to the right.

I'm Linking up with Women Living Well. Pop on over and check out this great site for women.

I'm also linking up with Write on Edge where some of my fav bloggers hang out.

And I'm new to linking with Just Write. You can find out more about them here.

Rachel's Grace

Your assignment this week from Write on Edge was to write a piece where you explore the first broken heart for your character – or for you. You can read the beinning of this Science Fiction story here and here.

 Just for a little background: Rachel lives on planet Aster. She wonders if there is life elsewhere. in the universe because her life on Aster is so horrible. Before her father was murdered he told her the secrets that might lead her to this another world.  Rachel doesn't remember all the details but intends on finding out.

Alec, the villian, has made Rachel as one of his wives and impregnated her as an experiment. The details of the experiment have not been disclosed yet. Mason is the man she loves but he cannot get to her because Alec keeps close guard. Today we find Rachel giving birth to her precious baby girl whom she has already named Grace in Part 2.

The operating room was cold, sterile, steel, white and lonely. Rachel lay there lethargic. How long had she been here? She heard Alec say,” Do a C-Section I don’t want any harm to come to the infant.”

Doctors, nurses behind masks, mumbling, murmuring. “She’s a fine specimen.” “Take some blood now before the subject goes to infant care.”

These weren’t words referring to her beautiful Grace. Grace isn’t a specimen, a subject, she’s a baby! Rachel couldn’t get the words out. She could not speak.

A cry, a baby’s cry! Oh Grace you made it!

Tears of joy streaming,

arms aching to hold,

 eyes waiting to see.

More murmuring,”Looks healthy and passed all the initial testing.”  Then she heard Alec’s voice again,” Go ahead and take her to infant care, categorize her, and on the birth certificate make sure I am listed as the father leave the mother blank… for now.

Rachel lay there screaming in her mind, “I’m her mother! No don’t take her, let me hold her. She’s my little girl! Please God make them bring her back.”

In a few moments Alec came over to the table holding a bundle in a white blanket. “Do you want to hold the infant?” Rachel nodded her head with slight movement. Alec placed Grace in her arms.

She looked into the eyes of 

the love of her life,

her forever love, 

love that fills emptiness,

Grace.

And then she was gone

=======================
Blogger's note: This is the third part to a science fiction story I began writing in July. Grace does not die she is being taken away by the villian in the story Alec. You can read the Part 1 and Part 2 at the links listed at the beginning of the post. Go ahead and try it, I think it'll spark your interest.

I Did The Unthinkable Because of a Computer!

He sat at the computer every night after dinner, every Saturday and Sunday, almost every waking moment. I hated the thing. It had stolen my husband from his family.

The time I realized this monster was truly my enemy was a night that will go down in infamy with our family. I was on the phone with a good friend. We were having a deep conversation about”something important”. I was sitting on the stairs talking softly so the rest of the house wouldn’t hear what was being said. A pair of eyes glared at me from the kitchen. He was spinning in the computer chair waiting for me to get off the phone. High speed internet was still a thing of the future, dial-up was the only option. This required I get off the phone, which I wasn’t ready to do.

The hole he stared through me got deeper and deeper until I exploded. I threw the phone at him, while screaming, “Take the thing! I’m so sick of that computer dominating everything in this house! You’re on it all the time and now I can’t even talk on the phone!” I’m really not sure of my exact words but this is close.

After that I grabbed one of his golf clubs and threw it across the room! Yep, I really did it. Haven’t you ever wanted to do something so mean? But who really does that? It was at this point that I stopped myself and realized I was having hormone problems. Yes it was PMS. Although some believe it is in our heads I know for certain it is a very real change that happens to me.

With a few deep breaths and apologies on both sides our argument was over. However I ended up at the doctor’s office the next day recalling the events of the night before. Turns out he diagnosed me with PMS syndrome and gave me Prozac. Throwing golf clubs is really out of character for me so we both knew something was or had changed with my body. Medication in combination with a lot of prayer got me through the worst part of it.

Very seldom do I have a blow up anymore and I love my computer especially since I can use it and the phone at the same time.

This week’s prompt over at Write on Edge,  is to recall those early memories of being online. But please do not use the phrase “I remember…”

Also? No laundry lists. Try to focus on one small memory and share. Tell how it impacted your life and what it meant for you.

9/11 CWO Featured

Hey Friends,
Follow me over to Christian Women's Online Network where my article commemorating 9/11 is one of the featured articles today. You can find it here. If you like it please go ahead and "like" it. While you're there look around, there's a great assortment of blogs and encouraging articles and forums. I'm now a Staff Writer at CWO so it's a new home for me. Hope to see you there sometimes. Thanks for all your support.

Surgery

A sweet friend of mine had surgery today. I dropped her off at the hospital this morning. I was slightly nervous because she had never had any surgery before.

Leaving her was hard because it was obvious she did not want to be in this strange place with strangers caring for her. But what could I do?

The only thing I could do was pray: Father I haven't had to pray for her very often but today I feel a real need because I am nervous. She's alone or probably feels that way so just let her be at peace. Give the docs wisdom and let everything go perfectly. Let my faith be strong in You so I can go about my day knowing she will be just fine because You are there with her.

I went about the day without worry, in peace, trusting He was watching her and making sure she was perfectly cared for.

4:00 rolled around I went back to the hospital. The nurse gave me instructions for her post op care and then they brought her out. She was very groggy from the anesthetic and would be until tomorrow.

Upon getting her home I helped her into bed, gave her a fudge pop and a few sips of water. Now she's lying beside me sleeping soundly.

Lola is safe and sound and now because she's been spayed her health will be better than ever.