Reflections 101

I suppose I should apologize to my two readers for the delay in blogging. No real good excuses, sorry! This is one of my favorite times of year. Of course, I love Christmas and other special times....but January brings a time of reflection and redirection for me. So as I reflect back on 2008 I will share a few tones that come to mind.

• I came very close to losing my daddy this year. He has been such a reflection himself of my own relationship with Christ and what it means to communicate so openly, honestly and be able to be myself. I stood by his bed in ICU (which I am used to doing with other families, not mine) and waited to see how his body would respond after a significant surgery. He was on a respirator! I sang to him on and off through the night, talked to him, and prayed over him. Although his life has been somewhat altered, he is still here with me and my family......thank you Jesus!
  
  
• On October 17th, I came very close to losing a child. My middle child, Morgan. As Joel and I had just started out travels back to Charlotte, and we were literally praying out loud over our children, specifically Morgan, we received a call from Joel's mother. She told us Morgan had been in an accident and where. We turned around and were on the scene within about 3 minutes. We even beat the first responders to the scene. In my line of work, it's the thing you dread most......it being your own family. By the grace of God, her very personal angels and a seatbelt, she suffered only a few stitches to the lower right leg. Her car was totaled. There is a tree that now bears a mark of that dreadful night!
  
  
• On a more upbeat note, my baby girl Hillary, got married on April 26th. The Lord literally made the sun stand still as he provided for everything! And, the best part, we had a blast! God's presence and blessing were present from the weather to the icing on the cake!
  
  
• My one and only son and firstborn, Thomas, graduated from college. Thus, according to statistics, ensuring that my grandchildren will have a better chance for education once they are formed and given birth. He may not have graduated Magna Cum Laude or Suma Cum Laude, but we sure to thank the Lordy! Most of all, we are grateful for his desire to be like his Heavenly Father. God has so much in store for him...and we have watched in thrive coaching football. God does give you the desires of your heart, doesn't he Thomas?
  
  
• The other man in my life, turned 50 years old this year. Wow, how did that happen? He doesn't look it or act it! lol I look forward to many more days with him as the years pass by, even if he did take the peanut butter balls!
  

Well, enough tones for now. Use this time to allow God wo cause you to reflect....A new Year, month and more is just around the corner!

I Need A ......Silent Night

Have you heard Amy Grant's new rendition of this highly favored song? Well, to sum it up, she says she needs a Silent Night.....and so do I in order to blog! With all the drama and suspense we have shared since my last blog, I'm not sure where to begin!

"All is calm and all is bright," seem like such ideal and surreal words. For most of the people I know in my sphere of influence, it is anything but calm and for those with health issues and job loss, it doesn't seem very bright! How is it we allow ourselves to get sucked into this vacuum? Are we not more than conquerors? Children of the King? Followers of the One who can speak and cause the wind and rain to cease? So why is it so hard to "Be still and Know that I am God?

I pray you will slow down long enough to experience the beauty of a Silent Night! A newborn baby, in the most simple way of life. Nothing complicated. The beauty of friendship and people who accept you and love you just the way you are, knowing that "He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it", grants us the peace to experience a silent night!

All because of a baby boy!

This the Season.......Diamonds 101

What is more grand than the sounds of orchestras playing Christmas music, thoughts of snow, family and games? Those are beautiful tones...along with "O Come, O Come Emmanuel, " God with US! How I marvel that He would lower Himself to come here, for me!

However, since it is the season for giving, I gave of my time and took a ring to James Micheal Jewlrey shop, to have appraised for my sweet daddy. While I was in Jaime's shop, he graciously gave me a crash course on diamonds! What a field trip girls! I mean it made my day. He educated me on the four "C's", the girdle diameter, you name it. Then he says, "Are you in a hurry?" I thought "Are you kidding me?" Bring it on....it might as well have been a platter of Hillary and Nick's wedding cake! He steps into his safe and brings out 2 very carefully wrapped envelopes. The first one is a princess cut diamond, that has never been touched! Oh my goodness it was incredible. The he opens the other one and asks me if I can see any difference. I could, I really could....it had more colors to it. (Which by the way isn't good if you are looking for a diamond ) Then, he put them beside each other. Wow, it was so amazing! Then as if that wasn't enough to melt my heart, another customer comes in and he pulls out 1 more envelope. It has a genuine, authentic "Widows mite" in it. You could have knocked me over with a feather. I wanted to laugh and cry all at the same time.

What a special way for the Lord to top off this field trip....showing me what the sseason is all about! Giving, of all that we have and our best, generously and without reproach. That's what He did. And, he even gave me vision to be able to see the beauty of those diamonds He created.
God is with us, Emmanuel! Tis the season, what will you give to the Giver?

French Toast From Carrabbas! Yum

Have you ever tried the french toast from Carrabbas? Actually, it's not on the menu....but one of the awesome waiters at my favorite resturant, suggested I actually take home the leftover bread and make french toast with it! What a great idea, it was awesome. The newlyweds enjoyed it as well. We ate french toast and bacon while listening to Christmas music. Yay!

I will share the recipe in a moment, but first want to thank my BFF Gina for putting some color in my life, or on my blog I guess I should say. You're the best!

French Toast

2 eggs per 1 cup of milk
medium hot skillet with butter in the bottom
cinnamon sugar

Just dip your bread into the mixture of egg and milk and slap in the skillet until brown! Sprinkle cinnamon and sugar on done toast and top with your favorite maple syrup! Don't forget the Christmas music!!! Enjoy!

Worship In Walmart

As if the beauty of the earth is not enough to make you fall to your knees, or having a healthy family to be with over the weekend and Thanksgiving, I've decided I can also worship in Walmart!

On more than one occasion I have been picking up a few items in Walmart, and received a phone call to inform me of a magnificent answer to prayer....prompting me to fall on my face and worship the One who loves me more than anyone else. Trying to be considerate of those who were with me, and fearing they might call EMS and think I had experienced DFO (Done Fell Out) I chose to close my eyes and say out loud "Thank you Jesus" several times. Very recently, after working late one week night I stopped by to pick up an electric blanket for all the families of cats that stay in my garage. After passing a grocery isle, the Holy Spirit reminded me that I was out of cinnamon sugar (something no one should be without this time of year!) Again, I said "Thank you Jesus," for the gift of His Spirit, that is so faithful to bring to my remembrance the little things in life!

So next time you are in Walmart, worship! Who cares if somebody calls EMS or the manager. You can always refuse a ride to the hospital, afterall, it's your right! Your right to worship!

It's about Time!

Needless to say....it's about Time! Time to start blogging when I can find the time. I waited until I had the perfect name and guess what? You guessed it, someone else already had it! So we will be flexible, easy to get along with, let it roll off our back for the sake of blogging. It's just time to get started.....so without taking up too much time, since it took so long to finally get to this point, let me begin by saying that those who love me the most affectionately call me Tone.

For the last twenty plus years I have repeated multiple times, "It's not what you say, but how you say it." So let my "Tones" be pleasing and my words be few! Afterall, who really thinks I'm gonna have time for this anyway? I hope I surprise myself and set the tone (no pun intended) for fun encouraging insight in the days to come!