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!