Days of Joy

Michelle and Jake's engagement slideshow...wedding slideshow to follow

2011-02-19T20:54:00.001-05:00

Finding yourself

2010-05-21T02:42:00.003-04:00

Back in the 60’s and 70’s when I was growing up, I would hear of many young people leaving home, sometimes leaving college, friends, family, a steady job or a family business and sometimes even a marriage to go “find themselves”. This was a new phenomenon back then so it made the local gossip chains…and sometimes even the news. Actually I really don’t think it was a NEW phenomenon. Before that decade it was just looked upon as a bad thing – an irresponsible thing; you had certain responsibilities to your family, marriage partner, church, community and to prepare for your future that superseded your present bliss. In the hippie era however, the era of “new” freedoms, “finding yourself” was suddenly viewed as the top priority. You needed to “be true to yourself” first…above all. This meant if anything – family, friends, college, marriage – got in your way of present happiness then push them aside and go out and find that happiness.

Funny thing….most people think that “finding themselves” means going somewhere else…like maybe their real self is hiding elsewhere. Some travel the country or even the world searching for meaning. Others make drastic career changes. Some leave spouses and search for that ever elusive “soul mate”. Some go back to college and try to find ultimate meaning in education. While there is nothing intrinsically wrong with traveling, more education, changing careers…these can be great tools to a fulfilling life….there is a major flaw in thinking that you will “find yourself” at the end of any of these roads. It is also a mistake to think that the ultimate measure of your life is something as fleeting as happiness.

Now I know what I just said is counter-culture. Today’s mantra: Graduate from high school, go to college, travel the world or at least the country a little, get a great paying job, date lots of people so you can be sure you choose the right one (don’t worry about all the breakups and heartache…that’s just part of it, honey!) Then marry right before you turn 30 and have 2 kids. Oh…and be sure to start back going to church after the kids are born…you know…so you can give them some good morals and be a good parent. Don’t have too many kids because you need to give each child their own rooms and trips to Disney World and give them a car when they are 16 and have enough money to send them to college…otherwise you are a bad parent. Because the Bible says so…well, I’m pretty sure it says so somewhere…I mean…cause if you stray from this recipe all the Christians will let you know that it is not wise….because wisdom comes from keeping your children happy then sending them to a government-run high school followed by a government-run university and securing an education there. OR even better: Wisdom comes from getting a great education in a Christian college even if you have to run up educational loans of $40,000 or more. Oh don’t worry about being in bondage, because we know everyone that does that goes out and gets a high paying job in their field and pays that debt off quickly…right? And that's the most important thing to find happiness...get a top education to get a high-paying job!And I haven’t found that Bible verse about not having too many children yet but I’m sure it’s got to be in there…I mean…all those Christians just can’t be wrong! I’m sure that Bible verse about “Blessed is the man with his quiver full” was written only for those times when the farmers needed lots of child labor in his fields. And having the perfect career with the highest pay possible…no matter what…well…I’m sure that is a Godly ambition. Didn’t Paul say something about that? No? Well, somebody did. And for goodness sake – if you have a brain DON’T just choose to do manual labor…that’s for those who aren’t smart enough to go to college. You will never find yourself…or happiness for that matter in working with *gasp* your hands! Let the uneducated masses handle that. And I know that preacher said that little “till death do you part” thing…but really…he didn’t know how unhappy you would be in this marriage. He’s emotionally abusing you! You were too young and you really didn’t know what you were doing. You can’t be held accountable for the mistake of not marrying your soul mate. You’ll just correct that mistake and go find happiness. You deserve better, Honey!

Hmmmmm….the only thing wrong about the above “Christian American” mantra is that there is nothing “Christian” about it. AND some of the unhappiest people I know have followed the above “recipe for success”. When did we start thinking that Godliness was American success? When did we start equating worldly things…. like running up educational loans, government-run (not Bible-based) schools and colleges, having dozens of girlfriends/boyfriends before marriage, greatly limiting how many children we have then giving them everything they want, and leaving an unhappy marriage to find a “soul mate” … with wisdom? And when did we start thinking that God just wants to make us and our children happy? That WE are the center of His Universe?

The above Christian American recipe leaves out something very important…finding God’s individual will for your life. Some things are spelled out in the Bible…such as marriage for life (except for cases of abandonment and adultery) but many things are NOT spelled out in the Bible, I believe, on purpose. God DID say “Children are a blessing of God; Blessed is the man with his quiver full.” He didn’t say: “Everyone have 20 children”, but He definitely didn’t say: “Limited thou thy children so that thou may give them better gifts!” God gave us each a different temperment and various gifts. Paul was a tent maker for goodness sake…not a college professor with a PhD! Peter was an uneducated, hotheaded fisherman. But Luke WAS a doctor. These people’s happiness didn’t come from their careers…their happiness came from God being able to use them either through their careers and paths or sometimes in spite of them! They knew that Jesus didn’t come to secure their happiness anyway. They knew that following Jesus would lead them to some very unhappy situations, in fact, ultimately, to a horrific martyr’s death. But they DID find themselves! They found themselves when they gave themselves over to Christ. Total abandonment to Christ, turning over everything you are, is the only way to find yourself. That is true for the preacher, worship leader, a cake decorator, or a fry cook. If, when you turn yourself over to Christ, you feel Him calling you to a certain service…then you need to do everything you can to serve Him well….including education in the finest universities or travel over the world. God may send you as a missionary to Africa! God's will for your life may mean getting a law degree and becoming an ambassador for Christ in the halls of the US Senate! But don’t think He calls everyone to do that! God may help you “find yourself” while staying in your fry cook position while you minister to those around you in a way no one else could have. God may WANT you to stay in a small rural town while you lead many little ones to Christ in Vacation Bible School each year…little ones who grow up and become missionaries all over the world. God may call you to stay at home and have 10 children and lovingly and patiently raise them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord…children who will boldly make Godly decisions in the scary, increasingly Godless society around us. Finding yourself may mean learning to be “happy” in your present situation while looking around and noticing the ministry God has already placed around you! Paul said “I have learned in whatever situation I am in to be content”. Not just happiness, but true joy, true fulfillment and satisfaction, comes from total abandonment to God’s will in your life, when you find those places where God truly can use your particular personality, talents or gifts. God’s not looking for someone who is exceptional; He is just looking for someone who is willing to be used by Him….HE will use you in an exceptional way! Don’t be a snob and think God can only use “certain” people with a “certain” educational level and “certain” business-like attire and appearances. God delights in choosing those who you never expected and channeling HIS power through them…then HE gets the glory. And when you let Him work through your life like that, no matter where you've been or "who" you are, you find more than just fleeting happiness…you find yourself.

Whatever

2009-11-29T22:54:00.004-05:00

"Whatever" is an interesting word. It can mean wildly different things according to the context, voice inflection, and, mainly, the heart of the one saying it. I've witnessed teens rebelliously muttering the word under their breath. The scowl on their face shows their meaning: "Yeah. Right. I don't think so."

Adults, beaten down by tough circumstances, have heavily sighed out the word. Their hardened tone relays their meaning: "I can't do anything about this anyway. Bring it on. I'll attempt to survive it."

Yet the word "Whatever" is the only way to truly serve God! "Whatever" breathed out in a humble prayer is a powerful word. I dare say it is THE most powerful word in the English language. "Whatever You tell me to do, God, I will do for You." If it means going someplace I DON'T want to go - "Whatever." If it means staying when I really WANT to go - "Whatever, Lord." If it means painfully enduring hard circumstances to learn patience or display true peace and calm, then - "Whatever." If it means giving up my dreams and be willing to let God give me NEW dreams - "Whatever You want of me, God."

God doesn't need important people, the rich, or the highly talented. He is not scouring the earth desperately seeking the possessors of special gifts, the most intelligent, or those successful in their chosen professions. He just wants one who will totally surrender. That's it. He'll do the rest. The Bible is chockful of exciting histories of the completely average who turned their world upside down: a young shepherd, simple fishermen, tent makers, a destitute, widowed daughter-in-law, a favored son hated by his brothers, a carpenter, a teenage virgin girl. All had different plans for their lives; all surrendered their dreams for His dreams. All made a difference beyond their wildest dreams. That's because God is only looking for surrender...for those who are willing to say "Whatever".

Cooking for the month

2009-09-12T19:39:00.005-04:00

Wow! It is so difficult to work a very physical job 24-30 hours a week, check your children's homeschool work, and have the time, energy, or even brain cells left to blog! Most work days I'm so exhausted upon returning home that I only have the energy to take a bath, throw in a load of laundry, and crawl into bed. Recently, when one of the girls asked for school help, I whined as I trudged past my husband - " But I don't wanna do math!"

"You have to." he replied dryly. "You're the teacher."

Days off are usually spent catching up on school work, house work, yard work, and taking the kid's on field trips. One thing in particular I've been struggling to keep up with is the daily meal question. What will we have tonight? If we are what we eat, then my family is cheap, fast, and easy! OK...enough is enough. I'm going to fix that. In the past I have tried the "once-a-month" cooking books with some success. Unfortunately, my very picky eaters (ummm...every family member but me), didn't like most of the recipes. But I HAVE learned enough tips from my "once-a-month" cooking experiences, running a catering business, and from now working in a bakery (most of our products come in frozen!) to know how to utilize my freezer as another "servant" in my home. So I don't have the servant girls that the Proverbs 31 woman had (although my girls will swear to you that they ARE those servant girls!), but I DO have machine "servants" that she did not have that I can utilize to make myself more efficient. I have a washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, a crock pot, a bread machine, a grain grinder, electric oven, toaster oven, a refrigerator that makes ice, electric weed whacker, a computer (for self-grading schoolwork!), a printer, and a large freezer in the basement!

So...I took the bull by the horns this week when I lucked out and had 3 days off in a row at work. The first day I spent half the day working on unpacking random boxes from the basement (an ongoing project I want to finish before we've been here a year. Help! That is coming up fast!) I then devoted the other half of the day to cooking my little heart out! As I cooked each item I only allowed it to cool slightly before packaging it in a tupperware container or ziplock bag and placing in the downstairs large freezer. I started with an easy one: sloppy joe meat for 2 meals. I then prepared enough pizza sauce for 8 pizzas and froze them in some old tupperware hamburger press containers. I completed the "tomato sauce" section of my cooking by simmering some cheap canned spagetti sauce with some of my own spices and some ground chicken (I literally can't stomach beef). I followed that with simmering a homemade low-fat chicken noodle soup made with lean chicken breasts. I accidently boiled too much chicken breasts for the chicken noodle soup so I made a wonderful chicken salad with Blue Plate mayo (which my sweet mother brought me from Georgia!), fresh celery, and finely chopped pecans. this will not freeze well so I stuck it in the refrigerator to eat in the next few days. I browned several pounds of stew beef and threw them in the crock pot with carrots and diced potatoes. I used a little white wine to recover the good fried flavor out of the frying pan and added it to the crock pot mixture. Yummm....a hearty beef stew for my family.

The next day I had to go to the chiropractor and stop by the grocery store for a few more ingredients. I only cooked for half the day again and I started with my family's favorite breakfast : Whole Wheat Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins. I then made a big pot full of a quasi vegetable chili (I have to add a little ground chicken...my husband wants SOME meat!). I tried a new recipe: a lower calorie version of sweet and sour chicken and froze it with some brown rice. I left some out for Rodney to eat for his supper since he was getting home after we left for church that night. I have been trying to avoid products with high fructose corn syrup,which can be very difficult if you pour syrup on your waffles or chocolate syrup on your ice cream. I found a recipe and made both of these! Neither was difficult! Both just need to be refrigerated instead of freezing, however they will last a while in the fridge. I finished up the day by making some fresh ground whole wheat chocolate chip cookie dough. I froze 2 rolls of them to bake later but baked a large cookie sheet of them to cut out to make my own chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches. I have some ice cream sandwich containers from tupperware that I rarely use. I put Breyer's vanilla ice cream inbetween 2 homemade cookies quickly hid them in the freezer!

Day 3: A bread day! I made the best bran muffins ever. But since I only use recipes as a general "guideline" I hope I can replicate these later on! It was a banana bran muffin recipe with cinnamon added...yuuummmm. I baked homemade whole wheat hamburger buns for the sloppy joes, two braided loaves of whole grain bread to eat with the soups or stews, and four whole grain pizza crusts for the pizza sauce I already froze. I baked dozens of corn muffins....some with cheese added...some without. I finished with two containers of corn chowder...an experiment, since things thickened by corn starch sometimes won't freeze well. We will see.

I ran out of time and was scheduled to work for the next four days. No matter. I have a freezer full of good nutritious food! It has been so nice to come home at 5pm and have a nice dinner on the table by 6pm without much fuss. My next day off is Tuesday and I will resume with the basement cleaning and the cooking marathon. Some of the recipes upcoming: Scones with blackberry butter, Orange chicken with rice, Golden Corral's Bourbon Street Chicken with rice, whole wheat waffles with mini chocolate chips, blueberry sauce for waffles, blackberry cobbler, and more desserts (a request from my husband)! I'll let you know how things turn out.

Some "once-a-month" cooking tips:

Some things that sometimes don't freeze well are mayonaise or sour cream based recipes, rice by itself (you can sometimes get away with brown rice in casseroles and one-dish meals), potato based recipes (same thing...you can sometimes get away with them in some casseroles and one-dish meals....like my stew meat with carrots and potatoes), and cooked eggs.

Lessons learned....

2009-07-14T20:02:00.003-04:00

Since I have not sent a list of "things I have learned" in several months, I now would like to post a "Top 10 things I have learned from working at the area's busiest chain retail store bakery":

#10 - I do not need to watch TV soap operas. The real thing is so much more dramatic.

#9 - Every bakery worker must have carpel tunnel, shoulder, or foot surgery within a few years.

#8 - ALOT of parents are WAY too hung up on getting the shade of purple just right on little Lola's first birthday cake. (Come on, people! Little Lola is not going to remember this birthday...or the next 3 most likely.)

#7 - Most people, even if in a horrible mood, if treated with courtesy, friendliness, and a understanding ear, will respond with gratitude. (Most people....)

#6 - Some people, however, do not see employees as people at all, but see them as their paid slaves who they can treat with absolute contempt.

#5 - These same people usually will not even meet your eyes or respond to you when you ask "May I help you?"

#4 - A few tortured souls will dissolve into tears if the cake for Sally's graduation is not perfect. (Again, people, get a grip. In the large scheme of things....world hunger, wars, people dying and going to hell....the shade of maroon not being just right for Sally's graduation party is REALLY not life-changing. We'll do our best.)

#3 - I now fully understand why some people drink and play the lottery. (OK, Baptist friends...not saying I condone it....just saying I understand why.)

#2 - The hardest worker...the one that cares the most for doing it right...the one willing to get down on her hands and knees and scrub the floor to get it really clean...is the 70 year old grandmother!

#1 - When a retail store chain hires you as a cake decorator, what they mean is: we want you to go to the dock and load rolling flats of heavy boxes of bread dough and put them in shelves in the freezer...dozens of heavy boxes...every day AND stock the shelves with yummy goodies all day without getting fat AND give free cookies to kids and adults (and super fat employees) AND take out the trash AND take the boxes to the cardboard baler, load it, stand on a stool and pull down the gate and crush the boxes AND wash baking pans...lots of them AND price everything AND learn a CAO gun and scan out all old products AND go retrieve and organize product in a negative 20 degrees room size freezer where, even with a coat and gloves on, you freeze AND bake cookies and sometimes pies AND refill and decorate the cold case every 3 days AND ice cupcakes AND slice people's bread AND take orders AND spray down a cement floor with a hose and squeege it dry AND decorate cakes. Lesson learned.

God Winks

2009-07-08T20:56:00.006-04:00

A few months ago, I read a book called "When God Winks at You", subtitled "How God Speaks Directly to You Through the Power of Coincidence" by Squire Rushnell. It is a much "lighter" book than I am used to - no deep theological debates...mostly stories of large or small things that "just happened" to people at exactly the moment they needed a sign or confirmation or encouragement. It was intriquing to me because so many times I have experienced this. And so has my eldest daughter.

My daughter, Vickie, came home from a wonderful "gap" program called Impact 360 in May 2007. Impact 360 (http://www.impact360.net/ ), while giving her 18 college credit hours, teaching her how to live in Christian community, giving her a community internship at the local Pregnancy Resource Center, and arming her with a solid Christian worldview, ALSO made her even more adamant about not incurring any debt. She is considering missions as her life's work. She also didn't think it was wise, as a woman, to saddle a future husband with a wife's educational loans. So....she decided she couldn't afford to go straight into college like all her other friends. Her frustration increased as she emailed and talked on the phone with her Impact friends that were enjoying college life and then crawled into the bottom of her little sister's bunk bed to retire early so she could get up before light to make greasy donuts and decorate cakes at the nearby Ingles. Near the end of her friends' first fun-packed semester she told me in tears that she still did not have enough money to go to college and would have to delay another semester. I felt for her so that I began to ask her to consider maybe a small loan so she could start in January 2008. "Maybe", I said, "You are being unrealistic to think you will have NO debt from college."

But she was determined to wait on the Lord. "No Mom. I am NOT going into debt for college. If God wants me to go to college now, He will provide the means."

And that He did. The DAY before classes started at Truett-McConnell College in Cleveland, GA, Vickie got a call from their offices saying she should show up for classes. The cost? The small amount she had in her account. She didn't know how she would continue after that but God had shown her a verse in her Bible study and devotion that very morning that (Joy's paraphrase) when God tells you to go...you don't even say goodbye to family...you just GO!" She went to Ingles, quit her job, threw her possesions in the car, and took off the next morning before dawn. When she got there the office told her that her work/study could be crisis pregnancy center work, something she was already trained to do, and that her post box number was 47, her favorite number; the school didn't know either of these things. It WAS as if God winked at her as He provided. Since then He has provided a FULL scholarship for her at Truett-McConnell.

This summer God winked at us again through Vickie. Vickie had signed on for a second summer as a staff member for the Worldchangers organization ( http://www.world-changers.net/ ). She ended up as part of the TX staff, which meant she would be even further away from us in the Cincinnati area. We were all very upset about this because, after a quick visit when Truett let out for the summer, we would not get to see her again until Christmas! Then I get an excited phone call from Vickie....her TX team was going to have to drive to a different area during an off week to take care of an inner city project. That project was in Cincinnati! Out of all the other teams, only the TX team had that week free and they were going to have to drive from Texas, manage the Cincinnati project, then drive back to Texas for the rest of the summer. Just a coincidence? I think not! Not only that but a second member of the TX team just had a brother and sister-in-law move to a tiny, little town near Cincinnati two months earlier...that tiny, little town was Walton, KY....where we live! AND that brother and wife was about to join our church! Crazy! Both families enjoyed some time together.

God doesn't always work so blatantly, but I challenge you to look for it. Did that friend "just happen" to call when you were feeling so lonely? IS it a coincidence that another homeschool family with a daughter exactly your daughter's age moved into town two months before you and are visiting your church? Were you really "just lucky" to have asked for a cake decorating job in that store JUST after their main cake decorator retires? I submit that we "hear" from God much more than we think. But funny thing is - you have to be looking AT Him to see Him wink.

I will serve you while I'm waiting....

2009-06-17T21:27:00.003-04:00

As I was driving home from choir practice tonight, I caught the very end of an intriguing song on the radio. I didn't remember till I googled the lyrics that this song was from the movie "Fireproof". The words struck me as revelant to where I'm at and where several of my friends are. We are in limbo and waiting for God to tell us what our next move is. But this song is a reminder that we should not just be "doin' nothin'" while we are waiting for our answer. I've seen people paralyzed by not knowing God's will for their life...so they do nothing. But so many things are discovered ON the journey. So many times I have "accidently" stumbled onto my answer as I was continuing to serve God in other ways....while I'm waiting...

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

Process of elimination

2009-06-08T21:16:00.008-04:00

Right now I have several young friends that are searching for God's will in their lives. Well, what Christian isn't really. Several have expressed such frustration when I tell them to keep praying for God to show them His will. "But I HAVE and things keep falling through. I've seen no lightening bolt with the note attached. No doors flung open yet." I know that frustration. I've expressed it myself in the past. In some situations God has made His will abundantly clear to me. And that is amazing since I am so dense! Many times He has thrown people into my path SEVERAL times before I say "Oooohhhh, you want me to help THAT person!" (Can almost see God sighing and slowly shaking His head.) Sometimes a door has flung open so fast that I don't even know what is happening till I'm pushed through the door and halfway into the room before I can even reflect and think "Wow, this is definitely YOUR will, God!" But with much greater frequency, God's will is revealed to me in the slow agonizing closing or even slamming shut of all other windows and doors except the right ones.

Fresh out of high school with a straight "A" average....SO MANY windows and doors open. Would I continue with my goal of being a medical technologist? Should I continue further than that? I was smart and driven enough! A scientist? A doctor? I wanted to go away to college! SLAM! No scholarships. So I stay at home and go to Georgia State University...but I DO meet my future husband close by. SLAM! After 2 years of pre-med and working at a hospital I don't even WANT to be a medical technologist any more....now what? But I do get married, move to a quaint small town. SLAM! Pregnant...within one year? But we were going to wait at least five!!!

But four years after the birth of my precious son, I find out about homeschooling...which leads me to start a local homeschool support group...which leads to my husband and I opening a homeschool supply store for 3 1/2 years, giving Homeschool 101 classes, and personally mentoring many families in how to homeschool and raise a special, different generation until the Lord. I even started a second support group and became the homeschool "guru" of the general area. Then SLAM! After the birth of my fourth child (who never slept more than 30 minutes at a time for two years!) my health went downhill fast and we had to close the education shop. Now what?! Well, concentrate on homeschooling my four children while I work a little part time job which allowed me to throw myself into church work (library, drama, VBS, etc). THIS was my mission field and I was good at it! Mentoring younger women, becoming assistant Sunday School teacher ("Hey, I'm pretty good at teaching! I like this!"), becoming the best VBS teacher ever, organizing the best mission fairs ever, directing sermon starter skits, and even some Christian dinner dramas (What fun!) Then a window squeaks shut and I am pushed through at break-neck speed through a door as the founder, chairman of board, then director of a crisis pregnancy center! Then as a two-time director for the community theater! Wow! What an interesting life! And I have not even told you half of it! But you get my drift, don't you? The most interesting turns in my life happened not because God presented an opportunity to me on a silver platter; they happened because of a closed door or something that, at that moment, was a painful paring down of choices. A big "Road Closed" sign. So I took the turns and my life so far has been much more interesting and exciting than I would have ever dreamed! I don't for a minute think that it was an accident that I ended up married, a homeschool mom of four, in a small town less than a hour from Atlanta, GA. It was God's will ....even if I did have to find it out one closed door or window at a time....through the process of elimination.

Some skits and dramas Rodney and I directed
Vickie and Christy in a church skit

Michelle, Russell, and Jeana...sermon starter

"If the Good Lord's Willing and the Creek Don't Rise" community theater

Crazy cast of "Holy Cannoli" our first community theater dinner drama

Lost and Found

2009-05-22T21:38:00.007-04:00

The girls and I have been enjoying a new pastime....bird watching! I was so upset about having a dinky little backyard which backs up to everyone else's dinky little backyard, that I set about immediately trying to turn it into a miniature paradise. Rodney cringed as a spent precious money on trees, shrubs, and mulch. But he protested when I bought THREE birdfeeders (WHAT?! Your mother bought ANOTHER one? WHY?!) He definitely did not understand the logic of essentially pouring money into 3 feeders and watch them being quickly drained. I mean, we were already spending hard earned cash on a huge outside dog, a cockatiel, a canary, and our recent acquisitions: two dwarf hamsters. Why, he wondered, would we now commense to feeding wild animals also? When I purchased the bird-house-on-a-stick, he really thought I had lost it.

"Didn't we already have two birdhouses?"

"They aren't the right kind and I don't have a pole."

*Long, drawn-out sigh*

I AM feeding a few too many Brewer's Blackbirds at the feeders. (dang greedy varmits!) But now the birdhouse is paying off. We have a beautiful momma and daddy tree swallow raising a family! It is so much fun to watch them taking turns going in and out of their little house. The daddy sits on our fence to watch out for lurking dangers and actually covers the hole to protect his babies when he senses danger is near! (Even if it IS just me with a garden hose watering two nearby raspberry vines.) He will allow you to get quite near before he flies into the birdhouse so Michelle took some great photos of him from just three or four feet away. I wondered out loud why we have never made a bird sanctuary before. Ah yes....because of "Shut-up."

Shut-up was our part-time cat in Jackson, GA. We did not adopt Shut-up; Shut-up adopted us. He really belonged to, what Becca called, our "back-door" neighbor...but he never went "home". When he first starting living on our front porch, he would meow constantly, a loud bawling meow, to get us to pick him up, give him attention, and feed him. My easily irritated daughter, Vickie, promptly named him "SHUT-UP"!!! The name stuck. Shut-up in some ways was more like a dog; he would show his affection by licking you on your face and he loved your attention. Everyone agreed he was the perfect cat.

When the time for our move to Cincinnati area was quickly coming, we were debating what to do with Shut-up. Rodney said legally the cat still belonged to the "back-door" neighbors so we would have to ask permission if we took him. Since we were going to live in an apartment for a least a couple of months we were also debating where we would put Shut-up; Rodney is allergic to cats in the house. But, alas, the decision was made for us. Just a week before Rodney left for Cincinnati, the girls heard a commotion in the front yard and found, to their horror, that the "back-door" neighboring kids where trying to catch Shut-up and put him in a carrier. When they asked why, the neighboring kids said that they were moving in the morning and taking their cat with them! My girls came in crying. They said "Momma, don't let them take him - Shut-up hates them!" But I pointed out to them, while that was true, that Shut-up wouldn't be living with them anyhow. He was a smart cat and would find another family like us that he liked better and live with them! They agreed....but we all still miss Shut-up.

However, if we still had Shut-up, we would NOT have birds. Shut-up was quite the efficient bird hunter. It was the only thing I DIDN'T like about Shut-up. Along with the offerings of a freshly killed mouse on our welcome mat, we also would find a clump of tail feathers. Yuck. So we have found that one door being slammed shut often opens another one. We lost the best cat in the world...sad thing. But we have gained a new-found love of turning our soon-to-be-miniature-backyard- paradise into a bird and butterfly sanctuary. The liquid twittering of our new tree swallow family is a healing balm.

New church "home"

2009-04-30T21:55:00.003-04:00

The Tarletons have found a new church home. Although it doesn't feel like "home" yet, I'm sure it will with time. Once again the Lord placed me in a new church that I was very resistant to at first (Go back and read blogs "Transition Team" part 1 & 2 for THAT explanation!). Florence Baptist was the first church that Rodney visited while he was living alone in the Kroger-provided apartment. Even he admitted maybe the services were a bit too "polished" for his liking and it was definitely too crowded; but he was intrigued with the fact that they had a fully functioning videography ministry (He had always had to start one in our last three churches!) and something just kept drawing him back there. When the girls and I visited with him, we agreed about the "too polished" comment and you could almost not find a place to sit and you DEFINITELY couldn't find a place to park if you were not a visitor AND got there early! I didn't want to go back but Rodney reminded me that it was never the music program or even the preaching that brought us to a church....it was always the Sunday School. We have always joined a church despite their music and sometimes despite their preaching; we would fall in love with the church family that we met when we would visit their Sunday School. I told Rodney, however, that I didn't even want to visit Sunday Schools till we were certain where we would be living permanently. After all, I didn't want to attach to a people, then move 20-30 minutes away. We've always believed in serving in a church in our immediate area when possible, then you will be serving YOUR local community and building up Christian fellowship in YOUR area. So I persuaded him to start visiting other worship services within 15 minutes of Florence. Some of my previous blogs documented a few of these visits; we visited about six other churches. These visits did help us to focus in on what we really did want in a church....and what we did NOT want!

Once we knew we were going to live in the nearby Walton community we started visiting Sunday Schools. I didn't even allow the first Sunday School to be Florence Baptist! But once we DID visit Florence Baptist's Sunday School, we were blown away. This is a huge church body...about 1200 attend Sunday morning worship....yet we were not allowed to be a nameless face in the crowd. Pastor Pete (pastor of young adults and media) met us at the door to the education building and had other youth take our teens to class and sit with them. He directed us to a warm, fun class where we were immediately made to feel welcome. Our small group teacher, David, went out of his way every time we showed up to make us feel special. Pastor Rodney (Senior associate pastor) took a special interest in us and still stops us weekly to see if we are getting plugged in. We've been visiting all the small groups of our age and each group has been very friendly and accepting. Dang it! The Lord was doing it again! He was drawing me into a church I hadn't even liked! Sometimes I think God is up there, ribbing one of his angels, saying "Watch this hard-headed one, Gabriel...watch her put up a fight again...every time!"

One by one, my objections were being knocked down. Sure, they were a large church...but they went out of their way MORE than the smaller churches to make us feel welcome. The services were a little more formal, polished, maybe even rehearsed-feeling than we liked....but the music WAS good and we always enjoyed Pastor Tim's (senior pastor) messages. The parking was atrocious and the building was crowded but they were about to move into a new huge, spacious building with plenty of parking in a couple of months just....now get this...9 minutes from our new home....ok, ok, that IS my community now *sigh*. I still felt resistant...it wasn't what I had in mind. But there was that incredibly tall steeple of the new building just mocking me every time I drove that way....which was every other day! One day, as I was driving by again, I felt the Lord say to me "This IS the one, Joy." As my eyes followed the steeple, I finally said "Ok, Lord, wherever you want me." I don't know why I always make it so hard. My husband never agonizes like I do...it is always an easy decison for him.

We just joined 3 weeks ago and attended this past week the new member's informational luncheon. Obviously, the staff of this church has read the book "Simple Church" by Thom S. Rainer and Eric Geiger because this church patterns exactly their model church! Their process and strategy are the same: Know (worship), Grow (small groups), Live (Service), and Share (sharing/evangelizing) the Truth. As a member you are expected to do all four...which is how it should be...don't join a church if you aren't ready to work shoulder to shoulder with fellow Christians to build the Kingdom! Rebecca is already making friends in the 6th grade class; Rodney will be approaching the media pastor about his area of expertise, videography, in the next few days; I have already been practicing with the choir and will be singing with them for the first time this Sunday (backing up Clay Crosse, a well-known Christian music artist of the 90's!); Rodney and I already have talked to Pastor Phillip (worship pastor) about helping with their passion plays and other major dramas; Michelle, Rebecca and I will be helping with their VBS in June. We are trying to begin to integrate into the life of this church.

It is still difficult though. Michelle doesn't really feel welcomed by any of the older youth; even though she is an eleventh grader, the only ones making her feel welcome are the ninth graders. It is hard to go from being the lead singer, lead actress, congo player, and one of the leaders of the youth to a new youth who is really nobody in the youth group. I feel her pain. Nobody really knows us here. It is like our slate is wiped clean and we have to start all over again. Like we have to "prove" ourselves again. When people see our faces, they don't think: videography, crisis pregnancy center, youth band, drama, singing, home school guru, Sunday School teacher, etc. They just think "new people". We really don't have any friends here in Cincinnati area at all yet...so it is still very lonely. But hopefully, that will change soon.... now that we have made the big step of choosing a new church home...or did WE really choose it?

The Littlest Rebel

2009-04-22T16:02:00.006-04:00

I'm raising a rebel. Actually, I think I'm raising four rebels, but who would've thought that my sweet, innocent youngest offspring would take to it with such obvious glee? When I started mentioning out loud that I might attend the Cincinnati Tax Day Tea Party, I really wasn't sure I would go. But once Rebecca heard that she could make her own sign and march through the streets of the city loudly protesting the government, there was no way she was going to let me back out. Her eyes shone with excitement. She was constantly reminding me to purchase the cardboard for the signs and the night before the march, when we began to choose our political statements and make the signs of protest, Rebecca could not contain her excitement. Her hopes were slightly dashed when I explained to her that she would NOT be allowed to throw tea bags at City Hall (littering) and that I would NOT allow her to write some of the things she wanted on her sign ("We don't want to look like ABSOLUTE crazies, Honey.") Reluctantly, she toned down her rhetoric and choose "Don't Destroy My Future!" as her signage mantra. She figured it would elicit more sympathy for one that looked as young as she.

The next morning, as Michelle, Rebecca, and I stood for over an hour on the Fountain Square with 4000 other protesters in the cold wind, Rebecca almost lost her resolve as she shivered and leaned on me. But then as we started marching through the downtown streets of Cincy, she perked up. Spurred on by the anti-protesters yelling at us from the street corners, she made sure she was on the edge closest to them and shouted "USA, USA, USA!" louder and more forcefully. Many photographers were intrigued by this fiesty little protester with the obviously handmade sign and she was very happy to pose when asked. I'm sure she is on quite a few blogs today!

When we reached City Hall, we were positioned halfway back in the crowd and behind a tree; this just wouldn't do for Rebecca. She asked permission to get a little closer. I said, "Sure, as long as I can see your sign." In a few minutes, I realized I COULDN'T see her sign anymore. That is scary in a crowd of thousands. But after a quick glance around the tree, I see her. She is in the very front, sign pumping up and down, and has joined the loud chorus yelling at the mayor in hiding: "You work for us! You work for us!" Uh, oh....I think I may have created a monster.

The police were telling us we needed to go; they needed to reopen the streets again. As I motioned to Rebecca to come on, she started complaining, "Mom, no! The mayor hasn't come out yet! We need to make him come out!"

"Becca! Look at this angry crowd. Do you REALLY think he WILL stick his little toe out that door?! Come on child, let's go."

Reluctantly, she trudged back to the car with us and hundreds of other protesters, signs now hanging limply at their sides. We watched the coverage that night to make sure it was covered fairly; local coverage was fair and balanced ;).

We were satisfied that we had participated in something good - something to at least make government perk up a bit. We know it is just a small thing, that much more needs to be done. My family does believe in the adage: All it takes for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing. If we sit back at home and say "Well, it is hopeless." then it will be a self-fulfilling prophecy. So we are glad that we did participate in a very American pasttime - speaking against what we consider bad government. But Rebecca is still upset I wouldn't let her throw tea bags.

PS...The above photo is from the website of MSNBC. The two young protesters in the right-hand corner are Michelle and Rebecca!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30224109/

Hummingbirds...

2009-04-11T23:43:00.003-04:00

My Mom said she just saw the first hummingbirds of the season in Georgia. I read that hummingbirds come to the Cincinnati area around the middle of April. In anticipation of their arrival, I have purchased a hummingbird feeder and am deciding the best place to put it so I can watch my favorite little birds.

Last spring, right after Kroger's General Offices had expressed interest in my husband taking a new position, God used one of these tiny little hummers to teach me a lesson. We knew there was an excellent chance that we would be sent to Cincinnati...away from, not only my friends and family, but also from the ministries I had help start in Jackson, GA. I was fretting over not being able to see what would happen to Life Choices Pregnancy Resource Center. I mean, what would they DO without me? I had been one of the three founders, then the chairman of the board, then the director. I arrogantly wondered how they would survive and was indulging in some self-pity that I would not be there to observe the day to day activities and to "watch" over them. Then God sent the hummingbird.

It was a rather warm day in late March, just as the wisteria vines were in bloom, and the janitor of First Baptist Church of Jackson opened the lobby doors to let in some fresh spring air. A tiny hummingbird had flown in and zoomed to the second story windows. By the time the girls and I saw him, he was already getting tired and trying to rest on the window slats which were quite beyond our reach. Rebecca and her best friend, Katy Jordan, stayed on the second story landing watching him so they could tell me when he got exhausted enough to start falling within reach.

After two hours, they came running into the youth room where I was listening to Michelle, DJ, and Madelyn practicing for youth band that night. "Momma, come quick!" The little thing was buzzing around the landing. When he finally flew very close to the floor, I threw Rebecca's jacket over him then gingerly picked him up. We all took the elevator to the first floor and went outside to find a place to let him go. But when I opened my hands, he acted like he was almost dead already. I laid the little fella on a large leaf of a gardenia bush in front of the church but he just laid there on his side breathing hard. I told the girls that maybe he just needed to rest and that he was too frightened but I knew from my study of hummingbirds how much energy they use to fly and how they HAVE to eat every few minutes when they are flying constantly....so I knew he didn't have the energy to fly away.

I went back into the church and told this to my good friend, Trish Jordan (Katy's mom). She suggested taking a styrofoam cup and breaking off all but the very bottom and mixing up sugar packets with water and trying to feed it. Great idea! I went back out with my little cup of sugar water. The little thing was still laying on its side with labored breathing. Rebecca and Katy watched in amazement as I cradled the leaf and bird in my left hand and tilted the cup bottom just enough to stick the long, slender beak into the sugar water. Even though he didn't even have the energy left to even open his eyes, he almost immediately stuck his pipe-like tongue into the water and started drinking. His tongue, however, was the only thing he moved; I was thinking how sad it would be for the girls to watch this beautiful creature die after all their diligence. Then, after 10 minutes, he sorta sat up and continued to drink and started opening his tiny eyes. My arms were cramping up from staying in the exact same position for 15 minutes. Without warning, he suddenly started flying! He hovered for a few seconds right in front of us and chirped at us several times as if to say "thank you", then flew into a nearby bush!

It was an amazing feeling! All three of us cheered. I told the girls we better get out of his way so he could hurry up and recover and get home ....he only had a couple more hours of light at best. But the girls wanted to stay. "We need to make sure that he is going to be OK....we need to watch over him." I told them that we had done everything we could do to help him. Our part was over; the rest was up to God now.

God had allowed us this marvelous little miracle...how many people get the opportunity to nurse a hummingbird back to health? But we could not expect to be there the rest of his little life. Our part was exciting but small. Later, I thought about how this related to my stint at Life Choices. I was given a wonderful opportunity to play a part in starting something meaningful. God had put me in that spot at just the right moment to play that part. How many people get to start and even direct a crisis pregnancy ministry? But, obviously, it wasn't my lot to "watch" over it for the rest of its "life". My part was over; the rest was up to God now.

My library!

2009-04-06T23:32:00.003-04:00

These photos are of my new library in my new home in Walton, KY! This room was suppose to be the dining room, but who needs to eat when you can READ?! It actually ended up being a library/music room because it also houses my piano, 2 harps, the electric training keyboard, a guitar, and many small instruments I collect. My wonderful sister-in-law Anna held on to my piano for the 12 years that I lived in Jackson, GA because it would not fit in the house there. When we moved here she let me have it back. This was very exciting for me; the piano was given to me by my Mom and Dad when I expressed an interest in learning to play as a teenager. Rebecca is interested in learning to play the piano and Michelle has expressed interest in learning to play the harp again so now we have a double purpose room...a library and a practice room! My husband bought and put together these bookshelves this weekend. Those of you who know me well will not be surprised at all when I tell you that these four large bookshelves do not hold all my books; I still had to take 3 boxes of books upstairs to store. In addition, I am storing three boxes of children's books in the basement for my future grandchildren. Rodney says "That's it...you cannot buy anymore books when you can fill up a library and still have overflow." He says that but he knows it is sheer folly to think I will never buy another book. Maybe we can strike a deal; maybe I can give away an old book for each new book that I purchase. I don't know....it is too painful to even think of such things.

April Fooled......again....

2009-04-01T21:39:00.002-04:00

Today is the 26th year that my husband has gotten me with the same old April Fool's prank. All it takes is just one good prank for me....you can use it over and over...as long as you play to my habits. Rodney always rubber bands the spray attachment at the kitchen sink open because he knows that the first thing I do every morning is wash my hands at the kitchen sink. He sets up the spray attachment to hit me with water right around my face or shoulder area....it rarely misses. Last year my routine changed slightly. I would go to the computer, check my email, THEN go wash my hands in the kitchen sink and proceed to have my coffee with honey. AhHA! I saw on an email that it was April Fool's Day! Well, he wouldn't get me this year...this year I KNEW what was coming. Then I got a phone call or something that distracted me. Guess what I did when I got through...yep...you guessed it - I turned on the water at the kitchen sink to wash my hands. *sigh* Ok...it gets better. I was so angry at myself; I jerked my soaked shirt off and threw it into the dryer, mumbling about my ridiculous husband, washed my hands in the bathroom while I was back there, then proceeded to drink my coffee and honey. Stupid husband. In the meantime, I was hurrying my kids out the door. My friend, Trish, had come to pick them up for a class; her son, Dallas, was talking to me as I was rushing the girls and getting myself ready to go out the door for work. Oh yeah.... I better fill up my water bottle so I'll drink water at work today....and.....splash...yep....my shirt was soaked again. I had failed to take the rubber band off the spray attachment. Two hits with one prank. Dallas hit the floor laughing so hard. I didn't even have time to dry my shirt; I had to change outfits. WHY?! How could I BE so absentminded.

OK...fast forward to today...April Fool's 2009. New house, new traditions. He was NOT going to get me today. I remembered the night before. I went down while he was still in the shower and REMOVED the band (he had changed to a easy velcro strip this year). I proceeded to gloat while I drank the morning coffee with him. Then he took the trash to the road while I went upstairs to brush my teeth. When I came down he told me to replace the kitchen trash liner and he'd see me tonight. We kissed and he left. I replaced the trash liner then....of course....went to wash my hands in the kitchen sink...where he had...of course...replaced the velcro strip. Luckily my current work uniform is a nifty polyester shirt that I easily brushed the water off of as I took his name in vain and stamped out the door for work. Just wait till next year....27 years is the charm.

Planting....

2009-03-30T21:23:00.003-04:00

Spring!

The front porch strawberry jar is blooming and already has a few baby strawberries!

Two 4' x 24' raised garden beds await their little vegetable seedlings!

We even have some tender grass shoots coming up over much of the soggy ground! Yeaaa!

I brought some cuttings and roots from many of my plantings in GA. Some survived...some didn't. I am anxious to see what will take root in the Kentucky soil.

Other changes and seasons are coming to our family. Tomorrow Kroger will take over our GA home. That bridge will be burned. This will be our only home. We are trying to put down roots here. We plan to join a new church in the area this next Sunday. We are exploring and "fieldtripping" Cincy. I hope to find a good homeschooling group nearby in the next few weeks. We've already visited the nearest pregnancy resource center. We are looking into the local live theater auditions. We've already visited the creation museum twice. We are already planning our 24th(?) annual Christmas breakfast in our new home.

We've brought many talents, traditions, and experiences with us from GA. Some will survive...others won't. I am anxious to see what will take root in the Kentucky soil.

My head....my heart...

2009-03-22T20:34:00.002-04:00

Knowing something in your head and knowing something in your heart are two totally different things. I know the scientific data on how an airplane flies. I know in my head that flying on an airplane is safer than driving in a car. But when takeoff occurs, that doesn't stop my heart from screaming "We are hurtling through space in a mere metal tube! Ahhhhhhhhhh!"

When we decided to take the job in Cincinnati, our heads said "Yes, this is a wonderful opportunity...and at just the right time. They will be cutting back jobs in Atlanta in the next couple of years but in Cincinnati, we will have much more job security." We also reasoned once we were here, "God must have a purpose for us here....otherwise we wouldn't have ended up in Walton, KY or the Cincinnati area." Our heads still know this...nothing has changed. All this is absolutely true. But our hearts scream...."My friends, my family, my home, my whole identity! Everything here is different! Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!"

It was very fitting that we moved here in the winter. Everyone shut up in their homes. Lonely, dark, windy, bitter cold. My heart felt the same. But the ground has thawed, Spring is starting...just enough for me to plant trees and shrubs and some flower tubers I brought from Georgia. It is very healing to get your hands into the dirt and to watch things grow...to see life spring from the cold, dark soil. With each new plant that comes up I also feel a twinge of hope for our life transplanted here. People are coming out of their houses; children playing in the streets (Wow! I never knew THAT many kids lived in this neighborhood!). A few neighbors have even stopped and talked to me as I was in the front yard planting my cherry trees. I've met new people at work. Rebecca came home from church today and said she made a new friend.

There is only a little evidence of new life yet. But it does give hope for those despairing of the wintery isolation. Maybe the heart will catch up with the head soon....it's still only early spring...

My favorite.....

2009-02-07T11:15:00.003-05:00

My family has a warped sense of humor. Whenever we would do something for one child and another would whine "Why does SHE get that?!", my husband would just dryly say "Because she's our favorite". Then the other kids would sorta laugh and say "See, I always knew it!" I've been accused by each child that another one was my favorite...and they were right.

Each HAS been my favorite at different times for different reasons. Each child's personality or strength or even weakness has at one time or another drawn me closer to them. Sometimes, I sense that a child just NEEDS me more at that particular time. Sometimes, I NEED that particular child's humor or kindness or strength of character. Sometimes, one child's goals, hobbies, interests, or just life in general matches up to mine in that moment of time and it just naturally pulls us together. But it is not a matter of loving one child more than another. They are all so different! How did four such unique individuals come out of me?

My only son, Clay, has interests in politics, philosophy, and theology which match my own. We can sit at the dinner table and talk of such things logically and heated and enjoy it. That can be very exciting for me since my husband cares very little for such things! He is very intelligent and makes a great debate partner! He is extremely goal-oriented; he can set a goal and follow it through to the end...no matter what! I find myself defending and making excuses for my son since he has that rebel spirit in him that has led him, in the past, to make choices we don't always consider wise. But I know where the rebel spirit comes from....it is genetic and it is NOT from his daddy! But I also understand that this same type of spirit, properly channeled, can also help you stand up in the face of injustice with boldness. It gives you a needed righteous indignation to slay the dragon. It allows you to "go against the flow" when you need to. I see this in my son and know that, if channeled through God's will, he will surpass us all in what he can accomplish! God can use a very intelligent, goal-oriented, rebel-rouser to do great things...big bold things.

My second child, Vickie, is the purest of heart. She has always sought God in a way that none of us have. She is willing to do anything for God; I believe she has the spirit of the first century martyrs. She grieves over sin yet loves the sinners. Her righteous indignation is reserved for Christians "who should know better". She seems to be able to always "keep the main thing the main thing". She has often corrected me by saying "What does that matter Mom, when they don't even know God!" She does all this with a meek spirit. I complain about her shyness and sometime social awkwardness yet she cringes at my boldness while she quietly, without the fanfare I demand, serves her God. No telling where she will end up...but it will be where God tells her to go.

My third child, Michelle, has the quickest wit and is the most fun to just "hang out" with. From a tiny child she has had a well-developed sense of justice and truth. It is all black and white for Michelle. She doesn't usually struggle with nuances of the law. The Bible either says this and means it or it doesn't! If you try to muddy the waters for her by saying "But some people believe...." she will cut you off and say "Well, they are wrong...there it is in black and white!" She keeps me straight. She also shares my love of acting and singing...and she is very talented! She always sticks up for the underdog and goes out of her way to include everyone around her...especially those she feels are left out. Although she will frequently do anything to get out of academics, give her physical work to do and she will probably "outwork" most guys around her! But her biggest gift, I believe, is her love of life! She is where the party is! If you want to just have a great time laughing and loving life...Michelle's your pick.

My fourth child, Rebecca, has the sweetest and gentlest spirit of all the children. She is smart, extremely precocious, and socially saavy. Make no mistake...in a social situation...she knows what she is doing. She can sense all situations going on around her and determine what should be said or not said. She loves everyone and everyone loves her! She can walk into room full of strangers and before she leaves...they are strangers no more...and she has them eating out of her hands! She has a maternal instinct like no other. Some of the first words out of her toddler mouth were "I want to be a mommy...when can I be mommy?" She "mothers" babies, little ones, and even animals. The church nursery workers, against all rules, sneak her in to help them, knowing that she is better than having another adult! She serves the elderly and sick with such tenderness and kindness. She is considering being a massage therapist because she could make people feel better (including her arthritic mom!). She is MUCH more mature than her stature or years!

Now...can you see why they are ALL my favorites? How DID they all come from Rodney and me?! And...how fun that God would inject such different personalities into one family...just for the diversity! I have been blessed to be their "Momma" for all these years. So when we say "She's our favorite" we are telling the truth...she is...for that moment! Don't worry...you're next.

Transition Team.....(part 2)

2009-02-03T02:25:00.002-05:00

(continued from yesterday)

When the associate pastor read his and the senior pastor’s resignation letters, I sat on the back pew weeping harder and longer than most long-time First Baptist members. But, then again, I knew all about church splits. The little Baptist church I grew up in seemed to have a split every few years just for the heck of it. I had seen hatred in the eyes of my fellow church members toward pastors and other brothers and sisters in Christ. And I had just left another church I saw headed that direction quickly. I had watched as parents refused to let little children play with their best friends anymore because they were “one of them”. My heart was totally broken; I knew what this meant.

But I was also uniquely qualified to help mend my new church. I could look at both sides in love and say “You are both acting stupid.” (in love of course!). I could help foster an attitude of softness and of longing to bring back those who had left with the senior pastor. I would even speak of the former pastors positively, reminding those “on the other side” of the wonderful things that they HAD done there. Sure there had been too much pride and impatience on their part but just look at the new warmth, Spirit-led services, growth of new members…a good deal of the reason why they were no longer cold and sorta “uppity” was because they were no longer in the rut. They had been shaken out of complacency. I begged people considering leaving because of the split to reconsider. God had NOT walked out of this church when the pastor did; He was still here working among His people. I was also uniquely qualified to try to help my new church through the “worship music wars”. I LOVE hymns; I sing them to myself and my children all day long…literally. I HATED praise songs when my music director from Macedonia introduced them (Sorry Eddy!). I called them “chanting”. I was very resistant…shamefully so. But I slowly acclimated. Now I love a combination of the old and new. So I understood both sides and tried to get both sides to understand and respect each other. I threw myself into helping this church heal and trying to help it grow again. And I grew to love those people like no other.

God brought us to First Baptist less than a year before the split. Then God took us away from First Baptist right as the last staff position was filled. Rodney was sent to Cincinnati a few days after our new worship pastor started. We followed a month behind him. We were the transition team! God knew what was going to happen at First Baptist and sent us and several other families there specifically to help it during those trying times! Amazingly we, and several other families that came in right before and after us, left for different reasons right as the new staff took over. We were ALL part of the transition team….God was taking care of His people at First Baptist way in advance. All of it was SO hard…and I guess…so necessary. God works in mysterious ways. Now I don’t know why this Georgia girl is here in this tiny town of Walton, KY….outside of Cincinnati…in the cold slush (*sigh*) but I’m sure God has a reason. I’ll be happy when I can see it, though! I know I am impatient and, like Israel, sometimes forget His provisions of the past. But hind sight is 20/20….sometimes….when God allows.

Transition Team.....

2009-02-02T23:30:00.004-05:00

Sometimes you can look back and say “Ohhhhhhh….THAT is why this happened!” Sometimes you never know why. But I DO have some insight into our church woes from the past. I wondered, “God, why would send me away from a church I love, only to send me TO a church about to go through a split, then when I really love THOSE people….send me away to another state!” But sometimes God does allow you to get a glimpse of the big picture and how you fit in…that is a special privilege when it does happen.

I love Macedonia Baptist Church. And when doctrinal differences arose, I had a feeling God didn’t want me there anymore, but I fought it. Family advised, “Just go!” But I held on and cried till finally we felt we had no choice. Then the church search began. Don’t get me wrong - I love visiting churches. It is so much fun to see the different ways people worship…to get ideas about different ways to handle programs and services…to meet new people. But I hate church searches. I always feel I am turning up my nose at people when I visit and then DON’T choose their church. Seems sorta like saying “You are not good enough for me!” I know that is NOT what I’m saying, but I’m afraid THEY think I am. As a matter of fact, the next church we chose after Macedonia was NOT the church I wanted…..it was the church where God wanted us!

I already had a church in mind when we started our search….I wanted to go to Rock Springs Congregational Methodist. I loved Brother Benny and already considered him my pastor. I loved the music, the people and already had friends there. But, just to be fair, I would visit other churches with my family. My husband did point out that my policy was to always try to find a church in the immediate community that we were living in so we would be serving in our own community. Ok, ok…we’ll keep looking…but not too hard.

We had visited First Baptist Church of Jackson 8 years or 9 years previously but had felt it very cold and sorta “uppity” and did not want to visit it at all. So we visited several other churches…nope…they weren’t right for us…ha! One church – no young people at all. Another church – dead. My friend, Bambi, begged us to give First Baptist another try; she swore it had changed BIG time in those 8 or 9 years. Reluctantly we went – uh, oh…she was right…they HAD changed. This was not the cold, uppity church anymore. The Spirit was here. But, the Sunday School was going through Rick Warren’s 40 Days stuff….I was no fan of that program, having already gone through it once and found people fawned over his programs WAY too much. But I did let Rebecca go to Awana’s that Wednesday. Uh, oh….Becca fell in love with the program and people there and they fell in love with her. No, no, no….I want to go to Rock Springs!

We visited another church, then revisited Rock Springs. None of us could get a peace about joining Rock Springs. When we revisited First Baptist, we began to see that our talents – Rodney’s Videography, my drama ministry background, my library ministry background, Vickie’s bass playing, all our drama skills for the “Walk through Bethlehem” production, etc – fit perfectly into what First Baptist needed. I also began to see that what my teen girls needed was not a perfect youth group but a youth director and youth group that would love them. They had been badly hurt by the last youth group and this was more important than a “deeper” program for them at this time in their life. The youth director’s, Scottie’s, strongest point was loving his youth. God started making it clear to Rodney and I that First Baptist was where He wanted us. I started relenting, “Ok, Lord, wherever you want us.”

So we joined First Baptist knowing it was where God planned for us to be. We jumped in with both feet and immediately became, not just part of the church family, but almost like part of the staff! Rodney started a Videography ministry. I took over the drama ministry. I lobbied to keep the library from being dismantled and started revitalizing it. I became the assistant Sunday School teacher for my class. Vickie immediately joined the youth band then got to go on a trip of a lifetime – Zambi, Africa – which changed her life! Michelle loved the youth and started integrating into every program. And Rebecca…well, let’s just say I was known as “Rebecca’s Mom” to most there. The “Walk Through Bethlehem” production was just up our alley….drama…that’s what we do! And then…..the church split. WHAT! We just got away from all that…no way! What are you DOING, God?!

(continued in part 2 tomorrow)

Below: My daughter, Vickie, and a group from First Baptist of Jackson in Zambia, Africa

Snow and Ice!

2009-02-01T02:55:00.006-05:00

As most of you probably heard on the news, Kentucky was deluged with snow and ice this past week. The little town of Walton, where we now reside, in just two days received 10 inches of snow and 1 ½ inches of ice! Driving conditions were treacherous even for the locals! We have discovered that this area has a 3 level snow emergency alert. Level 1: Drive with caution, Level 2: Don’t go out unless necessary, Level 3: If you DO drive, you might get ticketed! Tuesday was a Level 2 but Wednesday went to a Level 3 in many areas.

Rodney did drive to work everyday but they let them go home very early on Wednesday because of the Level 3 alert. He came home just in time to help us chip the ice away from the drive. Tuesday, for two grueling hours, we shoveled 6 inches of snow off the driveway. But then Tuesday night, the mixed snow/rain/sleet deposited a thick crust of ice on the drive and on all the snow on the ground. A very fast-moving but heavy snow flurry hit on Wednesday morning and added another 4 inches of snow on top of that ice. Talk about slick conditions! I still have to be VERY careful just walking on my sidewalk out to my car…I skate half the way!

It is amazing how diligent the road crews are trying to keep the roads passable though. Snow plows are everywhere and salt is constantly being replenished on the roads. But with ice this thick and persistent even the snow plows were having trouble. I saw on the news that in the city of Cincinnati, road crews were pulling out the “strong stuff” – beet juice! They were laying down streams of beet juice on the Cincy streets. They swore by it; said it should do the trick!

Some other “lessons” this warm-weather, Georgia girl learned this week:

Shoveling snow (and especially ice!) off a driveway is great aerobic exercise.
And it is necessary, otherwise your drive turns into a skating rink that your car cannot get up.
I now understand why and appreciate why driveways are so short here
The trash crew does not come on a Level 2 or 3 snow day
The trash crew cannot SEE your trash under the snow when they DO come if you put it out too early *sigh*
The mail lady also does not come on Level 2 or 3 snow day
She will also not deliver your mail until you shovel her a path to your mailbox
Evidently it is a requirement to purchase a four-wheeler to play with and get around for snow days
The police don’t mind if you ride these out on the road; the police are out there with their kids pulling their sleds
There is a southern windshield wiper fluid and a northern version (northern version goes down to -25 degrees not just 20 degrees)
Problems will arise if you DON’T use the northern version
You NEED that windshield wiper fluid after a snow (salt from the road makes your windshield opaque quickly!)
It takes 2 people with 2 wooden blocks over 30 minutes to chip an ice-encrusted van out enough to drive it
Snow and ice doesn’t melt if the temperature never goes above freezing (“what the heck….the snow was always gone a day or two later in GA!”

Ah well, who knows what other lessons are waiting for us here! I just pray our electricity doesn’t go out until we have a chance to get a woodstove. Otherwise we are going to reinstitute the “family bed” to keep warm!

Learning experiences

2009-01-22T19:34:00.003-05:00

Things I have learned since coming to Cincinnati area/Northern Kentucky:

• I like warm weather.
• I dislike cold weather.
• Snow IS fluffier here (Reason: the colder it is when it is snowing…the fluffier the snow…so says our weatherman)
• Very fluffy snow doesn’t make good snowballs or snowmen but looks pretty on the ground.
• In the Midwest, if you won’t drive when there is snow or ice on the ground, then you might not get out of the house from Dec – March.
• I can make a curtain by myself! (or a least a valance) With a *gasp* sewing machine! (see photo!!!)
• Nobody has bleached blonde hair in the midwest.
• Magic Jack is awesome….free long distance! No monthly fees!
• My best thoughts come while I am lying in bed after midnight.
• I can’t ever remember thoughts that come to me in the middle of the night the next morning. I only remember they were great. :)
• At 46 your closeup eyesight, which has been great up till now, suddenly goes.
• So does your ability to manipulate things with your fingertips which seem 5 times larger now.
• I dread visiting new churches in the community because I don’t want to hurt people’s feelings when we decide “YOU are not THE one.”
• My dog has some serious fear issues and needs a dog psychiatrist.
• I can run a full week VBS program on my own with all the craft “junk” I have collected (read “packrat”) over the years. Hey! I KNOW I’m gonna need those film canisters, popsicle sticks, and dish detergent tops soon….back off!!!
• I love books. (OK…I already knew that one)
• I am unwilling to part with almost any book (Hey, my grandchildren will enjoy this…eventually)
• I’m pretty good with a cordless electric screwdriver.
• I’m not good at “eyeballing” pictures and curtain rods level
• Neither are my girls.
• I am pretty good at spackling mistakes.
• My third child is just as scared of learning to drive as I was.
• I am emotionally unable to teach my third child how to drive.
• My husband is a much better Driver’s Ed teacher than I am.
• God doesn’t sell your house on your timetable.
• I often freak out on God’s timetable.
• I’m a great teacher.
• I’m not a great student.
• God has to teach me the same things over and over and over…..

I'm back....

2009-01-19T16:04:00.005-05:00

I’m back….

I’m back….and moved. We are now residents of Walton, KY, a little town 30 minutes south of Cincinnati. All our earthly possessions were moved into our new house on Jan 2nd. At least the weather cooperated; it was cold but dry for the first couple of days. That was great because the day after we moved in we had to build a fence! Our dog, Moose, had been living in an apartment garage for over two months so we really needed to be able to let him out to run. So, after helping the movers pack out all three levels with boxes, Rodney and Michelle woke up early the next morning and stayed out all day in the freezing cold trying to keep the fence post auger from bogging down in the mud. Poor things. That night it started raining, but Rodney and Michelle got up the next morning and started it again…in worse mud. Michelle’s friend, Jake Perry, joined in with them by the afternoon. It was a messy job and they were chilled to the bone, but they got all posts drilled by Sunday evening. On Monday, all posts were cemented in and by Tuesday evening we had the hog wire part of the fence up; it was enough to let Moose out of the basement. He was SO happy to run free! He jumped and snorted and rolled around. Unfortunately, after only a day, the weather turned off so cold that he only goes out for a little while at a time. Even Moose, with his husky-like white, thick fur cannot tolerate this weather for long! And, unfortunately, when our little back yard is not frozen, it is extremely muddy. Most grass seeds did not have time to germinate before the freezes hit. Moose may be a brown dog by Spring.

A "real" sled......

2008-12-17T10:28:00.005-05:00

My wonderful husband went to the Ace Hardware on the way home yesterday and purchased a "real" sled for the girls. The snow and ice are starting to melt this morning but the girls got in a few really exciting rides before it disappears. This is their first true sled rides. Yesterday, after Michelle posted the photos of them sledding on their stomachs on a piece of cardboard, their northern friends laughed at them because they said it is not enough snow to sled in. Michelle said "For a southerner - if you get up from the slope and your front is not covered in mud, then there is enough snow!"

Another Snow Day!

2008-12-16T18:40:00.013-05:00

Our van in the snow - Dec 16, 2008

The girls had a great time today watching and playing in the snow. We had about one inch today and might have a little more tonight.

The girls didn't have a real sled so Becca made one with a piece of cardboard and a Kohl's bag!

Wheeeeeeeeee!

Taking a spill off the "sled"

Michelle's turn!

Becca's whole reason for wanting to move here...snow!

Skyline Chili, Bengals, and Cold…

2008-12-15T20:32:00.004-05:00

This move is all about the adventure I guess. It certainly hasn’t been easy. We had to move at the worst possible time to sell a house. That means we are “livin’ on the edge” by hoping we can keep our house rented until it sells - an adventure. Riding a roller coaster on the emotions on that one! Luckily, the two children we brought with us to Cincy view every day here as an adventure. Each morning the girls awaken to snow on the ground, and there has been 5 days since we moved here, there is excitement in the air! A lifetime Southerner moving north right as the winter starts is definitely just begging for adventure.

In our desperate search to find a house here, we have driven our car over all of Northern Kentucky. We’ve turned down many a wrong street or just turned down a street to see where it would lead. With the help of our trusty “Cincinnati Area Mapbook” we’ve just seen each turn as an adventure. Getting lost is a good way to learn about an unfamiliar area! We also are trying to adapt to different ways of saying words (It’s Bengals with a “short” e, not Beeengals with a “long” e!), different news reporters (Where’s Monica Kaufman!), and different names of roads and cities being talked about on the car radio (That’s surprisingly jarring).

We purposely wasted our money on an adventure the other day….we went to a Cincinnati icon – Skyline Chili. One of these little chili dives are around every corner, the way Starbucks is in DC. The locals are sitting in the little booths munching on oyster crackers, waiting on their “three-way” or “four-way” chili in a bowl, over spaghetti noodles, or over a cheap hot dog. While my husband was reluctantly placing our order, I read the history of Skyline off the menu. Apparently Nicholas Lambrinides immigrated from Greece with this family recipe and opened his first restaurant overlooking the skyline of Cincinnati, OH. The chili is so different…a very thin soup-like chili with a strong flavor of cloves and nutmeg added to the “normal” chili seasonings. Accchhhh. I congratulated my husband and girls on being brave enough to try something very new and different, told them that my curiosity was satisfied, and we won’t ever have to go to Skyline Chili again. Another adventure….this one a once in a lifetime.

Toto, I don't think we are in Kansas anymore....

2008-12-06T19:20:00.009-05:00

This is the fifth snow since we have arrived in the Cincinnati area. This one the deepest…though only about one or two inch accumulated on the ground. We headed out in Rodney’s car with the goal of looking at our future house before signing the papers to purchase. We got only about a block away down the snowy streets, however, when a red SUV coming from the other direction did a 360 right in front of us. I turned to Rodney and asked if we should just go back….this was not a good omen. He assured me that the more traveled streets would not be so icy. He was correct but there were some scary areas of snow drift on the way. I drove my husband crazy with “Watch out!”, “Slow down.”, “That looks icy!, punctuated by the quick sucking in of air whenever anyone got close to us. We did get our grocery shopping done, saw our future home, and made our way over to the model homes to sign the papers. Mission accomplished. Our house hunting is over…not a moment too soon. We were getting very discouraged. With house prices higher in this area than in our previous area, Jackson, GA, we were concerned that we would be getting much less house for much more money. As it ends, we ARE paying a lot more, but we are getting a lot more. One good outcome of the diving real estate market – we got a great deal on a brand new house. The builders are having to dump newly built houses for the same price as some 15 year old houses of the same square footage! The bad news – we are most likely going to have to sell our house for less than what we owe. *sigh* For a little while we will be the owners of two houses. Rodney said take a photo of him right now…this will be the only time he will be able to say he owns two houses… his new home and his “southern” home. So while we acclimate to our new surroundings, make plans for getting into our new home before the end of the year, and start meeting the locals, we will admire the new white powdery scenery adding new meaning to many of the Christmas songs on the radio…..”Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful, and since we’ve no place to go….let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!”

So sad....

2008-11-23T19:33:00.001-05:00

Finding a church here in our new community might be quite a challenge. The girls and I think that The Church’s methods need to reach out to the non-church-raised community. The methods need to change….but not the message. That means we don’t mind if the pastor takes a cup of coffee up on the stage with him, doesn’t use a pulpit, sits on a stool, wears casual clothes, and makes full use of the power point board (As far as I’m concerned “The Word” is still “The Word” whether it is on a screen, said orally, or in a book form. Doesn’t matter.) My husband, however, is a little more of a traditionalist. He feels more comfortable with church goers a little more “dressed up”, a real pulpit, and your typical service.
We have all just come out of a church in Georgia that struggled with “The Battle of the Worship Music”. Many in the “contemporary” crowd thought singing any hymns was a giant step backwards and an immediate turnoff to the “non-churched”. Many in the “traditionalist” crowd thought the new praise songs were not as adequate for worshipping God and the younger generation would never learn the old hymns – that we were losing our history. Both had good points….both were wrong. From attending both kinds of churches, I have learned that it is more in the spirit of the people singing. I’ve seen small churches singing only the traditional hymns (even straight out of …*gasp*…hymnals) with powerful Spirit-led enthusiasm and obvious love of God. I’ve seen large churches that did not even own hymnals led by Christian rock bands or praise teams that definitely were worshiping God with all their hearts.
But what we experienced today was just so sad. It was a large First Baptist Church in one of the nearby communities. Its building was beautiful – gorgeous stained glass windows, shiny gold chandeliers, clean modern bathrooms, plenty of parking space, a spacious lobby filled with well-dressed ushers greeting us. The bulletin portrayed the usual amount of activities of a Baptist church complete with reaching out to the hungry for the holidays. The people inside were all well-dressed, polite…..and totally uninterested. Hardly anyone would even sing! There was not a joyful noise in the entire congregation. With quiet straight faces they watched their choir and quartet’s performance. After the special singing there was a polite smattering of applause. Even worse is what I observed on the faces of one and all during the singing and sermon…utter dullness. You could almost hear their thoughts saying “When will this be over with and I can get on with real life.”! With the exception of the worship pastor who seemed to be trying his best to get some kind of emotion out of the congregation, even the people leading seemed to be just going through the motions.
There are some pluses to being able to visit around to other churches. The things we see and experience can be brought back to our new church home….when we find it! It is fun to see how diverse people worship God – to observe in person that, although the methods and people differ, the core message can be the same. There are minuses also, though. It is easy to become a church “connoisseur”…to sit there and critique absolutely everything the church does. (“Hmmmm…they should throw in a dash of praise songs and a pinch of small group interaction.”) But today, as we drove away from this church, we all agreed – the traditionalist and contemporary set alike – we’ve never seen a more bored group of people.

Freeze up....

2008-11-23T10:39:00.002-05:00

Sorry it has taken me so long to write another installment of my blog. As I realized that more than two people were reading my blog, it became more difficult to write. All of a sudden the question became – “Is this worthy of writing and posting? Why would a dozen people want to read this?!” It gave me writer’s block; I froze. Which is funny…I have less trouble writing up a speech and giving it to a hundred people. I don’t freeze up when in front of a crowd, but then again, I can SEE the reaction of those people in real time. I can gage their reaction and adjust. You simply can’t do that in written form.
But one thing came to me this morning as I was in the shower. (Yes, some of my best moments of clarity happen either as I lie in bed, wide-awake as usual, in the middle of the night or as I shower!) As I was thinking of the struggles of several of my friends, and formulating some words of encouragement and advice to write to one of them, I realized how easy the words were coming. That’s because I was only thinking about writing directly to them. I wasn’t worried about pleasing them with my words…just about telling them something I thought they needed to hear. When I speak in front of large groups, I’m not so worried about how I sound. I’m more worried that I make the message clear. I know I have something important they need to hear and I don’t care if they like the messenger, just that they understand and respond to the message.
So, bear with me as I blog, sometimes on important issues – sometimes not. Sometimes with a message for you – sometimes just ramblings as I try to work out things in my own head. Some things will be written specifically for a certain set of people, of which you might not belong. Some things might seem like I am living inside your own head. Hopefully when I DO have a message, it will be clear.

THE library

2008-11-12T20:46:00.002-05:00

Oh…my…goodness. The Cincinnati Public Library was 542,527 square feet of homeschooling delight! It had a four story bridge connecting the two buildings of five floors (three user floors each)! On the first floor was the “Popular Library” which had thousands of DVD’s, music CD’s, and all the most read books, fiction and non-fiction. I got lost in the Documentary section of the DVD’s, while my non-reading husband, who is convinced he doesn’t need to learn anything outside of his job and Videography, explored the massive collection of popular TV series and movies collection. I let my fingertips brush over the History Channel, Discovery Channel, A & E, and Answers in Genesis DVD’s…not just a few but rows of them! To Rodney, this field trip was a snorefest, but to me it was heaven!

My eyes grew big as I explored huge reading rooms and reading nooks on every floor, 100 public access computers with internet, a huge children’s library, an impressive “Teenspot” library, TWO large non-fiction libraries, a genealogy library, and special learning centers for scholarship search, college comparisons, SAT prep and SO much more. I know I sound like a radio commercial but to know that I was only thirty minutes away to one of the largest libraries in the United States was exciting. You must remember though, that back in Jackson, GA, I was driving thirty minutes to nearby Covington just to have access to a few more classical books-on-tape for Michelle, my dyslexic, auditory learner.

Reading the “Get acquainted to your new library” pamphlet the librarian gave me, I learned I now had online access to hundreds of books-on-tape…I don’t even have to go to the library for dozens of classical digital books. I even have access to a couple hundred classical and instructive videos on the internet. As I clutched my brand new Cincinnati Public Library card in my fingers, I felt my knees weaken; I felt myself going into a reader’s diabetic coma.

Providentially, on the top floor, I discovered a fairly large Grants Research library. Not only did they have hundreds of books telling you where and how to get grants for non-profit organizations, they also have software to search for grants and a free three hour class for those beginning to learn the process. Before I left my position as interim director of Life Choices Pregnancy Resource Center, I promised new director, Judy Hodges, and chairman of the board, Kelly Wood (both founders and beloved friends of mine) that I would continue to hold a position at the center even though I would be in Cincinnati. I would be their Grants Researcher! I take my first Grant class on Tuesday. The Lord taketh away….but the Lord giveth…blessed be the name of the Lord.

Church Fun

2008-11-10T17:14:00.002-05:00

On-the-edge contemporary service was what we experienced at our second attempt at church-hunting here in the Northern Kentucky area. We entered the sanctuary as the service was starting so we did not get to take advantage of the pre-service coffee house in the lobby. Obviously a prerequisite for joining this church is to drink coffee. The lobby was made specifically to be a coffee house; everyone had a paper Starbucks-type coffee cup in their hand, with even the pastor nursing a cup up on the stage! It must be quite a popular church. Their bulletin announced that they hold a Saturday evening service and three Sunday morning services, followed by a new members 101 class with lunch. They obviously reuse their bulletins though, for when I struggled to open mine, I found it had chewing gum squished between the pages! The girls couldn’t contain their giggling; as far as they were concerned, that situation alone was worth visiting this church… for the entertainment value.

A Christian rock band led worship. I think “Animal” from the Muppets, with a bandana covering his hair, was the drummer. The worship leader/guitar player got “into the spirit” a little too much and kicked his music stand across the stage and sent all the music sheets flying. The Lord’s Supper, held during a quieter song, consisted of all Believers going to the nearest table (ours in the back of the room) , waiting in line to pick up a piece of saltless cracker, dipping it in a wine glass, taking it back to your seat, and partaking as you sat down. There was no pulpit; the pastor either sat on a stool or paced back and forth on the stage, making great use of video and power point technology during his “talk”.

We just happened to come on a Sunday that he was expounding on what they warned was a “PG-13” subject – on sex. I’m thinking – “Oh, great! What a Sunday to bring my tween and teen girls!” But we actually really enjoyed it! It was very different, to be sure, maybe too different for Rodney’s very conservative, Southern-Baptist-only-thank-you taste, but the music was entertaining, rockin’ but worshipful, the sermon engaging, and the people friendly but not overwhelming. I was also impressed that, according to one of the gum-less bulletins I borrowed from the girls, they are very much into serving the community. All members are expected to provide turkeys for Thanksgiving and toys for Christmas for families in need in the Cincinnati area; many opportunities for reaching out to the community are available. They did not seem too focused on themselves – an excellent quality for a Believer and the Church.

New experiences

2008-11-07T20:04:00.003-05:00

We take so many things for granted when we live in one place for a long time. Since I had lived in Georgia all of my 46 years, I have taken MANY things for granted! I assume everyone does things pretty much like we do. I assume that communities, churches, libraries, businesses, food, and entertainment is the same everywhere. I assume that "our way" of doing things is the best. Now why I would think that when I've only ever lived in small rural towns south of Atlanta, I don't know. But even though I've only been in Florence, KY (just south of Cincinnati) for one week today, I'm learning that things are the same....and things are different.

I haven't got to truly meet anyone yet. Just very short conversations with the pharmacists, Movie Gallery guy, two vets, cashiers, etc. People are mostly friendly. We are living in a very crowded area! So many people are stuffed into this Cincinnati suburb; there are apartments and houses a few inches apart. We were not used to hearing other people bumping around right next to and above us. Every once in a while, someone above us makes a sudden loud bumping noise and Michelle says "Mom, we better go pick our neighbor up from the bottom of the steps!" In this area, yards are small and each backyard backs up to dozens of other backyards...no privacy! Cars are parked up and down the roads of almost every subdivision...everyone parks on the street! But we are less than 10 minutes from everything...and I mean everything! Kohl's, Petsmart, Best Buy, HHGregg, a huge mall, every restaurant imaginable, 2 minutes from the closest Kroger (there is a Kroger every 10 minutes or less here!). And last night we went to the grand opening of a Kroger Marketplace in the community of Walton about 15 minutes away. It was freakin' HUGE. It was the size of a small mall. It included sushi bars complete with little Japanese guys fixing it in front of you, several aisles of fully prepared food including many hot ready-to-eat items, several salad bars, a super large deli that fries up it's own potato chips daily, more pet food items than the local Petsmart, two aisles of toys, a dozen aisles of household goods such as kitchen towels, washcloths, silverware, tablecloths, beautiful plates and serving items and FURNITURE. Now I'm not talking about dinky, cheap furniture. I REALLY want to furnish my house with the beautiful suede sectional sofa and the 5 piece dark wood dining set. Really nice stuff...amazing store. I wish for my Georgia friends....a Kroger Marketplace nearby!

We attended Florence Baptist Church last Sunday; it seemed OK. They are almost ready to move into a new huge facility one exit south of their present building. They have two packed services and no parking space....they definitely need the new building and the new parking areas! I'm not sure if we will go there this Sunday or visit another. There is not a Baptist church around every corner like in Georgia but there seems to be at least one in every community. There are just as many other denominations as Baptist...many Lutheran, Catholic, Church of God, Christian churches...much more diversity.

We acquired our first Kentucky library card yesterday....in Boone County...at their headquarters in Burlington. This new library put any Georgia library I've been in to shame. It was gorgeous, huge, state-of-the-art technology, awesome! I want to build a house next to this library. I know. I'm such a homeschool mom geek. But this library! It has 48 public computers, a large "teen scene" room, several community rooms, a large screen TV which hosts "movie nights" for teens and families, a huge children's library on the second floor, massive overstuffed chairs everywhere, self checkout machines, and, according to their posted schedules, really interesting programs every week. Programs like: blue grass/folk bands, jazz groups, a Native American who sets up a teepee in the library and teaches families about Native American culture, chess clubs, family movie nights, and much more. It even offers, with a library card, free access to many books on tape and digital books that you can download into your ipod and/or pocket pc! Ok...some things ARE better here.

As for food - We ate at a new place called "Cheddars" that is GREAT! A higher-end Appleby- type of restaurant. Very classy...excellent food. It will become my new favorite date place I'm sure! I have not been able to try the most "Cincinnati-type" food yet....Skyline Chili. Chili served Cincy-style is supposedly slightly sweet and spicy and very thin and served over something....like spaghetti or macaroni noodles....with lots of cheese. Other transplants here say that you either love it or hate it. I'm interested in trying it soon. Rodney - not so much. But I think I will be able to talk him into it soon. If not, the girls and I are game.

The girls want me to purchase the truly Cincy game called "Corn Hole". Transplants tell us that EVERYONE here plays Corn Hole. A few Fridays ago, Rodney's office had an employee's fun day. They had to choose games to play against each other at the park (I'm sure it is some kind of Kroger "bonding" idea). Other games offered were volleyball and putt-putt, but Rodney said that the game almost everyone signed up for was the famous corn hole game. It is some kind of wood board with a hole and you lob a corn-filled bag at the hole. It is similar to horseshoes in the rules. And people here take it very seriously. They wanted to know who the officiator of the games were and if official rules were to be followed! I guess we need to learn such an important game!

I'm sure more new experiences are on the way! We are wanting to get a library card at the Cincinnati library...the second largest library in the United States! The art deco railroad station turned art museum keeps beckoning us from it's perch off I-75. There are many parks here....we haven't explored any of them. The girls want to do it all now! I keep telling them that we are not here for just a couple of weeks. We will have plenty of time to explore. We must pace ourselves!

Challenges

2008-11-06T10:59:00.004-05:00

Well, immediately we ran into "challenges", of course! We took the 75 lb dog, Moose, to his first visit to Petsmart on Sunday. He did great...he did not even eat one little dog! There were some dogs hobbling around in there that he COULD have eaten in one bite, too! Since Moose has been mainly just a guard dog running around in our backyard in Jackson for the last 5 years, he was not "kept up" in the manner that a true urban dog should be. And since he will be living the life of an urban dog at least for the next couple of months, we felt Moose should be groomed...well, at least a shampoo, flea dip, and cut out all the knots in his tail and behind his ears!

We took him into the grooming area of Petsmart and set up an appointment but they said he needed his rabies documentation before he could come there. When I called my Jackson vet, my fears were confirmed - Moose was very much out of compliance and needed a new rabies shot. So, we got the nearest appointment for the Petsmart vet we could, which was yesterday, Wednesday morning. They gave Moose the vaccine and, at my request, ran a heartworm test so I could put him back on the monthly treatments. Much to our chargrin, Moose's heartworm test showed positive. The Petsmart vet gave an estimate of $870 for treatment! My heart sank. We don't have that kind of money...I had thought twice about even running the heartworm test because it was an extra $32! $870!!! And she told us, without us asking, that no vet will now put a dog down for a treatable disease. It would have been difficult for us to do that anyhow since Moose did not even look sick at all. I told her I did not even know what to do...we did not have the money. She suggested that we go home and call some other vets to get estimates from them. Most would not give even an estimate over the phone, but it was looking like I could not get out of this for under $500. But I did get a response from an "Angel Animal Hospital". After a short conversation with the receptionist, the vet himself got on the phone with me, asking me questions. He told me he didn't think it should cost more than $500 but maybe he could keep it around $300 or $400. Well, that sounded a little better....not money we keep around...but not over $800.

The vet office was only 10 minutes from our apartment. It was a very old office...with very old posters and pictures on the wall. I found out why; "Doc" Angel was a very old man. But a very interesting one though! I read an article on his wall that told of his fighter pilot days in WWII! When I questioned him about it, he said he was 20 years old at the time. He seemed like a very caring man and, despite frowns from his assistants, gave us the best deal he could...he said no more than $300 and he would even try to keep it closer to $250. Which means the man is not making money off of us...probably just paying for the medicines he is giving to Moose. And I met my first "character" in Cincinnati area! I love characters!

We are still concerned about Moose. He has to undergo some painful shots for the next few days and we can not take him home until Saturday. The medicine to kill the heartworms is strong and he probably feels bad. When he comes home, we will have to keep him penned up and only walk him on the leash for short periods of time so his heart will not be stressed. But really where he is now is perfect for that. We were upset that when we came here that Moose, who is used to running around on a half acre of yard, was going to have to stay penned up in the little one car garage of our apartment and only taken out on short walks around the neighborhood. He was not going to be allowed to run around free as he was used to. Now we find out that the only thing that may save him is his confinement! God works in mysterious ways. Maybe that is a lesson for me, also. Something that feels like confinement is actually the only thing that may be saving me. Sometimes things are painful and I don't understand why they are happening and I don't like them and they seem awfully confining....but they maybe the things I need to survive...just maybe.

I'm here....

2008-11-05T19:59:00.000-05:00

Well, it is done. We are now in Cincinnati. For better or for worse. The 500 mile, over 9 hour trip (with stops) went REALLY well considering we made it with a 75 lb dog named Moose, two twittering birds in cages, and with visibility only out the front window. We stuffed, literally stuffed, as many possessions as we could fit in my mini van. If we found a little vacant hole...we stuffed a salad dressing bottle, whipped cream maker, bag of grain, or other "necessity" into it. I don't know if we will be living in this apartment for a few weeks or a few months so I was reluctant to leave my other possessions behind.

Even more overwhelming was leaving my two grown children behind. I know that they have matured to great young adults, very independent, people I am proud to know. Still, I am horrified not to be able to just visit them at a whim. Not seeing them on a daily basis is a great loss for me. But I comfort myself with the great reality of modern technology like emails, skype IM, and facebook. It was also very difficult saying goodbye to my mom and dad. They drove their SUV with us to Cincinnati carrying as many of our boxed possessions as possible combined with their suitcases. After spending the night in the girls' twin beds, they left for a slow five day trip back to Georgia, cruising through the Kentucky, Tennesee, and Georgia mountains and stopping at points of interest.

We have now settled in our Kroger-provided temporary furnished apartment. The boxes are unpacked. We have purchased a cheap Target desk and shelf for our computer and many school books and have even resumed schooling as of today. Considering I now have no job or church responsibilities, I have reverted back to homeschooling mom and Suzie housewife demeanor, cooking all nutritious meals from scratch, clipping coupons, and hosting reading-out-loud marathons to the girls, things I haven't had time for in years. While it is a refreshing change for us, it was also like running a long marathon and then hitting a brick wall...the stop was so sudden...we didn't know what to do with ourselves. But I'm sure we will adjust soon and wonder how we ever did all that stuff before!