LIVING ... MAEDEANS STYLE

2011-12-18T20:20:00.000-08:00

Christmas falls on Sunday this year, a week from today. So, it's very likely this will be my last post on this blog until 2012. I don't think I have ever posted on this song, but it's been on my mind quite a bit lately.

For me, the first time I heard this song, Tracy Tonkel Furniss did a very powerful version of it at Wells United Methodist Church in Jackson, Mississippi. I've wished I had a recorded version of her doing "Mary, Did You Know?" ever since, but, apparently, such a recording does not exist.

Just now, I skimmed the book my sister gave me that also included this song on an audio CD. Indeed, I do not remember reading much of what is in this treasured book, but I bring it out every Christmas season and listen to the CD several times.

On the back of the book, it reads:
"May our hearts, like Mary's, respond with joy in doing God's will. And may we, at Christmas and throughout the year, know that Mary's child was born to save us all."

Thank, God, a version is on YouTube that tells us more about the song.

Second Sunday of Advent

2011-12-11T10:20:00.001-08:00

Today is the second Sunday of Advent 2011. Before I went to the animation for this day on the Jacquie Lawson Advent Calendar, I did some research.

This is sort of what it was like.

Here's the words to this poem that became a song.

Once in royal David's city
stood a lowly cattle shed,
where a mother laid her baby
in a manger for his bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.

He came down to earth from heaven,
who is God and Lord of all,
and his shelter was a stable,
and his cradle was a stall;
with the poor, the scorned, the lowly,
lived on earth our Savior holy.

And, through all his wondrous childhood,
he would honor and obey,
love and watch the lowly maiden
in whose gentle arms he lay:
Christian children all must be
mild, obedient, good as he.

For he is our childhood's pattern,
day by day like us he grew;
he was little, weak and helpless,
tears and smiles like us he knew.
and he feeleth for our sadness,
and he shareth in our gladness.

And our eyes at last shall see him,
through his own redeeming love;
for that Child who seemed so helpless
is our Lord in heaven above;
and he leads his children on
to the place where he is gone.

Not in that poor lowly stable,
with the oxen standing round,
we shall see him; but in heaven,
set at God's right hand on high;
when like stars his children crowned,
all in white shall wait around.

Words: Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895), 1848

Music: Irby (Henry John Gauntlett, 1805-1876)

Where’s the line to see Jesus?

2011-12-06T15:52:00.000-08:00

Each year I seem to become more upset with the extreme emphasis on the commercial side of the Christmas holidays. I think that's why I like this song that came out on YouTube last year.

I have my friend, Mary, to thank for reminding me of the the song this year.

Everything else on this blog post came directly from the description of the video on YouTube, as follows:
Available on iTunes!

For booking and management: Nate 314-650-2121

The true inspiring story behind the music:
"Where's the Line to See Jesus?" While at the mall a few years ago, Becky's then four year old nephew, Spencer, saw kids lined up to see Santa Claus. Having been taught as a toddler that Christmas is the holiday that Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus, he asked his mom, "where's the line to see Jesus"? Becky's sister mentioned this to her father, Steve Haupt, who immediately became inspired and jotted some words down to the song in just a few minutes. After putting music to the words, and doing a quick home recording, he received a great response from friends. Her father asked if Becky wanted to record the song to see what could happen with it. Becky listened to the song, made a few changes and headed to Shock City Studios.

It was at the studio where Chris Loesch, owner and producer, rewrote the 2nd verse and part of the chorus... with goosebumps and emotions high, they all felt like they had something special and recorded the demo in just under 2 hours. 2 weeks before Christmas last year, her cousins decided to do a quick video to see what we could accomplish on YouTube. The first day it had 3000 hits and it soared to a million from there! Becky received e-mails, phone calls, Facebook messages from people all over over the world asking for the music, CD's, iTunes, a full version, anything... they had nothing.

After a couple of meetings with Chris following the amazing response, the team got serious. They headed back into the studio this past spring... this time with guitars, drums, bass, pianos, choirs... the real deal.... and here it is today. Getting everything set up, a website put together, and loving that thousands upon thousands of Christians have come together... remembering the true meaning of Christmas. Out of the mouths of babes come profound truths that many adults can not understand. Hopefully Spencer's observation will cause people all over to reflect on the love of Jesus, and that one day we will all stand in line to see Him. Becky is most thankful to our Heavenly Father to have this chance to share her music with you. Merry Christmas everyone.

Interesting facts:
• A portion of the proceeds of CD sales will go to Christian Family Services in St. Louis and the good work they do finding homes for children in need!
• The man playing piano in the video is Becky's father Steve who is also the main writer of the song and is the pianist on both recordings!
• Gloria Estefan's bassist, Jorge Casas, is the bassist on this recording!

Recording credits:
Performed by: Becky Kelley
Written by: Steve Haupt & Chris Loesch
Produced by: Chris Loesch
Recorded at: Shock City Studios, St. Louis, MO

Video credits:
Directed by: Chris Benson
Cinematography: Chris Benson
Edited by: Gabriel Reed and Chris Benson
Produced by: Carlyn Graumenz, Chris Benson (Lamplight Films) and Chris Loesch for Shock City Producitons
Cameras and Lights: Heroic Age

Fifth Grade Video Gone Viral

2011-11-30T05:11:00.000-08:00

My good friend, Mary, shared this with me today. Hope it stays up on YouTube long enough for you to view it.

75 years ago today

2011-11-23T07:05:00.001-08:00

I discovered something that happened 75 years ago today. The above image shows the cover of the first issue of the pictorial journalism magazine named LIFE.

According to my internet research, it is Margaret Bourke-White's (American, 1904–1971)photograph of Fort Peck Dam in Montana from 1936.

You may find it interesting to look at Google's images of

LIFE COVERS -- particularly if you are 75 years old today like I am.

Human Cargo - Black Notes Only

2011-11-18T09:21:00.001-08:00

I felt compelled to show these two items on the same blog post. I was very impressed with both of them. The first is HUMAN CARGO exhibit at The Museum of Mobile.

The second is a video.

It's better to be a slow buddy...

2011-11-07T13:15:00.000-08:00

...than to be a no buddy at all."

I have always thought of myself as a turtle or maybe a snail because I like to take my time instead of hurry.

Thanks, Mary, for sharing this with me.

If

2011-10-22T03:29:00.000-07:00

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

~ Rudyard Kipling

I have Carrol Don Wallace, a high school classmate, to thank for reminding me of the writings of Rudyard Kipling, a writer who died around the time most of us in the Cleburne High School Class of 1955 were born.

Source for Rudyard Kipling's biography is:
"Rudyard Kipling - Biography". Nobelprize.org. 22 Oct 2011 http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1907/kipling-bio.html

Cereal Girl

2011-10-21T08:52:00.000-07:00

First presentation is: Cereal Girl
Uh-O -- if you aren't friends or family of carlacarlacarlacarla you can't see the above video

AND, the second one is below.

Keeps one younger to have great-grandchildren

2011-10-09T13:16:00.000-07:00

Today was the second day of a three-day trip with tomorrow being for eye appointments for both of us.

What a privilege it was to visit with old-time friends during this visit and attend a couple of churches today.

Sunday School was taught by a friend at Briarwood United Methodist Church in Jackson, MS and then 11 AM worship was at Wells United Methodist Church.

Some of you may know that I continue to following activities at Wells via their website. Only recent sermons are available for download, so I'm telling you if you want to hear the sermon today that we heard, you'll need to check the website soon to listen to it or download it or both. The title of today's sermon was "Walking Out Of Darkness."

Scriptures: Isaiah 9:2-3; Matthew 6:23b and Matthew 5:14
Responsive Read: Psalm 139: 1-12

The Opening Sentences
Leader: It's true: We live in a world with lots of darkness.
People: And all too often, we walk in that darkness rather than in God's light.
Prayer: God, lead us to your light, and cause us to walk in it. In Christ, Amen.

One Hymn was "I Want To Walk As a Child of The Light."

The Special Music was by the Choir: "Oh Glorius Day"
I think I have heard this one at Jubilee Shores UMC also.
The Choir did their usual wonderful rendition with a female solo and male solo and several instruments involved. Just in case you have not heard the song, here is a version on YouTube:

The closing song was listed as "This Little Light Of Mine," but we had already sung it in an informal way, so our last song before the Benediction was this song, with words and music written in 1971 by Andrae Crouch.

For Reflection

2011-10-01T11:22:00.000-07:00

Birdsong

As the last slide says:
MY WISH FOR YOU.
BE WITH GOD,
AND MAY GOD BE WITH YOU.

What this slide show lacks that the one attached to an email from Mary had is background music. Wish I knew how to add it... perhaps it will help to end with this video.

Look what welcomed me back home...

2011-09-28T08:17:00.000-07:00

...Inez - Namesake of the Inez Burger.

Today an article appeared in the Jackson, Mississippi, newspaper entitled CS's turns back clock.

It's good to be back home in Alabama from a trip to Texas, but we are so glad to hear the new hours at CS's and can't wait to make it back to Jackson next month.

A post will go up on THE PERPETUAL VACATIONERS blog about our Texas trip just as soon as we can get it together.

Missed out on the “game” gene

2011-09-20T05:19:00.000-07:00

I say this from time to time along with "I missed out on the 'gambling' gene."

Today I read this article and can now see why others may have the genes I missed out on.
Online gamers crack AIDS enzyme puzzle

BTW, I also missed out on the "math" gene, if there is such a thing.

There are two games I like to play, which are really the same game, and I don't mean playing them online. I like sitting at the table with at least four people and having fun with my own object to either game. I'll give you a hint: No one wants to sit on either side of me.

I even received a trophy for my playing of Crazy Eights when I played it during lunch when I worked at the ACBL. The trophy was the back end of a horse.

Here's the rules to the two games I like to play but not with the object of running out of cards before anyone else playing with me.

Crazy Eights

UNO

What is Jambalaya?

2011-09-16T12:15:00.000-07:00

I'm going to bring this blog post forward to 2011 from 2010, because Wendell referred me to a wealth of information on Jambalaya including its history and many recipes for many versions. See what I mean at:
Jambalaya shows both sides of Creole and Cajun influences

First on the scene, was Jambalaya, a well-known Louisiana Creole and Cajun dish of Spanish and French influence, according to Wikipedia. Seems like the first time I ate the dish Jambalaya, David Mize had made it and brought to a party. Wonder where David is now?

There’s quite a detailed article on Wikipedia about the song also at: Jambalaya (On the Bayou)

Since the article on the song was such an eye-opener for me, I am sharing some of that information I didn't know before researching it. It is apparent that Jambalaya (On the Bayou) took on a life of its own and was recorded by many artists all over the world.

Quoting from the Wikipedia article:

Hank Williams, Sr., recorded it as a Country version and another, even more popular at the time, version of the song was the 1952 cover version recorded by Jo Stafford, reaching #3 on the Billboard pop charts (and making the song well known to people other than country music fans). Mitch Miller had originally intended Jambalaya to be recorded by Jimmy Boyd for Columbia Records. Boyd turned the song down and Miller recorded it with Jo Stafford. Years later Jimmy Boyd did record it for Dot records. It was further popularized in a Rock'n'Roll version by Fats Domino.
There’s a Cajun French version that has been recorded by Cajun bands including Aldus Roger and Jo-El Sonnier.
The Carpenters featured the song, in an uptempo MOR version with country flourishes, on their 1973 album Now & Then. Their version was released as a single outside the United States in 1974 and sold well in the U.K. and Japan.
Other artists who have performed the song include Jerry Lee Lewis, Leon Russell, Charley Pride, Jimmy Buffett, Jeff Healey on his 2008 album Mess of Blues, Emmylou Harris included it in her 1976 album Elite Hotel, Moon Mullican, John Fogerty (under the name of The Blue Ridge Rangers), Gerry & The Pacemakers, Brenda Lee, Harry Connick, Jr., Lucinda Williams, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Billy "Crash" Craddock, George Jones, The Residents, Leo Kottke, Wes Paul, Dolly Parton, Andy Kaufman, Professor Longhair, Freddy Fender, The White Stripes, Tab Benoit, and Tommy Funderburk (appearing in the film Steel Magnolias), Van Morrison and Linda Gail Lewis on their 2000 album You Win Again among many others.
In India, Usha Iyer (now Usha Uthup) recorded a version in 1968 on the HMV label, that became the best selling song until then, by an Indian artist in English.
International, translated or derived versions do exist at least in Chinese, Dutch, French, Italian, Polish, German and Estonian.
In 2005, two versions of Jambalaya surged in Mexican folk music, one by Banda Limón and the other from the Duranguense group K-Paz de la Sierra. However, in Mexican music, the most famous cover version is by Los Felinos.

Here’s a combo recording video from YouTube of both the Jo Stafford recording and the Hank Williams, Sr. version:

Looking back to my teenage years at Cleburne High School, one of my first memories of Jambalaya was one of my classmates singing it while in the shower after a Physical Education class. I wonder if anyone else recalls that.

During my high school years, I thought Country Music was just hillbilly music, but I've come around on that thinking.

The National 9/11 Memorial and Museum

2011-09-11T01:00:00.000-07:00

Towers of Light

2011-09-10T04:22:00.000-07:00

Devotional by Rita Snowden

2011-09-09T07:07:00.001-07:00

More and more, my blog posts seem to be copy-cat in nature.

Today, I'm even copy-catting myself.

09 09 09

Here's a short biography and a list of her books:
Rita Snowden Bio and Books

I wanted to find a photo of this author to add to this post. I was unsuccessful. That's pretty unbelievable for a woman who wrote 68 books.

Don't that beat all you ever heard of?

Postscript: Found plenty of photos of Rita Hayworth. Says something about what the world values, doesn't it?

2011-09-08T08:58:00.001-07:00

Don't suppose I'm an authority on anything, but I have a VERY SIMPLE technique to avoid worrying. It's so simply that I feel almost ashamed to put it on a post, so I'll save it until I give you the scripture that validates the technique.

Philippians 4:6 AMP
Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

If that scripture doesn't come to the point as directly as you'd like, here's Jesus words on the subject.

Matthew 6:25-34

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Now you are possibly going to think I'm switching subjects, but not really.

It concerns all the anxiety associated with making preparations for "the holidays." Do you think it's a bit early to move your thoughts in that direction? Well, I definitely recall a magazine years ago saying you should have it all mapped out around Labor Day, and it is post Labor Day.

I discovered a really good blog by Pastor Tony Faeth entitled
A CAREFREE CHRISTMAS.

The ever so simple and to the point solution to freeing yourself from worry is to put the right kind of prayer in its place.

Polly Has Good News!

2011-09-07T02:27:00.000-07:00

On September 20, 2011, I decided to add this video because it is so good. Hope it stays up on YouTube for you to experience.

Besides that, we have Alabama license plates on our Saturn.

Think you know what that means.

We're Alabamians!

Coincidences?

2011-09-04T20:14:00.000-07:00

A friend sent this to me by email. It is from DAILY GUIDEPOSTS 2011 - Sept 4, 2011

“ Thy word is . . . a light to my path. ”
Psalm 119:105 (RSV)

On the riverbank in the Hudson River town of Cold Spring, New York, I noticed a small sign:
WARNER SISTERS
VIEW TO CONSTITUTION ISLAND
PRESERVED BY AUTHORS
SUSAN WARNER AND ANNA WARNER
WHO WROTE THE HYMN
"JESUS LOVES ME"
Beyond the forested island I could see the US Military Academy at West Point on its dramatic cliffs across the river. “Jesus loves me, this I know. . . ”Easy words to write, I thought, for a well-to-do woman living in this delightful setting. Then I learned Anna Warner’s story.

She and her sister did grow up in wealth. Their widowed father was a prominent lawyer; home was a luxurious townhouse—servants, grooms, carriage house. But in the stock market panic of 1837, when the girls were in their late teens, all this was lost.

Their father bought a derelict old farmhouse on Constitution Island, fifty miles and a world away from New York City’s high society. The young women learned to cook, clean, wash, sew, keep a vegetable garden. Among many failed attempts to recoup his fortune, their father tried growing rice. I could still see the channels he dug in the marsh between the island and the shore.

To sustain themselves, Susan and Anna turned to writing stories, hymns, novels (some of them best sellers). But because there were no copyright laws, they lived out their lives in poverty. How did they know Jesus loved them? “For the Bible tells me so.” And for forty years they held Bible classes for the cadets at West Point, sharing their love of the book that made their outwardly meager lives rich and joyful.

Speak to me today, Father, through Your written Word.

By Elizabeth Sherril

Are there “coincidences”?

I immediately thought about the book by Gwendolyn Bounds, "Little Chapel On The River" because it has to be set in the same general vicinity as her devotional story. When I checked her blog, there was another so-called “coincidence” of a visit to Pirates Cove in Elberta, Alabama, very near where I now live. Now, these two narratives are linked in my mind.

Out of curiosity, I searched for the author "Elizabeth Sherril" and found a wealth of information, which also connected to another well-know book (see the top of this post) in which John and Elizabeth Sherril had a part in telling Corrie Ten Bloom's story.

Elizabeth Sherril's Website.

And, here's one more "coincidence" that brought me back to the place I lived more years than any other -- Jackson, Mississippi. Thank you, Derryl, for the GUIDEPOSTS sharing.

Interview With God

2011-09-02T09:09:00.000-07:00

I've seen this a number of times, but this time I have Wade Morrison to thank for sending me this via email.

MY CHILD by Rhonda Thomas

2011-08-25T06:03:00.000-07:00

Rhonda Thomas sent this to me when I could not locate a copy I once had.

Closely related to this poem is a hymn I came to love when I heard it at my sister-in-law's ordination as an Episcopal priest. Maybe this doesn't sound related to you, but the end of this beautiful hymn shows how I link the two in my mind.

I've been thinking it is a modern hymn. Perhaps the music of the version I like is more modern than the lyrics written by Isaac Watts.

My Shepherd Will Supply My Need

My Shepherd will supply my need:
Jehovah is His Name;
In pastures fresh He makes me feed,
Beside the living stream.
He brings my wandering spirit back
When I forsake His ways,
And leads me, for His mercy's sake,
In paths of truth and grace. 2. When I walk through the shades of death,
Thy presence is my stay;
A word of Thy supporting breath
Drives all my fears away.
Thy hand, in sight of all my foes,
Doth still my table spread;
My cup with blessings overflows,
Thine oil anoints my head.
3. The sure provisions of my God
Attend me all my days;
O may Thy house be my abode,
And all my work be praise!
There would I find a settled rest,
While others go and come;
No more a stranger, nor a guest,
But like a child at home.

Listen and watch this inspiring hymn...

Akiane Kramarik painting Prince of Peace at age 8

2011-08-24T08:59:00.001-07:00

Akiane Kramarik painting Prince of Peace at age 8, a photo by Debbie(Woodlands Texas) on Flickr.

In my previous blog post entitled HEAVEN, there was a picture of this in black-and-white in the book entitled "Heaven Is For Real." It was included in the book because the little boy who went to heaven was asked many times when he was shown a painting of Jesus if it looked like him and his response was along the lines of "not really." When he was asked the question as to what is wrong with this one (shown above), he replied, "nothing."

I have one more point to make in this blog post. My mind has been working overtime thinking about the book about Colton Burpo's experiences in heaven. And now I have this video about Akiane Kramarik's talent and where she believes her paintings come from.

As I thought about the two put together and also about the brilliant colors both Colton and Akiane refer to, I also thought about how Thomas Kinkade paints and that he is referred to as the "Painter of Light." His colors and way of painting are what I have referred to at times as just "too perfect," but when I think about his many paintings, I think I also see the use of color as well as light in a similar way to the paintings by Akiane Kramarik. Take a look and see if you might agree.

I do believe people have been blessed with many talents and that these talents come from God. At times I have wondered why some people have an unbelievable talent in the arts such as painting, sculpturing, music, etc. To go a bit further, I have the hope that some of my talents will show themselves in heaven.

Thinking further about "light," I recall the scripture in John 8:12 (New International Version)
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said,
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

So much I have read refers to the experience of moving to heaven as an experience of going toward a gloriously beautiful, radiant light. Doesn't it make you look forward to that experience, indeed!

Unanswered Prayer

2011-08-22T17:00:00.000-07:00

This is Mae Dean, the copy-cat blogger. If you read many of my posts, you know that already.

After listening to a sermon for Sunday, August 21, by The Reverend Keith Tonkel of Wells Church concerning this blog's title, I had my usual reaction to his sermons. I wanted to share it.

There is a way you can hear this sermon and most of his sermons, and I'd like to encourage you to take that opportunity and check the site once a week to listen to the latest one. Let me also tell you that his sermons are short and to the point. Also, I guess I should warn you that I think his sermons are addictive as well.

Before I give you that link, here's the scriptures for last Sunday's sermon as well as what was printed on the back of the church bulletin:

Isaiah 55:6
Seek the Lord while he may be found, call on him
while he is near.

Matthew 6:5-7, 9
And when you pray don’t be like the hypocrites
for they love to pray standing in the Synagogues or
on street corners to be seen by men. When you
pray, go into your room and close the door, and pray
to your Father who is unseen…and don’t keep on
babbling like pagans who think they will be heard for
their many words….
This then is how you should pray…

Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in
prayer.

James 5:16b
The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

When My Prayers Are Unanswered: Why?
Prayer changes things. Right prayers in the right
spirit, are both powerful and effective.
When we pray, it’s no longer only human conversation.
Rather it’s the human spirit joined together
with the Holy Spirit.

Prayer should be uttered when one senses God
close, but it is perhaps even more important when
God seems unhearing, remote, and far away.
Our prayers are all answered. Perhaps not in
the way we wanted, but answered indeed.

Prayer is sharing truth with God who already
knows it. However when we come to God in
prayer it becomes our sharing and taking responsibility
for our lives and times.

Prayer is a private thing in one sense -- don’t
pray to be seen or heard by others, but its also okay
in public places, as long as we keep it brief, to the
point, and centered on God’s will, as we understand
it.

Faithful prayer brings joy, hope, patience, and
ways to deal with affliction.

Like the early Disciples, we say,”Lord teach us
to pray.”
In so many words, He would turn to us and say,
“Try. Do your best to be in touch with the Father.
God will take care of all the rest.”

Answered prayer comes in more ways than one.
The practice of prayer puts us in touch with those
ways.

Our ‘why?” is moved toward clarity when we
pray. We may not see it all, but we come to feel
that we will eventually see and know if we keep
the conversation going.

GodStuff, Keith Tonkel
*From ideas in Adam Hamilton’s book, "Why?"
being discussed Sunday mornings in the Serendipity Class.

Here's the link if you want to take this opportunity to hear the sermon
When My Prayers Are Unanswered - Why?

If you listened to Keith's sermon, you heard him end the sermon with this:

"I asked God for strength that I might achieve.
I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked God for health that I might do great things.
I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked God for riches that I might be happy.
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for, but everything that I hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am, among all men, most richly blessed."
~ Admiral Chester Nimitz

This is how I believe prayer works.

The video below refers to some of the same scripture listed above.

Matthew 6:9-13 (King James Version)

After this manner therefore pray ye:
“Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”

Heaven

2011-08-21T05:14:00.000-07:00

Thought this subject might get your attention, but this post will not be long. This is a small book one could actually read in one day. A friend loaded me his copy, and I'm glad he did. In other words, I recommend it. You can make your own decision on whether you believe what is written in it, and I will not try to convince you one way or the other.

I will say that surely most people who believe there is a heaven wonder what it is like. If that's not enough for you to read it yourself, then I won't say anymore.

I looked at some videos that are on YouTube about it and selected this one because it is short and was the best I saw there, in my opinion.

Dreams

2011-08-18T05:37:00.000-07:00

Some people will tell you they don't dream, but I'm not one of those people.

Quoting from a Dream Wikipedia Article:
"Scientists believe that everyone dreams, but people will tend to forget them when they naturally pass out of sleep through the traditional sleep cycle. If a person is awoken during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, they are much more likely to remember the dream."

In another Wikipedia Article on REM:
"Vividly recalled dreams mostly occur during rapip eye movement (REM) sleep."

Having set the stage with some facts, let me go on to tell you what I believe about some of the dreams I have had and recall.

At least one dream I had seemed to me to be God letting me know something that was very important to me.

Certain themes seem to run through some of my dreams, particularly dreams I recall. I feel I am inadequate or lacking knowledge to find places or go back to a certain spot in a dream -- in other words, I feel lost.

A similar feeling has to do with my not being able to measure up or do things as I should. For instance, I have a job to go to at a certain time, and I have problems in the dream doing what I really want to do.

Now, let me tell you what I can remember about a dream last night.

I was in a very large, amazing place that was inside. At one point, it seemed a little like a cruise ship, but it was not on the water. I cannot even say for sure if there was an "outside" but it seemed to be all under a covering like possibly a roof. It might also be compared to an enclosed shopping mall. Another comparison could be to an amuzement park that was enclosed.

As I walked around this place, it seemed like museums I have visited that had many sections devoted to different activities.

I did not feel like I was with anyone else that I knew. In fact, it seemed a lot like I was visiting a place that was pretty amazing with many people doing what one might call working but at jobs or duties that made them very happy.

At one point I asked a man what the names of the nearby towns were, and his reply was something along the lines of he didn't know but he was of the opinion that things had been concentrated on building and doing and not concerned with giving a name to the area. My feeling was very strong to know where we were and what it was named, because I wanted to be able to tell people later where it was.

As a little aside, sometimes managing to get from one place to another required more than normal walking. Once, I realized I could lower myself to a lower level by simply controlling my body with a gradual decent. I thought it was amazing and was very proud of the fact that I could do this. It seemed a little like a climber with a rope around him repelling himself, but I had no such device.

The main feeling I had about this place in my dream was that I did not meet a single person who did not seem anything but very happy.

I do not pretend to know what, if anything, my dream meant. I particularly wanted to share it because of the feeling of happiness and contentment I experienced. That was such a good feeling.

If you're feeling like dreaming -- or sleeping, this might do it for you.

Dream (Michael Buble Cover)

You've Got A Friend

2011-08-11T04:14:00.000-07:00

Not sure when I became a James Taylor fan. I don't think I discovered him in his early days when he had long hair, but I've watched plenty of videos on YouTube from those days.

I've only seen him perform live in concert twice. The first time was on Mudd Island with a daughter sitting on each side of me and the Mighty Mississippi flowing by on a gorgeous night in an open-air venue. That night is embedded in my memory forever.

Later, I saw him perform at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson, Mississippi. Wendell was with me that night and was all antsy to leave when he thought the show was over. Seems like we were going out of town the next day, and, of course, leaving a concert like this one is always an exercise in patience to just get out of the parking lot.

Anyway, I enjoyed both live concerts and have quite a bit of James Taylor's recorded music as well as a VHS tape of a live show on TV and a DVD given me as a gift because everyone in my family knows he's one of my favorites.

You've Got A Friend a video by LIVING... MAEDEANS STYLE on Flickr.

The words on this music box given to me by a friend read:
A Friendship filled with joy and laughter blooms and grows forever after.

The "FRIENDS" image at the top of this post has many interesting words I want you to be able to read that were written and composed by Tito Balangue @ Flickr, 16/Feb/2011.
------------------------------------
A Flickr member, Tito Balangue, has this image in his [Share the Word]'s photostream and has graciously allowed me to use it in this blog post. To see it in larger view that allows you to read the words, please click on "FRIENDS"

Who Am I?

2011-07-26T05:11:00.000-07:00

Surely I'm not the only person in this world who has wondered on the subject of this post. Do questions like "What am I living for?" cross your mind from time to time? Can't help but think I have lots of company with questions such as these.

Thanks go to my high school classmate, Nan Keenum Carpenter, for sending this beautiful acapello music and slide show my way.

Another Birthday

2011-06-17T19:13:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday, Dear Wendell a video by LIVING... MAEDEANS STYLE on Flickr.

We stopped by Big Daddy's on Wendell's 76th birthday, and the duo providing live music sang "Happy Birthday" to him.

Smart Dog

2011-06-11T08:13:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Derryl for sharing this with me.

Bring Me Sunshine

2011-06-08T09:43:00.000-07:00

Thanks, Mary, for sharing this with me.

Ain't this always the way...

2011-05-13T03:31:00.000-07:00

For as long as I can remember, kids have enjoyed playing with the boxes that gifts or toys come in as much or more than the contents.

Wanted you to know she's still growing. Hope to see her in person this month.

My Favorite Search Engine ~ GOOGLE

2011-05-11T02:45:00.001-07:00

It's my home page just 'cause I don't want to miss their DOODLES, like today's:

The Goen is EZ

2011-05-08T20:00:00.000-07:00

Tom Goen · AKA EZ Goen

Celebrating two years of beard growth

Roger Pedigo knows this man better than I do, but I sure would like to thank him for taking our family photo at Magnolia River Bar & Grill in Magnolia Springs, Alabama, today (Mother's Day), in which Roger is included because he's "family" adopted since we moved to Lower Alabama. It's okay that Glenda is in it as well. She's also "family".

Sunday afternoon at MRBG was part of a four-day Mother's Day weekend celebration with both our daughters visiting. As always, we took so many photos that we divided them into several flickr sets, but you can see those particularly of our family on Flickr at:

Mother's Day Weekend ~ 2011

He's Alive!

2011-04-24T00:01:00.000-07:00

When I saw Dolly Parton sing this song on the CMA awards in 1989, I assumed that she had written it. I recently learned it was written by Christian musician Don Francisco.

I discovered the work of Don's wife, Wendy Francisco, in 2009 through Dog and God, which points out some simple but important concepts about what God's love is like.

God created us and He loves all of us. Jesus associated with people who were judged by others to be sinners, but every last one of us are sinners. Jesus died for sinners so that our individual acceptance of His death for our sins and His resurrection means we can be made right and be with Him in the place he has provided for us. This is what we celebrate at Easter.

If you like, follow along with the lyrics below.

He's Alive – Don and Wendy Francisco

The gates and doors were barred
And all the windows fastened down
I spent the night in sleeplessness
And rose at every sound
Half in hopeless sorrow
And half in fear the day
Would find the soldiers breakin' through
To drag us all away

And just before the sunrise
I heard something at the wall
The gate began to rattle
And a voice began to call
I hurried to the window
Looked down into the street
Expecting swords and torches
And the sound of soldiers' feet
But there was no one there but Mary
So I went down to let her in
John stood there beside me
As she told me where she'd been
She said they might have moved Him in the night
And none of us knows where
The stone's been rolled away
And now His body isn't there

We both ran toward the garden
Then John ran on ahead
We found the stone and empty tomb
Just the way that Mary said
But the winding sheet they wrapped Him in
Was just an empty shell
And how or where they'd taken Him
Was more than I could tell

Something strange had happened there
Just what I did not know
John believed a miracle
But I just turned to go
Circumstance and speculation
Couldn't lift me very high
'Cause I'd seen them crucify him
Then I saw him die

Back inside the house again
The guilt and anguish came
Everything I'd promised Him
Just added to my shame
When at last it came to choices
I denied I knew His name
And even if He was alive
It wouldn't be the same

But suddenly the air was filled
With a strange and sweet perfume
Light that came from everywhere
Drove the shadows from the room
And Jesus stood before me
With his arms held open wide
And I fell down on my knees
And I just clung to Him and cried

Then He raised me to my feet
And as I looked into His eyes
The love was shining out from Him
Like sunlight from the skies
Guilt in my confusion
Disappeared in sweet release
And every fear I'd ever had
Just melted into peace

He's alive yes He's alive
Yes He's alive and I'm forgiven
Heaven's gates are open wide

He's alive He's alive He's alive
I believe it He's alive
Sweet Jesus

Copy Cat Here Again

2011-04-17T05:19:00.000-07:00

The Altar

Devotional by David Hampton
Reprinted from the 2011 Lenten Reflections journal of Wells UMC, Jackson, MS
O God, you are my God; early will I seek you ...
Psalm 63:1
Read Psalm 63
A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah

The cooking crew for the monthly men's breakfast gets to the church early. Got to get those grits cooking.

Last month, I couldn't sleep so I just came on down to the church a little earlier. As I went through the building turning on lights, I slipped into the sanctuary, as I have done several times on those men's breakfast mornings.

You should see it at that time. It's dark and quiet. The lights come through the stained glass giving muted light with color. You can hear the pews creak and pop to the point that I have had to look around to see if someone is there, but it is just the old, well-used wooden pews talking back.

You can hear the world outside, but even it seems quieter that early in the morning, almost as if the world is being respectful.

I knelt at the altar where I have knelt so many times with so many prayers throughout the years. I think of the thousands who have done the same and all of the things I have witnessed at that place. I've seen grief and joy, laughter and tears, all the emotions that come with our deepest cares, concerns and celebrations in life.

Most of all, I have seen grace upon grace.

There are holy places to which people make pilgrimages. As we travel through this lenten time, we will make our "pilgrimages" in many ways, seeking out holy places of refuge on our way to the cross. May I recommend a place on Bailey Avenue with creaking pews, worn out carpet with juice stains and a wooden rail beneath a cross.

It is, indeed, a holy place and there a plenty of spots available anytime. Especially at 5 a.m.

Prayer
Lord, thank you that you are with us always wherever we may be, but especially for those holy places where your presence is especially felt and where we find comfort. Help us during this lenten time to earnestly seek You.

Lenten Reflection for Monday, April 11, 2011

2011-04-11T09:22:00.001-07:00

Wanna Be
“This is the message He has given us to announce to you:
God is light and there is no darkness in him at all.”
1 John 1: 5

Searching for Light in my life, I started listening to Contemporary Christian music. Lyrics from a DC Talk song go, “I wanna be in the Light as you are in the Light, I wanna shine like the starts in the heavens. Oh, Lord, be my Light and be my salvation, cause all want is to be in the Light.”

These lyrics and others quenched a thirst in my soul and made my inner light brighter.

The earthquake that hit the Indian Ocean a while back wobbled the earth’s axis and changed time so the day will be shorter. Another time, time changed.

Jesus died and was raised from the dead and sits at the right hand of God. The common era came about around that time. His time on Earth was filled with darkness.

He took on our day-to- day struggles and became total darkness, thus absorbing our broken spirit. He gave it all, ultimately expressing his victory over darkness even before He gave up his spirit by saying, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.

Right then, he made “The Word became flesh,” mean something. A repentant man being crucified beside him died in darkness and was raised in Light that day.

Any darkness within us can be expressed to God and He will understand. none of us, even the worst, is totally swallowed up by darkness, but we have to reach for the Light. We are sick, He is well. He has achieved victory over darkness by resurrecting the darkness into Light. God is in all. We can say as believers and seekers that our redemption waits as Jesus’ redemption waited. He waited in darkness and death. He was raised in Light and Life. We wait in darkness and death. We wanna be in he Light and because of that we are in the Light.

Prayer: Thank you God for sending Jesus, the light of the world, to save us from our sins. Help us keep the candle burning deep in our souls, knowing one day you will take our spark and make an eternal flame.

Melanie Morrow

*Melanie’s article is reprinted from the 2007 Lenten Reflections journal of Wells UMC, Jackson, MS

Here's a peaceful video filmed at Bellingrath Gardens about this time last year.

Indoor jungle gym

2011-03-27T15:01:00.000-07:00

Does this work for a good blog post?

I think so.

Sit Back and Relax …

2011-03-21T01:00:00.000-07:00

... and enjoy.

Carla's short video of nature sounds inspired me to put this up today while it is pouring down raining outside here in Lower Alabama.

One Spirit

2011-03-13T03:51:00.001-07:00

Lenten Reflection for Sunday, March 13, 2011, by Michelle D. Deardorff

One Spirit

There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called
to one hope when you were called – one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Ephesians 4:4-6

I was sitting in a Methodist seminary in South Africa participating in the evening chapel service. The students, professors and families attending represented countries from all over the continent of Africa, so the prayer book containing all of the elements of the Methodist service was translated into nine different languages, including English.
When it was time to read the Lord’s Prayer, we all said the same ideas simultaneously but expressed them in different words. It was a comfortable cacophony: each of us spoke in the language of heart and home.
After communion, however, my understanding of this service was transformed and deepened. As the congregation sang How Great Thou Art, the music tapped into my imaginings of heaven. People sang within both African and European, and African American traditions, mostly in the shared language of English, but not entirely.
Some African men started a line of the song in a chant and then others joined in wonderful harmony. It was a moment where seventy people from around the globe were praising and worshipping the same God through the experiences of many traditions and cultures, without subordinating one another, but instead enhancing each other. One song, many versions.
That service has replayed itself in my mind many times. I think it is what God expects of us as a community of believers. We come from different places and walk along different journeys, but we are all seeking the face and heart of God. This process will not be experienced identically nor will we sing in unison, but it will be the same song and be more beautiful for it.

Prayer
Father, teach us to learn from one another,
not expecting others to be identical to us
but understanding how we may enhance one another.

A Day Late and More Than A Dollar Short

2011-02-15T05:09:00.001-08:00

One of my favorite love songs, My Funny Valentine, has quite a history. It was introduced in 1937's Broadway musical Babes in Arms, when I was around four months old, and has remained popular ever since. I vaguely recall hearing it in a 1950's movie when I was a teenager. Its lyrics and melody charmed me.

My funny Valentine
Sweet comic Valentine
You make me smile with my heart
Your looks are laughable, unphotographable
Yet you're my favorite work of art
Is your figure less than Greek?
Is your mouth a little weak?
When you open it to speak, are you smart?
But don't change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little Valentine, stay
Each day is Valentine's Day

Sunrise ~ Sunset

2011-02-11T04:40:00.000-08:00

Before I met my hubby, I had nothing to do with the country music scene, and Perry Como was one of my favorites. It was good to hear him sing this song from the Broadway musical Fiddler On The Roof this morning. Hope you enjoy it too.

Music: Jerry Bock
Words: Sheldon Harnick

Enjoying The Snow

2011-02-10T03:28:00.000-08:00

Texas Pride

2011-02-04T04:37:00.000-08:00

My hometown in Texas is Cleburne. I'm proud to know this and wanted to share it.

Southern Sound Quartet

2011-01-09T10:00:00.000-08:00

Ben Harris, lead singer · Mike Young, tenor · Barry Patrick, piano
Adam Forsythe, baritone · Rick Fair, bass

When a friend told me that Southern Sound Quartet was performing at a local church in Foley this morning, I immediately knew I wanted to attend. Hubby immediately chose not to, and I can give you a pretty good idea why. When we were newlyweds, a young couple invited us to attend some kind of musical event in Fort Worth, Texas, and we went with them in their vehicle. As it turned out, we were held captive in something similar to a marathon musical event until way past midnight. Group after group of Christian vocalists performed on the stage of a large auditorium, and we soon learned it was something we did not care to stay at for hours on end, but we did not have our own transportation to leave.

I had already heard several people tell me this was a very good gospel quartet, so I arrived with high expectations. I was not in the least disappointed and feel very fortunate to have seen them perform their ministry of song and testimony. I now have their latest CD, Through The Years, to enjoy at home. What a variety of songs are on it!

My Heavenly Father Watches Over Me
featuring tenor soloist Mike Young

More recommended viewing from baritone Adam Forsythe's YouTube channel:

Let Your Love (my favorite from this morning's performance)
Day by Day
If Everybody Prayed
Haven Of Rest

Note: Although I was sitting on a back pew, I think this morning's bass singer was someone other than Rick Fair (pictured above).

Zentangles

2010-11-26T09:12:00.000-08:00

Our Creative Accountant daughter has recently introduced me to zentangles – and created this one on a card for my birthday.

If you like this intriguing art, perhaps you'll enjoy viewing others on flickr:

Zentangles

Things That Drive Me Bonkers Crazy

2010-11-17T04:11:00.000-08:00

It's not often that I get on my soapbox, but today is one of those days. Here are a few thoughts I'm having today. Over the last few weeks, I have been adjusting to a new laptop computer with a new operating system. Where shall I start?

It would be hard to even tell you the kinds of things related to computers that drive me crazy.

I'm fully aware that all businesses related to computer technology are in it to make money. This may be the root of the problem – and probably is.

We've all heard you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Well, I'm just tired of being forced to learn new tricks, and to spend more money to do it. I was doing just fine before the purchase of a new computer. Now I'd just love to have my old computer without it threatening to crash at any moment.

I had no idea I would be in such turmoil just trying to continue to use my computer for things I enjoy.

Have any of you been there? Perhaps you only use your computer for activities that are not affected when you go to a new operating system.

Everywhere I turn now, I realize I've got to figure out a new way to do what I had enjoyed before such as manipulating photos or using a good word processing program, and on and on it goes.

Thanks for listening.

My New Favorite Word

2010-11-04T08:57:00.000-07:00

Obama quote: "I'm not recommending for every future President that they take a shellacking like I did last night... I'm sure there are easier ways to learn this lesson." That brief statement has a good ring to it, don't you think?

Surely you have already heard the interview in which President Obama used the word to describe what happened in the elections yesterday.

See CNN's video of the President's press conference:

Obama: Dems Took A 'Shellacking'

Rockin' With The Rhythm

2010-11-02T04:42:00.000-07:00

Around 5 A.M. this morning, it began to rain for the first time since September. It continued for about an hour and a half. Certainly cause for celebration!

Hope it keeps on coming down later today because we're way behind. Just ask the farmers.

Fall Is In The Air

2010-10-05T08:40:00.001-07:00

One never knows what each year will bring in the weather.

This is the week of the Shrimp Fest, and we have definite memories of one not too long ago when we couldn't stand to stay there very long because it was so hot. This year, though, weather predictions sound very pleasant. We plan to attend Friday.

Today we turned on our heat for this first time this fall, and the smoke alarm gave its quick response. Not that surprising — we turned it off for a few minutes and then turned it on again. We've been enjoying the cooler weather, but brought in the tropical plants that don't care for temps in the 40s.

I have begun a flickr set and expect to add more photos as the season progresses:

Autumn 2010

NAPOLEON

2010-10-01T04:56:00.000-07:00

As it was beginning to get light today, there was little Napoleon, the hummingbird feeder's self-assigned guard. He's taking his job very seriously.

My Biography

2010-09-26T06:07:00.000-07:00

I was born in the back of a gas station where my parents lived at the time in Sweetwater, Texas, in 1936, and was reared in Sweetwater, White Settlement, Joshua, and Cleburne, Texas.

I did not learn about the actual place of my birth until I was grown, but you'll note it was a year which was still considered part of the Great Depression, and my daddy, Bill Ellington, was lucky to have a job and a place to live.

My mother, Leno Lockhart, possibly did not reveal this to me because she was ashamed of it, but I am just glad this information finally surfaced. So I'm presenting this as evidence that biographies are unique just like snowflakes. Also, I will tell you that there is nothing in that spot where I was born — at least the post office tells me the address does not receive delivery of mail there. If anyone reads this and knows someone who was born in a gas station, I'd like to hear about.

I do have one high school classmate who was born in Sweetwater also. I did not know this until several years ago. He's younger than I am and eventually moved to Cleburne because his dad worked for the Santa Fe Railroad.

After graduation from Cleburne High School in 1955, I worked for a year to save some money to pay for attending Baylor University in 1956-57. The summer afterward, I was hired at the National Supply Company as a clerk-typist, with headquarters located in Fort Worth, and moved with the company when their headquarters were relocated in Dallas.

After commuting from Cleburne to Dallas for a short while, I moved to Dallas, where I met my husband, Wendell Smith. We were married in 1958, in Cleburne and lived in Dallas for a number of years and later moved to Irving. Our daughters, Angela and Carla, were born in Dallas in 1960 and 1963 respectively.

Wendell’s employer, General Electric Company, transferred him to Bloomington, Illinois, where our family lived for about four years, during which time we experience what a blizzard is like. While my husband still worked at G.E., we lived in Irving again and Memphis, Tennessee. Our family also lived in Meridian and Jackson, Mississippi.

We have three grandchildren and one great grandchild.

After retirement, we became fulltime RVers in 2007. That year of RVing was all we expected it to be as we did volunteer work at Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming and Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery in Jamestown, Kentucky.

In 2008, we came to Alabama in our motorhome and began looking at real estate, not really thinking we would settle in one place, but the price of fuel was a concern as it kept rising.

A snowbird told us about a mobile home that was for sale and was located in a small senior mobile home community, and we thought it looked just about right for us. We've have been living in paradise, Lower Alabama, ever since.

I Got My Pears!

2010-09-19T05:20:00.000-07:00

Quite by coincidence (and there's no such thing as coincidences) I was offered some big Sand Pears with the advice that I should use them just like apples and make a pie with them. I may try to work that in also, but I must make some pear honey with some of them.

Someone I used to work with at a bank in Jackson, Mississippi told me about pear honey. I call it Liquid Gold because it is quite labor-intensive to make but oh so good. It's not generally for sale in grocery stores, but I have purchased some at a local church's annual autumn bazaar in Gluckstadt.

I now have several recipes, but the one I started with is still the basis of what I do to make pear honey. Gotta get to it.

Luis Bruno ~ Celebrity Chef

2010-08-31T05:00:00.000-07:00

The picture to the right is from a 1983 New Year's Eve celebration at Bruno's Eclectic Cuisine in Jackson, Mississippi. We were celebrating our silver wedding anniversary. Our oldest daughter has entitled this photo The Queen Mother. The tiara was a party favor that was left behind at the restaurant, and I haven't seen one any prettier in all the years since then. I remember that Bruno's had stocked the ladies room with special New Year's Eve toilet paper. Don't we remember the oddest things?

This was the last time I ate food prepared by Chef Luis Bruno. Although we didn't see him that night, we spoke with his wife Kathleen. Several years earlier, we first met Kathleen and Luis when they were competing in a Red Beans and Rice Festival in downtown Jackson. At that time, Bruno was the executive chef appointed by Governor Kirk Fordice at the Governors Mansion, and he is currently the executive chef at Huntington's Grille at the North Jackson Hilton. It was nice to learn where he is and what he is doing now after all these years.

Bruno's love of food has taken him to the celebrity status in several circles now. The contest on ABC News Nightline Platelist brought Luis to my attention again very recently. Take a look at his interesting life in his contestant's biography:

LUIS BRUNO, Huntington's Grille, Jackson, Miss.

Luis Bruno is the chef at Huntington's Grille in Jackson, Miss. Healthy recipes are most important to Chef Luis, whose inspirational story includes maintaining a non-surgical weight loss of 200 pounds through exercise and healthy eating.

In 2003 he weighed 400 pounds when health issues and uncontrolled diabetes forced him to close his celebrated restaurant Bruno's, and his doctor gave him just five years to live. One year later and half his size, he had turned his life around — and his weight-loss efforts melded perfectly with Governor Haley Barbour's dedication to the health of Mississippi's citizens. Bruno returned as Executive Chef at the Governor's Mansion, where he remained until his appointment with The Hilton in Jackson as Chef at Huntington's Grille. Luis's recipes have a Caribbean flair and are some of the best. One of my favorites is Banana Leaf Wrapped Buttered Snapper with Clams and Saffron Broth. He is quite the showman and is a local celebrity.

I encourage you to vote for Bruno, who is a finalist in ABC News Nightline Peoples Platelist contest, the winner of which will be featured on national television. You can do that here:

Peoples Platelist Finalist: Luis Bruno

Voting ends on Sept. 26, 2010 and is limited to one vote per individual IP address. The finalist receiving the most votes online will be declared the winner of the contest. The winner will be announced live on the broadcast during the week of Sept. 27, 2010. The winning chef will be the topic of a full Platelist segment, taped and produced by Nightline that will run on the national broadcast on ABC.

Learn even more about Luis's weight loss plan:

Trimming the Fat
Runners World – March 2007

Happy Birthday, Roger

2010-08-29T13:30:00.000-07:00

Entertainers Roger Pedigo and Billy Pelletier

I learned rather late in the day that today is my friend Roger Pedigo's birthday.

Roger and I see lots of things in life the same way, such as it's okay to hang out with your friends in a bar and still go to church because there's really nothing in the Holy Scriptures that says this is a wrong behavior except for possibly what the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 14.

Another thing Roger and I have in common is the love of music. He has shared music CDs with me and I have shared some with him. He's a talented entertainer who performs his music with a group at Magnolia Springs Wesleyan Church on Sunday mornings. He has many stories to tell about life on the road performing, and I love to hear those stories. My amateur video will help give you some insight as to how well he performs:

Georgia Karaoke at Foley's Scuttlebutt Pub

Roger lives with his faithful companion, a mutt named Angel. How their relationship began is an interesting tale that leaves listeners deciding for themselves who's the owner and who's the pet :)

If you're in the market for a storage building or carport, Roger Pedigo is the man to see at RJ's Curb Market Storage in Foley, Alabama.

Gordon Mote

2010-08-27T08:38:00.000-07:00

Christian artist Gordon Mote is an outstanding musician who plays piano for the Gaither Vocal Band. He's also a native of Alabama.

My friend Roger Pedigo recently introduced me to Mote's 2007 CD, Don't Let Me Miss The Glory. He particularly wanted me to hear the touching tale of Maplewood Methodist Church.

Follow along with the lyrics below as you listen to Maplewood Methodist Church.

Spends every night inside these walls
Dumps the trash and sweeps the halls
And he makes sure that stained glass shines
Picks up paper in the pews and stacks the chairs in the choir room
But his real work don't start til quittin' time
When he goes through every prayer request lying on the pastor's desk
He hits his knees and says ...
God bless Miss Somersby, Lord it's hard to live alone
And Marianna Thompson wants her daddy back at home
And Mr. Nelson needs forgiveness
Old Man Miller's crops need rain
While the whole town's fast asleep he's hard at work
Pullin' that midnight shift at the Maplewood Methodist Church
Every night's the same routine
And by the time he finally leaves
He's done so much more than clean the building
He's called down angels from on high
And helped someone through a sad goodbye
And lost souls finally find what they've been missing
The congregation will never see that simple man who still believes
He can change the world by saying please ...
Give Johnny Mays the strength to put that bottle down
Mrs. Bailey and her husband find a way to work things out
Mrs. Olsen hold on long enough to see her daughter's wedding day
While the whole town's fast asleep he's hard at work
Pullin' that midnight shift at the Maplewood Methodist Church
The sign out front says Sunday service starts at nine and ten-fifteen
But he holds his own revival, seven nights a week
While the whole town's fast asleep he's hard at work
Pullin' that midnight shift at the Maplewood Methodist Church
Spends every night inside these walls, dumps the trash and sweeps the halls
And he makes sure that stained glass shines

This song stirred up some very old memories. The first funeral I attended was my Uncle Lawrence's in Sweetwater, Texas. If you hear this song, you'll know how my mind connected to that when I tell you it's about a man who cleans the church. Sometimes the person is called the custodian, or perhaps the janitor. I think the funeral was held in the church Uncle Lawrence cleaned. I also recalled that another uncle, JC Lockhart, cleaned a church in Weatherford, Texas.

Let me back up here and tell you I was reared Southern Baptist and remained one until Smitty and I married and began to look for a church in our Oak Cliff neighborhood in Dallas. That's when we became Presbyterians and joined Trinity Presbyterian Church. Our two daughters were baptized and later confirmed in the Presbyterian Church. We later moved to Irving, Texas, then Bloomington, Illinois, and eventually to Memphis, Tennessee, and each time joined local Presbyterian churches. We've been members of the United Methodist church since we lived in Meridian, Mississippi in the late 1970s.

More Gordon Mote videos worth seeing:

Get Up with the Gaither Vocal Band
Don't Let Me Miss The Glory

Good Morning ~ Good Night

2010-08-21T03:07:00.000-07:00

This is how I began my day today. It was so pleasant, I wanted to share it.

Hope your day is a good one.

Confession Time

2010-08-14T07:32:00.000-07:00

Today I am trying to catch up on reading devotionals from The Upper Room. I began with the one for Friday, August 6, 2010 — so you know right off I'm over a week behind.

I've obviously been giving something other than reading daily devotionals priority. This is a continuing problem of mine. My priorities are just about upside down! But when I read the devotional, I did so want to share it.

WALK IN LOVE

Jeff Matthews of Indiana
Founder of FromMyCell.org
A ministry that encourages inmates to follow the Bible

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13 · Ephesians 5:1-2
I have been incarcerated since 1990, and over the years I have found myself in some difficult situations. Whenever trouble arises, applying biblical principles can bring about a peaceful resolution. One principle I have lived by throughout the duration of my incarceration is to always walk in love.

A few years ago, I had an opportunity to practice this principle when an inmate started to hassle me about my faith. His derogatory remarks about Christians continued for months. With each encounter, I responded in love, rejoiced in my persecutions (Matthew 5:11-12), and prayed for him (Matthew 5:44).

One day during another encounter with this inmate, I calmly interrupted him while he was speaking. I felt there was something he needed to know. "My friend," I said, "nothing you ever say to me or do to me will stop me from loving you." He stood speechless as I walked away.

A few days later he saw me in the hallway. "Jeff, I haven't slept since you told me you loved me the other day. That's exactly what Jesus would have told me. You're a real Christian. Please forgive me for the way I've treated you," he said remorsefully. I was speechless! Since then, he has never spoken another unkind word to me.

Prayer · Dear Father, help us to walk always in love. Amen.

Thought for the Day: No matter how difficult our situation, with God's help we can see ways to show God's love.

Lady Gaga's Quesadilla

2010-08-07T05:25:00.001-07:00

Any Lady Gaga fans out there?

Me neither.

I do recommend, though, that you click on Paul's photo to the right and read his story describing how this photo came about.

KISS*

2010-08-02T22:00:00.000-07:00

Where did I learn about KISS? I wonder...

I did prove to myself that I wasn't dreaming – it was related to duplicate bridge conventions when I found Tommy Solberg's bridge blog and his post: The Road To Hell Is Paved With Good Conventions. As he reports, *KISS stands for Keep It Simple Stupid.

So far you still do not even know what this post is about, but I will reveal now that our youngest daughter is the blog expert who has passed on to me more than once that each blog post should be about one subject. In this context, *KISS means Keep It Separate Stupid.

What I wanted to share today concerns the really weird weather day we experienced in Lower Alabama. For over two hours, there was audible thunder, which I believe I have determined was a weather system that was just along the area of the Florida-Alabama line on the Gulf Coast that was moving south out into the Gulf. The outside temps dropped from 97 to 82 degrees during this time, which resulted in our screened porch going from a sauna to a very nice place to relax around 7 PM. During this time we could hear thunder while at the same time it was quite dark outside and only sprinkles of moisture were dripping off our roof. I had to comment on this because it is so totally different from any weather I have ever experienced before.

On seeing the Pensacola News weather on television, it looked like their weather was more dramatic as far as the sudden drop in temperature with them reporting a temperature of 79 at that same time period. The difference had to do with considerable rainfall in a short period of time.

Yes, the Gulf Coast in this area has been experiencing unusually high temperature readings to the point that it has been really too hot to enjoy going to the beach, even if you have a little hand-held fan you can use to spray cooling water on yourself. Generally speaking though, when one is right on the beach on the Gulf, at least a gentle sea breeze helps cool you.

Cracked Pots

2010-08-02T16:51:00.000-07:00

Keith Tonkel's sermon yesterday at Wells United Methodist Church in Jackson, Mississippi was entitled Cracked Pots, and it was based on this old story:

Scripture for yesterday's sermon:

Isaiah 40:29
God gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might, he increases strength.

I Corinthians 1:27
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world, to put to shame the wise, and has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the mighty...

2 Corinthians 12:9
And he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, and my strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Hebrews 5:2
He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness.

Today’s Psalms 6:1-4 (Revised)
Lord, do not rebuke us in your anger,
Or chasten us with your displeasure.
Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we are weak;
heal us, for our body and soul is deeply troubled.
Return, O Lord, deliver us.
Oh save us for your mercies’ sake!

The Sunday bulletin for this service had Keith's usual brief prose as follows concerning the scriptures:

Cracked Pots

Went to school with a guy who often referred to ‘crack-pots’. In those days, it was about folks with strange and crazy ideas or practices. Today such talk may mean a lot more!

An important teacher used to say: “We are leaky vessels for God’s truth and work to ride in, but we are God’s vessels.”

When speaking of real Christians, we can create the idea that such persons have got it made. They have ‘arrived’ and are capable of doing all things well. In fact, there are almost no such believers. Think of the stories of God’s calls: Moses who said he couldn’t speak well, Abraham who got a big laugh when told that he and Sarah were having a baby at their age; all who Jesus asked to come with him, who made (make up!) up one excuse after the other.

God chooses the weak to do strong work. He gives power to those who have none, and increases might equivaliant for the work needed. Who would have thought that twelve disciples could have done so much and changed so many. They became the fore runners of a new history.

No one is weak to be weak. In our weakness, we learn compassion for the ignorance and sins of others. To know our weakness is to call on God’s strength to build our own. It’s clear: The proud and strong rely on themselves and need no others. The weak see their strengths and limitations at the same time, and learn that the grace of God is the only sufficient resource for positive and Christlike living.

Some crackpots might surprise you. Crackpots like you and me. We could become a means of doing something good, lasting, and beautiful for God and for others.

Imagine leaky vessels being so effective and at the same time leaving a legacy to bless generations to come.

Note: These short devotional-type writings are gathered together in a book to be published in the future by Keith ~ GodStuff

Not through yet

2010-08-01T07:35:00.001-07:00

Not through yet could apply with lots of things. This canna decided it was going to show one more bloom today.

It also just might apply to a certain person whose birthday is today —

HBTU!

Error Messages

2010-07-10T03:56:00.001-07:00

There are certain things in this world of hi-tech and computers I'm clueless about. If any of you out there have explanations for these failures, I'm all ears.

My second upload attempt was successful. The results appear below. When you consider that this video was being taken through the screen of the screened porch as it was nearing dark, it's pretty miraculous that it's as good as it is.

Calling All Parrot Heads!

2010-07-06T06:41:00.000-07:00

Click Kaiser Realty Packages including concert tickets to find out how to get tickets for Jimmy Buffett's upcoming free concert on July 11.

This is the way most people will get the so-called free tickets to the Buffett concert that has been rescheduled on July 11th.

This isn't really an ad for Kaiser Realty. There are other people who can offer you something similar. The point of all this is to help Gulf Coast tourism that has suffered from the BP oil spill.

Some other places with tickets include but are not limited to:

Martinique on the Gulf - Offer Code: JBC3
Gulf Shores Plantation - Call 800-211-5053 and mention "tickets".
Or you can do what we plan to do and catch some of it on TV at CMT Presents Jimmy Buffett & Friends Live From the Gulf Coast

On the road to Texas

2010-07-01T05:48:00.000-07:00

Attended a surprise retirement party for a friend, who was finally retiring as a flight attendant from American Airlines.

We had a busy Sunday – attended church, visited with relatives in Saginaw, then attended a patriotic concert featuring the combined choirs of four area churches accompanied by Arlington's community band.

Warning: Passing Side vs. Suicide

The rest of our time was spent visiting with my sister and brother-in-law in various activities such as dining out, shopping, taking care of some business, and going through some of Mother's things. I'm not sure I'll live long enough to finish the last job mentioned, even if I live to be 100.

See our road trip photos on flickr:

Site of Buffett Concert on July 11th of 2010

2010-06-29T01:00:00.000-07:00

The beach was as clean as we'd ever seen it. All it lacked were the people. Lots of them should be there on July 1st for the Jimmy Buffett concert.

New information on the rescheduled concert appeared in the June 29th issue of The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Mississippi, as follows:

Free Jimmy Buffett concert reset for July 11
The Associated Press · June 28, 2010

GULF SHORES, ALA.
The free concert featuring Jimmy Buffett on the beach at Gulf Shores has been rescheduled due to increased surf that threatens to undermine the stage.
Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft said Monday the concert that had been set for July 1 is now scheduled for July 11, a Sunday.

Buffett and a lineup of stars including Kenny Chesney, Zack Brown and others planned the free concert to help support residents and businesses struggling due to the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Craft said Tropical Storm Alex is not viewed as a threat to the Alabama coast but is creating surf conditions that could make the stage unstable.

Oil and tar balls have washed ashore at Gulf Shores and other Alabama beach resorts, putting a dent in the summer tourist season.

Sharing

2010-06-17T04:15:00.000-07:00

Amen!

Snapdragons

2010-06-12T11:05:00.000-07:00

I have entered the snapdragon part of my life.

Hubby purchased some flowers last fall that we understood would thrive during the colder months somewhat like pansies do. That is why we fully understand "Snapdragons still blooming". These were like late bloomers, in that they really didn't begin to show off until late spring, and they are still going strong. The ones we have are yellow.

May you always have...

Love to share,

Health to spare, and

Friends to care.

— Author Unknown

Postscript: Perhaps my brother-in-law Jerry entered the Snapdragon time of life also. Today is his birthday. Not tellin' his age, but here's a hint — he graduated from Cleburne High School one year after I did.

Puns for those with a higher IQ

2010-06-06T06:45:00.001-07:00

People who know me well know I love puns. Maybe you do too.

Cartoon Credit — treebeard31 blog on Wordpress

Those who jump off a bridge in Paris are in Seine.
A man's home is his castle, in a manor of speaking.
Dijon vu - the same mustard as before.
Practice safe eating - always use condiments.
Shotgun wedding - A case of wife or death.
A man needs a mistress just to break the monogamy.
A hangover is the wrath of grapes.
Dancing cheek-to-cheek is really a form of floor play.
Does the name Pavlov ring a bell?
Condoms should be used on every conceivable occasion.
Reading while sunbathing makes you well red.
When two egotists meet, it's an I for an I.
A bicycle can't stand on its own because it is two tired.
What's the definition of a will? (It's a dead give away.)
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
In democracy your vote counts. In feudalism your count votes.
She was engaged to a boyfriend with a wooden leg but broke it off.
A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.
If you don't pay your exorcist, you get repossessed.
With her marriage, she got a new name and a dress.
The man who fell into an upholstery machine is fully recovered.
You feel stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.
Local Area Network in Australia - the LAN down under.
Every calendar's days are numbered.
A lot of money is tainted - Taint yours and taint mine.
A boiled egg in the morning is hard to beat.
He had a photographic memory that was never developed.
A midget fortune-teller who escapes from prison is a small medium at large.
Once you've seen one shopping center, you've seen a mall.
Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead-to-know basis.
Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses.
Acupuncture is a jab well done.

My favorite of all of these is the 27th one and hope it applies to me. Instead I take pictures like crazy.

My thanks go to Mary. Believe me, I was flattered!

Someone's got the giggles

2010-06-05T06:47:00.001-07:00

It's good to see a little girl giggling. Maggie was enjoying this so much

Staff Night Out

2010-06-04T19:59:00.000-07:00

Although it's been three years, we do still miss these people and hope they also think of us from time to time. The summer of 2007 was a very special one. This photo demonstrates what simple pleasures were part of that that life as volunteers at Devils Tower National Monument. Probably most of these people you see here have scattered all over after that summer.

Senior Citizen Night Life

2010-06-03T21:05:00.000-07:00

This may one of my few really Senior Citizen Night Life reports. Since I had managed to stay alert past 9 PM, I thought I should give you a report on how it is in Lower Alabama for a senior citizen who has made it past this bewitching time. We enjoyed some time on our screened porch before we decided to "retire" for the day to our ZZZZZZ's. Let me tell you what it was like.

Instead of the usual falling asleep in front of the TV tonight, we played music on the screened porch. We feel comfortable doing this because we do not disturb our neighbors when we do this at night. You must understand that even though our hearing may be somewhat impaired at our age, we are sensitive to the fact that our closest neighbors may be trying to get a good night's sleep at such a late hour. But, after all, the traffic noises from the closest two main roads do not promptly stop at even 9 PM.

A noise that we experienced tonight was quite different. There are no large airports nearby, so we are guessing it was possibly some kind of flight training maneuvers from the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, because this was not the usual light plane noise we are used to hearing here. This was definitely a big airplane. The only other idea we had was it was looking for oil on the Gulf.

Back to our music — we have discovered that our playing music on the screened porch brings out some competition. It's probably mockingbirds that are trying to outdo us. It's a good feeling knowing that we are part of their life just as they are a part of our daily life. Indeed, all the little creatures that live around us can be as interesting to watch as the TV – perhaps even moreso. Surely this kind of activity keeps your blood pressure down and your happiness level elevated. Give it a try to see what we mean.

If this frame could talk...

2010-05-27T04:47:00.000-07:00

… it could tell you about the many earlier years of our grandchildren’s growth and the lives of the three as they moved into young adulthood.

Today we received photos of our youngest granddaughter on the day of her graduation from high school. The only babies in our family now are the great-granddaughter.

Time does fly, and they do grow up so fast!

2010-05-07T10:34:00.000-07:00

Daily May 2010

Results of the procedure brought us good news from Dr. Coleman!

What Is A Magnolia?

2010-05-06T11:05:00.000-07:00

It is a tree and the flower of the tree and this variety has been named Magnolia grandiflora.
It is the Louisiana State Flower.
It is the Mississippi State Flower.
It is the 1999 feature movie entitled MAGNOLIA.

Although I haven't seen the movie, I wanted to know where the title came from. I read enough about it to become totally confused. Apparently the writer and director Paul Thomas Anderson started to get ideas for Magnolia during the long editing period of Boogie Nights (1997), and he had the title of Magnolia in his head before he wrote the script. Anderson also did research on the magnolia tree and discovered a concept that eating the tree's bark helped cure cancer.

And best of all ...

It is a sweet little almost two-year-old great granddaughter whose parents are from Louisiana and Mississippi and chose her name to honor their native states — and we all call her Maggie.

Malbis Greek Orthodox church

2010-04-25T01:21:00.000-07:00

Here's the kind of photo I hope to capture someday when I'm at this location at the right time of day.

Photo Credit: rxguy08 on flickr

My latest effort can be seen on flickr at:

Malbis Greek Orthodox Church

Another beautiful version of this church can be seen at:

Thoughts of a Fancy Horse
Art and Architecture: Special landmarks around town

2010-04-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

We woke up and realized this was a prime example of lack of planning for every eventuallity, because lack of such planning can have it's effects on a multitude of others.

Listen Gently to the Wind

2010-04-20T05:40:00.000-07:00

The Largest Wind Farm In The World: Horse Hollow is located in the county where I was born in Texas over 73 years ago.

Here's a video about this:

NBC Sunday Morning
Wind energy in West Texas, Wind Turbines

The wind* blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.

— Gospel of John 3:8 (New International Version)

*The same Greek word means wind and spirit

The poem below reminded me of a book I recommended last year — What is the wind trying to tell us?

Listen gently to the wind,
To the song of some small bird.
Listen gently to your heart,
There’s a song that can’t be heard.
There’s a gift I give from me to you
For no one else to share
It’s the happiness I feel inside
Just knowing you are there.
— Bob Arness

One of the questions I asked Bob was if he had a certain person in mind when he wrote it. He said he didn’t. I think this poem is a love poem, and it’s a gift to God. What do you think?

Wisteria in top of Live Oak

2010-04-19T03:20:00.000-07:00

This is a repeat of yesterday's post with a vertical panorama merge of three photos of the Live Oak tree to the back of our place.

You may be able to better view the photo on the left by clicking on it to enlarge it.

2010-04-18T10:57:00.000-07:00

Spring is here for sure!

Click on the photo to the right to see the lavender-color wisteria growing in the top portion of the big Live Oak to the back of our place:

Slideshow presented by Webshots: Spring Flowers 2010

2010-04-05T05:17:00.000-07:00

The season for wysteria is so short lived that I wanted to preserve at least one photo on the blog. Spring is such a beautiful season!

Just in case you didn't know it, you can click on most photos on my blog to see a larger view. I recommend it on this one.

Easter Egg Hunt in North Carolina

2010-04-04T15:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter

2010-04-01T05:52:00.000-07:00

... and a little child shall lead them.
Isaiah 11:6d (King James Version)

Click this video link to hear
Amazing Grace - 7yr old Rhema Marvanne

Holy Week

2010-03-26T11:38:00.000-07:00

Holy Week is the last week of Lent each year that begins with Palm Sunday and ends with Easter Sunday.

This time of year I always like to read a little brochure-type publication written by Felix R. McKnight that Daddy sent me many years ago.

If you'd like to follow along with me as I read, here's all the posts I did last year during Holy Week.

Readings about the author and the publication The Immortal Story by blog posts:

Who is Felix R. McKnight? · 4/3/2009
It gets even better · 4/4/2009
Palm Sunday · 4/5/2009
Monday Before Easter: Day of Authority

4/6/2009

Tuesday Before Easter: Day of Controversy

4/7/2009

Wednesday Before Easter: Day of Retirement · 4/8/2009
Maundy Thursday: Day of Fellowship · 4/9/2009
Good Friday: Day of Suffering · 4/10/2009
Easter Sunday: Day of Resurrection · 4/12/2009

A Mysterious Discovery

2010-03-17T07:00:00.001-07:00

Do you think God speaks through emails you receive? Well, I have to say, God can do whatever He wants to, so I think it is possible.

This post comes about because I received an email about Communion on the Moon: July 20th, 1969 without any indication of who wrote the story. I went searching for the author on the internet and found the same story and the photo above of Buzz Aldrin, Eric Metaxas, and Dick Cavett. Eric Metaxes was/is the author.

It also caused me to find some very interesting videos. I'll recommend the one with Anne Rice below.

I sure would like to hear some comments on these two authors. I knew about Anne Rice but have not read one of her books. I certainly plan to now. I had never heard of Eric Metaxas, but I also plan to read his books.

That's all I have to tell you today. If I have more thoughts to share after some more research reading, I'll let you know what they are. Please stay tuned.

I Like Beer

2010-03-15T01:00:00.000-07:00

Like Tom T. Hall says in his song, I like beer. I learned to like it when we lived in a non-air-conditioned garage apartment in Oak Cliff in Dallas, Texas, in the summer of 1959. We were trying to save money when we moved there. Little did we know that the way the apartment was situated attached by a breezeway to a two-bedroom house owned by our landlords, the Pezdirtz's, that the place would be very close to an oven in the hottest months. One could look out into the tree tops and see there was a breeze moving the tree leaves while not receiving any of it inside the large one-room apartment. That's when I finally learned to like beer.

Saint Patrick's Day seemed like an appropriate day to share this with my readers.

Downtown Jackson will be having its St. Paddy's Parade and Festival next Saturday, with the Sweet Potato Queens leading the way. This parade is similar to the Mardi Gras parades in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi and more about welcoming spring and raising funds for local charities than it is about St. Patrick. Many's the time we had our spot across from the Governor's Mansion, viewing this special annual event. You can see some of our photos from past parades at:

· Mal's St. Paddy's Parade 2003
· Mal's St. Paddy's Parade 2006

Tom T. Hall must be one of the best story tellers via his songs, and this shows him at his very best. This was recorded at the Church Street Station in Orlando, Florida back in 1990.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Dancing Hot Dog

2010-03-12T09:50:00.001-08:00

Never a dull moment at Magnolia River Bar & Grill. As the weather warms up, hot dogs may be sold outside or even in Foley. Time will tell.

Kilroy Was Here

2010-03-12T02:46:00.000-08:00

Haven’t you wondered about this expression? If your age takes you back to the World War II era, probably so. Yes, Kilroy wound up here on my blog, thanks to my friend Mary.

The story sent to me by email was very fascinating with many ends and outs, and I wondered if all of it was true. Much of it seems to be, and whether all of it is true is not important. What Snopes dredged up makes it even a more interesting story.

I’ll not repeat it all here. You can read it for yourself at:

Kilroy Was Here

Lenten Reflection

2010-03-04T06:00:00.000-08:00

This idea keeps popping up in my mind from time to time: I really think things might go better in this world if all of us had tails like dogs.

Here's the Lenten Reflection I found for today on the website for Wells Memorial United Methodist Church.

For March 4

Dog
For the Lord is good, and his love endures forever,
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalms 100:5

Several months ago I got an email from a church friend. The subject line was I see God in dog.
This friend knows that I absolutely, deeply and madly love dogs. I am a person who doesn’t think that my dog Duncan is a little person. I know that Duncan is a little dog who is there every time I come home at the back door. He makes this little snorting and snuffling sound when he hears the key in the back door lock.
Every single time I come home he is happy to see me. There is no recrimination as to why I was gone so long. Or where did I go. It is just joy at my return.
That is how God is. He is always there waiting for me when I return home. He is always happy and joyful that I have returned to him and he embraces me when I open and walk through the door.
Thank you, church friend, for sending me that email, as I truly see God in dog.

Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for the love you give to us
through creatures great and small.

Thought for the Day: God’s faithfulness continues. Does ours?
— Ann Herlihy

I came across this dog video last September:

God and Dog
LIVING... MAEDEANS STYLE

Celebrate 100 years

2010-02-20T13:00:00.000-08:00

This afternoon we attended one of several celebrations of Dolly's 100th Birthday. What a happy event!

Dolly was born at home on February 11, 1910. She was very small and probably born prematurely. The doctor who delivered her said she would probably only live a short while because she was so small. They put her in a shoebox and did not even name her. They just called her Little Doll; She showed them all!

You can view photos on Flickr from this event at
Dolly’s 100th Birthday Celebration

Mardi Gras Flotilla

2010-02-14T16:27:00.000-08:00

Two decorated pantoon boats with Magnolia River Bar & Grill customers participated in this flotilla on the Bon Secour River on Valentines Day. When they returned to MRBG, they were in a very celebrative mood, to say the least. At times the dance floor was just about full of revellers dancing to the karaoke music.

Mardi Gras & Valentines Collide

2010-02-14T11:23:00.001-08:00

Mardi Gras and Valentines collide at Magnolia River Bar & Grill. Some of the MRBG folks are participating in a Mardi Gras boat parade on Valentines, but at the same time, while still decorated for Mardi Gras, they have lots of pretty Valentine balloons in their bar & grill.

One thing is for sure, they don't miss an opportunity to celebrate.

A favorite song I think of on Valentines is My Funny Valentine. I first heard it in a very old movie. It did not sound like Linda Ronstadt's, but at least you know somewhat what the song was about if you view and listen to it on YouTube above. Linda's version even has a beginning verse I do not recall ever hearing. Apparently the standard has been recorded by so many people no one knows who they were and how many.

Ask The Geese

2010-02-10T05:46:00.000-08:00

My cousin sent me a powerpoint slideshow entitled Ask The Geese. Seems like I have seen this or something like it before. You can have the same information in this inspiring slide show at:

LESSONS FROM THE GEESE

We have all had our "honkers" who have encouraged us through our lives. Where would we be without them?

The Bear

2010-02-05T04:19:00.000-08:00

Well, I found the trailer for the full length feature film, The Bear, on YouTube. I saw this movie in the theater about 10 years ago. Even if I see a movie, much of the plot does not stick with me. Here's the info with the trailer.

The Bear 1989
Director: Jean-Jacques Annaud
Novel by: James Oliver Curwood
An orphan bear cub
A large bear alone
Two hunters in the forest
The views of animals

These are the four lines sent by Jean-Jacques Annaud its producer Claude Berry to explain the draft of his film. "After the War of the fire," explains the director, "I wanted to go further, try to convey the emotions common to all species of higher animal world. Avoiding that animals have behaviour modelled on those of men, affublés reasoning of midinette, with a voiceover to explain what happens."

Below is the trailer:

Since I had seen the feature film in the theater, when I watched the scene shown on YouTube that someone sent me via email, I knew some of the outcome, but it was still such an exciting segment, I wanted to share it also.

Each time I watch it, I still find it spellbinding.

Humility > Servanthood > Destination

2010-01-07T10:41:00.000-08:00

Fairly recently I posted something that described how men's and women's brains work. I think that's why I find it so hard to put up a post that is just about one thing, because one thing makes me think of something else and so on. So, I think this is where all this started, but I'm not sure.

I received an annual letter from a family I have been following for several years now. At the moment, they live in North Carolina. For some reason I was reminded of a story about Billy Graham, who was from North Carolina. It has appeared on the internet many times — possibly the first time back in 2005. I love this story very much because it makes several points:

In January 2000, leaders in Charlotte, North Carolina invited their favorite son, Billy Graham, to a luncheon in his honor.

Mr. Graham initially hesitated to accept the invitation because he struggles with Parkinson’s disease. But the city leaders said, “We don’t expect a major address. Just come and let us honor you.” So he agreed.

After wonderful things were said about him, Dr. Graham stepped to the rostrum, looked at the crowd, and said, “I’m reminded today of Albert Einstein, the great physicist who this month has been honored by Time Magazine as the Man of the Century.

Einstein was once traveling from Princeton on a train when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the tickets of every passenger. When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He couldn’t find his ticket, so he reached in his trouser pockets. It wasn’t there, so he looked in his briefcase but couldn’t find it. Then he looked in the seat beside him, and it wasn’t there either.
The conductor said, “Dr. Einstein, I know who you are. We all know who you are. I’m sure you bought a ticket. Don’t worry about it.”

Einstein nodded appreciatively. The conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets. As he was ready to move to the next car, he turned around and saw the great physicist down on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket.

The conductor rushed back and said, “Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don’t worry, I know who you are. No problem. You don’t need a ticket. I’m sure you bought one.”

Einstein looked at him and said, “Young man, I too, know who I am. What I don’t know is where I’m going.”

Having said that, Billy Graham continued, “See the suit I’m wearing? It’s a brand new suit. My wife, my children and my grandchildren are telling me I’ve gotten a little slovenly in my old age. I used to be a bit more fastidious. So I went out and bought a new suit for this luncheon, and for one more occasion.

You know what that occasion is? This is the suit in which I’ll be buried. But when you hear I’m dead, I don’t want you to immediately remember the suit I’m wearing. I want you to remember this: I not only know who I am — I also know where I am going.”

This story brings to mind an important man I worked a short while for in the early 1960's. I recall someone telling how Dr. Robert Stubblefield attended a formal meeting in Washington DC at which cards were in place for those invited. Despite looking for his place when he entered the dining room, Dr. Stubblefield couldn't locate his assigned seat. He was eventually told – as though he should have known already – that his seat was at the head table. This kind of humility speaks volumes to me when someone thinks less highly of themselves than most people of their position would. Dr. Stubblefield's obituary included many of his honors and accomplishments, yet he was a humble man.

In conclusion ...

I Know Where I'm Going · by The Judds

Lutheran Airlines

2010-01-06T07:41:00.000-08:00

I apologize if this offends you, but I literally was just about falling out in the floor laughing at this audio when I received it attached to an email.

This reminds me of Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor. He used to have such fun with the Lutherans.

In searching for more information, I found an absolutely funny blog that runs in the same vein named The Adventures of Ole and Lena.

Let's do a "let's pretend" here and imagine we have just boarded Luthern Airlines when over the speaker we hear this.

I really don't think I would have found this nearly as funny without Garrison Keillor's many insights into what the Minnesota Lutherans were/are like – at least the humorous side of them.

People who read my blog — anyone out there? — know I certainly hop around from subject to subject, but I feel compelled to say, it's not my intention to single out any particular denomination with this post except for the fact I don't know how to do it without saying what it is.

Frozen Bird Bath

2010-01-02T03:45:00.000-08:00

Around 6 AM this morning, I noticed that the water in the bird bath outside was frozen. Naturally, I had to take a photo of it just as soon as it became light enough to capture. More frozen temps in the 20s are predicted for the week ahead.

Born Again American

2010-01-01T03:32:00.000-08:00

This might be a good way to start 2010. It is similar but different from last year's New Year's Day post – Stand By Me

Blue moon over New Year’s Eve tomorrow night

2009-12-30T06:14:00.000-08:00

For the first time since 1990, this Thursday evening, December 31st, the moon on New Year’s Eve will become full for the second time in the month of December. According to folklore, that makes it a blue moon. But don’t expect it to be blue.

[CNN News article]
[Wikipedia Blue Moon article]
[more from NASA]
[348K wallpaper photo]

It’s sad to say, but I do not recall one single, solitary event from the year 1990. I glanced over the Wikipedia article on the year 1990, and that did not help me. I was 54 years old on New Year’s Eve of 1990 and may have gone to a party. That may have been the year when the fog was scary awful. If that were the case, I sure didn’t notice the full moon.

Ho Hum

2009-12-29T03:30:00.000-08:00

I'm thinking that the low so far since we've been in Magnolia Springs has been 20°, which I reported in January of this year. That was a surprise to me when it occurred. However, as you look at the area's record temperatures, it has been known to go much lower than that. I will continue to monitor it by going to Magnolia Springs Weather each day. If you're really interested, you can do the same.

This is my twentieth post about weather and the subject has definitely run its course. At this point, unless there's really something very different to report, I'm going to seek other subjects that are, at least, of interest to me.