Reading a friend's post got me thinking about good home training. So oops. one more soapbox post. Feel free to leave now. We are becoming a crasser & crasser society. I was raised to say "please" & "thank you" (the magic words!); to say "ma'am/sir." I said "sir" to Daddy until the day he died @ age 81 & still "ma'am" my mama. Don't agree w/that? Then erase "yeah" & "naw" and my personal favorite "huh?" from your brain. I was raised to rise when my elder enters/leaves a room & to offer to give my seat to my elder. News flash: Men, add doing the same for women of any age - you may run across the rare offended woman but she probably ain't from around here anyway. (Be nice!) And class is not a matter of financial or social status. Last week @ Logan's w/Mama waiting for a table; 3 men sitting in waiting area, 2 in business suits. Who offered my 83-yr old mother a seat? The 3rd man, wearing painter's clothes - thanks! As Mama sat, the 2 "gentlemen" just stared blankly as I continued to stand...dorks! Ladies, cursing is ugly enough in men but, seriously, you kiss your mama or kids w/that mouth?! Buy a word-of-the-day calendar, Google some new words...improve that brain, tame that tongue! (I did, you can too!) Uh,no kid, you can't push all the elevator buttons and have me stopping on 12 extra floors just 'cause your mama is too weak to tell you "no." Tell the 2024 version of Oprah or Dr. Phil about that mean lady - me. Don't send me the therapy bill. And, above all, NEVER, I mean, never ANSWER your phone at a funeral; unless you are on a transplant recipient list or are the transplant surgeon - and even then step away somewhere!! (And yes, I did witness this top 10 rudest moment EVAH! I wish I'd had an Emily Post book to throw at...oops, I mean, give him.) Thanks to all y'all who use your home training. And if you didn't get any, get some. They're free, the benefits are priceless and I'll be happy to hook you up with some! "Night and love to all y'all!

Don't get on the soapbox much - check my timeline if you're feeling doubt. There's so much joy we miss that it's my "thing" to look for joy every day - Laura Brake can back me up on that, right cuz? Now don't twist it - I don't think I'm perfect because I'm a Christian - I KNOW what a hot mess I am even WITH Jesus! But I'm better than I was and when you know better, you do better. Right now I know some folks, including me, who are hurting because of unkind words, because of attitudes, because of presumptions. Life is too short to spend it judging and gossiping. And I'm talking about people who call themselves Christians. It's no wonder the world doesn't think we're any different when we don't act any different! It's easy to love the lovely; it's when we're unlovely that we need our brothers and sisters the most. Nobody's perfect, I get that; talking about patterns of behavior here folks. THINK before you act or speak. Stop spreading the dread! If it ain't helpful or hopeful, swallow it - hear me - swallow it and go on your way. Tell Jesus about it later. The joy in this? I've done my share to hurt others and Him with my tongue, my attitude and I'm forgiven. He has a plan for me, for you - "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 (We'll now sing a hymn and be dismissed. I surrender the pulpit. Amen!)

Random thoughts brought about by recent encounters with my fellow humans: Don't be so open-minded that your brain falls out. Jumping in without looking can result in a cement headache @ the bottom of an empty pool. "Please" & "thank you" are still the magic words. Your failure to plan should not cause my emergency. And at the end of the day... fish or cut bait! Thus endeth the lesson...'Night and love to all y'all! Stay friends with Jesus!

Atticus Finch and courage

Had to share this. My favorite book, second only to the Bible. It's where my baby girl got her nickname, "Scout." So proud that she (Delaney Remsen) & my niece Avery Margaret Meagher decided to pool their resources & purchase another copy for me after realizing the pitiful state of mine! Those young Southern women appreciate good literature and love me...I am blessed.

Atticus Finch: "I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do."

Teenagers and Dinosaurs

Today was another beautiful day in my preschool neighborhood. It may have been raining outside but it was sunny in my classroom. There was one big exception - Miss Eden. Little Miss Eden is usually a bright ray of sunshine, eager to start the day, happy to see her friends. This morning was a whole different side to Eden. I had Eden in my classroom 2 years ago when I started at Grace. I really wanted to go back to teaching preschool but the only opening Grace had was in the "baby" room so I took it to get my foot in the door. What a great year it turned into! Met and worked with two women who became two of my dearest friends, Jasmine and Cathy. And it's where I first met Eden and her cohorts; in fact, six of my original "gang" are in my class this year. So happy to be with the threes because that's where my heart lies. (Put in a bid for 3's last year but they needed me to teach 4's so I did, knowing God would honor my decision. I did, and He has!) Anyway...back to Eden. She cried for about 20 minutes this morning, missing her mommy. I did what comes naturally to me - I sat down in the rocking chair with her in my lap and we rocked and cuddled those little tears away. Rocking was good for both of us this morning. God worked that one out for sure! The arthritis in my lower back and right hip was rearing its ugly head and sitting in my rocking chair gives me relief; rocking Eden was good for what ailed both of us.

Now onto the teenagers and dinosaurs. Scout has a little stuffed dinosaur she carries around in her purse, named "Torrosaurus." We rescued "Torro" from the reject dollar store bin. It looks like it was sewn together from a bunch of leftover parts of other stuffed animals; head of an elephant but with a blunted snout, mouth like a lop-sided shark and the rest is kind of generic. She loves the poor, sad thing. It went to Europe with her last year on her "People-to-People" trip. It has gone on several other vacations, including vacations without her. Scout's friends love the little freaky animal, too, and have taken it places. That thing has been places I've only read about!! What can I say? My kid is definitely unique - and I LOVE her!

More dino news - Scout came home Monday and announced that she wanted a dinosaur coloring book. Okay, I thought, is this for school? Nope, turns out she wants to color for stress-relief purposes. Well, coloring is relaxing. (If you haven't colored lately then you should try it. ) My girl does have a pretty hectic schedule so I can understand needing a quiet activity. Just caught me a bit off-guard for a 16-year old to ask for a coloring book. But hey, sure beats the heck out of some other activities teenagers are engaging in. So...yesterday it was off on a dinosaur coloring book quest. When we found one at Dollar General it was like Scout had won money on a game show! Dang, if I had known spending a dollar on her would extract such an excited response I would have done it sooner. I thought she might have to change her drawers when we got home!

I felt like I spent 5 hours in the car yesterday. Picked Scout up after middle school ball game. (Greenbrier High's band plays @ 1 middle school game per year.) Went on the dino-quest. Looked for ink for our printer. Back home for supper. Back out to continue ink hunt. Gave up ink hunt and came home. Felt like I was still rolling for 30 minutes after coming home. Do I need a tune-up? Are my fluids level?

Goodnight and love to all y'all!

Just Monday

Yipee! Fall weather has arrived; now if it will last. One thing about the weather in this area - if you don't like today's, stick around because it can drastically change - in a matter of hours. Many's the day when I've had the heat and air-conditioning on in the same day. Too many times for me to count I've experienced all 4 seasons...in a week! But the weather is one of the reasons we Southern women age so gracefully. The humidity keeps our skin nice and hydrated. I repeat like a mantra when I'm melting like a popsicle in a toaster oven - "This is nature's facial, this is good for me. " And I keep loading my pocket fan with new batteries like I'm feeding quarters in a pinball machine!! I've even been known to use it in church, much to spouse's chagrin. The first time I used it during the service, he asked me if was I really going to run it while Pastor Bill was speaking and if so, what if he didn't like it? My response was (1) I didn't believe Pastor Bill would be bothered by it and (2) if he were deluded enough to confront a menopausal woman about her cooling device well, he was just taking his life into his own hands! Besides, I would just tell on him to Leila and she would take care of him in fine fashion. Honey I loves my pocket fan. As my mama would say, I need to go back to WalMart and give them some more money for that thing. Laugh if you will at my whirring, little, $3.98 plastic gadget but someone in China was having a very good day when they packaged that little jewel!

This weekend was very much a mixed bag for me. Friday was difficult because I had both a migraine and an attack of fibromyalgia facial pain. The facial pain is something new I've been dealing with for a couple of months. My glands on the right side of my neck swell so much that they press on a nerve, or bundle of nerves, running from my ear to my jaw. Pain meds alone barely touch the pain but alternating heat and ice as well helps ease the pain. There is no such thing in my life as pain-free; comfortable is sometimes achieved but usually it's just dealing with a level of pain with which I can live; 4 out of 10 on the pain scale is a good day for me and that's without the facial pain. By Saturday I was much better. Delaney and I had a quiet day at home . A nice supper Saturday evening followed Georgia's heart-breaking loss to LSU. Unfortunately, just as the Dawgs thought they had those Tigers licked so I thought I had my facial pain licked. It was but a brief respite because the pain came roaring back around midnight and I was up until 4 a.m. Determined to allow God to use this for His glory, I went to Sunday School and church anyway. And He showed up and showed out for me. Instead of being tired after church, I felt renewed and physically comfortable. I even cooked dinner. Our church had a fall fellowship in the evening (food, games, etc) and I was able to go with Delaney to enjoy it. I had fun playing "Scattegories." What a blessing it was to be in His house and with His people on His day. It always, always amazes me to see what God can do when you are literally on your knees, crying out to Him. He hasn't shared His plan for me but I know that I know that I know there is a reason I am walking through this valley - through this valley because I will exit it. One thing He has revealed is the opportunities I have had to interact with people experiencing their own kinds of pain. There have been people who seem to have been waiting for someone to listen, to understand, to just be there and I guess God put me there to be that person. There are seasons and divine appointments of His choosing. It's anybody's guess why in the world God would choose me!

Today was another lovely day in the preschool neighborhood. The rain kept us inside today, drat! But we didn't let that ol' rain stop our good time - it just meant more singin' and dancin'. It's great to be 3 and simply know that you are a fabulous singer and dancer. They truly do praise the Lord with all their heart, soul and might. I love watching our little munchkins and their uninhibited, joyous, hip-shakin' confidence as they swagger around the rug, singing at the top of their lungs. Now that's medicine you can't buy anywhere and it makes me feel good all over!

Love to all y'all!

My Crazy Life

Good glory, I'm behind again! This time many forces joined against me but I shall not be defeated! Encumbered by idgits, I pressed on. Wow, where do I begin?! The cord to the computer became totally frazzled, kind of like me, and just stopped working; I don't get THAT option - gotta press on. So, we were out of the computer biz while we waited for a replacement cord to arrive via snail mail.

Wouldn't have had time to Facebook or blog anyway because...early Tuesday morning my mother had to be taken to the emergency room because of chest pains. Catheterization showed no blockages; ultrasound showed no clots. Docs think it might be something pulmonary but not serious; perhaps asthma. Anyway, spent the day w/Mama & sister @ University while my co-teacher & directors graciously held down the fort for me in the classroom. Whew! And that was just the beginning of the week.

Had a great week in the classroom. Love love love my munchkins! And this is one of my favorite times of the year. There is just so much to do with autumnal themes. (Hey, nice word - autumnal. I is no dummy!) We went on a nature walk on Wednesday. We gave the children a "tape bracelet" and encouraged them to put little weed flowers, leaves, etc on the bracelet. They absolutely loved it. It is so much fun to see things through their eyes. As a teacher at Grace and a church member, I'm on the property a lot. But when I'm with my class I see new things all the time. There is an area on the property that leads into a little copse of trees and you can't believe you're still so close to civilization. Once you enter the area, it's like being in the middle of nowhere. (For those of you familiar w/Grace, it's down the path past the office and down toward the softball field.) What a beautiful little piece of God's green earth, put there just for us to enjoy His handiwork. May sound silly to some but when we can, it's a nice little hike for the children and they like pretending they're going on a bear hunt. Oh and this is cute too - the volleyball field is white sand. Deer, raccoon, dogs, etc, cross the sand and leave tracks. It's so precious to take children out there in the morning and let them see the animal tracks. And because there have been humans out there as well and their footprints get distorted, the children are simply convinced bears and other big animals are crossing the sand, too. I don't lie to them, but who am I to say none of them are bear tracks? There have been bears, boars and coyotes spotted in our area so, who knows? What I do know is the imagination and excitement of my children is almost palpable!

Scout is doing her high school thing. It's been a rough week for Greenbrier. The young man who died at the track was not her friend but it was difficult for her just the same. If you follow my blog, please pray for a hedge of protection for Greenbrier and for all schools. But Greenbrier has lost 2 young men and nearly lost Haley Van Pelt in a wreck - all since this summer. Homecoming was this week and with it came all of the crazy dress-up days. Like me, Scout really goes in for the dramatic, though I must say she's not quite as apt to draw attention to herself as I am. She has found her niche at church in the Kid's Alive program. She works in KA once a month and is in the skit ensemble. They do such a great job of really making the lesson "live" for the children. It really grabs their attention. So proud of my baby girl for finding a place of service at Grace.

The Dawgs lost tonight but my baby girl is home so it's still a win for me!

Love to all y'all!