Christmas and other things

I'm sure that you have all heard the song 'A Baby Changes Everything". That particular song is referring to Jesus, but during the times that my family has been together during the holidays I realize more and more that our babies do change everything - they change traditions, they change attitudes, they make everything better, brighter, happier, and they represent the future. As I have watched the great-grandchildren (10 of them) interacting with each other I know that the future of our family is in good hands. I see love for each other and their parents and grandparents and great grandparents. They will hug each other for no reason and pat on each other with great affection and it just pleases me no end. Don't think that they don't wrestle and tumble around on the floor a lot and they are loud and boisterous and even crying some, but by and large I believe that they are a splendid bunch of children and I am so very proud that they are mine. I am just so very sorry that Billy is not here to witness these occasions and see the children. He would be so very proud also.


Today was the Cline Reunion. Forty one people gathered at Jimmy and Judy Cline's home in Greenbrier for a lovely lunch and visit. How good it was to sit in a room full of people that have so much in common. Many stories were told of past events and memories were shared by each generation. Ruth and Charlie Cline would have been so pleased to see their children and the offspring of those children bonding with such love. If there is a way for those in heaven to see us on earth there was a lot of smiling and happiness there today.


Christmas has come and Christmas has gone and I enjoyed it so much. In spite of the uselessness of this right arm I managed to make the chocolate covered cherries, the crescent cookies, the spiced tea for my children and grandchildren. With help from all of my girls and Danny my tree is the prettiest that it has ever been. I have enjoyed many hours of lying on my sofa watching Christmas movies and looking at my tree, my mantle and my wise men. I do love my decorations. I did not have any parties this year but I did attend quite a few. I just wasn't up to entertaining but you can bet your best hat that next year I will be in better shape and ready to cook and be the "hostess with the mostest".


The poetry books that I gave my great-grandchildren was something that I had wanted to do for a long time and, in fact, started several times and abandoned the idea. With Kim's help and creative flare they were published this year and I was quite proud to present them on December 23rd and the Cline Christmas Party. As I told the children they won't care much for them now but their mothers will care and someday they will also. Just a little something for them to remember me by when I am not here - sorta' like the little cokes and a few other things.


I have written too much and Corinne will tell me so, but you know me - when I get started I never know when to quit. Just let me say that I thank all of you that have helped me this Christmas to be able to say that this was a great Christmas and I loved every minute of every day and night and every time I was with my family and friends it was a precious gift and I am grateful.

Two Miracles in Two Days

I never cease to be amazed at the wonders that our God bestows on us. It is such a shame that I did not stop and "smell the roses" when I was younger, however at that time in my life I suppose that I was so busy being all things to all people that I didn't have time. That is another story for another time.

Today I will tell you about two wonders or miracles that I was privileged to observe in two days.

First, I visited with my new great-grandson, Will Carter Routh, yesterday. I wanted to introduce myself to him and meet him in person. He is truly one of God's miracles. The tiny hands, the tiny ears, the perfectly shaped head, a covering of light (almost red) hair, a tiny perfect little nose and, oh my, those rose bud lips that made you just want to kiss them. He never really opened his eyes but pictures show me that he has large dark eyes. When I held him in my arms he was so light in weight but looking down at him I saw a beautiful baby that will soon be big, active, moving in all directions and probably running as fast as he can to escape the wrath of big sister, Anni, or big brother, Maddux. I just fell in love with him at first sight - quite like I have with all of my great-grandchildren.

Secondly, this morning I made my raisin toast and got my cup of coffee and sat down at my kitchen table to enjoy breakfast and read the paper. When I looked out of my big window that faces the east my breath was taken away with the beauty of the rising sun. It was as if God had turned on the light and it was so bright and so orange with touches of yellow and pink and I just could not take my eyes off of it. As with all sunrises and sunsets they only last a few seconds and then are gone but I must say that it was amazing while it lasted. I hope that everybody that reads this blog today will have experienced this miracle as I did. Of course, you have to get up at the crack of dawn like I do and maybe some of you are later risers.

Today is one of those days that I feel as if my cup runneth over.
Love to all - Patsy/Mom/Mimi

Holiday Times are Here

After reading Kim's blog and listening to her Christmas Music I really began to realize that "yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" and all of the other things that signify the beginning of the Holiday Season. Hooray, for tradition and life and love and family at this time of the year.

Yesterday was Thanksgiving and because of the unusual circumstances of this year the tradition part was not observed, but the part of life and love and even death was observed. The circumstances started with my handicapped situation of having only one arm that is strong and well and was not sufficient for cooking. Cracker Barrel was the answer to that and it was a good decision. We had all of the usual Thanksgiving fare and it was wonderful. Our life went on with our gathering as usual and the love that was there was evident on everybody's face and in their speech to each other. So that accounts for tradition, life and love. The death of Ray's brother, Ned Maddux, at 9:49 last night was a bittersweet occurrence. He was so sick and God delivered him from his ill health and pain into a land of no pain, no tears, just love and peace. I will miss Ned - his mischievous eyes, his teasing ways but most of all his sweet, sweet smile and kind expressions of love when I would see him after an absence of some time.

With the exit of Ned Maddux from the world came the entrance of Will Carter Routh to Emily and Jackson on Wednesday. What a glorious praise is he - a perfect child - small in size but healthy and ready to be loved and cared for by two wonderful parents and two siblings that were dressed in "I'm the Big Sister" and "I'm the Big Brother" shirts. The entire family gave thanks for Will Carter yesterday.

Christmas will be here soon. The music, the decorations, the hustle and bustle of the season, the fun parties that I am invited to attend make for a happy time. I love the season. It will be so much fun when we gather for Christmas and all of the family will be under one roof singing "The Twelve Days of Christmas". What a blessing to celebrate the birth of our Savior and to stop all of the stress of our everyday lives and for just a few hours express love and concern for those that mean the most to us.

One Finger - Left Hand - Not so bad

I come on this Blog today to let all of my friends and family know how well I am doing and how abundantly God has blessed me during this period of my life. Each day I can feel a little bit stronger and can perform more tasks for myself by myself. However, I know that is a result of your prayers, the unslfish people, especially my children, who have given me hours and hours of their precious time and energy to making me comfortable, entertained, well-fed and loved, and most of all the healing hand of our Lord.

My birthday, spent opening literally hundreds of beautiful cards filled with wishes for a good birthday and also get-well wishes certainly went a long way toward making me feel so very special and so very blessed. I thank you for each card. I have them all in basket and will keep them forever. The same for my get-well cards that continue to arrive each day. We have certainly kept my postman confused and busy. I believe that he thinks I am the "other Patsy Cline" that has come back to life. Again, please accept my deepest thanks for your attention to an old, handi-capped, 75 year old woman's birthday. I must say I never intended to spend the day as I did but. you know what, it wasn't a trip to Chicago, but it wasn't so bad.

My finger is wearing out and it is almost time for Tracey to come take me to the dreaded physical therapy session so I will stop and say once more I am the most blessed person and it is because of my most wonderful family, my good friends that have all gone the "second mile" and my Lord who is smiling every time I put this immobilizer on myself, or make coffee with my left hand even though I get more coffee grounds on the floor than the pot, and the other crazy things I do that are between Him and me.

THANKS AND LOVE AND GRATEFUL APPRECIATION TO ALL.

Posted by Kim....

(Ed. Note: Warning, this posting will not compare to any of the prior postings on this blog!)

This is copied from blog http://piguetales.blogspot.com/ because it is too long to tell twice!

Well, it all began on Thursday morning when our busy little Mom began her day by going to the gym. It was around 8:00am and she was on the treadmill like she does every time she goes to the gym. She was alone in the room and went to push a button on the machine and pushed the wrong one. The machine began to accelerate and she could not get it to stop. She was thrown off the back and fell to the floor. She called for help but no one heard her and she managed to pull herself up in a chair. She decided that if she got up and kept moving it would not hurt so bad. She went to her car to go to her next stop which was to cook Meals on Wheels at the church. When she realized that she could not move her right arm, she used her left to change the gears and drive herself to the church. Once she made it to the church, the pain was alarming enough to call me to come and take her to get it checked. I called the main nurse in our family (Corinne) and we decided it would be best to take her to Hendersonville ER where her doctors are in case they would need to admit her.

They did an X-ray of her shoulder, arm and leg to see what damage was done and the ER doctor showed me the X-ray and said she had broken the humerus (bone that connects the shoulder to the elbow). They gave her morphine and zofran by IV and then the fun began! We all know that she does not do well when she gets anything through an IV!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well her blood pressure dropped to 57/32 and she was really scaring me! Thank goodness Nita (our other family appointed nurse) works upstairs and she was able to come down and stay with us. They gave her fluids and tried to set her up but she was so sick it was pitiful. They put her in an immobilizer that had her arm strapped to her body. So between her good left side and my almost good right side, we made a great pair!!! It was similar to a MeMaw and Aunt Ree episode! Anyway, when the blood pressure came up, they wheeled her to the car and told her to be back at 8:00 on Friday with nothing to eat or drink and be prepared to have surgery. We made it home and she was most concerned about the plans she had for Thursday night to get things ready for the East High Picnic on Saturday. Tracey came and brought her a milkshake but the medicine they gave her for pain made her very sick again! Her friends came over to get the picnic stuff and I helped them make this sign that Mom wanted them to have.
Nita and Corinne came after work and Nita brought our dinner from Panera bread. I went home to get my things for the night and Patrick and I went back. Mom was so happy to see Patrick and perked up for a few minutes. Nita and Corinne helped her get a bath and get her clothes packed and finally she settled down to go to sleep.

We went to the Dr. Koch at 8:00 and were met by Tracey and Corinne. Dr. Koch said that he would do the surgery on Wednesday at Sumner Regional Hospital. She also has damage to the rotator cuff. He changed the immobilizer to the correct one and changed her pain medicine. We were off to McDonalds for breakfast and coffee. I had a list of 6 people waiting to be called as cell phones were ringing constantly wanting the latest info. She is has so many dear friends wanting to help and it is very touching to hear people say over and over tell her I love her and I want to help!
We got home and she did rest some. She ate her lunch and then I got her to lay back down. But, between wanting to check her emails, and the phone ringing and think about the picnic, she did not get much sleep from that point on. I was given this look (as in the picture above) numerous times today as she plots how soon she can drive!!! She is staying the weekend at Nita and Ray's house and she will get lots of TLC there. Thank you for your prayers and your love for her!

Carter is a Teen-Ager!

Happy Birthday to Carter. I cannot make myself believe that Carter is a teen-ager! Thirteen years old - that birthday is such a big deal I think. His daddy was kidding him last night that he couldn't call him a "pre-teen" anymore. Of course, Carter just grinned and said nothing, but I could tell that he is very glad that he is now a teen-ager.

Speaking of last night - wow!!! what a night! Tracey, Danny, Bobbie and Jim Wiseman, Nita and Ray and I sat in amazement while the trainer of the soccer team declared to us that Courtney was suffering with a contussion. We went to the game, got all settled as the teams (Franklin Road Academy and Goodpasture) were introduced and the game started. Right away Courtney scores a goal and we all cheered and the excitement started. Then in just a little while she began to play "different". By that I mean that I noticed that she wasn't moving as fast and wasn't going after the ball as she had been. She sat on the bench perfectly still - not drinking her water or talking or anything and then when the half was over and the game started back she didn't go into the game. From that time on it was Danny talking to the trainer and the coach and Courtney being checked, and then the trainer talking to Danny and Tracey. When they decided to take her to the hospital they put her in a golf cart and drove her to Danny's car. As she was going past me she looked right into my face with no recognition - just a blank stare. Let me tell you that my heart just almost stopped. However, after being checked out at the hospital, many prayers being offered in her behalf (they even prayed for her where they were building the floats for the homecoming festivities) she was pronounced to be dehydrated and she hyperventilated and it caused her to be disoriented and confused and her blood pressure to drop. Today she is at home in the loving and caring arms of her mother resting, drinking liquids and being pampered beyond belief. So you see, once more we can say with much feeling and gratitude "Thank you Lord". Last night was a brief flashback as I remembered Tracey as a five year old lying in the driveway beside her bicycle suffering from a contussion. Sometimes I just wonder how in the world we get through some of the things that happen that are so serious, so scary and so hard. There is just one way and we all know that it is with the Lord's grace, love and healing hand.

For all of you that know me well you know that when anything happens in my life that is traumatic I am strong, courageous, and can handle it well until the crisis is over and then what do I do? Go get in a bathtub of hot water and cry. That was where I went last night and what I did!!! Now, I have given away my secret weapon to dealing with adversity.

Always enjoy being with friends....

I have been told that I should "post more and say less". That is probably very good advice. However, once I get started writing I find myself just going on and on and on. Tonight I will try to be brief.

There is a saying that goes something like "there's no friend like an old friend" and I never quite knew whether the "old" in that sentence meant age or length of time of acquaintance. Well, this past week-end I was connected with friends of both age and time. First I went to the Triple L Ranch cattle sale in Fernvale, TN. This ranch is owned and operated by my former boss at Lee Company, Wallace Lee. For fifteen years I have worked this sale for him. By working the sale I mean that I keep up with who bought which animal, what they paid for it and then write the transfer papers, health papers and take the money. It gets pretty hectic but it is also very exciting. The friends that I saw there were of all ages from Wallace at age 77 to his youngest grandchild. The Lee Family is very near and dear to me. I also saw people that I worked with for many years and that was a treat. Good thing I enjoyed the people because the heat, the humidity, the dust and the animals really made my sinuses go crazy and I am just now getting back to normal.

Also, along this same line - I went to the 50th Anniversary Celebration for my friends Sherron and Earl Campbell. Now they are friends of long acquaintance (age as well) and we hold lots of memories between us. Also, attending that party was many people from my past that I had not seen in years. Isn't it funny that these people that are aging look so different until you look in their eyes and see the smile and then all of a sudden they look just like they did when we were walking the halls of East High School or attending Chapel Avenue Church of Christ.

This next week-end my East High Class of 1951 will host a picnic at a classmate's farm in Hendersonville and I have no idea who will and who will not attend but it will be the same thing - old friends getting together and cherishing the friendship and the memories of a wonderful time in our lives. We will laugh, and hug and talk and eat and when the sun goes down we will have made another memory to put in our scrap book.

May God bless all of you and give you peace, good health, happiness and love.

Live, Love and Learn

Isn't it funny (maybe odd is a better word) how you view subjects as you get older? I can remember so well going to Uncle Pat's house as a young wife, mother, daughter in my early 20's and the first thing he would tell me would be the weather report as it was before I came, as it was at at that moment and what the prediction was for the rest of the evening, night or whatever the case may be. I would think to myself "who cares?", and wonder why he didn't have more important things to think about. Today I have found myself watching CNN and other stations on TV that are giving the information on the hurricane that is pounding the Gulf of Mexico and heading for Louisiana, Alabama and Texas. I have found out the importance of such things as weather but only as it pertains to human life and property destruction. It was important to Uncle Pat because he had lived through tornadoes, hurricanes, depression, financial and property loss and he knew that it was important to keep up with current conditions. As I creep toward the age of 75 I understand more and more what Uncle Pat, Aunt Ree and my mother meant when they told me things that I deemed to be unimportant in those days. I believe that the adage there would be "live and learn".

I was privileged to live and learn this past week-end. Along with three of my daughters and two of their spouses I went to the wedding of my nephew in Georgia. Since this was a Cline wedding there were other Cline's in attendance. The Cline people that we visited with were those that had estranged themselves from me and my family for many years. Cheryl's illness and death has taught the family - both sets of Cline's - that family is so important. Now, it seems that we will be seeing more of Faye, J. B., Jimmy and Judy Cline and also Alice and her husband Henry. Judy is already planning a family reunion for the entire family in December and Ray and Jimmy are talking of a golf scramble for sometime this Fall. Life is fragile. Life is short. Again, I remind you of Carpe Diem.

Back to the wedding. Rosemary Cline Taylor and her husband, Ron, have two children - Alex and Jessica. They have never lived close to us and we only saw them on special occasions. You know how that goes - funerals, weddings, etc where you say "I wish we could get together more often" and then it is two or more years until you do. The whole week-end was full of laughter, talking, eating, joking, teasing, shopping, and then witnessing the beautiful ceremony of Alex and Lindsay becoming a family of their own. What a happy, joyous time it was for all of us. We had assumed that it would be so hot sitting in the late afternoon sun for the ceremony that Tracey and I prepared for the heat in every way possible. Well, that was just not to be. The setting for the ceremony was shady, the sun was setting, a huge fan was operating and it was delightful. No perspiring, no hair drooping, no clothes wrinkling, just comfort. Can you beat that? I think that God was just so pleased with all of these Cline people coming together that he fixed it for us.

We were so sad to be without two of our main "peoples" - Kim and Alice. Kim suffered a fall on Thursday and was in too
much pain to make the trip. Since she is so important to all of us and is so much fun and so witty we missed her humor and her "spunky" ways throughout the trip. Alice's husband, Henry, is ill in the hospital and she couldn't leave him so we were without her charm and her sense of humor. We really felt their absence. Also, they both had looked forward to being with each other and having some fun. Prayers are requested for Kim and her health issues and Henry and his needs.

Today is Labor Day. I think that this day was meant to be a day of rest in order that those that labor for a living could have some time off from their work. However, as with everything else - shopping stores are open, grocery stores are open and gas stations and most everything that the public needs access to. I think that is terrible. I believe that all businesses should take a day of no work and let the working people have time for a holiday. I am also from the "old school" that believes that Sunday should be a day of rest also. I applaud the owner of Chic-Fil-A and Hobby Lobby for closing his stores on Sunday. I, myself, am "laboring" here at home by cooking a meal for our Labor Day Celebration. It is a labor of love, however, because I do love to cook and serve a meal to my family and friends.

Labor Day is more than a day of rest for working people because it signifies the end of Summer. As most people my age have said more than once in the past few days "where did Summer go? Seems like yesterday we were celebrating graduations, 4th of July and vacations". Well, let me tell you Summer went fast, Fall will go faster and Winter will move faster still. That is the way life is now. We just buzz along from one thing to another and before you know it another year has come and gone and we are still wondering where it went. Just another example of what I preach in each one of my blogs - Live each day to the fullest. Love all the people in your life that mean so much to you and tell them that they are loved. Spend as much time with your loved ones as you are able. Sing all the old songs like "Lazy Hazy Days of summer" and "She'll be Coming Round the Mountain" and other fun songs. Read lots of good books. Look at old pictures and say "I remember that day". Sit on your porch in the late afternoon and watch the birds and squirrels play in your yard. Watch your cat lie in the sun sleeping lazily. When a good jazzy song comes on the radio hop up and dance by yourself (no ones looking so what the heck). Call a good friend up on the telephone and talk an hour if you want to. Write a note to someone telling them that you are thinking about them, or you want them to get well, or be happy or whatever you need to say and then stamp it and put it in the mailbox - does no good if you don't send it. Most importantly of all tell God that you love Him. Tell Him thanks. Tell him how much you appreciate, as my mother used to say "life and all of its attendant blessings" and we do have many. My mother was a pretty smart old gal and had a lot of good advice. I'm still learning from her after all of these years.

Happy Labor Day and go buy your mums and plant them and get ready for football games, soccer games, wearing sweaters and shoes instead of shorts and flip-flops, eating chili and soup, making plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas and whatever else may come your way. Love to all.

Memories and Blessings

There are a lot of days, nights, songs, places, people and events that occur in your life that you just never forget. Other things in your memory come and go but certain songs can place you back in time to a prom or a movie or riding in a car with a friend singing songs or maybe sitting in church singing the "Old Rugged Cross" which makes me think about my mother. Also, as I was cooking green beans this past week the smell was just exactly like the smell at my house on Rudolph Street on Sunday morning. I would wake up and immediately the smell of chicken frying and green beans cooking would greet me. Then, as a young girl, it meant nothing to me. Now, it means the world to me. A scene in my life that will always be engraved in my memory occured ten years ago today. A hospital bed with young women and men surrounding it, a very elderly lady sitting quietly in a chair in the corner and myself in attendance as we watched a most important man in our lives slip quietly away to his home in Heaven. I can remember the way the sun was making little patterns on the wall. I can remember the way the covers on the bed lay smooth and cool. It was a sweet, sweet very silent time for all of us. This man, my husband of 46 years and my sweetheart for many more, was the most unique person I have ever known. He was handsome, kind, loving, argumentative, opinionated, forgiving, trusting and trustworthy, intelligent, hard-working, fun loving and fun to be around, full of humor and humorous sayings that are remembered by all of his family ("if you can't take it just hold your hands up and say I Can't Take It"), and probably the most important of all was that he loved his family with a fierce love that never waivered no matter the circumstances. I think that the song that says "I've been up and down and in and out and over and around and every time I found myself flat on my face, I just jumped right up and got back in the race" describes the way he lived. He never gave up. He fought with everything that he had to live as long as he could in order to keep on being the husband and father and friend that he wanted to be. He left us in body ten years ago today, August 6th, but he is with us as much today and will be with us in the future forever. This is my tribute to Billy.

Life is a mixture of living and dying and as some of our loved ones leave us new lives come to us and we are blessed with wonderful, adorable, beautiful children. Emily and Jackson are going to have another son in December and Chris and Ashley will have a child in March. It is hard to imagine that I will have 12 great-grandchildren by Spring of 2009. I look at each one of these children and can see that they are going to contribute greatly to the family and to the world in which they live. They are healthy, happy, beautiful children who will grow into wonderful adults because they are all being reared in homes where God is given first priority and where love abounds. This is what life is all about. As I say every day I am just one lucky woman and God is good!!!

Unexpected pleasures in unexpected places

It doesn't take much to make me happy. That is a good thing. Something happened this week, such a small thing really, but here is the story. As I was going to my mail box I noticed what looked like a stem (looked like a weed) growing next to my driveway. I looked at it and walked on. The next day it had grown to the size of probably a foot in height and looked like a bud of a flower had formed. I became interested and yesterday when I went out the most beautiful collection of four very small, delicate orchid/pink lilies had blossomed plus another plant right beside it that was getting ready to bloom. My yard boy and I had a talk about it, and believe it or not he was as intrigued as I. We decided that a bird had dropped a seed either in the fall or spring and it took root and made me this lovely plant. I will cut it today and bring it into the house and enjoy it as long as it decides to live. The point I make as I tell you this story is that the small, unexpected things in life can bring joy and happiness if we will take time to seek them out.

When I was in my twenties, thirties, forties and probably my fifties I was so caught up in doing the things that I thought was essential for raising children, taking care of a home, taking care of my husband and working at a job that I missed a lot of things. I thought that supper had to be cooked and served at 6:00PM. I thought the house had to be cleaned each week until it sparkled and smelled clean. I thought I had to please everybody. In other words I couldn't distinguish between the important and the urgent. My mother used to say "don't cry over spilled milk" so I don't beat myself up over what was or what ifs or what could have beens . I can't undo or redo the past and I have to say "I did the best that I could at that time in my life" and go on, but I have learned that it is okay if I spend the day reading a book or scrap booking and making a big mess on the floor with pieces of paper and stuff. I have learned that I can't be burdened down with feeling guilty over things that I absolutely can't do. Some think that I over commit myself and get too involved in too many things but I feel that I should be thankful that God has allowed me to be involved in so many things that I enjoy and am interested in as long as I don't forget to keep looking for the beauty of a stray flower.

As usual, this will be a big important week in my life - my precious granddaughter, Courtney, turns seventeen, my grandson, Patrick, will be buying his first house which is a big important undertaking, I will be babysitting my great-grandson, Cord, for the first time, Lauren will be spending the week-end at home and I will see her, my granddaughter-in-law, Ashley in Jackson, MS will be celebrating a birthday. Maddux had his tonsils removed and he is recovering rapidly. So many lovely things happen for me every week for which I thank my God every day. There was a bumper sticker that was very popular several years ago that said Carpe Diem and I offer that to you for your consideration as you live your life.

I love life

It's Sunday night and I am tired - but it is a good tired! If you can understand that statement. My week-end has been full (so was my week) but I have laughed, cried, sang, heard corny jokes, seen people that I haven't seen in a long time and some that I have seen recently and all in all it was a good week-end. It started on Friday with my errand running, manicure and pedicure appointments, and cleaning my house - even to washing the big window in my living room inside and outside. Maybe all of that doesn't sound so inviting but I do love the looks of a house after it has been cleaned and has that good smell and that pleasant look. Even my green plants seemed to be more perky than before. I had agreed to help Barbara Lutz's children give a 75th Birthday Party for Barbara and the activities started for me on Friday night. I agreed to make chicken salad puffs for the buffet table and I began the chopping and mixing and getting ready for the task to be completed on Saturday. After breakfast on Saturday morning I began stuffing these little pastry puffs and made 150 of them, ending around 1:30PM. After a short, very short, rest on the sofa I got myself ready and all of the things I had to pack to take to the party venue, which was the Alumni House, and left home about 3:45PM. When I got to the scene of the party I found a bunch of young people laughing, cooking, moving furniture, steaming table cloths and having a marvelous time. Of course I entered the gaiety and it was a delightful time with preparations until 5:00PM when everything was ready, the musicians were in place and playing wonderful music and the birthday girl arrived. She was just overwhelmed at all of the posters, banners, music, people, food and just the whole thing. To put it all in one short sentence - the party was a huge success.

This morning I was just plain tired. I did something that is so foreign to me to do - I skipped Sunday School. I did go to worship and then to Kim's house for lunch. She was not having a wonderful day - lots of pain today - but she was glad (I think) that I came. We had a lovely lunch and then we got down to work on two posters that I had been wanting to make for the school. One was of the graduation and one was of the golf tournament that I have written about. She laughed at my lack of skill in putting construction paper backing on the pictures. She calls it "mounting the pictures" and I am very pathetic in doing anything that requires you to get something straight on a piece of paper. It always seems to end up crooked. I think that I have never been able to see straight. Billy and I had some doozies of arguments over hanging pictures because I would tell him the picture was straight, he would hammer the nail in the wall, hang the picture, step back and scream at me because it was crooked. How glad I was to have Ray and Nita become the official picture hangers of the Cline family. They have probably saved lots of marriages.

Patrick came to visit his mother and that was a real treat for his grandmother. I just never tire of seeing Patrick or talking to him or, for that matter, just looking at him. He is so sweet and so easy to love. He is negotiating to buy a house and he is quite excited over it - excited and nervous at the same time. It is a big step for a young, single man to accept the financial responsibility and the physical and other responsibilities of owning a home. I know that he will meet the challenge, but right now it is pretty overwhelming. Several in the family have already offered to help him move and I'm sure that before it is over many of us will get into the act. I am happy to say that whenever anyone in the family needs help the other members appear and the job is done in rapid time. Patrick has helped many of his family to move and I'm sure that they will reciprocate. Anyway, we had a good time talking and visiting and I left him and his mother to do laundry, eat dinner, and do what they do every Sunday and that is to watch Big Brother.

To most of you this week-end probably doesn't sound so wonderful but to me it was great. I love parties. I love seeing friends. I love being with good people. I love talking to my girls on the phone. I love working on a project with Kim. I hope that I can remember how to finish this blog and get the pictures on it because if I can't she will shake her head and say "oh Mother - really" like she does when I forget what she told me. I love visiting with my grandson. I guess I just love life and that is something that I am proud of.

A New Page

Whew! Another traumatic week has gone by. As much as I would like to "turn back time" (Cher's song) I am glad that this past week is over and I have a new page to write.

Ray, my son-in-law that is more like my son, had a heart procedure that was supposed to be "go into Vanderbilt at 6:30AM, have the procedure that will last approximately six hours, rest over night and come home the next morning". That absolutely was so far from what really occurred. His heart, that was supposed to be in rhythm and stay in rhythm lasted not even 24 hours until he was setting off signals to the attendants and they were hovering in his room to make sure that he was going to be okay. Poor Nita - she had no idea what was going on and of course she was quite nervous. Ray, on the other hand was enjoying the results of a sleeping pill so he more or less just slept through it all and maybe that was a very good thing. Anyway, to make this long story short - meds have been changed, he is at home and planning to work a few hours today and go back on Wednesday to have his heart put back in rhythm one more time and hopefully it will "stay put" this time. It seems like nothing is simple any more. Why is that I wonder.

Saturday was a great day for me. Corinne and I went to Crossville to attend the wedding of my great-niece. We had a lovely lunch and used their rest room facility to change into my "wedding attire" and then we went to the church. It was a big,l very pretty Baptist Church on the Main Street in Crossville, TN. We were a little early so I sat down in a comfortable chair in the lobby while Corrinne went to the car to bring in our present. When my nephew, Mark Rainey, saw me he came running to me with this great big smile and (moist eyes) gave me a real sure enough "bear hug". He did the same for Corinne when she came back. We sat an visited with him, and his wife, Karen, and their two children, Allie and Kyle, until time to go into the sanctuary to be seated. We sat in the Family Section like we were really big wheels. Kristen, the bride, was just adorable and she and her father came down the aisle - she smiling; he with the "moist eyes again". After the wedding everyone was treated to a beautiful spread of food, wedding cake and punch or iced tea at tables in the lobby and Mark, Corinne and I had another good visit. As the reception ended and the couple, Kristen and Toby, left amid a shower of bird seed, Corinne and I decided that we would skip the next event - a dinner to start at 6:30 - and come on back home. I am so glad that we did because we got home around 6:30 and after stopping at the grocery for some things I needed we had a whole evening to recuperate from the drive and the days events. It was a lovely day and I enjoyed every single minute of it.

Mark is my brother's youngest son and next to the youngest child. He has two older brothers and a younger sister. It is hard for me to believe that none of the above mentioned siblings was there. My brother, Ronald, was raised by the same mother and aunt that I was and he had the same values of family instilled in him that I did, but he married a woman that did not carry the same values into the marriage. Therefore, those children are not close to each other, and in fact some have not shared a conversation in years nor do they have any idea what the other one is doing, thinking, needing or anything. How very sad I think that is. My girls on the other hand are so very different. They love each other, they talk to each other with regularity, they suffer with each other, they rejoice with each other, they cry together, they laugh together, they treasure family times when they are all together. Each woman has a very busy, very varied lifestyle but they always have time to stop their world long enough to minister to one of their sisters when the occasion warrants it. Therefore, it is so foreign to me when I see other families who are estranged, who have disowned a child or sister or brother, who is not interested in their sibling's lives or children and it just makes me get on my poor old worn out knees and that God that the thread of love that runs throughout my family is so strong and I pray that nothing ever changes.

I ended up the week with an afternoon visit with my friend, Barbara's, daughter-in-laws who are planning a 75th birthday party for her this week-end. They were planning the food, the venue and all of the arrangements. It is going to be a gala time and I am happy to be a part of it. I do love parties and especially celebration parties such as birthdays, weddings, new babies, etc.

So, after an eventful week of worry over my son, attending a wedding, planning a party - these things amid my regular wee activities I am pulling out a new page, getting ready to write another story and have a grand time. I look forward to each and every new day as an adventure and a big surprise package. This week will see Ray have a birthday, Nita and Ray have an anniversary, Barbara's party and in between my work at DLC, my Alumni meeting, my scrap booking project taking shape, Patrick's house closing and maybe his moving, and who knows just what else will be written on my New Page.

Better Late Than Never (I Hope)

http://www.photoshow.com/watch/Sd9DW4ge
Click on this link for slideshow of the trip!

As I told you some time ago, I was waiting for pictures to accompany this story. Well, one picture was put on here for you to see and the rest will follow soon because I now have the pictures that really do tell the story. This story is probably as close to a Fairy Tale as I have ever been involved with. On Easter Sunday Courtney put on my calendar for June 6-9 "Beach with Tracey and Courtney". They were going to Destin, Florida for a wedding and that was my invitation. The time finally arrived and on Thursday, the 5th, we loaded all of our "stuff" into Tracey's van and away we went down the highway at 7:00AM. Such a happy, pretty day to be riding down I-65. We stopped for a bite of breakfast at McDonalds and then on to the Peach Park for lunch and then on to Destin. Tracey drove, I was the navigator and we only made a couple of wrong turns - no big deal - and Courtney laughed at us. Driving across the big bridge and seeing the water and realizing that I was in Destin, Florida again made me so happy. There is absolutely no place on earth that holds the memories that I love or gives me more pleasure than Destin. When Tracey drove up in front of our place to stay, the Emerald Grande, I knew that the Fairy Tale had begun. We were given our room keys for our condo on the 11th floor and we walked into the most elegant of all places - living room with dining table, full complete kitchen, three bedrooms, two full baths (bathrooms bigger than my living room here on Freda Villa) and a balcony off of the bedroom and a balcony off of the living room looking down on the pool area and also the beach. How much more could I possibly ask for? Stonie and Jenny O'Briant's daughter, Kristin, had chosen this site for her wedding. Coincidentally, her father and mother own a condo in this facility so it was not new to her. The first evening was a hamburger-hot dog cook out around the pool and a fireworks display that was exactly like the ones we used to see on the 4th of July when the family came to Destin. Each morning breakfast was served in a private room for all of the guests. A boat was chartered to take us out in the harbor to see the dolphins. All of the wedding party which consisted of men and women in their 20's laughing, teasing, joking and having a wonderful time entered into everything that had been planned for their enjoyment and Tracey, Courtney and I were included in all the arrangements also. Since we were free on Friday night because the wedding party was having their rehearsal and dinner, we did a very nostalgic thing. We went to The Back Porch and had seafood nachos. Talk about memories and lots of conversation that started with "do you remember when we came here and...." I felt like I had stepped back in time and expected to see Billy come in the door any minute. I even bought T-Shirts for Courtney and Carter like I used to do when they were little. Such a fun, wonderful night. Saturday was spent by the pool. Courtney and Tracey got wonderful sun tans. Part of the fairy tale was the way Tracey catered to my every wish. I said I would like to have a certain drink (Mudslide) and the next thing I knew it was in my hand. Tracey decided that I needed to get out of the sun so she arranged to have an umbrella put beside my chair and tilted at just the right angle to make me comfortable. Time for the wedding came on Saturday evening and we put on all of our fine wedding attire and went down by the pool where the white chairs were set up and a lot of people were seated while a man played a classical guitar. When Kristen and Jason were pronounced Man and Wife everybody opened an envelope that they had been given and butterflies flew out. What a sight to behold - hundreds of butterflies flying all around the couple. I had never seen that done before and it really impressed me. The reception was just "to die for" - a whole table of shrimp - thousands of shrimp!!!! Prime Rib, Lamb chops, Vegetables, Fruits, Chicken wings and little legs, anything and everything to drink or eat that you could imagine. The party lasted quite a while and I left Tracey and Courtney and the others to continue line dancing and laughing and having a ball while I indulged myself one last time in the huge bath tub and the comfort of the biggest bed - I do believe it was a double king size-I have ever slept in. Sunday morning came and we packed up and left this perfectly ideal place for our journey home. Coming home was not quite as jolly as going down to say the least. We went to the Donut Hole (another memory making place) and got a box of goodies to eat on the way and made a stop at the Peach Park for lunch and arrived back at my house in the early evening. I really missed all of the pampering and attention that Tracey heaped on me and my house seemed big and empty without her and without Courtney, but I have thought and thought about that trip over and over. It was absolutely a whirlwind, fantasy trip that I am so glad I was privileged to be a part of it. I shall never forget one minute, one scene, one thing about my week-end in Destin in June, 2008.

Now, let me tell you about my experience Monday night, June 30th. I accompanied Corinne to Lakeshore Wedgewood Home to celebrate 4th of July Supper with Chuck Ross. We got there and looked all over the place for him but he was nowhere to be seen. Finally, here he came, with his cane shuffling along the hallway. We found a table that would accommodate us and also a man named Billy that Corinne and Chuck knew. We got our food - their food and our food - no easy task I might say and we began our meal. Chuck yelled at everybody that came by and got them to come over and meet his guests. He would say "this is Corinne. She works at Dollar General and this is Patsy". He knows everybody - and I do mean everybody and whats more everybody knows him. There was a man and his family at our table who was a teacher at Greenbrier High School. Chuck said he had been there to see Lipscomb play Greenbrier. The man went on to say that he had a son named Tommy Nichols and Chuck said "yes I know him. He plays foot ball and his number is 15". Now I ask you, how does he know somebody that plays for Greenbrier and even know his number? He is amazing. Well, Chuck ate every morsel of food on his plate and two desserts. He wanted us to go to his room and for Corinne to fix his answering machine. It wasn't broken but had lost his voice and was being answered by a recording. Corinne couldn't fix it and we were not wanting to stay in his room any longer than necessary. I cannot tell you how many newspapers, books, envelopes, cups, clothes, and his big collection of Bobble Head Dolls that occupy that one room. Corinne told him that he needed to throw some stuff away and he answered with his usual answer "uh huh". Corinne thanked me for going. I thanked her for asking me. Being around Chuck is quite an experience. He has a memory that is remarkable. For a little while I was taken out of my world and entered into a world where people live such limited lives. It makes me thank God that I have the life that I have but I'm thankful to know that there is a place that is available to those that need the care and concern of christian people who can administer to their needs.

There you have it - A Fairy Tale Experience for me and a glimpse into a life I hope I never have to endure.

The Way It Is

I have been waiting for pictures to accompany my "blogging", but decided to go ahead this morning and write a few thoughts that I am having. Pictures and story about my recent trip to Destin with Tracey and Courtney will wait until Kim has time to scan and print my pictures.

Today I want to talk about the way that God has been moving in my life. So many things that have happened to me and thoughts that have come into my mind are examples - perfect examples - of the way that He is working within me. First thing was when Barbara Lutz asked me to serve on her committee to work behind the scenes at Developmental Learning Center and I agreed. Then she asked me to work at the school as a paid assistant to her with the task of raising money and I agreed. Then the Board of Directors asked me to serve on the board and, again, I agreed. All of these things happened simultaneously within a matter of a few months. Now I am working three days a week, five or six hours a day, and getting more immersed in the passion that I feel for this school and the work that is being done there for the troubled children that I see. In the past few months we hosted a golf tournament that netted over eight thousand dollars, we have written some grant applications that have resulted in four thousand dollars, we just finished sending out three hundred letters asking for donations which has already brought in several hundred dollars. You see, I guess that I got involved in the first place because of my association with Lauren and the desire that I have to see her get help and these children are so much like she is. Anyway, I think that God put me there for the purpose of helping with their needs and in so doing He gave me a new challenge - a new purpose - a new good work to do. I think that He was telling me that even though I am getting old there is always a place for me and that I must not sit still and vegitate as I have seen some elderly people do.

Elderly - that is a word that I have always used to describe Aunt Ree or the women at Maybelle Carter and now I am using it to describe me. How is that for a shot of REALITY?

Another way that God has spoken to me is through my precious daughter Kim. Her tragic illness and her inability to live her normal, fast track, working many hours each day, scrapbooking all of her memories, taking care of Brad, Patrick and me, sleeping very little has all changed to lots of rest, having help with her daily tasks, spending many hours making sure that all of her business records and personal records are up-to-date so that nobody will have any questions in the future - all of this has made me see just how fast life changes. We are hearing so much from the political candidates about "Change" and how we must embrace change with this or that and I, sometimes, want to scream "leave things alone and don't change", but there again, God comes along and He will change whatever He wills and we must accept it and know that He has a plan. I am the perfect example of the person who says "WHY?" So, all I can do for Kim is pray continuously for healing, cook steak and gravy, drive her crazy with phone calls asking "how are you today?" and doing what all mothers do best - worry. Sylvia, at church, asked me yesterday if she could put Kim on the Sick at Home List and I told her "not unless you want to get us in a heap of trouble". Kim is like her daddy and she will fight this illness until her last breath and keep answering "fine" when you ask her how she is doing.

Today will be a busy but wonderful day. This afternoon I will go to a tea for Derek Owen's bride at Cheryl's house. Cheryl will not be there in person because she is so sick in the hospital, but I know that we will feel her presence in spirit because she is so excited over the marriage of her son and had so looked forward to this party. Then we will hop in the car and make our way down I-24 to Clarksville for the BIG BIRTHDAY BALL PARTY to honor Connor Cline Pigg's fourth birthday. It is so hard for me to believe that he is already four years old, but then I look at Cannon and Cord and realize that Connor really is the big brother. The weather person on TV this morning said "scattered showers" but I'm sure they will be scattered all over another area - not Clarksville and certainly not at Connor's party.

So you see, God has been giving me many new things to do and think about - some good - some bad - some in between - but the good thing is that He is also giving me good health, a reasonably good mind, and the faith and strength to deal with whatever He has for me. I am blessed.

I have been admonished....

I was very nicely admonished this morning for not posting in such a long time. I suppose that my "creative juices" have not been flowing or maybe I have been moving so fast in my world that I didn't take time to stop and report. However, here I am to tell you about my recent life.

Going back to last week another first occured for me - a Golf Tournament - which I knew nothing about and now know all about. We (Developmental Learning Center) sponsored a golf tournament at Old Natchez Country Club on May 19th to raise money for the school. We began working on this project in February and it seemed as though we had lots of time to get sponsors, players, make arrangements, etc. Well, all of a sudden here we are at this beautiful venue and ready or not here we come. It reminded me of the times that I have planned one of my girl's weddings - weeks and weeks of planning and wondering if it will go right and then there it is everybody doing what they were supposed to do, weather perfect, golfers excited and competitive, and after all the dust settles and the bills are paid and the money counted an amount of $10,000.00 was made for the school. Now how about that for a first time endeavor? Pretty good - no - wonderful I say. We are already talking about "next year" and what we will do and won't do.

The "Biggie" in my life - personal life that is - was my trip to Jackson, Mississippi this past week-end. As evidenced by the picture today of Christopher, John Ed and myself, you have no doubt, I'm sure, of the fact that I was one happy camper to be perched between these two beautiful great-grandsons of mine. Nita and Ray invited me to accompany them for the Memorial Day Week-end and I jumped at the invite. We left Nashville on Friday afternoon, along with many other travelers, and hit the road around 5:00pm. After making a stop for supper in Jackson, TN we arrived at Chris and Ashley's house at 11:45pm. They were in bed and didn't even hear us as we quickly bedded down for a good night's rest. From the time we woke up on Saturday morning until we left on Monday morning it was just "one grand time". Watching the two boys as they played, ate, interacted with each other and with us, and just visiting with the entire family was certainly a joy and a pleasure. Christopher entertained me with his singing of Dynamite (every word) and other songs that he knows, his "God is great, God is good" blessing that he says and makes sure that everybody holds hands. He even stopped in the middle of his prayer to admonish John Ed to "hold hands John Ed". We went to church and enjoyed the service that pointed out the sacrifice that the soldiers have made in war but the ultimate sacrifice was the one that Jesus made for us. After an absolutely marvelous lunch at the country club we all had a nap time - all except John Ed that is - and then we made preparations for our dinner with Carolyn and Larry Hollis. Monday morning came so fast and it was time to pack up and head for home. Why is it that time flies by like a bird on wing when you are having such a good time? However, as usual, I was happy to come home and I did enjoy sleeping in my good old familiar bed. Reflecting on the trip this morning I will say that I feel closer to Christopher and John Ed after having spent time with them. They "cozied" up to me and called me by name and we bonded, at least for a while. I hope that they will remember the time we shared and I know that I will.

Now, dear friends and family, I will make my way to the gym for a dreadful walk on the treadmill. I just know that after the food I have consumed over the week-end including Baskin Robbins ice cream and caramel cake, etc. it will be quite a feat to be able to last 30 minutes on the machine - then the bicycle and the rowing machine - oh woe is me!!!! Wonder why I do this. Well, I know why - it is to try to make myself live longer so that I can have more visits with grandchildren and great-grandchildren and go to more school programs and recitals and ball games and glean as much wonder and happiness as possible for as long as possible. My family affords me opportunities that I will take advantage of as long as I can. That, my people, is what life is all about. Thank the Lord that I have been given these blessings. When people say to me "you do too much" or "you need to slow down" I just look at them and smile because there is no way that I will slow down or stop until I am stopped on this earth and then I will just proceed to another place and get busy again. Don't you think that is a good plan? I do.

Some more "frozen in time" events

Some people call special moments " Frozen in Time Events" and some people say "Kodak Moments" but whatever you feel like calling them, I say they are special, wonderful, inspiring, lovely and unforgettable. I had another of these times this past Saturday when my girls, the Cline Cousins and their mother and several Honorary Clines gathered at the home of Cheryl and Bubba Owen for a luncheon. I rode with Kim and Jacque and after a wrong turn, some conversation about which way was right and wrong and some jesting in fun, we arrived - actually on time. Lots of hugging, kissing, laughing, helloing and all of the preliminaries that you go through when arriving for an event. a perfectly marvelous luncheon was served. Kim was given the "special plate" to eat out of because it was noted from the beginning that this was "Kim's Day". After the luncheon we gathered in the living room for a time of prayer for healing for Kim. Faye Cline started the prayer by asking God for complete healing and many others added their prayers to the Father for the same and then Cheryl ended the prayer telling God that He had given her a miracle and we wanted and expected this for Kim. Then the "kodak moment" came - Cheryl presented a silver bracelet, with the words "expecting a miracle" engraved on it that had been presented to her at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center by a cancer survivor and told to pass it on when she became a survivor, to Kim for her to wear until she is healed and then she must pass it on. What a precious time. What love and fellowship and a spiritual feast was had Saturday on Countrywood Drive in Hendersonville, Tennessee. A day to be remembered. A day to be repeated in the future when Kim receives her healing.

On another, different - much different - vein of thought. I went to Davidson Academy on Sunday afternoon and joined Emily, Jackson, Nita, Corinne and Tracey to witness Anni's first performance as a ballet dancer. When she floated out on that stage in her white TuTu and her hair in a bun with her little ballet slippers pointed and her arms held outward I just thought that my heart would overflow. She was, without a doubt, the cutest, most beautiful little person I have ever laid eyes on. She did all of her pirouette's, her jumps and her arms poiinting this way and that in perfect rhythm. Well, maybe not perfect rhythem but after all she is only 5 years old. As far as I could tell she was perfect and I have to say that I just loved every minute of the performance. I can see that, perhaps, I will have many more times to see such as this from this great-grandchild of mine.

Now, today I am going to Goodpasture and witness my granddaughter, Courtney, receive a Faculty Award at the Awards Program. She is unaware that she is getting this award and I will slip in the door and not let her see me but she might be able to hear my heart beating because my prideful heart is overflowing right now.

See what I mean about Special Moments to be treasured? The Lord just keeps on giving me one right after the other. How very blessed I am and I never cease to thank Him for my blessings.

"Completely Revitalized"

Yesterday Jacque asked me if I had a certain day that I posted on this blog and my answer was that I did not - I just write when I feel the urge or maybe when I feel that I might actually have something to say that you, who read this (I have no idea who reads) might enjoy it. Hopefully, today will be one of those days.

I have just spent a marvelous week in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The week was spent just as I had desired that it would be - lying on a chaise lounge under an umbrella on the beach, enjoying some tasty, fresh seafood, reading another Stone Woods book, and visiting with my friends, Kay Hudson and Judy Woodruff. Actually, I did not know Judy until this trip - that is to say that I had met her but did not "know" her. She turned out to be a lovely woman and I now feel that she is a friend. Kay, of course, has been a friend for many years. I preach and preach to my children when they go to the beach - "don't get blistered - use lots of sun screen". Well, I went to the beach on the first day with some sun screen but did not reapply as the day wore on and as you might suspect I did get extremely red in places. I say "places" because I have never had an even tan in my life. I must sit wrong, lay wrong or do something that other people don't do because I will get red on one arm and the other leg, etc. but never a pretty sight. Anyway, after using Aloe and sitting under the umbrella for the next five days I never did get more red but I didn't get the pretty tan that Kay and Judy came home with. I will peel and be ugly and then be back to my original color skin and who cares anyway. I'm not a young babe wearing clothes that would show off a tan anyway! This trip was the most relaxing trip that I have ever had and I have come home, as my caption states, Completely Revitalized. Ready to meet the world and all that it will hold for me this week and the weeks to come.

There were two outstanding things that happened on this trip that I want to relate to you. Two young women were sunning on the chairs next to me on the beach and I noticed that one of them had a palate of brushes and paints and was painting on a drawing pad. Quite naturally, with my inquisitve nature, I went over and introduced myself and asked to see her work. She is a new student of art, but quite good actually. I can see that she will never be a Picasso but she will do some impressive work and more importantly she loves what she is doing. She is a hair dresser by profession. My friends and I enjoyed these two women, Trudy and Debbie, every day and really enjoyed watching them parasail on afternoon. On the last day of their trip Kay and I happened to be on the beach in the late afternoon and they came over to our chairs and sat down to exchange addresses, etc. One of the women, Debbie, looked at me and told me that she had only been married for a year and wanted to know what I would tell her about life from the perspective of an elderly woman. It seems that she had been married once before and made a mess of it and was quite eager to "get it right" this time. I guess you might say that I was surprised at the question, but I started right in to my "sermon" and told her that she would make mistakes along the way and that I certainly did - plenty of them as a matter of fact - but if she would put God first and foremost in her life all the rest would fall in place. Of course, I told her other things about the joy of children, grandchildren, great-granchildren, etc. I also mixed in a few tales of experiences that I had enjoyed. Kay and I thought that it was quite interesting that those two women would be interested in anything that we, old folks, might have to say. The other wonderful experience was on Thursay evening we went to Fort Morgan (a Civil War fort) and parked the car and walked out on the pier to watch the sunset. Well, it was certainly worth the ride and the wait because it just took your breath away. God was turning off the light for the day and getting ready to hit the light switch for the night. If anybody could stand out on that pier and watch that wonderful sight and not be touched there would have to be something wrong with them.

Well, I have rambled on for way too long for you to enjoy and now I must close and get ready to meet the day and the week ahead. I just wanted to let you know that I had a great time at the beach and, of course, the best part of any vacation for me is coming home. When I drive down my driveway and walk into my house and my beautiful Cleo comes to meet me I say "it just doesn't get better than this".

Hold Fast to Precious Moments

We all have had times, events, or whatever you want to call it where we sat mesmerized and thought "I wish I could freeze this moment and hold on to it forever". I had such a time this past Sunday night. Nita and Ray took me to the Community Hymn Sing at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. I walked into that magnificent building and looked, I'm sure, like "country has come to town" because I was trying to take it all in - the marble floors, the polished brass hand rails on the steps, the inlaid carpet, the beautiful chandeliers - oh my, what a sight for these eyes. Of course, Ray had bought the best seats in the house (he learned well from his father-in-law) and we got all settled for the beginning of the program. I knew from the time the conductor raised his baton and even before that when this 2 or 3 hundred people chorus came filing into their places that this was no ordinary event. Was I in for a treat. When you have the opportunity to hear a thousand or more voices joining in with the orchestra to raise their voices and heart in song and praise to "Holy, Holy Holy" you say to yourself "it just doesn't get any better than that". Then Travis Cottrell comes and sings "In Christ Alone and On Christ the Solid Rock I stand" and the tears came. As if Travis had asked for requests, he sang Nita's favorite hymn along with the entire audience - "When I Survey the Wonderous Cross". That got to her tear ducts I think. I will not give you the entire program list but suffice it to say that Bill Gaither, Amy Grant, Melinda Doolittle, the little children's choir all the way to the "The Lord Bless You and Keep You" benediction gave me probably the most spiritual uplifting feeling that I have ever experienced. As the Bible tells us about Mary and the fact that she "pondered these things in her heart" I will do some serious "pondering".

On Saturday, April 19th, I am going to Gulf Shores, Alabama with two of my friends. We will have a week of rest, relaxation, book-reading, fish and shrimp eating, card playing, afternoon tea drinking and lots of girl talk. It will be a good time for me to re-group and get ready for the summer activities that will begin upon my return. At the school where I work we are getting ready for a golf tournament as a fund raiser for the school programs and I have worked exceedingly hard begging for money from friends, family and anybody that I could contact. If I may say so I am quite proud of the way that my "folks" have come to my rescue and sent in money to be a tee/hole sponsor and also I obtained one Silver Sponsor ($1,000.00). Since this is my first encounter with such a project I am learning a lot. It should be a fun day and I am really looking forward to May 19th at Old Natchez Country Club. Since becoming involved with the school, Developmental Learning Center, I can't think of anything in my life that I have been associated with that has made me such a passionate advocate. To see these troubled kids come there and see the way that the staff handles their needs is just beyond anything that I ever knew existed. It is such an overwhelming joy to see one of them leave and go back into society changed and ready to accept a life that we take so for granted. God has a way of putting us in situations that will bless us. I thank Him for that.

As the song I mentioned earlier says, The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face to shine upon you and give you peace. That is my wish for you, who may be reading this blog today.

Everything is Beautiful

As the song that Dolly sings, "Here I Go Again" says, well, here I am again after a few days absence from writing in this blog. I haven't written because I really had nothing interesting to say. Yesterday that all changed for me. I went to Hendersonville Hospital at 7:00AM and went through all the fal-de-ral that you go through prior to getting down to the reason that you are there in the first place. After delay after delay (unavoidable I might add) I was taken to a procedure room for the arteriogram that I mentioned in one of my earlier writings. I was given some absolutely wonderful stuff in my IV that made me drift off into a lovely dreamland of oblivion and when I woke up a little while later I was told that I was FINE - well, maybe that is a little exaggerated - but nevertheless I did not need a stint nor surgery to help my pitiful, plaqued arteries, but only medication. Now, folks, that goes into the prayer journal under the column of "Answered Prayer". I will go back to my doctor in a few days to get my instructions on the medication route that I will take and I am sure that he will have some advice on diet and exercise (hate those two words). Oh, how my heart (plaqued arteries and all) did sing!

You know, I hate to have situations come up that worry my girls, but it is really nice to have them rally around and Corinne even spent the night with me and Tracey brought us dinner of broccoli/cheese soup (my favorite) and wonderful bread. I just feel so sorry for all of those women out there in the world that do not know the experience of having wonderful children - especially girls. That old saying of "a son is your son until he takes a wife, but a daughter is your daughter all of her life" and not having any sons of my own I really can't vouch for that phrase but I do know that my daughters have never let me down.

In addition to daughters being so wonderful, let me say a word about friends. I am blessed with an abundance of good friends. There again I have been told that when you die if you can count five really good friends in your life you have been blessed. May I say that I have more than five and I am really blessed. My good friend Sara has been with me through everything good and bad that has ever happened to me and I know that she will always be there. Also, some others but I won't go into that now.

I think this about sums up my situation as of today and I am so very thankful that my health issues turned out to be minimum and I can say "she lived happily ever after".

Greetings from an "Old Timer"

My friend, Wallace Lee, called me the other day to tell me that after filling up his truck with gas he left the door of the gas tank open. As he drove away from the station a young man pulled up beside him and said "Hey, old timer, you left your gas cap off". Wallace said that he had never been called "old timer"a before and he got quite a laugh out of it. He and I then went into a deep conversation discussing the pros and cons of being an old timer. The backside of it this morning is that yesterday I made arrangements with a cardiologist to have an arteriagram next week. I have been experiencing symptoms of, what might or might not be, heart related issues so it is time to have it checked out. I am not nervous over the appointment. My attitude toward this is "what is to be will be" and I know that it will be okay. Whatever the outcome I know that my Lord is in control and He will take care of the situation. The good part of being an old timer is that I can say that and not think I have to be in control of every single thing.

Here are some more thoughts about being an "old timer" and I am quoting from a poem I found while cleaning out some of my keepsakes:
"I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. O, not my body! I sometime despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror (who looks like my mother!), but I don't agonize over those things for long. I would never trade my amazing friends, or my wonderful life, my loving family for les gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant. I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before the great freedom that comes with aging. Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4:00AM? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 40's and 50'w and if I, at the same time, wish to cry over a lost love..I will. I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body despite the pitying glances from the jet set. They, too, will get old. I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself as much because I have even earned the right to be wrong. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day if I feel like it."

Don't you think that is a delightful piece of poetry? That about sums it up for today, and I hope each of you that reads this has a wonderful and happy day.

Monday night, March 31, 2008

The last day of March. Where has this first part of the year gone? There was a time when only old people made that statement but lately I have heard young people exclaiming about the fast pace of life and time slipping by. Just makes me know all the more that each day is precious and needs to be spent wisely. Everybody has their own interpretation of what "wisely" might be. For Ray and me it means having time to read our Stuart Woods books and discussing our book club with each other. For Corinne it is spending time with Connor, Cannon and Cord (not to mention Leslie and Russell), with everybody it is spending time doing something with somebody that you enjoy or maybe just being alone to contemplate your life. The important thing is not to get so caught up in mundane affairs that you don't have time to enjoy the good life - smell the roses so to speak.

Yesterday I had a lovely experience. I had reported that I would be spending the day with my friend, Barbara, and her family enjoying the service of baptism for her grandson. We started out having breakfast at the cutest little restaurant on Harding Road in a little strip shopping center called Le Peep. It was so unique and the food was quite good. Then to St. George's Episcopal Church which is just magnificent in structure and in all of the amenities that make a church so lovely - stained glass, beautiful polished wood, an enormous pipe organ, etc. Quite a difference in that service and a C of C service. They baptized 6 babies and you should have seen the christening dresses - some almost touched the floor and the lace and hand embroidery on those garments was just out of this world. After all of that was over we went to Clay and Amy Lutz's house for a great luncheon. They had sparkling wines of every description, champagne, prime rib, lots of other foods and finished with a huge cake iced in white with a cross in the center. I left to come home just as the Lutz brothers and one of the priests from the church got out their guitars and banjos and prepared to "pick and sing". I hated to miss that but I was tired and ready to come home. They thanked me over and over for coming and I told them that I felt honored to have been included in such a lovely family event. I do love that family and enjoy each one of them. I hated to miss going to Clarksville to see Cord but I plan to go very soon.

I had planned to post a poem that I found while cleaning out my office, but it is a little lengthy and I have written more than enough for one day. Besides it is time for Dancing with the Stars and I want to make sure that I get to see Priscilla Presley after all of the conversation this week about her "botched up face lift" and how her mouth is messed up. I knew that she looked different but I thought it was just that stringy, maroon colored hair. Tonight I must zero in on the face.

Will do the poem another time.

Rainy Saturday Afternoon

Well, it seems that I have been taken to task for not posting in several days. The truth of the matter is that I really didn't have anything of interest to post. For that matter I still don't. However, I think that since I started this thing I shall have to keep it up.

Yesterday was a fun day for me. My friend Shirley Charlton, from Chattanooga, came to Nashville and brought with her Claudia Allen, the daughter of another classmate who is deceased. When I was six years old I started to school at a very small school house on the corner of East Douglas and 14th Streets in East Nashville. The first and second grades were in one room with a teacher named Miss Gertrude Smith. I can see her now - tall, rawboned and straight as an arrow with her very serious hair do and dress and, of course, very sensible shoes that laced up. I was really scared of this woman and now I don't know why because she was very kind. I think it was because she talked loud and very stern which I was not used to. Anyway, Shirley Charlton and Margie Allen and I started together and sat in a row of seats that were side by side. That is the history of how far back we go. When I look at Shirley now she is dark headed (colored I'm sure) and very mature body, but when you look at the eyes and the smile and hear the voice it is like going back in time and being six years old again. We always have a big laugh over the fact that one day she got sick and threw up on me and I had to call my mother to come get me and take me home. What a funny thing to remember. I also remember that she had pretty long curls like Shirley Temple and she looked like a china doll. Anyway, we went to lunch with some other school friends and had a marvelous time visiting with each other. We said goodbyes with promises to stay in touch, going to Chattanooga for a visit, coming back to Nashville, etc. All the usual things you say and mean at the time but for some reason never do follow through on. Why is that I wonder? Are we so caught up in our own lives that we don't have time to venture out into something different? Oh well, we shall see.

Today has been a day of what I call "piddling". Just going from this to that and looking at pictures, and reading old cards, etc. Another phase of cleaning out my office. So much to do that it overwhelms me.

Tomorrow, however, will be a different experience and a fun day I think. I have been invited to be a part of the Lutz Family Baptizing the Baby Day! I will go meet Barbara for breakfast at 9:00AM and we will then go to St. George's Episcopal Church and I will sit with the family during the service and the baptizing of John Tyler Lutz, 5 month old grandson of Barbara and son of Clay and Amy and little brother of Eric. After the service we will go to Clay and Amy's home in Bellevue and have a lovely lunch. I love the Lutz family. They remind me of ours to a degree. There are five children, some grandchildren, no great-grandchildren but lots of noise, teasing, loving and fun goes on when they all get together. They are very musical and you an bet that someone will play the piano and guitars and then some of the family will sing. Some have voices that are equal to anything I have ever heard on Broadway. It is such a treat. I will write about it later and give details.

Hope my writing today has not been too mundane and boring - will do better next posting.

Wednesday,March 26,2008

This day started out entirely different from any other. I went to Skyline Medical Bldg. to the Tennessee Heart office and had a "heart scan". As you may have figured out by now, Nita set this up for me and she will get the results and when that happens we will let you know what they found. I have no stress over the whole thing. I had a similar test several years ago and it was recommended that I have another to compare. When you have a heart that stays so busy loving, worrying, praying, and praising as mine does, plus having a few years on it, it is quite possible that it might be slowing down a bit. We shall see in a few days. In the meantime, we just will dismiss the thought and move on.

My days at work yesterday and today were quite busy. This golf tournament that we are going to have in May to raise money is a huge undertaking, most especially if you have never been anywhere near a golf course except the club house to buy a shirt. However, you know that a new experience and something to tackle that is foreign to me is just right up my alley. So far I have raised $1,75000 and that is quite good, I think. I also have gotten $150.00 in gift certificates for the silent auction. We were excited the other day when Andrews Cadillac gave us a Cadillac for the hole-in-one prize. I am looking for sponsors, silent auction items and anything that will make the tournament good so if you want to contribute be my guest!

Leslie is doing fine. She reports that she is a little sore, but not sick and very happy with her new son. I told her that she surely does have pretty babies. Cord Ramsey is so beautiful and so perfect. His little legs are not all scrawny and his arms and body are filled out and I think he is just adorable. I am going to Clarksville after they get home, get settled and some of the company thins out. Corinne has gone to do her "grandmother duties" and I know that they will have a fine time for the next week. I always loved the weeks that I spent being "nanny" to the newborn babies and having the good visiting time with my daughters. Ray and I always loved our night-time conversations when I stayed at their house.

Enough conversation for now, but I wanted to touch base with you and let you know that I survived the Easter Egg Day and the Birthing the Baby Day, and am no worse for the wear!

More Blessings-Tuesday,March 26,2008

Yesterday was just about the most perfect day that I can think of. Thanks to Kim and her "technical savy" I have the photo show of Cord Ramsey Pigg's birth to show you. The pictures say it all and I can think of nothing that I could add to make it any more wonderful. I will tell you that when Russell came out with that precious baby wrapped in the blanket and I saw him for the first time my heart just about overflowed - in fact it did overflow - with gratitude and love - love for Cord and gratitude to God for such a perfect little creature - a miracle before our very eyes. You will notice that there are no pictures of Leslie and that is because she was in her room in the back being visited briefly by those of us that were able to go to see her. As you might suspect, she was absolutely gorgeous lying there with her curly hair not even messed up and a big smile on her face. I was in the room when they brought Cord to her after he was all cleaned up and checked out and the look on her face as she held him, kissed him and snuggled with him was just priceless. I am so glad that I was priviledged to see this. With such a private moment in progress I slipped out and left Leslie, Russell and Cord. Now I can brag to all of my friends that I have ten great-grandchildren and then when you add Jackson Smith and Jeffrey Benton I have twelve. How about that for someone so young as I? Young - that's a joke. I feel very old this morning. Too much excitement in the last two days - the great Easter Celebration and then the birth - wow! You all are carrying me just a little too fast!

Our Easter was great. Thirty-three for lunch, egg hunt, games and fun. I'm sure that you have all seen the many postings about the day so I need not elaborate. I love our Easter celebration. When I relay the information about our day to some of my friends they are astounded. It seems that nobody in my circle of acquaintances and friends have such a loving, caring, close family as ours. There again I can give the glory to God and thank Him over and over for my blessings. I guess that I could give Aunt Ree a little of the credit because she is the one that preached "Family, family, family" to me from the time I was a little girl making all those horribly hot, miserable trips to Columbia to be with the family for every holiday or reunion. Guess it sunk in and I am so glad that our family loves to be together and, even though it gets loud and crazy, in the final analysis it is what life is all about.

Cord Ramsey Pigg

Blessings, Blessings, Blessings

44 years ago I gave birth to "the Princess" as her daddy called her. Tracey is on her way home from Florida as I write this and I was able to talk to her this morning. I say to her now HAPPY BRITHDAY TRACEY LEIGH.

I know that you are getting tired of hearing how blessed I am to have these children of mine, but I have got to tell one more reason for this feeling. This morning Nita, Ray, Corinne, Mark, Jacque and Wayne came to my house with rakes, yard gloves, tools, yard bags and everything you can think of to take care of my porch, my yard and get my place ready for the Easter celebration that will be held here tomorrow. Ray and Nita had purchased for me a new swing for my porch and Ray spent many hours putting it all together. The rest of the gang cleaned my yard of sticks, limbs and other debris that had collected from the numerous storms that we have had and they did so many things to make the area look beautiful. They cleaned yard furniture, they got the furniture from the basement and cleaned it, they used a blower and cleaned my driveway and got it ready for the games that will be played there tomorrow - I could just go on and on telling you all the things that they did, but it would take more space than this blog allows. This swing is just the ultimate. I can tell you now that I will spend endless hours there reading, napping, eating and resting. It is a "two seater" so I will welcome anyone to join me for a delightful experience this Spring and Summer.

While watching The Gaithers a little while ago I was touched to the point of raising my hands in praise, which is something that I have never done in public, when they sang "Because He Lives I Can Face Tomorrow". That song says it all to me - and to you - and to everybody because it is true. Thank God that Jesus came, He died and He rose so that we can live. Talk about ultimate blessing - that, my friends, is it.

Happy Easter. I will be one happy camper tomorrow when all of my children (except for Chris, Ashley, Christopher and John Ed) will be here to circle up, count, pray and eat and play. Another Ultimate Blessing!

Good Friday - 2008

Funny how life changes with age. Most of my life has been spent taking each day, living it as it is, making memories from some, forgetting others, etc. Now, at this stage of my life I savor each new experience. Yesterday, I had a new experience. I had a Facial. Now, that may not seem like a big deal to any of you reading this blog, but to me it was. It was a first for me. We all love to be pampered and that facial was the ultimate pampering. Kim's office is in a beautiful building (waterfall and pool in the lobby) and then her office has a beautiful view from a whole wall of windows. I was ushered into a room with soft music, dim lights, a robe to wear and from then on it was a delight. You can't do a whole lot with a 75 year old face that has some age spots and sun damage, but bless Gail's heart she never said a word and did a great job. What a lovely time it was and I thank Gail, Kim and Lisa for making me feel so ultra-special.

Today is Good Friday. My church has no special service to honor this day, but some of my friends will go for a time of reflection on our Lord, his suffering, his sacrifice for us and I think it is a very bittersweet time - sad and yet the story as it ends with the resurection gives us hope, courage and love. That is why I love Easter so much. Oh, I love the little children in their outfits, the hustle and bustle of getting baskets ready and all of the things that make the holiday lovely but I do love singing the songs at church and feeling the happiness that surrounds the living Christ. Our family day on Sunday will be wonderful no matter the cool temeprature and even some sprinkles that might fall.

My "to-do list" has been printed and taped on my fridge so now it is time to move on and take on this day and all that is before me. There is no way that I can mark off everything but I know that I must go buy chocolate bunnies for grandchildren and great-grandchildren, get a carton or two of "little cokes" and make sure that I have everything that is supposed to be in evidence at "Mimi's House".

Love to all and I wish for you a blessed day

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Quite aware that I will be "called to task" by my family for not posting yesterday, I will write a few lines this morning before I get dressed and go take on this day. Sometimes no news is good news, which was the case yesterday - just nothing to write about. Gloomy, rainy, uneventful day.

If I had the capability to put pictures on, as my clever daughter does, I would have put a picture of this office room before, during and after the clean up that I have been involved in for the past few days. Even though I have stopped this process for now and until after Easter I still have a lot of cleaning up to do. I have so very many pictures in boxes that need to be passed on to whomever. Oh well, it will be done!

Speaking of Easter - NO RAIN IS IN THE FORECAST. Oh boy, I hope that holds true. Of course after the flooding conditions that I have had here in my yard the past few days, we may be sloshing around in mud while we hunt eggs. Maybe after a few dry days it will be better. I am looking forward to Sunday and having all of my family here with me.

Today is my Meals on Wheels Day. My cooking partner, Cathy Brown, is through with her radiation and chemo and all of the other stuff that accompanies cancer and she will be back with me today for the first time in many months. We are both excited to be working together. Guess what comes after that????? I am having a facial at Kim's office. I won this prize at her Open House and today is the day. Not ever having a facial I am quite excited and a bit nervous also. I will let you know how that goes in a future post.

Must go for now. Oh yes, I ask that you pray for one of my friend's daughter - Joanna Blackwell sent me word last night that her 45 year old daughter, Monica, has been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the voice box. We all know what that means and we all know what is before them and my heart breaks for Monica and for Joanna.

Have a good day all who might read this and may the Lord bless you.