WELCOME TO 2012

Well, today is the end of 2011 and in a few hours the year, 2012 will emerge to remind all of us that the years come and go at rapid pace. Maybe that sounds like, what I am, an old woman talking about time moving so fast but I do hear young people making the same remarks. I believe that we feel that way because we are moving from one day to another without really thinking about time moving with us. I know that, as a young woman with young children, an ambitious husband that worked a lot, myself working also and all of the activities that accompanied these things left me no time to think of rapidly passing years. It might behoove all of us to think about that cliche "stop and smell the roses". Maybe that would be a good New Year's Resolution - slow down, breathe deep, look around, enjoy the sunrise and sunsets, savor the flavor of a good meal rather than the hurry up method of eating, take walks when you can and pass pleasantries with people that you meet and the best thing of all would be to get you a dog like Houston. Now, that is a blessing that can't be denied. To have something who looks at you with love in their eyes, walks beside you, sleeps at your feet, sits with you as you read your books or nap in your chair is just a gift that is to be treasured. He will make 2012 a good year for me but I am anticipating lots of lovely things to happen in the new year.

I have not told you anything about my Christmas Holiday Season so I will try to capsule it for you now. I was invited and attended many parties during the month of December but the week of Christmas all of the handshaking and hugging caught up with me and germs invaded my body in the form of a sinus infection that "laid me low". I really felt bad during the actual Christmas family events. On the 23rd of December we gathered at Nita's house for our Annual Cline Party. Twenty-eight people packed into the house and the garage that was converted into a really festive children's area - complete with signs, games, and little table and chairs. We circled up, held hands, counted off as Aunt Ree had taught us, prayed and then headed for the table of food. We followed all of our traditions for this party which consists of my reading The Night Before Christmas to the great-grandchildren, singing the Twelve Days of Christmas (Anni, Ava and Emma did a fine job with their part of singing Five Golden Rings) and then the children gave us a real treat by enacting the birth of Jesus - with our new baby, John Patrick, being Jesus and lying in a laundry basket wrapped in a blanket. A new treat that we had this year was Joesea saying the Twenty-Third Psalm. We all left with a warm, happy feeling that comes with being family. Billy, Aunt Ree and Mother were not there in person but I surely did feel their spirit as those adorable children that are their descendants prayed, played and performed.

Christmas Eve was a lovely time for me. I went to First Baptist Church with Nita, Ray and Paul Kemp to the Communion/Candlelight Service. It was a lovely, quiet time to reflect on just what Christmas is about. As Christopher Maddux told when we were in Jackson on our visit, "Christmas is not about Santa and presents. It's all about Jesus". After our church service we enjoyed a lovely dinner at Mimi's Cafe. Ray took me to Kim and Brad's house where I spent the night. On Christmas morning Kim and I had our traditional Mimosa Drinks and Sausage Pinwheels. When Patrick and Mikka and the children came we opened our gifts and then we were treated to Kim's breakfast casserole and other breakfast foods. After all of the paper was picked up and the house was quiet again Brad and Kim took me home. It was nice to come into my beautiful home with my Christmas tree and decorations every where that I looked. I just turned the lights on my tree, got into some comfortable clothes, got into my lounge chair, covered up with a soft blanket and zoned out of everything. What a delightful end to a delightful Christmas Season.

Now, I am going to embrace this coming year with all of the enthusiasm that I have. I am going to enjoy my family, my friends, my church services and my church friends, my activities with my East High group and just all of the wonderful things that I know lie in store for me. I am intelligent enough to know that every year will bring good things and every year will bring disappointments and sadness but I also know that whatever comes that God is in control and God is good - all the time.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYBODY. MY LOVE FOR YOU KNOWS NO BOUNDS.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ANNITA CLINE MADDUX

Today is a RED LETTER DAY for me. Why, you say? Because today is the day that Annita Lynn Cline Maddux came into my life. Her birthday is a very special day for me. My first born. My baby girl. A gift that has been cherished for all of my life. Special does describe her as well as my feeling for her. She has always assumed the role of helper, encourager, manager, multi-tasker and with a loving, charitable, benevolent personality. She is always "there" when you need her doing whatever it takes to get the task performed or to help soothe the situation if it needs a caring word or deed. Oh yes, she has a few of her father's traits and can be bossy and impatient but she also has his loving ways also. I will claim a few of her personality traits also because she does her best to keep peace when dissention might arise in any circumstance. In that way I believe she has the Libra sign going for her. To be a little more personal I will say that she breezed through school with good grades, entered into every aspect of social activities and athletic cheerleading for her junior and high school years, she met the love of her life at high school and married Ray Maddux after she completed one year of college at Lipscomb (on the Dean's List I might add) and she has been his perfect help-mate for many years. Her children and grandchildren are her delight and she is theirs. Her church is where she is grounded in her spirituality and she has many friends among the congregation. I can say that Nita has always been a joy to me. She has never caused me to worry about her integrity or what she will do in certain situations. I always know that she will handle everything as it says in the Bible "with decency and in order". Nita is not here in Hendersonville for me to hug her and wish her Happy Birthday in person because she is in East Tennessee with Drew, Tara and the children at a basketball tournament, so I will just have to write my wishes and write my love and hug her extra tight when she comes home and she, her sisters and I celebrate with lunch and gifts. I am blessed to be able to claim Annita for my daughter and thank God every day that He trusted her
to Billy and my care. She is truly evidence that God is good - all the time.

NO WAY TO ADEQUATELY TELL THE STORY

There are some events in life that are just so spectacular that they defy description. Such as this happened to me this past week-end. I was invited by Nita and Ray to accompany them to Jackson, MS for a few days visit with Chris, Ashley, Christopher, John Ed and Mary Hollis Maddux. I immediately accepted because it would be my pleasure to spend time with these most beloved grandchildren of mine. We left Hendersonville on Thursday morning and arrived in Jackson at 8:30 PM after having stopped in Memphis for Ray to have a meeting and with several other stops on the way. Ashley's sister and her family had vacated their home to go spend time in Nashville with relatives. Their house is within walking distance of Chris and Ashley's house and they graciously invited us to use their house for our comfort. After a visit with Chris and Ashley we settled into our temporary home and had a good night's rest. On Friday morning we went to Covenant Presbyterian Academy to see John Ed preform in the Christmas Program. They enacted the story of the birth of Jesus and told us several times (with actions and much feeling) that "it was a long way to Bethlehem" and one little girl informed us that "Mary was preganant". We were so very proud of John Ed and the fact that he sang, did the motions with his hands and best of all - he didn't cry like he did last year. On Friday night Chris took us to The Mayflower Restaurant which is an old cafe in downtown Jackson. In fact, it was used in the movie, The Help, because it is so well known. We enjoyed a delightful meal with no spilled drinks or accidents. After dinner we drove about 30 miles up the interstate to Canton, MS to a "Festival of Lights" display on the town square. Everything was in one area and easily accessible by foot. We walked the entire area and the children were treated to a ride in little cars. We went home tired but so excited and definitely in the Christmas Spirit. Saturday came with sunshine and very cool temperature but we bundled up and went to breakfast with Chris and the children. Ashley was preoccupied with a shower that she was helping to give at a friend's house. After riding around various neighborhoods just sightseeing the homes, Nita and I went shopping at a very nice, upscale center. We had fun going in and out of the shops looking at the items that were very different from the things that we have in Nashville. Then, I was treated to definitely the most unique experience of all - Chris took me to see his office. He is an attorney at Butler-Snow and they have recently built a new building. I will do my best, in this blog, to tell you what I saw. The front lobby is white marble, tile and beautifully decorated with soft white leather furniture, a huge red work of art hangs over the reception area. The elevators were even beautiful. We toured the top floor and if I had not known better I would have been sure that I had been transported to New York or Los Angeles when I stepped out of the elevator into a conference room that just took my breath. The table was not rectangular, nor square, nor oblong and would probably seat 50 people. That was just one conference room - there must have been 20 or more rooms that were fitted for meetings, both large and small. The view from all of the rooms was spectacular as each room had glass walls with automatic shades to cover them if there was a need. One area had a regular soda fountain for drinks and ice, etc. with one entire wall of microwaves and another of refrigerators. The area for the employees to enjoy their lunch was such a relaxing, happy place that I was almost envious that I couldn't sit down and have a sandwich and a coke. As we walked from room to room the walls were lined with artwork - some oil on canvas, some pen and ink framed drawings, some acrylics of abstract colors, just a gallery of beautiful paintings and pictures. The room that just "blew me away" was a complete replica of a court room that had a jury box, podium, judge's area and spectator's section. This room is used for practicing the lawyer's cases before actually going to court. I know of no other attorney's offices that have anything such as this accommodation for their people. I came away from there just amazed and so happy that my grandson is working in this magnificent atmosphere. After this treat I was ready to go and rest and get ready for the big production that we were going to attend at the First Baptist Church of Jackson - Carols by Candlelight. We had perfect seats thanks to the fact that Chris was an usher and had to be there early so Ray could go with him and save seats for Nita, Ashley and me. When it was exactly 7:00pm the lights were turned off and many people came from all directions carrying candles as the orchestra played an overture. When they had found their positions on the stage the lights came on and there before our eyes was a huge orchestra and 300 people in the chorus. The program was splendid - the chorus, the soloists, the orchestra, the ballet dancers - everything was so wonderful and ended with the most heart stirring rendition of Amazing Grace that I have ever heard. As if all of this was not enough, Chris preached on Sunday morning. To sit in an audience and hear your grandson preach the word of God is an indescribable experience. I will suffice it to say that my heart was overflowing with happiness and pride. After an absolutely wonderful lunch at the Jackson Country Club, Nita, Ray and I got into the car and we left all of this "heaven on earth" to come home. I have only touched the highlights of the trip in this blog. I could write volumes of things that Mary Hollis, Christopher and John Ed said and did that was a great-grandmother's joy and delight but all of these things I will hold and think about for the rest of my life. This week-end filled me with more blessings than I can count and I just have to praise God and tell you once again that God is good - all the time.

BRING ON THE CHRISTMAS SEASON - I'M READY

Where has the time gone since I last wrote on this Blog? Kim has put Christmas music on my blog and new background and made it completely ready for December Blogging. I have been so busy doing what? I don't really know but today I will write on here before I finish this second cup of coffee. What a dreary day today is with it's rain and dark skies but that is okay because it will give me an opportunity to take care of the business that I need to do right here in my home.

I will go back a few weeks and tell you that Thanksgiving this year was Super! If you remember, I had whined that it would not be the same because all of the family would not be together. Well, all of the family was not together but the part of my family that I was privileged to gather with was just great. I went to Kim and Brad's house on Wednesday afternoon and we began our preparations for the next day. Poor Brad, he always loses his wonderful bed when I am there and that is pitiful for him because that bed is probably the most comfortable one that I have ever slept in. Plus the fact that Kim has marvelous linens on that bed and it is so good to snuggle under the down comforter and sleep "like a baby". On Thanksgiving morning we began our cooking. I put the turkey in and started preparations for the dressing and gravy. Kim was working on her portion of the meal and getting the tables ready. We watched the Macy's Parade and then "Miracle on 24th Street" (the old black and white version). When break time came we both rested for an hour or so. At 5:00PM here came our first guest, Tracey. Kim made her picture coming from her car because we always tease her about being late to everything. Then came Corinne, Mark, Brad and Jackson. Cassie had to work but she came later. Then Patrick and Mikka with Joesea and John Patrick. Last, but certainly not least, was Jacque and Wayne. So you see we had a housefull. The food was placed on the bar, a circle of family with the "countdown" and the thanks offered was next and then it was "fix your plate and what do you want to drink". Oh my goodness, how good was that food and how full was everyone after the meal was over. As usual, the men gravitated to the TV for football and the women sat and held the baby, talked and just had a lovely visit. Clean up time came and everyone left to go home with stomachs full, hearts happy from being with the people we love the most, and thankful to God that we have lived to see another Thanksgiving day.

Now, we are ready to embrace the Christmas Season. I have a full December of delightful things that I will be doing. Starting off the holiday as we do every year, Jacque, Kim and I went to VIP Night at Dillard's last night and I was able, with their help, to almost complete my shopping list and even got them wrapped. How's that for a big "load off my mind" thing? Thursday of this week I will go with Nita and Ray to Jackson, Mississippi for a wonderful fun-filled week-end of getting to see a Christmas Program at John Ed's school, Carols by Candlelight at their church, get to hear Chris preach at their satellite church and lunch at the Country Club on Sunday. We will come home on Sunday evening. On Monday I have two parties and a party on Tuesday and yet another party on Saturday. Doesn't all of that sound like the most wonderful Christmas celebrations that one could have? There will be so much eating, talking, singing, and loving at every one of these events because they are either with family or friends that I have loved for many years. I forgot to mention that this past Saturday I enjoyed the annual Mother/Daughter Brunch with Tracey's friends from high school and their mothers. This party always brings back so many wonderful memories of the days when I was young and doing all the things at Goodpasture School that Tracey and her children are doing now. The mothers and I have lots of memories to share so it was a happy day. When we got home Tracey made the picture of Houston and I for my Christmas Card. Nila Sherrill, Linda Highers, Susan Meece and I met at Nila's house on Saturday afternoon to make our "famous chocolate covered cherries". I looked like a snowball when it was over as I was covered in confectioners sugar. That is a tradition that was started many years ago. We meet, we make our candy and then we eat a supper of Sonic Burgers and Onion Rings. Don't you just love traditions? I am all into them, especially Holiday Traditions.

My house is decorated for Christmas, courtesy of my girls. They came on the Sunday afternoon after Thanksgiving and unpacked all of the boxes, put up my tree, decorated it, packed away my every day things and put out lots of Christmas decorations. I set my table with Christmas dishes and when you walk in there is no doubt that I am in the Christmas Spirit and loving every bit of it. They even put garland and lights on the wrought iron railing around my porch. What would I do without my girls? They can do anything and have a good time doing it. I am so blessed to have them. They are just the greatest evidence in my life that God is good - all the time.

CATCHING UP

I was shocked when I looked at my Blog this morning and realized that I had not posted in quite a long time. You would think that I have been sitting idle and nothing has been happening since that birthday week. Well, how wrong you would be. I, actually, have been quite busy and enjoying life to the fullest.

On Sunday, October 23rd, Sara and I left her house at 10:30 and drove to Lake Barkley, Kentucky. The drive there was really pretty, especially along the highway to Clarksville and that area. The leaves were turning to mostly deep reds and bronze colors but sprinkled in among them would be a gold - just enough to give you a beautiful vista of the countryside. We pulled into the Lodge at Noon and enjoyed the marvelous Sunday Buffet Lunch that we have grown to love and enjoy whenever we get the opportunity. I do believe that food just tastes better sitting in that beautiful building with glass walls overlooking the lake. After stuffing ourselves to the max - including banana pudding and pie - we went to the office and got our key to our room. We had a porch with comfortable chairs overlooking the lake from that side, which was different from the dining room scene. We watched the boats at the marina, the fishermen as they cast their rods hoping for a catch and we watched the birds dive down into the water for their "afternoon snack". We went inside after viewing the sun go down with all of its bright array of color and got out our Scrabble board and began to play our favorite game. Of course, we were not hungry for dinner but Sara's daughter had made us a big box of coconut macaroons and we enjoyed those with coffee as we played. A good night's rest in a very comfortable bed followed all that activity and we woke up rested, happy, and hungry. We were not disappointed in the lovely breakfast in the lodge dining room. We walked around for a few minutes, went back and played our last Scrabble game and then left, reluctantly, to drive back home. What a lovely "get-a-way" we had enjoyed. This was our joint birthday celebration since her birthday and mine are only a couple of weeks apart. So you see, I was still celebrating. Birthdays are to be enjoyed but sometimes I take it to the extreme.

November 1st -still part of the birthday - Barbara took me to a wonderful Italian restaurant, Antonio's, for a delightful dinner and then I took her to Tennessee Performing Arts Theater to see Wicked. What a night - what a wonderful theater experience - Barbara is my "dramatic" friend, having been in many plays and being an accomplished musician, she was a wonderful partner for this event. I went home with her and spent the night. Over breakfast we rehashed the entire performance of Wicked and gave our critical review. We had nothing but praise for the actors, actresses, sets, and music so if we were writing for the paper it would have been a glowing report.

My most recent wonderful experience occurred just this week. Corinne, through her connections with Dollar General Corporation, obtained three tickets to the opening night at Opryland Resort and invited Nita and I to accompany her. We went to the hotel and walked through the Delta Area and thought it was just breathtaking - the poinsettias, the lush green plants, the Christmas lights and decorations and then we made our way to the Cascades Area and saw more of the most wonderful Christmas trees made of lights, a tree of nothing but red poinsettias and we could hardly breathe it was so majestic. We found a lovely little restaurant and had salads, bread, and wine that afforded us time for quiet conversation. Leaving the restaurant we wandered out to the front of the hotel to see the millions of lights that had been turned on just a few hours before. We decided to leave the hotel and make our way to the Grand Old Opry Building for the Rockettes Show. Our seats, that were complimentary, were on the third row and we could see everything so vividly. The Rockettes were beautiful women and the men that were in the ensemble were handsome. The costumes were prettier than ever and there was no way anybody could leave that theater after seeing the live Nativity Scene and hearing The Hallelujah Chorus without carrying with them the spirit of Christmas. Corinne remarked on the way to the car "now I'm ready". Such a delightful evening and I am so glad that Corinne made it possible for me to enjoy the Rockettes again. I have now seen their Christmas Show 16 times - starting in New York and then Chicago and here in Nashville for 10 years. I never tire of it and, hopefully, I will be able to see it next year.

The next thing that will be happening here for me is Thanksgiving. This holiday has changed this year. I have been very sad about it and, in fact, shed tears over it. I never thought that the day would come when my entire family would not gather for Thanksgiving, at least in my lifetime. This year it was decided that there was too many children and adults to gather in one place. I remember one Thanksgiving when Billy and I lived in the condo we packed everybody in that tiny space and that was when we had Aunt Ree's bed in the living room. I thought it was a perfectly delightful day. So, the plan this year is that Nita will have just her family at her house. Tracey will spend her day with the Wiseman Family. Kim, Brad, Patrick, Mikka, Joesea, John Patrick, Corinne, Mark, Brad, Jackson, Cassie, Jacque, Wayne and I will enjoy our day at Kim and Brad's house. Leslie and her family will be with the Moran family. I plan to go to Kim's on Wednesday and start cooking and we will watch the Macy's Christmas Parade on Thanksgiving morning while enjoying Mimosas and sausage balls as we finish cooking the dinner to be served at 5:00PM. Yes, it will be different, but such is life and I have found that there are changes taking place each and every day and I must either adapt or get left behind. If you know anything about me "left behind" is just not going to happen. Our plan after dinner is to drive to Music Valley Drive and see the Christmas Lights that are synchronized to music and as you drive through the area the lights will come on and off the display and it is supposed to be quite a spectacle. I am looking forward to it. Anything Christmasy with lights and Santa, and angels and stars and all the rest make me happy. Christmas is a lovely time and, along with Thanksgiving, gives us all pause to remember that God is good - all the time.

Today is Monday, October 17th and so many good things have happened to me since my last writing that, even though my time is short this morning, I feel compelled to fill you in.

Last week was my Birthday Week. I say that because it appears that my birthday always lasts a week or more. Isn't it grand that I can get this old and have so much love and friendship shown to me for such a great length of time? I began the "pampering myself time" by going to Samantha Medina, my great friend and hair dresser, for a cut, perm and style. What a difference in my appearance upon leaving the salon and entering the salon. Thank you Samantha for working that miracle!!!! Venetian Spa and Nails establishment in The Streets of Indian Lake was another great time - a pedicure and manicure while drinking a coke, relaxing to soft music and an attendant that was so very professional and so kind. Thursday night was the really wonderful time for me - my children and their spouses, Paul Kemp, Sara Chauvin and a family friend from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Tommy Pardue all gathered at Hermitage Steak House for a lovely steak dinner and visit. My friend, Ginger Turner who owns the restaurant, had made arrangements for us to have a private dining room with a very attentive waitress so we just made all the noise we wanted to make, ate our meal, opened many presents and made lots and lots of pictures. Jacque's birthday, which is October 4th, was celebrated as well as mine so it was quite a gala occasion. My family gave me two tickets to the theater to see "Wicked". The date for the performance that I chose in order to get the seats that I like is November 1st. I have invited my friend, Barbara Lutz, to join me for this big night and she is estactic over the invitation. Barbara is my "artsy" friend. She loves theater, music, dancing, drama, anything connected with the arts. We will enjoy a dinner on that night at a lovely restaurant in Bellvue called Antonio's and then go to TPAC for the show. I can hardly wait for this night to come. Before that happens, however, my friend Sara and I are going to Lake Barkley for a delightful Sunday lunch at the Lodge, a night in a room overlooking the lake, breakfast the next morning and come home on Monday. Won't that be a lovely way to continue the celebration of my birthday and also her birthday which is on the 27th. This month, October, is just the most perfect time to spend in celebration - not only of birthdays and joyous occasions but just the month itself. I was riding in my car the other day and I just had to tell God how much I appreciated the month of October. The sky is so blue, the clouds are like big white puffs of cotton and the breeze that never seems to stop is cool and calm. I love the mornings when I open my sliding glass door and the crisp, cool air comes floating into my living room. The dew on the cars outside is beginning to subside but the grass is glistening like it has bits of diamonds on each blade. By lunchtime the sun has warmed the air to the point that a sweater or anything in the fall clothing line is too warm. Sitting on my porch in the afternoon reading my book is just a perfect time. Night time makes closing the door to the cooler air and wearing a jacket if I venture out a necessity. All of this just makes for a delightful season that we call Autumn. I'm confident that the season is lovely in every part of this country but for me, Tennessee is just the epitome of loveliness in the Fall.

I forgot to add that on Friday night of last week I went to the Goodpasture Football Game in Ashland City, where we played a school called Sycamore. We won the game but the highlight for this old grandmother was to see Carter make two touchdowns. Not one mind you, but two. How's that for a birthday present? I am so happy that I am getting to enjoy Carter's football this season and look forward to his baseball talents being displayed in the spring. He is my last tie to Goodpasture Christian School and I intend to attend everything that he does and enjoy the school until the day he graduates. That school has given me much joy as I watched Kim and Tracey, Chris, Drew, Leslie, Emily, Patrickand Courtney graduate and move on to places of higher education and then to careers. I will miss that connection when Carter graduates. I will enjoy it while I can - that I promise.

Well, it is time to take Houston out for his morning walk and see who is walking the track this morning. I love these morning outings. Then I will go to my Monday Morning Bible Study where we are studying Psalms. My teacher, Nila Sherrill, makes each psalm more than just a writing of David but she brings this teaching into our lives as we are living in this time. Then it is move on to Vanco Manor Nursing Home where I do my volunteer work each Monday. I will be glad to be "out and about" as my mother used to say, on this lovely day but when I get home I will enjoy my book that I am reading and maybe a nap for a while.

I love to say and hope that whoever might be reading this blog will say "This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it". Enjoy the time you have on this earth. Don't get so caught up in the day to day stresses and trials that you forget to look up and see all that God has made on this day and how blessed we all are to be where we are, doing what we are doing, and remember that none is by accident - God has a plan for us and God is good - all the time.

JUST A HODGE PODGE OF STUFF

I am not a faithful blogger, as you know. I remember when Kim set me up on this site and encouraged me to write I was very excited. It was a new medium for sharing thoughts, ideas, stories, etc. However, as in most cases, the excitement subsided and the writings became few. I found myself following this practice many years ago when I would buy a Journal Book for that year and would write faithfully from January 1 to March 14 and then my entries would slow down and stop. Probably this habit of mine comes from the fact that I can't imagine that anyone actually reads this blog or has that much interest in what I might have to say. In some ways I think writing a blog or journal or, for that matter, an autobiography could be considered an act of ego, conceit or self-absorption. Maybe not. So, after all of that nonsense, I sit here at my computer preparing to give you a "snap shot" of what is going on here at J101 Aventura Apts.

When my class reunion was over and my work there was finished, I thought I would have so much free time that I would clean out a closet or two, do some really significant cleaning of my home and also I had visions of going and doing wonderful things. Do you think any of that has transpired? Well that hasn't - but Patrick and Mikka gave me my 17th great grandson, John Patrick Evans, Jr. who is just the most beautiful, precious, adorable, darling boy child in the world. Holding him in my arms takes me back 25 years to holding Patrick. He is a carbon copy of Patrick and he makes me feel so happy. Of course, he is not my grandson and there is a vast difference in being grandmother and great-grandmother. A grandmother is "hands on" and a great-grandmother is "look on from a distance". In fact, I think that I was the last relative or friend in the family to hold the child. He is growing and changing in looks and bringing great joy to the family.

My sister-in-law, Patsy Cline Murphy, died last week. She was 68 years old and lived in Bowling Green, Kentucky. I had not seen Patsy in quite some time, but kept up with her life through her e-mails and communications with my daughter, Kim. She and Kim had a great relationship and I am grateful for that because it appeared to me that Patsy didn't have many relationships in her life. Her daughter and her family lived near so she did have that family. Her son lives in Nashville and her sister lives in Georgia. Her brother lives in Waverly. One of the traits of the Cline family is that there doesn't seem to be a lot of close Cline ties. I am very thankful that my Rainey/Russell relatives instilled in me the value and need of keeping close ties with my relatives. I treasure the time that I spent with my brother, with Juanita and other relatives when they were alive and well. Now that they are gone I remember, with great fondness, the memories that I have of going to Universal Studios with Ronald and our long talks while sitting on the beach and of course all of the childhood memories of Juanita. We had family reunions and people came from Columbia, Franklin and wherever they might live. There was much love at those gatherings. I was lucky to have Aunt Ree live in the house with me for thirteen years. My big regret is that I didn't keep my mother closer to me during the last days of her life. However, we all have a lot of "do overs" in our lives and we have to move on and not dwell on them. I just have one great desire and that is that when I am gone my girls and their families will continue the closeness that they have now.

I am beginning to believe that I really do like public speaking. I was invited to speak at my church last week at the the Ladies Day program. My topic was to tell what it is like To Be In My Shoes at This Time in My Life. The theme of the day was In Her Shoes and there was speakers of all ages - very young, young, middle age, old and Me the oldest of all. What a good time I had speaking to that bunch of Christian friends and most of all a table full of my own children and my granddaughter. It was easy for me to tell them that even though my shoes were moving slower and not going so many places as when I was younger, I have a marvelous life and am a happy contented woman in the shoes that I am wearing now. Then, I had to speak at a club meeting on Tuesday night. I chose Words for my topic for this talk. I asked the group how many words they had spoken since rising that morning and were those words significant, insignificant, inspirational, or just "idle chit chat". While writing that speech I did a lot of soul searching about my own words. There are so many times that I wish that I had not spoken at all or that I missed an opportunity to speak to someone that might be meaningful to them for that time in their life. The main thing about words, I think, is to be sure that the words I speak are true - and not half-truths or just someone else's opinion that I have adopted. I believe that we all have the power to be an encourager with our words and by the same token we have the power to bring someone to the depths of despair with something that we might say. I believe that we should all give much thought to the words we speak. If you will indulge me I will give you a short poem on the subject of words:

A careless word may kindle strife,

A cruel word may wreck a life.

A bitter word may hate instill,

A brutal word may smite and kill.

A gracious word may smooth the way;

A joyous word may light the day.

A timely word may lessen stress

A loving word may heal and bless.

When Jesus would tell his disciples something He would always start with "I tell you the truth" and that is what He wants us to do with our words. He has always been true to His word because God is good - all the time.

Life is Very Good I Think

I have just returned from my morning walk with Houston. We went on the walking track this morning rather than just walking around the apartment complex. There is much "people watching" to be done when people are walking, jogging, running or bicycle riding on the track. First let me tell you about the track. It starts at the Hendersonville Library and continues under Indian Lake Blvd. right past my bedroom window, over the bridge and creek into Drakes Creek Park. If you did the entire route it would be about 5 miles, so I have been told. Well, Houston and I only walk on this trail in the morning because the afternoon is so filled with "health freaks" that you can't leisurely stroll (Houston's desire) and you will get run over if you don't watch and get out of the way. We, also, have picked up a lot of skateboarders and skaters that zoom past us like a rocket. This morning the walkers were all ages, sizes and gender. There were no dogs this morning, but a few cyclers. Houston hates the bicycles and tries to leap at them and bark. I have to hold him very carefully and even sometimes pick him up when I see a bicycle or skateboard coming behind us or toward us. One day he broke loose (haven't figured out how) of his collar and away he went like the wind after some poor puzzled soul on a skateboard. Finally the guy stopped, I ran up breathless apologizing to high heaven for my dog's ill manners and accepted his stoney stare of hatred for me and my dog. From that day on I have been extra careful. Anyway, the point of this blog (after all of that nonsense) is to tell you that you can judge a person's personality by their conduct on the walking trail. The young women in beautiful jogging outfits and bright colored tennis shoes have a cell phone in their hand and are very serious about the exercise and also desperate to get that call from somebody on the phone because they keep looking at it. The young men have tank top shirts and pretty shorts with very expensive shoes and they all have headphones on which could be phones or music or maybe they are listening to a sermon or something. These two groups do not acknowledge an old lady and dog. They neither look at you nor speak, and, in fact give you a look as if to say "why don't you walk your animal on another track because you are definitely too slow for this one". Now, we come to the older men who have on walking shorts a t-shirt and white Adidas shoes with socks. They are walking briskly and will always nod to me and say "good morning". Finally, we come to the old women who have on jogging suits that they have bought especially for this activity and they have on New Balance or Adidas shoes and they are carrying a bottle of water. They are usually with a friend, talking loud and breathing hard and very glad to stop and tell me how pretty my dog is and what a lovely morning it is and they hope that I am having a good day. In other words, they are taking a much needed break. I haven't mentioned the women or men who are walking their dogs and don't want Houston to come near their animals. Houston doesn't understand this so he begins to wag his tail and try his best to make friends. Sometimes I stop and insist that they cooperate and it works out fine. Sometimes I just give them a haughty look and keep moving - dragging poor Houston by the neck until he is choking and coughing. As I say, there is much to be learned while taking a walk on a track that caters to every kind of personality in the world. As my husband, Billy, used to tell me "it takes all kinds and that is why we have chocolate and vanilla". He would love this assortment of people that I encounter every day. My walking a mile every morning has not decreased my weight but it sure is a lot of fun to start your day "people watching". I try to make up stories in my mind about these individuals and picture them in another environment doing other things. Just doesn't take much to entertain me does it?

We are getting closer and closer to our new baby. As I have told you, Patrick and Mikka will have John Patrick Evans, Jr. really soon. The date is September 9th but he could decide to come on sooner. His grandmother, Kim, is so excited over the coming event that she has made a beautiful room for him, complete with bed and all the bedding, plus a sofa, pictures on the wall, drawers for his clothes and all of his accessories. His sister, Joesea, will share this room so her things have been placed in some of the drawers and her dolls adorn the shelves of the book case. She loves going to "their room" and watching her cartoons on her TV and having her breakfast before Kim takes her to school each morning. Kim will miss her morning routine with Joesea when the baby comes and Mikka is no longer working. Of course, when Mikka does go back to work Kim will be busy with, not one but two grandchildren. John Patrick Evans, Jr. will give me my 15th great grandchild. When Emily and Jackson get their girls from Haiti, I will have 17 great grandchildren. Maybe I will get a prize for having the most great-grandchildren at the next reunion. I will tell you this - these great-grandchildren are so beautiful and so intelligent and so active that they never cease to amaze me. I will never live to see what mark they make in the world but I am confident that they will all accomplish something spectacular. I know this because they are all being brought up in Christian homes and taught the love of God and the power of His Grace and they, like I, know that God is good - all the time.

EXCITING TIMES

As the song says "The Party's Over - It's time to call it a day". That is what I am saying about the East High Class of 1951's 60th Anniversary Reunion. The event was held at the Sheraton Music City Hotel and there is not one thing I would have changed about the party. We gathered at 4:00 for registration. The photographer, Lea Rutherford, came at 5:00 to make the class picture. Bless her heart, her battery on her camera had gone down and we had to "hold that pose" for 2 minutes while she charged it. She made her pictures, we helped all of the people sitting on the floor to get up and then we made our way to beautifully prepared tables with the white linen cloths, napkins, silver, china, crystal and Elizabeth Hill's centerpieces of red roses. Our meal was to die for - salad, sirloin steak and chicken marsala on a bed of buttermilk mashed potatoes and fresh asparagus spears lying across the entire plate. After those plates were removed the waiters/waitresses brought out warm bread budding with a bourbon sauce and chocolate drizzle. Yum, yum, yum. What a delightful dining experience. The video was then shown on a big screen that could be seen by everyone and it was a presentation of pictures of our class, with a few friends from other classes, from early days at East High until present days. It was accompanied by music that had been carefully chosen from 1950-51 days. Much squealing and laughing and commenting went on while the video was being played. It brought back so many memories and made us all feel like we were going back in time. The only sad part of it was that so many of the people that were pictured in the video are now gone. In planning this reunion these are the facts that I discovered: we had 43 members of the January Class; 156 members of the June Class. The people who left to go to the service or claim to be Class of 1951 bring our number to 211 members. We have 81 deceased members. We have 23 wrong or no address. We have accurate information on 107 members of the class . We had 42 classmates registered for the reunion, and with spouses and friends we had 74 registered. How sorry we were that Peggy Bomar got sick and had to miss. Jane Bradbury Russell could not make it this year, but how excited we were when Betty Patterson Pidcock walked into the hotel after traveling from Colorado. Shirley Charlton came from Chattanooga. We were so happy to see the Seigenthalers - James and Carl and oh, so many of the people that we have not seen in so long. Believe me the lobby of the Sheraton has never heard so much screaming and squealing and seen so much hugging and kissing as went on Saturday afternoon. I wonder how many schools in this day and time can boast of such long-term friendships as East High classes. As we parted company on this lovely evening many spoke of another such event in five years. I just smiled and said nothing because I don't know if my stress factor will be back to zero in five years. We will just have to wait and see.

School has started here in Tennessee. It is hard to believe that the summer has ended and that is just what has happened when school starts. Joesea, Kim's granddaughter, started to kindergarten, Christopher, (Chris's oldest child) started first grade and so did Connor, (Leslie's oldest child). Courtney moved back to U. T. and Carter went back to Goodpasture to start his sophomore year. Football starts Friday night and I intend to attend every one that I can this year because Carter will be playing and I want to savor every minute of his high school career because he is my last tie with that school. In my family two of my daughters and six of my grandchildren have graduated from that school. I have been involved with it since the second year it opened and when Carter graduates my association will be over. That is sad to me because it has been such a big part of my life. Oh well, that is life. Some things come and some things go. It is all part of the big plan that God has for our lives. I feel so safe knowing that He is in control and I don't have to worry about it. My life has always been good - some parts better than others - but still very good because no matter what life has given me I could always know that God is good - all the time.

THIRTEEN YEARS AGO TODAY

Today is a dreary, cloudy, rainy Saturday morning. The atmosphere mirrors my attitude and disposition. I really should not feel "yukky" today because it is the anniversary of Billy's death - I should feel happy thinking about him and the life that we lived for 46 years. When I think about that 14 year old "first love" in my life and the very early, actually way too young to be married, life I can't help but smile. We married with no thought whatsoever about our future. We had no money, a furnished apartment, no car, a good job for me but a very mediocre job for him. Do you think we ever gave all of that a thought? No. We bought a car. We moved to a nicer apartment. We had lots of good friends. We had parents who, even though they didn't approve or understand us, nevertheless gave us support. Then, we had Nita. Oh my goodness, two children with a child. It is a thousand wonders we didn't kill her. The nanny that came to me after her birth told me that "the instructions come with babies" and that must have been true because we all thrived and it was wonderful. Twenty months later came Corinne and a larger, nicer apartment, better job for Billy and life was grand for two people who were actually still children, Later came Kim and Tracey and nicer, larger homes, better jobs, friends and family, and all of the blessings that God continued to pour out on us. Billy became quite an expert on the subject of men's shoes - traveling the world studying leathers and styles. He was known for his innovative ideas - ideas that were ahead of his time and proved to be his downfall in the business. However, he spent many years in other fields and, even though he was not as dedicated and happy, he did an admirable job. The main thing that I have to say is that he had a love of God, and a lust for life. He loved his friends. His greatest love was his family. To Billy Cline, Nita, Corinne, Kim and Tracey (and me) were the true loves of his life. As the girls grew and married his sons-in-law became very important to him but then came Chris, Drew, Leslie, Emily, Patrick, Courtney and Carter and his love knew no bounds. That group of individuals were perfect in his sight. There was no activity that escaped his presence when it was possible - ball games, dance recitals, grandparent's days, etc. How sad that he was called away before he was able to know the great-grandchildren. Wouldn't he have the biggest grin on his face when this whole group gathers for Christmas? I can see him now with is white hair, immaculate clothing, his polished to shining shoes, his clipped fingernails, his straight carriage and his twinkling blue eyes as he surveys the room with a proud expression on his face. I could write many stories about Billy - some good and some not as good - but I will stop now and just remember that not everybody in this world has the advantage of marrying their high school sweetheart, living-loving-laughing through many years and then saying "so long and I will see you again and we can start all over". Being able to know that I will see him again makes me really happy to say that God is good - all the time.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON THOUGHTS

Today is Sunday, and I have just returned from church and a lovely lunch with Jacque and Wayne. I sat down to the computer to do some Class Reunion work and thought that maybe I should blog a word or two in case somebody might want to join me.

Last week was a "killer week" - Vacation Bible School!!! Really, it was a wonderful week. What a joy to be able to spend a week at church with hundreds of happy boys and girls from pre-school age to 5th grade. The noise level was many decibels - just don't know how many reaches the top of the scale but we got there lots of times. Our days would start off with an assembly in the chapel where the music, the dancing, the singing was ear-splitting. The enthusiasm and the excitement that was pouring out of there was outstanding. It just made your heart beat so fast to see all of those little children raising their arms in praise and thanking God for loving them. The theme was PandaMania and we had stuffed panda bears everywhere and t-shirts for all of us with a panda on the front and everywhere you looked there was some reminder that God is wild about us just like He is wild about the panda bears and other wild animals. I could describe all of the good things that happened but it would take too long. Suffice it to say that the whole week was an indescribable, spiritual, lovely experience and I appreciate the fact that I was a part of it. Of course, I crashed and burned at the end of the week with exhaustion. Another great reminder that I am really getting old!!!

Now, I am engrossed in my Class of 1951 60th Reunion. When I said that we were not going to have a program - just a video slide show of pictures of the classmates taken during their school years and now in later years and I met with the hotel to plan the menu and reserve the room, it sounded like such an easy task. Let me tell you that I have had some sleepless nights. In the first place we guaranteed the hotel 85 people and at this point we have 60 people registered. The hotel will work with me up to a point because of past experience through the years but we are still busting our you know whats to try to get some more attendees. It never occurred to me that so many of my classmates were disabled, deceased or disinterested, but that is a true fact. Well, we had a meeting the other day and I "assigned" tasks to some of the committee people that didn't volunteer to take on a responsibility. Now, I do feel better because when I explained that I was distressed over the other "d" words that I mentioned they took hold and came to my rescue. I can see a faint light at the end of the tunnel now and believe that everything will be okay. I was trying to do it all and there was no reason for me to do that when these other people were willing and just needed a little prodding.

Saturday was a lovely day for me when Corinne, Tracey, Kim and Joesea came out to my swimming pool and we had a lovely visit and a picnic lunch. It is such a joy to me to have these women who happen to be my daughters sit and visit with me like "girl friends", and just talk about all sorts of topics of interest. I get to hear stories about my grandchildren and great-grandchildren and also I catch up on the lives of these daughters of mine. They are so busy, so involved, so interesting and the time just flew by. Joesea is Kim's granddaughter and we watched her frolic in the water.

Speaking of my children - well they are children to me - Nita's husband, Ray, had his 60th birthday yesterday and today they are celebrating their 40th Wedding Anniversary. Talking about time flying - where did those 40 years go? How well I remember going to Inglewood Methodist Church and the church was full to standing room with friends, neighbors, family and some people I barely knew and then we had a reception in the church before they left for Atlanta on their honeymoon. Ray was a student and basketball player at Vanderbilt and Nita worked for Dr. Batson in the School of Medicine at Vanderbilt. They had a little apartment at The Villager in Green Hills and it never dawned on any of us that they were so young to be getting married. Each Sunday they would come to church at Valley View, lunch at Louise and Ed's house, my house to do the laundry and eat supper and then go back home. Oh my, those were what could be described as "the good old days". However, I kinda' like the present days myself and I think these are "good old days". Anyway - Happy Birthday to Ray and Happy Anniversary to Nita and Ray.

Well, now it is 2:00pm and Imust decide what I want to do - read my book "Miss Julia Takes Over" by Ann B. Roos, take a nap in my lounge chair or work on the class reunion. What do you think it will be? I kinda' think it will be the second item in my list. Isn't it wonderful that I have such a good life? Church, lunch, nap, precious dog, Houston, to sit in my lap and nap with me, and just know that God is good - all the time.

FOURTH OF JULY THOUGHTS

Today is The Fourth of July - Independence Day - a national holiday to be celebrated with hamburgers, hot dogs, T-shirts with flags painted on them, music and fireworks. It is a happy day for us, as Americans, to observe. Do we think about why we are observing this day? Do we even mention to our little children what the day really means? I had a "pre-fourth cookout" last night with some of my great grandchildren and never once did I hear our country mentioned. I'm sure that when my girls were young and we had our grand "Cline Fourth Celebration" we never talked about what it really means to be an American and to live in a country that has the freedoms that we enjoy. That is one of the "do over" things that I have in my life. There are so many things that I think of now in my old age that I would like like to be able to "do over" with my girls. Alas, that is not possible.

On my recent trip that I have told you about, we spent part of one day in Philadelphia. The history of that place is not only in evidence with the buildings and the landscape, it is in the air. When I was standing in front of Independence Hall looking at the building where the Declaration of Independence was signed I was amazed. This building has been restored several times, changing the appearance of the building. In 1950 it was restored back to its 1776 appearance. The liberty bell does not rest in the bell tower of the building now. It has a place of honor in a pretty garden across the street where you can visit it, make pictures and walk around. This bell cracked the very first time that it was rung so it was sent back to have another layer of copper on it. That extra copper made it sound terrible so they had to recast it again. The bell was rung to announce all sorts of important events but, of course, the most important event was to announce the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. As I rode around the city of Philadelphia I really got a serious dose of history and it does make a difference in how I view this holiday today.

Yesterday I shopped at WalMart and the young woman that checked me out was commenting on my Flag Pin that I had on my dress. She said "I have never been out of this country but I am told that if you ever leave for any length of time you will realize how lucky we are". I told her that I had been out of the country and, even though I was wined and dined and had a wonderful time visiting, I also came home glad that I am an American with all of the advantages and freedoms that exist for us. I think that we must do everything possible to protect freedom of religion. Sometimes I think we take the "freedom of speech" thing too far and expect to be able to say or do anything that we want even if it is morally wrong and hurtful to some. However, I'm glad that we have all of the freedoms. Our responsibility is to never abuse our freedoms.

Today has dawned a bit cloudy and reported to rain later in the day. Hopefully, all of the people that are having parties will not be disappointed. At 5:30PM today I will go to Kim and Brad's house to be joined by some members of my family, some friends, and Brad's mother and daddy. I am looking forward to being with all of them for the traditional meal and then sitting on the deck watching fireworks that we can see from that vantage point. When we stand in our circle and hold hands and offer a prayer I will not fail to offer up a prayer of thanks to a God that is good - all the time.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY TO ALL WHO TAKES TIME TO READ THIS BLOG.
LOVE TO YOU AND YOURS

LONG OVERDUE POST ABOUT TRIP

Well, good morning. Here I am to finally tell you about my wonderful vacation trip that I had from June 11th - 17th. The reason for my tardiness in reporting is that I came home so thoroughly exhausted and felt so bad I just could not bring myself to sit at this computer and write. To be able to tell you about this "trip of a lifetime" I wanted to feel well so that I could convey to you the wonderful experiences that I had on this excursion.

Forty Three people boarded a luxury bus on Saturday morning at 8:00AM. Everyone was full of conversation, laughter and anticipation for what we knew was going to be a great week. My roommate was my friend, Sara. Also on board this bus were some of my really good friends and former traveling companions, Kay Hudson, Betsy Smith and Susie Williams. My long-time friends, Billy and Peggy Jones, were also on board. So you see, I was surrounded by really good friends. As soon as the bus was a safe distance from the Shrine Temple meat/cheese balls were passed around along with whatever you desired from the fully stocked bar. From that point on we were snacking on cookies, candies, peanuts and other goodies. Our travel the first day took us to Virginia and the beautiful mountains and rolling meadows of that beautiful state. We spent the first night at a Holiday Inn in Roanoke. After a restful night and a good breakfast we boarded our bus for another day of travel, eating, card playing, napping and made our way to New Jersey. Our dinner was prepared for us at Applebee's Restaurant in Edison, New Jersey where we dined on sirloin steak, pasta dishes, fish or chicken. After this meal we made our way to Carteret, New Jersy to the Radisson Hotel for another good night of rest and relaxation. After that long bus ride it was just complete Heaven to take a long leisurely bath and stretch out on a comfortable bed. After breakfast on Monday morning we made our way with great anticipation to New York City. A young, energetic, most knowledgeable tour guide came on board our bus and we toured the entire city of Manhattan, stopping for lunch at Rockefeller Center and an hour of browsing that area. After lunch we boarded our bus and went to Ground Zero where we observed the ruins from the 5th floor of a building nearby. It was so emotional to stand there and see what was left of the two magnificent towers and remember that day on 9/11. From that point we drove through all of the rest of the island - China Town, Little Italy, Harlem and the Battery for a view of the Statue of Liberty. We ended our tour with a lovely private dinner at Ginger's Restaurant on the 5th Floor of the Double Tree Hotel where a room was prepared with china, crystal, silver and a sumptuous buffet dinner. After dinner we drove to our destination hotel in Atlantic City - The Tropicana Casino Resort Hotel. Sara and I were directed to a room on the 46th Floor that had a view of the ocean and most wonderful queen sized beds and other beautiful furnishings.

Tuesday, after a breakfast buffet at the Fiesta Room of the hotel, we drove to Philadelphia where we were met with another young, knowledgeable tour guide for a tour of everything historical. She gave us dates, times, people's names and places where everything that makes up the history of our country took place. The bus stopped at the steps where in the movie "Rocky" he ran up all of those steps to prove he was ready for a career in boxing. Some people ran up the steps but I just stood at the bottom quite content to make a picture. After a luncheon of sandwiches and cokes at a food court I visited the Liberty Bell and made some more pictures. We left Philly and drove back to the Tropicana for a nice dinner at the Fiesta Room Buffet. The food there was quite good and so many choices for our pleasure.

Wednesday was a Free Day to do anything we desired. Sara and I took our time with getting up and dressing and having a good breakfast and then we went to the Board Walk. All of my life I have heard of the Board Walk in Atlantic City and here I was, actually seeing the shops the people, the ocean and the beach. What a wonderful experience. After making some purchases and walking as much as we wanted we went back to our room for a game of Scrabble and a nap before dinner at the hotel. In our Tour Package we were given $30.00 for playing the slot machines so we made our way into the casino and had a fun time winning, losing, winning again and then cashing out. I came away with $30.40 which I thought was splendid.

On Thursday morning we were told to have our luggage ready for pick up so after breakfast we finished packing and set our bags by the door and made our way down to the bus. When I say "made our way" I am telling you that every time we tried to go anywhere in this massive building we seemed to get lost and would wander forever until we finally would see something familiar and would be able to go where we wanted to be. It got to be a real joke among everybody that we seemed to go around in circles to get to a final destination. After boarding the bus we departed for Baltimore, MD where we parked the bus at the Inner Harbor and had some hours of shopping, lunching and just sitting and watching the beautiful ships that were coming in and out of Chesapeake Bay. When this excursion was over we boarded the bus and drove to Lexington, Virginia. We were so tired when we got there that rest was welcome and sleep came quickly.

Friday morning found us having breakfast at the hotel, boarding the bus for a long, tiring day of card playing, snacking, drinking, talking, napping and longing to see Nashville and getting off of the bus. We stopped at a Subway Sandwich shop for lunch and decided not to stop again until we were home. We arrived back at the Shrine Temple at 5:00PM and there stood Kim waiting for Sara and me. What a welcome sight.

I have no words left in my vocabulary to tell you what an amazing experience this entire trip was for me. Yes, riding a bus as much as I did made me very tired but to go through the states of Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and see the beautiful countryside was a delight that I will carry in my mind forever. I came home with so many memories of sights that I saw, things that I heard, friendships that I made among the travellers, and I feel so privileged to have been able to make this trip at this time in my life. I have made many trips to New York and on this tour I just rode by all of the places that meant so much to me - the Metropolitan Museum, the Guggenheim Museum, FAO Swartz, the Empire State Bldg., the Plaza Hotel - so many others that are too many to name. I had made the statement that I would never get to see New York City again in my lifetime but I did and I am happy that I could ride by and not have to walk to all of those places.

When the information came out many months ago telling about this trip I knew that it was something that I wanted to do. My children helped it become a reality. Some of my friends helped it to become a reality. I rearranged many activities to leave me free to go, but I know that it was in God's plan for me to go and see the things that I experienced while I am still able to do it. I have thanked Him many times for working it out for me and it makes me understand even more that God is good - all the time.

SUMMER HAS ARRIVED IN ALL IT'S GLORY

Today is the first day of June. We are entering the second half of the year already. So many things have happened in the first half it just makes me wonder what is yet to come? I'm sure that it will be pleasurable and happy some of the time, unhappy and unexpected sadness some of the time because such is life. As the song goes "I didn't promise you a rose garden" but we do have lots of roses and, fortunately, few thorns among them.

One of my "roses" happened this past Sunday. The day had been designated as Adoption Sunday at First Baptist Church in Hendersonville. This day, that is held every year, is a day that the church pauses and honors those people who have adopted children, are adopted themselves or contemplating adoption, etc. Nita and Ray were invited to speak to the church on the subject of integrating an international adoption into the family. They did a remarkable job in a short time of telling how much it meant to have Patrick Ray and Nicholas Drew Maddux in their family. We watched a film of Drew announcing that he and Tara had decided to adopt the boys from Uganda and the film followed their journey to the orphanage and meeting the boys and then going back and bringing them home. This whole procedure took over a year but Drew and Tara, with fierce determination and validation from God, pursued all of the mountains of paperwork and being delayed with a date and everything until the day came that they were approved, a date given and the trips (2 of them) made to bring the boys back and introduce them into our family. As Ray said in his part of the speech "our family looks different now but it is a family" and that is true. It is hard to remember when Patrick and Nicholas were not running around screaming and playing with the other children when we have family parties. I was so proud of Nita and Ray as they spoke from the pulpit and I was proud of Drew and Tara as they stood up to show the boys. Now, our next adventure is when Emily and Jackson go to Haiti to bring back Jode and Valencia, two little girls that they are adopting and bringing to be a part of our family. The commitment and obedience to God's calling for my grandchildren is just overwhelming to me. As my mother would say if she was here "I glory in their spunk".

As I mentioned earlier, it is June now and we just stepped from winter right into summer. It is hot and sultry and not good to spend time outside. Yesterday as I ran some errands I realized that the summer sun and fun I used to think was so great is not so great now. Poor Houston has to get up early in order to get to go walking because we have to beat the heat. We love walking the track beside my apartment and following the trail over a creek and into the park. He saw two ducks in the creek yesterday and it was a tug of war between him and me to keep him from chasing right into the water after them. By the way, I won!!!

Next week - on the 11th day of June - I am going on a trip. I will spend next week getting ready but this week has been too filled with other things. I am looking forward to the trip because I haven't had such an excursion in quite a few years. My friend, Sara, will be my roommate and we will visit Baltimore Harbor, Philadelphia, New York City, and Atlantic City. All of this will be done on a big luxurious bus so there won't be too much walking. Of course it will be a fast-paced trip and I will come home tired but happy that I did get to see these places, especially New York, some of which I have never visited. I will have lots to Blog about when I return. Without Kim to make my pictures for me I don't know what pics I will have to put on the blog. She is my photographer for all events.

I have found me a new author that I am really enjoying reading. You know that I am an avid reader and the fact that I had no book to read over the week-end and the library was closed was not a good thing. I am really loving Dorothea Benton Frank's books. They are all written about Charleston and the surrounding islands which was her home. She makes everything seem so real. Pawleys Island, Isle of Palms, Shems Creek I have read and now Bulls Island kept me awake until almost midnight last night. Maybe someday I will be privileged to visit this area and see all of the places for myself. That would be a real gift and who knows - I might just get to do that. God does give me such splendid gifts and that might just be one of them because God is good - all the time.

ENDINGS AND BEGINNINGS

Today I am going to write about endings and beginnings. I am an Oprah fan and have been glued to my TV at 4:0o PM each afternoon since she announced her retirement from daytime television. Yesterday, was the end of her show as we know it. I was delighted at the dignified, professional way that she ended 25 years of interviewing and teaching (as she called it) about life and how to live it without letting it get you down and making you feel like a failure. Sometimes in my life I have felt like a failure. I did not know how to be a wife when I married. I did not know how to be a mother when I had my first child or, for that matter, any of them. Each day was a learning experience for me. Some days I passed the test and some days I failed. Be that as it may, the days of raising children came to an end and the new beginning was the grandchildren and now the great-grandchildren. One thing that Oprah taught me along this line is that you never quit learning and you can always help someone else that is beginning where I have ended.

Well, on the subject of TV endings and beginnings - I was a fanatical watcher of Dancing With the Stars. My choice came in second but I had a soft spot in my heart for the man that won and I am happy that the show ended on a happy note. I hope that the people that participated on that show learned a lot and as their part ended they went on to a new beginning with wherever their life takes them. The same thing is true of American Idol which was another TV show I became quite enamored with. I loved the young man that won and I was so happy to see him with the title of American Idol last night as the show ended. His life will be changed from now on and his new beginning will include lots of singing, recording, entertaining and, hopefully, making lots of money.

I was invited by my daughter, Corinne, to accompany her to Dyersburg, TN to my granddaughter's home to attend the Kindergarten Graduation of my great-grandson, Connor Cline Pigg. We arrived there and had a nice visit, a delicious supper and then left in a flurry of gathering up the other two boys and their shoes and things and hopping in the car for the ride to the school where Connor attends, Christ Classical Academy. The program was delightful. The children in caps and gowns marched in to the playing of Pomp and Circumstance and each one had something to say - a Bible verse or telling their favorite part of Kindergarten. They sang their class song which was Trust and Obey and that, I thought, was so special. Each child walked across the stage to receive their diploma, pause for a picture with their teacher and then another picture as they moved the gold tassel to the other side of their cap. Connor did everything that he had been prompted to do with much seriousness and determination. Oh my goodness, what a beautiful, special, precious child he is. After he, with great patience, allowed his picture to be taken many times we went home where my granddaughter, Leslie, had prepared a beautiful celebration table of balloons, pictures, cookies and cup cakes with Connor's school colors and the initials of the school. She also had made little roll up sandwiches to look like a diploma plus strawberries stuffed with a cream cheese filling and topped to look like a mortar board. Connor graciously received his gifts and expressed his appreciation and the party was over. He had ended his life as a little boy student and will begin in the fall to be a part of the real school world as he grows up very fast, completing each grade. I do hope that I am able to celebrate his graduation party when he ends his schooling before beginning his higher education life. You see when one door closes another one truly opens.

There will always be endings and there will always be beginnings because this is the plan that God has set in motion from the time of our birth. Sometimes we have to search for our new beginnings because we did not plan the endings but we will always find our way because we know that God is good - all the time.

MY MOTHER'S DAY WAS PERFECT

It is unbelievable that I am sitting here writing on this blog so soon after the "random thoughts" blog, but as I mentioned in that blog yesterday was Mother's Day. I just can't let that occasion go by without talking about My Mother's Day. My day began with telephone calls from each daughter - some in the car on the way to church, some just having breakfast, others doing their regular Sunday morning chores but the point is that they each took time to pick up the phone, dial my number and greet me with "Happy Mother's Day". Now, can you think of a better way to start a day? Neither can I. My order of day was coffee, toast with Houston, get dressed for church and as the weather was warm and predicted to be warmer I had a couple of decisions to make. I drove to Madison Church of Christ and drove around the parking area twice hoping that I could find a "Senior Citizens" spot (yes, one advantage of getting old) but to no avail so I parked and walked into the building and on to my Sunday School Class. I have never studied Revelation before - never wanted to - scared of it - not interested, etc. but Nila Sherrill has given me a whole new perspective on the book and I am loving the study. Worship Service was good. Phil, the preacher does a good job every week. I wish that we would sing a few songs from the "old days" but that seems to be beyond our Praise/Worship Minister so I have given up on that subject. After church I enjoyed lunch with Jacque, Wayne and Jeffrey and then came back to Hendersonville. Houston and I took a long walk and I realized that it is fast becoming Summer. He and I was glad to get back inside to the air conditioning and a drink of cold water. Next comes the purpose for this blog - MY MOTHER'S DAY CELEBRATION. Corinne and Mark picked me up and we drove to Anchor High Marina. Corinne bought two balloons that were heralding the purpose of our dinner - Happy Mother's Day they announced. We were given the best table at the restaurant - inside the building but by open windows right by the lake. One by one the girls and their husbands arrived and Patrick, Mikka and Joesea with Kim. We numbered 13 at this table. I was given gifts of money from each family because I am going to take a wonderful trip in June and money for travel extras is not in my budget. Well, let me tell you this, they were so generous that I am embarrassed. I plan to eat the best dinners on the trip and I want to buy me one really significant treasure souvenir while I am in New York City or Philadelphia or Atlantic City which are the main cities on the agenda. I had said many times that it made me sad to think I would never see New York City again because travel to that place is too demanding and my stamina is not up to it now, but this time I will be seated on a sight-seeing bus and get to view all of the places that I have visited in the past in the easiest manner possible. Of course, I won't get to walk the majestic halls of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, or the Guggenheim Museum or see the fantastic merchandise in FAO Schwartz, or Tiffany's but I will ride by and remember. My trip will be enhanced a thousand times because of the generosity of my family. I announced that I would like to make a speech shortly before we adjourned but I didn't do it. Why did I choke? Well, that is exactly what I did do - choke!! I could feel my throat tightening and my eyes filling and I could feel the tears coming to the surface. To end this perfect day with a bunch of words of gratitude accompanied with tears would have been a travesty. So, I just said thank you and let it go at that. I am pretty sure that each one of those beautiful people looking right at me knew what I meant, knew what I thought, knew that I loved them beyond belief and knew that I prayed each day for their health, their safety and their happiness. I give their lives to God with my prayers because I know He has a plan for each of them and I know that plan will be good. Why do I know this? Because God is good - all the time.

Random Thoughts This Saturday Morning

The grass is green and shiny with dew, the trees are leafed out with tender green leaves, the sky is a vivid blue with little puffs of white and the sun that has decided to get up is shining in my window. It is very quiet here at my apartment. Isabella (the 2 year old across the hall) is obviously still asleep because by this time she has usually had two or three of her "terrible twos" episodes. No dogs are barking - not even Houston who has had his bites of toast and now gone back to sleep for another nap. So you see, with all of this quiet solitude it provides me with time to reflect and think about life in general.

This has been a week of ups and downs, laughs and frowns, happiness and sadness - many emotions. My week started with the news that one of my friends had lost her 47 year old daughter to death. Her daughter, Monica, like my daughter, Kim, had followed each others progress through the head/neck cancer malady, even sharing the same radiation oncologist and chemo oncologist and surgery doctors at Vanderbilt. Both daughters were pronounced "cancer free" and both were still suffering the ravages of radiation and chemo to their bodies. Monica, however, had a stroke and has been battling that for a couple of months. Saturday she took a nap and woke up in Heaven. Good for Monica - Sad for her mother, Joanna, and for the rest of us that knew and loved her. After arranging food for the family at the funeral home and being a member of the audience at the funeral I moved on to the rest of my week's activities. My volunteer work at Vanco Manor Nursing Home is such a rewarding activity. I go into the rooms that are assigned to me and take away the dead flowers from the previous week, wash out the bud vase that has a Madison Church of Christ tag around the vase, fill it with fresh colorful flowers and if the patient wants to talk, I talk. If the patient wants to be left alone I quietly leave. If the patient wants to cry I put my arm around her and we pray. Sometimes we tell each other a joke or an incident that we deem to be very funny. This takes two hours of my day once a week and if they, the patients, enjoy it as much as I then it is a great way to spend a Monday morning.

I went back to my eye doctor and after the most thorough examination through every kind of weird looking machine you can imagine he pronounced my eye surgery to be successful. All scars that were on my eye are gone and the surface is smooth as can be. I do not have to go back to him for a year. The macular degeneration is the same and that is a good thing (the no change part not the disease). I have to wear dark glasses when in the sunlight or even the glare of a cloudy day. My regular glasses that I use for reading may need to be changed but that is for another doctor to decide. Anyway the door is closed for now on eyesight problems!!!! A praise that all went so well, I say.

My committee that is planning a 60th Anniversary Class Reunion met this week. We really didn't have a lot of business to conduct but we all brought a sack lunch, discussed our plans for the event, visited with each other as we ate our sandwiches and parted with plans to meet next month and "really get down to work". These people are so dear to me. Some of the members of this committee were people I went to elementary school, junior high school and graduated with in 1951. Isn't it wonderful to have friends that you have loved for 60 years? I find that this condition does not exist for a lot of my friends or even for my children. We were a different breed of children in the "good old days" I guess. Another praise for good friends.

Speaking of school, East High in particular, I went to East last night as a guest at the Dinner to Honor the Graduating Seniors. My friend, Rip Ryman (President of Alumni Association) and I sat for several minutes prior to the event and talked to the principal, Steve Ball. He is such a fascinating man and has made such a difference in the school since he came from Chattanooga to work at East Literature Magnet School. He told us that the school will be dropping the Literature word from it's name and become East High Magnet School. This is to reflect that it is a true magnet school, admissions governed by a lottery drawing (they have a long waiting list) and their programs are hard and extensive. The graduation rate is 99 percent and 90 percent of the graduates go to college. I met the Salutatorian who boasted a Vanderbilt shirt and has a scholarship to the university where she will study pre-med. My role at this dinner was to speak to the graduates about the scholarship program and to present a certificate to the Scholarship Recipient who happened to be the Valedictorian of the 2011 graduating class. She is a delightful young woman who will go far in this world. The whole evening was a grand experience to be invited to walk the hall and sit in the place that I spent so much of a happy childhood while looking at a totally different environment from what it was at that time. I consider this school, the programs, the teachers and most especially the dedicated principal to be a praise also.

So you see this whole blog has been just as the title implies - random thoughts. No real theme, no real purpose, just things I'm thinking and sharing with whomever takes the time to read this blog. I need to say to some of you that have written me encouraging me write a book that I started a book years ago and just don't seem to be able to be consistent. Maybe one day I will do with the book like I do with this blog - sit down and just start writing and not know when to quit. I do know that now is the time to quit this session and say to all of you that tomorrow is Mother's Day. I love the way that my children honor me, not just on Mother's Day but every day. I am the most blessed of all women. On Mother's Day, however, I give so much thought to my mother whom I miss every day since she died on May 13, 1988. Nobody loves you like your mother except God. They both love unconditionally and that gives me great comfort and allows me to say to you that God is good - all the time.

FINALLY TELLING YOU ABOUT OUR EASTER

Good morning. Yes, it is raining and dark and gloomy and one of those days that makes you say "I believe I will lie here another hour and then get up". However, Houston does not share my laziness and he is ready for his toast. It was called to my attention by my sweet sister-in-law, Rosemary (is Rosemary one word or two? I have never decided) that I omitted a blog about Easter. I apologize to each of you that enjoy my family stories and will tell you that our Easter this year was "different". By that I mean that we did not have the entire family, nor the big yard for egg hunting and game playing that we had for the last 20 years at Freda Villa. The Maddux family went to Jackson, MS to have Easter with Chris, Ashley and the children. They had a wonderful time and Chris made the week-end fun filled and happy for all of them. The rest of us went to our respective churches for Easter Services and then met at Kim's house for our celebration. Each family came dressed in their Easter Finery and kept dressed in it until all the pictures had been made. (The men and children love this part). Then, and only then, were the children allowed to put on their play clothes. Kim had decorated her home so beautifully and also had tables set up on the deck covered with green and orchid colored cloths. She used those two colors in the plates, cups, napkins and serving dishes. The day, which had been predicted to rain was warm, semi-cloudy but enough sun peeking through those clouds to make for a happy scene. Everyone enjoyed being on the deck and watching a big barge go up the river. The children were fascinated. After a feast of delicious food prepared by all of us we adjourned to the front yard for the "Big Hunt". The children had been patiently playing ball in the back yard, safely out of sight of Corinne and Cassie (the egg hiders) and when they were called to the front yard with their cute baskets they were told to sit down for instructions. Big groans went up from those five little people because they wanted to get on with the hunt. When they were turned loose they screamed, laughed, knocked each other over as they would dive for the same egg and we loved the sight of those happy children running in all directions. Then came the time to count the eggs - who had the most, who had the golden egg and how much money or candy get they collect from their eggs. Of course there were tears because "he got more than me" or "I found that egg and she took it away from me" and, well, you know all the wails and gripes that accompany a group of cousins in competition. After the hunt and the games, and the prizes had been awarded everybody began to gather up their dishes, their clothes, their tired, sleepy children and just as everybody left the rain that we had worried about came in abundance. What a wonderful day. We had started the day with a celebration of the risen Savior with hymns, prayers and praise and then spent the rest of the day celebrating with our family and friends with laughter, good food, fun and so much love. Just makes you know with all your heart that God is good - all the time.

ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Today is such a big anniversary in my life that I just felt I had to record it - not just for the ones reading this blog, but for my own self. One year ago today, April 17th, I moved from Freda Villa to this apartment at Aventura at Indian Lake in Hendersonville. I know that I have made many references in past blogs about this event but today it really hit me. What is it about One Year Anniversaries that brings such big thoughts to one's mind? I remember when Billy died all of the girls called me to speak about "One Year Ago Today". When different things in my life have occurred that "One Year Ago Today" always seemed to be a big deal. Well, to just make a point I will say that a good decision was made a year ago. I have no regrets. In fact I have nothing but good things to say about living here. I know that I have made remarks about "no neighbors", "nobody speaks", etc. but just to tell you the truth I suppose that one year does make a difference because just today I saw my neighbor in the Loft Building next to me (his name is Clay) and he told me that he and his wife, Amber, keep an eye on me when I am walking Houston or when I go in and out with my car. He is a huge guy with big tattoos all up and down his arm and he rides his motorcycle with loud noises but he really touched my heart with his message because I had no idea he cared enough to give me a thought - much less to say that he "watched out for me". Don't you think that is grand? I feel that, even though we don't sit and chat and have coffee like the Freda Villa bunch, I do, indeed, have a neighbor. Anyway, my life is so much simpler here. My freedom is so much greater. Yes, my expenses are more it seems but somehow I seem to make it okay. Houston and I have a good, quiet, solid life and I am doing well. Last week on Saturday, April 9th, I went to the loveliest birthday party for my friend, Peggy Bomar, who turned 80 years of age. Believe me when I tell you that she does not look 80 nor does she think like some 80 year old women do, nor does she act like an 80 year old. She is fun and happy and cheerful and we love to talk about our days at East High when she and I were cheerleaders and she played basketball. Our lives took entirely different paths after school and it is so much fun now that she has married an East High Alum and lives right here in the apartments and we see each other often. The party was attended by many old friends and one of them was a friend of my daughter, Kim. In fact her name is Kim also. She is such an interesting, intelligent, beautiful woman now practicing in the medical profession. Who would have ever thought that this fun-loving teenager that rode around cruising Shoneys with my Kim would turn out to be such a fascinating and delightful woman? I am so proud of her, and my Kim, and it just "made my day" to get to visit with her. Peggy and I have spent quite a bit of time reminiscing over that great party. Last night I went to First Baptist Church in Hendersonville to the Easter Musical Program and Drama. I have been to almost all of their productions through the years at Easter and Christmas but I have never witnessed such a powerful and emotional program as this one. It was titled Mercy Seat and the bottom line was that all of us, at some time in our lives (many times for me) have been allowed to receive God's mercy for all of the inappropriate things that we do daily. It is our privilege to sit in the Mercy Seat that none of us actually deserve but as I have told you so many times in this blog God is good - all the time.

Good morning everyone,

I have my list made for things I need at the grocery. I have my prescriptions in my pocket book for getting my medicine. I should be on my way to running errands. However, as I was preparing green beans for cooking and doing things to straighten up my house, I had so many random thoughts going through my mind that there is no way I can refuse to write them down.

First and foremost - the storm last night was really a "raging demon" in my estimation. The wind was ferocious, the lightning so bright, the thunder deafening and to top it all off no electricity for TV or reading or anything to get your mind off of what was going on outside. I do believe that God had intentions for that. I do believe that He wanted me to sit still and listen and know that He is in control. If that is what He had in mind - believe me it worked. During all of this I realized that daughters are just the best thing that happens to mothers. I have four of them and each one is so precious to me. First of all Ray called - not a daughter but a wonderful son-in-law - and told me that he and Nita were going to Corinne's house in Gallatin where there was electricity and TV for the Big Basketball Game. I agreed to go. Then I began to think about leaving and decided that I would stay here. Nita called to say they were on their way to get me and it might be some time because of traffic conditions being so bad. I told her that I wasn't going. She thought I should and that I was making a mistake to stay here but being an understanding daughter of my old-age personality, she didn't argue and they left for what they thought would be a simple drive to Gallatin. Wrong on that account!!! Then Tracey called and even though they had no electricity she wanted to come and get me and we would just "hang out" at her house. I thanked her but declined. Kim was so upset over the no electricity thing that she gave me the ultimatum that if I didn't have electricity by 7:00 she was coming after me and Houston. I told her that I had been invited to be rescued by her sisters and I had no intention of leaving here. Thankfully, the lights came on at 6:45PM. The point I am making here is that all of my daughters were right there with offers of help and their offering was not obligatory but with love. Could I ask for more than that? I told Barbara about it and she told me that of her four sons she had not received a phone call. Difference between daughters and sons? I'll say!!! Each time I had a baby and Billy would want a boy so badly and we would be given a baby girl I know now that it was God's plan that we hear about and realize as we get older.

Kim put the pictures on this blog of the wedding for your enjoyment. I can tell you that I was so happy at that wedding. Patrick is such a special man to me. He spent so much time at our house while he was growing up that he is almost like my own son. He always came by on Banquet nights to let me see him and his date, he never forgot a Mother's Day or Birthday - either a card or a phone call. We have spent our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day times together. Of course, all of this will change now and I wouldn't have it any other way. I will love Mikka as a granddaughter and I adore Joesea as a great-granddaughter. I suppose that you noticed Patrick's shoes that he wore - tennis shoes!!! What do you thing Billy Cline, the men's shoe expert of the shoe business, would say to that? Wow, I'm glad I didn't have to hear it. Patrick is wearing Billy's wedding ring and I am delighted that he still has his PaPa close to him. They were real buddies and the love that they shared is unequaled. Yes, the wedding is over and now we, as a family of many people and many personalities, will move on to other things. Whatever that may be remains to be seen but I'm sure that it will be wonderful. God has always provided strength and love to us when we needed it the most. It is such a comfort to know that God is good - all the time.