The Way It Is

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

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

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

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

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

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

I have been admonished....

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

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

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

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

Some more "frozen in time" events

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

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

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

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

"Completely Revitalized"

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

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

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

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

Hold Fast to Precious Moments

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

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

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

Everything is Beautiful

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

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

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

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

Greetings from an "Old Timer"

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

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

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

Monday night, March 31, 2008

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

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

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

Will do the poem another time.

Rainy Saturday Afternoon

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

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

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

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

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

Wednesday,March 26,2008

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

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

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

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

More Blessings-Tuesday,March 26,2008

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

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

Cord Ramsey Pigg

Blessings, Blessings, Blessings

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

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

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

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

Good Friday - 2008

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

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

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

Love to all and I wish for you a blessed day

Thursday, March 20, 2008

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Kim told me that I should write in the morning rather than night, but it is neither right now - afternoon is my writing time today. Really, I have no good nor bad news to report. I wanted today to be a day to stay in PJs and work in my office trying to make some semblance of order out of chaos. I look around and I have files on the floor, books on the table, pictures in boxes and books under the desk, just a terrible mess. Yes, that was my desire for today, but my better side took over and I dressed and went to the funeral home. How very glad I am that I did. Peggy and Linda Roy were absoutely overjoyed (if that is the proper phrase for the place and purpose of my visit) that I came. They just kept expressing over and over until it almost got very embarassing how much they appreciated my coming. Not having seen Mrs. Roy in many years she had changed from the woman that I remembered into a complete stranger, but yet a beautiful woman - very elegant, stylish and lovely. Normally I do not view remains of deceased but I had no choice in this instance because the girls were standing right there by the casket and if I spoke to them I had to see their mother. I did not stay for the service. Next stop was the cleaners, then the grocery where I purchased our Easter Ham and ran into, of all people, Sara Chauvin. We decided to go to Mason's for lunch so we each went home, put up our purchases and met at Mason's. Big lunch - chocolate pie - too much. So what do you suppose I did then? Do you think I came home and started on this room? Never in a million years - I read three chapters in a John Grisham book and took a nap. Now, however, I am in my "work clothes" and ready to start on this room. Tomorrow I am supposed to go to Barbara's house and work on grants for the Frist Foundation but I have already decided to beg off of that and work on my room until I go to Donna's to get my hair cut and permed - and not a minute too soon because my hair is a constant problem these days. I had intentions of running out to the shopping center today but after I stopped at the Shell station and paid $3.19 for a gallon gas and it totalled up to $40.00 I decided to come home and put my car in the garage and combine the shopping center with another errand out that way. With the price of groceries and the price of gasoline compared with my pitiful income I have decided that I will be forced to eat less and walk more. Hey, maybe that is the answer to my weight problem. I must get busy now and while I work I will listen to my music selections. Aren't I a lucky woman to have this lovely home to work in on a blustery, cool day like today and have this means of communicating with my favorite people? God is Good! Love to you all.

Hope you are reading my posts - Today is Monday

I hope that by now you have been able to access my new site. Leslie and Kim posted comments and I appreciate that. Nita told me that she was enjoying my music and I am glad. I really don't have much to say to you tonight. This morning I spent a lot of time going through pictures and putting them in baggies with dates and event titles on them so that I can Scrapbook them - hopefully in the very near future. I am so far behind with my scrapbooks that I don't know how I will ever catch up. I guess that I am going to have to lock the doors, turn off the phone, log out of the computer and just get myself to work. I do love to scrapbook the pictures and am so proud of the books that I have done in the past so if I ever do get back to it I will be in "hog heaven".

I met Rockne Porter, a good friend from high school that lives part of the year in Japan and part of the year here in a big beautiful home on Lebanon Road, at the Alumni House today. He had asked me to meet him and let him in the house so that he could look up some relatives in the books that we have over there. For my effort in doing this he took me to lunch at the Gerst House. We tried to go to Marche's but they were not open. My afternoon was spent on the sofa feeling as though I might be taking "something" - don't know what just not well, but tonight I feel fine so hopefully it was a big old false alarm. I did not make it to the funeral home for Mrs. Roy so that means that I will either have to go to the funeral or maybe go over there before the funeral and pay my respects to the family, sign the book and slip out. I feel the need to go so I will encourage myself to do it.

Don't you just love my music selections? I do. In fact I play the music when I don't have anything on the screen. I told Kim to take off Houston and Farther Along because it sounded like the artists had been breathing helium and had that little funny voice. Something must have been wrong with the CD. The music for the most part has some significance for me (things that Billy and I did, trips I took, songs that we danced to, etc.) but some of it was just because I like the songs and the artists. I will put more on there as I think of it.

As far as I am concerned Dancing With the Stars has the lousiest bunch of men dancers I have ever seen. I do hope that tomorrow night will show us women that can dance because these guys sure can't. What about that first man - the magician? I believe that he was the most laughable dancer I have ever seen. He won't last a week when they start cutting. I hope Kristy Yamaguci (sp?) does well. I really think she is cute and I bet she is agile and graceful. Priscilla Presley looks awful. Oh well, enough of my critical talk.

I am tired tonight and my music is playing "The Music of the Night" and that means that I need to go night night.

Have a good night my girls and tomorrow will be a good day, hopefully, for all of you.
Love you

My 1st Post....

Today is my very first time to post on my new site. After much "to-do" Kim has it all set up for me. My songs, some of which I love and have much meaning for me and some I just like, have been selected. The picture of my girls made on Christmas Day and Kim tells me that we will put many more pictures and fun stuff on here. I am just so excited and I know that I will have a ball with this. You know that I love to write my thoughts so now I have a perfect place to do so. I will try to post every day - hence the title "Postings from Patsy" - and let you all know what my life is about. I can tell you now that we are going to have a fun adventure and I want you all to hang on and let's go, go, go.

Today was church, lunch at TGI Friday's with Jacque and Jeffrey and then to Kim's where we have made a poster of pictures for the school (Developmental Learning Center). When I walk in with this poster of the children doing their show during Black History Month they will absolutely flip out. We made one of the Christmas Party and that made such a hit that this one will really make me a hero I'm sure.

This week is going to be busy and I had thought it wouldn't be since I am not working at the school. I have a luncheon meeting tomorrow and an East High Committee meeting on Tuesday night, a meeting at Barbara's house on Wednesday to write grants to the Frist Foundation, cook meals on wheels and get a facial on Thursday and then Friday and Saturday should be spent getting ready for Easter Sunday. I love Easter Sunday at my house - big lunch, Easter Egg Hunt, games on the driveway, lots of pictures made and just watching all of my children enjoying each other. What a blessed woman I am to have such wonderful children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I feel so sorry for those people who sit down to Easter Dinner with only one or two people at the table. We will have everybody except Chris, Ashley, Christopher and John Ed and I can't feel too sad about not having them because I spent a delightful Friday evening with them this past week.

I guess that I have written enough for this first time. Seems like when I get started I just don't know when to stop. I hope you will join me often and share my life.