Sweet Southern Belle

There will be an official graduation ceremony this weekend but I’m done with my school work! My last paper has been signed, sealed and delivered! Yippee! J

Last night my church’s preschool and children’s choirs presented programs in our evening worship. The program was so sweet! I love to see little ones praising God! Children are so innocent and free of the worldly stuff that bogs down adults. They are so free and believing. I was moved by the entire act of worship.

One preschooler sang off key the entire program, yet sang with all his heart. He was so proud to sing the lyrics that described God’s L-O-V-E!

Then the children’s choir did something different. Instead of singing a musical like usual they learned some traditional hymns. The children were taught about the meaning of the words of songs they sing in “big” church. It was so special to hear young children describing theological issues that I have trouble understanding. Two young children told the meaning of the trinity with such faith and assurance. I thought of the verses in Matthew that talk about the faith of a child. The bible teaches that to enter the kingdom of heaven we have to have faith like a little child. ( Matthew 18 2-4)

There are lots of significant changes occurring in my life right now but I seem to be more concerned with those less significant. Lately I’ve noticed that my gray hair is multiplying at a rapid rate. The first few gray hairs I noticed didn’t bother me but lately my entire part has gray. My father was gray in his late twenties so I guess it shouldn’t surprise me. Oh well, thank God for Clairol! I’ve also noticed that dark circles under my eyes are darker than before and just today a young teen called me Mrs. (last name). I know he was only using the excellent manors he’s been taught but geez; I’m not that old yet!

Where did time go? Wasn’t I just sixteen last week!?!?!? I know I’m young (relatively speaking) but man some days I feel sooo old!

This morning I’m off to see my primary care physician for a general yearly physical. As a part of that physical she checks my cholesterol and blood sugar so I have to fast. I can’t have anything to eat or drink until after my 10:45 appointment. I’m sure it’s not healthy for a caffeine addict to go that long without coffee. My head is already hurting and its 6:50am. L

 I’m been promising myself that I’d do a lot of things “once school was over” and one of them is that I’d cut back on my caffeine intake. I drink 6-12 cups of coffee a day, which I know is way more than anyone needs. Now that school is over I guess I need to start cutting back. I can see this is NOT going to be fun!

Today was Youth Sunday at my church. The teenagers lead in every aspect of worship and I was incredibly proud of all of them.  They did an awesome job glorifying God! Catherine and Chrystle sang one of my favorite songs, I want to leave a legacy by Nicole Nordeman.  The lyrics do a beautiful job at describing both our purpose on earth and our humanness. The human side of us loves recognition and earthly treasures. However, it’s important to be reminded that our purpose on earth is to glorify God! It’s humbling to think about what will be said about me once I leave this earth. I sure hope I point to GOD enough to leave a legacy of love! Below are the beautiful lyrics that I so identify with.

I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love?
Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace
Who blessed Your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy

I don’t have to look too far or too long awhile
To make a lengthy list of all that I enjoy
It’s an accumulating trinket and a treasure pile
Where moth and rust, thieves and such will soon
enough destroy

I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love?
Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace
Who blessed Your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy

I’m off today to my last graduate (at least Mater’s level) class! I still have a paper due in a week but this is the last time I’ll spend my weekend in school! Woo-Hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’ve been in graduate school since August of 2005. For the first year I had class in my home town every Saturday all day and every Tuesday night. For my second and third year I’ve had to travel 2 ½ hours south for class one weekend a month. I’ve had class Friday night from 5-9 and Saturday from 8:30-5:30. I can’t believe this is the last one!?!?!?!?!  Maybe, my professor will have mercy and not keep us until 5:30 on Saturday, but I doubt it! 

In true Southern Belle fashion, I’ve baked a cake for the occasion. I’m taking it to share with my classmates who have journeyed with me!

In February of 2007 I resigned from my full-time job with the Department of Family and Children Services. My dear husband and I did not want little Belle to attend full-time daycare and it was nearly impossible for me to go to graduate school, work full-time, and be a wife and mother. We drastically cut our income so we had to make some changes in our spending. My dear husband has always been excellent at stretching a penny and luckily we were able to trim the budget enough to make it work. It soon became my mission to cut out as much unnecessary spending in our household budget as possible.

My Granny doesn’t waste anything. She will save a small spoonful of potatoes because she can’t bear to throw them out. And, she washes used plastic bags and cups. Granny grew-up in the Depression and truly knows what it’s like to live without. She savors everything. While I have not reached Granny’s level of saving I can’t stand to waste. We eat everything that’s cooked in this house. I don’t throw out food just because we want something different. If we can’t eat the same meal again I find a new way to use what’s left. Just last night I had chicken in the fridge that I knew my dear husband did not want to have again so I made chicken salad for our lunches.

 I also faithfully get the Sunday paper just so I can clip coupons and look for sales. By using coupons and shopping sales I’ve been able to save a good bit of money. Saving 50 cents here and there may not seem worth the effort but it all adds up! It’s really become quite fun to me to save so I’ve decided to try my hand at saving in some new ways. I’ve planted a few vegetables with the hope of eating home-grown produce this summer. I’m planning to try to bake my own bread soon. The cost of loaf bread is certainly on the rise! Not only will it save money but it will be healthier than store-bought. I’ve also recently cut out the use of paper napkins and paper towels. We use cloth napkins and rags for spills and cleaning. And, who knows what I’ll try next!?!?!?

My dear husband has been a full-time pastor for ten years now. And, I’ve been a pastor’s wife for close to six years. Being a pastor’s wife can be quite interesting and certainly gives me a different perspective on church than a regular member. However, I have to say that my dear husband and I have been blessed beyond measure with our current church. We are nearing the close of our fifth year of service at Mt Zion Baptist Church. It’s a wonderful, gracious, friendly, God-fearing church. This morning as I participated in worship I reflected over my years at Mt. Zion and was reminded of how thankful I am to be a part of such a GREAT church.

Here are only a few of the reasons I LOVE my church.

1. The People. I’ve made many friendships through this wonderful congregation. The people love and respect my husband. They have allowed us both to “grow-up” in ministry. They work along-side us. And, to illustrate, just how friendly this congregation is, today my family and I had three lunch offers. To many friends is a much better problem than to few!

2.You are free to think and question. I actively participate in a Sunday school class where it’s expectable to ask “Why” and to voice opinions that may not be popular “Baptist” ideas.

3. Missions. They actively meet the needs of hurting people both in our own community, country and around the world. They don’t just “talk” they “do”.

4. The worship is comfortable and inviting to me. It’s very similar to the style of worship that I grew-up with. (This is not to say that any other style is wrong, just what I’m used to) And, our music pastor is an exceptionally talented musician!

5. The preaching is good and relevant to life. Our Preaching Pastor is intelligent, funny, and passionate about Christ.

6. Last but not least…..they have the best youth pastor around! J

I would never pretend that being a pastor’s wife is always rosy but I can honestly say at this church it’s rosy far more often than not. Thank You Mt. Zion for five great years!

This morning was one of those mornings when I felt like I should get back in bed and try again another day. Little Belle woke early and was whiny and clingy from the minute she awoke. I was frustrated and raised my voice when she would not stop hanging on my leg while I was trying to get her breakfast ready. Then I snapped at my dear husband, and yelled an ugly word when I stumped my toe and messed up my newly painted toenails. By the time I got in my car around 10:00 to met a friend I was feeling crummy. I knew I let “stress” get the best of me and I was thinking “what in the world is wrong with me?” When I got in my car my Casting Crowns CD was playing. Minutes later one of my favorite songs began to play and it summed up how I was feeling. The song reminded me that no matter how I behave I stand blameless before God. What an amazing truth!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here are some of my favorite words of the song,

I start the day the war begins
endless reminding of my sin
time and time again your truth is drowned out
by the storm I’m in

Today I feel like I’m just one mistake away,
from you leaving me this way

Jesus can you show me,
just how far the East is from the West
cause I can’t bear to see the man I’ve been
rising up in me again
in the arms of your mercy I find rest
 you know
just how far the East is from the West
from one scarred hand to the other.

I’m not known for my attention to detail. I prefer the “whole” picture but as part of self improvement I’ve been trying to attend to more details. So while I was chatting with some friends about what was in our freezer (interesting, I know) I picked up a detail that has proven quite useful! I learned about freezing fish oil.

Among Fish Oil’s many health benefits is a reduction in anxiety levels. Anxiety is something that I’ve struggled with since childhood so I was thrilled to hear this news during a recent increase in my anxiety symptoms. Since I don’t like the taste of anything that swims I bought fish oil capsules to take daily. I was told I should take up to 3 a day. I thought it best to start with one a day and work my way up. Good thing, because it made me nauseas and taste fish all.day.long. Yuck! Until, I picked up the tip to freeze fish oil capsules. Why freeze the capsules, I asked? (Not my friend just myself ;)) So, I did some research and found that by the time the capsule dissolves it has made it to your stomach, which makes it less likely that you would be nauseous or taste fish.

For the past few days I’ve frozen my fish oil and it works! I can’t even tell I’ve taken the capsule.