To Encourage & Comfort You Today

Sometimes humor just doesn't seem appropriate.Today is one of those sad days. I keep up with lots of former students, and the ups and downs of their lives is very important to me. From broken hearts to lost lives, seeing young people suffer pierces my heart. I've known some of these adults since they were "children"...literally some since they were born but most since they entered school.

I would like to take a few minutes and say something to all the young men and women who are kind enough to humor me and are reading this blog. (You "oldies" are welcome to read...as you already know exactly what I am about to say.)

For everyone, life merrily skips along until one day you realize that all things aren't good and perfect. It might be in the form of betrayal from someone close, pressures from the world, illness, loss of precious children or parents, anything that suddenly jars you into the reality that while we are on this earth "ye shall have trouble". That's a promise. How morose, you might think, especially if you haven't acquired your battlescars yet. But let me assure you, ALL of us have troubles..it's just a matter of when and to what degree.

My life has been fraught with trouble. I am now 61 and some years are more trouble free than others. There are very few things that you could tell me, that would surprise or shock me. Many days, I have sat in my chair in my living room and wondered, "Why? Why me? Why my family? Why now?"

One day, an answer came. It wasn't exactly what I wanted to hear, but it was clear and it WAS an answer. The answer was this: You are here on this earth, not for your glory and not for your daily gulp of happiness. You are here to glorify your Father in Heaven. You are here to fulfill His purpose, whatever that may be. He has destined you for a time like this. Now, go, help others and do what you are intended to do.

That was what I call "a lightning flash and thunderbolt" moment.

You may think, "Ok, she really is nuts", but whatever you think, the answer is the same for each of us. You will also discover this truth, it's just a matter of time. The good news is God doesn't let you fight the battles of life naked. He has given us specific armor to wear (Ephesians 6:10-20). He has told us how to wear it and to be ready to face trouble when it comes knocking at the door.

We aren't to live in fear. We are to live a purposed life...not always an easy or just a happy one..but a life that is real and encouraging to others. A life of faithfulness. When you "cross over to the other side of the road" and you know you should be helping someone by sharing your own experiences, you are NOT living that life. Take a few minutes today and "think on these things": Be an encourager and share your struggles and how God was faithful to be there even in a terrible time; pray for others when they, like Moses, are too weak to hold up their arms; show others the love that Christ showed you by forgiving. Sometimes encouraging means just being there.

Easy assignment? No. Vital? YES.

P.S. Sometimes YOU will need encouragement...it will come from the most unlikely places. A hug, a kind word, whatever is sent your way by a fellow laborer, accept the gesture and know they are "living the time destined for them to live" in your life at that moment. God strengthen and encourage you today and every day.

Saturday: Tip of the Day: AbraCadabra: New Pillows

Re-decorating on a budget is about as fun as your yearly physical exam. I would love, just once, to be able to do anything I wanted to in a room, regardless of cost. (Not happening.) However, if you will take an "artistic" and humorous approach, sometimes it ends up being quite a unique process. One thing that helps any decorating "theme" is piles of pillows. Husbands don't care for these items, but they add so much to the scheme, that fluffy pillows in all designs and colors are a must!

Tip: buy really GOOD (aka: expensive) fabric and recover your existing decorative pillows. I usually make or buy a pillow the first time with a pretty neutral fringe or rope around the edge. If you keep this edging neutral or better, black, you can readily change the cover for minimum cost.

I found some beautiful heavily embroidered fabric at Hancock's. The cost was either $25 or $29 a yard. (That's pretty pricey for me.) But my pillow forms were only 14 inches square, so I did two things: 1. waited until the fabric was 40% off (happens fairly regularly at Hancock's); 2. only used the smallest amount of material I needed. For a 14 inch pillow, I add 1 1/2 to 2 in. to all sides for the "turn under" all the way around. Upholstery fabric is wide, so 1 yard would be plenty to cover back and front of two 14" pillows.

For a 14" pillow, cut a square 16"x16"(adjust for your pillow size); place the fabric, right side up on top of the pillow; turn under edges and pin all the way around. (To pin, start in the middle of one side and pin both ways along that side; then pin the opposite side in the same way. Then move to the other two sides.) By hand, stitch the new covering to the front. Repeat the same process on the back of the pillow and stitch to the back of the old pillow. Do one side at a time; upholstery fabric is thick and it takes a while to do both sides separately, but it's the easiest way. I use a thimble to protect my fingers.

If you can't afford 1 yd. of the expensive stuff , get 1/2 yard and then buy a coordinating, less expensive fabric for the back.

Because I already had that pretty rope cording around the pillow, I just stitched right under the bottom edge of the cording. Thus, I was able to re-use the cording as well as the pillow form. I did not remove the old covering. (Never know when I might want to re-use it!)

I will post a picture of the "duvet" and coordinating pillows next week. My "project" is taking a little longer than I anticipated because I can't find a bedskirt. I am going to make that too. I have a trick there also!

* How To Wrestle An Alligator

I am panting, my face is flushed, my breath is labored. No, I am not having a heart attack. No, I have not just run a marathon. I have just finished putting a duvet cover over my queen size comforter. We have a queen size comforter that weighs more than a set of dumbells on the foot of the bed. I was tired of the velvets, damasks, etc and wanted something lighter with cleaner lines. Enter the idea of a duvet cover. An inexpensive way to make a quick change.


I spent hours on line, and finally found one at Overstock. com...great price, perfect colors, such a great idea! Until it arrives. Then it has to be put on over the comforter. I have a limited amount of time before husband arrives home to my new surprise! The new duvet weighs a ton, so now, combined with the comforter, I have something on my feet at night that weighs roughly the same as a baby elephant. I steam pressed the thing..took 30 minutes...began wrestling with it to stuff the comforter inside. You must first locate the corners. That's fine but suddenly there's a big lump in the middle..uh,oh, wrong corner...take everything out...begin again. Heart begins to pound.

Rush to FB...help, my peeps! How do you do this? Rescue me, I fallen inside the thing and I can't get out! My hair is sticking straight up from being swallowed by the duvet. I'm feeling even sorrier for poor Jonah. Suggestions start rolling in from FB...even one from a former student who is quoting Martha Stewart! After roughly 45 minutes, I have the comforter inside and then the buttoning begins. What the? (My preacher monitors my posts, I have to be careful here.) Why would anyone need this many buttons? So I begin, skip one button, undo the ones I've done and pick up the missed one. On and on this goes. The glow of surprising my hubby with the new look is fading. I have too much other stuff to do.

Once the buttons are buttoned, you have to sort of wiggle the whole thing around until it is situated. Hurry, he will soon be arriving home! Get out the new 300 count sheets and put them on the bed. Remember: we have pledged NOT to go over 300 count...btw: how do you cram 800 fibers in an inch? And what is with the corners of all new sheets that are at least 12 inches too tall for my poor mattress? I have to stuff all that excess under everything else. By the time I finish, I am concerned the bed will simply fall under its own weight. And then when you add me, this could be pretty ugly.

When I awoke this morning, I was so sore I could hardly hobble out of bed. "Why," I thought, "am I so doggone sore?" Then it came to me, an alligator wrestler couldn't have used any more energy or intensity than I did the night before. And all night long, I'd try to turn over but my feet (which were under the two ton duvet covered comfortor) were literally trapped in position. At one point, I had to wrest my feet from under the covers and jump out of bed. I felt like I was suffocating. I always feel like that when my feet are hot. My ankles were swollen all day and I know it's because of that duvet. I wouldn't dare say anything, because I was warned about buying something online sight unseen. So now I am stuck...literally and figuratively. This afternoon one of my FB peeps told me I was supposed to pin the corners of the comforter to the duvet. Well, now that makes sense, but it "ain't" happening anytime soon. If I don't make it to school tomorrow, I'll still be trapped in the bed. Tell husband to come back home and de-trap.

Lessons To Be Learned:
1. Duvet covers are another communist plot. If enough of us use them our feet will be so swollen and sore we couldn't fight if we were attacked.

2. It' s probably best if you don't try to encase a comforter with a duvet if you are short on time.
It isn't the quick change you were told it would be.

3. New duvet cover has also demanded: new bedskirt, change of fabric on footstool, new picture over the bed, new mats on old pictures and a new occasional chair. (Possibly a trip to Foley is in order. )

* My Friends and Other Mixed Nuts

Once a year, I host a Bible Study at my home. Every lady in our church"circle" either hosts the gathering at her home or at the church on the second Tuesday of the month. I have always enjoyed having it at my house for several reasons. First, I just enjoy the company but the second reason is that it forces me to do an extra thorough job of cleaning my house. I try to schedule my "turn" in the summer, sometime in June or July. (That's why I was powerwashing the driveway..in case I was able to host in July.)

Now this becomes a real bone of contention in my family. The whining begins around the end of May. "There is no reason to clean out the attic," my husband says, "it's 400 degrees up there and nobody is going to pull the steps down and climb up and look at your Christmas decorations in July." "Tell me again, why do we have to repaint all the baseboards and clean out all the light fixtures and the vents?" he pleads. But every year he dutifully begins the task of "whitewashing" the outside of the house and the detached garage. You can smell the bleach a mile away. I'm rather surprised the neighbors haven't called the EPA on us. He repaints the outside of the house, manicures the lawn, clips bushes and then we move to the inside.

My family usually takes a little trip to Foley, Alabama just before "circle" and I spend my entire vacation (all two days of it) in Old Tyme Pottery. Needed: small area rug in front of sink, new orange square dessert plates for the caramel cake, guest towels for the bathroom, curtains and pillows to match new duvet cover. Do you get the picture? My house gets scrubbed from top to bottom. Anyone could open any drawer, closet or cabinet and it looks like a model home...for that night anyway. (Even the top of the refrigerator is scrubbed...you never know when your tall friends might slide a finger or two across the top while you are cutting the cake and serving the nuts just to make sure you've done a thorough job.) By "serving the nuts", I am not referring to my Bible Study friends. We have a "circle" tradition to ALWAYS serve mixed nuts. If you don't, people raise an eyebrow. We aren't sure how the tradition started, but it's like a cardinal rule. Once somebody forgot and a hush fell over the group as we entered the dining room. We were stunned to say the least. We could tell the hostess with the mostest was embarrassed, but really now, NO nuts?! I believe it was the last time it's ever happened. You would be excused if you forgot the dessert, but, by george, you better not forget the Planter's Mixed Nuts.

My husband just doesn't understand this phenomenon. "Why do you do all this?" he implores. Simple: These are my friends. We have gone to "circle" together for years. This is the way I show my friends that I care about them. If it means going a little out of my way, what's the big deal? What have you wasted? A little time...from May 26 to July 1 is such a little slice of your life. I must also admit that I truly LOVE to have my house clean and orderly. When the study is over and everyone has gone, I walk around blowing out the candles, picking up the stray nut or two, plumping up the pillows...it's such a great sense of satisfaction to have a quiet, still, clean house where people have hopefully enjoyed your hospitality. You just do that for people you love.

BTW: This summer was a little different. Our schedules were completely confused, and I didn't have the chance to host at my house. It was ok. I had refreshments at the church and tried to make it nice...hauled all the orange square plates to the church, etc. but to me, there was something missing. I missed not only the clean house, but the fellowship of my friends laughing and enjoying themselves in my home.The other day, I needed to move something on top of the refrigerator...ewwww...dust! That wouldn't have happened if I had hosted at my house! I suggest that at least once a year you all host some type of little party; give yourself two or three months to get ready; and then just have a blast with your friends. Doesn't have to cost much, just gather them into your home and laugh and make each other feel better! (Don't forget the nuts. You will be amazed at how much better everything goes when there are nuts around!)

Lessons to Be Learned:

1. As your friends age, their eyesight goes. You also are getting older and it's harder to clean as well. They can't see anyway, so don't sweat it too much.

2. Going an extra mile for somebody is a natural way of expressing love. Do it as often as you can.

3. If you wait until your home is perfect to have people in your home, you probably won't. To quote my mother, "Don't do that!"

* The Whole Enchilada and Chicken Daddy

I come from a line of distinguished scouts. My father was an Eagle Scout in Grenada County. My sister, brother and I were all in the scouts. I even got my love of handwork from being in Brownies. (The first thing I ever embroidered was a Brownie purse. When I finished it, I had sewed the entire purse to the front of my uniform and the thing had to be cut off.) So when my son wanted to be in the Cub scouts I was very pleased.

When he got older and the men took over the scouting pursuits, he was to be recognized at some ceremony for advancing to a higher rank. He had been sick when a required overnight campout took place and this was the last requirement to advance. The Scout master called and said, "If you'll get his daddy to camp out with him, we will allow that as meeting the requirement." "Well, sure! No problem. They will do it this Friday night," I said. I passed on the message and Daddy said, "I'm not camping out, you do it." "What? You know I hate the great outdoor experience, you do it, " I pleaded. So late Friday afternoon, Ben and I (yes, me, ever the scapegoat) began setting up camp in the backyard.

First we made a little circle of pinecones and old bricks. That would be where the campfire would be. Next we pitched the tent. One pole wouldn't quite stay up straight, but it was good enough. Oh, yes, did I mention that earlier in the day, I had a perm? In those days, I had more hair and I kept it "fluffed". My hair has been the bane of my existence since I was quite young. Very fine and as I've aged, it's just the worst! (The one thing in life that I don't want to end up known as is the old lady in the nursing home with a beard...but even worse, the bald bearded lady in room 235.) So to preserve what little I have left, I've quit perming. But that week I got a doozey of a perm. And, one more thing, I had been to Gayfer's and gotten the newest Estee Lauder night cream. (Important Info for rest of story.)

We threw some blankets, pillows and two flashlights in the tent. I also found an old green water hose and opened the window to our bedroom. I pulled one end of the hose into the bedroom and closed the window enough to hold it taunt. I then brought the other end of the hose into the tent. This would be our emergency communication line to Chicken Daddy. We tested it out. Worked like a charm.

We lit the campfire, roasted a marshmallow or two and decided it was time to hit the sack.

We left just enough of the flap unzipped so we could look out at the stars and I thought, "This isn't so bad. A little stuffy, but I can do this." We decided it was time to go to sleep.

At some point in the night, Bo, our dog who terrorized the neighborhood if he ever got out of the backyard, began running and hurling himself on the side of the tent. We weren't quite asleep yet and we began yelling and telling him to stop and finally he settled down. All was quiet on the western front.

I had just removed a twig that was stabbing me in the back through the tent floor when I heard a strange noise...sort of like a splash or a thud. It stopped. What time was it? It had to be almost sunrise..where is the flashlight? Click...oh, it's only 10:15.

I slept fitfully. It was a little tight in the tent with my new perm and all. I was sort of wedged in between the pole that wouldn't stand up straight and the dog on the outside of the tent. Time check: 12:30. Ben was fast asleep. I heard the splat noise again. And then again and again. What in the world was it? Rain. Oh, please, not rain. Maybe it would pass. It was probably just a shower I thought.

About 1:00, the bottom fell out. I grabbed a flashlight and shook Ben. "Get up, quick!" I commanded. I felt rather strange. My head was hitting the top of the tent..oh, no, my perm! My hair mixed with the humidity had inflated and it seemed that my hair filled every square inch of the tent. There were dirt and twigs stuck to my Estee Laudered face and when Ben's eyes flew open he screamed, "Who are you? Where am I?" "It's me! It's me, your mother, it's raining, run inside I'll get the stuff." Ben scrambled outside. I picked up the hose and shouted to Chicken Daddy, "We are coming inside! We are coming inside! Turn on the lights!" (Silence, no answer.) I gathered flashlights, pillows and blankets. Bo growled and began pulling the blankets and nipping at me. The tent fell flat, I was getting soaked, my hair was deflating as we speak and my face...it was unspeakable. As I dashed to the back porch, I looked at the bedroom window for a glimpse of light. The hose had been thrown out the window and the window was tightly shut.

When I finally got into the house, I looked at myself in the mirror. No wonder the poor child was terrified. I looked like Freddie Kruger's wife. I devised my revenge. I was going to bed just like that...twigs and leaf fragments affixed to face, half inflated and half deflated hair, the whole enchilada...I personally think it served Chicken Daddy right. He never even turned over.

Lessons to be Learned:

1. If you aren't a real outdoor LOVER, then scouting may not be the best way for you to help your child pass away the time. Maybe you could guide him toward something a little less taxing like fencing or fly fishing.

2. Perms are best gotten during non-humid times in the south. Let's see that would be Christmas day or New Year's Eve.

3. The real test of how much your husband loves you is NOT if he will or will not camp out with your son in the backyard, but rather will he be ever ready, garden hose in hand, waiting on a distress call from the tent situated right below the bedroom window.