Snow Day

I didn’t have Bible study today. Why? Because we go along with the local county schools, and they were closed. Why? The weatherman predicted snow. So even though it was raining this morning, all the public schools and most of the private schools were closed. To their credit, it did start snowing a little later, though, as you can see, it’s not sticking to the roads.

There is an interesting phenomenon about snow: it makes me want to eat. I’m not talking about grapefruit and green beans either. I want comfort food. I want to cook up something really good and satisfying, like brownies or apple pie. Possibly pizza.

I don’t think I am alone in this. Something funny happens in Nashville when they predict snow, besides the schools closing: all the grocery stores are jam-packed the day before. I sometimes wonder if the grocery store owners are in cahoots with the weather people, so when business is slow at the store they just get the weather people to predict snow.

The reason I think this is funny is that we are rarely snowed in for more than a few hours here, and the vast majority of people have enough food in their house to survive at least a couple of weeks. I think there is a fear (which I can relate to) of being stranded at home in the snow, even for a little while, without comfort food.

I’m trying to be good. I’ve been doing Weight Watchers faithfully for the past few weeks, and I don’t want to blow it. I’m working on a grapefruit right now, but brownies are calling me. If the snow continues, well, I may just have to make some. Hopefully Don will be home soon to help me eat them.

Happy Birthday Dasha

This Wednesday is my little dog Dasha’s 11th birthday. No matter how you calculate it, that’s pretty old in dog years. Dasha has been with me through a lot. She has won over the hardest of hearts, including Don’s, who had a prejudice against small dogs in general, and my mom’s, who never really liked dogs at all until she met Dasha.
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Here is a video clip of her. The quality isn’t too great, but as you can see, she’s still spirited and sweet.

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Where, you may ask, is Nash? Unfortunately, he was here.

He and Dasha have different philosophies of how dog toys should be played with. Here, for example, is what’s left of a stuffed mouse he got for Christmas.

I am very thankful for the 11 years I’ve had Dasha. She has brought joy to my life. I hope she’ll have several more good years left, but for ever how much longer I have her, my life will be better for what she’s brought into it.

Random Thoughts

One thing I have learned in my medium-length life is this: what gets made a priority gets done. What doesn’t get made a priority usually doesn’t get done. I have struggled in recent years with my priorities. I first have to decide what is really important. Then I have to make it a priority. Usually it’s the deciding that’s the hard part.

For the second half of last year I blogged every day, with a few exceptions that were accompanied by good reasons. Blogging was a priority for me. But when new year came and I thought about what my resolutions should be, I had to reexamine my priorities and realize that I was spending way too much time on the computer and neglecting some other things that should be higher priorities. So I’ve been blogging and participating in other computer activities less.

Another issue for me is that it’s hard for me to do things halfway. A part of me either wants to blog every day or not at all, so it is a major accomplishment for me to be able to do it some of the time. But I’m working on it.

And while we’re on the subject of new year’s resolutions, my other resolutions were to get healthier and to control my tongue better, particularly in the area of judging others. I am happy to report that I have been doing at least somewhat better with my eating and have lost the 7 lbs. that I gained over Christmas, but still have more to lose. As for the judging thing, well, each day is a fresh start. It seems like I’m doing it just as much as ever, but it may be that the Holy Spirit is just making me more aware of it because I have asked Him to.

Practicing my flute has become a high priority for me for now so I can try to get up to speed with this concert band thing I’m doing. Hopefully at some point I will be able to slow down a little and make that a lower priority.

So those are my random thoughts for the day. Maybe for the next few days. I’ve got to go plan a healthy menu and maybe do a little exercise. And practice my flute.

Facebook Therapy

God has been doing a lot of pruning on me lately. When He does that, He is usually getting me ready for something, though I have no idea what it might be.

One of the things He has been doing involves Facebook. If you’re not familiar with it, you can become "friends" with someone on there, at which point you can see each other’s profile, chat online, and they show up on your profile as your friend for all to see. I started out just "befriending" people who are currently a part of my life, but then people from my past started finding me and requesting to be my friend. That was when the pruning started.

Many of these are old friends I am glad to hear from, glad to know how they’re doing and what’s going on in their life. But there are others that I turn up my nose at, not really wanting to be their friend. Why? I never really liked them. It could be that they did something to me in the past that I never quite forgave them for, and I wrote them off as someone I wanted nothing to do with. In some cases, they are people that I at one time considered myself to be better than and didn't want to be associated with.

Obviously, these are not grudges I am actively holding, and I had all but forgotten about them until the people tried to befriend me on Facebook. At that point I had to acknowledge how I felt about that person and why, and decide whether or not to let bygones be bygones. Most of them are people I went to high school with, and I have hopefully matured considerably since then in every way, including spiritually.

So far I haven’t refused to befriend anyone because of a past grudge. God has been working in my heart to show me that these are His children too. I am not better than any of them, and if they have wronged me, I have an obligation to forgive them. I am still working through these things, but God is using it to clean out the clutter in my heart and move me on to a new level in my walk with Him.

From the Hand and Heart of a Child

Children, for the most part, love to draw, and they love to share their artwork. Usually without an income, their gifts must come from their heart. If a child gives you a piece of artwork, you can generally consider yourself to have found your way into their good graces.

Our nieces and nephews have given me quite a bit of artwork through the years, much of which I have kept and treasured, especially those that I know they put time and effort into, creating them just for me, choosing subject matter that they perceive to be dear to my heart. I know this will mean even more to me in the years to come, when they may not be so sweet and innocent anymore, but I will, hopefully, still be in their good graces.

Below are some of their renditions of our pets:

Dasha and Nash, by Gracie, at age 6 (now 8)

Heidi, by Hannah, age 6

Dasha, by Daniel, at age 6 (now 7) (son of Don’s brother David)

Heidi, by Gracie, at age 7

God's Commands

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Psalm 119:105

I used to think the Bible was just a list of rules to follow. And if we didn’t follow them, God would condemn us to hell. He was God, and that was His prerogative.

As I have grown in my faith, I have come to realize that every command in the Bible is for our own good. If we followed all of them perfectly, we would never want for anything, and we’d be completely healthy physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. If everyone followed them, there would be no crime, we’d all get along, and the world would be perfect.

God loves us, and He gave us these commands for our own good. Granted, we are still obligated to follow them because He gave them to us, but none of us can do that flawlessly, despite our best intentions. Thankfully, that’s why He gave us Jesus to die for those imperfections that we will never be able to overcome in this life. And when we get to heaven, we will attain that state of perfection that we can only long for here.

It’s COLD!

One of the things I love about Nashville is that we don’t have a lot of extremely cold weather, and I am definitely not a cold weather person. But there are exceptions. Like today. The high today: 19°; the low tonight: 3°. That might not seem so cold for some people, but it is for me!

I’ve blogged before about my herb garden. Most of my herbs are perennials, with a few annuals. Rosemary can be either, depending on how cold the winter is. It can usually survive all but the most extreme cold temperatures we have here. I’ve managed to get it through the last couple of winters, and it’s gotten pretty big. Here is what I have to do to it on a day like today:


Isn’t that pretty? I’m sure my neighbors are thrilled. But if I can get it through this and any other serious cold snaps we may have, it will likely make it through the winter.

Back to CBS

Today was my first day back to Community Bible Study after a several-week break, and it was so good to be back! I was already fired up after the retreat, and all the kids in my class were excited to be back too, so we had a really good group time.

I have a new child in my class: a 12-year-old boy. This is kind of interesting because the class is mostly first graders, with one second grader and one fifth grader. These are all homeschooled children, and being able to bring them enables their moms to attend CBS. The new boy doesn’t seem to mind being so much older than most of the others, and he and the 5th grader have harder homework materials than the younger ones have. I only had one boy in the class before, with six girls, so the one I had is very excited to have another boy there. It’s an interesting mix (someone today compared it to a one-room schoolhouse), but God has brought me this group of kids, and I know he has great things in store for all of us!

First Night of Band

Last night was the first night of band practice (the official name is Cedar Creek Community Band). I am bad! I have never played flute in a concert setting, so I had nothing to really compare myself to before. Granted, I have only been playing for 3 years, and most of these other people have been playing for many years, but I am BAD! However, I’m not ready to give up. I’m going to have to practice A LOT, but I think it’s feasible that I can learn the music and at least play adequately. If I do, it will be a major accomplishment, and, I think, will dramatically improve my flute-playing skills. Did I mention that I am bad? I am.

Filling Your Tank

We watched a video at the CBS retreat of a speaker named Wayne Cordeiro. One of the things he talked about was how we are all like tanks with an opening at the top and at the bottom. Some things fill our tanks and some things drain it. We must have a balance of things that fill and things that drain it on a regular basis or we will wear ourselves out, leading to more severe consequences in the long run.

He suggested we make a list of the things that fill our tanks and the things that drain them. Here is what I have come up with (in no particular order):

Things that Fill My Tank
Being by myself
Bible study
My dogs (when they are healthy and behaving)
Don (when things are going well between us which is, thankfully, most of the time)
Walking
Good fellowship with those I love

Things that Drain My Tank
Being with people
Don (when things aren’t going smoothly between us)
Sitting still for any extended length of time
Strife between people I’m close to, whether I’m directly involved or not
Cold weather

Other thoughts
- I think that junk food gives me a temporary false sense of a filled tank but actually drains it. So does spending mindless time on the computer.
- I got my tank filled this weekend at the retreat but afterward was ready to be home and spend some time by myself and with Don and the dogs.
- There is a fine line between some of the things that are on opposite lists.

The speaker suggested we have our spouse make a list too. Don didn’t write one out, but we talked about it. He likes to be by himself (we have a nicely laid out two-story house which makes this possible for us), and people drain him. The dogs fill his tank. Playing drums seems to do it for him, and he also likes to lay around and watch TV, especially "concert DVD’s. Financial worries drain him. When I started to talk about him filling/draining my tank, the conversation got a little too serious for him and he started making jokes, so I still don’t know what I do for his tank. I think serious conversation must drain his. Oh well.

What fills/drains your tank?

CBS Leaders' Retreat

"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." I Peter 4:10

I went on a Community Bible Study leaders’ retreat this weekend. It was only in Franklin, about half an hour from here, but we spent Friday night at the conference center where we met. There were several hundred people there from all over Tennessee and parts of Alabama, Kentucky and Indiana, as well as speakers from various places.

The speakers covered a number of topics, most of which centered around serving others: how to be a humble servant, how to strengthen yourself so that you can serve others, and the rewards of serving.

I was convicted of my own pride, realizing that God calls us to be a servant to others. We should expect nothing in return, though the intangible rewards are usually great. We shouldn’t expect to be thanked and should serve with the attitude of doing whatever God needs us to do, not just what appeals to us.

It was a good time of fellowship, learning and rejuvenation for me. I am pumped up now and ready to start the new year at CBS.

An Unexpected Answer

I have always sort of felt that if I prayed about something and didn’t get a clear answer, it was because I wasn’t right with God. Lately I have been realizing that God has provided us with His word, and it contains many of the answers we need. Such was the case this week.

I had a dilemma at work that there seemed only one solution to. I had prayed about it and hadn’t come up with any good answer, so I made a tentative decision to go behind someone’s back and do something that I wasn’t supposed to do. A co-worker agreed to be my accomplice. I knew in my heart it wasn’t right and kept reminding God that it was the only real solution. Finally, a little voice told me to ask the person over me, whose authority I was planning to defy, for permission to do this thing. I asked God to give me the opportunity if He wanted me to ask her. He gave me an open door yesterday morning.

I wasn’t expecting her to be understanding, but I knew at this point that I had to accept whatever decision she made. I explained the situation to her. At first she didn’t give me a yes or a no, but later in the day she called me and told me that it was okay to do what I was planning to do. I am so relieved that now I can do it with a clear conscience.

I realize that the Holy Spirit will never direct us to do anything that goes against God’s Word, but He may serve as our conscience when we are plotting a bad decision. I am thankful that I listened to His voice this time. God does have answers to our problems, even when we don’t. We should never go against His Word, even if we don’t see any other good solutions.

Sometimes I have to learn things the hard way.

Healthier Chocolate Chip Cookies

I have been trying to get back on Weight Watchers and have done fairly well this week, but my sweet tooth hasn't gone away. I need a little something to satisfy it from time to time. I found this recipe some time ago at eatbetteramerica.com. I make them a little smaller so that I make about 55, which comes out to about 72 calories per cookie. I also mash them down a little bit before baking for a bigger-looking, crispier cookie. Yum! Everyone I know who has tried them loves them.

3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

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Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, beat sugars, butter, oil, vanilla and egg with electric mixer on low speed until blended. Beat in flour, baking soda and salt until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips.

On ungreased cookie sheet, drop dough by rounded measuring tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart.

Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until very light golden brown (centers will be soft). Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack.

Mt. Juliet Community Band

A lady in Mt. Juliet is starting a community band for anyone who would like to participate. The only requirements are that you be over 15 and already know how to play a band instrument. If you are interested, just show up with your instrument at the Mt. Juliet High School band room on Monday, January 12, at 7:00 p.m. I am planning to be there, along with several people from my church. I think this will give me some good experience on my flute. If you want more information, you can read this recent article from The Tennessean.

Learning About Handguns

I finally got a chance to shoot my new gun on Saturday. Don and I both really like it, and I have pretty good accuracy with hitting the target.

Here are some safety tips I learned before we went:

1. Never point gun toward anyone unless you plan to shoot them.
2. Don’t load the gun until you are ready to shoot.
3. Always keep the safety engaged until ready to shoot.
4. Never put your finger on the trigger (especially while picking gun up) except to shoot.

This "toy" is a killing machine, and mistakes can be deadly. It is important to follow all of the above guidelines to make sure they don't happen.

Here are some pictures I took. Thankfully it was 60º+ that day. I’m not sure how many more days like that we’ll have in January, but I’m anxious to get back out and try it again!

New Every Morning

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

Good news for those of us who have already blown our new year’s resolutions: we don’t have to wait until next year to start again. Not even next month or next week. God gives us a new start every day. He is faithful even when we aren’t.

Organ Donation

There was an article in the paper in Don’s hometown recently about a former roommate/landlord of Don’s who volunteered to be a living donor of one of his kidneys to an anonymous recipient. I see this as one of the most selfless acts I can imagine. Not only did he endure surgery that he didn’t need; he gave up a part of his body that he may someday need, and did it for someone he didn’t even know. I doubt this is something I could ever do, though perhaps if someone I knew and loved needed an organ that I could spare, I would consider it.

At one time in my life I struggled with the issue of organ donation, of whether I should agree to be a donor if I died an untimely death. It just seems like an odd thing to me which is not addressed specifically in the Bible. I prayed about it, and the question came to my mind of whether I would accept an organ transplant if I needed one to live. I believe I would. My next thought was the verse, "Do to others as you would have them do to you" (Luke 6:31). That was the answer I needed.

While I still don’t believe I could be as selfless as this man was, I have signed my organ donation card and plan to donate my organs when I die, if needed.

It’s the big 0-8!

Today is my niece Gracie’s 8th birthday. She’s still in the Carolinas visiting Melissa’s family, and I miss her (and her family)! I can’t believe it’s been 8 years since we were down at Baptist Hospital waiting for her to be born. (She finally made her appearance way past my bedtime.) The first time I saw her my first thought (after "Wow, I’m an aunt – thank you, God!") was, "she looks like ET," but of course, I didn’t say so. Then Melissa’s dad held her, and the first thing he said was, "she looks like ET." (They had put some kind of shiny stuff in her eyes that caused this – she doesn’t look like ET anymore!) My second thought was, "she kind of has reddish hair; surely she won’t keep that." We didn’t have redheads in our family. Well, needless to say, I was wrong about that. Not only she, but two of her siblings have red hair.

I am happy to see Gracie growing into a young woman of God. I am happy that she and her family go to church with me and that I teach her in Community Bible Study. I am happy to see her involved in soccer and other activities. It has been so fun to watch her grow, to have conversations with her and hear her take on things. She is very helpful with her younger siblings and is growing more independent by the day. I’m so thankful to have her for a niece!

Happy Birthday, Gracie!

Christmas (on New Year’s Eve) at the Opryland Hotel

Don and I are fortunate to live just minutes from one of the largest hotels in the country, Opryland, which also happens to be a great place to do some walking. It has 3 huge greenhouse/atriums with walking paths throughout that anyone may use at no charge (parking is free if you park at the Opry Mills mall and walk over). At Christmastime the hotel goes all out to decorate. We have been over there once before during this season, and there were mobs of people there, but we went back last night when it was much less crowded and I was able to get a few pictures. We stopped in at Rusty’s Sports Bar & Grill for dinner and to watch the last quarter of the Music City Bowl (Congratulations Vandy!!) and then went home and were in bed by 10:00 p.m. Fear not, though; we were awakened at midnight by the neighbors’ fireworks.

Happy New Year, Everyone. Click below to see my Opryland pictures.

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