My fourteen year old niece and I attended Christmas at the Smoky Mountain Opry this week with a group from church.  Technically, it was the senior-citizen's group, and though I'm not quite there yet, I totally enjoy hanging out and going places with this awesome group of folks.  Over the past twenty-three years I have, at … Continue reading How Do We See the Nativity? →

Winter is trying its best to sneak into our sheltered little valley.  Baby, it is definitely cold out there!  I suppose, as it is starting to get a little closer to Christmas, that colder temperatures and, yes, even a little snow, will be welcomed; especially Christmas snow and all of the wonder we associate with … Continue reading The Perception of the Heart →

Today was the first time in a long time that I just could not get moving. I am fighting an upper respiratory “something” and probably need to go to the doctor. But, thanks to two insurance companies fighting over who "owns" me, I essentially do not have any insurance! So today, I "took a day." … Continue reading The Lights on the Tree, Among Other Things →

Since this is Thanksgiving weekend, I figured that most thought this would be a "Thanksgiving" post.  It could have been, might have been, and most likely probably should have been.  But I think if I had tried to do that this week, it would have turned into a lecture - a lecture on pettiness, selfishness … Continue reading Looking at the To-Do List →

As I am sitting here tonight writing this post, tomorrow will be the final race for one of Nascar racing's most popular race car drivers.  I haven't really followed racing for a number of years now.  I used to be a big race fan.  I lost my first driver in a helicopter crash in 1993.  Then … Continue reading I See the Tree Coming at Me! →

There is a difference between ‘leaving’ and ‘going out from’. You can leave a place or a situation with no thoughts or intentions of going back or having any additional involvement. But when you ‘go out from’ those places or situations, you carry them with you to be able to utilize the relationships and experiences … Continue reading See the Difference Between Leaving and Going Out From →

Mostly, I am able to muster up a positive, optimistic attitude. Sometimes the day just dang gets me though.  This week contained one of those days.  You know...the quest for perfection is an ugly monster. Last week’s bi-annual eye specialist appointment was a bit discouraging. I knew, looking out from the inside, that something was not … Continue reading Peering Back at Perfection →

Babe's needs are pretty basic:  shelter, food, water, exercise and love.  Her schedule never really changes from day to day.  She is getting a little older and a little slower.  She sleeps more and she gets cranky more often. But then, aren’t we all?!  Babe is my niece’s nine (nearly ten) year old Boxer.  Well, … Continue reading Through Babe’s Eyes →

As long as I can remember, I have longed for, desired to have, dreamed about and pined for long, thick, wavy, healthy, beautiful hair - girlie hair.  For many, many years I bought in to the belief that long hair made you more feminine.  It made you more desirable.  It made you more beautiful.  It … Continue reading Why Does Your Hair Look Like That? →

So, my planned topic this week was French toast and the recollections that surround my sometimes... ahhhh... umm... ineffective attempts at preparing this simple dish.  That intention was unashamedly ambushed.  As the week has progressed and cooler, crisper weather has moved in, I have been forced to conduct my annual (bi-annual actually), relocation of spiders duty...and yes, that was the nice way of putting … Continue reading I Don’t See Spiders Like I Used To! →