Precious Memories, they definitely linger

"Ja get up before ya woked up?"

I'm sure my Papaw said a lot of wonderful things but for some reason, this is the phrase I repeat the most. My grandparents got up with the chickens.

I, did not.

When we visited their house that was nestled in the hills of North Alabama, the last thing I wanted to do was get up at 4am and... well, do nothing. Mawmaw and my mom always had an excellent breakfast of biscuits & gravy, sausage, fried taters and usually fresh tomatoes. Once breakfast was consumed, the day was usually spent just talk'n or maybe a visit to the Pig if it was trad'n day.

As I would lay there under the same quilts my mama used as a kid, my mind would take in all the things. My sister and I usually slept in the peach room. There was also a purple room and a pink room. I was never quite sure why the rooms were so bright, I was told at some point my Papaw was color blind but I'm not sure that's truth. The peach room had just enough room for the furniture. The smell was a mixture of cedar (from the wardrobe), coal and just plain ol old stuff LOL Not sure how to describe it other than that but I can still most definitely smell it.

After laying there for as long as I could possibly hold the fact I had to use the one bathroom in the house, I'd mosey down the hallway. Biscuits would be sitting on the table, what was left of breakfast in bowls with plates over them to keep the flies out and Papaw, sitting in his chair sport'n his rainbow suspenders. With a mouth full of dip he'd say with a chuckle

"Ja get up before ya woked up?"

Yesterday, I indeed got up before I woked up

Lately, I've had the liberty of waking up when my body wants to which is usually 6:30 or 7. Yesterday, I had to... well, I THOUGHT I had to set my alarm for 6. My body wasn't a fan. As I laid here trying to pry my eyes open, the thought crossed my mind "it's much easier to get up when I wake up"

DING DING DING DING

So THAT'S what he meant... I laid here and chuckled at the thought of him chuckling. I'm get'n closer to 50 every day and I'm just NOW understanding what that means. Here's the thing about getting up before you wake up - your body may fight back.

It turned out to be most definitely a Monday in all the ways BUT I'm happy to say that today - I woke up BEFORE I got up :)

My Papaw passed away 37 years ago today.

I'm grateful for the times we did have but if I could go back, I'd get up a little earlier and sit a little longer. Wrap the quilt around me and shuffle down the hallway in my black bottom socks (coal heaters make EVERYTHING black) just to hear one more time...
"Ja get up before ya woked up"

What's Your Story, about HIS Glory?

There's just something about a good story. Make no mistake a good story is made even BETTER by a great storyteller! Can I tell you something??? God is THE BEST author!!! Of course, the Bible comes to mind when I think of God's love letter to us. How many of us can name a book that tells a story that hits us to our core? It allows us to connect to the main characters and almost feel what they are feeling.

Years ago, 2005 to be exact, a song came out by Matthew West "Next Thing You Know". One line stood out to me and I've repeated it hundreds of times since.

"What's your story, about His glory? You gotta find your place in the history of grace"

This line comes to mind every time I hear one of God's children telling their story, giving glory to the Author! God's story like any good story has many characters, plot twists, highs and lows. Villians and ultimately if we allow it... one hero!

Memoirs of people sharing their faith stories are among my FAVORITE things to read! As I was finishing up my latest, I was in tears. I related to so many things. It encouraged my heart to see the perseverance and hope carried out in her life. Then it hit me, I think I've cried with EVERY memoir I've read as I've related to many of their struggles.

Then it hit me again...

In each of our stories we share common threads.

We are human. We are broken. We have pain. We desire to heal.

Of course, there are differences that make each of our stories unique but these common threads are what help us show compassion to each other. Joining alongside each other as we press forward on this path is hard at times - most times actually.

Here's one thing I know... I want to give God all the glory with every chapter He allows me to be in. I want to greet each character He writes in with the love He's shown me. Trusting Him when a plot twist shakes me to my core. Believing He is writing my story indeed for HIS glory!

My desire is to allow Him to be not only the author but the main character AND the hero!

Almost 48 chapters into this story and I can tell... the best is yet to come!

"I Don't Think That Means What You Think It Means"

Our family has phrases and lines we use often. Some are from movies, some are from life experiences. For instance, when the boys were younger we went through Jack's drive-thru, I believe it was after karate one night. We didn't go to Jack's often so it was probably for a special occasion milk shake. We sat and sat, the famous muffled speaker didn't make a sound. Jeff says

"Hello?"

A very disgruntled employee replies "You gon hafta wait a minute".

"No, no we don't actually" Jeff chuckled as we drove off. Of course he didn't tell them that and we are fully compassionate to someone having a hard day so don't come at me and miss what I'm say'n here... haha We have laughed about that for years and used the line many times when it applies and sometimes when it doesn't :)

There's one line that I've found we use often but it actually means so much more than these 2 words.

Be Careful

We were watching our feisty 3 year old grand Princess last week. We had baked cookies and we were going to share with a friend. I was telling Papi that we would be back in a minute, she pipes up and says "and we'll be careful ok". It made my heart smile because, she had obviously heard those words many times but does she fully know what they mean?

This has sat on my heart as I've come and gone in life's many tasks and adventures this last week. Each time I hear those words from friends and loved ones, I stop and think of all they are REALLY saying...

Stay alert
Don't take any chances
Watch out for distracted drivers
Don't text and drive
Obey traffic laws
Consider the cost
Let me know when you make it there safely

I love you
You're important to me
I want to see you again
I'm aware of all of the possibilities and I'm trusting you to care for you like I do
Thank you for being in my life

But it comes out in 2 words

Be Careful.

It's safe to say these words carry over into all aspects of our lives, not JUST driving.
We know accidents are going to happen, "life" is going to happen, being careful doesn't eliminate all booboos and ouches I totally get that.. but can I just say...

Be Careful.

You are loved.
You are cherished.
You are important.

Be Careful.

Duality

Death and life seem to find their way in my heart at the same time. It seems God orchestrates these polar opposites to co-exist as a reminder of the circle of life. This has occured with human life and death but also with seasons and sometimes... plants. God uses anything and everything to speak to us! Yesterday He spoke through an aloe plant. Well, not literally of course although that would be AMAZING! Instead of the burning bush it could have been "The Amazing Aloe"! I digress, ok, the story of the aloe plant...

Once upon a time there was a girl in need of an aloe plant. She sent out an SOS to friends and BOOM! Aloe plant!

Oh geesh, I can't keep up that story telling throughout this... k, a couple of years ago I needed aloe, a friend provided. She prayed over the situation and even the aloe that it would bring healing! It was used and loved and then died.

I killed it.

Or so I thought...

After seeing it brown and dead for quite some time I decided to toss it so I could use the pot it was in. There was a part of me that couldn't stand to throw it in the trash so I just tossed it to the side of the yard.

Quite some time later, months later... the hubs came in and declared "Joy, I think that aloe wants to live. I put it in some dirt"
We were amazed and amused! This aloe with bare roots not only came back to life but had new growth!!! We bought some cactus soil and that was that.

Or so I thought...

I go outside one day to find my miracle aloe had BABIES!!! Y'all, it was so fun! It was then I realized once again that I may need a life haha No seriously, I had so much fun watching these lil pups grow. Gave my niece one and through the summer they got so big they were squeezing out of the pot. I kept saying "I need to split those" over and over until well... It's mid January now :)

A couple of weeks ago I bought some cactus soil with the intent of splitting the Aloe plant to allow it to grow even more babies. Between life, weather and my professional procrastination it didn't get done until... yesterday. What better day to split an aloe plant than a day we are expecting tornadoes right?! I hurried as the wind started picking up, certain I could beat the rain. I did! To my surprise as I separated the babies there were 14... yes FOURTEEN!!!! Say wha???

Here's what God was speaking to my heart "Death brings life".

His death (Jesus) brought life.

More often than not when a loved one in my life has died, God has brought new life!!!

The storal of the mory is this...

When you experience a death of any kind... life, a dream, a marriage, friendships... any death. HOLD ON TO HOPE!!!

Death brings life!

It hurts, grieve it! New life is amazing and beautiful, embrace and enjoy it!

Duality

It's not either or, it's BOTH!