WHO AM I? Just a pilgrim on a journey. (But I have a Companion!) . Heading on the Road to Emmaus. This is about my faith walk. I'm a: Sweet, Steely Southern Belle (well, for the most part!). I love my Family (husband, 5 grown kids/their spouses) and all my (10) grand kidlets and my church:Church at Ross Bridge. (ONE) of my fav Bible verses: Luke 24: 13-35, describes my journey..... And my eyes were opened with "the breaking of the bread". And it happens, Every. Single. Time.
Saturday, September 22, 2018
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Church memories in the South
September already. Wow. Is it that I'm getting older or are the days flying by with super sonic speed? Either/or, Fall is upon us! I last posted about SPRING. I guess SUMMER didn't happen? OH. YES. IT. DID! Hot/hot/hot. Funny , as I had posted on my Spring post how we didn't really have a Spring! We didn't! But, we have had SUMMER. AHHH, that's splendor in the South, right there. Us Southerners complain the minute it gets below 79 degrees. And complain even more when the humidity is 100 percent with temps 100 degrees. Never satisfied, us Southern bred folks. But, we do NOT complain about Sweet Tea (unless it's not sweet enough) or football (YES! It's FOOTBALL SEASON AGAIN! RTR!) or who posts more pix of the beach (we might be jealous but we're proud of our beaches so we smile and "like" our friends posts on such!) and write comments like: "I was just there". or "I am going next week-end". Just to make sure everyone knows they are going (hand raised. Guilty).
Southern folk, (of which I am one) ,are also are fiercely defensive of our Christian beliefs. Still, to this day, if you meet someone new , you will be asked :"Where do you go to church?"
Back in the day ( 1960 and earlier) , in the East Lake area of B'ham that I grew up in, you were either a : Baptist.(or) Methodist.(even though I was Methodist I wrote Baptist first b/c there were more of them, haha). Those were your choices. There were a few :Non Denominationals. Presbyterians. Catholics. Episcopals. Church of Christ folks. Pentecostals ( but a very few).
Even at my high school, Banks High, most either went to Ruhama or East Lake Methodist. ( to compare to those who might have this comparison fit better : Alabama or Auburn football fan! you made a clear choice. Or your parents did. Legacy is a big thing in the South. Football AND church!). These two denominations "ran the show" in East Lake back in the day! They were the ones to fight over who got to the Pioneer Restaurant fastest after church and, sad to say, kind of looked down their noses at other denominations. well, not really but , well, yeah, we did judge. Not intentionally, (honestly!), but we didn't just didn't know that much about any other denominations!
When offshoots became more popular of different "denoms", it was like the Southerners down here had a hard time. * the word CHANGE. That's a word most churches did NOT like. And if something DID change, we were like: "HUH? never heard of wearing anything but dresses and suits to church" , (as they snarled under their breath) ,OR "did you see so and so put a DOLLAR in the offering?" (vs. $2 but if you had a lot of money you put a big fat check in)or if someone raised their hand in church it was usually because they were telling everyone they were fixing to faint. NOT fainting from hearing something prophetic from the pastor. NO way! Faint because it was hot and they didn't get a drink to take into worship (like they do today). We once, at East Lake UMC where I grew up, had a minster who began wearing "the collar". You talk about flipping out the members!!!!!!!! "who does he think he is? A Catholic or something?" and
"DID YOU SEE THAT COLLAR ?" it was a huge deal. And lots didn't like it. (he wasn't there long). And how about the one who wore this giant CROSS necklace? That really flipped people out. "A man wearing a necklace?" Oh And...how about where you sat during worship ?( OK, so this still happens and I'm one of the "those" who still sit in the same vicinity each week ), but at ELUMC if you happened to drift to the left or right of your "seat" you were stared at OR got "the eye". People had their territory and you better NOT drift too far left or right. I was once asked by a sweet Southern lady whose precious voice sounded like milk and honey, "darling , did you know that's my seat?" Which led me to often sit in the balcony where we could pass notes and giggle and even nod off in sleep if things got boring. BUT, the adult choir was directly across the balcony and they STARED. Like really stared at you. So much so you wondered if they would remember the anthem when it came time to sing it. Those anthems that would crescendo from singing very softly and sweetly to this booming dramatic anthem that shook the rafters.The kind that would bring non emotional Methodists to tears. Daddy would sometimes say on our way home from church, "wasn't that the best song today during church?" And I would be thinking that the song was 1. too long 2. too loud 3. did I mention too long?
And how about those who sang next to you in church? Those that loved to sing harmony but didn't quite know the harmony. Or the one that had the operatic voice that shook and trembled. Or , like my mother, who sang loudly even though she was tone deaf. Also, what about hymns on Sundays? It seemed we always sang ALL the verses. But, if the preacher wanted more time, the choir director would say, "today we are singing verse 1, 3 and 5" Ha! Those were the funny things I remember. Not being disrespectful at all, but that's the way it was. Now on the flip side!
But then! Then there were those days when it seemed as if the heavens were singing with us and the music reverberated all through the place during special " hymn singing " days so that I would think, "this HAS to be what heaven looks and sounds like". I would look around me , with the sun shining through those gorgeous windows at East Lake UMC and see the light shine around my parents and family and friends and I just knew God was there. I could see Him! Through the kind and humble usher. I could SEE Him: through the squirmy children that suddenly became quiet as they caught the same feeling that I had. I could HEAR him through the sermon (yes, sometimes I listened!) and the whisper of those serving Communion saying "this is the body of Christ, JANICE". (yes, even though our church was huge , everyone knew everyone else). I could EXPERIENCE Him as I knelt on those crewel embroidered altar cushions as I poured out my heart (but not kneeling ir staying TOO long, that wasn't cool).Or when the minister lifted the baby high during it's baptism (yes, BAPTIZED, dear BAPTIST friends, LOL) and the baby would smile and coo ! I FELT Him in the TRUE hugs and love from that group of people who helped shape me/ mold me and guide me towards Jesus. YES. I can say, with all honesty, I have had hugs from God.
I didn't mean to write all this, this morning! It just came out of my mind (mostly heart) and my fingers started tapping away. But, this JOY , this unique cushioning of my faith has made me who I am today! these people, most of those saints in glory now, who helped teach my about Jesus---not only in Sunday School, but the WAY THEY LIVED THEIR LIVES. Simple folk. Simple but not dumb. They understood the gospel. They LIVED the gospel. They proclaimed the gospel. May I have inherited at least a kernel of what was given to ME to pass on down. So, today, in my quiet time, I have to tell God THANK YOU. Thank Him for allowing me to grow up in such a holy and pure place: East Lake United Methodist Church. I am in awe of his goodness and mercy and I will be forever grateful. But, I can't stop by being thankful for what I had, I have to do MY part so that other youngsters and youth will be able to write about their experience in their church. Thanks be to God. (and those words resound in the song the youth of ELUMC sang during all our choir trips ). As a mom and grandmother, may I be "one of those" who encourage others and point , and even sing off key to help others experience what I did. Be a witness. Be an encourager. Be a joyful noise. (I'm trying).
God bless YOU today and maybe you are remembering YOUR days in church as well and if you don't have any, start now by joining a church of your choice. It will be the best decision you've ever made!
This is the verse that got me to "thinking" this morning: I Samuel 16:7 "the Lord looks at the heart".
Yes, He does! he doesn't see collars. He doesn't see crosses. He doesn't hear off key singing (sorry, Mimi). He doesn't care about seating. He DOESN"T care about denominations! He DOES care about connections. He DOES care about His children. He DOES care about us leaving a legacy for our children.
This I know for sure.
Southern folk, (of which I am one) ,are also are fiercely defensive of our Christian beliefs. Still, to this day, if you meet someone new , you will be asked :"Where do you go to church?"
Back in the day ( 1960 and earlier) , in the East Lake area of B'ham that I grew up in, you were either a : Baptist.(or) Methodist.(even though I was Methodist I wrote Baptist first b/c there were more of them, haha). Those were your choices. There were a few :Non Denominationals. Presbyterians. Catholics. Episcopals. Church of Christ folks. Pentecostals ( but a very few).
Even at my high school, Banks High, most either went to Ruhama or East Lake Methodist. ( to compare to those who might have this comparison fit better : Alabama or Auburn football fan! you made a clear choice. Or your parents did. Legacy is a big thing in the South. Football AND church!). These two denominations "ran the show" in East Lake back in the day! They were the ones to fight over who got to the Pioneer Restaurant fastest after church and, sad to say, kind of looked down their noses at other denominations. well, not really but , well, yeah, we did judge. Not intentionally, (honestly!), but we didn't just didn't know that much about any other denominations!
When offshoots became more popular of different "denoms", it was like the Southerners down here had a hard time. * the word CHANGE. That's a word most churches did NOT like. And if something DID change, we were like: "HUH? never heard of wearing anything but dresses and suits to church" , (as they snarled under their breath) ,OR "did you see so and so put a DOLLAR in the offering?" (vs. $2 but if you had a lot of money you put a big fat check in)or if someone raised their hand in church it was usually because they were telling everyone they were fixing to faint. NOT fainting from hearing something prophetic from the pastor. NO way! Faint because it was hot and they didn't get a drink to take into worship (like they do today). We once, at East Lake UMC where I grew up, had a minster who began wearing "the collar". You talk about flipping out the members!!!!!!!! "who does he think he is? A Catholic or something?" and
"DID YOU SEE THAT COLLAR ?" it was a huge deal. And lots didn't like it. (he wasn't there long). And how about the one who wore this giant CROSS necklace? That really flipped people out. "A man wearing a necklace?" Oh And...how about where you sat during worship ?( OK, so this still happens and I'm one of the "those" who still sit in the same vicinity each week ), but at ELUMC if you happened to drift to the left or right of your "seat" you were stared at OR got "the eye". People had their territory and you better NOT drift too far left or right. I was once asked by a sweet Southern lady whose precious voice sounded like milk and honey, "darling , did you know that's my seat?" Which led me to often sit in the balcony where we could pass notes and giggle and even nod off in sleep if things got boring. BUT, the adult choir was directly across the balcony and they STARED. Like really stared at you. So much so you wondered if they would remember the anthem when it came time to sing it. Those anthems that would crescendo from singing very softly and sweetly to this booming dramatic anthem that shook the rafters.The kind that would bring non emotional Methodists to tears. Daddy would sometimes say on our way home from church, "wasn't that the best song today during church?" And I would be thinking that the song was 1. too long 2. too loud 3. did I mention too long?
And how about those who sang next to you in church? Those that loved to sing harmony but didn't quite know the harmony. Or the one that had the operatic voice that shook and trembled. Or , like my mother, who sang loudly even though she was tone deaf. Also, what about hymns on Sundays? It seemed we always sang ALL the verses. But, if the preacher wanted more time, the choir director would say, "today we are singing verse 1, 3 and 5" Ha! Those were the funny things I remember. Not being disrespectful at all, but that's the way it was. Now on the flip side!
But then! Then there were those days when it seemed as if the heavens were singing with us and the music reverberated all through the place during special " hymn singing " days so that I would think, "this HAS to be what heaven looks and sounds like". I would look around me , with the sun shining through those gorgeous windows at East Lake UMC and see the light shine around my parents and family and friends and I just knew God was there. I could see Him! Through the kind and humble usher. I could SEE Him: through the squirmy children that suddenly became quiet as they caught the same feeling that I had. I could HEAR him through the sermon (yes, sometimes I listened!) and the whisper of those serving Communion saying "this is the body of Christ, JANICE". (yes, even though our church was huge , everyone knew everyone else). I could EXPERIENCE Him as I knelt on those crewel embroidered altar cushions as I poured out my heart (but not kneeling ir staying TOO long, that wasn't cool).Or when the minister lifted the baby high during it's baptism (yes, BAPTIZED, dear BAPTIST friends, LOL) and the baby would smile and coo ! I FELT Him in the TRUE hugs and love from that group of people who helped shape me/ mold me and guide me towards Jesus. YES. I can say, with all honesty, I have had hugs from God.
I didn't mean to write all this, this morning! It just came out of my mind (mostly heart) and my fingers started tapping away. But, this JOY , this unique cushioning of my faith has made me who I am today! these people, most of those saints in glory now, who helped teach my about Jesus---not only in Sunday School, but the WAY THEY LIVED THEIR LIVES. Simple folk. Simple but not dumb. They understood the gospel. They LIVED the gospel. They proclaimed the gospel. May I have inherited at least a kernel of what was given to ME to pass on down. So, today, in my quiet time, I have to tell God THANK YOU. Thank Him for allowing me to grow up in such a holy and pure place: East Lake United Methodist Church. I am in awe of his goodness and mercy and I will be forever grateful. But, I can't stop by being thankful for what I had, I have to do MY part so that other youngsters and youth will be able to write about their experience in their church. Thanks be to God. (and those words resound in the song the youth of ELUMC sang during all our choir trips ). As a mom and grandmother, may I be "one of those" who encourage others and point , and even sing off key to help others experience what I did. Be a witness. Be an encourager. Be a joyful noise. (I'm trying).
God bless YOU today and maybe you are remembering YOUR days in church as well and if you don't have any, start now by joining a church of your choice. It will be the best decision you've ever made!
This is the verse that got me to "thinking" this morning: I Samuel 16:7 "the Lord looks at the heart".
Yes, He does! he doesn't see collars. He doesn't see crosses. He doesn't hear off key singing (sorry, Mimi). He doesn't care about seating. He DOESN"T care about denominations! He DOES care about connections. He DOES care about His children. He DOES care about us leaving a legacy for our children.
This I know for sure.
Sunday, April 22, 2018
Spring ?!
For the first time since I can remember, (and I can remember back a long time haha), Spring
has been elusive! Usually, here in the South, most certainly in Alabama, we skip Spring completely and Mother Nature sends us right into SUMMER. Not this year! Damp/rainy/cool temps have
been plaguing the gardens of all around here! Covering up blooming flowers, etc. It's driving me
bonkers! Today, while not chilly, still damp and forlorn. Looking forward to going to church for some spiritual sunshine!!!
Here's a few pix from days gone by (since I'm not on Facebook much anymore). Some random pix the past couple of weeks--Jase came by for a visit after a doctor's app't and I GOT TO MEET COACH SABAN at Old Overton last Sunday ! They were sitting RIGHT BEHIND us! Nobody else in the dining room. What are the chances? Of course I was THAT FAN who had to have my pix with him. I told him "I AM your biggest fan!" RTR!
Another exciting thing for me, I got a big updated Pantry! No more horrible wire shelving (where everything fell thro, haha) and we had a carpenter make us big wooden shelves. It's awesome! off went the pantry door, too! *YAY* I am keeping my fingers crossed for a new updated craft room!!!! (by said carpenter!). I had so many old antiques (thanks, Mimi and garage sales over the years, haha) that finally have a home! WOOT!
Enjoy your SPRING! (whenever it comes!)
has been elusive! Usually, here in the South, most certainly in Alabama, we skip Spring completely and Mother Nature sends us right into SUMMER. Not this year! Damp/rainy/cool temps have
been plaguing the gardens of all around here! Covering up blooming flowers, etc. It's driving me
bonkers! Today, while not chilly, still damp and forlorn. Looking forward to going to church for some spiritual sunshine!!!
Here's a few pix from days gone by (since I'm not on Facebook much anymore). Some random pix the past couple of weeks--Jase came by for a visit after a doctor's app't and I GOT TO MEET COACH SABAN at Old Overton last Sunday ! They were sitting RIGHT BEHIND us! Nobody else in the dining room. What are the chances? Of course I was THAT FAN who had to have my pix with him. I told him "I AM your biggest fan!" RTR!
Another exciting thing for me, I got a big updated Pantry! No more horrible wire shelving (where everything fell thro, haha) and we had a carpenter make us big wooden shelves. It's awesome! off went the pantry door, too! *YAY* I am keeping my fingers crossed for a new updated craft room!!!! (by said carpenter!). I had so many old antiques (thanks, Mimi and garage sales over the years, haha) that finally have a home! WOOT!
Enjoy your SPRING! (whenever it comes!)
Thursday, April 12, 2018
Happy Birthday, Carter!
Happy Birthday to Carter Cullen! Our sweet Carter turned 7 yesterday! Hard to believe!! He was so excited over his birthday and had a great day...UNTIL Katie gave him his little Keto cake. When he saw it she told me he put his head on the table and sobbed. This is one of those times when having a kid on a special diet tears your heart out. He was so disappointed that he didn't get OFF the diet at his doctor's appt , 2 weeks ago in Atlanta. The doctor saw some "blips" on his EEG and until those don't show anymore, he will be on the diet. Everyone was disappointed but nobody more than Carter himself. But, "it is what it is" and we wait and we hope and we pray that soon he will be off the diet completely. In the meantime we PRAISE God there IS such a diet, for otherwise Carter would not be the outgoing happy go lucky little boy he is. He is doing incredibly well in school and has caught up from when he missed days in preschool a couple of years ago. He is so smart and is reading like a first grader instead of a kindergartener (is that a word?). Much kudos to his amazing teacher, Ms. Sisk!!!! Here are a few pictures that were made yesterday, April 11, his b'day . Katie checked him out early and he came by to get his b'day gifts from us yesterday afternoon. It was a joy to see him so excited. I hate he was disappointed over the cake (he really thought he was getting a "real" cake) ,but, in the end, and when he is old enough to realize it, he will see it was all in God's plan so that he can one day be TOTALLY free of any "blips" ! We thank God for the brilliant mind that developed this diet back in the early 1900's and for the thousands of lives it changed for children/adults who suffered from seizures!It was kind of disregarded when medicines for seizures were devoloped but was re-discovered as an alternative for those that the medicines didn't help, as a last resort. Suddenly, they began seeing the miraculous way the diet worked (not on ALL epilepsy cases, but, thankfully, on the type Carter has).We are just so so thankful that he is where he is right now and, while the diet keeps him from participating in some things, for the most part he is just your average little boy who has to watch everything he consumes. (at least for now). I told him maybe next year I will make him the biggest cake with the most icing ever!!! Keep praying that with us!...
AND... next up will be RYDER's 7th birthday!!!!! His is in 3 weeks. Another 7 year old! YAY! So, here's Carter's big day (with his siblings )!
Finally I have posted a couple ( lie! A GAZILLION haha) of pix of my (growing) Rae Dunn pottery collection. These pix are for those who asked to see what I have, so you can skip those pix on the bottom if you aren't a RD collector and pottery isn't your thing !FYI, this isn't even all of it. eeks. (TONS of Christmas). OK, I SAID I didn't need ANY more mugs but...then I spied some on trips to Marshall's and received some as gifts so, now I have a collection too! I did fall in love with the ICON line of Rae Dunn so that is my main focus and LOVED the plates. I was so lucky to find some before others started grabbing it up! I now have a set of 14 which I could still use a few more so I'm still looking! (and yes, I threw my old china away that I've had for almost 50 years! Finally! LOL and if you think I have a lot, you should see KATIE'S collection!!!!! Natalie loves the cereal bowls and wine glasses! It is so much fun to look for things, although the people collecting now ? it's crazy all the people "hunting" for it! (they call Rae Dunners "hunters" LOL)! I go about once a week to my favorite places and , guess it's the "luck of the draw" but I have really found some awesome pieces!!! Yesterday I found my "unicorn"--I wanted to have the beach set and there it was...the entire set sitting there! I almost had a stroke! ..HAVING SAID THAT, I think I am about DUNN (done, get it? ) as I am running out of space in the kitchen! Which is why I am getting a FARM HOUSE PANTRY tomorrow!We have a guy coming to build a new pantry for me! Taking my old pantry and making it into a showcase for my pottery as well as for a few pantry items! Yes, although the pottery itself is reasonable pricing , the rennovations make it more costly! LOL!So, maybe I'm DUNN and maybe not. wink wink
SO....that's all folks! (for now anyway, haha)
AND... next up will be RYDER's 7th birthday!!!!! His is in 3 weeks. Another 7 year old! YAY! So, here's Carter's big day (with his siblings )!
Finally I have posted a couple ( lie! A GAZILLION haha) of pix of my (growing) Rae Dunn pottery collection. These pix are for those who asked to see what I have, so you can skip those pix on the bottom if you aren't a RD collector and pottery isn't your thing !FYI, this isn't even all of it. eeks. (TONS of Christmas). OK, I SAID I didn't need ANY more mugs but...then I spied some on trips to Marshall's and received some as gifts so, now I have a collection too! I did fall in love with the ICON line of Rae Dunn so that is my main focus and LOVED the plates. I was so lucky to find some before others started grabbing it up! I now have a set of 14 which I could still use a few more so I'm still looking! (and yes, I threw my old china away that I've had for almost 50 years! Finally! LOL and if you think I have a lot, you should see KATIE'S collection!!!!! Natalie loves the cereal bowls and wine glasses! It is so much fun to look for things, although the people collecting now ? it's crazy all the people "hunting" for it! (they call Rae Dunners "hunters" LOL)! I go about once a week to my favorite places and , guess it's the "luck of the draw" but I have really found some awesome pieces!!! Yesterday I found my "unicorn"--I wanted to have the beach set and there it was...the entire set sitting there! I almost had a stroke! ..HAVING SAID THAT, I think I am about DUNN (done, get it? ) as I am running out of space in the kitchen! Which is why I am getting a FARM HOUSE PANTRY tomorrow!We have a guy coming to build a new pantry for me! Taking my old pantry and making it into a showcase for my pottery as well as for a few pantry items! Yes, although the pottery itself is reasonable pricing , the rennovations make it more costly! LOL!So, maybe I'm DUNN and maybe not. wink wink
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)