Thick as Thieves

The thing I like most about the relationship I have with my father is the way he handles me. Maybe because we are two of a kind, but he is the only one who can snap me back to reality and give me a dose of my own medicine. We e-mail throughout the day, and his humor always brings a giggle that leaves me smiling from ear to ear.

I needed curtains hung in my bedroom:

Subject: Handy Man

C: You have your hammer and nail ready, FREDDY?!

K: Anything for you… Sue.

One of my newly discovered quotes:

Subject: Words from the Wise.

C: “Oh, never mind the fashions, because when one has style of one’s own, it is always twenty times better.”

K: ”Oh, never mind the e-mails, because when one gets caught sending e-mails and not working, it will back to twenty-nine thirty-nine Clemons Road.”

My dad never responded to my nuptial news, but a little birdie told me he posted this e-mail on his “Smart Board” for office visitors to see, saying, “See what I deal with.”

Subject: One LUCKY Girl!

C: I think I’ve decided to get married in Ireland.

We weren't willing to be apart for 3 months, so he traveled to Rome to see me during my Study Abroad.

Dad, I can’t tell you how proud I am of you. I look back on my life, and I am brought to tears at how thankful I am for you. You have ALWAYS been there. I love you like no one else. Everything I have ever had, you have worked very hard for, and you have always provided Mom and I with far more than we deserve. God has given us the most amazing leader to guide our family. We can’t thank you enough for everything you mean to us.

Last winter, I met a boy who I was trying to impress. We were talking, and both being from the same small town, we already knew a little about each other. In the conversation he said, “I know your daddy. He’s a good man.” I said something to the effect of, “You got that right. Gah, I just adore him.” In my mind I was thinking, piece of cake, you know Keith Jackson. I’ve got you hook, line and sinker.

…and Dad, about the journalist, skateboarding and lead singer type.

Remember all those Class President speeches you wrote for me? I believe your words have received a few rounds of applauses. And you’re into exercising. They say variety in your routine is very important, so go ahead and grab the plank of wood. And musically talented. You just go ahead and pick your banjo you lefty you. And on the flip side, no telling what you could teach the boy. Afterall, look what you’ve done with me, I’m now baiting my own hook.

Lastly, thanks for breakfast this morning. You are probably the only one who could get me out of bed at 5:20 AM for a 6 o’clock appointment at Hardee’s.

Rec-A-Mended

Every friendship is unique, personal and different. Mary Quince and I have a friendship that will never be broken. She has always been there, and she will always be there. She takes good care of me, and she exemplifies the kindness and thoughtfulness of caring friend.

Written on my box of party cookies,

Green is for August Peridot. Gold is for the Glam and Glitzy. White is because you’re pure as snow. Pink is because it’s just so CHASLEY, Happy Birthday! Love, Mary Quince

“I found out what the secret to life is: friends. Best friends.”-Ninny Threadgoode

On Sunday afternoon, I traveled to Scottsboro to see Mary Quince. My sweet friend had been instructed to “take it easy” for a few days after surgery, so I made my way to our hometown to keep her company. Me, Lauren and Mary Quince sat laughing and catching up around the kitchen table like we had so many times before.

Super Pumped about Bed Rest.

I wrote Mary Quince a little rittle to thank her for mine,

From day care to health care, you have always been there.

With your contagious spunk, you could get anyone out of any funk.

You don’t know how much you have meant, and I count the blessings of every moment spent.

You’re one of my friends who have and will always be there, you’re too cherished not to share.

So from my heart to yours, I love you, and I don’t know what I would do without you.

Thursday morning, before her surgery, I sent my dad and e-mail, asking if he knew of any scripture I could send Mary Quince. I told him it was a competition between him and Mom, no pressure.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”-Deuteronomy 31:6

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”-John 14:18

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”-Psalms 23:4

“But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds…”-Jeremiah 30:17

Sermon Notes

Lately, instead of listening to Ingrid Michaelson, I have been listening to Charles Stanley. Here’s a few jotted down highpoints that I have been reflecting on the past week.

Sermon on Failure:

We fail out of choices we make.

Highest and most productive failure: new vision, new perspective.

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”-Luke 22:31

Whatever you think is your strongest point, be careful, because Satan has a bull’s-eye on it.

Why does Jesus let us fail? Why does He allow temptations in our lives? Choices? Trials?

He didn’t look at my life and save me on the basis of conduct; He saved me on the basis of our response to grace and the blood of Jesus.

God has something fantastic in mind.

How will I respond?

I can use every failure to increase influence and impact.

God saw that we would disobey Him, but he saved us anyway.

God prepares us for our greater service.

No sin is good, but it is about our response.

Flaw in Faith: confidence in ourselves, not on Christ.

To purify a heart means to break it.

Sift out qualities that are damaging: pride, selfishness, and independent spirit.

Sermon on the Desires of our Heart:

Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”-Isaiah 40:8

“He tends His flock like a shepherd. He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young.”-Isaiah 40:11

Tend and gather.

He hates sin-we are His prized possessions.

Why serve ourselves when we are so limited?

His followers are the only ones who worship Him.

He is the source of our strength. He will never show up late or tired.

Every single child has a set of wings. We will rise and succeed on the basis of our faith.

God wants us to soar, not sit. He wants us to rise above.

Sermon on Impression or Impact:

Followers of Jesus Christ ARE salt and light.

Who has had impact on your life?

Who are you impacting?

Many people love to impress, but you have an obligation to impact.

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it give light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let you light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise you Father in heaven.”-Matthew 5:13-16

You ought… NO

You are… YES

We have a personal responsibility to impact those around us.

Impact=Collision

Changed, affected, and influenced, so that meeting you, knowing you, watching you is saying something to them they can’t escape. That’s how Jesus intended the world to know about Him.

“Make disciples of all nations.”

As you live out your life, impact the people around you with the truth you know.

The Roman government faced Christianity only to be conquered by the word of God.

Others may not like what they see, but often, it is what they don’t like that is what impresses them.

Live out your life, impacting those around as a result of what Jesus has done in us.

Not a suggestion, a command.

Jesus so impressed His disciples that they were willing to sink their lives to spread the message of eternal life.

Impact: determined by character of our life.

To change flavor of society, you have to be different.

Will we stand up for what is right, or will we be quiet and compromise?

STOP being conformed to the likeness of the world.

We determine how bright our light will shine.

Warning: salt being mixed with things to loose its power.

Light: pure, clear, make a difference, reveals that you might not see otherwise.

You don’t win by compromising.

Some will say, “I don’t like rejection”. Well, neither did Jesus. But He was willing to be rejected to save your soul for all eternity.

Pearly Gates

I used to think that any boy from Scottsboro would understand me. But there is something other than the Country Cottage and the Wildcats they need to understand, and that is my heart, because my heart and my life are dedicated to Jesus Christ and His kingdom. I am a citizen to a place that is far more worthy of any earthy location. So for someone to understand me, they would have to have a heart that follows after Christ. I am devoted to His service and home. I will follow His ways and obey His commands.

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”-Colossians 3:2-4

“Then He said to them all: ’If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’”-Luke 9:23

“Marriage can be that holy place, the site of a relationship that proclaims God’s love to this world.”-Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas

Tears and Twenty-Two

Composed enough for a Snapshot

As my Nana watched me apply make-up for my birthday dinner, I warned her, “I am nothing shy of an emotional train wreck. I could break down at any moment.” It was wartime with the tears, and I would occasionally loose a battle. From Em’s breakfast table reading of her guest blog, that did not include a few tears peacefully sliding down my morning cheeks, but instead, hands cupped, covering my face, sobbing as I was doubled over the coffee I was attempting to brew, to the banner over my desk at work, to John Lyda’s voicemail that is one for the books, I had to gather my composure before walking back into the office, thanks for being my #1 fan, to Lamar calling with Lilli and Sawyer singing/screaming “Happy Birthday CHAAAAAAA-AAAASSSSSSSS!” in the background, to my dozens of calls and text messages, to my friends blowing up my Facebook wall, to Becdie’s first words in her e-mail, “to our sweet little Chas”(thanks for my People subscription…EEEEK!) and to our family dinner at 801 Franklin, I have never been so touched in my life, and as I am typing this post, the tears are streaming as I remember yesterday. I have so much thankfulness and gratefulness in my heart. I am so thankful that God has placed each and every one of you in my life, and if I could go on Regis and Kelly and call each of you by name, I would, because you impacted my day so greatly. You touched my heart, and like He always does, God captured my heart. I am reminded I serve a God who deeply cares and loves me. To him I give the glory and to him I give thanks. It’s a really good thing Birthday’s are once a year, because I am still a mess. I’ll recover and the tears will disappear, but my heart will forever be touched. Thank you.

Malena and Catherine

HAPPY BERFDAY, CHAS NASTY

-EM

“Lord, You know my heart. You created me and know me inside and out. Wherever you want me, I will go. Open and close doors. Your way is perfect.”

Those words are from my prayer journal last fall. I was praying about where to do my senior preceptorship for nursing school. What did I see when I looked at that white sheet hanging in Miller Hall? Emily Harmon, Huntsville Hospital, ER. We had joked about me living with Mr. and Mrs. Bellomy, but now I was packing my bags and heading north. Having already graduated from Auburn, I thought Chas would have flown off to some far away land by the time I rolled down that mountain in February. But God had other plans. While I started IVs and pushed pain meds, Chasley served fruit tea and chit chatted with mid-day diners at the Veranda.

I can’t imagine God putting me anywhere else for those 3 months. I cherished early mornings drinking coffee with Lynette, who always offered a listening ear and encouraging words. I remember when Keith got a new bass boat and suggested they be sitting in the den with life jackets on when I arrived home from work. Keith called us “Girls Gone Wild” (you can rent a copy at your local Blockbuster, it will be on the top shelf with a paper sleeve covering our picture). Reclined back in his infamous La-Z-Boy, Keith would reach to his right, grab his Bible and read us scripture. From Buck’s Pocket to Sportsman landing, we captured Jackson counties most beautiful sunsets. Riding around became an almost nightly ritual. We laughed. We cried. We ran. We baked. We made memories I will never forget.

From running around the Loveliest Village on the Plains, to jogging around the square in Scottsboro, Chas has been by my side. Chasley is one of the most selfless people I know. She is a friend who rejoices with me during good times and cries with me during the hard. And she is honest. She tells me the truth, even when it hurts. How thankful I am to have a friend who holds me to these standards. She prays for me. She encourages me. She overflows with the joy and peace of her Savior. She is contagious.

Best friends, but very different. She likes journalists, lead singers with tight jeans, and guys that float around on a plank of wood (aka skateboarders). I like carhartt wearing outdoorsmen, fishermen, and sports fanatics. Drop her off in the city, drop me off at the lake. Yet behind the hobbies and interests, we are just two girls trying to love people, not by our own strength, but with the grace and mercy that Christ has showered on us. But don’t let us fool you: Just last year I was caught buying a pair of Gucci sunglasses from Saks. And Chasley was found in Barbour County hitting the bullseye with my 6mm.

Happy Birthday Chasley. Thanks for always putting up with me. Allowing me to go to bed before most 80 year olds, forcing you to tip toe around the house while the sun is still shinning. Thanks for sitting in your car and playing I Just Really Miss You over and over for me as I sulked. Thanks for keeping your side of the bedroom clean (what if both sides looked like mine). But most of all, thanks for letting me be a part of your family. Come on over, 22 is fine.