I have a lot to catch up on here, but tonight isn't going to be the night... we'll I don't think so.. LOL
We had a good time at the GCMC, Sunday School Conference. Lots of folks there and many had very nice things to say to us about our deaf ministry. I was a little surprised after they had asked me to go to interpret, that it was advertised, but maybe that was for the best. Also saw a few people from our last church and they were surprised to see me. I guess they thought I was in NC or maybe even still Japan. They told me I had been holding out on them with the interpreting.. Not really, God has done this! So I shared that story. :)
Saturday was our 11th Anniversary! I don't know where the years have gone. I sure know one thing for sure, I cannot imagine my life without that man! He has really changed me along the years and I think we have really grown together. I am so proud to call him my husband and even more so to call him my HERO! I cannot wait til he gets home! I will have to say that after about three weeks of no contact from him, I was about to pull my hair out. It really drives me crazy. Friday night, well Saturday morning for him, I got a call.. I heard those favorite words I love to hear.. "Hey Babe.. " Yes I YELLED!!!! The girls in the car knew immediately who it was! :) I had to pull over so they could drive and I could talk. I couldn't concentrate on how to get into that McDonald's when I was so excited! :) It was great and made my day!! I have to admit though, that once we were getting off the phone I got all choked up and cried. It was happy tears, but sad at the same time. I sure miss my man!
Sunday at church was awesome! I am still battling something and trying to find the direction I am supposed to be going. I know I was brought here, well maybe I should say, I think I was brought here to start this deaf ministry. However, is it just to start and then step down or what? I am confused and I feel a leading in different ways and so unsure. Part of me feels it is the spirit of fear and that I got my confirmation of sorts on Sunday. The sweet deaf gentlemen that comes sometimes, that for some reason everyone is afraid of and says he gets offended easy over signs. Well, so far so good! :) He seems sweet to me and he just smiles at me when I mess up or I don't understand him. He is patient and I think the fact that he keeps coming back, says a lot! :) Anyway, Sunday he went to the altar and was praying! I was so excited! I prayed with him and D (deaf lady) talked to him later and he has decided to be baptized! He called me on the VP last night and asked me to call the Pastor and see if he would. I knew he would, but I called and everyone is so excited!! This will be our first deaf ministry baptizing!! I am so excited!!!!
Well, I had to share those tidbits of my last few days. I hope all of you are having a blessed week so far! :)
Hugs,
Lanitha
Monday, October 25, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Pickle Jar
Got this in an email and after reading it after service tonight, I thought it was definitely worth sharing. Enjoy!
The Pickle Jar
The pickle jar, as far back as I can remember. Sat on the floor beside the dresser in my parents' bedroom. When he got ready for bed Dad would empty his pockets and toss his coins into the jar.
As a small boy, I was always fascinated at the sounds the coins made as they were dropped into the jar. They landed with a merry jingle when the jar was almost empty. Then the tones gradually muted to a dull thud as the jar was filled. I used to squat on the floor in front of the jar to admire the copper and silver circles that glinted like a pirate's treasure when the sun poured through the bedroom window.
When the jar was filled, Dad would sit at the kitchen table and roll the coins before taking them to the bank. Taking the coins to the bank was always a big production. Stacked neatly in a small cardboard box, the coins were placed between Dad and me on the seat of his old truck. Each and every time, as we drove to the bank, Dad would look at me hopefully. "Those coins are going to keep you out of the textile mill, son. You're going to do better than me. This old mill town's not going to hold you back." Also, each and every time, as he slid the box of rolled coins across the counter at the bank toward the cashier, he would grin proudly. "These are for my son's college fund. He'll never work at the mill all his life like me."
We would always celebrate each deposit by stopping for an ice cream cone. I always got chocolate. Dad always got vanilla. When the clerk at the ice cream parlor handed Dad his change, he would show me the few coins nestled in his palm. "When we get home, we'll start filling the jar again." He always let me drop the first coins into the empty jar. As they rattled around with a brief, happy jingle, we grinned at each other. "You'll get to college on pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters," he said. "But you'll get there; I'll see to that."
No matter how rough things got at home, Dad continued to doggedly drop his coins into the jar. Even the summer when Dad got laid off from the mill,and Mama had to serve dried beans several times a week, not a single dime was taken from the jar. To the contrary, as Dad looked across the table at me, pouring catsup over my beans to make them more palatable, he became more determined than ever to make a way out for me. "When you finish college, Son," he told me, his eyes glistening, "You'll never have to eat beans again - unless you want to."
The years passed, and I finished college and took a job in another town. Once, while visiting my parents, I used the phone in their bedroom, and noticed that the pickle jar was gone. It had served its purpose and had been removed. A lump rose in my throat as I stared at the spot beside the dresser where the jar had always stood. My dad was a man of few words: he never lectured me on the values of determination, perseverance, and faith. The pickle jar had taught me all these virtues far more eloquently than the most flowery of words could have done.
When I married, I told my wife Susan about the significant part the lowly pickle jar had played in my life as a boy. In my mind, it defined, more than anything else, how much my dad had loved me.
The first Christmas after our daughter Jessica was born, we spent the holiday with my parents.
After dinner, Mom and Dad sat next to each other on the sofa, taking turns cuddling their first grandchild.
Jessica began to whimper softly, and Susan took her from Dad's arms. 'She probably needs to be changed,' she said, carrying the baby into my parents' bedroom to diaper her. When Susan came back into the living room, there was a strange mist in her eyes. She handed Jessica back to Dad before taking my hand and leading me into the room. 'Look,' she said softly, her eyes directing me to a spot on the floor beside the dresser.
To my amazement, there, as if it had never been removed, stood the old pickle jar, the bottom already covered with coins. I walked over to the pickle jar, dug down into my pocket, and pulled out a fistful of coins. With a gamut of emotions choking me, I dropped the coins into the jar. I looked up and saw that Dad, carrying Jessica, had slipped quietly into the room. Our eyes locked, and I knew he was feeling the same emotions I felt. Neither one of us could speak. This truly touched my heart. Sometimes we are so busy adding up our troubles that we forget to count our blessings. Never underestimate the power of your actions.
With one small gesture you can change a person's life, for better or for worse. God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way. Look for GOOD in others. The best and most beautiful things cannot be seen or touched - they must be felt with the heart ~ Helen Keller - Happy moments, praise God. - Difficult moments, seek God. - Quiet moments, worship God. - Painful moments, trust God. - Every moment, thank God.
The Pickle Jar
The pickle jar, as far back as I can remember. Sat on the floor beside the dresser in my parents' bedroom. When he got ready for bed Dad would empty his pockets and toss his coins into the jar.
As a small boy, I was always fascinated at the sounds the coins made as they were dropped into the jar. They landed with a merry jingle when the jar was almost empty. Then the tones gradually muted to a dull thud as the jar was filled. I used to squat on the floor in front of the jar to admire the copper and silver circles that glinted like a pirate's treasure when the sun poured through the bedroom window.
When the jar was filled, Dad would sit at the kitchen table and roll the coins before taking them to the bank. Taking the coins to the bank was always a big production. Stacked neatly in a small cardboard box, the coins were placed between Dad and me on the seat of his old truck. Each and every time, as we drove to the bank, Dad would look at me hopefully. "Those coins are going to keep you out of the textile mill, son. You're going to do better than me. This old mill town's not going to hold you back." Also, each and every time, as he slid the box of rolled coins across the counter at the bank toward the cashier, he would grin proudly. "These are for my son's college fund. He'll never work at the mill all his life like me."
We would always celebrate each deposit by stopping for an ice cream cone. I always got chocolate. Dad always got vanilla. When the clerk at the ice cream parlor handed Dad his change, he would show me the few coins nestled in his palm. "When we get home, we'll start filling the jar again." He always let me drop the first coins into the empty jar. As they rattled around with a brief, happy jingle, we grinned at each other. "You'll get to college on pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters," he said. "But you'll get there; I'll see to that."
No matter how rough things got at home, Dad continued to doggedly drop his coins into the jar. Even the summer when Dad got laid off from the mill,and Mama had to serve dried beans several times a week, not a single dime was taken from the jar. To the contrary, as Dad looked across the table at me, pouring catsup over my beans to make them more palatable, he became more determined than ever to make a way out for me. "When you finish college, Son," he told me, his eyes glistening, "You'll never have to eat beans again - unless you want to."
The years passed, and I finished college and took a job in another town. Once, while visiting my parents, I used the phone in their bedroom, and noticed that the pickle jar was gone. It had served its purpose and had been removed. A lump rose in my throat as I stared at the spot beside the dresser where the jar had always stood. My dad was a man of few words: he never lectured me on the values of determination, perseverance, and faith. The pickle jar had taught me all these virtues far more eloquently than the most flowery of words could have done.
When I married, I told my wife Susan about the significant part the lowly pickle jar had played in my life as a boy. In my mind, it defined, more than anything else, how much my dad had loved me.
The first Christmas after our daughter Jessica was born, we spent the holiday with my parents.
After dinner, Mom and Dad sat next to each other on the sofa, taking turns cuddling their first grandchild.
Jessica began to whimper softly, and Susan took her from Dad's arms. 'She probably needs to be changed,' she said, carrying the baby into my parents' bedroom to diaper her. When Susan came back into the living room, there was a strange mist in her eyes. She handed Jessica back to Dad before taking my hand and leading me into the room. 'Look,' she said softly, her eyes directing me to a spot on the floor beside the dresser.
To my amazement, there, as if it had never been removed, stood the old pickle jar, the bottom already covered with coins. I walked over to the pickle jar, dug down into my pocket, and pulled out a fistful of coins. With a gamut of emotions choking me, I dropped the coins into the jar. I looked up and saw that Dad, carrying Jessica, had slipped quietly into the room. Our eyes locked, and I knew he was feeling the same emotions I felt. Neither one of us could speak. This truly touched my heart. Sometimes we are so busy adding up our troubles that we forget to count our blessings. Never underestimate the power of your actions.
With one small gesture you can change a person's life, for better or for worse. God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way. Look for GOOD in others. The best and most beautiful things cannot be seen or touched - they must be felt with the heart ~ Helen Keller - Happy moments, praise God. - Difficult moments, seek God. - Quiet moments, worship God. - Painful moments, trust God. - Every moment, thank God.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Good times.. :)
The last few days have been exciting and fun! :) I had some family come down to visit and hang out. We had a great time! We didn't do a lot, but it was still fun just to visit and spend time with one another. It has been too long!
They only had one request when they got here, that was to eat at Paula Deen's. :) So, we tried to make a reservation online, but couldn't. You can only do it online if it is for 10 or more people. They start making reservations there on the curb at 930. So, we had hoped it being a weekday it wouldn't be too bad. We went shopping here and then got my kids out of school around 2. Drove over there to see if we could get a reservation, we could but it was for 8 p.m with four kids, that is NOT going to work. Tried to make the reservation for the next day while we were there, but they wouldn't. So, we surprised the kids and drove over to the beach! :) They loved it! It was cold here, well in the high 70's but the water was cool. We only let them get their feet in. They still had fun and played in the sand and even found a few shells. :) Since we hadn't planned on the beach, we just drove through the drive thru and got supper and drove on home. :)
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The next day we decided to drive back over earlier and make our reservation. It meant two trips there and back and it is about an hour drive, but we decided it was going to be worth it! :) After I got my kids off to school, we finished getting dressed and headed on over there. We got there about 1030 or so, and couldn't believe it, but they had room for us for an early lunch!! So, needless to say we hurried up and found us parking and went to lunch! Most of us got the buffet, but one of us ordered the Chicken Pot Pie. It was okay. The buffet was pretty good and had a lot of different stuff, so we were able to try a little bit of everything. For dessert we got to have a a pick between bannana pudding, warm peach cobbler, or some chew chocolate chip thing. We each got a different one and shared! :) Yes, no worries I took pictures! :) lol Well, I didn't bring my camera, but my cousin had hers so we all borrowed her camera! :) We also found out while we were eating that one of her son's had been there a little earlier that morning, but had left for some interview or something.. Oh MAN! After we finished eating, we went to shop at her little shop next door to the restaurant. Neat little gifts and keepsakes. I don't know much about Paula Deen, but it definately got me interested! :) I think I would really like one of her country cookbooks and should have gotten me one, but maybe next time! ;) I did get me a t-shirt, magnet, and S.L.U.T.S pen.. (Southern Ladies Under Tremendous Stress!) LOL Just couldn't resist.. lol
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They only had one request when they got here, that was to eat at Paula Deen's. :) So, we tried to make a reservation online, but couldn't. You can only do it online if it is for 10 or more people. They start making reservations there on the curb at 930. So, we had hoped it being a weekday it wouldn't be too bad. We went shopping here and then got my kids out of school around 2. Drove over there to see if we could get a reservation, we could but it was for 8 p.m with four kids, that is NOT going to work. Tried to make the reservation for the next day while we were there, but they wouldn't. So, we surprised the kids and drove over to the beach! :) They loved it! It was cold here, well in the high 70's but the water was cool. We only let them get their feet in. They still had fun and played in the sand and even found a few shells. :) Since we hadn't planned on the beach, we just drove through the drive thru and got supper and drove on home. :)
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The next day we decided to drive back over earlier and make our reservation. It meant two trips there and back and it is about an hour drive, but we decided it was going to be worth it! :) After I got my kids off to school, we finished getting dressed and headed on over there. We got there about 1030 or so, and couldn't believe it, but they had room for us for an early lunch!! So, needless to say we hurried up and found us parking and went to lunch! Most of us got the buffet, but one of us ordered the Chicken Pot Pie. It was okay. The buffet was pretty good and had a lot of different stuff, so we were able to try a little bit of everything. For dessert we got to have a a pick between bannana pudding, warm peach cobbler, or some chew chocolate chip thing. We each got a different one and shared! :) Yes, no worries I took pictures! :) lol Well, I didn't bring my camera, but my cousin had hers so we all borrowed her camera! :) We also found out while we were eating that one of her son's had been there a little earlier that morning, but had left for some interview or something.. Oh MAN! After we finished eating, we went to shop at her little shop next door to the restaurant. Neat little gifts and keepsakes. I don't know much about Paula Deen, but it definately got me interested! :) I think I would really like one of her country cookbooks and should have gotten me one, but maybe next time! ;) I did get me a t-shirt, magnet, and S.L.U.T.S pen.. (Southern Ladies Under Tremendous Stress!) LOL Just couldn't resist.. lol
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Between our four kids, it was fun just to let them play, after we were able to get in yesterday for lunch and all, we decided to just spend the rest of the evening/day at my house. I was finally able to cook for them! I had planned on cooking while they were here. Plus, that would keep hubby happy that I wasn't spending money. :) (If I save while he is gone, I get to get my new living room suit when he gets back.) :) The kids I think liked that better anyway. They played at the park and just running around the house. Good memories! I didn't get many more pics of them all playing like I meant to. When we came back from Paula Deen's, I was able to get pictures of my cousin's girls playing at the park, and meant to take more of them all playing, but hubby called and then D came by so, I was distracted and missed the opportunity to get more pics of them all together.
The picture of the three of us didn't turn out to well either.. LOL We had Bubba take it at the beach, but I was squinting and the wind was blowing, I don't think any of us liked any of the shots he got.. LOL They are funny to look at though. I wanted to get another shot of us, but we didn't have time this morning. They wanted to try to get on the road and stop at an outlet mall they saw on the way here. I was tempted to follow and shop! :)
Their visit was definitely a good distraction and I think we all had a great time! :) Even if one of her girls was sick (ear infection and cold) and not a happy camper and they left here with scratchy sore throats and I am still coughing and have lots of head congestion.. It was still fun! I told them they had to come back when we could get the men to take care of the kids and we could go shopping and have a girls night with just the three of us. :)
I hope you are all having a blessed week!
Lanitha
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