If I was fortunate enough to have a dollar for every time I have travelled the roads from Dothan to Birmingham…I’d be living on the beach somewhere on Maui in my very own beach house with big ole doors that open out to the sand and the beach.  It would be big enough for all my friends to visit at the same time.  And, it would be decorated in the most beachy beach decor around.  And, I’d have a cook and a butler, and of course a housekeeper!Several years ago, Mom and I were travelling to Birmingham with Alex to see one of his doctors.  Now Alex didn’t particularly like having to go, but Mom and I didn’t mind.  That’s cause we could usually figure out a way to get some shopping time in.  This was before Mom began having so much trouble with her arthritis…and she could go on and on and on!  When Alex got old enough, we began staying at the Wynfrey Hotel.  Now The Wynfrey was our choice because it opened up into  a huge mall…the Galleria.  Alex could stay in the room if he wanted, or he could go out to the electronics store for a while.  Also, if Mom got tired she could go to the room and rest a while.   If Alex wanted, he could stay in the room and watch TV and it was easy for Mom or I to pop in and check on him.   

Well, we were travelling on a cool, fall day…enjoying the scenery and talking about first one thing and then another and back to the first!  It’s amazing how we could solve all the world’s problems on that short 3 1/2 hour trip!  But, we could!  On this particular day, there was quite a bit of traffic.  We had remarked about it several times.  And, so many big trucks.  Alex had told us he was going to lie down.  I told him that was fine…but, he had to keep his seat belt on.

Now, let me say right here that those big trucks get on my nerves.  They will scare the mess out of you or go so slow you need to stop!  The only time I don’t mind sharing the road with them is in bad weather.  Then, I look for the biggest truck I can find and get right behind him.  And, there I stay.  I do not try to pass, I do not change lanes, me and The Big Truck Protection Company just keep on truckin’.  I do not like to drive in bad weather.  Now, I’m not talking about a little rain…I’m talking about a big ‘ole gully washer!  You have those where you live?

Well, back to the story for today.   Anyway,  pulling up behind me comes several big log trucks.  I despise big log trucks.  The are definitely NOT a member of  The Big Truck Protection Company!  I think the drivers of these trucks are  reading the wrong kind of maps…if you know what I mean?  But, how could you?  I don’t even know what I mean!  I was just trying to very nicely say, “THEY’RE CRAZY”!  There I said it!  I know probably your father or your husband or your son or other assorted male family member drives one and now I have offended you.  Please forgive me.   I am sure they are the exception to my rule.  

Several of these came speeding up behind me, passed me, and then slowed down….we were going up a long hill.  I was using my cruise control.  It helps me stay in control of my speed, ya know.  I tend to go juuuuuust a bit over the limit.  So, rather than slow down, I just calmly pulled out and went around the one that was right in front of me.  My Mom said,  “I have never liked those log trucks.  I think they are dangerous.”  “I don’t either…they make me nervous,”  I answered.  Mom said that she had a friend who was killed by one of the trucks.

As we drove on, I noticed that the same log truck  that I had passed was coming up behind me….very fast.  I really thought he would hit my car if he did not slow down!  I began looking around me for an escape if need be.  I was afraid to slow down, because he was going so fast.  And, there was nowhere to go.  I was in the right hand lane.  The left was full of cars.  There was no shoulder…..just a drop off some 50-60  feet.  Straight down.  I was pretty sure something was going to happen that I was not going to like.  You better believe that I was praying.  This was before Carrie Underwood sang that song, “Jesus Take the Wheel”.  All I could say was “Jesus.”  Quietly.  I did not want to scare Mom or Alex. 

At the last moment (before hitting me from behind), he pulled into the left lane.  Whew!  I could breathe again.  But…not for long.  The worst was just beginning.  As he began to pull ahead of me…he also began to come back over in my lane.  Way before he should have…he began moving back to the right lane.  I knew there was no place to go but down.   And, I knew I was going to have to take that way.  Mom had not noticed what was happening now…and Alex was asleep.  There was the tiniest sliver of level ground next the road, and I tried to get over to that as far as I could.  But, that was not what the trucker had in mind.  He kept coming over until I had no choice but to leave the highway. 

It’s strange how things begin to move in slow motion even though you are tooling along at 70 mph.  In my mind, it became clear to me that I had to try to drive down the embankment…and I knew that I had to go down at an angle.  I am not at all wise about driving and cars and such, but I knew that if I went straight down the car would flip. And, friends, I was not scared…the strangest calm came over me and I just knew what I had to do.  At the bottom was thick woods.  So, I said, “Mama, hold on, hold on, hold on!”  And, as I was talking I was driving…down the embankment…at an angle.  And, friends, I made it down,  and was heading towards the woods, and clear as a bell, I heard a man’s voice say, “STOP–NOW!”  And, that’s what I did.  I could not move for a minute.  WELL  My  little mother was out of that car and scrambling up that embankment, before I could even turn the car off!  I yelled after her, “Mama, come back, we’re OK.”    She said she was going to get a tag number!  Well, no way could she have gotten a tag number, but she thought she could.  I jumped out of the car to go after her.  Friends, 3 or 4 big trucks  stopped to see if we were ok.   They just stopped right there in the middle of that 4 lane highway!  One of them said yelled,  “if you are OK, I’m going after him.”  Another trucker said he would call the state trooper on the radio.  He said and” I’m going to tell him you did nothing wrong. ” Two ladies stopped and said,” we saw the whole thing.  We knew what was going to happen.  We were praying angels all over your car.”    A man and his son in their pick up  said they would stay with us till the police came.  He was so kind.  He said,”Don’t you worry now, little lady.  We’s not going to leave you out here by your self.”

Now, Mama was pacing on that little sliver of level ground.  She was trying to think what to do so she could do it.  But, there was nothing to do…we just had to wait till the State Trooper arrived.  And, so the man and his son in the pick up truck told her that it would be better for her to wait by the car.  And, down that steep embankment she came…with their help.

I knew that Mom needed to sit down and Alex was still in the car.  So, we walked back down to the car.  We went around to the front of the car.  There was a thick area of vines and scrub trees that had caught hold of the car and held it tight.  We heard water…running water.  Looking through the vines and trees, we saw a creek, another 10 feet below us.  It was full of water and it was running fast.  The state trooper said it was at least 5 feet deep.  IF I had not stopped my car when I did…we would have ended up in the creek.  We both got back into the car and shut our doors.  Alex lifted up his head from the backseat and said, “Mother, why have you been driving so crazy?”  “Well, Son, look around and see where you are! ” I said.   He looked around and then said, ” Mama, what in the world are you doing down here?”  And, I told him that I was taking a nap and when I woke up there I was!!!   He did not think that was funny!

Finally the State Trooper came, and we told him our story.  He said that he had 3 other troopers looking for the truck ever since the other trucker called to tell him about it.  And, he said, “There are big roads and little roads, dirt roads and pig trails all back in this area.  That trucker knows all sorts of places  to hide until tomorrow or the next day.   We will never find him.”  Well about that time the trooper got a call on his radio that another trooper had a big logging truck pulled over on one of those back roads.  So, the trooper said for us to get in his car.  We were going to see if I could identify the truck.  Oh!  My!  I had no earthly idea if it was red or green or blue or polka dotted.  But, the trooper said, “Ma’am, you saw enough of the truck to know if this is the same one.”  I got in front, and held his computer and stuff in my lap.  Mom and Alex got into the back.  You know those little cages they put the criminals in?   That’s where they were.  The nice man and his son in the pick up said that they were going to wait there to make sure the car was safe…and in case some of the bigger trucks came back.  And, so we drove.  And, drove.  And drove.  We had left all the paved roads and were now on the dirt roads and pig trails.  And, the trooper?  He was not driving at a safe rate of speed!  I decided not to point this out to him…didn’t seem like the best time to do it.   I turned around once and looked at Alex and his grandmother…sitting in the lock-up cage…in the back of a state troopers car…on a dirt road…with a maniacal trooper on a mission!  Their eyes were big.  And they were holding on to each other for dear life.  I gave them a little smile and figured I’d better just keep my mind on the trooper.   And, then on a dirt road with trees and vines and and such so thick it covered the road like a canopy…right beautiful, really. There was a log truck…and a man standing in the road…and another trooper car with lights flashing…and the trooper talking to the man.  We approached from the front of the logging truck.  I told the trooper I needed to see the back.  And so we drove around the truck and cars and went down the road about a 1/2 mile.  He turned around and turned to me and said, “try to remember how it felt when you knew you were going to have to leave the road.”  I did what he said…and all the time he was driving.  As we came up to the truck Mom and I said…at the same time, “That’s not the one.”  Couldn’t tell you anything about the one it was…but knew this one was not!  The trooper said, “See, I told you that you would know.”

The troopers came and asked me again in the driver’s presence if this was the one.  And, I told them it was not.  Then that burly, unshaven, big bear of a man came over to the window where I was and leaned in and said, “I’m so sorry this happened to you.  But, some of those drivers are fools.  They think they own the road.  Best you stay as far away from them from now on.  Now, is there anything you need?  I’m at your service, if I can do anything at all.”  I shook his hand and told him that we were fine and thanked him for his kindness.  We went back to the car.  The trooper called a wrecker to come and pull us out of the ditch and back up the steep hill.  I thanked the man and his son that had stayed at our car and offered to pay him for his time.  He said, “Just pass it on ma’am…that’s all we need.”   Then the state trooper looked at me and said, “Were you driving, Ma’am?”  I told him I was.  And, then he said the strangest thing.  He said, “Well, Ma’am, there is no way that you could have driven your car down that embankment.  It’s impossible to do without flipping the car.”

I let that sink in for a minute.  And, that same sense of calmness came over me again.  That ‘peace that passes all understanding’.  And, I looked back at the trooper and said, “Actually, it wasn’t me driving at all.  I was just sitting behind the wheel.”  And, he looked at me and smiled, “Yes, Ma’am, you’re right.  You’re sure right about that.”

The wrecker pulled the car out.  He did not try to drive the wrecker down there…the trooper stopped the traffic on the highway.  The he hooked something to the car and sprinkled some magic dust and said some magic words and ‘POOF’  the car was back on the 4 lane.   He bent something back off of the right front tire…so it wouldn’t scrape.   He drove it down the road and came back.   Then, he said, “You’re good to go.”  The trooper waved us on.  The wrecker headed back to Montgomery.  Mom took an ativan and laid her car seat back and closed her eyes.  Alex lay down in the back seat again…with his seat belt on.  And I put the car into Drive and set my sights on Birmingham.   And, as I drove, these words quietly escaped my lips…an old Michael W Smith Praise Song we used to sing with the Youth when my boys were in this age group at church.  The words came out.  They came from my soul.  They came from that place where we communicate with Our Father.  They rose without any conscious thought on my part.  They were words of thanks.  They were words of praise.

Amen and Amen!

“If you aren’t on the nice list by now, it’s probably too late. Sorry.”

CHRISTMAS EVE’S EVE LAMENT

“The gift shopping’s finished,

The wrapping?  Just some.

The menu is planned,

Grocery shopping?  Not done…

The house is all ready…..

but I’m in projects knee deep;

Oh, please, may I…please, can I,

add some days to this week?”

THE TRUTH ABOUT CHRISTMAS 
Santa lives at the North Pole.
JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh
JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year
JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies
JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited
JESUS stands at your door and knocks.. and then enters your heart.

You have to stand in line to see Santa
JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap
JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn’t know your name, all he can say is “Hi little boy or girl, What’s your name?”
JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name,
 He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows
 how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly
JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO
JESUS offers health, help and hope.

Santa says “You better not cry”
JESUS says “Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.

Santa’s little helpers make toys
JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but
JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree
JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.

It’s obvious there is really no comparison.
We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about.
We need to put Christ back in Christmas.

Jesus is still the reason for the season.                        copied

And one more to smile on…..

There once was a little boy who loved to sit and listen to his grandmother tell him stories from the Bible.  He paid very close attention, and drank in all she taught.  One  day he came up to her as she was washing the dishes and said, “Grandmother, can I ask you a question?”  Drying her hands, she looked at him and said, “Of course you can.  What would you like to know?”  “It’s about the Christmas story, ” he said.  “I was just wondering which of those virgins is the mother of Baby Jesus?”  She thought surely he must have misunderstood something she said, and was about to explain it again when he said, “Is it the Virgin Mary or the King James Virgin?”

May I introduce you to my youngest son, Ian.

Handsome fellow…if I do say so myself. With a ‘million dollar smile’.  Literally!   But, the year following his birth was one of the hardest of my life.  I was thrust into a situation for which I had no understanding, no information, and no plan.  Quickly, I had to do all of these things to take care of this little boy who was born with a cleft lip and palate.

After his first surgery, this was my first glimpse of my baby’s face…

And, by the time we left the hospital in NC , 3 weeks later…this was his beautiful face…

This was only the first and there have been many, many, many surgeries to close fistulas,  graft bone, implant teeth, move jaw, straighten nose, and on and on and on.  He is now 28 years old, and in the next year, he will again undergo some more corrective surgery.  This will be either 14 or 15…I lost count around # 10.

Can you imagine how much we have spent on this face and mouth?  We begrudge not a penny, and thank God we had good insurance.  As hard as it has been to see him suffer, he is still a mighty lucky and blessed young man.  Even though this was traumatic, and painful…he was blessed to be born into a family who had the means to take care of his needs.   He belonged to a family that could find the best doctors, who could track down information, who could meet the needs as they arose.  And, he was surrounded by family and school mates and church family that loved him as he was and pulled for him all through life.

There are many, many children in this world who are not so fortunate.  They face banishment from their villages and their families.  Some are left to starve to death.  Others are quickly drowned so that no one will see the shame they believe was brought to their family.  It breaks my heart.  It is so sad that there are those who just don’t know that a face is not who the child is….that he there behind the defect…and he needs love and comfort.  But, also, most of these people know that there is nothing they can do to help their child.  There is no help where they are.  Maybe they don’t even know that the defect can be fixed.

” Unlike many charities that do many different things, The Smile Train mission is focused on solving a single problem: cleft lip and palate.
  Clefts are a major problem in developing countries where there are millions of children who are suffering with unrepaired clefts. Most cannot eat or speak properly. Aren’t allowed to attend school or hold a job. And face very difficult lives filled with shame and isolation, pain and heartache.
  The good news is every single child with a cleft can be helped with surgery that costs as little as $250 and takes as little as 45 minutes.
  This is our mission:
    -To provide free cleft surgery for millions of poor children in developing countries.
    -To provide free cleft-related training for doctors and medical professionals.
  Until there are no more children who need help and we have completely
eradicated the problem of clefts.”      from www.smiletrain.org

“Over the past ten years, we have provided free cleft lip and palate surgery for hundreds of thousands of children.

These children were suffering not because they were born with a cleft, but because they were born too poor to ever afford surgery.”

“Being born with a cleft in a developing country is truly a curse. In fact, every baby born in Uganda with a cleft is given the name Ajok which means literally, “cursed by God.” And no one knows how many newborns with clefts are killed or abandoned right after birth.

And the ones who are lucky enough to find a Smile Train free cleft surgery program, not only survive, they thrive. After a 45 minute surgery hands them back their future, and a second chance at life that they never Thought could happen.”   www.smiletrain.org

Friends, this is such a worthy charity.  I shudder to think of what my own child’s life would have become if we were not able to have the best medical care possible.  Every little bit helps.  Even though we have spent many, many, many thousands of dollars on Ian…through Smile Train, a child can have the cleft surgery for $250!

Gifts may be given in honor of someone or in memory of a loved one.  They accept any amount and will send a card to the recipitent, if you so desire.  We really don’t need more trinkets and baubles and bangles.  We have enough of everything we own to last a life time.  These sweet children will have nothing if those of us who care do not help.

Please go to www.smiletrain.org. for more information.

Today has been a good day.  And, a reflective day, too, I think.  We went to Pop’s for lunch.  We had the big stuff catered, Joy made several dishes, and I made 1.  It was all delicious!  We talked of all the blessings we had.  Adding sweet JT to the family, and waiting for little Levi (that’s what Adam and Suze have chosen for a name.)  As Joy was hgetting everything heated, Adam, Suzanne, Ian and I got the tree and the rest of the decor out of the attic.  We almost got finished with everything, but still have a little bit to do.  Pop was so appreciative.

Do you eat turkey at other times of the year?  It’s really delicious.  We have one at Thanksgiving and one at Christmas…and that’s it until another year brings us back to Thanksgiving.  Perhaps, it’s because it is usually so big.  Even if you get a small one…it’s still too much unless you have a big crowd.  Anyway…

I had to beg and plead to get pictures made today.  So, I’m just showing you one …just us girls.

We were missing 3 of our group today, and that just leaves a gap in our family circle.  Alex was not able to go.  Today was not a good day for him.  Will is a Master hunter, and his group had made their plans for today quite a while ago.  Actually, they do this every year.  Ben was out of town visiting his sister.  Adam and Suze had to leave soon after lunch to be with her family.

We got the kitchen cleaned up, and divided up the food that was left.  Then we all went our separate ways.  Joy has broken her foot…AGAIN!  So, she is hobbling around. 

Ian went back over to Pop’s to help him with some computer stuff.  And, he said he was heading back to B’ham tonight.  And, he might.  But, I have made my thoughts on the subject loud and clear!  Tomorrow is soon enough…there is no reason why he has to drive 200 miles tonight!  Kids!!!!

So, another Thanksgiving has come and almost gone.  I am so blessed.  Our whole family is blessed.  God has shown such mercy and grace to us and to Him all the glory goes!  We have nice places to live, we have plenty to eat, we have jobs, we have cars, we have family…close by, we have friends, we have a sweet church family, and we have started another generation in our little family.  We have all this because God has blessed us.  We have all been through hard, hard times…but we have not been defeated.  He has seen us through.  Just like He says He will.  When I stop to think about all we, as Americans, have…and how little those in other lands don’t have….I am humbled.  God is good to us.

My friend Shirl has 2 daughters, Jolie and Jayna.  These are the children of Jayna (she and Tara are dear friends).  You can read their names on their shirts…John Davis and Blair.  Jayna did their shirts…aren’t they great?  She has started a business selling shirts and outfits…all appliqued…on top of teaching school every day.  I do not have pictures of Jolie’s two…she may never send me a pic now that I almost gave her a DOG TOWEL!!!!!  But, if she does…I’ll post it.

It’s bedtime for me…10ish.  Tomorrow, I must get my house decorated…well, started.  I have a big party here next Friday. 

Hope you made sweet memories today.  Your friendship is such a blessing to me.  I learn from you all.  Nite-Nite!

I just re-read this post before I hit publish.  Man!  It’s all over the place.  The brain…she is scattering further and further!  Takes all I can do to gather it back together when I really need it.  Obviously, I didn’t try to ‘get it together’ tonight.

It is 8:58…Tuesday morning.I am sitting on my bed with the laptop in my lap.  Right beside me are 2 phones…my home phone and my cell phone.  Suzanne and Adam are at the doctor RIGHT NOW to find out the sex of their sweet bundle of joy.

My  TV is on The Today Show.  Prince William is getting married on April 29, 2011.  Our sweet baby is due on……….April 29, 2011.  Wasn’t it sweet of them to set their date in honor of our BOY or GIRL ?

The news commentator is saying that England has declared the wedding a national holiday.  I feel confident the US will follow suit, as soon as they get word of our due date.  Wouldn’t you think…?

It is 9:15.  Her appointment was at 8:00.  Come on…let’s hear something.  Over 1 BILLION people are expected to watch the wedding.  If our wee one stays on schedule…I know about 12 folks who won’t be tuned in.  Do you remember when Princess Diana and ‘ole what’s-his-name got married?  I watched it from start to finish.  What a display!  I think it was every little girl and teen girl and young woman and older woman’s proof that things we only read about in books, and dreamed of, can come true.   A girl can grow up, marry a Prince and become a Princess.   I loved watching it.  And, I’m sure I will this one, as well…on the DVR, a day later.

We’re all waiting to know.   Not that it will matter.  Boy or Girl…makes no difference.  I learned long ago that God, in His great wisdom, is the one who decides when life takes place.  He sees the future…He knows where this family will be in 5 or 10 or 20 years.  He knows who needs to be a part of this family…and that is who will come to live with Suzanne and Adam.  We think we know best so many times, but we don’t have a clue.  It is usually only in hindsight that we can see how the situations that we had no choice in, and maybe didn’t even like, were the right ones.  The older you get the more you learn to trust His ways.  We have all confidence that His choice will be the right one.

Oh! my!  I knew it…I went to the bathroom, and she called!   I know she has a lot of calls to make…I’ll wait a few minutes.  She knows.  Adam knows.  I want to know!

   IT’S  A  BEAUTIFUL, BOUNCING, BABY BOY !