Believe

Here I sit in Believe rehearsal. Woodlawn Church has a Christmas service each year that is looked forward to by many. This year we are doing a full scale production.

I have wept at every single rehearsal. The story is a 21st century adaptation of the life of Mary. I can't tell you more. I'd be flogged .
December 20 at 6 pm is the night of our production. As Pastor Mitch says regularly, "If you live within 100 miles of here, this is where you belong!"

If possible, make a point to be there. You will NOT be disappointed. And you will...Believe.

Thankful

It has rained enough days to carry one of these and never repeat. I like it though cause this time of year rain means cool is coming. Well, sometimes it does. I seriously would love to have this many umbrellas. I have a porcelain stand at my front door with about half a dozen. I'm working on my collection.=)

My youngest is on his way home as I type. My middle child arrives Friday. In mine and their lifetimes, this is the longest I've gone without seeing one of my three offspring. Now if I could just do the Dr. Spock thing and teleport my eldest home, the world would be perfect. I must settle for time with the two youngest for now. I have readied my home for company. I simply love to entertain, whether it be my children or guests. Flowers bedside, fresh towels stacked, candles in place, fresh baked goods, and my Fall scarecrows and pumpkins out.

My next thought process is of my dear friends the Ragsdales in Nashville. I grew up with the 3 Ragsdale children, and adore their mother, Boots. I've always wanted my children to love me as those 3 do their Mother. The youngest, Josh has been found with leukemia. As my son drives home, I try to imagine the terror of "knowing". My heart cries out and I desperately pray that God will heal Josh. Strength is my next prayer, for both Josh's parents and siblings.

Why does it take something of this magnitude to make me thankful for the health of my children and I? How we take that for granted.

Say the name of Joshua Ragsdale in prayer. And then say a prayer of thanks.

Sheer Happiness

I have a niggling sense that someone mentioned this to me months ago, but I never watched it. I deeply laughed and then tears flowed. I simply don't doubt that this will be an eternally happy couple. Why? The fertile imaginations, the "I am happy and don't care if you think I'm nuts" attitude.

Simply put, we all need this sort of abandonment ever so often.

Go ahead. Laugh at and with them, then cry if need be.

Smiles Anyone?

Those are my tears. Blue today, school started and I no longer have children school age. They are grown and for now 2 of the 3 are living in different states. In Nashville last week I spent sporadic time with all three. Leaving them alwaysalwaysalways makes me blue.

So, I surfed blogs for inspiration, happiness. Foolish I know, but finding pictures that are awe-inspiring help.



I want to drive this car to this picnic. I picture my 3 and Jen there with me. We all have new books we are dying to crack the covers on. I have plenty blankets and pillows for us to stretch out on.

Silly I know. Just looking for smiles. Think that car and a picnic will help?

"Teachings"

It is learned from your Mother. It can be taught, but is intensely effective for a lifetime if learned at a young age. It is constant loving reminders, a continual probing of what is good and the right thing to do.

I recently had a house guest who definitely had a “teaching” Mother. When she arrived and was introduced she handed me a lovely basket. It included a large bag of Starbucks coffee, English Breakfast tea bags, and homemade truffles. There was black sheer fabric draped beautifully with large faux diamonds sprinkled around. Saying the least, it was exquisite. Again saying the least, I was duly impressed. My guest was a lovely, very young, 20ish year old lady.

During her stay, I rarely knew she was there, save spending time with her. She was conscious of keeping her things in order, bedroom and bath. (I have a luggage stand I always provide. Her things were all place neatly on and around it.) I cooked dinner and she immediately offered to help then began clearing the table when we finished. She never left the kitchen until all was back in perfect order.

I enjoyed her stay. Yes, I loved the gift basket. But no, that is not why she impressed me so. It was her teaching. Her Mother had absolutely taught her well.

The next person that comes to mind is a 9 year old. He is infinitely kind.

I slammed the door of my car with the side door of the church in sight. Choir practice had already begun and we simultaneously began rushing across the parking lot. He was at a full run, me a walk. He beat me to the door and when he swung it open, I could see inside that the elevator door was being held. He looked back and made a split second decision. His head swung back and forth twice in just a few seconds. His decision was whether to continue running inside to catch the elevator or hold the door for the lady approaching. Be aware, I still had a good ways to go. He paused, and held the door. He waited patiently while I finished walking up. I couldn’t help but smile. He wanted to run inside and catch the elevator, but the positive influences in his life, his “teachings” won. I was so proud. And he is a mere 9 years old. I applaud his Mother and Father. If he’s got it at 9, it will only be enforced and will carry through his life.

For now, I'm your Mother. So listen. Take a hostess gift. It doesn’t have to be expensive. A simple candle, homemade candy, or package of funny cocktail napkins is perfect. Just let the person you are visiting know your appreciation. Leave the area you are staying in tidy. Don’t leave your shoes in the middle of the great room floor. Clear your things from the bathroom. Rinse your drink glasses. Be as invisible as possible, yet hospitable. (Remember, house guests are like fish. In 3 days they begin to stink.)

Speak out loud the compliment that crosses your mind. Hold the door for the lady with the baby in the stroller. Mail a card to someone grieving. Invite a friend to lunch.

Ok. You’ve now been told. Heed please.=)

P.S. Brittany and Jayce, you know who you are.

The Exact Place I Wish To Be Right Now

I wish to be lying in that very hammock. How stinkin' cool is that? Misool Eco Resort in West Papua, Indonesia looks to be a perfect place to melt away any and all stress, which is a main component in the perfect vacation. Below is a view of some of the 11 cottages available with 8 being on stilts over a quiet lagoon. I'll have nothing less than a stilted one. They are built from reclaimed wood and all furnishings are from local craftsmen. There is also a dive shop, restaurant and private pier.


Oh how I'd love to wake up to this view. The sound of the waves would wash away the cobwebs. Only improvement I can imagine is someone calling out, "Here's breakfast." That chair is for me to savor my breakfast in. I've a stack of books to read which I would take along. I want to laze around all day for 10 straight days, right here. Get a slight tan and go to dinner each evening. And no, I would not get bored.


Funny how my mind goes to what wardrobe I'd take. Linen, long, flowing swimsuit cover ups, big fat sunglasses. Total comfort all day, but something lovely for dinner. Please notice the outdoor shower below. (I recently bought one for my backyard at Dirt Cheap. I love rinsing my feet and hands before coming in from yard work. Of course mine is not made from a lovely tree trunk, just lowly teak.)



Wanderlust is stirred up. Awwww, let me dream.......=)

Cause of my "Missing"

I am regularly outdoors as I love gardening, cultivating my exterior spaces and entertaining al fresco. (Hence, "missing". A lovely hand written note I received this week spurred me to post. Thank you, Danette, it meant the world.)



This is my "piece de resistance" for the summer. I collected wooden windows and doors from roadside after Hurricane Katrina. Here is a dream come true. My zen place. It is 10' X 12' and will eventually have a pea gravel floor. The path winding to the door is comprised of pieces of sidewalk from the front of the house. The sidewalk was ruined during Katrina and my sons busted the huge broken slabs into smaller pieces. I then fashioned a walkway from my back patio to the new greenhouse. I still have not made a decision whether or not to paint the "shed". I love the primitive look, yet know I'd enjoy it painted pristine white also. What's your opinion? Also, what to call it? I refer to it as a garden shed, greenhouse, etc.

Do give your opinion....

p.s. The statue is actually a fountain. Water pours from a vase in her hand into another vase at her feet. The hand you see holds a small pot of blooming impatients. She is a Dirt Cheap find.

Celebrate Summer

Should you visit me these days, I’d offer a gorgeous glass of iced peach tea. We'd sit out back under my umbrella and listen to the trickle of water in my fountains. I'd likely have some smooth jazz playing and there are bright orange day lillies blooming around my patio. The perfect time to celebrate the outdoors is now. The smell of freshly mowed grass and grilling is one of summer's pleasures.
I recently splurged on my trip to Indianapolis and bought these heavy, fat, bright green stubbed off goblets. The picture is a bit deceiving in that they are approximately 6 inches tall and almost as wide. I LOVE them. Here's the secret. (Whispering here.) Wal-Mart has Great Value brand instant peach tea. It comes in small tubs and is packaged like Crystal Light. Each tub makes 1/2 gallon. I make the tea up by the gallon and add 3 individual packets of Splenda per gallon. It is delectable! I also buy frozen peaches in a zip top bag. I serve the tea over ice and float a fat, frozen peach slice on the top. It tastes as pretty as it looks.
For a change, for a summer celebration, take dinner out of doors. Americans tend to think you have to grill to dine al fresco. Not so. Plan to take it outside one night this week. Your family or friends will love it.
I had friends and family over Friday and Saturday evening and told them we were dining at sunset. I clipped some lillies and glads, put them in short vases, rolled out the bamboo placemats, and my table was phenomenal. I grilled chicken breasts with an herb rub wrapped in thick hickory smoked bacon, made a quick cold pasta salad and some deviled eggs. Dessert was pineapple sherbert doused with slushy sparkling apple cider. I broke a biscotti in half and shoved it down in the sherbert for garnish. I SO looked like a gourmet. Hehe.
And yes, we had peach tea in my fat green goblets!
I'd love to hear from you. What are you summer pleasures?

(Note: How do you like my completely ignoring the fact I've not posted in light years? I have no excuse, though I could name 1,000. Thanks for the calls, texts and emails urging me to write. You absolutely warm my heart.)

Happy Birthday to Me

My cell phone rang. The lady on the line reminds me that I have not blogged in quite some time. How well I know. Maybe that is what I needed, a kick in the pants. Here is an overview of life as of late.

I began celebrating my birthday Sunday a week ago (it was last Thursday, the 26th). I love birthdays and simply extend mine as long as I possibly can. SOLO met at my home Sunday evening and we had a cake for the March birthdays. I blew out candles then. Tyler and Jen arrived from Houston late Monday evening. I cooked Tuesday night and we hung out at the house. I crave just being at home with everyone is in town.
B'day photo op
An incredible group of friends took me to Back Door Cafe after church Wednesday evening. Got myself a Walter Anderson print at that soiree.=) The kids and I went to breakfast together the morning of my big day, and when all is said and done, what more could I ask for? All my ducks were sitting with me at the breakfast table. My children did me the honor of sitting for a photo op with Brandy on my special day. For this I am eternally grateful. We then had a late lunch with Nanna. I celebrated the evening with the ladies at Woodlawn. We had a wonderful party celebrating the birthday of every single lady in our church and it just happened to fall on my birthday! How lucky was I? I told them I’d never had that many people singing to me at once. They all pretended the entire party was for me...I let them=).

My friend Mary asked me to reserve Saturday evening to celebrate with her. She arrived at my home with my 3 sisters, Lisa and Tonya in tow. She had me a hot pink boa, a scepter that said “birthday girl”, a crown with pink fur on it, glasses with happy birthday written above the lenses, a “birthday girl” banner, a champagne flute with tall candles painted on it, sparkling juice and strawberries! All this and I’ve not mentioned that she painted birthday hats along with “birthday diva” and my name on her Jeep windows! I was laughing so hard. We had dinner at Walnut Circle Grill. Can you imagine the laughter at the table? The evening was fantastic. I absolutely will never forget last week. My new friend Raylyn has a snazzy red convertible and I topped off the week with a ride to Hattiesburg Sunday afternoon to celebrate Mitch’s birthday. (In my mind the ride was for my birthday.)

Monday was the first day in quite a few that didn’t feel “birthdayish”. I hate to see it go! Please....just once more...Happy Birthday to me.=)

Happy Birthday Sweet Tara:)

Those very candles were on Tara's cake last evening. We celebrated out back under my pergola. I set an incredibly beautiful table, well it was! We dined on lo mien with veggies and chicken. Then ended with good ole' birthday cake. (Tara left the thing here and I can't stop nibbling on it. Grrrrrr.) The evening was perfect. My candlelier was glowing as were my lanterns. Jazz greats crooned to us.

Happy Birthday dear sister. Simply put, I love you.

(Hello all. Forgive my absence. Life intruded but hopefully I'll soom be back on track and faithfully blogging. I've missed you all=).

Breckenridge

So. I've been busy. Snowed under. And actually have been to snow country. I've missed visiting with ya'll. I'm hoping to get on track and be here more often. Sorry to have been scarce of late.=)


As usual, I had to take the "arms flung in the air happy" picture on the slopes in Breck (the locals call it this).


Modis. A grand restaurant right on Main Street. Exquisite art and beautiful food.


Downtown is colorful. Snow was piled high and I stayed in complete awe the entire visit. Maybe it's the snow, but I can safely say that Breckenridge is the most gorgeous place I've been in the United States.

I promise more soon...details on how I was sure I was dying my first day there....=)

I Officially Have Go-i-tis

First, a non-relevant statement to this blog. I am SO thrilled when I get comments!

Today began early. Now ending late. I'm bone tired. And I have desperate wanderlust. I love my blog and I wish to post daily. Sometimes it just doesn't happen. My brain is bouncing around when all I am trying to say is blogging completes me. When I'm not blogging I'm thinking about it. But life intrudes and I can't make it happen as often as I like. Then I get grumpy and everything that bugs me mushrooms. Right now I want to go to another planet...I mean continent.=)

Shall I dream a bit? Hhhhmmm. If I could fly away to anywhere of my choice today, it would be to China. I really want to walk on the Great Wall. Or India would be grand. I want to pose in front of the Taj Mahal with my arms flung high and wide, like in all my other pics in other countries. Istanbul...here I come. Well, in my mind anyway. I really want to get lost in the marketplace. Let me see...one of those thatched roof huts on stilts out over the water in Aruba would be amazing. Tomorrow, please. Also include a massage therapist that comes to the hut. And place the table in front of that wide door with the view. Ahhhhh...

Gotta go. Need to browse around on Expedia for ticket pricing. Bye bye, now.

Small Town America

Columbia, MS Courthouse
Today has been another of those "live-over" days. I just spent the evening at Back Door Cafe listening to my daughter Tayler sing incredible love songs. Our friend Eric played acoustic guitar and they did a couple of duets. How did I ever get so lucky to end up in "small town America" Columbia, Mississippi? There are only 6600 people in our small city, yet we have an amazing fine dining establishment. For Valentine's Day diners, there were pristine white cloths, fat, ruffled edged camillias and glowing votive candles on each table. Owner/chef Fran Ginn invited Tay to do the entertainment and the ambiance was perfect. Just one more reason my love for Columbia escalates often.

My weekend started Friday with my friend Lori and I spending a quiet evening enjoying homemade chicken veggie soup, strawberries and cupcakes. Last evening I baked, mini and full sized cupcakes then dipped some strawberries in white chocolate. The strawberries went on top of the chocolate iced cupcakes and I added those little heart shapes with writing to the top of the minis. This morning started with delivering mini cupcakes to my friends, the staff at Hardee's.

After breakfast I rode with friends Lisa and Ashley to the coast to pick up Ash's costumes for the high school musical coming up. We drove the beach, crossed the new Biloxi/Ocean Springs bridge to Ocean Springs to buy muffins at Bayview Gourmet, then had coffee at the Roasted Bean in the Beau Rivage. My reservations for dinner were at 8, so we headed home.

I really can't imagine another city of this size having so much to offer. Columbia High School has a musical each year that is highly anticipated. (Tay had the lead the year she graduated.) The band wins "state" each year. (My three were all a part of it. Tyler began his public career of drumming in the 6th grade. Tay played clarinet and Tyren trumpet and french horn.) And that's not even mentioning sports. (Tyren went to state 3 years running playing tennis.) It's "cool" to be in the musical and band here, as well as sports. That was not the case in my high school.

All this and I haven't mentioned my place of worship, the absolute best perk of the entire city. Cultured friends, award winning high school, fine dining and Woodlawn Church.

Heaven's to Betsy I love this well-rounded small town!

Morning Joy

(View from my window this very morning)
On my morning jaunt to my coffee maker, there is a large picture window in the living room framing a massive camellia bush. This time of year, an involuntary smile beams with each passing. My camellias are blooming. There are literally hundreds of blooms on this bush and all of them just for me.

How well I remember the first Valentine's Day as a single lady. I would literally cringe thinking of "that day" coming. How vivid the memory of leaving work and going to the mall is. I bought myself a wonderful gift, my very first fountain. Somehow in our minute minds, we build up these expectations over silly things that absolutely do not matter. At that point in my life, Valentine's Day was a glaring reminder that I was a failure. I was one of those who had the table set in bold red for 2 solid weeks. I baked a heart shaped, strawberry flavored cake each year and celebrated wildly. And the arrival of this day which I wrongly assumed was for couples only, made me as crazy as a sprayed roach. There are many Valentines in my life and it's my duty to celebrate with them. My children and sisters now receive my adoration.

My co-workers got the biggest laugh over me buying my own gift, but it was the beginning of a healing process. I was my own Valentine! Come the next year, I purchased a red wheelbarrow for myself. Again, a gift for me. Every year I get extremely wonderful gifts (exactly what I want!). And the good Lord above sends me the biggest bouquet of all, a full blooming camellia bush in my very own front yard.

It's quite special being His Valentine.=)

Bonsoir=Good Evening (in French=)

I'm not sure if I actually listed this in my New Years Resolutions, but a lifelong resolution has been to learn French. Tay has started me on the alphabet twice, to no avail. She is what I call fluent, with which she promptly disagrees. In my book, if you can converse with someone in French for an hour and you love to pour over books of "french verbs", you are fluent. She vehemenently denies it, but continues to liberally converse.

Tonight I invested in French for Dummies. The decision to purchase this CD set is based on the fact that my knowledge of New York City came from a NYC for Dummies book. Tay will rip me a good one explaining that I have to start with the basics, etc. I want to learn full sentences first so I can say gorgeous French things to her in Dirt Cheap or Wal-Mart! She will have none of it. So...I'm learning from cd's and plan to shock her good and proper.

Check back. I'll let you know how it goes.

Anna Grace Farmer...The Butterfly

(News! I have been published for the first time. Hooray! The following article was published in the February issue newsletter of New Beginnings, the Anna Grace Farmer Adoption Center in Tupelo, Mississippi.)

Simply put, she was a rare, incredibly beautiful butterfly. A minister made reference to this at the service celebrating her too-short life span of 8 months. He explained that it felt as if we all had nets and were forever trying to “catch” her. She would come close and we would shower her with love and adoration, so desperately wanting her to stay. Then she would flit away, just out of reach in the ICCU where her family would stand at her bedside and ask God for a miracle.

Anna Grace Farmer, along with twin brother Wallace, was born October 7, 2003. Her beaming parents were Tonya Wallace Farmer and Clayton Farmer of Columbia, MS. Maternal grandparents were Mr. and Mrs. Thomas L. Wallace also of Columbia, and paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Clelly Farmer of Poplarville, MS.

Phones rang incessantly the day it was found out there were to be twins. Soon, a pediatric cardiologist was to give some disturbing news. While still safely ensconced in her mother’s womb, a heart defect was detected. HLHS (Hypolastic Left Heart Syndrome) would require a series of surgeries upon her arrival into this big world. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania specialized in caring for newborns with HLHS, and her parents, along with maternal grandparents, moved to the big city for the much awaited birth of the twins. A very short 18 hours after her birth, Anna Grace went in for the first of her multiple surgeries.

As autumn approaches, a special generation of butterfly is born. The monarch, born to the “Methuselah generation” lives to be seven or eight months old and performs the incredible feat of flying from Canada or the United States to the center of Mexico, up to 2800 miles. Even on cloudy days, their mere half ounce body stays on track with an internal compass, covering some 50 miles per day. They return stateside during spring.

Though Anna Grace had an inconceivably short life span, her mark is domestically and internationally lasting. The Anna Grace Farmer New Beginnings Adoption Center in Tupelo, MS places children with a bleak future into Christ-loving homes. The New Beginnings home for unwed mothers has a direct connection for placing babies that have been saved from abortion.

On an international scale, a water well has been dug in honor of Anna Grace Farmer in Lome, Togo, West Africa at the Institut Biblique de Togo (Togo Bible Institute). This well supplies fresh water to the local village and to the bible school which carries the Word of God into eleven countries in the nether regions of Africa.

The legacy of this tiny butterfly has spread far and wide. Children are taught to love God and are raised in God-fearing homes as a direct result of her life. The plan of salvation and Jesus’ love is taught to those abroad who would never otherwise be exposed.

God has smiled on the Farmer family and they now have Gracelyn Alexis, a beautiful, rambunctious daughter who will soon be two years of age. Big brother Wallace celebrated 5 years in October. A bronze of a little girl with arms uplifted and butterflies lightly resting on her, marks the place Anna Grace was laid to rest. On any given day you will find a couple of small cars and a dinosaur in the lap of the bronze that big brother Wallace has left for her to “play” with.

The 5th year anniversary of her passing was celebrated last May with the announcement of the fresh water well to be dug in West Africa. Wallace and his Sunday School class released balloons to “heaven” for Anna Grace.

Anna Grace is proof positive that though your heart may not be perfect, through God all things are made new. And though it seems impossible, a lasting effect can be had from imperfection being made perfect through Him.

Amazing that such a small life can bring such beauty to the earth and have such a profound influence on the world, be it the half ounce butterfly or the short life of Anna Grace Farmer.

Volcano...from Anthropologie

This is my present, to me, to celebrate Tyler's birth...day. I know I know. But I deserve a present! I did good rearing him! Every time I have crossed the threshold of that store I've carried one around. I walk past the display where one is always burning and I draw a deep breath. Speaking of displays, no one holds a candle to these stores. Ha. Like my pun? I am absolutely on overload with each visit. It's more than a lowly, design-hungry mortal can bear. I overdose.

Knowledge that anyone who walks in my back door will ask "What's that I smell?" is a deciding factor. A book or some funky kitchen item usually takes precedence. Not this time. (Truth is the red jar did me in. They usually only come in cobalt blue.) Good marketing move all you Anthro marketers.

Volcano from Anthropologie. Oh yeah baby. That's reason enough to plan some entertaining.

Original

A case of those were in the fridge when I arrived for the birthday weekend. Smiles are easy when you realize a tad of your entertaining skills have been passed on. I walked in to a sparkling apartment, candles lit and music playing. (I am glad he left a hamper of clothes in the laundry. Makes me still feel needed to do a little something for him.) His apartment is crisp and modern, exactly as you would imagine it if you are acquainted. Being a mother, I look around to see what, if any of my everyday existence has colored his life. I realize having reared him, it's inevitable. I still seek the validation.

He loves books. He devours graphic arts magazines. He is a "right brain". He soaks up anything cultural. He is consciously kind. Fine dining is a must. He has an instinct to always be original, be it dress, decor or design.

"Original" sums him up. And is exactly what I set out to do some 288 months ago.

Happy 24 Tyler Marcus Swanner.

Traipsing About Houston...

I had a German Chocolate cupcake from here...

Sugarbaby's Cupcake Boutique

And a Red Velvet one from here...

Crave Cupcakes
Both places were fantastic in their own right. Sugarbaby's was all fluffy, pink and apple green with black chandeliers. Crave was sleek, modern and served milk from old fashioned bottles.

Cupcakes have seen a revival as of late. Not so long ago, they were considered rather passe. They are now de rigueur, proof in the numbers of people in line and in the dining rooms at both establishments. I don't normally hit all the cupcake joints, but Jennifer, Tyler's sweet significant other ordered some from Sugarbaby's for his birthday. And when I saw Crave, I simply had to go in.

Oh the joys of the BIG city...

I'm Absolutely Overflowing This Beautiful Morn...

This is the best representation of my heart today...

I awoke to the smile of an extraordinary male today, my son, with whom I will celebrate his 24 years of life this weekend. We will have leisurely breakfasts together, go museum hopping and marvel in the joy we get from just being in the company of each other.

Stealing a couple of days together as we are doing this weekend, makes my life (states away) bearable...well, almost.=)
Happy Birthday Handsome...