Today is Good Friday. How many of y’all have had lots of “Good Fridays?” Have you ever been hurt, rejected, disappointed or consumed with anger? Hang in there, Sunday is coming. The Jewish people also had lots of “Good Fridays”…for over three hundred years. And don’t you know the Jewish people were ready for a rumble– a warrior king to reign fire and brimstone down on their enemies. So Jesus arrives on a donkey and they celebrated by laying down palm branches. Only days later, they turned on him. What happened? To the Jewish people this week was not what Continue Reading
Covered Dish Catastrophes
I sat in the middle of the sweet church ladies and opened gift after gift. It was my very first church bridal shower at Harmony United Methodist Church. Between oohs and aahs, I was handed a perfectly shaped oblong box. Suddenly, silence fell over the older church circle ladies. Holding that box, I knew something special was fixin’ to happen. Tearing back the paper revealed the gift. It was a slab of shellacked, stained wood with lots of drilled holes. In a separate clear plastic bag were several wooden pegs. At first glance, I thought it was a larger version of that peg game that is placed on every Continue Reading
Can You “Do It Anyway”?
I was captivated by the wisdom represented in these “commandments” written in 1968 by Kent Keith for student leaders entitled, The Silent Revolution: Dynamic Leadership in the Student Council, published by Harvard Student Agencies in 1968. Continue Reading
Moms and Dads are Cheating…. Their College Kids
I started thinking about the scandals going on with colleges and my college journey; I wrote this last night. Your thoughts? What was your college journey like? Moms and Dads are Cheating…. Their College Kids Apparently the new norm is being dishonest by helping your child succeed. Unfortunately, this may lead to their ultimate failure since only through disappointments do we learn skills on how to become successful. It seems as if handing out participation trophies has escalated into bribing colleges and altering SAT scores. Some parents are setting their children up for failure by making sure they succeed through Continue Reading
The Power of Three Good Things
The Spring daffodils have arrived and are my favorite of all flowers. They represent a precious memory of my grandmother, Anna Louisa Walpole Jenkins. “Lou”, as we grandchildren affectionately called her, would sit on the old Charleston Green swing and gently sway back and forth as she watched her grandchildren pick daffodils in her front yard. I can close my eyes and still hear the sound of the chains on the swing creak with every movement. Lou loved watching us pick her flowers. This simple event gave my grandmother great joy. Continue Reading
The Power of the Positive Possum Vest
While I was remembering my mother, I stumbled across a favorite symbol of her sense of humor and wisdom…enjoy! Rummaging through the few saved garments belonging to my mother, my hand rested on the texture of both leather and fur. Ah, yes— it was Momma’s infamous, iconic possum vest. We affectionately named the critter garment, “THE O.” Continue Reading
Proverbs 31 Woman Renovated (3 of 3)
Don’t miss Part 1 and Part 2 of this series! This blog is an excerpt from my book, Rhinestones On My Flip-Flops. Verse 28: “Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.” Her children call her blessed even if she blesses them out. Her children and husband praise her because of her gentle reminders. “This is a good meal…y’all say something nice,” or “don’t I look good in this outfit?” Continue Reading
Proverbs 31 Woman Renovated (2 of 3)
Don’t miss Part one of this series! Plus don’t forget that this blog is pulled directly from my book, Rhinestones On My Flip-Flops. If you enjoyed this blog you will love my book! Verse 16: “She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.” She may even shop around for her dream house. She has a glass of Chardonnay at times from her vineyard of various wines. Continue Reading
Are you a Member of the TA-TA Weenie Club?
I hope you are. It means that you are brave, fearless and extremely courageous according to Bill Torrey the author of the book, The Ta Ta Weenie Club. To quote one of Bill’s expressions, hearing his childhood stories will make you “as happy as a dog with two tails.” I asked Bill to explain the definition of a Ta-Ta Weenie; the following is his response. “Ta Ta Weenie was an honor because it meant you were in The Club, though we called just about everybody a Ta Ta Weenie because it was fun to do. If somebody didn’t know what we Continue Reading
Proverbs 31 Woman Renovated (Part 1 of 3)
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. (Proverbs 31:30 NIV) The woman described in Proverbs 31 is amazing. As I read this Scripture passage, I believe that she is a combination of the following: CEO, CFO, EMT, PhD, RN, psychologist, veterinarian, domestic engineer, hot mama, gourmet chef, athletic coach, shuttle driver, real estate diva, tutor, master gardener, Marine drill sergeant, pharmacist, Mother Teresa, and a splash of Oprah. Continue Reading