Another Language

**In keeping with the subject below consider checking out some other excellent post on the San Antonio conference here

As I posted previously, there are a mess of my bloggin buddies who have been sharing incredible notes from the Living Proof event in San Antonio last weekend.

I just read another one this morning from a fellow Georgian Deborah aka: Twinkle.

Take a peek here
read up, print it off, receive a blessing. Deborah's post is one of the better recaps of the actual study I've read.

On another note, while passing through Alabama en route to Florida, Kyra ask,

"Maw Maw...Paw Paw...Do people in Alabama speak another language or English?"

I'm thinking that really depends on who you ask...although I did learn some cool 'sign' language from some notable Bama's
Lisa, The Preacher's Wife and Brooke, The Mailgirl


Heading to the beach, praying the hurricanes blow out to sea.

I am NOT Mary Lou!

Don't just love those 'Ah Ha' moments?

Just about the time your heads about to explode from blindly sorting through reams of data the lights come on, and it all makes sense. Much to your chagrin, the answers were not so deep and disturbing as you thought...you just couldn't see the forest for the trees.

Confused?

Let me explain.

I've been tryin to be Mary Lou....Mary Lou Rettnon that is.

No, I've not been tryin to schlep into a teeny leotard and join the Geriatric Gymnast Society....no, so get that visual out of your head right now!

This sudden illumination is the result of trying to be something I'm just not.

During the wonderful conference I attended last weekend in San Antonio, I took pages of copious notes, legible only to me I might add.

Having posted previously and giving my overall impressions of the event, I felt compelled (self compelled I might add) to not only share my notes but my thoughts as well regarding these sessions.

Clearly regurgitating that much information is not my gift, not at this point anyway.

I do have a bunch of my Siesta's who have these gifts and have been posting like nobodies business over here. Do yourself a favor and be sure to check out their posts. Through these blogs, you can virtually join us in San Antonio without the benefit of all that humidity!

One of the many points Mama Beth made was that God has given us different gifts that we can use or not. It is important that we need discover what our gifts are, and get to using them.

Another thing Ms Beth stated should have been obvious, but apparently isn't or she wouldn't have said it

"You are not Mary Lou."

Really? I was so thinking me, perfect 10's, gold medals.

No, "You are not Mary Lou."

Actually , I should not try to be...as it would be very ugly!

Right now my 'Mary Lou' is all these awesome bloggin Siesta's. As I read their post and I feel I'm back in the Alamo Dome all over again. They are the Howard Cosell 's of Siesta-ville.

Going through my notes I've attempted to recall all the stuff I did NOT jot down. Doing so has caused me to refresh my recollection of the whole San Antonio experience...but it doesn't change the fact that regurgitating this material is about as painful to me as tryin to retell a joke...it's awful!

My dear Sister in Love, Nancy is the sweetest and funniest gal you could ever want to meet.

Can she ever tell a joke!

Nancy's turn of a phrase leaves you with muscle pains in regions of your body you didn't know had muscles. Non stop belly laughs and bronchial seizures are a regular occurrences when spending anytime with this girl.

aaand....

Let me try to retell these same jokes or stories...WHEW!!

I'm usually stammering and stuttering or cracking up so bad I can't get the thing told. More often than not,I get to the punch line and draw a complete blank. What usually follows is this...

the 'How sweet...isn't she special' look.

Sooo...I try and leave the joke tellin to those more gifted than I.

Now that we've chased that pack of dogs, the point you ask?

I've realize I need to quit lookin around into other peoples yards, lives or blogs, all the while thinkin,

'Oh, oh! That's what I should be doin or posting about',

no...that's not my part to play.

I'm reminded

"If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 1 Corinthians 12: 17-20

I particularly like the version from the Message

"I want you to think about how all this makes you more significant, not less. A body isn't just a single part blown up into something huge. It's all the different-but-similar parts arranged and functioning together. If Foot said, "I'm not elegant like Hand, embellished with rings; I guess I don't belong to this body," would that make it so? If Ear said, "I'm not beautiful like Eye, limpid and expressive; I don't deserve a place on the head," would you want to remove it from the body? If the body was all eye, how could it hear? If all ear, how could it smell? As it is, we see that God has carefully placed each part of the body right where he wanted it.
But I also want you to think about how this keeps your significance from getting blown up into self-importance. For no matter how significant you are, it is only because of what you are a part of. An enormous eye or a gigantic hand wouldn't be a body, but a monster." 1 Corinthians 12: 17-20

I just need to get about what God has called me to be, and that's huge! Not in a selling out Phillips Arena sort of way, but in finding and fill'in the shoes He's prepared for me to fill and let Mary Lou be Mary Lou. How bout you?

...and not one Boring!

Had someone told me back in the nineties when I first jumped on this Internet super highway it would eventually lead me to hop'in a plane and spend several days with hundreds of women I did not know (except through a series of virtual postings and comments left hangin out there in cyber-space) in sweltering hot San Antonio, Texas, I would have said

'Ain't no way!'

I would have been so wrong!

This past weekend I was blessed to partake in such an event.

Here’s just very a few highlights:

From Thursday through Sunday we had what felt like a progressive family reunion.

The kind you WANT to go to, with all your favorite relative.

Let me tell you about of few of these relations.

There was Melana and Veronica,

the Godly Thelma and Louise of this here conference trekking across country with their trusty sidekick, Miesta Moose.

You can follow some of their adventures here.

Also in attendance was Holly aka: Crownlaiddown, easily mistaken as a bag lady as she rolled a case full of cookbooks between venues making sure everyone got a copy or two who wanted one.

We also discovered over the course of the weekend that just like Kevin Bacon, Holly was one or more degrees separated in some way to almost everyone there...I am not even kidding!

Oh, and let's not forget Patty

and Kim, no, no, no!

These hardworkin gals, made plans for about 300 and were met instead with some 1,100 souls. At every event the two met you with warmest hugs and smiles-o-plenty with 'nare a complaint. Among many other things, my two amigos created and co hosted our family blog where so many Siestas converged to get to know each other a bit better...a precursor if you will, to the actual Siesta Fiesta in San Antonio.

Oh...you should also know, this family is quite the dressers. Personally, I never knew such Siestawear existed.

The jewelry, Capri's, flip-flops, handbags and hats. Oh and the Pajamas, lets not forget the PJ's! And, if a gal was looking to change their 'do', as in 'hair do', this was the place to get ideas on real life action figures.

What an eclectic and fun bunch!

and, as we learned...

All heiresses of God...and not one Boring!

We spent much time huggin, chatin, sharing.

What a time of photos and fellowship!

We shared testimony, prayer needs and praises, passed recipes, addresses and phone numbers.

Our common lineage?

Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The entire meeting was squeezed in around powerful Word brought to us by way of the Living Proof clan headed by Mama Beth Moore.

Whoa!! Did the blessings flow!

I am catching up on sleep and life back home, still absorbing it all. I have many post roll'in round in my noggin so there will be more debriefing to come.

For today I have to tell you, I'm so grateful our Heavenly Father is so hip...so relevant, using the medium at hand to spread His good news, love and mercy in and through ways I would have never imagined.

To Him be the Glory!

Thorns in the flesh need not be fatal

Recently I opened my closet door and wondered,

“What did I want in here?”

Try as I might, I could not remember. Eventually, I closed the door and gave up, when it occurred to me…

“Oh yeah! The cd I was loaning a friend!”

I shook my head, retrieved the prize, and chalked the incident off to yet another bout of Mom-nesia.

This is not the first time Mom-nesia has raised its forgetful head, and unlikely to be the last. From what I've learned, Mom-nesia’s been around as long as care taking itself. This malady is not restricted to the female population, although the primary sufferers tend to be us gals. There’s no need to beat ourselves up over these slips, as our problem is not rooted in age, hormones or lack of wits – we’re just trying to take care of too much for too many!

You afflicted?

Early signs of Mom-nesia include refusal of the mouth to cooperate with the brain.

Example:
You know whom you’re addressing yet as you utter what you think will be their name, out rolls every member of your family tree and then some! Not until you spout anyone you’re ever known since birth and their pets, does their title burst from your tongue!

The same goes for words. Ever been having a robust conversation when suddenly you’re rendered speechless, unable to utter another syllable?

Frustrated you begin,

‘Starts with…uh…sounds like…uh’ the hearty dialogue you were just exchanging has digressed to playing Charades in a vain attempt to recapture the momentum lost when your mind and mouth left the room.

While Mom-nesia can be a thorn in the flesh, it need not be fatal.

Begin each day just you and the Lord. Take a walk, a class, read a book, enjoy a quiet cup of coffee or tea and just be. Allow yourself time for God to speak into the chaos that often fills our lives as we attempt to meet the needs of so many.

Jesus took the disciples away for this very purpose (Mark 6: 30-56). Having spent the day surrounded by a throng that wanted one more Word, touch, or healing, Christ led the 12 away. Jesus then went onto a mountain to spend quite time with His Father. He returned renewed and revived, ready to pour Himself out to the masses once more.

What an example He set for us…one we would be wise to follow. We may not come off the mountain a picture of perfection, but we could find it easier to forgive our overtaxed memory, letting it instead remind us to quit trying to be everything to everybody and spend a bit more time with our Father.

Repeating...Every 8 Seconds

**Please forgive me if you read the

Fore His Glory blog.

I am duplicating my post as this subject is worth redundancy**

A group of Siesta's from around the country and over seas, joined together to compile a 338 page cookbook.

Now this is not just any ole cookbook.

This grassroots culinary catalog has an abundance of delectable recipes, beautiful photography, plus an assortment of family stories and sayings to boot!

Take a look at the index to get a feel for what's inside.

Filet Mignon with Blackberries...Yum!

The real treasure is that all proceeds will be donated to Life Outreach International whose ministries include drilling water wells in third world countries, where every 8 seconds someone dies from a waterborne disease. Those effected most are children...many of whom die before they reach the age of 5.

With so little, we can do so much!

The Siesta created this book in honor of Beth Moore and the entire Living Proof staff, who are big supporters of providing 'Living Water' to the all the world.

Consider giving books for Christmas, Birthdays, Newlyweds, a Teachers gift...you get the picture.

The cookbooks are $18 each with an additional $6 for shipping. There will be a discount in shipping cost for orders of two or more books.

We've installed a little button on our web bar that will allow you to place an order for books with Holly of Crownlaiddown. Holly is the lead Siesta, who organized and produced the entire project, for her we are most grateful.

Once you press the 'Order Here' button, you'll be brought to an order form. After completing the form, press 'send' to have the information sent to Holly, who will then contact you with a total and various payment options.

Pass it On!

We quickly forward inspirational stories and videos via email all the time... as we lift prayer and praise for the content shared...this should be no exception.


Pass it on, let others partake of the blessing.

The lost art of conversation, oh how I missed yea!

Who knew there would be a bonus?

I sure didn't.

During the course of making calls, sending emails....even texting, I have had the joy of spending copious amounts of time with various family members, as we foraged our collective memories for favored recipes along with old stories and sayings that went with them.

Don't know about ya'll but I am terrible about writing group letters, forwarding emails, while running out of time...pretty much NOT getting around to making calls or writing letters to family and friends I really miss catching up with.

Because of this project and a group email I sent out, the most amazing thing took place. A big portion of my large family got together and had some amazingly good visits.

We chatted, reminisced, laughed til we cried! It was such good times.
and so easily done once we set about with a purpose.

Interesting how that is.

Now it may just be me with the whole not - really - communicating thing.
Back before my life got to be so much about cramming one more thing into my schedule, to the point I must carry that schedule around with me, in a cell phone set to pummel me with all manner of alarms even days before events are about to take place. Yet I still manage to miss sending that card, mailing those presents, making that call...

Pathetic!

I have family and friends whom Emily Post proudly claim, as they're never late or miss sending cards and making phone calls on Birthdays, anniversary's, graduations as well as all government holidays.

In between these occasions, this group still makes time to check in with you once a week or more...just because!

Well, this little project gave me and mine a few more of those 'just because' communications.

Boy oh boy, what fun!

The lost art of conversation, oh how I missed yea!

It's really something (and I'm sounding so OLD now) how in this day of the 'Communication Explosion', I get so busy speed dialin this one, fast forwarding that one and texting everywhere else, that I often miss the point of it all... genuine communication.

Of course, I'm just confessing my own sins here.

This project has meant much to me, but most of all helped raise the bar on reaching out and truly touching those I love...and for that I find myself once again most grateful.

Change a Life

Within the last few of months I've been blessed to be participating in a project with a large group of faithful women from all over the country. The work involves a cookbook with proceeds (after cost) being used to help build water wells in Third World countries villages around the world that don't have access to clean - disease free water.

This project is very near and dear to hearts 'round here. My eldest Grandchild actually held an organizational meeting with a couple friends in order to educate them as to the need in so many nations for clean, healthy water. Miss Kyra worked her buddies up so completely, that by the next day B was met at the door and handed a box of money, (some $14 and change) as the pint sized advocates had begun execution of a master plan designed the day before.

Curious?

Well, here's a few of their marketing plan sketches.

1) Go door to door.

2) Tell neighbors and friend about the need, how people in countries like Africa are calling out for help because their water is not healthy, it is dirty, full of disease and mud...it looks like 'choklet'.

3) The children drink it because they are thirsty, it is all they have and it looks like chocolate.

Note the children: One looks happy drinking her clean bottle of water, the other child frowns as she drinks her bottle of muddy water.

4) With your help, we can send trucks and workers with the tools and equipment to build water wells. Look at those happy workers!

5) Once the well has been dug and water begins pouring out, the people rejoice by singing and dancing as the blessings of fresh clean water rain down. ** I believe I recognize Beth Moore in this one, note the big hair.** Ms Moore is a big water well advocate.

6) Now these countries have clean disease free water.

7) The need is great...in countries all over the world. Will you help?

So there you have it. Basic marketing from 3 passionate kids.

Being part of such a worthy cause in itself is such a gift. That something so benign and inconsequential as a cookbook could be used in such a powerful, life changing way...is very humbling.

If you would like to learn more about the Siesta Fiesta Cookbook project, make a donation, maybe purchase a book for yourself or gifts, click the Siesta Fiesta Cookbook button on the side, it will send a message to Holly who will be delighted to help you out.

Bon Appétit!

He's Channeling MacGyver

We live in a gated community...

a baby gated community.

This is due to him, Mr. K....
The Little Man....

on a mission.

Cute isn't he?

At 25 lb, 26 inches this boy, my Grandson...is the epitome of masculinity.

If it rings, buzzes or lights up, he's all over it.

If it does all three? He's kickin up his heels, and squealin for joy as he wallows in yet another supercharged endorphin rush.

Life at two, should always be so simple.

The boy knows the difference between a child's toy and those of adults. And given a choice (or not) he wants big people gadgets and gizmo's.

Little K is also a scientist at heart.

Wants to know the how and why things work, what will happen to ___________ if you ___________ (fill in the blanks with any ole thing you can think of...that's what he does!).

This child's greatest delight is to reprogram pretty much anything he can get to his dimpled little hands on. To that end, he has mastered the finer skills of tower building and wall scaling.

If there is a step, a stool, chair, box or pillow?? You can figure he's going to climb it...and quickly. Lightening fast this kid is!

As grandparents, we are not so slow, he is just faster and more highly motivated. After all, his 'prize' awaits him, if only he can thwart our wicked schemes to stop him.

Our resolve to crash his party and save him from himself have driven us to take extreme measures.

I never saw myself as someone who resorts to putting things up because a lively toddler was in the house, we never did that with our kids or the other Grands.

Oh how times have changed!

As stated earlier, our little guy is extremely talented with his tiny hands. He has shown us this by use of his highly developed gifted-ness when bypassing traditional child proof locks.

Our response?

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Don't laugh....it works!

**I would like to note, his sister added more security bands to "make it look more fancy"

And it does....don't you think?