All Things

I'm pretty wiped out today. We, Lisa & I spent the weekend making the house 'Christmas Ready'. We decorated 2 trees, pulled up boxes out of the basement, unpacked them, then took the empty ones back down. While decorating the living room tree, I thought about all the stories I've heard. You know the ones, where the tree falls, breaking all the most precious ornaments. And guess what? That tree fell this Monday. I kept thinking about our special ornaments. The ones that 'mean' something. Lisa's Waterford ball. The glass ornament from Baggins' (our dog that died a few years ago) first Christmas with us. The blown glass ornament that I always try to hang by a light so it will glisten. Okay, so maybe I'm just a tiny bit materialistic! I just love those ornaments! And the nativity scene underneath the tree. Lisa's pieces that are limited editions, and hard to replace.
To put these material things into perspective, grief is blanketing Blount and North Jefferson counties, here in Alabama. Seven cheerleaders of Hayden High School ran off the road and down a ravine on Thursday night, 11/30/07. Whitney, Sarah and Courtney were killed. What are these ornaments compared to the loss of three girls just at the start of their lives? Which one of their loved ones would break every memento if it meant bringing the girls back?

I am connected to them through co-workers and patients in my doctor's office. And only one question is on every one's mind, "Why?" I can't answer that question. There is no answer. But I can tell you this. At the close of each funeral on Monday, there was an altar call. Bonnie, my co-worker who was at Sarah & Whitney's combined funeral, couldn't count the number of people who went up for salvation. Does the salvation of these people make up for the loss of these girls? Some might not think so. But, because of them many now know Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. We will see Whitney, Sarah, and Courtney again. We will be together in eternity with them, as well as those who pledged their lives to Christ at their funerals.

We know that God causes all things to work together for good

to those who love God, to those who are called

according to His purpose.

Rom. 8:28 NAS

May the comfort of the Holy Spirit be felt by those loved ones who are grieving today. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Lara

The Sista's

In the previous post, I made mention of The Princess Sista's. There may be a few of you who don't know who these incredible ladies are. There are six of us. Among us, we represent two single mothers, a grandmother and a great grandmother. Three have struggled with infertility and had hysterectomies. Three have overcome childhood struggles that are not mine to tell. One is a breast cancer survivor. Three have lost fathers, while one has lost a mother. One of us is a new bride, while the other five remain single. We represent two decades in age. Four of us are extremely close to our families, while all six struggle with the irritants and joys that family brings. We have our differences and our similarities.

Five years ago, we went on our first trip to Orange Beach, AL. While there, our friendship was forged through laughter and Weight Watchers. We decided that, when we were together, nothing we ate contained WW points. Thus, The Pointless Sisters were born. After a year or so of misunderstandings of our name, we became The Princess Sisters. Too many people thought we were saying that we thought our lives were pointless because of our single status. NOT!! Our new title is in reference to the fact that our Father is the King, and we are and will always be His daughters.

We have found ourselves sisters in the truest sense over these past five and a half years. We discovered that a yearly beach trip was not enough time together. We have eaten at just about every restaurant in Birmingham. We have attended high school and college football games. We celebrate birthdays, Christmas, the Iron Bowl, and just about anything else we can think of. When one of us misses church, we all miss her. This summer, we adopted a practice (Kathi's idea) that we meet at least once a week. This does not include Sunday morning's service or our Wednesday night classes. Can you tell that we are all just a little bit obsessive? We are planning a cruise for this summer. We talk, e-mail and pray for each other regularly. Although blood connects only two of us, we are truly 'sisters'. God has forged a connection that none of us can explain. I can't imagine my life without them! I am richer because of these women. May you all have friends like these in your lives! I couldn't love them more if my own mother had given birth to them. To list them:

• Marlene Lawley


• Kathi Davis


• Deb Shaw Stark


• Tina Parkhill


• Lisa Moore


• Lara Moore

Rest

For the past several years, Lisa (my sister) and I have been planning to spend a week in the mountains this fall. My fortieth and her forty-fifth birthdays fall this year, so we decided it would be a good way to celebrate. Thanks to good friends, we were able to stay at their lake house and enjoy the foothills to the Smoky Mountains. This is the view from the deck and I must say that it's just as beautiful at night when you're wrapped up in a blanket and sitting in a rocking chair. How do I know? We did just that, at least twice. Lisa surprised me on Saturday, by secretly flying in my sis-in-law, Janet, for the weekend. Two of the Princess Sista's, Marlene & Kathi spent time there, also. We talked, napped, ate, and worked a mystery puzzle. Can I just say that I don't like puzzles that don't show you the complete picture on the box?!

There is something to be said for times like this. This place was almost a sanctuary for my friends and me. Janet returned from her rest to a sick husband and a report of head lice in her children's school. I'm so glad that she had a short vacation. As a wife and mother, rest is a hot commodity. Even though I could have stayed days more, I didn't dread coming back. I feel refreshed. That's what I wish for you. A place of sanctuary, where you can be refueled. If you need somewhere to go, I can recommend Lewis Smith Lake in Cullman County, AL. It truly is a beautiful retreat.

A rested Lara

Weakness

I have a bad ankle. I have lost count of the number of times I have twisted or turned it. I think I've sprained it a grand total of four times. I know, I know. I need to strengthen it. I was told that when I sprained it the second time. You would think I would have learned by now!!! Anyway, last night, after an incredible harvest celebration at my church, I twisted it again. But this time I couldn't shake it off, as I do when it gets turned. It continued to hurt in a way that it never has with the sprains. AND, it still hurt this morning when the sheet touched it.

Worried, yet? Yep, it's broken. I just had it X-rayed & there is a small chip fracture. Okay, am I the only one who thinks that the words small or chip don't match the word 'fracture'? I have an appointment with an ortho this afternoon. But all this got me to thinking. How many twists and turns did it take to force me to find out how to strengthen this weak ankle? How many sprains? And just how much longer would I have ignored them? Can't you tell yet? I'm getting a 'God thing' out of this!

How many times does He gently warn us of trouble or sin in our lives? You know, those weak ankles that keep causing problems? How many of those slightly stern warnings? Did you know that when a sheep continues to wander off and disobey the shepard, that he will break the sheep's legs and carry this sheep in his shoulders while the legs mend? Needless to say, the sheep no longer wanders off once its legs mend. The sheep has become used to the shepard and doesn't want to lose that intimacy. No, God did not break my ankle! My disregard for the signs of weakness did. But what is He trying to warn me about my spiritual walk that I am disregarding? What is He trying to tell you? Let's learn it before He has to break us and remake us.

Lara

Listen

In trying to control my eating and lose weight, I am trying to hear the voice of God. Before you write me off as a nut, hold on a moment. If His eye is on the sparrow and He has numbered the hairs on my head, surly He is concerned with the things I eat and put in my body. Julie Morris is teaching a class on Wednesday nights on being 'guided by His steps' in our lives. You can check it out on her website guidedbyhim.com. Our substitute teacher, Leona Crabtree shared the other night, that in blessing her food before she eats, she asks the Lord to speak to her and let her know when she has eaten enough. And she acutally listens to Him.

How often to I truly listen? I find it ironic that I'm beginning this with food. I have always lived as if I deserve that cookie or brownie. Going back for seconds won't make that much of a difference. I am, after forty years of eating and living my way, realizing that I'm not supposed to be doing that. Do you ever wonder if God bangs His head against the wall? If He does, He does it over me. So, even though I ate that peanut butter cookie this morning, I'm trying. That still small voice of my Saviour and my Lord can be hard to hear over my own.

What's He trying to say to you? Can we get quiet enough to hear Him? Like I said, I'm trying.

Lara

It's all in your perspective...

I can lose perspective so easily, can you? A couple of weeks ago, an acquaintance of mine was sharing her heart with me. A heart that had been broken for several months. She told me that she wasn't still in love with the fellow, but that she missed who she thought he was. She thought, after waiting for so long, that she had found her soul-mate. Turns out she had found a "good-un", in the words of Rick and Bubba. As she was crying , my heart was whispering, "He's not worth one of your tears!" A few years ago, I would have wished her the man of her dreams. Today, I wish her good friends, close family, and a strong, Bible-believing church. Would she cry every day for three months, if she had friends like I do? Would she even miss him, if she had a strong church family? I don't know her well enough to answer those questions, but I do know her well enough to pray them for her .

A few years ago, I had this change of heart. I realized that I have friends, family and church. A husband or boyfriend would not make my life complete. My life is already complete. Through the healthy and unhealthy marriages of my friends, I came to an earth shaking realization: THERE ARE WORSE THINGS THAN BEING A BALDWIN SISTER! If it is God's will that I stay single, so be it. If He brings a husband for me, so be it.

For those of you that are too young to know who the Baldwin Sisters are, here's an explanation. These women were in the TV show, The Waltons. They were elderly women who had never married. And I used to fear being like them. Not any more! If you have good friends, a strong church, and close family, who needs more? So, if you want to call me 'Mamie Baldwin', you just go right ahead!

Lara

Fall Fever

I LOVE the season of Fall! All my life I've heard of people having 'spring fever'. Well, I have to be different and get 'fall fever'. Summer in the Deep South is brutal! So, I am vitalized when the haze of summer breaks. Birmingham had a nasty drought this summer, so those brilliant colors may not show up. I will miss them, but am determined to store every moment of this short season in my heart. I read in a magazine that, if you blink you could miss Fall. Down here, you may not be able to wear a sweatshirt until January or February. Needless to say, my sweatshirt collection lasts years. So, I better catch Fall when I can.

Here's how I recognize it:

• Even in the early afternoon, the air has a tint of gold that's only found in sunsets.


• I no longer have to turn my car's a/c to it's highest setting and turn all vents toward me.


• The sky becomes a color of blue that my mother refers to as 'October Blue', or if you're from NC 'Tarheel Blue'.


• Smiles come easier, as weather is harder to complain about.


• The air even seems easier to breathe.


• I begin to LONG for the mountains, a cabin next to a stream and a crackling fire.


• Walking outside is something I want to do.


• Burning leaves.


• High School and College football games--Go MSU Bulldogs!!!!

Watch for the signs. Take a moment. Try to enjoy. And if all you can do is dread the long winter ahead, read this and look forward to your own 'Spring Fever'.

Lara