GRADUATION: KINDERARTEN STYLE

KDG GRADS----SO MUCH STILL TO LEARN! Yet, so fun to watch the event---when it's one of your grands!  

Invitations were digital but appreciated.

Kids' sensibilities were respected! When names were called by the teacher to receive one's diploma, they could be last in line and choose to give a hug or a "high five" to principal/teacher. 

Guess who fit all aspects of those choices?

May we, Lord, as loving family of our young ones, share your steadfast love. May we also show gratitude for the teachers who care for and spend hours of planning for the individual lessons needed per child.

Father God, You know the plans You have for them. "Grace plans" from tears to shed and struggles to experience in order to trust you more and serve others well. We might have to keep our knees-bent for many years ahead to keep our over-controlling hands off.....choosing to embrace and encourage instead. 

Today's graduation bulletin had more than only the schedule for the service!

It had an eye-opening salute to the next graduation for these kids. 

A reminder to embrace our moments with our youngsters as many of us are in a season of life that might hinder our attendance in 12 years!

WISE WORDS!

Perfect prepositions make all the difference! 

There is nothing I can do without you. 

                    This is my dependence.

There is nothing I cannot do through you. 

                    This is my confidence.

There is nothing I will not do for you. 

                    This is my obedience.

(Frank Fortunato, 2/26/2023)

WORDS OF WIDSDOM! Enough said!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! EAT UP!

BLESSINGS FOR 2023!

Black eye peas. Black-eyed peas.

Nothing spiritual....just traditional. Southern traditional.

Mildred Davenport Adams aka Gigi traditional. Black-eyed peas cooked with hog jowl, served with a side of fresh turnip greens and piping hot cornbread.

A can in the pantry with 3 "just-in-case" freezer packs in Memphis.

Hoppin' John from a food truck in Bryson City, North Carolina.

Perfectly delectable from Brooklyn, New York by the resident chef.

Hopeful for a "bean" of some sort in Panda Express take-out in Allen, Texas---anything to appease Gigi! More importantly to please God.

Enjoy your New Year's Day meal to glorify God/honor God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Regardless of the translation* of the tradition---Whether then, you are eating or drinking or whatever you are doing, let everything be done to the glory of God. (Weymouth New Testament)

So eat your meals heartily, not worrying about what others say about you - you're eating to God's glory, after all, not to please them.....but Him.

*Whether therfore ye eate or dryncke or what soever ye do,

do all to the prayse of God. (Tyndale Bible of 1526)

YOU-nique

You-nique! It must be a "new to me" buzz-word of sorts, with unique spelling for emphasis! I first heard it in an Allen Bible "Wired" sermon series, emphasizing how we are all uniquely created and wired by God for His purposes. 

Our giftedness differs with individuals but we are all"fearfully and wonderfully made by Him." (Psalm 139:13-14) It's an inward work for His children to be used for the lifting up of  the saints and for God's glory. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

The other uses have been more secular and "me" focused.......from preschool songs to multi-level marketing schemes (MLMs)---to uplift, empower and validate women who use their cosmetic products. 

"All about me" comes to mind. 

This week I saw it in my Dove dark chocolate & mint swirl wrapper. I'm not sure of Bethany's meaning, whether it's self-centered or God centered.I believe one's true You-niqueness needs to be more God-centered and other-centered than self-centered.

YOU-Niqueness---Not because of who you are but whose you are. 

We are truly unique, anyway you spell it, because of who He is!

I'm just sayin' 

DIFFERENT PATHS TO THE SAME RESULT!

New Restaurant in town....what draws you there?

Oftentimes it's a word of mouth recommendation or an article in Mid-South magazine or Memphis Magazine.

These days it is likely an on-line review. Think YELP!

This time it was an eye-catching, memory jogging name seen as I drove by the SW corner of Poplar and Mendenhall. Southhall Cafe.

The name took me back to my hometown where our neighbors, the Southalls,  two-doors down from 2211 intrigued us by their reclusiveness. Brother, Buddy, & his chum, Barry Coleman, would climb the tree at the front corner of the yard and "spy" for hours hoping to catch a glimpse of the "old" couple. (They were probably in their 60s but they "aged" in our stories by the day.) Winslow and I would try to peek in windows or look over the fence, when we traversed the alley between my home, and her street that bordered the back of their yard. Oh, how our imaginations would run wild.

Those flashbacks were what drew me to the restaurant as a "must" restaurant to visit when my brother and his wife Charlotte visited us this week from Louisville.

The nostalgia may have gotten us there but the delicious food and wait staff will be the reason we return.

CHOOSE: TO CAMP OUT

Hubby can't wait to "camp out" by the creek. He's been  pulling out the needed equipment for weeks and it's still over a week before we leave for Deep Creek Campground.

I, on the other hand, would be perfectly content to just "camp out" in the Psalms.  It takes a lot less equipment---just my Bible and a quiet place. I can use God's word as my "flashlight." (Psalm 119:105)

But God reminded me that two of my grands will be there, Owen as well as Lucy, whom I rarely see. 

So, camping out, "hubby style" it is.
But....I'm taking my Bible and will seek a quiet place for my "mental tent" right beside the flowing creek. (1 Corinthians 10:31)