tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50569207489816020962024-03-12T23:06:37.068-05:00FREE INDEEDFaith is not tangible. You can't hold it in your hand.
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1FreeIndeedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01466014243661109208noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056920748981602096.post-67606285629501879182013-06-10T15:47:00.002-05:002013-06-10T15:47:46.251-05:00Forgetting About Ourselves<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span style="font-size: large;">Paul said that he had been "crucified with Christ." In other words, he had to stop thinking about himself in order to live for God. And we are encouraged to do the same. </span></span></div>
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<br /><br /> At this point you may be thinking, "What about me? Who is going to take care of me?" This is usually what prevents us from living the way God wants us to live. It always comes back to me. <br /> <br /> We are so<span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show"><span style="font-size: large;"> accustomed to seeing our desires satisfied that the very thought of forgetting about ourselves even for one day can be frightening. But if we can muster up the courage to try it, we will be amazed at the freedom and joy we experience. <br /> <br /> The secret to having joy is giving your life away rather than trying to keep it. When you get the focus off of you and onto God, God can show you how to live a truly meaningful life. <br /> <br /> I encourage you to start your days by dedicating yourself to God. When you do, He will faithfully help you live a godly life. <br /> <br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Galatians 2:20 NLT<br /> <br /> "My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."</span><br /> <br /> Prayer Starter: Lord, I offer You my eyes, ears, mouth, hands, feet, heart, finances, gifts, talents, abilities, time, energy, all of me! It's not about me. It's all about You.</span></span></div>
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FreeIndeedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01466014243661109208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056920748981602096.post-44486002046585161912012-12-14T07:53:00.000-06:002012-12-14T08:16:16.007-06:00God Uses Broken Things<span class="userContent"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Recently one of my girls hit a road barrel in my car coming home from church. She wasn't hurt (other than her pride), but it damaged the passenger mirror. I noticed today that the broken pieces are shaped like a heart - a perfect heart-shape that is broken into many pieces. This morning God spoke to me through that broken mirror!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Notice the bright light - His light, shining brightly from its center. See it? His message came through loud and clear. Deep within my spirit, I heard God say, "I am still at the center of the brokenhearted. I am still shining through. I have not left you and I am still magnified through the broken pieces."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I began to wonder why it had taken me six days to notice the broken mirror was shaped like a heart. Curious because I have driven my car every day since the accident, and I have struggled to see out of that mirror a lot. But I had not noticed this amazing heart shape before today. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So I came back home after taking the grandchildren to school and I pondered it. <strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">And, God brought to my remembrance that on the Sixth Day, He created people.</span></strong> People in His image! (image, broken mirror, people, GET IT?) And He spoke again and said, </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>"I do my best work through people. My people, who are called by My name are called to shore up the brokenhearted. I can't do it without you. I need you to be my arms and legs, to go where the broken are, to BE ME. How else will they know I love them through their broken heart?"</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Oh my. WOW! Only God can use a broken mirror and speak so lovingly and strongly through its cracks. I love how God uses broken things to speak to us His broken people, don't you?</span></div>
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</span> <br />FreeIndeedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01466014243661109208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056920748981602096.post-1895002226011657262012-12-04T07:43:00.000-06:002012-12-04T07:43:07.260-06:00Wrap Up of 7 Days of Gifts! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">On day two, I wrote about a simple way you can share the joy of Giving with your children, grandchildren or any child. Check it out here: </span><a href="http://injoyandservice.blogspot.com/2012/11/day-two-kindness-calendar.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">We All Live Off of His Generous Bounty...</span></a> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">This post is full of photos of how you can make an adorable "Kindness Calendar" for under $10 - something you can keep for many years. Our grand-girls are enjoying taking down a little coat hanger and reading the little card each morning. It is working - they are learning that it truly is more important and blessed to give than receive!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">And then on day four, I wrote about an amazing experience I had with this beautiful, young girl name Maleka, who showed me the gift of really Seeing Jesus! See it here </span><a href="http://injoyandservice.blogspot.com/2012/12/day-four-indescribable-gift.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Indescribable Gift.</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">May you learn how to give more than you receive this Holiday Season.</span><br />
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FreeIndeedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01466014243661109208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056920748981602096.post-41883711628297210522012-11-13T10:10:00.000-06:002012-11-13T10:10:07.170-06:00Another Day of Joy!<a href="http://injoyandservice.blogspot.com/2012/11/day-8-joy-in-fall.html">http://injoyandservice.blogspot.com/2012/11/day-8-joy-in-fall.html</a>FreeIndeedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01466014243661109208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056920748981602096.post-85934388947762533072012-11-07T06:53:00.002-06:002012-11-07T06:54:10.311-06:00Day 3: More Joy for Your JourneyI love what Rhonda wrote today. She shares something a bit nasty, that quite honestly, we have all done. And God, who is always faithful to expose those nasty dark areas of our heart, comes in - just like a window washer - exposing the streaks and allowing us to have them washed by THE ONLY ONE who can get them clean. Hope you will take three minutes to read all about it <a href="http://injoyandservice.blogspot.com/2012/11/day-3-rhonda.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">HERE</span></a>FreeIndeedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01466014243661109208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056920748981602096.post-24967749446964719342012-11-06T07:37:00.001-06:002012-11-06T07:38:15.214-06:00Day 2: More Joy for your Journey!<a href="http://injoyandservice.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Day 2: Memorizing Scripture - JOY!</a><br />
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FreeIndeedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01466014243661109208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056920748981602096.post-87512371788861291602012-11-05T07:19:00.002-06:002012-11-05T07:19:43.638-06:00Day 1: More Joy for Your Journey!Click here for the first day of how to bring MORE JOY into your already very busy life. <a href="http://injoyandservice.blogspot.com/2012/11/day-1.html" target="_blank">More Joy For Your Journey!</a><br />
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FreeIndeedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01466014243661109208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056920748981602096.post-15730172970528188882012-11-04T15:08:00.001-06:002012-11-04T15:08:28.374-06:00<h2 class="date-header">
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Be sure to go over to our NEW blog site, where Rhonda and I will be posting, "17 Days of More Joy for Your
Journey." </h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Recently <span style="font-size: medium;">a</span></span></span> friend was excited to tell me
she was making a few changes in her life. The thing that she was so thrilled to
mention<span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="font-size: medium;">was how
</span></span>she was giving up sugar for 17 days. <span style="font-size: medium;">She proceeded to tell me that the experts are now
saying </span>you can form a new habit in seventeen day<span style="font-size: medium;">s</span> instead of <span style="font-size: medium;">twenty-one.</span> Well I had not heard that<span style="font-size: medium;">, <span style="font-size: medium;">b</span></span>ut if
seventeen days sounds more attainable to make some positive adjustments in our
lives, I'm personally all for it!<span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Trac<span style="font-size: medium;">y and I
</span>decided that in the crazy<span style="font-size: medium;"> busy days
that<span style="font-size: medium;"> lie ahead<span style="font-size: medium;">,
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">we </span>could <span style="font-size: medium;">al</span>l use some more joy. </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And we</span> thought
the number seventeen <span style="font-size: medium;">is </span>the perfect number
of days to slip some joy and encouragement into your lives. Please join us<span style="font-size: medium;">!</span></span><br /><br /><a href="http://injoyandservice.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Visit The New Site Here</a><br /><br />
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FreeIndeedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01466014243661109208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056920748981602096.post-45012394244684316442012-11-03T17:38:00.003-05:002012-11-03T17:38:11.582-05:00Join us on the new PAGE - In Joyful Service!<a href="<a href="http://injoyandservice.blogspot.com%22%3e%3cimg/">http://injoyandservice.blogspot.com"><img</a> src="<a href="http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/u400/laneymac2/joyfulservicebutton.png">http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/u400/laneymac2/joyfulservicebutton.png</a>" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a>FreeIndeedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01466014243661109208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056920748981602096.post-84549734350806745252012-11-01T15:06:00.001-05:002012-11-01T15:06:14.750-05:00New Home for "In Joyful Service!"<a href="http://injoyandservice.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Visit us Soon - Register for our Give Away with DaySpring</a> <br />
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<a href="http://injoyandservice.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://injoyandservice.blogspot.com</a>FreeIndeedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01466014243661109208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056920748981602096.post-40015291643739625102012-10-04T08:10:00.002-05:002012-10-04T08:16:52.680-05:00Hormones Raging or a Tug From Heaven?I don't know about you, but my life is such an interesting dilemma most of the time! I question my intentions of the heart - maybe all too often. Come into my crazy life for just a few minutes as I opine about how this question (Hormones raging or a tug from Heaven?) might be asked.<br />
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After a busy day in ministry work, you arrive home to a house FULL of activity. Yeah, your dinner entree that you put in the slow cooker at 6:30 a.m. is bubbling away (because you still haven't gotten that new fangled Cuisinart slow cooker you eyed at Williams-Sonoma. You know the one - the fancy one that is on your dream list, the one with about four hundred settings, auto-off, fully programmable with a price tag that is WAY out of your reach right now). Your 13 year old and 8 year old granddaughters are at the dining table with homework spread out from one end of the room to the other. Funny thing about that is that neither are actually working on that stuff, they are drawing on whiteboards with markers and pens, laughing and texting and arguing in between swipes on the board. Your 16 year old daughter is strumming on her guitar that she taught herself to play via You Tube, working on a new little ditty with the amplifier turned all the way up to 'obnoxious.' Your 19 year old daughter is on her way out the door - saying 'love you Mom, late for work" as she scoots by blowing you a kiss. Your husband is firmly planted in front of the Golf Channel with the remote in one hand and a bag of chips in the other - television is 'turned up' because he can't hear GOLF over the loud roar of the guitar lesson in the adjacent room. The dog is pacing back and forth in front of an empty water dish with his tongue hanging out, as if to signal he is in the last stages of dehydration and no one has noticed. The 'boyfriend' is on the computer in the den working on his online class, because he failed it last semester and doesn't have a choice but to take the entire course over. And for some strange reason he just can't seem to use his computer at home (but you suspect he is here for dinner - again.)<br />
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Avery, Olivia and Riley take time out to pose after</div>
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the silly string fight that helped solve another crisis!</div>
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In superhero fashion, you dash to your bedroom, change your clothes, hang up everything neatly while going through the mail of the day. On your way down you water the dog, start the carrots, put the rice in the saute pan, turn on the oven for the bread and begin to unpack and clean the four lunch bags that you gathered up from the book bags in the hallway. You get the little ones back on track for homework completion, help them clear the dining table and begin to set the table for dinner. Ice tea levels are checked, table is set, chicken is removed from slow cooker and forks are checked for cleanliness before they get lovingly thrown on the place mats for dinner together.<br />
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I think you get the picture. This goes on until 8:45 p.m. when bedtime rituals begin and you actually have a moment to realize you haven't called your Mother to check on her today. And you take your cell phone to your little bathroom and you close the door, and you just sit there in a daze. The tears start to fall. And they won't stop. Thoughts begin to flow again through your very tired brain and you ask God, "What's wrong with me, Lord? Why am I crying and why am I so tired? Are my hormones that out of whack?"<br />
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I think God's response is, "What's wrong with you? Really? Are you serious?" <br />
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Women are amazing creatures. We abuse ourselves with taking on the world while not taking care of ourselves. Then we ask ourselves why we feel so sad and so emotional. Recently, God revealed to me that the madness of life gets in the way of a healthy relationship with Him. That sometimes we just need to have some God time and give ourselves a great big break. <br />
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So, in an effort to bless you and share with you some of the compromises that God has shared with me that are 'okay' to make, and some suggestions that just might help you maneuver through another day without killing someone:<br />
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a. Paper plates are okay during the week if you need them.<br />
b. Kids can help you clean up after dinner - even if they have homework, there is something they can do to pitch in.<br />
c. Super Hero's are NOT real. They are made up characters with unrealistic expectations and abilities.<br />
d. Turn off the television and turn on some peppy Christian tunes while finalizing dinner. It's a sure way to get you calmed down and working to the tempo of the Lord.<br />
e. Engage in dinnertime table talk. Talk about your day - go around the table and share. Rule #1 - you can only talk about the BEST parts of your day!<br />
f. You are not in a contest for 'who packs the most unique and interesting Martha-Stewart-style lunches.' Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches are okay!<br />
g. Shoes left in the great room will NOT evaporate overnight and they will NOT put you on the "10 Worst Mothers in America" list.<br />
h. Don't discount the kids and their abilities to be self reliant. They can pack their own lunches in the evening (or at least help) and they can be trusted to lay out their own clothes, brush teeth, shower, etc.<br />
i. Silly string and pillow fights are great tools to eliminate pressure and get the family laughing again.<br />
j. Lighten up and live - that is God's desire for you as His child.<br />
k. And...(drum roll please)...it is perfectly acceptable to politely say NO sometimes.<br />
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At 50 something, this isn't the life I envisioned having. With six sets of hormones raging under one roof, it can sometimes seem overwhelming. But it's my life, and I must be reminded by God that He is always there to gently tug me back to the path set before me. Priorities put in perspective by the Creator of the Universe in the most loving ways. The pressures of this world will nudge their way right into your home if you let them. So don't get sucked into wanting to live a "Pinterest" lifestyle but concede to the Christ who gives you permission to sit down, open the Word and relax at His feet for just a little while each day.<br />
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Be blessed!<br />
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Tracy<br />
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<br />FreeIndeedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01466014243661109208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056920748981602096.post-5308696194517341032012-10-02T10:14:00.001-05:002012-10-02T10:14:17.579-05:00<a href="http://rhondaquaney.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-harvest-sun-blazes-bright-in-morning.html" target="_blank">Seasons by Rhonda Quaney</a>FreeIndeedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01466014243661109208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056920748981602096.post-88577394989739814312012-10-02T07:17:00.000-05:002012-10-02T07:17:13.567-05:00It's Finally Here - Join us!<a href="http://www.incourage.me/2012/10/find-your-people-meet-our-community-groups.html">http://www.incourage.me/2012/10/find-your-people-meet-our-community-groups.html</a><br />
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A blog about finding God’s way on the journey with our children, our family, our jobs and our community. Tune in for daily updates of inspirational devotions! Join us through the link above for inspirational wisdom that is sure to help you through your day.<br />
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Designed to encourage women everywhere, we are delighted to have you join us! <br />
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Unlikely comrades who have never met in person. Two women separated by 950 miles and over 15 hours by car from Tennessee to Nebraska. Nothing in common but the tie that binds us through our relationship with Christ. But during our first telephone conversation we both felt the connection and knew God was up to something!<br />
Together we represent over 100 years of living and life experiences. While totally different lives in two different situations, we represent women in a season of our "Jesus journey" which must be made available to the younger generation of women who have yet to come through the storms of life. <br />
We are two women who love our husbands, love our children and our grandchildren and love serving others. We are both displays of His splendor, yearning to encourage the hearts of women everywhere!<br />
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Visit us at the link above to join in the conversation! We will be praying for you, and look forward to what God has on this amazing journey called life. After all, we are all simply displays of His splendor.<br />
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Be blessed,<br />
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TracyFreeIndeedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01466014243661109208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056920748981602096.post-7005110224920786112012-09-22T12:20:00.000-05:002012-09-22T12:20:04.386-05:00Lessons from the KitchenSometimes God speaks through situations and circumstances where He is least expected to show up. At least that is how He works in my life, maybe yours, too! Lately, He has shown up in my kitchen and this week was no different for me and God.<br />
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I was in the kitchen working on a sauce for dinner (nothing fancy mind you) and as any 'good' mother would do, I was also doing about three other things at the same time - homework helper, dog waterer and shoe picker-upper - readying our time at the dinner table. In the great room, about 10 steps from the stove eye, I would pick up a pair of shoes or a backpack, and then run back to the stove to give the sauce a 'mini' stir. Hopping back and forth like this for some time, I found that I could do both jobs at the same time - even though it took a tole on my energy level! But it all worked out and the sauce was just fine for dinner. "Mini-stirs" seemed to keep the sauce from sticking, broke up the lumps and made it very tasty, even though this wasn't following the recipe directions to 'stir continually.' <br />
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In my quiet time with God, He showed me that ministry work is often accomplished through 'mini stirs' as well. He said, "sometimes the demands of this life won't allow you to fully focus on encouraging someone in a deep or personal way every day. But keeping your spiritual 'eye' on them, through 'mini stirs' often keeps the life-flow of my Word moving, changing and encouraging them enough to keep them from getting stuck!" "After all," He said, "you could interpret the word 'minister' into the 'mini stirs' that bless others to keep moving forward!"<br />
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Don't you just LOVE IT when God talks to you like your best friend or next door neighbor? I do! I love it when me and God have a great laugh together. I think He knows how very simple-minded I am, and so He and I just have conversation about things - everyday things - and He teaches me so much through those little lessons in the kitchen!<br />
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Today, ask yourself what kind of 'mini stirs' you have time for. Can you send a quick text to a friend who is feeling sick with an encouraging scripture? Can you write a silly note and put it in your daughter's lunch box? Can you compliment or encourage the checkout clerk at the pharmacy or grocery store (you know, that kid with green hair and big gauges in their ears) by telling them what a nice smile they have? Can you tell the mailman to have a blessed day?<br />
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I am convinced that all of us - no matter how busy our day, or how deeply engaged in full-blown ministry work we are - have the time to multi-task by giving a quick 'mini stir' to keep others moving toward Jesus. <strong> Little is much when God is in it!</strong> <br />
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<strong><em>Zechaeriah 4:10 says, "For who has despised the day of small things?"</em></strong><br />
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May you multi-task with purpose this day!<br />
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Tracy<br />
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FreeIndeedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01466014243661109208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056920748981602096.post-33606779883668753192012-09-12T20:54:00.001-05:002012-09-12T21:08:26.599-05:00God Is Up To Something!<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">It was a Monday evening, the southern sun setting over the hills of Tennessee. Almost cloudless skies dotted with a white spot here and there. I was 15 minutes late with my phone call that was scheduled, but hurriedly scooted off to a quiet corner of the house (my little bathroom, where else?) and dialed the number to Nebraska. No answer. But I left a voice mail message and took a long sigh. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Before I could swing the bathroom door open, the phone range back! Knowing it was my scheduled phone call, I expectantly answered in my Tennessee dialect. "Well, I can certainly tell that I am speaking with someone from the south," said the sweet-sounding voice on the other end! And from there, the journey with Rhonda Quaney begins.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">You see, Rhonda and I have never met. Our first phone conversation EVER was just this week. With nothing more in common than the tie that binds us to Jesus, Rhonda and I began a partnership journey of encouragement for women everywhere. We ended the call by praying with and for one another, and I felt in my spirit that my life as a woman of God would never be the same.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Both chosen to represent inCourage as a community inCourager (blogger, writer, supporter, leader) we were </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">unlikely comrades connected by only thing we have in common - the love of Jesus!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Immediately, we felt a connection in our kindred spirits and we are off on a new road - a road less traveled - two women from different situations, different backgrounds, different experiences, different wounds and different joys; but together wielding over 100 years of experience in navigating this stormy journey called life. One from Nebraska, one from Tennessee - more than 930 miles and fifteen hours by car span the distance between us. Held together by the deep desire to encourage the hearts of women everywhere.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">So.....we are off! Working on our description of our blog/website and FB page. Praying for each other and our respective families. Asking God to touch and bless the life of someone we don't even know - but have entered into a partnership with that is sure to bring glory to our Father in Heaven.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Displays of His Splendor. Yup. That pretty much sums up Rhonda and Tracy. And I, for one, look forward to this new bend in the journey called life! Thank you Lord!</span></span></h2>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><b><i>Do not lose your courage, then, because it brings with it a great reward. You need to be patient, in order to do the will of God and receive what he promises. Hebrews 10:35</i></b></span></span>FreeIndeedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01466014243661109208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056920748981602096.post-36190159637414262782012-09-10T12:25:00.000-05:002012-09-10T12:25:21.511-05:00Health or Death? What are you speaking?Proverbs 16:24 says, "Kind words are like honey - sweet to the soul and healthy for the body." When I read this last evening in my "Devotions for Busy Moms" little book in my bathroom, tears welled up in my eyes. Not just small tears, but those big tears that you know exclaim, UH OH!!<br />
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Earlier in the day I had snapped at a few people around the house. Using the ultimate excuse (again) that I am, at 52, raising grandchildren, children of my own, a full time job that seems to never end, and being active in church, I simply was ugly to the most important folks in my life - my family.<br />
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As I stood in my little bathroom with that book in my hand, I could envision Jesus saying, "now Tracy, where did I display that attitude in my life? You know, that attitude that is - well, let's just say - far less than gratitude?" I can see him saying, "I was here on this earth in an earthly body, and I experienced what you are experiencing right now. I understand being overwhelmed. I understand being tired. I understand being frustrated. But I want you to follow my example if you will. When my emotions (because all of those things above are led by emotion) were swallowing me chin deep, I went to the Father and I stayed in His presence a while. Yes, I got away from the world - all by myself - and I related to Abba a while. Just me and Him."<br />
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Wow. The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) are full of Jesus retreating from the world and communing with God! It sounds simple, almost trite now, but at the time, when you are in the heat of the battle, we just can't seem to say, "OK. That's it. Let's stop right here. I have to go talk to God a little while or you won't like me very much." <br />
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But after my tears were dried by Jesus last night, and after I completely understood how to do it better next time, and after He told me that He forgives me (once again), I resided that I will, from now on, take time to talk to God before going a step farther down the road of unkind words. I want to take the Proverbs 16:24 road - always. Though I know I'm not Jesus, I am sure trying to be 'as like" Him as I possibly can.<br />
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Ok. Gotta go now. Back into the heat of the battle. So I will finish with this prayer for you: May your words always be like honey - for tomorrow (like me) you may have to eat them! FreeIndeedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01466014243661109208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056920748981602096.post-83244101809761582892012-09-07T20:19:00.000-05:002012-09-07T20:19:44.888-05:00Not Good Enough?Satan tries to convince us that we have made far too many mistakes for God to want to have anything to do with us. But God wants us to get in the habit of running to him for His grace. He wants us to rely solely on Him. The enemy continually tells us that we simply aren't good enough for God.<br />
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But the beauty of what God does, and how He does it, is that "while we were yet sinners (not good enough), Christ died for us." Isn't that amazing? The truth is, we will never be good enough, and despite that, God still loves us. <br />
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Instead of saying, "I don't think God loves me" we need to boldly exclaim that "God loves me and nothing can separate me from His love!" <br />
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I need to remember this every moment of every day. Sometimes I fail. Miserably. But I love it when God takes the time - through a special moment - a word of confirmation - a word from a friend or family member - that despite my sinful nature, despite my fleshly emotional reaction, He is STILL GOD and I am STILL HIS CHILD WHOM HE LOVES.<br />
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What a lesson in being a great parent He gives us every day. Thank you Lord for your wonderful reminder and example of unconditional love. May I always look to your example in my daily dealings with family, friends and those in my life.FreeIndeedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01466014243661109208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056920748981602096.post-21029801868026387882011-11-19T20:57:00.001-06:002011-11-20T10:37:36.201-06:00Keep Your Good Deals - I'm Not Leaving The House on Black FridayOn the Friday after Thanksgiving, I will not be one of those crazed 4:30 a.m. too-much-Starbucks-gotta-get-out-there-first kinda girls. I shall sleep until at least 7:30 a.m., have my usual cup of Joe, put on my fuzzy house shoes and spend some time thanking God that I was not among those fighting for a parking spot at the Mall. Later that afternoon the whole family will be gearing up for Game Day, where Scrabble, Loaded Questions and Trivial Pursuit will be the only battles we fight into the wee hours of the night. I would rather have my toenails pulled off by a pair of pliers than leave my home on the day after Thanksgiving only to get run over at the corner of Lovell Road and Turkey Creek. But alas, apparently I am like a lone salmon swimming up steam in my little world.<br />
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Something alarming is happening to our holiday season. I read an article just last week about how Black Friday is creeping backward into Thanksgiving Day. Rumor has it that by next year, Americans will be leaving their afternoon turkey meal on Thursday in order to get to the 'best deals of the season.' Really? I say, stop the insanity! Christmas shopping is supposed to be an enjoyable time to pick out thoughtful gifts for the people I love most in my life. Shopping on Black Friday seems to be about saving more money than everyone around you and beating everyone to the most-wanted presents. When did Christmas shopping become a competition anyway? <br />
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Does anyone out there remember the fights over Cabbage Patch Dolls or the horrible story of people getting mauled at WalMart? Somehow, that just doesn't sound enjoyable to me. So when girlfriends call or a friend at work asks if I want to join them on their shopping spree on Black Friday, the dark recesses of my mind begin to swell with visions of a crazed woman beating me to a pulp in the shoe department at Belk with a stiletto over the last pair of size 7 1/2 shoes. In response, I simply take a deep breath, and say "no thanks." I have never been a Black Friday shopper and I don’t encourage my daughters to do it either. Where is the spirit of Christmas in all of us? What are we teaching our children about the meaning of the holidays or the appropriateness of what a Southern girl will risk her life for?<br />
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News flash American Women: shopping is not a contact sport nor should it be hazardous to your health. Christmas shopping is supposed to be fun, enjoyable, somehow magical. Christmas shopping should not have winners and losers. And focusing on saving more than everyone else makes people lose sight of the reasons we exchange gifts in the first place. Instead of worrying about how much money I’m saving or if I am going to be trampled to death by over-caffeinated shoppers assembled in a mosh pit, I would rather think about the look on my granddaughter’s face as she rips open a package on Christmas morning or envision my husband turning our great room into his putting green while trying out that new golf club he just received. These are the things that I want to occupy my mind as I am spending my hard-earned dough.<br />
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Black Friday has very little to do with the holidays and a lot more to do with greed if you ask me. I would rather stay home and enjoy the family - maybe even put up the tree - than risk my life in a sea of aggressive shoppers who are hungry for 'beating me' to the good deals. I’ll happily pay a little extra to keep the holiday spirit in my Christmas gift-giving and keep my sanity for as long as I possibly can. Lord knows there are plenty of other battles for me to fight in this life than beating someone to the last $300 flat screen TV in Knoxville.FreeIndeedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01466014243661109208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056920748981602096.post-26525886896082560202011-08-01T20:43:00.000-05:002011-08-01T20:43:13.206-05:00Seven Leadership Lessons for LifeWorking outside the home as a leader in a non-profit organization that does many great things for the homeless and under-served in the Knoxville community can make for exciting days. Most days are 10 hours or more, and can lead you down the road of exhaustion at the end of the day. As the time quickly approaches for school to start back, I find myself becoming anxious thinking about how I will once again juggle the hectic lifestyle of a busy professional with the daunting task of getting several children off to school and educated in the public school system. For the last week or so I have spent some time thinking about my priorities as a leader. And when I think about it, being a parent is the ultimate test of one's leadership skills. You have the awesome and sacred responsibility of guiding and shepherding young people through all the trials and tribulations of life into becoming positive and productive human beings - and contributing members of the human race.<br />
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Although my mother worked outside the home when I was in high school, she was home most of my early school days. And why? Because its' hard to work outside the home AND run a successful household! Whether our parents were ideal or less than ideal examples as leaders, our first leadership lessons are most often learned in the home. Through our own parents' leadership example, we learn both what to do - and what not to do.<br />
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Reflecting back, I have been fortunate to have role models in my life who taught me lifelong lessons on leadership that still guide me and our organization's work today.<br />
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Here are 7 of the best leadership lessons I have learned to apply as a leader - most I have honed being a Mom - and they apply to my professional life as well. <br />
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1. Leadership demands action.<br />
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Leaders have an obligation and duty to step up and stand for something. Yes, it's much easier to complain, whine, and pout about the state of affairs... But what really does it accomplish?<br />
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Being involved in school, homework, budgeting decisions, social sacrifices, and settling arguments amongst the many female personalities in my home, I have learned that action speaks louder than words. Leaders get in the trenches to understand the challenges so that they can be a part of the solutions to overcome them. <br />
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Leaders do something, and in so doing, combat the forces of entropy and evil that can so quickly and easily take over, like weeds overcoming an untended garden. Leaders can't sit idly by and do nothing. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."<br />
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2. Leaders pour their hearts and souls into their people and their purpose.<br />
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Leaders are all about their people and their purpose. They invest themselves fully into their people and purpose - knowing that in the long run, all the time and energy will be worth it. Leaders willingly subvert their own ego for their cause. They understand that their success is not measured in how well they do individually - but ultimately in how well their team does - how well their family does. <br />
3. Leaders plant seeds of success.<br />
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Leaders invest the time to plant seeds of success in their followers. They create a positive vision of what people can become and continually encourage and nudge them along that path. I was told often by my father, "You are a child of destiny. You are destined for great things." While he was clueless in how to support me in my longings and skills, he provided me with fertile soil to 'go for it.' I tried new things - took risks - tried new things, and believe it was that encouragement that helped me find my passion and purpose in life.<br />
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4. Leaders hold people to a higher standard.<br />
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While great parents, coaches, and leaders are very loving, they also know that a big part of their responsibility is to hold people accountable. They are willing to take the tough, yet often unpopular stances for the good of their people. Hopefully, I have encouraged my girls to take the unpopular stance and do what is right. Higher standards are the stepping stones to blessings and make for much better sleep at night.<br />
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Honesty and accountability are the hallmarks of great families, sports teams, businesses, and organizations. Without honesty and accountability, trust can never occur. And without trust, you cannot sustain long-term success.<br />
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5. Leaders provide strength and hope during the depths of despair.<br />
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My mom has faced tragedy often throughout her life. She lost her husband when she was just 24 and had two small children in diapers. She survived graduating from nursing school, re-married my dad, had two more children and endured much heartache and tragedy for the next 20 years. Despite these tragedies and challenges, she reminds us that the human spirit can survive anything. When trivial troubles are getting me down, she reminds me that we have survived much worse. <br />
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Strength and hope also come through my walk with Christ. He has provided shelter in many storms in my life - storms too devastating to talk about still. His encouraging words - often spoken through words from friends, encouraging cards received in the mail, or emails from Sisters in Christ, are often the building blocks of hope from which I am lifted and strengthened. I share encouragement in every way I can with my girls. It works. It works well.<br />
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6. Leaders remember and appreciate the little things.<br />
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Leaders are tuned into the little things that make a BIG difference. They realize that it's the little kindnesses you do on a regular basis that forge the strongest ties. The spoken word can be more powerful than almost anything else. A smile. A hug. A kind word of thanks. This seemingly simple act of kindness is one that is greatly appreciated by those who receive them. We know someone cares when they take time to notice the good things - the right things - and thank us for them. Your children love to hear that you are proud of them or that they do something right. Take the time to praise them - you will be glad you did.<br />
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7. Leaders keep it all in perspective.<br />
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Finally, leaders are able to keep everything in perspective. They invest themselves fully but also are able to keep their priorities in order. As author Stephen Covey suggests, they spend their time on the important, not the urgent. In one of the many blogs I have written, I mentioned that the meaning of family grows more and more important as I age. Facing the untimely death of my father served as a reminder to me how precious a family can be. Successful parents, and leaders keep it all in perspective because they are able to separate the important from the urgent, and devote their time accordingly.<br />
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And as school starts back in less than two weeks, I will desperately try and reconfigure my days and my nights to practice what I am preaching above. It's not easy. Nope. Never. But it's worth it. <br />
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What leadership lessons have you learned that you can share with your organization, friends or family?<br />
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TracyFreeIndeedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01466014243661109208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056920748981602096.post-69122698561599655982011-07-03T19:12:00.000-05:002011-07-03T19:12:44.258-05:00Casey Anthony Trial. Just my viewpoint - like it or not.Today I caught my very first full-length look and listen on the case in a long while. I must admit that closing arguments today were painfully long (at least for me) but somehow I got through it all. And it was like I missed nothing of importance for the past two years because I was certainly caught up with full details today for sure.<br />
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You might be interested to know that I may well have been the only person in the good old USA today that wasn't tainted by all the rhetoric over the past couple of years. I really don't follow things like this at all. But today, I wanted to hear the closing arguments for myself. Mainly because everyone that I know thinks Casey Anthony is guilty and they are ready to put her in the electric chair and pull the switch themselves. Things like that just always make me a bit curious. So today, I decided to watch closting arguments all day long.<br />
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You might also be interested to know that I am not a fan of Casey Anthony. But I came up with some rather fascinating thoughts and conclusions in my seven hour experience of people-watching and close listening skills today. During commercials of the live broadcast, I googled things - people, places and ideas that I needed to know about to satisfy my curiosity. Most of all, you might find it strange that I am not convinced that Casey Anthony killed her little girl. I didn't hear any facts that led me to conclude she is guilty. At least not of murder.<br />
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Here is what I did see, hear and then investigate further. Her family is very - well - disgruntled and unsettling. The father. The mother. Very odd body language. Even leaving the courtroom today. Did you see them 'holding hands!' Very odd behavior. The father, George Anthony, he gives me the creeps. He is an obvious liar, cheater, and general creepy person. He cheated on his job, he cheated on his wife, and I dare say that something is very rotten with that fake suicide attempt. Among other things.<br />
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The mother, Cindy, is obviously very, very angry. At what? Not exactly sure but she is a cold fish for sure. Very interesting body language, especially around her husband, George. And that tongue? Who uses that much profanity around little children anyway?<br />
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Casey does display some behaviors of a person who has been sexually molested. At least in my opinion that is the case. Something just doesn't add up. Imaginary friends. Promiscuous lifestyle. And why would the attorneys have both the father and the brother, Lee, tested for paternity of the little girl? Don't you just find that strange in itself?<br />
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Sticking to the facts, here is what I did not hear today. No evidence of murder. No evidence of anything other than a very promiscuous lifestyle. Another sign of sexual molestation. WOW. Very sad case for sure.<br />
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This whole case is very eerie and strange - One thing for sure. We still don't know the whole truth. We will see what happens tomorrow. But for now, what are you thoughts?<br />
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I would love to hear your views.FreeIndeedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01466014243661109208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056920748981602096.post-47909099358771583892011-06-18T21:13:00.002-05:002011-06-18T21:17:04.446-05:00Thinking About You Tonight, DaddyI remember the day well. It was a Tuesday afternoon. My Dad had just called me an hour or so before. "What are you doing, Little Red Hen?" he asked in his jovial way. (You see, my Dad never called you by your real name. If he liked you, he gave you a nickname, and it stuck. Your whole life you were 'that name' to him. I was "little red hen." I suspect it had something to do with the fact that it rhymed with Tracy Lynn. But no matter - it was special. Special because he was the only person in the entire universe who called me that name.) He and I had chatted a while. He asked me if I would go with him the following day to pick out a paint color for his office we were redecorating. He also wanted to buy a new leather sofa and wanted to go look at those as well. He was going to pick me up the next morning at 9:00 a.m. But things changed in an instant when the phone rang. .<br />
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Back to that phone call. Words you never want to hear. "You better get to the hospital right away," she said. "Your Dad is real bad - they took him by ambulance." That's all I remember hearing. My husband had just walked in the door from work. I grabbed my keys, grabbed my husband, and we were off to the hospital for what seemed to be the longest ride of my life. The next hour is such a blur to me, painfully hard to write about, much less think about. Let it suffice to say that my Dad never regained consciousness and they pronounced him dead in less than an hour.<br />
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I remember the doctor coming into the waiting room twice. Both times I asked him - begged him - to let me see my Dad. Both times that request was denied. The third time he came back to us he gave us the news. I was still in shock when he told me my Dad was gone. It was surreal. This time the doctor told me I could go see my Dad for "just a moment" and I remember the long walk down the hall, my husband by my side, holding tight to my hand.<br />
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When I got to the room, I remember looking in and seeing my Daddy laying on that table, quiet and still. Very strange because my Dad was one of the most full-of-life, busy people I knew. And when he was asleep he was snoring - very loudly I might add. So to see no signs of life was very eery, very strange for me. I removed my shoes at the door (something told me I was on Holy ground) and I walked inside. I just stood there, touching his hair and talking to him. I just touched his face and his hair for about a minute or two until I saw the tears on his face. They weren't his tears, they were mine. But they had dropped like tiny raindrops from my eyes onto his face and were running down his cheek. That's when it hit me. My Daddy is gone.<br />
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Something strange happened at that moment I realized I would never hear 'little red hen' again. I heard a faint whimpering or moaning sound. It was coming from me! I was so numb and so traumatized that I was moaning every time I took a breath. My husband tells me that it occurred off and on over the next week or so - during the the funeral - at the rotunda - at the veteran's cemetery. I don't remember much of that. <br />
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What I do remember is the receiving of friends. My Daddy looked so handsome. Peaceful. Almost asleep. He would have been very pleased with the photos we had around. Photos of the most important things in the world to him - his kids and his grandkids. He would have loved what all his friends and family said to console me and my family. He would have loved the stories they told about crazy things he had done or fun they had throughout the years. He would have loved the American flag embroidered on his casket. But more than anything else, he would have gotten a big kick out of the 'nickname bouquet' that proudly stood at attention at his feet. You see, to pay tribute to my Dad, I had a large bouquet made that had a banner for each of his children and grandchildren with their nickname on it. Beautifully done in white satin and gold leaf, it was adorned with large streamers, each one representing the nickname that he had given us and called us until the day he went home:<br />
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Little Red Hen<br />
Hard Rock<br />
Sissy<br />
Lisa Bo<br />
Tricks<br />
Grannie Annie<br />
Smiley<br />
Snow Bird<br />
Handsome Harry<br />
Austie Bostie<br />
Pixie Pie<br />
Sparks<br />
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Now many years gone, I still long to hear those words again. "Tracy Lynn, little red hen" he would say. And my children all cherish those banners so very much. Each of them has their respective banner - some hanging on their wall, some have them put up for safe keeping. But each is precious just the same. A badge of honor. A reminder of the man so full of life that loved them with every ounce of life he had in him. Their granddaddy.<br />
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Life wasn't always easy with my Dad. But he was surely the life of the party. And he is still missed by this old hen more than you will ever know. I look forward to seeing him again someday. And I know that when I get to heaven, I will hear those precious words again. There are many things I anticipate seeing and doing when I get to heaven. But one of them is hearing "Little Red Hen" from my Dad.<br />
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Happy Father's Day, Daddy. I miss you so very, very much.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>L.R.H.</em></span> <br />
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FreeIndeedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01466014243661109208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056920748981602096.post-24361928342109452512011-06-05T21:45:00.000-05:002011-06-05T21:45:50.508-05:00"There You Go" is NOT Good Customer Service<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">While a generation ago you would have heard sentiments like "Thank you for shopping with us" or "Have a great day, ma'am" while checking out at your neighborhood grocery store, has anyone noticed the 'new' catch phrase in customer service is "There you go?" Really?<br />
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Okay, okay, I know what you're thinking. Prissy little middle-aged lady just being a primadonna. But truly, our country has buried the lost-art of practicing real customer service along with reading a hardback book or having conversation around the dinner table. <br />
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Let's be honest. We are raising a generation of people who just don't get it. They don't know how important that job is to their future. They don't understand that in 10 years, if things keep in this downward spiral of accepting poor customer service, we won't have any expectations left at all.<br />
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You would think in this time of a slowing economy that retail outlets and service providers would be on high alert for excellence in service. Why? Because every dime that people spend today must be measured in importance. People have an array of choices of where they can spend that precious, calculated money. And, if people do not get excellent customer service, they will go somewhere until they find it. Oh, I wish!<br />
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And while I'm up here (on my soapbox, that is) allow me to pontificate about how no one under the age of 20 can count change back without that computerized register telling them how much to give back to the customer. Test this theory; give a $20 to any young person, "buy" something for $12.71 and ask them to count the change back to you. It's nearly impossible to find one who can actually do it correctly without having to start over numerous times if at all.<br />
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Retailers of America, wake up and smell the coffee. Let's stop the insanity that is going around today. Making Kroger bigger with more self check-out lanes is NOT good customer service. Start small and less expensive. Just teach an orientation class on practicing the art of good customer service. Start with "Thank you for your business" and "Please come back." My guess is that little step will reap the rewards in customer loyalty much more than shiny new computers and more self-check out registers.<br />
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After all, we already have to buy them, unload them at the register, roll them to our car and then put them up when we get home. THANK US properly when we are there spending our hard-earned dollars and it just might make us leave feeling a little better about the 28% hike in the cost of </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">groceries in the last year alone.</span>FreeIndeedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01466014243661109208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056920748981602096.post-84914211817481438192010-12-04T18:30:00.001-06:002010-12-04T18:30:26.901-06:00Wordle - Hicks House Holidays<p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/2833803/Hicks_House_Holidays">Wordle - Hicks House Holidays</a></p> FreeIndeedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01466014243661109208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056920748981602096.post-82149539459446879812010-05-20T19:58:00.001-05:002010-05-20T19:59:58.596-05:00The Names of GodThe more I learn of God, the more I yearn for God. And to know Him, and to know His names, is becoming more and more important in my life. Let me share with you just a few of my most favorite names and their meanings:<br />
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Jehovah- The Lord<br />
Jehovah-Jireh - The Lord will provide<br />
Jehovah-Rophe - The Lord who heals<br />
Jehovah-Nissi - The Lord our banner<br />
Yahweh - The covenant name of God<br />
Adonai - Master<br />
Jehovah-Shalom - The Lord our peace<br />
Jehovah-Elohim - The Lord our God<br />
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Copy down these names and then try this; when you are praying, use these name to pray to God. Repeat them in praise and worship and you will reap the peace and presence of a mighty God who loves you so much!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrhXtCuv1kXLtKAgbBvHVDmVeDklZiLOJETDgaDgrAS5rD7yW-dmAf2zacAsB0gtwoH1ox1jI4_n0Z3whWh4KY2vE6GWDowGLhaMme0yTqf4yNAzbCHg-yLaM50kC5N3-eECyIL3Txsuk/s1600/jesusnames.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrhXtCuv1kXLtKAgbBvHVDmVeDklZiLOJETDgaDgrAS5rD7yW-dmAf2zacAsB0gtwoH1ox1jI4_n0Z3whWh4KY2vE6GWDowGLhaMme0yTqf4yNAzbCHg-yLaM50kC5N3-eECyIL3Txsuk/s400/jesusnames.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>May this bring you blessings today!<br />
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TracyFreeIndeedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01466014243661109208noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056920748981602096.post-57712228083394995912010-05-06T19:07:00.000-05:002010-05-06T19:07:55.727-05:00Tribute to Loubie; My mother, my friend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ2h2XcIMlynigol-xh4VAg6lVIJpdw9Mn-MtjfcChf0RLG6Gt0kAcphW595R6u2QA4O0R5numoJfYuWaQyMJnAfOb1esw04msYSwZJJHhRKfq56I-Dx7whYjgCwcKqfGuUJrTFhuD0fw/s1600/the+girls+with+their+Granny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ2h2XcIMlynigol-xh4VAg6lVIJpdw9Mn-MtjfcChf0RLG6Gt0kAcphW595R6u2QA4O0R5numoJfYuWaQyMJnAfOb1esw04msYSwZJJHhRKfq56I-Dx7whYjgCwcKqfGuUJrTFhuD0fw/s320/the+girls+with+their+Granny.jpg" tt="true" width="320" /></a></div>My mother was born Betty Louise Flannary. Her first husband, while not my Dad, was the love of her life. He died of Hodgkins disease while my Mother was carrying his only son, their second child. My Mom met my Dad a few years later and she tells that she fell in love with him because he was so different than her first husband. My Dad was full of life - funny, good looking and everyone loved him. He wasn't an intellilectual, like her first husband, but she loved him. He had a son. They got married and then had me and my baby sister, Lisa. My Dad never officially adopted my oldest sister and brother out of respect for their father, who was an only child and so wanted to carry on his family name. <br />
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My Mother is the strongest woman I have ever known. Sometimes, especially since growing older, I often think of her as a true miracle. She was born in 1930 in an economically depressed area called Appalachia, VA. Her mother was uneducated. So was her father, who worked in the coal mines of Southwest Virginia for many years. My mother, who we lovingly call "Loubie," somehow made it into college at the University of Virginia, where she graduated the nursing program and went on to become an RN and LPN. The first person in her family to graduate college. Her great love of the written word has pretty much inspired me to both read and explore writing. Even today, her favoriate things are reading, Jeopardy (the television show) and Crossword puzzles. Oh, and spending time with her great grandchildren. She is a true caregiver. Heck, I think she invented the word when she was in her early 20's. That's when she took care of her very first patient - her husband who was dying. Even with a young baby underfoot, her husband was diagnosed with a terminal illness. And while devastated, he asked her to consider having another baby - hoping it would be a boy to carry on his family name. And knowing that she soon would be a single mother (back in 1950, are you kidding me?) she agreed to try. And soon, she was the mother of two children - children who were 10 months apart - both in diapers - burying her husband in a town where she knew no one.<br />
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From there, she started on her care-giving journey and to be very honest with you, some 60 years later - at age 80, she is still taking care of people. Now, her great-grandchildren are her pride and joy. They simply adore her and she is quite energetic and loves to take them - where else - but the library! We have all gleaned a love of reading from my Mom.<br />
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You will be hard pressed to find another woman of her era who is more energetic, intelligent or better loved than my mom, Loubie. So, on Mother's Day and in honor of my Mom, Loubie, I offer these words:<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Mom, without you, there would be no me. Your love, your attention, your guidance, </strong></span><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>have made me who I am. Without you, I would be lost, wandering aimlessly. Sure, I may have gotten there someday, but it sure was nice following along in the path that you carved out. </strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>You showed me the way to serve, to accomplish, to persevere. Without you, there would be an empty space I could never fill, no matter how I tried. Instead, because of you, I am a much better person today. A better mother. A better wife. A better daughter. And better friend. </strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Thank you, Loubie. I have always loved you and I always will. And I am so very proud to call you my Mother.</strong></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>TracyFreeIndeedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01466014243661109208noreply@blogger.com3