Friday, February 26, 2010

"same kind of different As me"

If you don't want to be inspired to greatness, don't read same kind of different As me, written by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. If, on the other hand, you aspire to shake and move your world, go for it.  I read this fantastic true story, written like a best-selling novel, at my daughter's house in Alabama and promptly bought a copy to bring home to share with the rest of our family and friends. (I had a little time to read when our little guy and his mommy were napping.)
This book has something for everyone. 

For cooks, page 33 has a recipe for Cow-lip Tea. "The way you make cow-lip tea is you get the toadstools and a little dried cow patty and grind em up in the sifter.  You can't use no fresh green cow patty to make no good tea, 'cause you can't grind it. So you take that dried patty, and after you get it ground up like fine powder, you put it in a rag and tie a knot on top. Then you add a little honey to a boilin pot and drop that rage in the water till it bubbles up and turns good and brown. Now you got cow-lip tea." 

For marriage advice, page 69 addresses Deborah and Ray's troubles. "She wanted to spend a couple of months in counseling, she said, so we could figure out what was broken, how it got that way, and how to fix it. 'If you'll do that, 'she said, 'I'll forgive you.' ...it was a gracious offer, considering that I, and not Deborah, had been the traitor. Faster than you can say 'divorce court,' I said yes."   

To learn more about God's goodness, page 155 Denver preaches to Mr. Ron: "Launching into a sermon, he assured me that God didn't make cancer because cancer is not good, and he cautioned me not to blame God for something He didn't make. The theology lesson helped, for a little while."

To witness friendship of the best kind. Page 113. "His brain had filed away everything he had seen over the years, and it seemed he had just been waiting for someone willing to listen. I was privileged to be the first to lend an ear." 

If you feel like a good laugh, a good cry, and an absorbing read, be sure to get a hold of this little book. I think it is one of the best I've read in a while! 




Sunday, February 21, 2010

One Year old plus one week ALREADY...

One week ago...our daughter and youngest grand
"Hi Grammy and Grampy!"
Last Saturday in Alabama started out like this. We got to see J take his swimming lessons at this beautiful indoor pool at the YMCA.


  Grammi was trying to get J to look at the camera and look what happened. 

That's a better one, but J's still not posing for his pic.


In the afternoon, we celebrated J's First Birthday. Curious George came too!

J had lots of people to love on him.
 A little tug-a-war with Uncle C
Getting the hang of opening pressies here!
Best and last present from Mommy and Daddy comes later.

J is digging into his smash cake!


"Daddy, Mommy, Me and Momo and Popo"
"Daddy, Mommy, Me, Grammy and Grampy"

 
And now for the BIG SURPRISE!!  A small gift bag
contained this sweet little T-shirt...



CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR GROWING FAMILY!!!
God bless you real good!  Love, Grammy and Grampy xo


Saturday, February 20, 2010

Do you ever feel like this?

I DO when I'm trying to learn how to create and import a collage from Picasa onto my blog as a header!

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Escapafacadology

This morning at Southwood Presbyterian (in Huntsville, Alabama), James Parker sang the following song, accompanied by his guitar, in the worship service.  I love the above "ology" word. I met James after the service, and he explained that Escapafacadology is a word Southwood has come up with to encourage people to recognize how many of us tend to wear masks instead of being the beautiful, unique creations God intended for each of us to be. This song ministered to my heart as I continue to learn how not to be "too terrified to be myself."  I hope it blesses you too dear reader as much as it did me.


Escapafacadology, Escapafacadology

I'm an example of the type of guy you always only wished you could be.
I've got a squeaky clean persona, I'm descended from the highest pedigree,
or so it seems...

I've made my home with people I don't really like, and not because I want to.
I'm a chicken in the worst sense of the word because I'm just too terrified
to be myself...

Escapafacadology, Escapafacadology

When I look at all the folks that crowd around me, I'm thinkin it's not that bad,
But all the people I call friends, I don't know for sure if they really have my back,
And I can't blame them...

I feel like no one knows me, and I don't think I'm off the reservation.
Somehow I've stayed underneath their radar, but that's no consolation
at all...

Escapafacadology, Escapafacadology

I can't see your face today, there's a concrete wall that's in the way,
and I'd like to know it's you when I come around.
I'm here to walk this line with you, and I know that it's a painful truth,
this big facade is comin' down,
it's comin' down,
it's comin' down...

Escapafacadology, Escapafacadology
Text and Music: James Parker, copyright 2010

 James Parker gave me permission to share this and to take his photo!
What a lovely young man.  Thank you Lord for inspiring us today through James' talents 
and heart for you!  
www.escapafacadology.com  

Thursday, February 11, 2010

See Dick Clark Grill photos


GeoTagged, [N35.04494, E89.98334]
A great and fun restaurant we found at the Phoenix Airport today. Our flight was delayed due to snow in Dallas. We were rerouted through Memphis instead and departed four and a half hours later. We're just happy we weren't delayed overnight like the couple next to us.

I'm trying to blog on my iPhone and have some great photos of the Grill, but don't know if I have the tools to import more than one photo per post. Hmmmmmm...a tiny bit frustrating. Sitting here in Memphis with a tummy full of deep fried catfish and okra. Only a couple of hours away from Huntsville to see our kids!


I'll post a series of posts here to show off this neat little airport restaurant. The shiny white faces were blotted out by the spotlights shining on the wall.  This "photo" takes up a huge portion of the wall, as do most of the following.  At least our hero isn't blotted out. Yah American Bandstand!!!

Dick Clark Grill-Are you old enough to recognize these faces? Oh Ricky! Oh my heart!


GeoTagged, [N35.04494, E89.98334]

Scroll down to tour the rest of the restaurant photos on following posts. Thanks.

Another photo of Dick Clark Grill


GeoTagged, [N35.04494, E89.98334]

See below...

More Dick Clark Grill


GeoTagged, [N35.04494, E89.98334]

See yourself in there anywhere?
.

Dick Clark Grill


GeoTagged, [N33.43741, E112.01143]

Sunday, February 7, 2010

MEET PAWSCILLA!

Sherman  met a new friend this week at Koyote Kutz, where he goes to be groomed. She is a beautiful, but angry, Persian cat named Pawscilla.  Neither Sherm nor I could take our eyes off of her. She would have been cute if she'd smiled, but she was NOT a happy kitty when we met her!  Sherman tried his best to encourage her, but she wasn't buying it.

She stayed still as a statue on that table for the groomer.  Maybe that's what cats do when they're angry?   


"They're pushing and pulling and hurting my neck," meowed Pawscilla. "Oh the indignity of it all!" Does it look to you like she's curling her toes?  Oh, poor kitty.


"It's okay Pawscilla, It'll be over in a few more minutes."  I thought Sherman was going to shed tears.


"Easy for YOU to say, dog.  Get out of my face."


And so, we said farewell to Pawscilla, and to all of our favorite groomers at Koyote Kutz.

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN!

Tuesday, February 2, 2010


Death and Dying

WARNING, don’t read this if you don’t like morbidity. I’m about to talk about one of two inevitables, death and taxes…I really hate them both. I’m sorry, but it’s the truth.

The older I get, the harder life is getting because people I know and love are disappearing from the earth, I mean dying. I’m tempted to shake my fist at God because so much of it I don’t understand, because I love life, because I love people, and then I fall to my knees when I realize how little I can do about it. You see, I can believe what I want about God, but it doesn’t change Whom He is one bit—it only changes who I am.

We think we are SO in control. Death and taxes are only two obvious items completely out of our control. Can you make yourself taller by choosing to be so? Can you turn yourself into an Olympic athlete without the required health and talent? Can you make the sun come out on a cloudy day? How many more and better questions I could ask that show how powerless I am in multiple ways? Who am I, Susie Talbot, to shake my fist at God when He determines it’s time for His created one to die?

We saw the new movie EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES, the true story of a family fighting for the lives of their two beautiful children.  It was inspiring at the very least. The love that went on within that family was truly Brady Bunchish and better. They didn’t let the children’s Pompe disease get in the way of fun and laughter every day in every way they could make it happen. The outcome of the real life story is amazing. I won’t ruin the story’s outcome if you haven’t seen it.

My point—the parents fought a good fight to find a cure for their children. They didn’t give up. Do I fight that hard for the people I know and love? It’s bad enough for the body to die, but if the soul perishes without saving knowledge and grace from God, through Jesus Christ because His children don’t speak up, then that is true disaster.

If you read my blog, you probably already know what fuels me. You also know that I do love people and would be the last one to pound religion on them. Even God doesn’t pound on anyone to follow Him. He only knocks at the door of each heart, which must be opened from the inside. He won’t barge in, but only knocks. He’s gentle. He leaves it up to us whether or not we choose to open that door.

It’s not about being good. That’s impossible. If you know me, you know that I’ve failed often at that. It’s about being open to Truth. If you don’t know Truth yet, ask a “higher power” out there for it and it’ll come to you. Remember the movie line, “If you build, they will come.” If you seek the truth, you will find Him, the One Who knit you together in your mother’s womb.

Yep, we’re still gonna die, but if there is a remote chance that our spirit man within us lives on, I’m prepared. Not because I’m more special than anybody, but because of Who He is. If you’ve read this, I pray you too are prepared.

This is my love letter to you, From Susie