Happy Anniversary to my Old People

I can't begin to explain how much I would not enjoy getting married smack dab in the middle of summer.  Summers in Florida where I live are unbearable.  It's not just the heat; it's the humidity giving every single day from May 1 - August 31, a certain "ick" factor.  Already hot enough days that feel as though an even hotter, damp blanket is draped across your shoulders.  That's summer.  But back to getting married in summer.  My parents, or The Old People, as I often refer to them in a completely endearing way, mind you, have been married 48 years today.  July 18, 1964 saw fit to be hot, humid, icky, sticky, Saturday in the South.  How do I know that since I obviously was not there to participate in that joyful day?  Well, my mother told me, that's why.  She tells the story of one of her kinfolk who remembers Mama standing up front sometime during the ceremony and blowing her hair out of her face; she always has that image when she thinks of my mother's wedding and now I do to, thank you for that.  Sandy Creek Baptist Church, like most churches in the South, had no central air conditioning 48 years ago and people were left to rely on little paper fans to cool themselves off.  Hot, I tell you!  Anyway, they made it through that day and have made it through many, many of our summers in the South.  

My Old People are who I look up to most in this world; they've walked their Christian walk and raised three children in God's Word.  They now have three adult children who continue to walk in God's Word.  I'm thankful for that.  I'm blessed to have the best of both of them in me.  Although, I do wish I possessed a little more of my mother's graciousness.  And a little more of her humility.  And a little less of my daddy's mouth.  Sometimes things just need to be said.  

I don't know how many more days we will all have as Team Hall; the Old People are older and frailer and in poorer health than I want them to be...I'm not quite sure when they got so much older, frailer, and in poorer health.  Happy Anniversary, Mama and Daddy!  

I am the Flag

Summer time makes me think of fireworks, picnics with juicy grilled hamburgers, stars in the sky, popsicles, fresh cut watermelon, cool desserts, families together, games...  

I think it's telling that our summers kick off with a day set aside to remember & memorialize our fallen warriors - Memorial Day.  Followed soon by a day set aside to honor that great symbol of ours as Americans - Flag Day - the American Flag, Old Glory, the Stars & Stripes - what a beautiful symbol of who we are as a nation.  Then the fireworks on  Independence Day - the Fourth of July - a day songs and lyrics are written & sung about.  How wonderful a nation we live in that has all of these special days set aside to honor, to memorialize, to celebrate, to commemorate those who bled and died, those who sacrificed, those who forged the way just so we can enjoy the freedoms we do today.  I am honored and I am humbled to live in this exceptional nation.  I thank God for that.  I hope you do as well.       

I am the Flag

by Ruth Apperson Rous

I am the flag of the United States of America.

I was born on June 14, 1777, in Philadelphia.

There the Continental Congress adopted my stars and stripes as the national flag.

My thirteen stripes alternating red and white, with a union of thirteen white stars in a field of blue, represented a new constellation, 

a new nation dedicated to the personal and religious liberty of mankind.

Today fifty stars signal from my union, one for each of the fifty sovereign states in the 

greatest constitutional republic the world has ever known.

My colors symbolize the patriotic ideals and spiritual qualities of the citizens of my country.

My red stripes proclaim the fearless courage and integrity of American men and boys and 

the self-sacrifice and devotion of American mothers and daughters.

My white stripes stand for liberty and equality for all.

My blue is the blue of heaven, loyalty, and faith.

I represent these eternal principles: liberty, justice, and humanity.

I embody American freedom: freedom of speech, religion, assembly, the press, 

and the sanctity of the home.

I typify that indomitable spirit of determination brought to my land by Christopher Columbus and 

by all my forefathers - the Pilgrims, Puritans, settlers at James town and Plymouth.

I am as old as my nation.

I am a living symbol of my nation's law: the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.

I voice Abraham Lincoln's philosophy: "A government of the people, by the people,for the people."

I stand guard over my nation's schools, the seedbed of good citizenship and true patriotism.

I am displayed in every schoolroom throughout my nation; 

every schoolyard has a flag pole for my display.

Daily thousands upon thousands of boys and girls pledge their allegiance to me and my country.

I have my own law—Public Law 829, "The Flag Code" - which definitely states my correct use 

and display for all occasions and situations.

I have my special day, Flag Day. June 14 is set aside to honor my birth.

Americans, I am the sacred emblem of your country. 

I symbolize your birthright, your heritage of liberty purchased with blood and sorrow.

I am your title deed of freedom, which is yours to enjoy and hold in trust for posterity.

If you fail to keep this sacred trust inviolate, if I am nullified and destroyed, 

you and your children will become slaves to dictators and despots.

Eternal vigilance is your price of freedom.

As you see me silhouetted against the peaceful skies of my country, remind yourself that 

I am the flag of your country, that I stand for what you are - no more, no less.

Guard me well, lest your freedom perish from the earth.

Dedicate your lives to those principles for which I stand: 

"One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

I was created in freedom. I made my first appearance in a battle for human liberty.

God grant that I may spend eternity in my "land of the free and the home of the brave" 

and that I shall ever be known as "Old Glory," the flag of the United States of America.

2 Corinthians 5:1-5 (MSG)

For instance, we know that when these bodies of ours are taken down like tents and folded away, they will be replaced by resurrection bodies in heaven—God-made, not handmade—and we'll never have to relocate our "tents" again. Sometimes we can hardly wait to move—and so we cry out in frustration. Compared to what's coming, living conditions around here seem like a stopover in an unfurnished shack, and we're tired of it! We've been given a glimpse of the real thing, our true home, our resurrection bodies! The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what's ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we'll never settle for less.

My profile & cover photo on Facebook have been up in memory of our beloved Aunt Trishie.  Two years ago today her cancer-ravaged body was replaced by her resurrection body in heaven.  I know that I will see her again and very much look forward to that reunion.

Seems like yesterday we were keeping vigil at the hospital during that last week.  Waiting on our miracle.  Waiting on any improvement.  The miracle was that we had that last week - she was dying and we had that entire week to tell her how much she was loved for simply being Aunt Trishie.  

Several things come to mind that made Aunt Trishie special: 1. She was one of my greatest encouragers - she went unmarried for many years and always encouraged me in my decision to wait to be married.   2. She had high expectations for us but never took us to task for not living up to those expectations.  3.  She loved us like she was our mother.  Upon arriving at the hospital the day after she was admitted, my cousin Michael said, "your children are here, now," referring to her sisters' children.  4.  She always had time for us when we called or stopped by to see her.  5.  I was her pet.  I can't help it, I was the only girl out of all the sisters' children and she petted and spoiled me all my life.  Most small children want to sleep in the bed with their parents, not me.  I slept in the bed with Aunt Trishie.  Until she got married, that is...but that's a whole other blog entry.  

Losing her broke my heart.  And it hurts every single day.  Seems like yesterday...  

Ah, Monday Morning...-

SOAPBOX warning.  Woke up this morning and of course the first thing I did after smacking the alarm was to check email, Facebook, and twitter on my blackberry...found this interesting tidbit on Facebook --> Feds considering adding poisonous rattlesnake to endangered species list - HUMAN EVENTS.  What's so interesting, you ask?  This:  I have lived in the Florida panhandle most of my life and eastern diamondback rattlesnakes are par for the course around here.  This area is part of their natural habitat and yes, we as human beings have encroached on that natural habitat.  But, what this article doesn't tell us is that they aren't scarce around here - not by a long shot.  I have to question whether these people have ever actually come into this area to see for themselves...  It's nothing to see one crossing the highway in any part of the county or to hear that awful buzzing from their rattles somewhere out in the brush.  SO, when these enviro-nazis, as I like to affectionately call them, blather on and on about these snakes being persecuted, yes, persecuted! (their words), I have to wonder what's next on their hit parade...  Enough is enough.  Time to let these people know that they can't have any more of our liberties, and if it's between me and the snake, tough luck for the snake.  Time to get back to worshiping the CREATOR and not the created.

New Every Morning...

...because of the Lord's great love for us, His mercy nor His compassion ever fail...they are new every morning.  --Lamentations 3:22-23 

I am convinced that, somehow, in the scope of all things "God," He had Jeremiah script those words just for Mary Margaret.  In hopes that each time I read them, I would remember that, YES, He loves me; YES, He knows the desires of my heart; YES, He will answer all of those prayers I keep praying; YES, He wants great things for my life.  He will never fail me, He will never forsake me, He will never forget me.  And He will do all of these and more every single morning that I wake up and take the next breath.  His mercies...they are new every morning.    

Outside the Gift Box

When I was about 12 years old I started wrapping presents at Christmas for my mother, then for my beloved aunt, and soon thereafter for my grandmother... all on Christmas Eve.  Needless to say that began a tradition that, if not for the deaths of both grandmother and aunt, would be continued to this day, a mere 26 years later.  I love to wrap presents.  I love to use different wraps, embellishments, ribbons & bows; whatever makes the gift presentation unique.  Although, I have to say that one year my twin brother hijacked one of the gifts wrapped up for an uncle and drew a dorky duck on the outside of the gift...in pink magic marker.  Yes, he did.  So, now I've been doing a side job of wrapping presents for friends & family who want something nicer than a boring & generic gift bag - "Outside the Gift Box" is what I named this side business and, while it's been slow at times, I still enjoy looking at that finished package and thinking that a custom gift wrap job at a froo-froo boutique couldn't have done a better job.  So, for now, I'll keep on with my gift wrapping and doing it with a loving spirit. 

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men..." ~Colossians 3:23