Hush!

I was driving to a recent speaking engagement and my mind was racing. As my mind was racing, my body was tired and I was mentally shot. With the various speaking engagements, responsibilities at work and home, motherhood, and an aching pregnant body, I felt overwhelmed. I needed a break....a BIG break. At that very moment, Steven Curtis Chapman's song "Be Still" came on the radio. For the first time, I listened to every lyric:

Be still and know that He is God. Be still and know that He is holy. Be still, oh restless soul of mine, bow before the Prince of Peace. Let the noise and clamor cease. Be still and know that He is God. Be still and know that He is faithful. Consider all that He has done, stand in awe and be amazed. And know that He will never change. Be still. Be still and know that He is God. Be speechless. Be still and know He is our Father. Come rest your head upon his breast. Listen to the rhythm of His unfailing heart of love, beating for his little ones, calling each of us to come.....Be still.

Sometimes in order to hear someone speak to us, we have to HUSH. So be still.

The Whys of This World

Thanks to all of you of sent emails and posts of sympathy over the last week in the loss of my husband's mother. We have appreciated your kind words of support and encouragement during this difficult time.

We explained things as best we could to Gracie just as we did when my husband's grandmother, KK, passed earlier in the year. Surprisingly, Gracie took it well considering two great losses in just a few short months. I explained how God had healed her "grandmudder" (as she so lovingly referred to her) and she was enjoying her new body in heaven with God, Jesus and all of the angels. Gracie has been learning about Elijah in Sunday School and even suggested "grandmudder" was in heaven playing with Elijah (hope Elijah knows how to play tea party, as that was their favorite thing to play!). Then Gracie asked, "Why couldn't God take grandmudder to heaven, heal her, then bring her back down here to us?" What a great question.

How many times have I suggested to God how He should handle a situation for me or solve a problem? If God would only do this, it would make it alot easier. If God would only answer this way, the situation would be solved. Some things can't be explained and some answers won't come to us here on earth. But faith answers all of our questions because we are forced to rely on God's sovereignty. Hebrews 11:6 says, "Without faith it is impossible to please God and those who come to Him must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

Through the ups and downs of the day, we must have faith to keep on keepin' on, and know God's ways are always higher and greater.

Away on Funeral Leave

Barbie is away this week for the visitation and funeral of her mother-in-law. Barbie will return on Monday.

Feel free to read her earlier blog entries.

Death & Life

Yesterday morning, my mother-in-law passed away. She had emphysema for several years which made breathing difficult. She was 66 years old. Over the next few days, I will be away as we prepare for her "Send Off Party" (if you don't know what that is, check out my blog entry from February 2, 2007 entitled "The Send Off Party"). I know my husband would appreciate your prayers at this difficult time.

In the meantime, I was scheduled to have a diagnostic fetal sonogram today. The purpose is for the doctor to see if the baby has any abnormalities and to hopefully find out what gender this one is. My husband and I discussed whether we wanted to keep this on our agenda for today considering the circumstances or try to reschedule. After much thought, he insisted we go today for the sonogram as I'm sure his mother would've wanted us to. Assuming the baby isn't "hiding", I will announce tonight at 6pm if this baby is a he or a she.

During this sad time for our family and anticipation of a new birth, I am reminded of Psalm 30:11-12, "You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever."

Looking Back

This weekend, I got the chance to reminisce. Saturday night I emceed the beauty & beau pageant at Benton Academy in Benton. Traveling on lonely highway 16 reminded me of some of the back roads I grew up on. Sunday night I spoke at First Baptist Church in Yazoo City and drove through Flora. I smelled something that was so familiar to me and I had to roll down the window--the smell of cotton defoliate. Driving through these small towns brought back memories of a slice of Americana many people will never experience. When I was a teenager, all I wanted to do was to LEAVE home and move to the big city. After all, there was "nothing to do" in Marks, Mississippi. My daddy once told me, "You're going to miss this one day," and I would always roll my eyes at his wisdom.

My parents were always diligent in teaching us about God's Word. When I was told not to do something, I usually got a mini-sermon from my mother explaining what the Bible said about that particular subject. It reminds me of Deuteronomy 6:7, "Impress my commandments on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."

Not all memories of growing up are fond. But isn't it funny how some of the things you didn't enjoy as a child are some of your fondest memories now? And isn't it amusing how many of the rules and regulations you were given by your parents you have passed them down to your own children? My, how things have a way of coming back to us all...

Trapping God Inside

We were out running errands Monday morning and Gracie noticed the moon was still out. "Why is the moon still shining, Mommy? It's daytime, not nighttime." I explained the moon is always out, but the sunshine is so bright that we don't always see the moon. "The moon is kind of like God--He is always with us but we don't always see Him. But we know He is there," I told her. She paused for a few seconds trying to make sense of what I said. "Yep, and our skin keeps God trapped inside of us so He can't get out and leave us!" Gracie proclaimed.

Genesis 28:15 says, "God is with me and will keep watch over me with care, take notice of me wherever I may go." Although Gracie may not have fully understood the concept of God always being with us, she knew God couldn't get out if He was trapped inside. As you go throughout the events of today, have you let God live inside of you? Throughout the troubles and frustrations of the day, is it evident He is alive in you? If not, perhaps you need to "trap" Him inside!

Record Breaking Day

Yesterday's blood drive at Mississippi Blood Services in Jackson was another record breaker--350 people came out to donate blood! This is the most people MBS has ever had donate in one day and I was so honored to be a part of it all. I was moved by the number of people who gave their time to come sit in line and wait to donate. This success could not have been possible without the contribution of Clarion Ledger editorial cartoonist Marshall Ramsey. His t-shirt design was a hit and many came out just to get his t-shirt. Thank you, Marshall, for being such a sincere contributor to our community and for being a friend I can always count on! Here is a picture of Marshall and I just before our LIVE television interview on WLBT (Marshall gave blood for the first time in 6 years since being diagnosed with melanoma).

When I got back to the television station to prepare my forecasts, a viewer had sent me a letter. Here is what she wrote:

"Please watch the maternity clothes you wear. Your bosoms are very large and need to be covered up."

I've seen girdles for covering up tummies, hips, thighs, buttocks, etc. But does anyone know where I could find a "bosom girdle" so I can cover mine up? Geez......