These Lines that I Know are Beginning to Show in My Face.....Reflections on Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice

A couple of weeks ago a friend from high school put up a picture of a little child with his hand over his heart and the caption reads "That feeling you get when the music touches your soul."  I took a screen shot because it spoke to me.  For as long as I can remember music has touched my soul.  All kinds of music, all kinds of lyrics, and all kinds of harmony.  While most young girls had crushes on Donny Osmond or Bobby Sherman my heart fell on artists like Dan Fogelberg, James Taylor, and oddly enough, Charlie Rich.  I fell in "love" with the lyrics and harmonies of Dan and James and the piano playing and  story telling of Charlie Rich.  My mom used to order from the Columbia Record Club and it was a great day when the Charlie Rich or the new Carol King album arrived in the mail.  I would literally set up the album covers in rows in our den and pretend like these people were in the audience while I sang into a hairbrush from the fireplace at the top of my lungs.  In my mind, if only I could collaborate with these people whose music I loved so much, my voice would be heard and my soul would be touched.   Then came the music of Linda Ronstadt.  

The first song I can remember hearing from Linda Ronstadt was "Long Long Time."  I don't know exactly how old I was but the haunting way she sang those lyrics and the force with which she hit the high note at the end struck home with my young self.  Back in the day we had albums.....five songs on each side.  I listened to my Linda Ronstadt albums over and over and over.  To this day I can tell you what song comes next because in my world it was one long song only interrupted by the brief crackling of the LP between songs.  A few years ago my son gave me a turntable for Christmas.  I keep it in my office and play my albums a lot....just so I can hear the crackling and occasional skipping in the vinyl. 

Last week my husband, Battle,  and I went to see the documentary about Linda Ronstadt's career. She was his"first crush" and the fact that he could play almost all of her early songs on the guitar was one of the first things I liked about him.  Linda now has Parkinson's Disease and can no longer sing like she used to.  The theatre was full of people who were about my age, many older than me.  The movie, which was beautifully done, started with Linda's childhood and told about her love for music and her rise to fame.  She talked about her love for songs and all kinds of music.  When she would hear a song it didn't matter what genre it was if she liked the song she "knew she had to sing it."  Thus,  she had pop, country, musical theater, Spanish, and opera on her resume.  It documented how she believed in herself and her instincts.  She worked with her fellow artists instead of trying to compete with them.  She travelled extensively making it difficult to have a family or home.  She is intelligent and strong in her beliefs.  Of course, when I was growing up I could have cared less about any of this.  I just knew that her voice and music touched my soul. 

The morning after seeing the movie I was getting ready to go somewhere and decided to pull up Linda Ronstadt music on my Spotify.  It took all of thirty seconds for me to grab my hairbrush and start singing at the top of my lungs.  Every single word, every single nuance, every single harmony.  They all came back as if I was thirteen years old in my den having my own personal concert.  I sang until I was hoarse.  That night my husband came home and told me of his day.

"This might seem strange to you but I decided to listen to Linda Ronstadt on my Spotify in my truck today.  For a half a second I closed my eyes and I was fourteen years old, sitting in my bedroom, playing that album over and over.  Just for a bit I was back there and when I opened my eyes, i caught a glance of myself in the rearview mirror and remembered that I am now 58."

NO, it didn't sound strange, for I had experienced the same thing earlier that morning.   I have read before that people who have "end of life" experiences sometimes experience bright vibrant lights and beautiful music as they pass to the next life.   One man said that all music, songs, and harmonies that he had ever loved throughout life were playing as one song with more beautiful tones than he had ever heard.  I won't know until I pass but I think that "Heart Like a Wheel," with it's beautiful harmonies will be one of the songs that ushers me into Heaven.   Thank you, Linda Ronstadt for sharing your voice and your music with my generation.  

"Why It Matters"

For over twenty years our family, including my mom and dad, my sisters and their families, and my family,  have been doing a beach trip every summer.  This started mostly because when our children were young we were tight on money and my mom and dad generously offered to "treat" us to the house where we all stayed.  Not to mention that there was plenty of free babysitting, cousin time, and happy hour with the adults on the beach.  It was a "no brainer" and quickly turned into a much treasured tradition.   After the first two or three years my children never dreamed of going on a summer vacation again without their cousins to join them.  It just wasn't an option.  The trip has evolved over the years but there is one constant that always remains........we have to all stay in the same house.  We tried two houses, two condos, house/carriage house, but the grandchildren insisted on the same house, so, of course, that's what we do. There were 18 of us there this year.   We barely got back from the summer trip before my dad was planning the trip for the next year.  In fact, this year he tried to get me to discuss it for 2019 while I was enjoying my much needed break from being the "family planner" and I told him to please wait until we got finished with this year's vacay.  He obliged....but his wheels were turning.

For whatever reason.......I have been designated as the "trip organizer" for the family.  As you can imagine this isn't the job that most would take on.  Getting the dates together, the location selected, getting people to respond, and then making that work with the price.....it's enough for me to ask many many times....IS THIS WORTH IT!!!  DOES IT MATTER?  I'm not kidding.  My poor husband has heard my ranting many times and his reply is usually the same, "can you start planning a trip for us after Christmas, also????" 😧 Let me make this clear....nothing and I mean nothing makes me happier than to have my entire family on this summer trip.  With the kids now grown our week is full of laughs, memories, card playing, more memories, some tears, games, and even some shared happy hours with our grown up kiddos.  It is quite frankly, my heaven on earth.  Many people can't believe that our entire family, including new daughter and son-in-laws, and girlfriends, can all get along in the same house for a solid week.  I'll be honest.  The fact that we rent a huge house and everyone has "their space" and the fact that we all come and go as we please are major factors in the "getting along" process.  But, it really has never been a problem at all.  Just as we did when we were growing up, we all roll with the different personalities and routines and it works out. 

This year a "game changer" for me occurred.  Actually, two "game changers."  I don't have a lot of details on the first "gc" because we were just bystanders witnessing something that touched us all.  We stayed in a house that was directly next door to a house that is identical to it.  If we wanted to we could literally have a conversation with the people on the porch in the other house....it's that close.  We arrived on Saturday and noticed that about sunset the other family gently made their way to the beach and there was a woman who we thought to be about 80 trying to make her way down there.  She couldn't make it so the men carried her down the stairway to the beach to see the sunset.  We observed but obviously respected their privacy.  The next morning, Sunday, my sister went out early to run and there was an ambulance with no lights on in the drive.  The ambulance stayed awhile and we don't know what happened to this woman.  We do now know that she was only 59, had been suffering with cancer, and that someone had spread flowers along the beach.  The family left on Monday and we never knew what happened to her.  Game Changer...... Every time I glanced at that empty house throughout the week I reminded myself that yes, it's worth it....yes, it matters.  Is it worth the headaches and frustrations that it takes to plan our family trip every year?  YES!!!  A million times, YES!!!!

The second "gc" came when a few of my cousins and aunts came down to visit us for the day.  One of my cousins who joined us faced a critical health situation this past year and she almost died.  It was an unexpected health scare and there were countless prayers said for her recovery.  She did recover and was part of the group that joined us on the beach, along with  two of my mom's sisters.  As I watched them interact with my kids and all of the younger nieces and nephews I was taken back to the times that I was a little girl and we went on beach trips with all of our cousins. Those are some of the best memories of my childhood and a HUGE reason why I am still so close with my extended family.  As I watched these women laugh, talk, mentor, and listen to the younger ones I heard it in my head again.......Yes, it matters.  Yes, it's worth it.  Game changer.  

I've already booked our house for next summer.  My dad will turn 82 while we are there and my mom will be 80.  What I learned this year is that age doesn't matter.  The sweet lady next door to us was only 59.    You never know from year to year what life might send.  For me and for our family the answer is a hearty AMEN.....YES, it matters and it is most definitely worth it.

That's my story and I'm stickin to it. 

Small Hallelujahs

Sometimes there are days when I just need to write out my thoughts in order to process everything that has happened.  This is one of those days.  There hasn't been any huge cosmic happening in my life but it's the little things.  The hugs, the looks, the warmth, the friendships, but most of all, today it has been the words.

I have been to many funerals and memorial services over the course of my life.  We have a large family and besides that, I was brought up in a church where it was very important to attend special services.  Whether it was a funeral service, a visitation, a hospital visit, a baby shower, or really anything you can think of, we were encouraged to attend.  Always being told that "people remember that you were there."  Having been on the receiving end of this, I can confirm that you might not remember who said what or who brought what covered dish, but you definitely remember that they were there.

Last Sunday our big family met to remember and honor my Uncle Doug, who I knew as Uncle Doug but didn't really know well because he had always lived in a different town.  I recognized his children and a few of his grandchildren but that's about as far as it went.   Uncle Doug was a war veteran,  a father, husband, grandfather, brother, son, railroad worker, just to name a few things.  He lived a long life and passed peacefully when his time came.  Because his chosen funeral preacher had already passed, as well, Uncle Doug's son, Jerry, delivered the message at the funeral.  As I sat in the chapel of the funeral home, with about 83 family members, I had no idea what I was about to experience.

Jerry is a cousin that I have seen and spoken with over the years but to say I "know" him would be inaccurate.  He is a quiet man, soft-spoken and slow to speak.  I knew this because I had talked with him on the phone the previous day about a song he wanted me to sing at the cemetery.  He got up to begin his talk and almost immediately you could feel God's Spirit fill the room.  Slowly and deliberately he spoke of our family heritage.  He went on to tell of his memories of going to my Grandmother's house when he was growing up and how special and loved she made him feel.  He felt that he was her very favorite grandson but he came to realize as he got older that she had a way of making everyone feel that way.  But this wasn't her "gift."  Her "gift" was not making everyone feel this way, her "gift" was so much more because she had the "gift" of  LOVE.  That struck heavy with me.  Because he was right.  "Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrong.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."  

John and Viola Jenkins and 13 of their 16 children

As I looked around that room of family members I thought about all of the countless ways that these people embodied just that one word.  I could write from now until next week about specific stories but suffice it to say that the two descriptions that stuck the most with me were always protects and always hopes.  These Jenkins are strong on those two.  Jerry went on to talk about his Dad, Uncle Doug, and how his mission in life was simply to take care of his family.  It doesn't get any better than that.  He had two sons and with his wife, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren sitting there, it was obvious that Grandmother Jenkins' gift of "love" was passed on to Uncle Doug.

Uncle Doug 

We left to go to the cemetery and on the way down there my two sisters and I had a lively discussion about "spiritual gifts."  I don't remember what got this discussion started but when we're together it's always thought provoking. I have thought many times this week about Jerry's words to the family.  It didn't hit me until much later what the Bible says about this, too.  "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love,  I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy, and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains,  but have not love,  I am nothing."  


When we got out of the car at the family cemetery it was cold but sunny.  Every time I go out there I imagine  Grandmother Jenkins and how she made several trips to that hill to bury several of her children who died before her.  When I was little this cemetery used to scare me a little,  but now it is a place of peace, quietness and memories of the love of a large family.  When it was my turn to sing "Amazing Grace"  the coldest wind came over the gathering.  It caused me to pause and for a moment I had trouble remembering how to start this very familiar song.  As I looked at the funeral director and then to the clouds I knew without a doubt that the breath of Heaven had just come through that hill.  I knew it and it gave me strength for that day and the days to come when we will gather there again.  And in the words of my sweet, quiet cousin, Jerry, every single tear was a "small hallelujah" to the love of the family of John and Viola Jenkins.

It's been a while and I can't believe I'm sitting down to write my thoughts out about this topic.  I've stayed away from commenting on it on the internet, I've prayed through it, I've read most everything I could get on the subject.  I've talked with teachers, parents, my husband, and have done a lot of talking to myself.  I used to be very vocal about issues, both political and personal.  Growing older and life's experiences will sometimes give you pause and you'll re-evaluate the ways in which you deal with your opinions.  I've chosen for the past little bit to only share those with my closest of friends and family.  Not because I'm afraid to share them but because very often I change my mind.  God brings me to a place where He says to me "You're not quite right on this one so keep your mouth shut."  Don't get me wrong, I'm totally supportive of those who are in the place in their lives where they are very vocal, very active and very involved.  I love it and I follow it and I sometimes wish I was there again.  I still have my very strong opinions.......I really do.  But for whatever reason I take a little more time, try to watch and wait and see what happens.  The truth is I was getting tired and sucked in and consumed with the internet and all of it's problems.

I've never been one to react a certain way because someone else told me or encouraged me to react in that way.  In fact, when someone says "this is going to be so upsetting.  You will cry so hard."  Guess what happens to me?  I put up a wall and intentionally will NOT cry.  Don't tell me how much I'm going to cry at a movie or song or event.  If I cry it will be because that emotion happens not because you guaranteed me it would.  (Like, OMG!!!  You're going to cry soooooo hard.)   OK....Not even a chance.  Same with telling me how to vote, how to feel, how to react, what to think.  I love a good discussion.  I find it so interesting to talk to those with a different point of view than I have.  It means a lot when we have the understanding that "let's talk about this and let me ask you honest questions and you ask me honest questions and not get mad.  Just listen to the different points of view."  I have learned so much from these discussions which have ranged from politics to religion to sexual preference, to pro life, to private vs public schools, and on and on.  Oh and by the way, now that my boys are young adults nothing thrills me more than to have one of these discussions with them.  It puts a new "light" on how I pray.

If you keep up with things on the news or on the internet it is a constant bombardment of information.  I'm particularly interested in our schools in Williamson County because I have three children who have attended all the way through.  We are invested, as a family, in many ways.  I am friends with lots of teachers, we are financially invested and we are emotionally invested.  In a wierd way the larger community of Franklin High School is like "family" and I tend to react in a similar way. It's the whole, "I can talk about my family but you better not."    Recently there was a very tense election for new school board members.  Frankly, I couldn't keep up with all of the emails and posts that I was getting from both sides.  And for once in my life I was having trouble coming up with an opinion either way.  The three public schools we have been zoned for have served my children and my family extremely well.  I mean extremely well.  Have I bonded and seen 'eye to eye" with every coach, teacher and administrator?  That is a definite NO.  But it's very much like a family.  You're "in it" together.  Some you like, some you don't.  And likewise, some like me back, and some don't.  But 9 times out of 10, these teachers have LOVED my kids and that goes a very long way with me.  (I won't go into the 1 out of 10 that didn't because that didn't turn out very well)  We're all human and we all make mistakes and I have learned to pick my battles.

Here is what I'd like to say on this subject.  I am a Christian.  I am a Conservative Christian who will say "Christmas Break" mainly because it's habit, but a little because you tell me I need to say "Winter Break."  My kids are never going to school on Good Friday because for our family that is a religious holiday that is celebrated as a religious holiday.  But WHY spend hours and hours debating what to call it on the calendar?  We have bigger issues to deal with so can we move on????  Common Core.  It's far too complicated to know all of the "ins and outs" of.  What I've seen of it, I DON"T LIKE.  AT ALL.   I don't support Common Core.   For those that do, that's fine and we can have a friendly discussion all day long, but I don't support it.  Here's what I do support.   I support all of the teachers who put in countless hours teaching my children lessons from textbooks and otherwise.  I support the teachers who tutor the kids during lunchbreaks and after and before school.  I support the ones who "tweet" out reminders about tests and tutoring and other opportunities.  I support our coaches whose cars are in the parking lot long after everyone has gone home.  Do I always agree with them???? NOOOOOO!!!!  But I support them and appreciate what they are doing.  Do I think we should "hang up" our Christian beliefs because the Muslim, Buddhists, Islamic, Atheist, etc..... cultures want "equal time" in the textbooks, curriculums and school calendars?  NOOOOO!!!!  And I never will. (Insert Taylor.......like.... never ever ever).    I won't quit praying because someone tells me to, I won't quit expressing my opinions to those around me, and I won't quit trying to live out the way that Jesus lived. But I'm also not going to try to make the public schools, private.  They are open to all children of all faiths and backgrounds.  Frankly, that's part of the "education process."  Learning to deal with those who are different from us.  I refuse to go to the extreme either way.  Mostly because I agree with both sides on different issues.  I voted.......I'm glad I did.......All of my votes didn't win but I exercised my right to vote.

 I want to say to all of those on both sides of the different issues........Keep on Keepin On!!!!  If you're a Williamson Strong person........keep it up.  If you're a "Friend of Williamson County," keep it up!!!  It's what makes our country what it is.  Free speech.  Competition.  Right to vote.  Right to believe what you believe.  I'm enjoying my break from it but I am SO happy that you're out there on the front lines.  I will be back.

The Driveway

For well over sixty years I've watched as people come and go.  I've endured the wheels of cars, bicycles, stollers, large tractors, countless trucks, speeding four-wheelers, and mini bikes sneaking out in the middle of the night.  Through the years, I've felt the slower feet of the older folks and the light running of the children.  At one time I was adorned with beautiful pine trees and I was "the talk" of those who travelled from Nashville to Ashland City.  As with so many things I've seen, the roots of the trees got too big and started to cause me to crack, so now the trees are gone.

I've heard the many conversations that happened as people got their daily exercise or just walked to get the morning paper.  I even saw when cars sped out in anger or ambulances arrived to help in emergencies.   I was especially strong when the big black car arrived to transport Big Daddy away from his home, because I knew how many times he had "walked the drive" and "shut the gate" and I knew that I was expected to be strong.

I've seen Battle leave early in the morning, long ago, with Granddaddy Redden to go sell vegetables off of the old truck.  I loved the days when the bus would stop and Battle would use me to run to Granddaddy Redden, never stopping to go inside, but going straight to the fishing hole.

I've watched lots of children run and play through the years and I've seen the same ones drive out in their own trucks with their own children.  The best days are when everyone comes back.....talking, laughing, playing, working, cutting hay, gardening, fishing, shooting, eating, sledding.  They've taken great care to mow, and trip around my edges and I've remained strong through the years.  I've led them to the freedoms of the outside world and escorted them back to the safety of the white house at the other end.  I have had the privilege to watch as many hard lessons are taught but many blessings are gained.  As children grow and leave....they always come back and I will always be here to welcome them.

5/15/2014

"God's Word is True" That's What I'm Thankful For......

It has been a long time since I've written.  I've had plenty to say, but decided to keep it to myself.  The purpose of my blog has always been to document things for my three boys who don't always care about my input or wisdom, or my insights on why things are the way they are.  Maybe someday they will find these and get some answers and insights that they don't care much about right now.  Yesterday, November 24, 2013, I had the privilege of hearing retired Lt. Col. Oliver North speak at Grace Chapel.  I have always been an "Ollie" fan, mostly because I thought he was very very handsome and very strong.  There are lots of handsome, strong men around but he was one that seemed real.....authentic.....Now I know why.

I take my responsibility of raising boys to be upstanding Christian men very seriously.  It's not easy, and it doesn't always work, but I still keep trudging on.  Because I am the middle of three girls I constantly look for opportunities to have Godly men speak into their lives.  Of course they have their Dad who does that, but it's not the same.  As hard as it is to accept, most of the time they think that Mom and Dad have NO IDEA what they are talking about.  We sound like Charlie Brown's teacher.....just a bunch of "wahh wahh wahh."  So I jumped at the opportunity to hear Lt. Col. North when I heard he was going to be "giving his testimony."

I'm not going to attempt to recap Lt. Col. North's testimony but I just wanted to recap some of the things that stuck with me.  The things that I can't get off of my mind and that I want to preach to anyone who will listen.  So, I decided to "blog" them so that I will know that they are down in writing and maybe someone will read them.  (I hope noone takes offense to the fact that I'm going to refer to Lt. Col. North as "Ollie" from here on because it's easier to type.  But just know that I have the UTMOST respect for his rank and position.)   I found it amazing that I was listening to an American Hero, who testified before Congress about a very controversial time, who is now a Fox News reporter, embedded with our troops in very dangerous places, and was now giving his "testimony" in a rural church in Franklin, Tennessee.  I know it involves a book and a book signing, but still,  I found it to be pretty cool.  As I'm listening I am struck by the fact that he is military through and through.  He loves and admires the women and men who are on the battlefield for us.  He believes in them and supports them.  There is absolutely no doubt about that.  He loves America and what it stands for.  The thought crosses my mind of how different the beautiful landscape of Williamson County must look in comparison to the stark desert of Afghanistan or the many other places he has spent time.

One of my favorite points he made was that of his gifts to his grandsons when they reach their 13th birthday.  He gives them a 30 gauge shotgun, a compass, and a Bible.  Only after they have read the book of Proverbs can they learn to use the shotgun and compass.  Those of us who have had 13 year old boys know that they will do anything to get to shoot that shotgun, so reading the book of Proverbs is a great pre-requisite to this.  But it also peaked my curiosity. So I went to read some of Proverbs this morning.    What an incredible book of wisdom.  What an awesome gift to give to a 13 year old before he learns his way around life with his compass.

"Ollie" wasn't always a Christian.  He became a believer as an adult.  He is highly intelligent and highly motivated.    He was both of these and many other things but he didn't know Jesus.  But Jesus knew him and what he would face in the coming years.   He went on to explain how several things happened to him, backpain was healed, his life was saved many times, etc.... and he attributed them to the fact that he "was really good at what he did."  One of his commanders who Ollie refers to as his "Hero" gave Ollie a Bible and strongly suggested that he read it.  So, being a obedient soldier, he followed orders.  This is when his life changed.......

As I listened to his story I was taken in.  I loved hearing all of the war stories and I loved his personal testimony.  I even loved his references to President Reagan.  But I will say that to me, there was nothing as beautiful as when he quoted scripture.  I have contemplated this since I heard him and I will never figure it out.  There is simply no match for God's written word.  The way it touches your heart when you read it or hear it is "music to your ears."  You can hear the most wonderful sermon, the most beautiful song, the sweetest memorial at a funeral service, but to me, the words of scripture cause a stirring in my Spirit that nothing else can match.  Lt. Col. North did his entire talk but closed with words from Isaiah, and I immediately smiled because the words he quoted from Isaiah already had special meaning to me and were written on a card stuffed in my Bible.   My Spirit was dancing because the words were more beautiful than anything else he said.  It reminded me of the time I was in a funeral and everyone was sad and the preacher said "better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.  I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house  of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked."  Psalms 84:10.  Again, Spirit was dancing and not feeling anything but peace.  My point is......God's Word, the Bible, His Truth, is "living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow.  It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."  Hebrews 4:12.

I could go on and on about this but I won't because I think that a person has to make the conscious decision to pick up God's Word and read it.   But I also can testify to this......if you will do this, then God will "write it on your heart."  When you are faced with things, you will miraculously recall His truths that He has graciously written on your heart.    I am thankful for men like Lt. Col. Oliver North who are humbled by God's word and His grace.  But mostly I am thankful for my "Hero" Jesus Christ, who made "the ultimate price" for me.

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone.

"Life's Experiences" can literally WEAR YOU OUT!!!

I am convinced that most parents want what is "best" for their child.  The parents that I know,  love their children, most of them fervently pray through big decisions in their lives,  and most spend a lot of money to help their child gain valueable life experiences.  We went to a football camp on the beautiful campus of Samford University last weekend and I observed how parents of all races and backgrounds were there to support their child.  As I watched some were nervously anticipating their child's "time" on different drills,  I also watched others literally yell instructions from the stands.  The bottom line is that these parents  want what's "best" for their son just like I do.  I also think that we, as parents, want our child to have every experience in life that we enjoyed and we also want them to have the experiences that we wish we had taken.  In reality, that is a whole lot of living and a whole lot of experiences.   Then you multiply it by two if your spouse feels the same way and your poor child ends up with a ton of expectations and a lot of "experiencing" time.

I had two highlights of summer when I was growing up.  The first was going to the beach with my extended family.  My cousins would go and that meant that play time lasted all week long.  My sisters and I thought it just didn't get any better than spending every waking moment with your cousins.  Not to mention that our dad was off from work and he played with us in the pool and tossed us up in the air.  The second highlight of summer, when I was a little older, was going to church camp.  Not only was the week itself a blast but when you got back the fun went on until school started.  So many relationships were formed at camp and everyone made sure to continue them when we got back home.  When I had children it was my strongest desire to make sure they had both of these "experiences" that had been so special to me.  Thankfully, that has happened.  The other side of that coin is that I had unbelievable experiences singing and performing at many events all during my elementary, secondary, and college years.  I absolutely loved being on stage.  While it was awesome, it wasn't up there with family vacations and summer camp, but it was very very special because it formed who I was and what I was accomplished at.   Those who know me know that not a one of my sons has a desire to perform.  Thankfully, they all love and appreciate music but there is no desire to perform.  I am OK with that.......it was my experience and it wasn't meant to be their's.

There are many things that I wish I had done,  but never did.  I love to travel and didn't have the opportunity to travel  much in college.  Therefore, I would really love for one of my kids to study abroad and experience another country and culture.  I want them to do mission trips because that was something that I did not take advantage of.  I want them to work as many different summer jobs as possible and meet as many different people as they can.   I want them to get out of their "Southern Comfort Zone" and simply experience life.   Now we come to a big big problem.  Sometimes the experiences that they want are not the experiences that I, nor their dad, had in mind.  There doesn't seem to be enough time to cram in all the experiences that we want them to have.  Not to speak of the money that it costs.  But we all try......Just look around at all of the opportunities........Athletics, dance camps, science camps, mission trips, leadership camps, church camps, on and on and on.......It can be overwhelming and downright frustrating because we simply can't fit everything in.

There are experiences that I wouldn't give anything for.  To see your son "walk the Vol Walk" or "run through the T" at the University of Tennessee is awesome.  To watch them talk about a "mountaintop" experience at a church retreat or recap a life changing mission trip is absolutely priceless.  Even when they are little bitty, to see them sink the winning shot in basketball or score the winning run in baseball, you think "man it doesn't get any better than this."  And then one day you go to a restaurant and they are your server and you see them working hard to make summer money.  Their "first crop" of veggies comes in in their garden and you watch their pride in all of the hard work they have put in.  And again, you are thankful for the opportunities that have come their way and you think "wow, it can't get any better than this."

I certainly don't have all of the answers to make life all it can be.  I'm just like all of the other parents who are trying to create opportunities for their children.  And so I come full circle with the experiences that I had that I wish for my children to have and the ones that I never took that I hope they will take. There is one experience where I can say that it truly "doesn't get any better."   Over the past few years I have experienced something that I can not replicate for them.  No amount of money will buy it for them and it will have to be their choice of whether they will pursue this opportunity one day. But I will be bold to tell my children and anyone that will listen that no other experience in your life will compare to it........Get ready because it has nothing to do with music, money, performing, travel or athletics. It is  moment you discover the depth of the love that God has always had for you.  I'm not going to preach a sermon because this is a moment that is personal and initimate and far surpasses any other event that will ever happen in your life.  I could go on and on about my personal "experience" but words simply can't describe it.    My moment did not come until I was in my thirties even though I was brought up with the "head knowledge" of God's love,  my "heart knowledge" didn't come until I was much older.  Next question....."Where can I register for this experience and how much does it cost?"  Answer:  Join a good, in-depth Bible Study.  Pray for God to freely give you this experience.  Get out your Bible and read it. Then, sit quietly and wait expectantly for the greatest experience of life.  I can promise you that there will never be another like it and the best news of all......it's the experience that never ends.

That's my story and I'm stickin to it.