Donna’s Blog

Dirty Laundry or Angels?

This lady had so many awesome things to say at ladies retreat this weekend….

 ….Friday night she began to share with us about the morning that Mary went to the tomb.  Mary ran to tell the disciples and Peter and John came running.  They both looked in the tomb and saw only the linen cloths from the burial.  They left shortly after that, but the scripture says that Mary stayed and wept for her Lord.

Mary looks in the tomb again and this time she sees something the disciples missed…..angels.

Allison shared that there were three reasons that Mary saw the angels and not just the “dirty laundry”…

1 - she stayed in her pain.  it would have been easy to run away.  it would have been easier to try and forget about the awful day they’d just experienced.  but Mary dwelt there.

2 - she cried for her Lord.  she let her tears flow freely and they became a balm to her soul…and perhaps the one thing that cleared her vision so she could REALLY see

3 - she waited.  in this day of hustle and bustle, no one seems to find the peace in waiting in morning.  in being still.  but only in the stillness are miracles found

i’ve been thinking about that today.  what dirty laundry do i have that needs to be transformed?  have i stayed and cried and waited?  or have i stomped my foot at God and demanded a solution….NOW!

we’re about to approach the truly busy season of our lives…my prayer is that each of us would find the place of waiting and the place miracles this Thanksgiving and Christmas season.

Serious sang’in

the girl not only sings, but that girl can “sang”!  there’s a big difference.

singing it pretty; but if you “sang”, it comes from the heart.

when you sing a song you make a lovely sound; when you finished “sanging” a song, you’ll bring the crowd to their feet!

Allison Speer can “sang”!!

  this is her Christmas album.  I can’t wait to listen to it!  i love finding new Christmas music!

Allison is one of those genuine people…the kind that you meet and fall in love with right away because they are warm, generous and there’s no pretending with them.  Allison loves to hug and laugh and she does both, frequently.

Her singing kind of feels like a huge hug coming from the stage.  She captures you with her voice and then keeps you listening with her flair for interpreting the songs by the way she moves around that stage.  Several times she left the stage to come closer to the audience. 

A very precious moment was when she came down from the stage, walked over to where her mother-in-law was sitting on the front row, leaned over with the microphone and began singing, “What a day that will be…” and her mother-in-law joined in with the sweetest harmony! (the lovely and beautiful Faye Speer)

Not only was Allison’s singing simply amazing, but the words she shared with us were inspired as well.

more on that tomorrow….

Friday rambling…

…so the lady at wal-mart…the strange lady who spoke to me with a sweet word as she was walking by….did she see my aura?

here’s a brief description on what an aura is:Everything in the Universe seems to be just a vibration. Every atom, every part of an atom, every electron, every elementary “particle”, even our thoughts and consciousness are just vibrations. Hence, we may define the Aura as a electro-photonic vibration response of an object to some external excitation (such as an ambient light for example).

Do you believe in auras?

I once had a lady come up to me after a Sunday morning concert.  She said she had to tell me that there were colors all around me as i was singing.  She said it like it was a positive thing….so i told her thank you….although i wasn’t sure what she was talking about. 

now i think perhaps she was seeing an aura. 

i remember seeing paintings of Christ in old books and pictures and there would be a circle around his head depicting an aura…

i found this quote on google about auras…..

“There is nothing “paranormal” in the Universe, except our limited understanding of Nature. What we think we “know” on Earth now is just a tiny drop in the Ocean of Knowledge.

In the distant past, people admired things they could not explain and called them “miracles”. Long ago, people were able to see Auras. Advanced spiritual people such as Buddha, Christ and their immediate students were painted with golden haloes around their heads, because some artists could actually see Auras. In Australia remote West Kimberleys you can find prehistoric cave paintings (bottom left), many thousands of years old, depicting people with golden haloes. (photo courtesy G.L.Walsh) Nature gave us ALL we need to see Auras. All is required is the knowledge how to use your senses together with your conscious effort. If you decide not to try, you will NEVER see the Aura. On the other hand, when you SEE something for yourself, no longer will you need to rely on believing someone. You will KNOW. And you can use your knowledge to learn more.”

…who knows?  maybe ‘our aura’ is just the sweet guardian angels that are surrounding us?

…maybe its the hope of Christ that follows us?

…maybe its the tiniest bit of the sparkle of creation from the day the Father dreamed up our existence

…maybe Jesus meant it literally when He said “let your light shine”!!

so today….my prayer is that you’ll begin to see the beauty that surrounds you and others.

i found this song today on youtube and it blessed me.

Somebody\’s Praying

thank you random lady…

I was leaving Wal-mart Sunday afternoon.  I was thinking about everything i had to get done Sunday night and not really paying attention to people walking by.

I heard the comment first and wasn’t sure where it came from.  I turned around and saw a young girl walking by puffing on her cigarette. 

I turned around for two reasons: 

1- to see if she meant the comment for me, or for someone else

2- to say thank you…because it would be rude not to

She wasn’t talking on her cell phone.

And she wasn’t walking by anyone, or up to anyone.

so i had to assume the comment was directed at me.

I said, “thank you”…. and the thank you was said in such a way that meant “i am genuinely appreciative that you not only noticed me, a complete stranger–but you took the time to speak”…. with the emphasis on “THANK”.

She said,  just as appreciatively, “you’re welcome.”

I don’t know if it’s even necessary to tell you what she said, but suffice to say that it was kind and sweet and made my day.

And it made me think.

How much effort does it really take to notice people?  How much more effort does it take to compliment someone?

Have you ever withheld a compliment?  Why?

Have you ever gone out of your way to give a compliment?  Why?

When is the last time you noticed someone?  Really noticed them?

I’m asking that question of myself. 

I’m heading to ladies retreat this weekend.  It’s our annual Georgia District Ladies Retreat.   This is my 15th year of attending this retreat.  I love it.  I wouldn’t miss it.  (even when i had to take my 6 week old daughter with me)

Every year i am blown away by being with such incredible women.

They all seem so happy and glad to be at retreat.  But every weekend it happens..by the end of retreat, we’ve heard stories of hurting women.  Women who are almost ready to give up.  Women who need a fresh start.  Women who are clinging to the hope that this retreat will be what turns it around for them.

And i want to notice them this year.    And i hope somebody notices me.

Friday rambling…

…been another crazy week

…some good stuff

…some bad stuff

…i guess the typical stuff that most people go through

…i was at a business lunch meeting yesterday and the ladies got to talking about how as women, we don’t always share our “stuff” because we are afraid of what others might think of us

…you know what?

…i think we might all see that we are all much more ALIKE than we are DIFFERENT.

…and even in the areas we are different, what does it matter?  do we have to judge someone because they feel or act differently in a situation than we think we would?

…i’ve never understood why we don’t celebrate the differences in each other

…i’ve never understood why we had to try and “fit in” with the crowd.

…why is it NOT okay to show up to school dressed exactly like you FEEL instead of like what is “in”

…but even at an early age, kids will pick on others who don’t fit in

…is that a learned behavior? 

…i was reminded today, again, that we really are all a lot alike.  i sent an email to a writer friend.  we both missed attending Write About Jesus this year.  We both talked about the discipline it takes to keep writing when you aren’t a “full time” writer and you have to make the time to write admist all the other “duties” you have.  And we felt the same about the struggle to keep on and persevere in this writing journey.  and i was reminded that although i’ve felt very ‘alone’ sometimes, she totally got everything i was saying and understood my crazy thoughts and feeling about it all.

…and that makes all the difference.

Medicine?

I needed a dose of this today….

medicine

great lyrics, great melody, great delivery.  i don’t know if the song was written FOR the movie, or if the movie makers found it afterwards…but it was a perfect fit.

enjoy your day. 

Monday rambling…

…Since i didn’t get to do it Friday

…and because i just feel like rambling today about stuff

…like why do computer programs have places for you to check to “remember me”, and then they don’t remember you?

…and when you wake up at 2:30 a.m. not feeling good, you should probably take some medicine because you won’t feel good when the alarm goes off at 5:00 a.m. either

…and what is the age when your children start thinking that you are actually a person and not just the voice that says “pick up your shoes out of the living room!!”

…and what age is it when they start to appreciate the “wisdom” you share witht them?

…and shouldn’t i feel more perky this morning since i actually go an extra hour’s sleep this week?

…and shouldn’t i definitely feel more perky this morning with this “Sharon Osborne” red highlight in my hair??!!

…and can you believe the calendar flipped over to November yesterday?

…it’s time to hold on for the holiday ride….all the preparing of meals, searching for presents and attending school programs and parties…let the fun begin!

…i saw someone post on  Facebook “30 days of thankful”—what  a great idea.  to spend this month not just giving thanks on one day, but EVERY day.  might be a great habit to start

…so today i’ll tell you what i’m thankful for.  i was actually already thinking about this earlier this morning.  i’m thankful that both my girls have sweet boyfriends.  it makes a difference–trust me!

…and since this is already the 2nd, my 2nd thing i’m thankful for is fun around the lunch table yesterday.  we were all at Nana’s house and just had a hilarious time.  it’s so great to laugh together as a family!

…your turn…

“Soul Survivor”

 I’ve been reading this book and it is so good.  I love me some Phillip Yancey.

In his 3rd chapter of this book he talks about a Dr. Robert Cole.  I’m ashamed to say i had no idea who this man was.  I’m not going to go into detail about that right now.  Because what i wanted to share with you is something that Dr. Cole writes about and that Yancey shares with us in his book.

Dr. Cole has been interviewing and writing about the difficulties of the 1960’s school integration.  He had the chance to meet and interview Ruby Bridges…the little girl who was the first black child to attend the Frantz School.

There were also three other little girls doing the same thing at other “all white” schools and one particularly little girl was named Tessie.  Tessie had Federal Marshalls come to take her to school every day.  She lived with her grandmother and Cole writes that every morning she greeted the men with a “Lord Almighty, another gift”!  Tessie grew weary of all the insults and screaming she had to put with on her way to school every day and asked her grandmother if maybe she should stop going to school.

Her grandmother had this to say (and this just floored me!):  “You see, my child, you have to help the good Lord with his world!  He puts us here–and He calls us to help Him out….You belong in that McDonogh School, and there will be a day when everyone knows that, even those poor folks—Lord, i pray for them!—those poor, poor folks who are out there shouting their heads off at you.  You’re on of the Lord’s people; He’s put His hand on you.  He’s given a call to you, a call to service–in His name!”

Cole goes on to say that loving our enemies is something that is incredibly hard to do….most of us could not truly do it….yet here was a 6 year old living it out.

L-i-v-i-n-g   i-t  o-u-t. 

Because…

It was a few years ago and i was just browsing through the Christian bookstore in Thomasville to kill some time before my jewelry show.

I always head to the music section and that’s exactly what i did.  And that’s when i saw the title of a track CD called “I Am”.  I pulled the CD off the shelf and opened the jacket and read some amazing lyrics.

it’s become my favorite song of all times….

I Am

Grand Champion 4-peat!

 It was quite a day….in fact, it’s been quite a week….no, quite a FEW weeks.

The Marchin’ Cats are used to victory.  Since the arrival of their director, Michael Thomas, four years ago…the band has made significant improvements.

So it was a huge disappointment when we attended our first competition three weeks ago and placed second.  And then two weeks ago we attended another competition…marching in the wind and rain, and placed 5th.  That was the longest bus ride home ever!

The kids were so solomn as they thought about what they could have done better.  And for the seniors in the group…they were wondering how they could have enjoyed three years of success, only to watch it all fall apart their senior year.

The kids were on fall break Monday and Tuesday…but they still met at the band field Tuesday afternoon and practiced for three hours.

There was one more competition and they were going to give it their best shot.

That’s when Karlee dislocated her knee cap.  We were just sick!  Not only worried about her knee injury…but worried about how she would feel not participating in the very last competition of her high school career.

Friday night was a football game at Douglas high school.  We weren’t expecting much to happen, so when the wildcats pulled ahead and won the game…we were all ecstatic.  Maybe this was a sign of good things to come for the weekend.

Then on Saturday morning, the band met out on the field for a two hour practice before leaving for the compeition.  At the end of pratice, hanging in a bright sunny sky, hanging between two beautiful white fluffy clouds, was a rainbow.  another sign maybe?

The Marchin’ Cats took the field at 3:45 for the preliminary competition.  And something magical happened……the show and marching was near perfection.  Karlee stepped onto the field with the band and i was so thrilled to watch her march!

After all 11 bands performed, the awards began.  2a, 3a, and 4a bands are grouped and awards given accordingly.  There were three 4a bands and we came out the winner in our division.  8 of the 11 bands were invited to stay for the competition round.  We were scheduled to perform at 8:30.

The band kids ate some dinner and just hung out for a while.  But soon it was time to suit up again and head out to the warm up area and do it all again.  This time we add some special elements to the show…the props.

It included 6 life-size cowboy tents, bales of hay, an outhouse, a huge cow, a good cowboy, a bad cowboy and Paige as the “outhouse girl”!

The show started and i just had chills as i watched it.  It was amazing.

And when it was time for the awards…we held our breath and waited.  Again, we took top honors in our class.

Then they annouce the Grand Champion….that’s the band that overall, scored the highest scores.

And when the announcer said Valdosta High Marchin’ Cats….we went wild!

The kids persevered….never gave up….overcame obstacles and achieved what’s never been done before….FOUR YEARS IN A ROW OF GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS!