Hey- remember me? True love, grandkids, & what have you

March 15, 2016March 15, 2016 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

Y’all. If I said the past couple of weeks had not been a true test of my faith, I would be lying & my pants would be on fire. With me, I may go awhile without anything earth shattering happening. Then, BOOM! Everything happens all at once.

It’s like nuts falling from the sky.

(Which is an expression, my then 4 year old Miss Neenee would say, when things were awful or terrible. It’s the worst thing her little mind could image to explain something really crazy.)

I told my hairstylist if anyone feels bad about what’s going on in their lives, just have them come talk to me. I can make them feel a lot better about their own personal tragedies.

She said, “You do seem to have a lot of crazy things happen to you.”

Umm, yeah. So, not to go all negative Nancy on everyone. I just wanted you to know, even though my blog life has been a little ho-hum & sporatic, here of late. I am alive & as well as a person like me can be.

I did have an interesting conversation with a lady the other day. I was at the dentist office, waiting my turn in the chair of torture, when a nice older lady & I struck up a conversation. She started telling me how she had just lost her husband in January. I could tell it was still a fresh wound, because she had tears in her eyes as she talked about his passing. She talked so fondly of him I had to ask her how they met. She said they met at Fraley’s Drive In. He was home from the service & she was 17 years old. She said when she first laid eyes on him, she thought he was so handsome. She said some of her friends & his friends commence to playing cupid & before long, y’all, they were married. She said they were married almost 60 years. They had raised a family together & went through some hard times.

“But you know,” she said, “there’s not a single person in the world I would have wanted to have gone through hard times with. He was so good to me.”

Now. Don’t you guess those two did have some hard times? 60 years is a long time to go without an argument, any illnesses, heartaches, or anything of the like. And to still be able to have such a love for a person through all of that. That’s the remarkable love Paul talks about in

Ephesians 4:2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, (NKJV)

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,(NKJV)

Colossians 3:19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.(NKJV)

Peter writes about love we should have for one another in

I Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”(NKJV)

It goes without saying, this sweet couple took their marriage vows seriously & loved each other the way the Lord commanded. What a true blessing! It is so heartwarming to hear the love, we are told to have, still exists. Having that talk with that lady just made my day, y’all. I guess I’m just a bit sappy over stuff like that. And since we are talking about love, let me talk about these grandkids!

We had such a good time this weekend. Our new baby grandboy is growing & so sweet. I could just eat him with a spoon. My granddaughter is so cute & sassy. She is so funny. Here are some things the older kids did over the weekend:

We made bubble snakes. It was pretty fun.

I gave a little tutorial on how to use the bubble makers before we started. “Blow into the bottle. Make sure you are blowing like you are blowing bubbles with a wand. Don’t suck in, because you will get a mouth full of bubbles.” And wouldn’t you know it, somebody got their mouth full of bubbles. There was a fair amount of spitting & wiping their mouth on their shirt. But thank the Lord, no permanent damage!

Miss Neenee entertained with the trumpet.

And they could play pretty good. Ever tried to play a trumpet? Not. Easy.

a trumpet Even though, the trumpet was fun, you know what the biggest hit was?

You guessed it. Something that wasn’t even a toy. A plastic tote was a boat, a hide out, a car, & anything else they could think of.

At the end of the day, all of them are still sweet & precious.

And this is when they are most precious of all!

I am so glad you came by to visit me today. For those of you keeping up with my Daddy, he came home from rehab & is being visited by home health. He’s doing well & opinionated as ever. With that, we know he’s doing alright. Thank you for all your prayers for him. They really have been working. Keep’em coming! Until next time, I have to be going because I should be washing clothes.

**On a side note- I can’t leave without showing my discontent for Daylight Savings Time.

Thank you, Mr. Indian, for your wonderful interpretation of insanity.

Seriously though.

photo credits: Pinterest

28 Day Scripture Writing Challege

February 1, 2016February 1, 2016 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

What would February be without LOVE?? Well, Melanie’s done it again. She made another beautiful writing plan for us! Won’t you join us as we seek God’s love in our lives together?

ScriptureWritingChallenge_LOVE You can visit Melanie at http://www.southernmelle.com Her blog has truly been a blessing to me. I know it will be for you, too!

I knew 2 of the lottery winners!

January 18, 2016January 18, 2016 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

With all the hoopla about the lottery this past week, I wanted to let y’all know, I knew 2 of the people that won the lottery. I really didn’t think about it until I talked to my cousin. We had a good friend, who was like family to us, pass away last week. I was talking to my aunt’s granddaughter.

She said,

“On Monday I told my grandmother we need to go buy a lottery ticket. Then, we found out about her friend. I was over here worrying about winning the lottery, when he won the real lottery, He got to go home to be with Jesus.”

Tears flowed & we agreed that was the best lottery there was.

There was another sweet lady, that I had grown up knowing, that passed away, also. She was a school teacher, my school bus driver, an author, a mother, a grandmother, & wonderful Christian. As long as she could go, she was always at church. Another lottery winner.

It all made me think of this scripture:

Matthew 16:26

For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

I am so proud for these “lottery winners” this week. They finally gained their home in heaven. I talked to my uncle & aunt, while at the funeral home. My uncle pointed out that he hated to see our friend go, however it was an appointment all of us were going to make. I pray all of us will be ready to make that appointment. We never know when it will be. However, as long as we hold that lottery ticket in our hand, we still have time to prepare. Every day God gives us breath, we have the chance to live for Him. So, let’s do all we can, daily, to be sure we are prepared to have that big win with the lottery one day.

I hope everyone has had a blessed weekend & are ready for a cold week ahead. It was a balmy 21 degrees in our neck of the woods this morning. Miss Neenee has started basketball. I will post some pictures on that soon. She’s already had a couple of games. I am so proud of her. Until next time, I have to be going because I should be washing clothes.

Yes, weekend again, please.

And these two. I can’t even begin to describe the vast amounts of sweetness in this picture.

Photo credits: http://www.10tv.com & lollywollydoodle instagram

Some things to think about for twenty sixteen & one of my favorite past times

January 5, 2016January 5, 2016 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

As I get older, I begin to realize many truths in life. I don’t claim to have all the answers. However, I do have a few. As my Mamaw used to say, “I know what I know.” Here are a list of truths in life that you need to ponder on & accept. Because, well, they are the truth.

Just remember through everything, there is a God, our God, my God that wants to take care of you. Let Him do that.

I Peter 5:7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (NKJV)

Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest. (NKJV)

On another totally related note, My Miss Neenee did a hunting gig with her Daddy last week. She looked too cute!

And while they were gone, I indulged myself in looking at a couple or 53 baby pictures on instagram. They are so adorable. I could look at them all. day. long.

Ok, I am going to stop it with the precious baby pictures now.

babie christmas No, really I will stop now.

babies smit Sorry, I just had to get this last one in.

I hope you all have a wonderful 1st week of 2016. Love you like turnip greens, blackeyed peas & hog jowl on New Year’s Day! Until next time, I have to be going, because I should be washing clothes.

photo credit: country living on instagram, lifehack

We made it another year, y’all & 5 (maybe 6)things to make 2016 the best year yet

December 29, 2015December 29, 2015 / kstrick7 / 2 Comments

Y’all….We made it! Christmas is behind us & 2016 is before us. Looking back we had an eventful year. From a grandbaby turning 1 year old, to news of a new grandbaby, to my sweet E.A.’s journey to getting married, Miss Neenee turning 12, her playing the trumpet in the band & lots of other wonderful things . We clearly have been blessed beyond measure. And one thing is sure. Time is not slowing down for anyone.

Year end is a time of reflection. However, it is also a time for planning & looking forward to the new year & all it has to hold. This is a perfect time to take inventory of things in your life. It’s also a time to make goals & focus on making the next year the best one yet.

Today, I want us to focus on our spiritual life & doing some cleaning out & dusting off. Here are some noteworthy things to focus on this year:

Prayer-Melanie over at Southern Melle has made a 31 day scripture writing challenge on prayer. I emailed her & asked could I use her scripture challenge for all of us. And y’all, she said yes & I was clearly delighted! What an awesome way to start the year, or anytime you want to focus on prayer.
Reading your Bible– Ok, so Melanie at Southern Melle is on my radar today! She also has made a weekly Bible reading plan for 2016. I love this because I have tried to do the daily Bible reading before. Then, I would get behind, never to catch up. And I would just quit. I am super excited about this one. It will be a better fit for me.
Applying the Word to our lives– The thing that comes to mind first are 3 “let us” verses.

Hebrews 10:22-24 let us draw near with a true heart…

Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope…

Let us consider one another…

Also, what about your monetary giving? (II Corinthians 9:7) I kid you not, when I say, when I am giving like I should, to the church, things just seem to go a lot better for me as a whole. I have no great explanation for that except when you obey God, you have His favor. And who doesn’t want that?

4. Finding your talents & sharing them– Do you love children? Teach a Bible class. Are you good at organizing? Be on a VBS committee. Do you like to cook? Sign up for a food team. Do you enjoy visiting with others? Start going to the nursing homes. Are you an encourager? Send cards to the sick & shut in. There are so many things at our church to be involved in. You can just about bet anything you enjoy or excel in, you will find a group of people already doing that same thing. You can do these things on your own, with your own family, as well. Just be involved & let your light shine. (Matthew 5:16)

5. Be more thankful. You just don’t know how the Lord will work in your life if you become immensely grateful. You get so much more. You become humble. You start to see that nothing is a sure thing. You begin to see how much you need the Lord. You have the reassurance you are not in this life thing on your own. You have Jesus to turn to & depend on for your every want & need. From there you will get the peace that you have no idea where or how it comes to you, it just does. (Philippians 4:7) And that’s a beautiful way to live.

6. Have faith. That sounds pretty easy. But is it? As soon as something bad happens we are questioning God like nobody’s business. Seriously though, God takes care of us in ways we don’t even know or understand. Just trust. No matter what. No questions asked. (Matthew 17:20)

Thank you for coming by & visiting with me today. Y’all just don’t know how much you bless my heart. Until next time, I have to be going because I should be washing clothes.

**A BIG ‘ol thank you to Melanie from Southern Melle for so graciously letting me use her ideas. Go on over & visit her. She would love to have you.

photo credits: http://www.crosscards.com, http://www.southernmelle.com

Happy Thanksgiving from I should be washing clothes

November 26, 2015November 24, 2015 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

Here’s wishing you a safe & happy Thanksgiving

from

I should be washing clothes.

photo credit http://www.moritzfineblogdesigns.com

Yesterday she would have been 69 & 5 things it’s changed about me

November 24, 2015November 24, 2015 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

I texted my brother. I called my Daddy. I told Miss Neenee & my sweetie. I went by the cemetery on the way to work. Yesterday, my Mama would have been 69 years old.

Mama, Me, & Mamaw 1990

I don’t want to get all weird with this. Other than, her being gone has changed a lot about me.

It has made me appreciate life & being with my loved ones.

Me, Mama, Mamaw, & Papaw circa 1978

2. It made me realize I am not the boss of my health & it can falter at any time.

3. It lights a fire under me to accomplish & get done what I need to & want to today. I’m not promised another minute to get those things done. Mama was always mindful of the brevity of life. She would always say before we left home,

“Get this mess up. What if something was to happen & somebody was to come in this house?”

For shame that someone saw a coaster out of place on the coffee table. But, that’s just how she was. And I’m glad. I wouldn’t have wanted her any other way.

4. Family was so important to her. She loved & looked forward to all of our get togethers. I have gotten closer to my family in the past several years, as well.

Mama’s baby brother, Mamaw, Mama, Mama’s older sister, Mama’s middle brother at Christmas circa 1984

5. She always went to church. Even when Daddy had to dress her, pick her up & put her in her wheelchair & bring her. It made me know if she could go to church, in her shape, there was NO reason for me not to be there. She was a wonderful Christian example. Because of that I have grown deeper in my faith.

Me & Mama after church circa 1995

Here are a couple more pictures of her in my “Mama Shrine” today.

On the back of this picture if had,"Taken on the day we walked all over the place." She was sitting on the door step washing her feet.

On the back of this picture it had,”Taken on the day we walked all over the country.” She was sitting on the door step washing her feet.

I won’t ~~bore~~ overly inform you with more Mama stories. For that you can go here. I am just so thankful this ol’ world had her for 55 years. Now the Lord has her for the rest.

Hope you are having a great day. You know what’s Thursday! Bring on the family & turkey. My favorite. Until next time , I should be washing clothes.

Thanksgiving surprise & who I love

November 10, 2015November 10, 2015 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

Well, apparently it’s 2 weeks until Thanksgiving & nobody bothered to tell me. Even though I have been reminding everyone how it’s so many weeks until Christmas, Thanksgiving just left me this year. And by the way, I have been getting some terrible deer in the head light looks when the mere mention of Christmas is made. I suggested to my sweetie maybe this year we should start Christmas shopping & have all our gifts bought by Thanksgiving, (which obviously I thought was at another time). He laughed & explained to me I would never be able to do that, since it is my custom to lose my hair & run around like a crazy woman the weeks & days leading up to Christmas. Well, shut the front door, he was right. However, I have had some happy things going on here of late. Mainly in the name of kids, of course. Here are some highlights of my weekend.

This is what you look like when you have “Super Speed”.

And on a very related note, as you can see, this was at a local cell phone store where I was attempting to do some business. However, was having to constantly remind Mr. Sweetie Pants that the cell phone store was NOT specifically the place to be exhibiting this said “Super Speed”. WHEW! I was one tired Grand by the time I left. Thankfully, I had a helpful Miss Neenee with me.

It was Miss Neenee’s birthday & we were going to see Disney on Ice. Mr. Sweetie Pants was being sassy, so I asked him did he not want to go see Mickey Mouse? He promptly, let me know, he did not want to see anything. Please refer to the above photo.

So, this is why we go to see Disney on Ice each year. Mesmerized & happy faces. That’s what we have here.

Next, you have this one who obviously loves Disney just as well. I mean, crown him king Mickey, hello. Or maybe EA’s Prince Charming? Awww…..

Then, you have these faces, squished up against my face. Love.These.Faces.

I’m not sure if my son has some new leg warmers & back pack or if he was attacked by munchkins. Either way, they are all cute as can be.

And it was all because of this girl. Happy birthday Miss Neenee! More to come this weekend!

I am so very thankful for all these sweet people in my life. Since this month is Thanksgiving, (who would forget that?) I ran across this 30 day scripture reading plan. I know I’m a little late, but it’s still a wonderful exercise to commit to spend your time in God’s word.

I hope you all are having a good week. Now that I’ve realized it’s time for Thanksgiving, I will be making my menu for Thanksgiving dinner. What will you be making? Until next time, I have to go, because I should be washing clothes.

photo credits: Facebook

You missed the point & the dreaded time change

November 4, 2015November 4, 2015 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

How many times have you seen people in life that miss the point? While they may be well meaning, their words just don’t help the cause? I have, first hand, seen people who would rather lash out & “let somebody have it” rather than extend a hand to help. I have seen those who get in a tiz & their knee jerk reaction is to tell somebody off. I have actually had someone tell me before, when I have tried to help them see their anger was not beneficial, say to me, “Well, at least they are going to know what I think.” Really? In situations when people are maybe not making the best choices & they need our help- they really don’t care what you think. Being angry with someone for their mistakes & expressing such to them is missing the point. I know we are all human & want what’s best for our loved ones. And yes, sometimes you may want to just shake them & say, “What were you thinking??” All the lecturing & yelling & bawling & squalling will not change the fact that this person needs our love, not our tempers flaring. I truly believe if we reach out a hand in love, we will get a much more positive response than if we are throwing a hissy fit. We need to be showing Jesus through us. How can we do that if we are angry & ranting & raving? We can’t. We all make mistakes. We all miss the point, from time to time, to show Christ’s love. If we have done that, we should pray & ask the other person to forgive us. The apostle Paul talks about true love in I Corinthians 13.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. ²And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,^[a] but have not love, it profits me nothing.

⁴Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; ⁵does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; ⁶does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; ⁷bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

⁸Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. ⁹For we know in part and we prophesy in part. ¹⁰But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

¹¹When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. ¹²For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

¹³And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (NKJV)

I love this girl dressed up for Halloween as “Queen of the Nerds.”

This chapter is full of useful & necessary information on how to treat others. From what I can tell, these are commandments. Not suggestions. Let’s be sure we treat them as such. Instead of beating someone over the brow with our version of what they should be doing, we all need to try speaking kindly & understanding where they are coming from with their decisions. A lot of times, I can be more tenderhearted if I know why someone is doing what they are doing. Believe me, there are just some people who need guidance. Even & especially grown men & women. And sadly, some still will not change, even though you go to them in love. That’s not your fault. You have done your part & done it correctly. Continue to show them love & keep them in prayer. Hopefully, they will turn to the Lord before it’s too late. But listen, don’t worry about this. If the Lord could not turn everyone’s heart to the right thing, what makes you think you can? It is what it is. Do your part, with love & move on.

One more thing, you may be asking, “What is “the point” you speak of?” When I refer to missing the point, I am meaning this is your prime opportunity to show Jesus & His love through us. Please, please, please, do your best to not miss the point!

I am so glad you came by to visit with me today. We have had a nasty stomach bug going around our house. I have been able to avoid it, so far. Well, you know there are somethings a stomach bug won’t even chance. Ha. Hope your week has been full of fall weather & pumpkin spice. Oh yeah. And the time changed. What about that daylight savings time that just jumped up & ran off? Still. Not. Over. It. And just to add to your anxiety, Christmas is only 7 weeks away. Love you like candy canes & chocolate covered cherries! Until next time, I have to be going because I should be washing clothes.

I possibly relate to this a little too much.

12 reasons I don’t attend sporting events anymore

October 22, 2015October 22, 2015 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

Ok, so I saw this on Facebook & just chuckled when I read it. In lieu of all sporting events everywhere & those who love them (especially SEC College Football) here are:

12 reasons I don’t attend sporting events anymore (not me, I’m going to a sporting event tomorrow. It’s just what the article was titled. Oh, nevermind.)

1. Every time I went, they asked me for money.
2. The people sitting in my row didn’t seem very friendly.
3. The seats were very hard.
4. The coach never came to visit me.
5. The referees made a decision I didn’t agree with.
6. I was sitting with hypocrites—they only came to see what others were wearing!
7. Some games went into overtime and I was late getting home.
8. The band played some songs I had never heard before.
9. The games are scheduled on my only day to sleep in and run errands.
10. My parents took me to too many games when I was growing up.
11. Since I read a book on sports, I feel that I know more than the coaches, anyway.
12. I don’t want to take my children because I want them to choose for themselves what sport they like best.

Of course this is a play on words for those who make excuses to why they don’t go to church. Pretty thought provoking if I might say so myself. I will give you more information on the said sporting event, soon. It’s surely to be delightful. I hope you are having a wonderful week. It’s been BEE-U-TIFULL out. I love fall. Until next time, I have to be going, because I should be washing clothes.

I have fallen victim to this. My pants are not impressed with me right now. Love y’all like I love Smarties!