The Willie & Waylon method of parenting

June 23, 2015June 23, 2015 / kstrick7 / 3 Comments

My brother, of whom I affectionately refer to as “Bud”.

It’s funny how everybody has opinions about how to raise kids. Some things work for this kid. Other tactics work for that one. No two kids are exactly alike. That’s for sure! My mama, being the good Southern mother she was, had an unconventional approach to parenting. It appears she used the “Willie Nelson/Waylon Jennings method”. If you ain’t quite sure what in the world that is, just follow me down this rabbit trail for a bit.

Mama loved to listen to country music. Willie & Waylon were 2 of her favorites. The song, “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys” was literally written about how to bring up your kids. The lyrics go:

Mama don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys Don’t let ’em pick guitars and drive them old trucks Make ’em be doctors and lawyers and such

So, that’s just what mama did. She made sure my brother was raised with all the Southern graces & hospitality that a boy could be. He did not attend cotillion classes, however, was well versed in how to act right, carry on conversations with politeness, & mind his manners at the table. His learning came from being a preacher’s kid. My mama wouldn’t have her kids carrying on like a bunch of hooligans. He was to behave & “act like he had some raisins’ ”. She was the first to tell him when his behavior was less than stellar. Many times it could be a swift smack. My mama was a smacker. So you knew what was coming if you did step out of line. Daddy was more of a belt man. I saw this the other day & thought, yep, more people need to be buying & using these.

Daddy did use the occasional ping pong paddle. But, low & behold, it must not have done any permanent damage to Bud because, ya’ll, he grew up to be a lawyer. Just like Willie & Waylon used to sing about. And mama was so proud of him. She wouldn’t boast of it much, because, you know, not everybody’s boy got to be a lawyer. She didn’t want people to think for a second ANY of us had become high falootin’. (Because mama didn’t raise him to think he was better than anybody else. It must have really worked. He has passed that attribute on to his kids. Who are both a hoot & a half, but are very grounded in life.) I would say, if done right, the Willie & Waylon parenting method has some salt to it. For my brother, at least. It kept him from:

Growing up to be a cowboy. (the kind that is a self seeking wanderer & never stays in one place for long at a time. Which we did think for awhile there he was going to be a bachelor for life. But thank the LORD for my sister-in-law, who changed all that for good.) Mind you he has cleaned many a barn stalls, rode horses, tended to hogs, chickens, dogs, cats, & swam in the branch on hot summer days.
Being a truck driver. Albeit, there are worse things to be. However, he has opted for a life off the road to make his living. Although, there was the time he moved to Atlanta to work. He lived in his car, ate on the run, & didn’t shower much. That’s kinda like a truck driver.
Never staying home & always being alone. Let me say he would much rather be at home than traveling. It’s just something about sleeping in a house with all your peeps under one roof, that is good for the soul. There is always camaraderie going on with his bunch. Ne’er a dull moment.
Loving smoky ole pool rooms. Mind you, he does love a friendly game of pool. He has never been the one to let leisure & responsibility collide. Being responsible & a rock for us all to lean on has always been his specialty. This is where I need to say he is God fearing, too. Good people is what he is.
Being hard to love. If you are around my brother, for any amount of time, & do not deem him likeable & more fun than a ride at the county fair, then you need to quit being such a stick in the mud. He’s always the life of the party. He loves to laugh. And ya’ll, he is quite the dancer. Not the kind of dancer that has any rhythm, but hey, he’s out there trying. You have to LOVE that. My kids think he is the BEST & hands down, I totally agree.

I know Father’s Day has just passed, but I did want to give a shout out to a WONDERFUL brother, daddy, & friend. He is a terrific brother that has such a great sister. Dadgum, he’s lucky.

Thank you for coming by to visit with me today. I hope everybody had a good Father’s Day weekend. We had a birthday we celebrated, as well. It was outside & it was hot. But we are into June with this year, so it was just as expected. Until next time, I have to be going because I should be washing clothes.

Birthday boy in all his cuteness

Mr. Sweetie Pants enjoying the festivities.

What party is not complete without some water balloon action?

And this guy. He’s always willing to play with the kids. They are a bit smitten by him.

Sweet boys- they didn’t care it was hot.

Birthday wisdom & various photobombs & selfies

April 30, 2015April 30, 2015 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

It was my birthday. My Daddy called to say he wanted to take me out. Well, you don’t have to tell me twice. We selected a restaurant. Then me & some of my other peeps met up with him. You should know everything we do revolves around eating. I don’t know if that’s a Southern thing or we just like to make sure we are doing our part to keep farmers in business.

There was this girl who was supposed to be taking birthday snapshots. However, sometimes she was taking pictures of herself. Which is ok. Because she is really pretty.

Then, there was this cutie. I don’t know what she was doing. Just entertaining herself with selfies I suppose.

Pure

Entertainment

There were some pictures of me & my honey by the lake. Hey, who is that standing on the picnic table?? What’s the big idea??

Here is another picture of us. Wait, do you see the little girl sticking out from behind my honey? She’s waving. This is what happens when you have silly kids. You will never have another good picture again.

That is unless you can get them both in the picture at the same time. Don’t they look like angels?

Then here we are again. Still trying to get a good picture. Not that ya’ll care, but the wind was blowing like a tornado was coming through. My hair was everywhere.

Here’s this guy again. Miss Neenee says she loves him a lot.

Pretty sure he loves them a lot, too.

He is always in the mood to give advice. I was telling EA that night that I had found a way for her to save her money & have $2 million by the time she retired. In which Daddy advised her:

“Don’t save your money. When you get that age, you won’t feel like doing anything. Do everything you want to do, while you are young. While you can. Anyways, $2 million dollars won’t be that much by the time you retire anyway.”

I think he was trying to get across to her this:

James 4:14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

Life is short at best. We should make sure we take care of our problems the best we can & be ready always. I also think he was trying to make sure she understood money & earthly possessions are not important. They will all deteriorate in time.

Matthew 6:19- 21 says

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; ²⁰but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Daddy has always made it clear what the Bible says about what is important. I’m glad he takes the time to tell my kids about these life lessons. Pretty thankful for my Daddy. We laugh a lot when we are together. Sometimes so much it’s hard to get our picture. And by the way, this is one of my favorites right now:

I hope you have had a great week. It humbles me to know how blessed beyond measure I am. Count your blessings. They are everywhere! Until next time, I have to be going because I should be washing clothes.

Learning to trust & can I get a marshmallow peep?

April 2, 2015April 2, 2015 / kstrick7 / 2 Comments

I can remember when I was little, if I was scared, I would run & hide behind my mama. This was mostly when I had maybe perhaps done something to my brother. He would chase me & I knew, if I could find mama, I would be ok. I can remember her saying to him,

” You have to be good to her. She’s the baby. You have to show her how a big brother acts.”

(This was promptly followed by me poking my head out from behind her sticking my tongue out at him.) And oh MY word ya’ll, if that hasn’t been a reality check for ME in life. Because, you know what? People aren’t always nice to me. And they really don’t care if I’m the baby or not. But my sweet mama used this tactic to try to get us to behave. I can remember her having to stand in between me & my brother & I would hold on to her just as tight as I could. I always trusted her & whatever I did, if I could get to mama, she would take care of me. No matter if I were right, wrong, or indifferent. I had that wonderful, special trust.

Do you ever have troubles? Sometimes problems arise from a wrong choice or decision that you’ve made. At other times, you don’t really have to be responsible for any of it & here it comes. Either way, problems in life are just plain unwanted. What makes an incredible difference in bad situations? How you handle it. We can be afraid, angry, disappointed, or have a multitude of emotions. We might start to ask God, “Why me? Why us? Why this?”However, we can trust, in the middle of all the heartache, that:

1. The Lord will not leave you. Hebrews 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”(NKJV)

2. The Lord will take care of you. I Peter 5:7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Things may not be exactly like you think they ought to be. However, there are times the Lord takes care of us in a way we don’t understand. Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. If we only go to Him & trust Him, He will help us, period. He will NOT leave us hanging out to dry.

3. The Lord will turn tragedy into blessings. One of the worst things that has ever happened to me is my mama’s sickness & untimely death. I will Never. Get. Over. It. But you know what? God has blessed our family with deeper love for each other. He sent people to help us through our hard times. We always had someone we could depend on, around us. He has caused me to appreciate life & to remember the wonderful example my mama left for us. I realize that for 30 years, I had a precious mama. Some people don’t have that. Some folks have never known their mother or don’t have a Christian mother. I was very fortunate to have had that. I can pass along those qualities to my children & family. I have a hope that I will be with her again one day. Until then, I have got to keep on keepin’ on.

John 16:22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.(NKJV)

The Lord is always working behind the scenes for us. We just have to trust in Him. We readily accept good from Him. As a part of life, sometimes we will have to accept bad, too.

Job 2:10 Shall we indeed accept good from God & shall we not accept adversity?(NKJV)

Life goes on. Even in awful circumstances. It’s ok to grieve the loss of a loved one, to get down & depressed about an erring child, or to feel like no one has any idea what you are going through. Those are human feelings. We just can’t unpack our bags & live in the land of desperation. There are times we get stuck going through the struggles of life. Just like a big ol’ tractor pullin’ a truck out of the ditch, the Lord can send people to help. Let them. I have said it once & will say it again & again. Folks, we are all in this big ol’ mess called LIFE together. We have to depend on each other. I hope you are at a point in your life you have finally relented to this fact. It makes things so much easier knowing you have people, who care about you. Isn’t it wonderful to know we don’t have to go through trials alone? We always have the Lord there with us. He can do things for us no one else can. We just have to simply trust. Is there a struggle in your life today? Pray about it. Seek others to help you. Look to the Lord for comfort.

The psalmist David said in Psalms 56:3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. (NKJV)

I’m not saying your problems will vanish overnight. I am saying you will be able to bear whatever it is, until things are better. You will find peace of mind. Only if you are willing to trust. God’s love never fails. We must give Him a chance to show us that. Whenever I am facing something hard in life, I have to remind myself, there’s someone out there who has a worse situation than I do. There’s always something to be thankful for. Maybe it’s that things aren’t as bad as they could be. No matter what, I have to be thankful for a loving God I can depend on. It’s hard to see the other side of trials sometimes. We just have to remember to slow down & take things day by day & trust the Lord to take care of us. In times like those, we don’t know what we need. We have to let the Lord handle our needs. He’s good at that. Just like the trust that my mama was going to make everything all better, God can do the same thing. Even bigger & better. Promise.

I am so glad you came by to visit me today. Goodness gracious, I about got too serious & heavy hearted with all of this. But sometimes it’s just that way, ya know? This Sunday is Easter. I sure hope you have your Easter frocks ready for church. My grandbaby girl is going to look so sweet. If you see her, you will be tempted to eat her with a spoon. I would discourage any of that. She has a tad of a mother hen for a mama. My Miss Neenee is ready all but the shoes. We will be getting those this week. Oh the fun! The kids & grandkids will be coming over after church. We will be dying eggs, hiding eggs, running around chasing kids, eating good food, & oh the Easter candy. There is nothing that suits me more than a marshmallow peep. Until then, I have to be going because I should be washing clothes.

photo credits: graphicsfairy, pinterest

Lessons from a 6 year old & warm weather where are you?

March 2, 2015March 2, 2015 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

There are times you just have to know there is good still in the world. As much as we hear of the horrible things going on, we must be confident there is good going on, too.

I was lucky enough to have 2 little girls, from my Bible Class, to sit beside me Sunday night at church. They had notebooks & were drawing different things. When I say notebooks, I mean we live in a place where these are still in style:

They enlisted me to draw a panda bear & a horse. It was pretty sad. Their pictures were MUCH better than mine. I was hoping the people sitting behind us could not see how truly pathetic my artwork was. I have taken art classes. However, my abilities are CLEARLY stunted when it comes to drawing things. The head of my horse resembled a lizard or dinosaur. I did add a mane & tail. One of my sweet little friends did ask what exactly the tail was. So, we made it a little longer. That helped out a lot. (Not.) They were drawing dogs, cats, & the occasional turtle. Then, I looked down & saw a picture I could not figure out. It was a stick figure with some lines drawn through it. I leaned over & asked the little artist to identify her drawing. She whispered,

“It’s Jesus on the cross.”

Really? I’m not even sure someone could have told me anything more precious right there in that moment. Here I am. Just a sinner, trying to make it through life, trying to make sense of it all, & I have a 6 year old sitting right beside me nailing it with her “what’s on her mind” drawings. She taught me some valuable lessons with her Jesus picture.

If I keep my mind on Jesus, well, that’s all I really need to do. I won’t have time to worry about being offended or getting my feelings hurt or much anything else.
I need to make sure I am living a righteous life everywhere. Especially in front of kids. Obviously, they are watching & listening.
I need to always be kind to children. Kids are wonderful blessings from the Lord. If we mistreat children, we are mistreating a work of God. Nobody wants to do that.
Kids are people, too. They think about things, wonder about things, & love like nobody’s business. We need to do the same.

Jesus loved children. He referenced how we must become as children to go to heaven.

Matthew 18:3 .. “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

This tells me I must be humble, loving, trusting, forgiving & always anxious to learn about what Jesus wants.

I hope you are having a wonderful week. I promise to you right now, if we ever get warm weather again, I will never ever ever complain about it. Well, maybe. I am just ready to go outside and it be warm. I heard the other day, this has been one of the top 10 coldest winters, in the Mid-South, since 1875. Now, you know why I’m so opinionated about the coldness. Southerners are not made for cold weather. Word. Until the weather is hotter than the backside of a cast iron skillet, I have to be going because I should be washing clothes.

photo credits: http://www.poraora.com, pinterest

My favorite love story & I sure hope I get some chocolate for Valentine’s Day

February 11, 2015February 11, 2015 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

Valentine’s Day is just right around the corner. Do you have plans? I know lots of people celebrate their love this time of the year. I think that’s great. However, showing your love for someone should be all about how you live every day. Because you never know when the other person may be gone. Which brings me to one of my most favorite love stories of all. The one about my Mama & Daddy. I will try my best to not let this be drawn out. I will also ask your patience as I squall like a baby the whole time I am telling this.

As most of you know, my mother passed away in 2002 from complications of Multiple Sclerosis. Leading up to that, I have to tell you, she was so sick. My Daddy had some choices to make. He could either stay around & try to take care of her the best he could or he could tuck tail & run as fast as he could. Well, he hung around.

Up until her sickness, they had been that couple. You know the ones. The ones that had it all together. The ones that people went to for help. The ones that were always there to support others. The ones that loved everybody. They were “the preacher & his wife”. Don’t get me wrong. Just like any couple, they had their problems. But in the end, they were right there for each other.

My Daddy got the job as caregiver far too early. When Mama was hurting & sick & tired of it all & she would call him to her bedside to pray for her, she would say,

“Just pray. Pray for me to go.” Well, good grief. Most people would have fell apart right there at such a request.

My Daddy has always been the positive one. He would say,

“You shouldn’t say that. Just think of all the treasures you are laying up in heaven.”

Confused at where he was going with this, she replied,

“What in the world are you talking about?”

“Well, “ Daddy explained. “you being sick, has been a blessing to others. Just look at all the good deeds people have done because of you. Our friends & family are here all the time, bringing food, paying visits, calling to see if you need anything. You are helping people to store up treasures in heaven.”

With that, she said, “Then store you up some treasures in heaven & go get me a bowl of ice cream.”

Daddy would get her ready for church, pick her up, put her in the van, & push her in sitting in a wheelchair. Some Sundays when Daddy finally made it to church with Mama, he would be exhausted. But he never complained. He worked 3 jobs so that he could make enough to pay for Mama’s medical expenses.

He got up every morning & made her breakfast before he set out on his 1^st job. Not something frozen, warmed up. Homemade biscuits, scrambled eggs, sawmill gravy, bacon, country ham, or sausage & fresh brewed coffee.

Daddy learned, from Mama, how to make the best biscuits in the world. He would be in the kitchen hollerin’ how much of what needed to go in the bowl. And she would be telling him, from the bedroom, how to make a well out of the flour & put the liquid ingredients in the middle of the bowl. That’s how my Daddy learned how to make the buttermilk biscuits, I would put them up against any granny’s out there. They. Are. That. Good.

When she finally had to go in the nursing home, he went to see her EVERY day. She had fresh flowers in her room, from him, at all times. On Daddy’s request, the manager at the local Hardee’s would make sure Mama had a smoked sausage & biscuit, day or night. If anything was wrong or amiss, it was my Daddy’s name my Mama was calling. When you ask Daddy how he did it all, he will kindly tell you he didn’t have to do it. He got to do it. Mama & Daddy loved each other before she got sick. But their real love story came after she got sick. That’s when the rubber met the road, so to speak. When the cream rose to the top. That’s when it really counted. It was a true, Godly love they had.

The one God said was between a man & woman.

My Daddy stepped up, out of love & honor, for my Mama. And she let him. That’s my favorite love story.

Lord have mercy, I am an emotional wreck after all that. But it’s ok. I wanted to share it with you all. Now that I’ve bawled my eyes out, I should feel better. I hope you have a beautiful Valentine’s Day. One with chocolate & the like. I should be getting some chocolate. When I say should be, I mean hope someone gets me some because, if I don’t receive any, I will be purchasing some. Just for the comradery of it all. Here’s wishing you chocolate kisses & Russell Stover heart shaped candy boxes filled with chocolates this Valentine’s Day. Until I get my own Valentine’s candy, I will be going because I should be washing clothes.

photo credits: http://www.mydiaryyourstory.blogspot.com,www.raleigh.corpcaterers.com, http://www.diyready.com

The best gift you can give to your kids & how it’s never too late

December 17, 2014December 17, 2014 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

When I think of Christmas, I think of kids. I don’t know about you, but Christmas was always a special time at our house. Homemade cookies, candy, parties, toys, & family were the best memories I have. As a child growing up, I always had the security of a good family. I never knew what it was like to go to bed hungry or not know I was loved beyond belief. I was very blessed. It humbles me to know what a wonderful childhood I had. It could have very easily been another way. You don’t pick who you are born to. Thankfully, I was born to two precious people, who had a way with a feisty little girl.

At this time of year, I get to thinking about what would be the best presents, for my kids, at Christmas. What special memory can I give them about this time of year? I came across this article & wanted to share it with you. It is the best gift you can possibly give your children all year long.

We should conduct our homes so that children will remember:

Daddy & Mama were kind to one another (Ephesians 4:32).
Home was a happy place, governed by the law of love (Psalm 119:165).
Each child was treated fairly and required to obey his or her parents (Ephesians 6:1-4).
Sunday was a day of worship (Acts 20:7).
The Bible, God’s law, settled everything (Psalm 33:4).
Home was a place where friendships were dear, but truth was dearer (Proverbs 18:24, 23:23).
Although mama & daddy worked hard, they took time to read the Bible daily & pray (Hebrews 10:22).

There is still time for many of us to create good memories for our children & grandchildren. One of the best things I remember growing up, was how special church was to my family. At the church we went to, my Daddy was the preacher, my Mama a Sunday School teacher, my Papaw a song leader, who they also called on to pray & serve the Lord’s table, my Mamaw cooked for those in need, was at every service (with the rest of us), & loved our church family dearly. I had aunts, uncles, & cousins that were also serving the congregation. It’s funny, I never really thought of this being one of my Daddy’s jobs. It was just my life & I have been so blessed to have lived it. Me & my brother did have some requirements. (Some of which were perhaps a smidge challenging to an active/high spirited/could not keep her mouth shut/curious type child).

We were to be attentive.

We were to be dressed properly (hair combed, teeth brushed, & in our Sunday best).

We were to be cordial & kind to others.

And never, ever, ever were we allowed to go to the bathroom close to the end of Daddy’s sermon.

Doing this would possibly create a need to walk back to our seat while the invitation song was being sung. That was Daddy’s moment to help those that needed prayer, baptizing, or other spiritual assistance. My Mama was not going to interfere with one of her kids walking up through there, appearing to come forward. (We sat on the front bench.) So, she made sure we went to the restroom & got a brief drink from the water fountain in between Sunday School & Worship Service. I haven’t had to have therapy or counseling due to this, so I’m sure it was just an inconvenience we lived through. As a matter of fact, it taught us to watch what was going on & be aware of other people’s feelings. Not just a great memory, but good upbringing. Sometimes at church, I see kids & adults walking around during the invitation song. I’m like, “Wow, my Mama would have never had that.”

We may not have had the very best of everything life had to offer. But we had a stable, loving family. That’s what I strive to provide for my own kids & grandkids. Is it perfect? No, but they know they are loved & we are here to support them in all the ups & downs of life. That’s more memorable than any Ipad, Dr. Dre’s Beats, or 4 wheeler.***

I do hope you were raised with wonderful memories at Christmas. If not, it’s not too late to be the person who makes special memories for others. Children are a blessing from God. We should always treat them as such. That means not letting them by with everything in the book, teaching them to be respectful, & honest. However, that starts with us, first. My prayer today is that you will have the courage & braveness of heart to do right & good. Not just for others sake, but for your own, as well. I know of some adults, who as children, did not have a regal upbringing. However, now their parents have come around & taken care of their own problems. They have become wonderful grandparents & not to mention a great support to their kids. It’s never too late.

I hope you are having a wonderful & magical holiday season. We are ramping up for a big couple of days at our house. There will be family visiting, kids squealing in delight, & we will be cooking. A lot. It goes without saying, my usual New Year’s resolution of losing weight will be on my list. As for now, I have to be going, because I should be washing clothes.

Mr. Sweetie Pants having his cake batter & banana, too- in his undies, nonetheless.

Mr. Sweetie Pants having his cake batter & banana, too- in his undies, no less. That’s how we roll.

photo credits: pinterest, Thomas Kincaid collection, & my trusty Iphone

Parts of this was taken from a House to House, Heart to Heart bulletin.

***On a side note, I am not trying to be disrespectful to those who buy expensive gifts for their kids. I am just saying all those things can break, be stolen, or wear out. The things you instill in your kids can never be taken away from them. Just a thought.

Making the decision to be kind & I need a new microwave

October 15, 2014October 14, 2014 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

Decisions, decisions. We all have to make them. Sometimes decisions can be hard. Evidently it was for the sky this morning. It could not decide if it was going to storm or if the sun was going to shine.

If you look closely, you can see the sun was trying to shine. But, we were driving right into some ugly looking clouds. Strange, I know. With the sky being so indecisive this morning, it made me think about a story, my Daddy has always told about my Papa Clyde. There was a time, he had a chance to make a life altering decision. You will be very surprised at what he did.

My Papa Clyde was a sharecropper. He & my Mama Boyce had 10 children. They obviously had to make the most of their earnings. However, they were always willing to share what they had with others. One time my Papa Clyde started to notice the fuel in his farm tank was running low. He would get more fuel added in, then before he could turn around, the level was back down. He had an idea of what was going on. So, he waited & after dark, he took his post out by the fuel tank. Before long, one of his neighbors wandered up the dirt path, with a gas can & hose. Papa Clyde sat there & watched as the guy started to siphon fuel out. When the time was right, Papa Clyde walked up to the man. The man was obviously startled. The man immediately started apologizing to my grandfather. My grandfather said,

”Look you are going to have to stop this.”

The man regrettably agreed,

“I know Mr. Clyde, I am so sorry. I won’t steal no more of your gas again.”

Papa Clyde looked sorta puzzled & said,

“I mean yer gonna hafta quit siphonin’ this out. You could get hurt doin’ that.”

The man didn’t know what to think. Papa Clyde said,

“Looky here. This is the spout. Let me see yer can.”

With that, Papa Clyde took his gas can & showed him how to operate the fuel tank. After he filled up his can, he handed it back to the man & said,

“Now that you know how to get it out, just help yourself, anytime you need it.”

Needless to say, Papa Clyde did not have any problems with this man stealing gas again. Ever.

I have told that story to several different people. I have had some say,

“I would have shot anybody trying to steal from me.”

My grandfather did not choose that. That day he decided kindness was the best medicine. It puts me in mind of how Elisha, in II Kings 6: 8-23, handled the Syrians.

The Syrians were a bad bunch of people. They were trying to go to war against Israel. Elisha would have none of it. He had an idea. First off, when the Syrians surrounded the city, he asked the Lord to blind them.

II Kings 6:

¹⁸So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, and said, “Strike this people, I pray, with blindness.” And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.(NKJV)

Next, he led the army to Samaria. v.19

Once there, Elisha asked the Lord to make them see again. When the soldiers regained their sight, the king of Israel asked Elisha could he kill them.

²¹Now when the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?”(NKJV)

However, Elisha has another plan. Elisha chooses kindness. He told the king to make a great feast for them. After that, Elisha sent them back home. Do you know what happened after that? They never darkened Israel’s door step again.

²³Then he prepared a great feast for them; and after they ate and drank, he sent them away and they went to their master. So the bands of Syrian raiders came no more into the land of Israel. (NKJV)

Don’t you imagine it took some courage for Elisha & my Papa Clyde to stand up to people who were wronging them? I would think it would take a level of maturity, that is not seen often enough, & a love for your fellow man to react in kindness. I have to admit, I am not sure I would have reacted in love & kindness in either of those situations. However, with these 2 wonderful examples I have, I hope to be reminded of their mercy, kindness, & forgiveness, when someone treats me without regard. You have heard

“a little bit of kindness goes a long way.”

Well, today, my friend, you have seen where it did.

I am so glad you came by to visit with me today & listen to me ramble about making wise decisions. I hope you are having a wonderful week. Mine will get better when I get a new microwave. Mine has tore plumb up! We have missed the clock on it more than anything. My husband has threatened to sit his alarm clock on top of it. Until I get to shop for a microwave, (which will be more decisions for me) I should be going because I should be washing clothes.

photo credits: bowtierecords.BlogSpot.com,vendio.com,pinterest

Memory loss required

August 27, 2014August 26, 2014 / kstrick7 / 2 Comments

Memory loss is a major concern in our society. Why, there are pills boasting improved focus & mental faculty. Medicines to improve short term & long term memory loss are in abundance. Remembering how to complete daily tasks is essential in life. When you are having a conversation with someone, it’s especially helpful if you can remember what the subject is. Just the other night my husband & I were talking. Our Miss Neenee came in the living room, where we were. She asked a question, then went back to her room. We looked at each other for a moment. Then, my honey said,

“What were we talking about?”

I paused for a moment & said, “ I haven’t got a clue.”

Those are probably times you want to be able to recall what’s a goin’ on. Other things that I do, that are a smidge aggravating, which is caused by lapses in memory, are:

Losing my keys. Which are always in the last place I look. Funny how that works out.
Forgetting to put in my contacts. On my drive in to work: “Is that a police car? Are those lights on top of that car? No, that’s a luggage rack. Whew.”
Forgetting to take my hormone replacement. Which is specifically only good for no one around me.
Misplacing bills. Not just your regular ol’ I can pay any time in the month bill. The water bill is my most popular misplaced bill. Luckily, I have made friends with a lady in the office, at the water department. Bless my heart.
Losing my phone. More often than not, Miss Neenee gently says, “Mama, it’s in your hand.” Hey, those things can sneak up on you.
Forgetting what I am doing. I’m making a sandwich. I go to the pantry to get the bread. I look into the laundry room. I forgot to put the clothes in the dryer. I go to putting the clothes in the dryer & I pick through the clothes to leave out some things that need to be hung up to dry. I don’t have a hanger. So, I go back to my closet to get one. On the way, I walk through my bedroom. There’s that bill I was looking for. I go back to the kitchen to get an envelope to put it in. Wait, why is there lunch meat sitting on the bar? Oh yeah, I’m making a sandwich. Sheesh.

As much as I need to remember things, the apostle Paul says there are some things we need to not remember at all.

Phillipians 3:13 …but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, (NKJV)

Things that have happened to us in a negative way, are not worth remembering. We need to forget how rude, stubborn, & hateful people can be. Sunday, our preacher, Bro. Brad said that people who are know it alls, hard headed, & can’t get along with types will experience much heartache & difficulty in life. They don’t think they have anything to learn. They don’t see themselves as needing any improvement in their lives. They never really realize how their ways keep them from healthy relationships. They are never ready to accept their own part of their issues. Because hey, how could anything ever be their fault? The situation is always somebody else’s doing. They miss out on the happiness, that being around others, can bring. They miss out on all the richness God would add to their lives, only if they would humble themselves. All because being judgmental, hard headed, & above their fellow man, are qualities they practice frequently.

We must strive to be humble, gracious folks. We have to know that we can just as easily not have enough – than have plenty.

James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. (NKJV)

What if the Lord only blessed you with what you were thankful for? What if you were the only thing that was holding you back from true blessings & riches from the Lord? According to James, first you do your part, then the Lord will do His. So, you kinda are. Let’s make sure we forget to be stubborn.

Not a real good way to be humble.

You never know what life is going to throw at you. We must understand we must react with love & concern for others. And always be mindful that God doesn’t owe us anything. He gives good to us, however, can take it away, as well.

Job 1:21 And he said:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

We need to forget to have a hard heart. No matter how people treat us. We have to be what God wants us to be regardless. We need to forget to be resentful. We need to forget to have hatred in our hearts. It’s just not worth the blessings you will miss- without all that there.

I am so very glad you came by to visit today. I got an exciting call from my aunt today. She said she had picked a big bucket of okra for me! All I have to do is go get it after work. I sure hope I don’t forget it. 😉 Until then, I have to be going because I should be washing clothes.

photo creds: michaelkonick.com, zazzle,

Attitudes are contagious. Is yours worth catching?

Do you want a piece of me? & what a wonderful life it is…..

July 31, 2014 / kstrick7 / 2 Comments

As I get older, my life gets more full & blessed. I am so thankful for the people in my life. I am so glad our family is close knit & loving. Even though my daughter is married, with a baby & my middle daughter has a busy life, we still can’t hardly go to town without calling each other to see if the other one wants to go. Just the other day, I asked my 10 year old daughter if she ever felt like I didn’t give her enough attention. You know I got these grandbabies, now, that we just gush over. Then, the older girls, my 2 sons, my daughter in law, my sweet husband & I try to keep up with my Daddy, as well. I work full time, teach a Bible class at church, try to keep a house, cook, clean (sorta) & sometimes, after all that, I feel like she may get a little left behind. But when I asked her if she felt left out, she looked at me in utter surprise.

She said,

“No, I love my life. I couldn’t imagine it any other way.”

Whew,nailed it.

Isn’t that what we all strive with our kids? We just want them to feel safe, loved, & well, happy. Now, ask her how happy she is when she can’t keep Mr. Sweetie Pants out of her room messing with all her stuff & you may get another answer!

Nonetheless, with my big family, something is always going on. Ne’er a dull moment. My oldest daughter got her degree in May (Yay!) She has gone to work for a school district. They had a 2 day kindergarten camp with the kids to get them ready for the school year. She said there was one little boy that was a mess. On the first day, he kept asking her,

“Miss K.K. do you want a piece of me?”

She kindly reassured him, she did not.

On Tuesday she finally had to get on to him. She said,

“If you don’t stop doing that, you are going to have to come stand beside me & hold my hand. Do you want to have to come hold my hand?”

He sweetly replied, “Maybe.”

Looks like she will have her hands full & heart full by the end of the school year!

I am so proud of my daughter & her love of children. Her grandmother loved children, too.

Jesus had encounters with children.

Matthew 19:13

Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. (NKJV)

Jesus knew the value of children.

Matthew 19:14

But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” (NKJV)

We should be ever mindful of these little fellows. They have an innocence & trustful, loving, heart just like we should have. Those are the kinds of things that will get us a 1^st class ticket to be with Jesus.

I am so glad you came by today. I hope your week has been full of good days. If you have not had the grandest of days I want to share this quote I saw this week:

You were born for a purpose,

You are here for a purpose.

When live knocks you down,

Remember your purpose.- Billy Cox

Now, go out & make it a great day! As for me, I have to be going, because I should be washing clothes.

Happy belated Father’s Day & distractions

June 18, 2014June 18, 2014 / kstrick7 / 1 Comment

I hope all of you fathers out there had a wonderful day on Sunday. I did not forget you. I was just, well distracted. But first let me say I love my Daddy & I did visit him Sunday. This year, I visited him at his house. Not at the Mississippi Department of Corrections. It used to kinda be a running joke. If someone asked me, “Did you get to see your Dad on Father’s Day?” I would reply very solemnly, “Yes, he seemed to be doing well. You know he’s at the correctional facility, now.” Lots of times, I would get startled looks. Then again, those who knew us well enough, knew he was just at work. He has since retired & I do not have to go through a guarded chain link, barbed wire laden gate to make my Father’s Day visit. Coincidently, my daddy is a preacher. Even though he is in his late 60s, he still sees it his responsibility to keep the gospel spread about. He was filling in for a friend, on Sunday, at a local congregation. Like a good minister he spent his Sunday afternoon studying the Bible & taking a little rest. Me & Miss Neenee went over after our church service Sunday night. We took him supper & visited for a bit. He was full of his usual entertaining conversation. As I sat at the kitchen table talking to him, I felt very blest to be there with him. Very blest to have been raised by a preaching daddy & praying mama. Very blest to have had a present daddy. One that was there & was involved with me & my brother growing up. He did a miraculous & above and beyond job taking care of my mama when she got sick. I have nothing bad to say about my daddy. Nothing. At. All. Go ahead. Try to make me say something. Nope. Won’t do it. He has the qualities the Bible talks about.
A Father’s Integrity
I Chronicles 29:17
17 I know also, my God, that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things; and now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here to offer willingly to You. (NKJV)
A Father’s Courage
Joshua 1:9
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
A Father’s Compassion
Psalm 103:13
13 As a father pities his children,
So the LORD pities those who fear Him.(NKJV)

A Father’s Legacy
Proverbs 23:24
24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice,
And he who begets a wise child will delight in him. (NKJV)
A Father’s Wisdom
Proverbs 4:11-13, NIV
“I guide you
in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.
When you walk,
your steps will not be hampered;
when you run,
you will not stumble.
Hold on to instruction,
do not let it go;
guard it well,
for it is your life.”

A Father’s Love
I Corinthians 13:4-8
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love 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.

I hope everyone has had a great week, so far. I so hope you did not mind my Father’s Day post being a teeny tiny bit late. Oh yeah, that distraction I was talking about- a FULL weekend with my sweeties! It was grand. But for now, I have to be going because I should be washing clothes.