It was Christmas 1990-something. In that living room sat my parents, MANY cousins, aunts, uncles, great aunts, great uncles, and my grandparents. I often wonder if my own sons remember the wooden marble maze made by great uncle “Snuffy”. It wouldn’t be Christmas if we didn’t hear the sounds of the marbles and a LOT of laughter (or eat Aunt Vert’s Cowboy Beans). I wanted to hear EVERY story my family told. Grandpa was sitting on the couch. Someone asked my twin and I to sing, “Grandpa” by The Judd’s. You see, singing at the Grand Ol Opry seemed like a great dream, too. But that meant being in front of a lot of people-church was a “safe” place to sing, but oh the nerves! But with family? I can barely get through any song without crying. Kristy could pull us through. Our twin powers would activate and we could muster the strength to entertain all the older members of the family. And yes, we one time sang “Love Can Build a Bridge”.
As we near closer to Mother’s Day I have to share how my Momma would have ALL of them around her Sunday table as much as possible (you should all know about my Momma’s table by now ;-). How fortunate was I that I grew up in such an environment? Two different sides of the family. Many different beliefs, backgrounds, and personalities. No cell phones were present. All of our attention was on each other. Yes, I was young, married, working, and with small children. We checked in with each other when we weren’t together. Yes, it was exhausting at times taking the kids to every family event and function. But as life seemed to unravel around me at times, I realize it was those special memories and times that kept my heart pumping. God nods. He just knows.
Shackled Assurance It’s a prison I don’t wish to escape. It’s a confinement with confidence. It’s finding your voice without a need to use it. It’s seeking his will-not probing for problems. It’s bravery with buoyancy. It’s being hitched with hope. It’s being fastened to faith. It’s being restrained by radiance. I’m shackled with assurance, there’s beauty between the bars. A cell of contentment is a surrender to the scars. If you feel you’re in prison How do you find the key? It’s been with you for life, unlock love and be free. K.L. Hale
Take root What are you sowing? What will you reap? Will your harvest be plenty? How heavenly your heap? Placing the seed is the easiest part. The digging and raking go straight to the heart. The surface seems scorched and barren to sight, Keep cultivating and find the soil quite right. New growth may occur With a scattering toss, Without proper maintenance, You may experience all loss. That which you fertilize Will find certain success Without nutrients and attention It’s bound to get stressed. Use the light of the sun, Block out all substitutes. Given time, love, and patience, It’s bound to take root. K.L. Hale
If you’ve heard of Branson, MO, then you know it’s considered a mecca of music. Some think of us as a hick-town with hick music. Well, folks, we ain’t all hicks, but we do have roots. Me? I love it all–gospel, OLD country, soft rock, americana, folk, Broadway, jazz, and MoTown. I feel I’ve led a million lives in music. This weekend I experienced a bit of all of it. Sprinkle in awesome comedy and a good time was had by all! Seriously, the tour bus attendees from ALL across the U.S. had me in stitches (what am I to do with your generation???). And yes, I’m still going to get goosebumps when over 1/2 the audience stands to be recognized as Veterans. It’s a big deal to me. The sacrifice these men and women made (and do make) have impacted my life–personally. When the crazy fun group from Abilene, Texas shouted out I shared about my sons in the Air Force and future placements. These fun folks had a lot to say to this Momma. I stood there as a Mom thinking of my daughter-in-laws who gave up comforts of home to serve as military wives. Call me old-fashioned, but it’s not a just a job to me if only 1% of our nation heeds the call. Our country is impacted by extremism. At a time where the red and blue lines divide, music can heal. So does kindness and lots of laughter. I hope you enjoy these two little clips.
“The day brought about an uncertainty of certainty. For this was a time of change and change does not come easily for some bears. Especially a bear named Winnie the Pooh.”
Winnie the Pooh: A Valentine for You
Change is necessary; but not always easy. This morning as I walked on my treadmill (attempting to prevent further pain with the drastic temperature drop!) I watched the classic Winnie the Pooh: A Valentine for You. It took me back to my own childhood, my time as a Mom and teacher, and especially warm thoughts of my precious grandchildren. Don’t you love watching and doing things you did when you were younger? You’re still that dreamer if you wish :-). That’s what I love about Winnie the Pooh. In this episode he was worried Christopher Robin no longer loved him. Tigger shared that Christopher had been “bitten by a smitten” (the “love bug”)! It was time to snare another smitten to “unsmite” Christopher Robin! Low and behold, a tiny light appears on Pooh’s honey jar! It must be a smitten!
The whole gang (how do you choose a favorite?) set off on a journey that took them deep into the heart of the 100 acre wood to snare the smitten. “Which way is this way,?” asked Piglet. Beaver points and says, “That way is this way!” Eeyore pipes in, “All we know is nobody knows!” (I hear ya, Eeyore) If only Christopher Robin was there to help them find their way! The group felt alone and afraid. BUT for the smitten! It flitted while lit and tickled Pooh enough to make him follow! The cute crew, lost while searching, all saw the light and gathered around it’s “winking and a blinking”! “Whatever it is it brought us out of the dark and back together!,” exclaimed Rabbit. “He’s shining his light on all of us!”
Christopher found them. Pooh begins to release the smitten until Christopher shows a Valentine he made for a new friend. Pooh hangs his head as the others try to get him to unsmite Christopher. The smitten was released and freed. Pooh shared, “Christopher is happy and I shouldn’t want it any other way. This is the saddest Happy Valentine’s I can ever recall.”
Pooh really thought Christopher had found a new friend and didn’t need his old friends. BUT…Winnie and all his friends found valentine cards at their homes. Of course Christopher had made and delivered them!
“There are places in the heart that always know a friend. In good and glad and sad times, the heart remembers them. There are new friends yet to meet, there’s a place for them to start, but old friends…always keep them…in places of the heart.”🎵 -Christopher Robin
“So as winter changes into spring which changes into summer there are things which go on forever such as a way a certain boy cares for a certain bear. And we will know for as long as we care to remember somewhere in that enchanted place on top of the forest, a boy and his bear will always be playing.”
Winnie the Pooh-A Valentine for YOU
