Joyful Transformation

Well, David and I played in our first tennis tournament together this weekend and it was a lot of fun. We didn't win...but we realized we could play together and as we practice we should be able to win! We really had a good time and it was a great way to spend our Saturday together. We also had time to go eat and hit the bookstore (and he hit some tool and hobby stores) while we were waiting on our match. (BTW we played to a third set tie break even though we kept three 6 month old babies all night last night!)

We are both competitive enough to want to play well without being so competitve we throw our rackets around or hit the ball flying.....I hate that!

If anything is worth doing it is worth doing right, to the best of our ability. If I can't play and still show the love of Jesus to my competitors....then I will not play! It was a good day! Hope you had one as well!

It is great that we are all so different. It would be a boring and crowded world if we all “loved” the same things.

Take yesterday for instance; many people were very excited that George W. was in Birmingham doing a campaign bit for our Governor Riley. Neither politics nor politicians excite me very much but I was glad some of my good friends especially my favorite judge- Terri T. had a chance to enjoy the event.


However, last night I heard that Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was in Talladega giving rides on the newly paved race track in MY CAR! Well it was a black Monte Carlo SS and mine is silver, but still it was my car. Now I would have paid good money for the opportunity to take that ride along.

It is comforting that our God made us and knows all of the ways that we are different. It is good to know that he does not expect me to be able to sing like Susie or bake like Terri (the princess not the judge)or for that matter be able to discern the law like the Judge Terri T. What he does want is what I do have. He does not want me to hide out and say “but I don’t know what my gift is”. I have been guilty of saying that and I am not sure it is not true to some extent. But I CAN do what I know to do. That is not really so much for him to ask of me…or of you

Is anyone else having problems posting comments today? Of course if you are you can't comment and tell me!

Somedays Blogger's main purpose is to try my patience!

Yesterday morning when I left the house for work my car started talking to me. For once the radio was not on and it took that opportunity to “welcome me to OnStar.” It continued to let me know that I needed to press the blue button on my rear view mirror to activate all of the services that I would be receiving free for a year. Well it freaked me out a little bit to have a voice just suddenly talking to me. It also concerns me that they if they can just arbitrarily talk to me what prevents them from listening…..

But, I have often longed for God to talk to me like that; just come over the speakers and tell me what you really want me to do. Should I get involved in this or that program, should I quit work and take care of my family (I am sure he is trying to tell me that!) What? Well sometimes I think we don’t listen for the ways that God will speak to us. At least I don’t. I get called up in a little world that revolves around Donna and all the things that she wants to do and I forget to be still and listen!

Last week in the midst of a bad week I got a marvelous gift from my friend Angie. She sent me a book as one of the winners on her blog contest (I think the contest was rigged…everybody won!) The book was “Having a Mary Heart in A Martha World”. The interesting thing is the number of conversations I had and the number of devotionals I had read that dealt with the topic of Mary and Martha. The lesson I was going to teach that Wednesday night even mentioned the dynamic duo. Well, I was struggling to teach out of the book I had chosen. The chapters were filled with good thought provoking material, but it was too much for me to break down and share in a 40 minute class period. (Don’t get me started on why I can’t have a whole hour!) Anyway the book came complete with a study guide in the back and just seemed to be the answer to my dilemma. I had gone three weeks without ordering the books for the other study, but I ordered these the very next day. So we were able to start this new study last night.

I think when I listen, when I am still I can see the ways that God is guiding and leading me. When I forget to shut up telling everyone who will listen what I think, (and a few that don’t even want to listen) I can’t hear anybody else, especially the quiet leadings of the Spirit.

Our first night with the new book was a good one. Although I am not sure it was as much the material as the comedic honesty that was running rampant in the room last night. I love getting together with my sisters. I love the laughter and the tears as we share our common struggles of trying to balance our busy lives with our desire to be pleasing to our Master.

End of month...
End of quarter...
Busy, busy...

Got the emails caught up.
Glad I am not working in a bank!

I started to say have a nice weekend, but realized it is only Wednesday!

Tuesday was a much better day, thank you all for your prayers, especially for little Eli. He is responding favorably to the antibiotics, but is not quite his usual bubbly self yet. I managed to bite my tongue when I wanted to lash out at work and things are fine. I will have a talk with him soon about dual standards but I felt that would be handled a little better when emotions were less raw!

This morning there are 238 unread emails in my box! Now some of those I read at home or on my PDA and that is why they are sitting there unread. Others are from lenders who send me a dozen rate sheets and program changes every day, I just haven’t had time to go through and delete what I don’t need. Wouldn’t it be cool if we had a little trash can in our brain and could just move stuff over to the “trash bin” when we didn’t need it anymore? Better yet is the “shift-delete” which removes it forever!! I really need one of those in my brain. It disturbs me how much time I spend thinking about things that should have long ago been in the trash.

I am looking forward to getting together with the ladies in our class tonight. I was bombarded with signs from God to teach from a different book than I had originally planned. I will tell you that whole story tomorrow. For now, have a wonderful day and figure out how to “delete” the extra baggage today!! (and then let me know how)

Monday was a day of mixed emotions. The day started off with me remembering I had committed to play tennis with the Birmingham team today. I had asked for limited play since our day changed from Wednesday to Monday. It is hard to be out of the office on Monday. However when I came by to let the boss know I wasn’t going to be here, he reacted in a VERY negative way. Needless to say I got my “dander” up. Part of the deal of working on full commission is supposed to be the flexibility. I don’t want to be yelled at for taking off a Monday morning when there were only two people in the office on Friday afternoon. (and I was one of them!)

However, the day was perfect for playing tennis and I had a great time enjoying the camaraderie and the sunshine. We topped it off with a wonderful lunch that I was not going to stay for, but I decided…what the heck! I might as well make him as mad as he had made me.

On the way back I got a call from Diana. Eli had some blood in his urine and she needed to take him to the Doctor. So I rushed to her house to keep the girls while she took him in . OK, so now I have taken a whole Monday off, but you know what? Those babies, my family, come first. Today may not be pleasant, but I am praying real hard that the Spirit will lead me in the words I am going to say. Eli has a urinary tract infection. He seems to be in good spirits and eating well. The antibiotics must be working. It is scary when those little ones get sick.

When they got back from the Doctor I went back into town to get his medicine and then went to a tennis meeting and played tennis again. I don’t know, maybe I need to re-prioritize tennis in my life. I guess I went too many years without a competitive outlet. I sure do enjoy it. But, I know I must do some adjusting to my schedule.

I have been revisiting a book that made a positive impact in my life two years ago. I seem to have slipped backwards from some of the forward progress I felt I had made. I don’t even know what to tell you is wrong, but I do know that something is. I will let you know how it goes. My prayer for today is to take deep breaths and feel the Spirit inside of me before I open my mouth!

Well congratulations to the Arkansas Razorbacks.....I am sure you are enjoying the win just as much as I am lamenting the loss.

I sure feel sorry for Alabama's young kicker. I would hate to be in his shoes tonight. I hope he has many more avenues to maintain positive self-esteem. We all know how rude and crude people can be when it comes to college football. Even a few people I otherwise have great respect for seem to think it is OK to tear somebody down over a college football game.

I saw great promise from our young quarterback. I think the Tide will see better days ahead.

Reading Elizabeth's post on dreams reminded me of my dream last night.

I was filling in for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in the race at Dover. When I went to get my ride, I found out that it was a cross country HORSE race!! It seems that I somehow got off track and was in an unknown location with Kevin Harvick's wife. Some guy was upset that we mere girls were racing and proceeded to hit us...in the face! We escaped and reunited with our horses and proceeded on our way. Unfortunately I woke up at this point, but I am sure the # 8 horse beat the # 29 horse by a nose!!

Then I remembered something that acutally happened....On our way to Dothan we passed a pick-up truck outside of Montgomery. The guy driving had obviously just gotten off of work. But he was wearing a sleeveless shirt...and I kid you not...a PINK LACY BRA!!! I tried taking a picture with my cell phone but he slowed way down when he realized what we were trying to do!

In this case I am not sure which is stranger...reality or a dream.

BTW, I left Cullman last night to the sound of the Tornado Alert and drove to Huntsville where I played three sets of tennis! We won in a tie break! The weather was perfect! Don't judge the day by where you are!

I got gas for $2.17 per gallon. Filling my tank was around $25.00….I felt like I had gone back in time!


We were up 5-2 in our match last night against two older ladies. Suddenly they pulled the lob out of their arsenal and proceeded to daze and confuse us. They beat us 7-5 the first set and 6-0 the second. I was humbled, but good grief folks you have to just laugh!



Combos are not a real nutritional supper, but sometimes it is just what you want.




The racer top tan on my back looks quite funny with a regular tank top on.

There is something comforting about sore muscles caused by lots-o-lunges!

Starting Monday trying to solve a multitude of problems for a loan scheduled to close on Friday makes the week go by fast….not pleasantly, but fast.

I really want to sleep and/or read when it is raining.

There is no better place in the world than in my own bed, with my own pillow!

OK, that negative stuff has been here long enough!! No, nothing much has changed, but I can try and be above letting it pull me down!

BTW, I work for a Mortgage Broker as a loan officer. Someone said they didn’t know what I did. I HAVE to be nice, I work on full commission!

Last night I let my bad day change the lesson I was going to present for the class I teach. I was glad that I did. God is able to use even a cracked up vessel like me to reach people. Then he uses them to reach right back out and help mend some of my cracks. There is nothing sweeter than a group of women opening their hearts and sharing. Nothing that will allow God to work like letting down our masks and our guard and just being real with each other. Last night was one of many times that I left that class walking a little lighter, smiling a little bigger (that was easy yesterday….)and knowing that the Spirit had been there with us ministering to each of us as we had need.

Thank you God for the awesome privilege and opportunity

Why can't I just quit work?
People are making me crazy!!!

Really tough day yesterday…..but I had a wonderful surprise waiting for me when I got home. My sweet husband had grilled steaks and cooked some of his award winning cheese biscuits (OK, award winning may be a stretch). Wow! I needed that yesterday.

Well I think summer is officially over. Sure we will still have some hot days but these cool mornings declare the end. I stood in the hot shower WAY TOO LONG this morning. It just felt so good after walking in the cool of the morning.

Does anyone hate meetings as much as I do? We have one this morning and I am going in it determined to keep my mouth shut….maybe I can manage it today.

Why is it that the amount of fun you have on a weekend directly relates to the amount of stress and the number of problems you get to deal with when you get back? Sometimes it seems like it is not worth it to get away….but I did have a really good time. I just almost feel like I had a good time at everyone else’s expense…oh well. Yesterday was a true Monday at work too. My first problem (major problem) hit about 8:30. Maybe today will be better.

Terri and I went back to circuit training today. It is amazing how sore you can get when you use muscles in a slightly different way. We did three or four variations of lunges that made my hamstrings squeal like a pig (get it, hamstring?) but I bet the real soreness won’t hit until tomorrow. It wasn’t any problem to keep up, but the fact that I have been negligent in maintaining my muscles will rat me out tomorrow.

Our spiritual walk is like that. We get comfortable doing the things we have always done and it makes us a little sore and uncomfortable when we start doing something new. However, hasn’t it been said that real growth only comes when we challenge a muscle? Perhaps if we are never uncomfortable or “stretched” in our spiritual lives we are missing an opportunity for growth.

The weather is great! We played at 9:30 this morning and lost 6-4, 6-3. We play again at 2:00 and I have high hopes that we will turn things around.

I can't think of many things I would rather be doing on a beautiful Friday afternoon. And tonight is the party! I hope the band is as good as the one in Mobile.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend.....BTW, we do have free internet access! No refrigerator or microwave as advertised...but with free internet I will forgive. BTW, I thought we were staying at Days Inn. I had mapped all of my directions from the Days Inn. Stacey thought we were staying at the Best Western....fortunately she brought the confirmation sheet and called and it was the "Comfort Inn". Do you feel like we are the blind leading the blind?

Packing the bags, loading the car and mostly getting the staff meeting out of the way have all been factors in greatly improving my mood!

I have talked David into playing in a tournament with me at the end of this month. Maybe that will be my chance to finally win one!

Y'all have a great weekend! If I have free internet access I will update you from sunny, bug-filled, Dothan Alabama!

Not much going on in my head today, here are some high points (maybe low points)

• I am in a bad mood and don’t know why
• I think it is because I feel guilty about leaving tomorrow for a tennis weekend..
• David didn’t believe I was telling him the real name when I asked him to get me some “horsey sauce” at Arby’s! (have I ever been wrong before?)
• I got tired of seeing my uneven tan on that other picture….how long will this one make it.
• I already have my clothes laid out to pack tonight!! (that never happens)
• I am ready to clean out my daughter’s room (she has only been gone 3 years!)
• Anxious, uneasy, feelings of not belonging….
• Ready to get away.

So what is going on with you?

It is raining this morning. Not heavy just a slow sprinkle with the promise of heavier rains during the afternoon. I left my house a little after 5:00 to walk, not knowing that it was raining. When I got into town and it was still coming down I decided to get gas and do some other errands I needed to do. Terri had said she would go to the gym if it rained, and I said I would not…..don’t want to get sore before the big State Tennis Tournament this weekend (In case you are wondering there are three different state tournaments; one for males and females separately in the same division; this one is a mixed tournament; in November there is a combo tournament, men and women separately playing with a partner who is ranked .5 higher or lower than they are. I hope to make all three this year!)
So I arrived at the office in my shorts around 5:30. You would think I would be finished working for the day, instead I have caught up on reading blogs and am now writing one…. such diligence!

Last night David played mixed doubles with me. We played as partners for the first time in a very long time. It was a lot of fun, and except for one slip up I made we didn’t have any cross words. One time I did say that I felt like I was having to do it all….I meant that I was trying to do too much, going for the big shots when I should just keep it in play….it didn’t sound good, I promptly apologized. Why is it we can say the most cutting words to the people we care about the most? Anyway, it was fun and I hope that we can do it again.

Do you remember how clear the sky was five years ago. I remember when all the flights were still grounded how incredibly blue the sky was without the vapor trail clouds. It gave us a glimpse of the sky as God meant it to be for us. How many things in our lives that are not “bad things” cloud our vision of God? Can we see through the vapors and picture the perfection that is our creator? What clouds your vision?

I don't mind seeing it on my blog....but I hate it when I make comments to others. I can tell my blog not to show the pictures, but I can't tell my profile not to show mine when I comment....

So I don't know if it will stay there or not....we will see.

Five years ago today I was in Orlando at Disney World. It was our last day of vacation so we had gotten up early and packed the bags into our rental car. We would ride the shuttles for one last tour of the Magic Kingdom and one more run through of Epcot…..or so we thought. We were getting in line to ride one of the river rides when they told us the ride was closed. Derek had called and told us about the first plane hitting the World Trade Center, although at this time we didn’t know it was a terrorist attack. Once we realized they were closing rides we started making our way towards the exit. Before we got there the announcement came over the loud speakers “Ladies and Gentlemen Disney World will be closing, please make your way to the exits”. What is hard to understand is how isolated and alone you feel not really knowing what is going on and having to depend on public transportation to get you where you wanted to go. The good news was we did have a rental car, we soon found out that our return airline tickets were worthless pieces of paper. The rental company was great when we finally got through to them. We told them we would turn the car in at the Birmingham Airport.

That twelve hour drive seemed like an eternity to me. We had stopped to get a flat tire fixed and were able to see the destruction for the first time on TV. It was a helpless feeling of horror and outrage. My children both still lived at home then and I could not wait to get home to them. Suddenly that was the most important thing in my life….getting home to my family.

That day and the days that followed I resolved that I would enjoy my family and the simple pleasures that this life has to afford. I don’t always get it right, but I do try to be there for my kids. I also try to take time and enjoy the little day to day pleasures that this life brings. I thought today I would share some of my favorites with you….

1. A really hot shower
2. Sleeping in my recliner.
3. The Full Moon- especially at the lake
4. Rain
5. giggling babies
6. Matthew saying “Mimi” with a smile
7. Playing tennis with my son
8. Eating out with my husband
9. My husband cooking for me
10. Amazon.com
11. Tennis tournaments
12. Outback with my husband
13. Sunsets
14. Fall in the air
15. Alabama Football
16. Jr. making the chase
17. The US Open on TV
18. My dogs
19. Fast rides on the SeaDoo
20. The acceleration of a small block V-8
21. Reading
22. My pillow
23. Blizzards
24. Time with friends
25. Time with family

Of course this is not a complete list nor is it in any order….just the little things that make life a little extra special.

Have a great day.

I will be back....soon.

Terri’s post yesterday about the Senior Ms. Cullman County got me to thinking about my first beauty pageant. The year was 1974 and it was the first ever (at least in my 9 years at the place) Miss Jones Chapel. Now my little Jr. High School was not the biggest in the county, we sported a graduating (yes we graduated from the 9th grade) class of 25. At this year’s graduation I was granted the graduation gift…."to Donna who is so sassy we give to her this little paci"….yes the gift of sass, or sarcasm if you would was one I was obviously born with.

But back to the beauty pageant; as I said it was the first one in recent history. Some people showed us how to walk and turn and how to sit properly. It was all fun for 30 something giggling girls. On the night of the big event we found that there would also be an interview portion with the judges. This whole thing was not very well thought out. We all gathered in the girls’ locker room in the basement of the gym and met with the judges. While one girl talked the others stood behind her….I know, not Miss America!

Anyway during the middle of my titillating conversation with the judges I felt something hit me in the back of the head. I calmly reached up and found that some girl had started laughing and managed to spit her chewing gum directly into my hair. Unfazed I continued to answer the questions while pulling chewing gum from my hair. I am sure that my calm demeanor under pressure tipped the scales in my favor. I left that night as the new Miss Jones Chapel.

Sometimes it is good to see how people will respond under pressure or awkward circumstances. That night, I kept my cool and remained on task. I would like to say that is the way I always respond to a real or imagined slight or insult. I can’t truthfully say that though. I get all riled up and go off on a tangent about things that I have no ability to change. Perhaps I would do well to get in touch with my 15 year old self….sass and all, and just “roll with it”.

Hey! Does that mean one time I too was a princess?

I don’t know if I would ever get anything done if I could not do it under pressure. Today is the day to turn in your sale items for “Kids Mart”. I volunteered to get Diana’s items in for her (since I spent a lot of the money we would recoup .10 on the dollar on). I got my number about a week ago. But I started labeling, pricing and hanging the items up in the prescribed manner at 9:00 last night. I tried to finish some of the labels during a meeting this morning, but the boss thought he needed my undivided attention (obviously he doesn’t know about multi-tasking although he did accuse me of having ADD!) I have finished and am about to take the items to turn them in. No need to fret about this last week, it is finished!

In the meantime I start my class tonight. I have read the chapter I am teaching at least three or four times. I have read many other resources that I will be using during the course of the class. But as of this moment none of it is down in an outline form. I tend to drift off subject if I don’t have an outline to go by. Don’t worry though; class is not until 6:30 p.m.

Oh and I like two more chapters in the book I was supposed to have finished by today for David’s book review blog. Don’t worry I will have them finished before midnight!

One parable that makes me feel good is the one where the workers got the same pay no matter what time they started…..I like that one. The one that worries me is the wise and foolish virgins and that whole oil situation. I think I always over-prepare and there is no question about the whole virgin thing….so I should be good!

Note to self: When packing clothes to get ready at the office remember your shoes!!







I had a great weekend. Yesterday I actually got to enjoy some time out on the lake. I decided to travel to the dam since Terri said she got lost going there on Saturday. Finding it was not a problem, even though I think it may have moved a few miles. However when I was coming back I turned into the wrong slough…..three different times. The thing was the real turn off looked like a dead end but had a sharp left hand turn at the back of it. Well, I finally realized it had to be that one and proceeded in. I truly felt that I was traveling by faith and instinct. It is amazing how much rocks and water look alike. All of the boats that were in my way as I was on the approach part of my journey had suddenly disappeared. I made several decisions about which way to go that all turned out to be correct and I did not have to back track. But I could see how easy it would be to choose the wrong path.

Sometimes our paths in life are like that. It is not always clear which way we should go. There are no big signs pointing out the way (unless Happy has been there ;)). We sometimes have to go on instinct and realize that we may have to turn around and come back if we make the wrong choice. I believe that we are added to the Kingdom of God when we make the choice to follow him. Therefore our life here on earth is more about the journey than a destination (I know Aerosmith said it first). I don’t think it is ever mapped out for us but becomes an adventure of choice. As long as we are seeking God and living in the Kingdom our choices will become the right choices. It is when we head off in a direction that we know we shouldn’t go that we get in trouble that or when we head off without enough fuel (support) to make the journey.

Let’s get out there and enjoy the journey!

WARNING: Mostly boring personal stuff ahead...
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My brother says I don’t give any real information on my blog…I just tell you what I am thinking. Well, I am sure most of you could care less about the details of my life, but just for him I will hit a few high points.

First of all he was home for the weekend. He flew in late Friday night and is having to leave out again today. I am glad that both of my brothers made the time to come and spend with my Mom & Dad. Mom continues to improve and is getting faster and faster with her walker, but the recovery is still long and hard. It is strange to be at her house and waiting on her hand and foot, but it is a pleasure to do so. She was upset the other day when she got the letter from the Doctor that would allow her to get her blue parking pass. It stated that her disabilty was permanent. She said the Doctor didn’t know everything, and I do believe that she is right. I am hoping that in the next few months they will seriously consider moving closer into town. They live over 20 miles out in the country and it would be better for them and easier for me to swing by and check on them. I think it is what they really want to do so I hope I can help them to do it.

Yesterday we went to visit at Crossbridge. I don’t really know how to express how comfortable and at home I feel when I am there. I know that the Spirit always moves me there and opens my eyes to the beauty of fellowship. Gary is a powerful and positive speaker and he makes the Word come alive. I truly love to be with my brothers and sisters in that place.

This will be a tough week. Thursday will be the one year anniversary of Scotty’s death. Derek is doing fine but I know it will all come rushing in later in the week. I know I can get a little sick thinking about it all.

We knew at this time last year that we were going to have a baby…we were not yet informed that it was more than one, let alone three, but it was during the month of September. The babies are growing and have been completely healthy. That is such a blessing. I cannot describe to you how difficult it is to take them anywhere without having one adult per baby. They are truly a handful. Yet I love them so much and miss them when I go one day without seeing them. In some little way I think they may miss me too.

Hope you are all having a great Labor Day. I hope you are off work and getting ready to watch some of the US Open. What a great send off to Agassi yesterday. I hope that in my life I will have a small group (I don’t even dream of adoring millions) who will think that I have added something to their lives by sharing some of my life with them.

Blessings!

Don't you just hate that sick in the pit of your stomach feeling you get when you have been insulted? Why do people feel the need to throw punches below the belt?

I guess there are some topics that people just feel like it is OK to be obnoxious about? So I am trying to take the high road and stay off of that lower ground. It ain't easy....