E is for ...

EASTER

As I was on my lunch break stroll around the block, I couldn’t help but notice the dogwood trees as they are in full bloom on this lovely North Carolina spring day. The dogwoods made me reflect on the day we celebrated yesterday, Easter, and the symbolism that surrounds that day.

Similarly to Christmas, many people get so wrapped up in the commercialization of the holiday, that they truly forget the true meaning of the season. Don’t get me wrong, there is absolutely nothing wrong with going to get a new Easter dress (I did myself) nor is there anything wrong with having a little Easter egg hunt, family gathering, having your picture made with the Easter bunny or any of the commercialization that coincides with the day so long as you are taking time to reflect upon the real meaning of Easter – Jesus Christ.

Growing up, I was always quite dolled-up for Easter in my frillies, and sure thing I loved getting some Easter candy (I still do – Reese Peanut Butter Eggs and fruit-flavored Tootsie Rolls, in case anyone wants to drop any hints for the Easter bunny or anyone wants to deliver some goodies to me!!), but I also was keenly aware that my presence was to be in the church on Easter morning to celebrate the risen Savior.

This Easter, my pastor stated something that I honestly had not really considered before and it was truly spot on. He said that while Christmas is an important time of the year to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Easter is the most important and meaningful holiday. We serve a RISEN Savior. Our Savior was born in a lowly manger in Bethlehem, but He was ultimately born to die. Can you imagine knowing you are born to ultimately sacrifice your life for the sake of millions? Can you imagine what God must have felt giving His only Son to die for us? I am reminded of the song that Tabatha sang in church during the Christmas holiday appropriately entitled “Can you Imagine?” – I have reflected on that song many, many times over and even this Easter, I paused to listen to it online again to just soak in the words and allow myself to ponder and attempt to place myself there in the situation. However, the more I contemplated it, I realized that I honestly cannot imagine being in God’s shoes and the thoughts that must have gone through His head, much less the thoughts that must have gone through Christ’s. But while Jesus was born to die, He also ROSE again! He is NOT dead. He was bruised and beaten and hung on an old wooden cross to die for our sins, but praise the good Lord, the grave couldn’t conceal Him for long. Three short, but I am sure it seemed long, days later, He AROSE from the grave and ascended in to Heaven. He is still alive and waiting for us to join Him. Now, isn’t THAT something to imagine and look forward to?

Easter is the day to truly be grateful – it is the day we have set aside to serve our RISEN Savior, and know that because of Him, we can be washed cleaned of all our sins and be able to live a life of glory with Him in Heaven! What a glorious thought that our Jesus rules and reigns and lives forever! How many other religions can say that their “god” is alive and living? Hmmm…I can’t think of any…nope, nada, zilch, NONE!!

So, when you try on your Easter bonnet and dress, when you sample your Easter goodies and spend time with your family, please, please, don’t forget to spend most of your time reflecting upon why we honor Easter. And furthermore, while Easter is the one day we actually set aside to reflect, we need to be doing this year-round. Don’t just let Easter be the one time of the year that you go to church and are grateful that Jesus is alive. Do that daily! Enjoy everything that God has blessed you with and given to you, and when you pass a dogwood, always reflect on the crown of thorns placed upon His head, the “markers” (as little Colton Burpo calls them in “Heaven is for Real”) that are on His hands and feet where He shed His innocent blood for us but most importantly, that blood can wash us white as snow. Just believe and accept Him. I serve a risen Savior and I pray you do, too!

D is for...

DAFFODILS

As the winter days and nights begin to blend and never seem to end, we desperately long for the future spring days ahead. Once the cold temperatures start to dissipate, we begin to feel an excitement welling deep within as the days gradually are getting longer and the sun beams overhead brightly lighting our paths ahead. The landscape slowly begins to transform from the dark and bleakness that comes with the winter season into an array of colorful assortments. One of the first signs of spring’s arrival is the greenery that begins to creep up along the banks of the lakes or ponds, along the shoulders of the roads we travel and even in and around varying places in our yards. Within a few days, these small green leafy stems begin to bud and turn into a bright and beautiful daffodil. Daffodils can be compared to the sunshine – the sun warms us physically in the sky from winter’s harsh conditions; while the daffodils can warm our hearts as they provide some shine along the landscapes that cross our paths every day.

As a little girl, we had an abundant amount of daffodils that formed in various locations throughout our yard. I always called them buttercups (even though there is another plant called a buttercup) and always wanted to run smell them as soon as they started to bloom. As I got a little older, I would run out into the yard and pick handfuls of the flowers to bring inside to my mother. Maybe it was a symbolic gesture of a tiny child bringing flowers to her mother or maybe it was just the arrangement of the flowers in a beautiful vase and the fragrance that filled the home, that have left lasting memories imprinted upon my soul. But, either way, as soon as spring had “sprung”, I was racing out the door in a wild search of God’s beautiful, natural gifts to us – gifts that can light up our soul both indoors and outdoors.

I often remember taking drives along the long back country roads with my family, and there guiding our way would be paths of daffodils trailing alongside of the road. It always amazed me how the daffodils seem to blossom in any location. Almost as a little reminder the daffodil is saying that while I may be a tiny, fragile little plant, I can still accomplish many deeds and bring joy to people’s lives and light up their world. Many times, we need to view ourselves as a daffodil or some other plant. We feel like we are firmly rooted in a setting but suddenly someone or something comes along and plucks us out of the ground to put in a vase on display (or so we feel we have been plucked up). Don’t be discouraged about being plucked out of the ground, but rather see it is as an opportunity to be re-located to a place where you can bring warmth and joy to another situation, and realize that while we may be fragile souls, with God’s help, we can accomplish anything that He wants us to accomplish.

By now, most of the daffodils are beginning their spring retreat, but if you can still spot a few here or there, take time to pull over and smell the daffodils! Or grab you a handful to take home and either put in a vase or hold high in the sky and thank the Lord for providing us with some daily sunshine and more of His beautiful creations!

C is for ...

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS!!!

“Those Christmas lights light up the street
Down where the sea and city meet
May all your troubles soon be gone
Oh, Christmas lights, keep shinin' on”

These are lyrics from Coldplay’s song “Christmas Lights” and I find these specific lyrics quite endearing. For whatever reason, I have always had a fascination with Christmas lights and decorations. It doesn’t necessarily matter what kind, color or anything in specific, I just love all the lights, variety and warmth it brings during such a hallowed season.

Ever since I was a little girl, we have always put our Christmas tree and decorations up in mid-November. I even petitioned to leave the tree up year-round and just re-decorate it each month based on the holiday that was at hand. (That idea quickly got shot down, bummer!) Putting up the tree and seeing the lights always brought about a calming and relaxing presence for me. I used to go lay UNDER the tree (before the presents were there) and look from the bottom of the tree to the top and absorbing in all the color that exuded from our Christmas tree.

Another of my favorite Christmastime memories was when we would go out riding throughout the county and towns looking at the Christmas light displays in many neighborhoods or towns. Many of the sights would often include started with the historic homes in the Oakwood area of Raleigh, before cruising down to the larger mansions and then always a ride thru Cameron Village to look at the multi-colored street of trees (sadly, they no longer exist). I always was amazed at the lighted trees that used to be placed in the middle of lakes or ponds – as a child, I could not figure out how that actually worked, particularly with no one getting electrocuted!!

While I still do enjoy all of the local light displays, the best light display I have seen is a good little drive from our house – quite literally, “over the river and thru the woods” but more like “over the mountains and rivers and thru the woods Dollywood here we come!” If you want to see millions of lights in a small confined area, you need to take a trip to Dollywood. The entire park turns in to a sea of color for the Smoky Mountain Christmas celebration. The best part is taking the train ride (in the dark) throughout the park and up into the mountains while glancing back at a park full of color. It looks like you are looking down on a rainbow, rather than looking skyward for one.

Even though we still have several more months until the 2014 Christmas season, I encourage you to take a moment to ride thru your neighborhood, town or city or take a trek to see some Christmas lights. People take a lot of time to put up some festive displays and why should you be a Scrooge about it? Christmas is the season of all seasons, so be joyous this 2014 year. And while looking deep into the twinkling of the lights, always remember the true reason for the season is Jesus, and without Him, there would be no reason to celebrate Christmas and in reality, there may be no us. Enjoy your Christmas and light it up!


“Oh, Christmas lights, light up the street
Light up the fireworks in me
May all your troubles soon be gone
Those Christmas lights keep shinin' on”

B is for ...

BULLS BASEBALL

Take me out to the ballgame, take me out to the park… Aren’t those some lovely words? Well, for sports fans like myself, yes, they likely are; for the rest of you, well, I’ll just pray for you! To say the least, I am a sports junkie, as I attend numerous sporting events each year. And, while the thrill of being at a basketball game where I can scream, holler and act like a fool is amazing, there are days when I just prefer the slow-paced, somewhat serene and solitude bliss that comes only from a baseball game. Baseball allows you to involve all of your senses in a different level than with other events – you can utilize your senses in smelling the fresh cut grass, seeing the rich clay of the infield, hearing the crack of the baseball bat as it makes contact with the baseball, keeping a constant awareness of where the ball is going to go (and praying it’s not on top of your head), smelling all the wonderful aromas of the variety of foods provided at the stadium and tasting them for that matter, too! My favorite games to go to are either the midday games or the early evening games – I love the feel of the sun beating down on me while taking in a game or feel the change of the temperature as the sun begins its slow descent over the ballpark.

While I do typically find myself attending more college baseball games, fortunately for me, I am also able to venture a few miles away and take in a game at one of the finest Minor League stadiums that exists – the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The DBAP is home to the reigning Governor’s Cup Champions team the Durham Bulls. However, the DBAP also plays hosts to many ACC games, particularly for the Duke Blue Devils, but also for the ACC Baseball Tournament. I may not know many of the players on the Bulls’ roster, but it is still a fun and relaxing venue to take your family or friends and partake in some local entertainment. It’s the perfect place to grab a seat, watch some baseball and catch up on whatever else is going on in your lives. And of course, eat an abundance of ballpark snacks (that’s probably the best part)

It is always my luck with I go to the DBAP something always happens. I have been there when massive rain and lightning storms hit (you want to talk about running fast and setting world-Olympic record paces, that’s me when lightning strikes around a baseball stadium with metal coverage – I am GONE!!). Then the opposite has occurred where I have had terrific seats and it is blazing hot outside. After those games, I don’t come home drenched with rainwater, but rather come home smelling like burnt chicken or something from the sunburnt skin. But, one of my favorite times at the Bulls’ park was last season during the ACC Baseball Tournament when the hometown rivalry of NC State and UNC not only set an attendance record at the park, but it also went for 18 innings!!!! Needless to say, you probably could’ve gotten a sunburn and a good nap in and the game STILL be going on. And for the record, while I was there, I did NOT last all 18 innings.

Besides all of the amazing foods and baseball at a Durham Bulls game, the best entertainment by far is everyone’s favorite Wool.E.Bull. “Wool-E” has to be, hands-down, one of the best mascots that exists. He is so spunky and engages the fan base so well. Plus, what other mascot has an actual go-kart that he drives around the stadium in between innings tossing out t-shirts to endearing fans. No game is complete without a sighting from “Wool-E”. So, if you are having a really bad day and just need a place to calm down and unwind, why not venture over to the DBAP or your local hometown baseball stadium and take in a nice evening game. And while you’re there, “buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks...” You won’t regret it!

A is for ...

AMISH

Don’t you find the culture of the Amish people intriguing? I know I certainly do. I have been to Amish Country in Pennsylvania on several occasions and no matter when I go, I am more and more intrigued by their lifestyle. They are absolutely devoted and dedicated to their traditions, and that, above all else, speaks volumes to their character. It’s a shame that more of us can’t adhere and uphold the traditions that we claim to hold near and dear to our hearts, as well.

When I first heard of the Amish culture, not only was I intrigued, but I was also a bit apprehensive. At first glance, they can appear almost dark and stand-offish, and many of them solely want to maintain their privacy. But after going on the farms of several Amish families, I have found that while they may be a tad bit distant from the traditional day Americans, they are very nice and caring individuals. Just like us with things we do in our daily lives, they also take great pride in their handmade products and things that they do within their communities.

Another thing that I enjoy about Amish Country is the calm and peace you feel in the atmosphere that surrounds the area. You don’t have the noise and hustle and bustle as you do with the city life. There is no traffic congestion, unless you get behind a procession of buggies. The air is clear and fresh, even with the ever abundant smell of cow “freshness” –which, to me, smells a lot better than the carbon fumes coming from the car in front of me in the traffic line. Amish Country is good for your soul and spirit! For a brief moment, it allows you to let your mind wander and imagine what it would be like to live a day or so in their shoes. I think I would love to ride around on a horse and buggy for a few days, but after that, I would need my electricity, my make-up, my regular lifestyle, but who knows, maybe a complete change would do the body some good! The Amish are well adapted to their culture and why should we infringe upon that?

One of my favorite memories from Amish Country came when my Mom and I returned from a church bus trip there. We were telling my Dad all the stories that we had heard and of the places we went and what we saw. During that trip, one of the funniest things I saw was a horse and buggy sitting in the drive thru window of the bank – that was just not a sight I imagined seeing. Dad acted interested but at the same time, he seemed suspicious. I don’t think he really believed that people actually rode around in horse and buggies in the towns. A few years after that trip, in August 2008, we had to take a trek to New York for a cousin’s wedding. So, I decided it would be an opportune time to take Dad to Amish Country and let him see firsthand what we had been talking about. We stayed in Hershey and commuted the short distance over to Lancaster and the surrounding towns. Our first stop was at the Kitchen Kettle Village and the town of Intercourse. Mom and I were shopping in the stores and walking down the street when the next thing we know, Dad is trotting down the sidewalk in aghast – he had SEEN a buggy. Not only had he SEEN the buggy, he decided to PURSUE the buggy to try to document that on camera. It was a funny sight, but at least now, he believes!

I highly recommend that everyone should take the trek up to Lancaster and take in the natural scenic beauty that is before you. The landscape of the rolling hills, the endless rows of corn, the skyline of silos and windmills, the voluminous count of our favorite dairy cows – it often makes you ponder whether you are really in America, as you think could this natural beauty and calmness still exist in such a hectic and modern day world? The answer is yes! So, take time to stop and go for an adventure to Amish Country. Make sure you get some homemade grape jelly from an Amish family, see a production at Sight and Sound Theaters, eat at a smorgasbord restaurant and just take a deep breath and inhale the freshness, even from the cows!