Y'all ready for this? .......

Can you believe it is time for football season to start up again? (Well, high school football at least -- still a few more weeks until the college boys kick back in).

Ironically enough, when I was in the 6th grade, my English teacher, Mrs. Becki Buffaloe, had us make a little book about ourselves and in one section, we had to list things we liked & disliked. How ironic that in 6th grade two things I disliked are now two of my favorite things: 1) NASCAR and 2) Football. (So I probably really did like them back then but just couldn't think of anything else to put!)

I'm excited about football season kicking back up. I love going to the games; it's a sport I understand and it's fun to watch. I played for a few years on a girl's team (many, many moons ago) but a substantial knee injury quickly ended my career. But what fun it was!!

I am a dedicated fan of the Athens Drive Jaguars since my friend, Steven, is a starter on the Varsity team. I went to all of his games last season on JV and Varsity and this season will hopefully catch them all, again. He's a great athlete who has a lot of potential. He's like a little brother to me and I'm so proud of him. I know he has a lot of opportunity to succeed, so I pray he keeps himself straight, with the right crowd and if so, I know he will go far. And maybe one day, he will play for my other "orange" team -- the University of Tennessee!!

So as tonight starts a new season, I hope everyone will support a local team -- whether you like the sport or not, go to a game or two. It motivates the kids and it is a lot of fun. And best of luck Athens Drive may you guys kick-butt this season (especially Middle Creek's!) and go crush 'em, Steven!!

What Matters Most

Today, I was listening to one of my favorite Christian contemporary songs "What Matters Most" by Wes King, and I was reminded of how certain things in our life really shouldn't matter to us.

Does it really matter where you went to school, what color car you drive, what size house you life in, etc. No, in all honesty, it does not matter what school you went to, what kind of car you drive (nor color), nor how big your house is. Those things are all temporary.

We need to focus on the things that matter most to us -- serving and honoring God, spending time with family and friends and being an example and encouragement to those around you. You never know when someone near you may be in need or hurting and all they might need is for someone to just say "hello" or compliment them on something. It never hurts to express your emotions or your thoughts. In the long run, that is what matters the most ... it isn't all about the world we live in, it's how we impact the world.

Here are the lyrics to this song and I hope you find it very every opportunity to stop and smell the flowers, tell those you care about that you love them and just do whatever you can to be an example and leader in the world around you.

Wes King's "What Matters Most"

Inhabit the trembling, yet be brave.
Embrace your weakness, yet be strong.
Say what you have to say
But always admit when you're wrong.
Accept what you are, yet keep striving
To become that which you've been declared.
Be strong, yet bend with the wind.
Mourn, yet never despair.

Chorus:

Faith moves mountains,
Hope hold on,
Love has paid what is owed.
Belief is beautiful,
Trust is good,
But love is what matters the most.

Verse 2:

Dwell in the moment, yet keep moving,
Knowing you're just passing through.
Give all that you are, yet recieve
All that is worthy and true.
Be at peace but never run from the battle,
For the battle is where peace is found.
And remember if you don't have love,
You have nothing no matter how profound.

A Shelter in the time of storm ...

So I am sure many of us are familiar with the hymn "Jesus is the rock in a weary land, a shelter in the time of storm." This song is very powerful because no matter what storms we may be going thru in our personal lives, Jesus is our rock and He will protect us. But not only in personal storms but in actual storms of nature, as well.

My friend & I just got back from a mini-vacation to the beach. We made a stop over at the exclusive Bald Head Island. I have lived in North Carolina my whole life but had never been to Bald Head. It is a very unique place and you almost feel very secluded and a recluse of sorts. One of the neatest things on the island is the lack of automobiles. One either walks, bikes or golf karts (we opted to golf kart). Well, if you don't have a place to stay or are just going for the day, you can sightsee at the various little shops on the island or visit the beaches.



One of our main reasons for going to the island was to see North Carolina's oldest standing lighthouses - Old Baldy. We "cruised by" in our kart upon our arrival but decided to wait until later to tour the lighthouse. Needless to say, when we got back to the lighthouse, a monsoon hit ... rain, wind, thunder, lightning -- it was a wild combination, even wilder knowing you are on a secluded island only accessible by ferry! The keeper at the lighthouse didn't want to allow us to tour it because the storm was to get worse, but since we had come for the day & primarily to see Old Baldy, she allowed us inside and to climb to the top.



Now granted the view wasn't great since it was raining so hard & the wind was blowing. But while the storm might have been raging outside, we felt very safe inside the lighthouse. It had withstood numerous hurricanes since being built in 1817, and if it could withstand Hurricanes Hazel & Fran, then I knew we'd be safer inside Old Baldy than in our little golf kart (though cute as it was!)

So on this stormy day, the lighthouse also proved to be our shelter in the time of storm. Never fear during storms in our lives (personal or caused by nature), the Lord is there to protect us and He will provide us shelter, even if it is in a very old lighthouse (bet many people can't say they've been trapped INSIDE a lighthouse during a storm!)

Good Day Sunshine ...

I don't know why but I love the song "Good Day Sunshine" performed by The Beatles. I really can't pinpoint why I like it, but every so often you like a song and really can't explain why. I guess I just like the beat and I like to see the sun shine. And boy lately has the sun been shining ...

I don't ever recall North Carolina being as hot as it has been. During the month of June, 22 to 24 days of the month we were in the 90s or above; already in July we've set record heat in the 100s. BUT you won't hear me complaining. I cannot stand cold weather. I hate air conditioning blowing on me. If you come to my office, you will probably find my heater running. Now this has not always been the case, it used to be a van running but with thyroid issues, your system sometimes reverses on you.

One thing I've come to realize that even on days when the sun literally may not be shining or we may be going thru something in our lives where we don't think even if the sun is shining, our lives still seem dark; we need to realize that the sun and the Son always shine. Even on days when we may be going thru something truly trying, we can look back at something in our lives that makes us smile or laugh or something that is meaningful to us and allow that to be something that shines in our lives.

Just to see you smile ...

Doesn't it mean the world to you to make someone's day by doing something for them and seeing a smile creep across their face or hear the joy of laughter in their voices? I know that small thing can mean the world to me, and a lot of times just to make someone smile or laugh can help improve my day tremendously.

One of my daily goals is to make someone laugh or smile. No matter who it is nor what I have to do, I always strive each day to make someone laugh and smile. No matter how bad I may personally feel on the inside, there is no point in making others gloomy or seeing them gloomy, too. Sometimes by cheering them up, it can also help boost your own self-esteem and turn your day around. What is that saying about taking lemons and turning them into lemonade? Well it's something sort of like that, though I prefer the saying taking lemons and turning it into chocolate, haha!



Anyways, I have had several times this week where I have seen joy come from all sorts of people and that has really helped me to stay positive and have an okay week. I started this week off by stopping by to drop off some Silly Bandz for the kids at my church's summer, track-out camp. It was so cool to see the excitement in the kids' eyes over something as small and simple as a Silly Bandz. My favorite was a sweet little girl who came up to me and asked oh so politely if she could have a Silly Band. She went on to say how she had never had one before and her family couldn't get them for her (I'm assuming because of finances). It nearly broke my heart; I was ready to give her all the bandz I had on my arm. But needless to say, she picked a sunshine as her choice. So making that little girl's day by giving her a small Silly Bandz truly helped me realize that small things do make a difference in our daily lives.

We never know who may be hurting around us and whether it is something as simple as a small hello, a short email, a hug, or just a small word or deed, it could possibly impact their life and turn their sour day into a sweet one. Always remember, everyone needs to smile. I love seeing the smiles on my parents' faces, small kids, my best friend, older people ... you name it, seeing them smile and hearing them laugh, is not only good medicine for them, but it is for me and it helps me realize that I've accomplished my goal for the day.

Tell people you love them, hug those you are close to and spend as much time as you can with your friends and family. We don't know when our last day might be and we need to hold on tight to all our memories and live every day to the fullest. If you let yourself get too tied down with work or other activities that replaces the time you should be spending with your family & friends, just think when those people are gone years from now, you'll have missed out on spending time with them.

Anyways ... have a blessed day and let the sunshine in. I'll steal my friend Phyllis' motto: Live, Laugh and Love!