The Old Book

At the end of 2012, I bought a journal book for 2013 and I have written in it every day (minus 2 or 3 days).   The binding is broken and the pages are pretty tattered but we have become good friends this year.   When I look back through the pages I realize it contains more of a summary of things I did everyday rather than deep thoughts and the baring of my soul.   It works for me although I would like to get better at expressing more of my feelings than just facts.  

A couple weeks ago Maddy Welch (my 6 year old granddaughter) was here after school and she saw my journal for the first time.   She asked me what it was.  I showed it to her and read her a few entries.   She wanted to hold it herself and leaf through the pages.  She immediately was attached to it and she told me she liked it because it was old looking.....and because she loves notebooks too.

The next day after school Maddy and her cousin Izzy Martinson (my 7 year old granddaughter) were here.  Maddy asked me if she could show Izzy my “old book."  They both headed up to my bedroom and I could hear them admiring my old, broken down, tattered journal.  

It's now the last day of the year and I'm about to write my last entry for 2013. In saying goodbye to this old tattered friend, I intend to find a quiet place to read through all the words recorded which sum up a year of my life.

My new 2014 journal is already purchased and is a beautiful leatherette book.  I can't wait to make my first entry, but by this time next year it too will look like an Old Book.

 

Fulghum's Recommendations

I'm reading Robert Fulghum's "It Was On Fire When I Lay Down On It," and really like 9 recommendations he made:

1. Buy lemonade from any kid who is selling
2. Anytime you can vote on anything, vote
3. Attend the 25th reunion of your high school class 
4. Choose having time over having money
5. Always take the scenic route
6. Give at least something to any beggar who asks
7. And give money to all street musicians
8. Always be someone's valentine
9. When the circus comes to town, be there

A few recommendations of my own:

1. Make family a priority
2. Read books your grandchildren are reading
3. When you see someone you know, always speak to them and call them by name
4. Express gratitude
5. Plan to be generous
6. Stay in touch with friends
7. Don't wait until you've cleaned house to invite friends over
8. Find time to be still
9. Get involved in a local church
10. Do what you enjoy doing
11. Always eat birthday cake

Quotes from Catalyst West 2013

My husband (Pastor Dave) & I were blessed to attend Catalyst West this year.  (Thanks LifePoint for sending your pastor).

Quotes from Catalyst West 2013.

Andy Stanley - Senior Pastor, North Point Ministries.

• Info and insight alone do not a leader make.
• Our greatest contribution to the kingdom of God may not be what we do, but who we raise.
• It's better to make a difference than a point.
• Dads, your words to your kids count!
• When we're doing good, we learn nothing.

Jim Collins - Best-selling author.

• Most people will not live a great life because they settle for a good life.
• Never confuse personality with leadership.
• Turn from being interesting to being interested.
• Arrogance will lead to destruction.
• Bad decisions with good intensions are still bad decisions.
• If your organization can't be great without you, it can't be great.
• Creativity is natural.  Discipline is not natural.   Marry the two.

Jud Wilhite - Senior Pastor, Central Christian Church. 

• I want to be made into a leader who is known for a faithful and sincere heart, not for a spectacular ministry.
• It all comes back to Jesus.

Tom Shadyac - Screenwriter and Director. 

• The more we give away (or serve) the wealthier we become.

Matt Chandler - Lead Pastor, The Village Church.

• The Bible speaks to everything.   We must start with the Word.
• God works in the mess.

Louie Giglio - Pastor, Passion City Church.  

• Would you let Jesus serve you?
• Those who are served, serve well.
• As a church leader, what motivates you?  The gospel or a paycheck?

Andy Stanley:

• How to create high-performance teams:
• Select performance-oriented people.
• Clarify the "what" and the "why."
• Orchestrate and evaluate everything.

John Ortberg - Senior Pastor, Menlo Park Presbyterian Church

• Ministry begins with
• Acceptance of God
• Sustenance (prayer, close friends, worship)
• Significance
• Achievement
• Eliminate hurry from your life.  (Ortberg quoted Dallas Willard)

Christine Caine - Author and Founder, the A21 Campaign

• Stop being the church on Sunday and start being the church 24-7.
• Tolerance is not endorsement.
• It's not about me but about the generation that's coming
• Get your face out of Facebook and into the Word, and our face on the ground - praying.

Songs that blessed me:

• Oceans, Hillsong
• And I will call upon Your name and keep my eyes above the waves.  When oceans rise my soul will rest in Your embrace for I am Yours and You are mine.
• Forever Reign, Kristian Stanfill
• I'm running to Your arms, I'm running to Your arms, the riches of Your love will always be enough.  Nothing compares to Your embrace.  Light of the world forever reign.
• O Praise Him (All this for a King), David Crowder Band
• Come to my Rescue (Be Lifted High), Hillsong
• In my life, be lifted high, in our world, be lifted high, in our love, be lifted high
• Cornerstone, Hillsong
• Christ alone; cornerstone.  Weak made strong; in the Saviour's love.  Through the storm, He is Lord, Lord of all.

Catalyst Atlanta 2012 - MUSIC

Before Catalyst Atlanta 2012, we attended church at City of Life in Kissimmee, Florida.  They sang a new song by Israel Houghton, "Jesus at the Center."  It's a powerful worship song and definitely one I wanted to bring home to LifePoint.

While we were at Catalyst, Isarel Houghton was actually there and sang several of his songs, which included "Jesus at the Center."  Wow!   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIIhzTQkK9o  "From my heart to the heavens, Jesus be the center.  It's all about You, yes, it's all about You."

The Sunday before Dave and I left for Catalyst, he used Eddie Kirkland's song, "The Solution" in his message.  Again, at Catalyst Eddie Kirkland was there and led that song.  (Eddie Kirkland is one of the worship leaders at North Point Church in Atlanta where Andy Stanley pastors.)  It's a great song with powerful lyrics.     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eoqxYtUJEs

On the second day of Catalyst, the North Point worship team/band led a couple songs and then the stage went dark.  When the lights came back up, Michael W. Smith was at the keyboard leading "Above All, " and went into "Healing Rain."  He ended with "Agnus Dei."  The Guinnet Center was filled with the presence of God as 13,000 church leaders sang, "Alleluia, Alleluia, for the Lord God Almighty reigns.  Holy, holy are You, Lord God Almighty.  Worthy is the Lamb, worthy is the Lamb."  It was such a beautiful sound and sight as Michael Smith's hands were stretched toward heaven and everyone sang acapella with hands raised in praise.  It was one of the highlights.

Gungor was a featured artist the first night of Catalyst.  I didn't know who they were, but did recognize "Beautiful Things" that they sang. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyPBtExE4W0)  I didn't realize until I got home that Gungor and Israel Houghton wrote, "Friend of God."  Michael and his wife Lisa Gungor are accomplished musicians and he writes beautiful lyrics and music.  At the moment I don't have any Gungor songs on my iPhone, but I definitely want to add his music to my collection.

I don't remember who led "One Thing Remains" by Jesus Culture, but it still rings in my heart.  "God's love never fails, it never gives up, it never runs out on me."   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_KXsMCJgBQ

At the end of Andy Stanley's session on the first day, he had the North Point worship team lead a song, but I never caught the title or who wrote it.   I did manage to write down these four lines.
 
     "The maker of the heavens knows my name
     The author of the oceans gave me grace
     My soul, my soul will ever sing Your praise
     Who am I that You would find me here."

My soul, my soul, will ever sing Your praise.

Catalyst 2012 Trip - FRIENDS

Dave and I attended Catalyst 2012 in Atlanta this October.  This has been our third Catalyst Leadership Conference (one on the west coast and two on the east coast), and they just keep getting better.  

On this trip to Catalyst we flew out a little early and spent time in Florida and Georgia visiting family and friends. Over the next little bit I'll blog about some of our experiences on the trip, but wanted to start with all the friends we saw.

• Gary, Jan and their son Sean Nichols (Melbourne, FL).  Gary and Dave (my husband) lived next door to one another as kids and went to school together.  We saw them last year and it was so great to see them again this year.   We met at Woody's for barbecue chicken.  I think it's so neat that Gary and Jan were high school sweethearts and are still going strong.  

Sue Pafford French and her sister-in-law met us all at Woody's.  The Pafford's and Welch's have been friends forever.  Sue's sister, Candy, was in our wedding.

1. Barbara (Berg) Smith and Dave were in high school band together and this is the first time he's seen her since he left Florida in 1969.  I love meeting Dave's friends.  It's helps me put a face and personality behind the stories he tells.   She just happened to be visiting her family in Melbourne while we were there, but she now lives in Apopka, FL. 

Kissimmee, Florida - Michael and Mary Sue Flippo.
It was such a blessing to worship with them at City of Life church where Michael serves as the Music Director.  We knew them back in Cleveland, TN when we were all newly weds.  We had such a delightful visit with them that included tears and lots of laughter.  They blessed our hearts.  We ate together at Fat Boys.

Deland, Florida - W.L and Lyndal Welch.
It was great that we could spend some good quality  time with Dave's Dad and Lyndal.  One of the highlights was the night Lyndal's son, Raymond, and her daughter, Joy & husband Rick came over and fried perch and hush puppies for dinner.  Good food and good company!

Atlanta, Georgia at Catalyst 2012 - Austin and Spencer Hughes, sons of our good friends Doyle and Lawana (Cleveland, TN).  There were 13,000 people at this conference and what are the chances that we would park next to one another in the parking garage and that I would recognize them.  They were such gentlemen to take a picture with an old lady they didn't know.  I loved seeing them.  I think it was a God-thing.

Also in Atlanta, we saw Carole Ann Stubbs.  She and I graduated from high school together (TMS, Cleveland, TN) as best friends.  We've stayed in touch all these years and it was great to see her again.  We met at the Cheesecake Factory (mmmm, red velvet cheesecake) for dinner and then spent the night at her house.   We stayed up late "catching up."   I also enjoyed a wonderful phone conversation with her sister, Kathy.
Hopefully soon, we'll see them both in Alaska.

Rick and Gay Johnson drove down to Macon to have breakfast with us at the Cracker Barrel.  The were just starting their family in Alaska the last time we saw them and now they're grandparents.  We rehashed so many good memories.....it was so fun to catch up.
Just for the record, that is NOT a smile on Rick's face.  :)

Foster (Fawster) and Sheila Bell - Macon, GA.

Even though I knew Foster from my days in Cleveland, TN, it was in 2008 that we reconnected when they took a cruise to Alaska and visited us in Fairbanks.   They're wonderful friends and were so gracious and hospitable to let us borrow their car for the Catalyst Conference and let us stay with them after the conference.  Sheila helped me get my southern drawl back.  Good friends are a treasure!

People we saw that I didn't get a picture of.....

• Patty (Mallard) Lowe (Florida).  She's a high school band friend of Dave's and he hadn't seen her in 40 years.  We had such a delightful visit at Dogs R Us.
• Linda Hnilica (Edgewater, Florida).  Dave knew her and her family when he was still a kid in Florida.  We reconnected with her last year in Chicago.  Linda is a beautiful, talented lady.  We loved visiting with her at Red Lobster.
• The Pastor and his wife where the Welch's attend Sunday evening services.   They were so friendly to us and we appreciate the care they give to the Welch's.
• Beautiful Hannah Flippo (Mike and Mary Sue's daughter-in-law).  Sorry we didn't get to meet Clarke.
• Ronda Flowers in Macon, Ga.  I didn't know Ronda, but know her Mom and Dad, Richard and Carolyn Carter from Cleveland, TN.  
• Jan (Phipps) in Macon, Ga.  She told me that she and my Mom had attended International Youth Camp together (years ago) and that Mom had been such a blessing to her at a time she needed it.  That blessed my heart.   
• We attended a Sunday service at the Avondale church with the Bells.   The people there were so friendly and welcoming.  They made us feel right at home and we were blessed to worship with them.
• We also attended a 75th anniversary celebration at a Church of God of Prophecy in Macon, GA with dinner on the ground......fried chicken, greens, fried okra, black eyed peas, cornbread and lots of sweet tea - plus all kinds of salads and desserts.  

Joni & Glen (GA) - we're so sorry we didn't get to connect with you.   You were so close, yet we missed you.

Wes & Julie Teel (FL) -  we missed seeing you this time.  

Tom & Yvonne Queener, one of these days I hope we can see you again.  

We're so blessed, enriched and thankful for all the friends (old and new) in our lives.

Did you notice that most of our visits with friends involved food?

  

Good Friends

I recently flew to Spokane to visit my friend Teresa, and attend a Women of Faith (WOF) Conference (more about the WOF conference in another blog).   We first met twenty-nine years ago in church when her husband was transferred in the military to Ft. Wainwright.   Our children grew up together....we became family friends.  After a couple tours in Alaska, they were transferred out, but we never lost contact with them.

Over the years we've visited them in California, Texas, Nevada, Florida, Missouri, Washington and even England.  

"Sometimes talking to your best friend is all the therapy you need."  On this visit:

• We reminisced about people we know and things we've done together.
• We bragged about our grandchildren.
• We laughed together.
• We discussed our parents and families.
• We shared recipe's (thanks for my new favorite dessert: Vanilla Pudding Dessert with fresh strawberries and crushed vanilla wafers).
• We discussed books and favorite authors.
• I read the book "The Orphaned Adult" (Understanding and Coping with Grief and Change After the Death of Our Parents by Alexander Levy).
• We talked about home remodeling.  I got some good ideas to take home for some of our remodeling projects.  
• We ate out at places we don't have in Fairbanks, Alaska.
• I enjoyed their fresh grown tomatoes on bologna sandwiches (my favorite).
• We bragged about our grandchildren some more.
• We even bragged about our children.
• We shopped together.
• We, along with her husband, visited:
• Manito Park, which was filled with the most incredible and beautiful flowers; and
• We drove about 90 miles to the Palouse Falls State Park and enjoyed the view of a waterfalls and massive canyon.  
• I enjoyed spending time with their son, daughter-in-law and 2 grandchildren.  One evening we all enjoyed fish taco's together at Anthony's and then walked along the river after dinner and dessert.  A highlight of that walk was when Teresa's five year old granddaughter, Teighlyr, joined me, held my hand and we talked for a few minutes before she scurried on.
• The weather was 95+ all week with no clouds or rain.  It was beautiful, although too hot for me.  I did enjoy sitting outside (in the shade) as much as possible.  Thank God for their air conditioning though.
• I was able to connect with a cousin on my Mom's side of the family.   We met at Red Robin for a three hour lunch.  Hey, it takes time to "catch up."   :)
• We worshipped together at the Women of Faith Conference.
• Good friends are like stars.  You don't always see them, but you know they're always there.
• Did I mention we bragged on our grandchildren?

Time Flies - Things Change

Forty-one years of marriage.  It's funny, but 1971 doesn't seem that long ago.

In 1971:

• A first class stamp cost 8 cents
• World Series Champions:   Pittsburgh Pirates
• Superbowl V Champions:  Baltimore Colts
• Most Popular TV shows:  
• All in the Family
• The Flip Wilson Show
• Gunsmoke
• The Mary Tyler Moore Show
• Here's Lucy
• Some Number One Songs:
• My Sweet Lord, George Harrison
• Knock Three Times, Dawn
• One Bad Apple, The Osmonds
• Me and Bobby McGee, Janis Joplin
• Just My Imagination, The Temptations
• Joy to the World, Three Dog Night
• You've Got a Friend, James Taylor
• How Can You Mend a Broken Heart, The Bee Gees
• Go Away Little Girl, Donny Osmond
• Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves, Cher

I remember listening to records, 8-tracks, cassettes, CD's, and now we just download songs from iTunes.

The first computer we bought was an Apple 64Kb/memory.  I could type faster than the computer could respond.   Now we have laptops, iPads and iPhones.

Not long after we were married we purchased a Chevy Impala for $6,000.00.   The GMC Envoy sitting in our driveway today is not only more expensive but is equipped with shoulder harness seat belts, airbags, cup holders (not enough for my liking), dual temperature controls.  We're still not up there with leather and heated/cooling seats, nor GPS installed.   We do have booster seats for the younger grandchildren, while our own kids stood up in the back floorboard with no car seats.  Thankfully, they survived.

We've always had color TV, but they have gotten larger, thinner, with crisper pictures and better sound.  They now hang on the wall.

In 1972 Dave and I moved from Anchorage, Alaska to Cleveland, Tennessee for two years where Dave went to college.   We shipped four BIG cardboard boxes of household goods (remember we hadn't been married long and didn't have much) for $78.00.  We drove from Anchorage to Cleveland and the gas in Alaska cost 55-cents/gallon.  In Canada it was closer to 70-cents/gallon.  Although it was sold by the liter, we figured the cost by gallons.  When we got back in the states (lower 48), the gas varied from 30 to 40-cents/gallon.  Hotel rooms were $10.00 to $15.00.    Forty years later, in Fairbanks, Alaska we're paying $3.89/gallon (it just went down from over $4.00/gal); and a hotel room these days would be more than 10 times what they cost back then.   However, the two years we lived in Tennessee, I worked at Bowaters in Athens, TN for $350.00/month.   That's right....a month.    Dave worked for the college and his income went directly toward his tuition.  He did have the opportunity to play drums in quite a few recording sessions making $10.00/hour.   Wow - big money!!  When we moved back to Alaska we were in the middle of the gas shortage crisis.   Fortunately we had no problems getting gas over those 5,000 miles home.

It's fun to reminisce back to the "good old days."  I wouldn't trade them for anything and I'm thankful Dave and I have been able to take this journey together.   One day my grandchildren will look back to 2012 (if the Lord tarries) and the changes will probably be just as significant....or more so.

"One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard:  that You, O God, are strong, and that You, O Lord, are loving."  Psa 62:11