Our First Date

April 1997

He had seen me, but I had never seen him before! He told my cousin that he wanted to marry me….lol!  She told him: “there is no way, she is in nursing school and totally fed up with guys and I doubt she would marry anyone for many years to come.”  He insisted on my phone number and she gave in, but she did call to warn me that he would be calling! Of course, she used the “he has a motorcycle” to smooth it over with me too…Thanks cuz J

I was living at my grandmother’s house, going to school, working night shift at a nursing home, and had just went through a break-up. 

The phone rang and it was him, we immediately had everything to talk about and talked for hours that first night.  His voice was deep and his accent was definitely country.  I could hear sincerity in his voice and I wanted to know more.

The very first night he said; “I’m looking for a wife, not a long term girlfriend!”…LOL!

I thought: “this guy is psycho, you don’t say that the very first night!! Oh but this guy did!  I certainly DID NOT want to be a WIFE, in fact, I didn’t even want to be a girlfriend but I was intrigued by his confidence.

We scheduled a date for the next day and he came to pick me up.  When he walked up to the glass door, I pushed it back closed fast. I thought… My cousin had not told me that she was setting me up with an old man! I eased the door back open and made sure this guy’s name really was the person I was expecting…he verified that it was him and I said: “I’m very sorry but I just didn’t realize you were old.” He laughed and said: “I’m not old!” I continued to accuse him of being old until he retrieved his wallet and showed me his ID…TWENTY! There is no way this man is only twenty!!!  I kept refusing to believe him and he said: “You’re right! I had a fake ID made on my way here so I could take you out!” We laughed hysterically and I just knew we had a connection that was different.

We climbed in his mustang and rode around, talked more and more, then stopped to eat at Git-N-Go (a gas station for a first date...hmm - strange).  It was my first time eating there but the hot dogs were great!!  Some of his church friends were there eating too and it was a nice comfortable date. 

He took me home…I KNEW that I was interested :)

((Picture is kinda like the one he picked me up in except his had lots of extras and the hood looked different :))

Always There (poem)

I wrote this poem when I was a teenager and put it in a book I made for my Journalism class.  I enjoyed looking back through these poems 15 years later! holy cow, have I been out of school THAT long?!! let me recalculate...1996 minus 2011, yep I believe so.. well, will be this May.

Anyway, it is amazing how we change as we age.  However, this poem has not change too much...with the exception of GOD being my best friend and my husband being my second best friend, oh and of course I have some besties too BUT...anyway just read the poem and you will get the my jest...haha!

Always There

There's a friend out there that everyone could know.

You can take this friend with you everywhere you go.

It will always listen and even understand.

Never telling anyone, always holding to your hand.

This friend will not forget the things most important to you.

Always there to remind you of the things that you should do.

A friend like this never asks for favors in return.

It will show you things about yourself, there is so much you can learn.

This friend is a simple item that anyone can possess.

In all times that I needed a friend, PAPER has been the Best!

{written by: s.stansberry @ age 17}

Of course, since writing this I met Jesus and HE has truly been the best friend that I could ever ask for!!  HE has all the above qualities and much much more!  But, I must say that writing has been a wonderful outlet for me. 

Until next time, God Bless!

Snow Go in East Tennessee

The four lettered word S-N-O-W in East Tennesse is nothing short of pure magic!

This evening after church I made my first ever trek to the grocery store pre-winter storm!  I am typically a very prepared personality and I do not do last minute.. So, I didnt really "NEED" anything but my son wanted redi-whip for his hot cocoa in case we got snowed in and I decided to see for myself if tales I had heard about the grocery store rush were true.  As first, I was unimpressed because I got a front row parking spot BUT for any who knows me, Im kinda lucky like that..haha! I go into the store and almost every register was open with several people in each line; that didnt feel too intense either! I get my buggy and decide to go up and down several ailes to make SURE there wasnt something I forgot but to my surprise the shelves were almost empty, I literally had never seen a grocery store with so few loaves of bread (I didnt need bread but if I had there were not many choices).  I made my selections and then made my way to check out and low and behold if a lady didnt say I can take you on lane 5.  Some folks say I'm lucky but I like to call it blessed :)

On my way home I started my random thinking as usual and tried to put all the different ways to predict snow, things to do in snow, whats the best snow, etc etc...so I decided to jot down a list of notable S-N-O-W thoughts that occur in East Tennessee.  I have only thirty two years to acquire this list so please feel free to add to it if I leave something out!

• never make snow cream out of the first snow
• if the storm drops snow in Tx or comes from the gulf, then we will probably get a good one
• wet snow is best for snowmen and snowball fights
• dont eat the yellow snow...heehee
• go to the grocery store and buy milk, eggs, and bread
• put on a pot of chili or pinto beans
• use a car hood for a sled
• teacher and students alike praying it sticks to the roads ;)
• snow angels are a must!
• getting out and driving around to see if someone is in the ditch
• have you got a generator?
• dress in layers
• catch flakes with your tongue
• dont get frostbit
• wet floor & tons of laundry
• beautiful photos
• fireplaces
• play cards with friends

Yes, East Tennessee is the best place be! Not too much snow, just enough to get us excited each time we see it in our forecast.  Snow always seems to be a Go in my neck of the woods!

It is late and I have not seen the first flake; I love to see the snowfall but more often than not, I fall asleep first and wake to everything white.  Snow makes everything beautiful; it covers up all the blemishes of the landscape.

Gods Word says:
{{Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as [white as snow]; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.}}

God covers our sins!!  God Bless and keep warm :)

New Years Sunday School Lesson

You may or may not know that I have taught women for ten years now.  I am confident that teaching women is the job that God chose me to do!  I appreciate God for allowing me to study HIS word and give me the thoughts and words to share to others.  Even when I'm not exactly where HE would like for me to be; HE still comes through and gives me the words to teach those who come to Sunday School.  I may try to blog some of the lessons that HE gives me.  I will probably use words such as "we & us" as I blog about any lessons because "I" just dont feel right...please know that "I" could do nothing without the help of "HIM."  we and us represents Gods spirit within me :)

This is last week & this weeks lessons partially combined
The New Years Lesson last week started out as: "Are you gave out?"
It seems that by the end of the year we have exhausted all our money, time, and energy preparing for Christmas! Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE CHRISTMAS but as we know, so much energies are put into making this such a special day for our families. Always looking for the perfect gift, trying to schedule the best time, the best meal, display the best holiday spirit and so on, BUT by the New Years and all the talk of resolutions and renewed spirited and stepping out on the right foot or turning over a new leaf...is there really anything left in you to give?
The thought was.... even if you feel like you dont have much left to give, just give it anyway and God will bless!
A lady in our class said jokingly that she bought her dad a Willow Angel father/daughter figure because she knew one day she'd get it back :) at first glance this may appear somewhat selfish to do such a thing but as I ponder on her gesture just a little longer...God said: "Give me your best and you will get the best in return!

In Matt 14:13-21 Jesus feeds the five thousand with 5 loaves and 2 fishes...the morale of the people was down because John the Baptist had just been beheaded (its a very interesting story as to why, go read it if you havent!) the bible says that Jesus had compassion on the people (I'm so glad that we have a saviour who has compassion and feels what we are feeling!)  The disciples along with a multitude are following Jesus (when folks are heart broken, where can they go? just follow Jesus) ...The disciples became concerned about how the multitude would be fed ---let me take a moment to show you what God showed me here...sometimes physical needs must be met before you can help someone mentally, emotionally, & spiritually. someone who is hungry may not be able to get the message that you are trying to spread until their physical hunger is met.  God knows that we have physical needs as well as spiritual needs..I am a witness that HE can provide both!! salvation is not by works BUT by our faith, we will have works as a result!
The disciples asked Jesus if they could allow them to go find food; they questioned how much it would cost to feed so many..etc.  but Jesus said: "do not depart" when the going gets tough stick with Jesus...do not depart, in fact he tells them to sit in the grass, maybe we just need to sit down for a minute and let our saviour take care of the problem at hand!  If we cant give anything else this new year, let us give God our time, love, and attention, learn from HIM and HE will give us more in return!

"An impossibility to man is an opportunity to God"
Mark 6:37 says...they were worried about the cost as well, Gods created all! and the cost should be the least of our worries...everything is HIS anyway! in fact, Deut. 8:3 in the old testament, HE provided food by manna falling from the sky, HE could have done the same thing the day the multitude was following BUT instead HE was able to use the gift of 5 loaves & 2 fishes (Do you know who gave?) John 6:9 says that it was a lad that gave! this young boys unselfish act fed 5,000 people.  He could have thought to himself that it was not enough to give or he could have kept it thinking of his own hunger BUT he gave and God not only blessed him but the multitude as well..your gift is not too small! Do not limit what God can do by your own estimation!! Do not be intimidated by the size of the need because God is greater than any need!
Andrew was the disciple who found the lad...we dont hear a lot about Andrew, he doesnt possess the fame as some of the other disciples but he obeyed Jesus and brought the small amount of food to him anyway!  God can feed thousands by the obedience of man, he can feed them physically & spiritually!

lastly let us not forget about the time in mark 12:41-44 when Jesus was teaching the disciples about giving and he showed them the woman who tossed in 2 mites, it was all that she had but he declared to them that her gift was the greatest of all.  Why would 2 mites be better than the large amounts that others could give? its because HE knows that she had the faith that HE would take care of her; she would really depend on God if she gave HIm her all.

In 2011, Give HIM your ALL! even if it doesnt feel like much because that when HE can work! may God Bless!!

Good Morning Underpants (a recent college narative essay - true story..lol)

    Sometimes juggling the roles of wife, mother, friend, Sunday school teacher, college student, and caretaker can make one frazzled, to say the least! One fall morning everything seemed to be running quite smooth. Everyone’s teeth were brushed, check. Their hair was combed, check. The children buckled in the car, check. Backpacks ch…, peeking out of the top of my three year olds camouflage backpack was a plastic bag. I immediately imagined the scenario: He had dribbled at potty time and his recent display of obsessive compulsive tendencies caused him to insist on being changed. So, replacing the undies was a must – I went back in the house.

Just through the door, I tossed the bag over to the laundry room. Then, I hurried back to my son’s bedroom and grabbed a pair of clean, blue, and white Thomas the Tank Engine underwear. I carefully assessed them for stains or fading since they may lie at the bottom of his cubby for many more weeks.  Consequently, I acknowledged to myself that our ordinary school day routine had become more of a race now – I picked up my pace.

My near sprint was distracted by the sight of my college backpack on the couch – I grabbed it up. Then I reminded myself to get the boys’ jackets and their lunch pails. Did I remember keys? My hands were full at this point, so I tossed the underpants onto my shoulder, set the house alarm, and pulled the door closed.

We had eight minutes to make a ten minute drive. I was confident that the day was improving. We steadily made each curve to the rural school in the valley, where both my children attend the head start and pre-k programs. We arrived at the little brick building with bright blue paint around the windows and doors, an apparent attempt to freshen the aging structure. I opened the door and paraded the boys out of the van. I placed their backpacks on their shoulders then secured the van doors for drop off.

I pushed them gently through the door of the classroom and encouraged each to hang their backpacks. I signed the check-in sheet which confirmed that we were indeed five minutes late. Meanwhile, I gave last minute kisses and hugs to the boys. Their teacher stopped to remind me of the upcoming fall break. I thanked her and rushed back to the vehicle. I was off to meet my husband for breakfast.  I anticipated a moment to finally clear my thoughts.

I slowly opened the door to the quaint seven table diner downtown. The owner stopped me and we chatted for a minute or so regarding an upcoming children’s consignment event. My husband waited at a table covered with an orange waterproof tablecloth taunt around the edges and stapled underneath to secure it. I sat down and took a couple of deep breaths; a sigh of relief immediately followed, or was it accomplishment. No, it was a sense of survival.  My husband leaned towards me and whispered, “Honey, what is that on your shoulder?” I glanced over ever so slowly as not to frighten the ladybug or whatever unsuspected critter that had caught a ride. Instead, I discover the little pair of Thomas the Tank Engine underwear just where I left them! I simply responded, “Good Morning Underpants!”

Where Should We Begin?

Where should we begin? I wanted to start blogging more in an attempt to capture my random thought process.  Most of you who have read my facebook blogs are accustom to my style, you know that I have a deep belief in God, and I am confident that everything happens for a reason.  I tend to try to brainstorm the "reason" and capture it on paper. Regardless, should my perception of "reason" be right or wrong; its my opinion and when you logged on to my blog, you signed up for it :) 
Now, I plan for this to be a type of live journal, so I am going to submit a disclaimer right now and present to you a standing apology for any errors regarding: grammar, spelling, misuse of words, over use of  punctulation, unknown abbreviations, the use of lol (which means I really laughed out loud when I wrote that) or the use of hahaha (which means its was funny inside) or bahahaha (which means I felt a combination of the first two...lol)  So should any of the conditions just stated occur, even if you think its a mistake, I will feel sure it was my creative expression at the time and refer you back to my first blog ever...bahaha! P.S. heehee can be translated as my sneaky laugh ;)
I absolutely love to write! I honestly feel sorry for the one who will dare try to dredge thru my journals, word files, notebooks, and boxes of brainstorming after I die.  Or maybe, they'll just throw it away and never dig deeper :) BUT, as I look ahead, peeping through the way I imagine the paper shuffle to begin I can share with you some of the stuff that they will find: diaries, journals, songs, poems, letters to many, sunday school lesson notes & more lessons notes, half written stories, tales...fact & fiction, etc.
I love feedback, so please do not hesitate to share your feelings with me and others on this blog site! Hopefully my next entry will actually be a TOPIC and as blogging continues you will get to know me better; I cannot hide my feelings when it hits the paper in the form of words.
God Bless and hope to be back blogging soon :) S.Stansberry