O'er Hill and Vale

   The first snow of the season. A mere dusting. Not enough to sneeze about except that the thin crust of ice on the roads at 6 am sent more than a few drivers slip-sliding over bridges and a semi or two bumping into those careening cars. It was won and done. School was out for the day.
    The Daughter lives in a neighborhood in East Nashville where neighbors holler out across porches, join each other for impromptu dinner parties, and know the vagaries of one another's lives. So today it was time to rally the kiddos and head out for the slopes. The slopes being the Shelby Golf Course, of course.
     Here's what happened along the way. No commentary necessary.

Books Under the Christmas Tree

   I have the honor of having a personal acquaintance with a couple of authors and artists who have new works that have made their debut this fall. Any or all would be a wonderful gift for a special someone in your life.
   Without further ado, I am pleased to introduce you to a few of my friends:
 

1. I wrote about the author Lisa Patton and a very special occasion in her life here. I am honored to count her as a close friend. Lisa is one of the most delightful women I know and has made quite a name for herself as a Southern writer, in addition to her other gifts. This last book, which boasts my favorite title to date, is the final installment in a trilogy, but don't worry...you don't have to have read all three to enjoy this marvelously well-crafted and engaging story. Southern as a Second Language can certainly carry its own weight. I am happy that much beloved character Leelee is back in all her glory. She is a friend that will stay with you long after you have closed the pages of the book. She is delightfully and totally "Southern"... and this book is filled with the things that make Southerners endearing to many. Yet if you are looking for a perfect book to curl up in a corner with, a book that will bring you to laughter and tears, this is the one for you. Oh, and there is also a thread of suspense that pulls you in and along just like an undertow. You'll keep turning page after page just to find out what happens in the end. And if you are not Southern when you pick up the book, when you finish you are going to have a better understanding of the rest of us Southerners. You are also gonna wish you were one of our much vaunted tribe.

2. I have been in community with Reggie Anderson's' family for many years. His wife, Karen, and I are dear friends and we have prayed for one another and for each other's children. She is one of the most tender and wise women I know. I remember when her husband mentioned one evening at dinner that he had begun writing down the special experiences that he had had through the years with his patients who were close to death or dying. I was curious at the time, but forgot about the conversation for many months until Karen told me that Reggie had acquired an agent, met with several publishers and had signed the contract: the book was going to be published. I could hardly wait to open Appointments with Heaven by Dr. Reggie Anderson. It is a deeply personal story and Reggie shares much about his Southern upbringing in a small town not far from Selma. Alabama. His walk with God is an integral part of the story, as is the story of how he met Karen and fell in love with her, but the treasure of the story lies in the way that God reveals himself over and over again in Reggie's life and in the lives of those he serves. If you want to be encouraged, about not just what lies ahead for believers, but what is ours for today, read this lovely gem of a book. It will warm your heart and satisfy your soul.

3. Singer/songwriter Ashley Cleveland has the gravelly power house voice of a rock-and-roller. Think Janis Joplin in her prime. Yet the woman can belt gospel with the likes of Mahalia Jackson. When she performs this woman is a combustible force onstage, and with three Grammy's to her credit, she shows no signs of slowing down. Her voice, if anything, has become more powerful and angst-filled as she has aged. This is not a vocal artist who will lull you to sleep. My life connected with Ashley's when she had just moved to Nashville and had begun attending the same church as I. Our daughters were the same age and in the same small school. She and I also were part of the same small women's Bible study group. After I heard her sing, I always wondered why she had not hit the "big-time" as the world knows it. She seemed immensely more talented that other artists who were singing in the same genre. I'm still puzzling over that one. But enough about the music and onto the book. It's a fairly slim volume but like the woman who wrote it, it conveys powerful truth. This is not a story for cowards. This is a book about the childhood roots of adult addiction, redemptive grace and the love of God for broken people. If you can identify with any of these, this book will carry a ring of truth. Ashley is fearless. She leaves no holds barred in her autobiographical work, Little Black Sheep. If you want the truth about how hard life can be, and how powerful and good God is, read this story. It will be freeing for your soul, and keep you searching for more. Trust me when I say that this is a uniquely Southern voice that must be heard.

 

And So It Begins

   Ours is a sports family. It is something I never anticipated happening because I am one of those perpetually clumsy people who cannot walk, talk, and chew gum at the same time. Yep, I'm a total goober when it comes to sports. However, when you marry a collegiate athlete who has an SEC Championship ring in his possession, and you somehow manage to give birth to four gifted athletes (no thanks to my gene pool), you can rest assured that a significant portion of your life is going to revolve around sports.
   After attending too many games to count, I now consider myself an erstwhile authority on the following: I know a good pitching stance from a bad one; I am able to discuss Sacs, RBI's and the nuanced posture necessary for a good bunt. I can even tell a curve ball from a slider. As far as football is concerned, I know about nickelbacks, dimebacks, corners, and safeties, and I know when a lineman has committed a hold. In basketball, I can spot "man" coverage when it shifts from a zone and when a player is setting an illegal screen. As a goalie's mom, I view penalty kicks and Sudden Death overtime with dread. However, when it comes to volleyball, I am not doing too well since high school rules have changed so much from the time that my daughter was playing. I am pretty much lost now. I only acquired all of my arcane knowledge for one reason and one reason only: I had a child in the game.
    Even though I never logged one minute of time on the court or playing field myself, I was an expert of sorts (mothers always are). When the last child graduated from high school, I folded up my chair and earned a well-deserved break from 28 plus years of attending sports events in which I had a significant personal investment. I thought my sporting days were over.

  I should have known it would not last.
 
  However, now the stakes have changed. When grandchildren play there is a level of enjoyment that is hard to explain. It is both fun and funny. I don't have to be there at the crack of dawn. I don't have to assemble a uniform, shop for athletic gear, and load up the car with snacks, blankets, chairs and other children. I don't have to worry about who is happy or unhappy about what is happening on the field. I have the detachment and the delight of a grandparent. Everything is just hunky-dory. The Husband and I get to glide in, give some hugs and high-fives, and then glide back out. It's a breeze.

  Our first grandchild made her athletic debut last week. We learned a great deal about her view of life at this stage by observing her on the field. Here is my interpretation of what was going on in that cute little head of hers.

I have been practicing wearing my uniform around the house to get ready for the game.

I can hardly believe the big day is here. I am so excited. Can't you tell?

The next best thing to my uniform is getting to wear my hair in braids.

The whistle has blown and the game has started, but I need to do a hair check.

After all, a girl's gotta look good...

I think I am supposed to be doing something other than standing around,

 but I am not sure what that is...

The ball goes rolling by, but hey, there's my best bud Selah. 

I think I'll go over and hang out with her.

I think I'll practice a few warm-up exercises during the game. This is fun.

 Selah and I stick together. 

We don't feel any pressure to get in on the action...obviously

The coach is encouraging me to get involved. Might not be a bad idea at this point. 

Girl down. I just got slide-tackled.

 I'm not too happy about this.

I can't stop crying.

 Coach lets me leave the game to get a hug

 Selah and I are back in action. We'll let the other guys chase the ball.

We'll just love on each other.

 One more hug from Selah before the whistle blows. 

.

 Soccer is fun. 

I had such a great time hanging out with my friends. 

Can't wait until next week.

Here are a few shots of the Peanut Gallery

Favorite Things....Yet Again!

   The Ish Girls Bible Study got together for our annual Christmas dinner, and in lieu of an ornament exchange or something of a similar ilk, we decided once again to have our "Favorite Things Party." After seeing this idea on Pinterest a couple of years ago, we have come to totally embrace the idea, and have opted to do the party, not once, but twice each year. It seems as though we might never run out of favorite things!
    Seeing someone else (whom you have come to love and appreciate) share her idea of a "favorite thing" is both enjoyable and revealing. You learn about the way a person gives gifts, what they like to do in their spare time, and what intrigues or engages them.
    We ate dinner together and then gathered in the family room to share our little gifts with one another. As an aside, we set an $8 limit for each gift. I ended up with some wonderful gifts that included a pair of comfy socks, an exciting new book to read, a craft, delectable treats from Trader Joe's, lovely little muslim bags filled with a lavender and oatmeal bath soak from Thistle Farms, a bottle of red wine, and a tiny little bundt cake in an adorable little box! It was so much fun! If you've not done this with your friends, I encourage you to give it a try! We always have a ball!

We always celebrate birthdays when we gather, hence the cupcakes...
except these are little bundtinis from Nothing Bundt Cakes!

The Red Velvet is my favorite!

Snowflakes sparkle in the candlelight. Sometimes an all-white winter
table is just the thing to serve as a counterpoint to all the red and green!

   

 Love the Ish Girls!