Family

Revelation

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There are those who would steal your dreams and hope. There are those who want nothing more than to see you fail. Sunday, I had a revelation that I shared with my Facebook Friends.

“I have to share this because I know some of you are waiting on the Lord to act in your life.
This morning I was on my way to church and I was singing with the radio. I don’t remember what song it was. But the Lord and I were having a conversation. He told me that sometimes we are waiting because He has to take the teeth out of the serpent that is waiting to bite you. He didn’t say He was gonna stop it, but He said it wasn’t going to harm you. You see He has to show you and the serpent who is in charge.
So whatever you are waiting on, know that God is de-fanging something that was trying to hurt you. Be still and know.”

I am in a time of waiting. It is hard, but God sends hope. You just have to look for it.

You have to learn to appreciate the times of waiting. It reminds me of the last full day of my mom’s life.  She was having a surgical procedure and we were waiting with her for her turn. My mom, my sister and I had some of the best laughter we have ever had together.  This procedure was just one of the tasks of the day. We were in a hurry to get home and get ready for Christmas. We had started talking about Christmas and ended up talking about her childhood. She had us rolling in laughter.

We were a little irritated that the procedure had not started. They originally gave us a 10am start time. Well, 10 am came and went. We were still having a good laugh, but by 12 we were looking for explanations. Closer to 1 they came and got her.

By 5 or 6 we were up in her room, laughing and talking again. We had been joined by my youngest sister and my Mom’s youngest brother and his wife.  For hours we talked and laughter. Sometimes my Mom laughed so hard, it hurt her incision. The final story of the evening was how my little sister tried to run away. We hollered. It was so funny. I could not wait for Mom to get home and hear more.

She never came home. That day of fun was all the fun I would have with her. Sometimes we are so anticipating the coming thing, we miss the moments we are living in. But I serve an awesome God. He knew what was coming. He gave us precious hours I will always remember, but they came in the form of a delay.

If things are not happening the way you want, if there is a delay in your plans, ask God for a revelation. He is taking the sting out of the bite.

4 Days Til Christmas

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Peace.

In the midst of my storm, the Lord has given me peace.  This year He has taught me to be where I am. Whether I am up or down, be there. Often, He has a reason for placing us in the situations we are in. I can’t say I understand, but I trust the one who made it.

Even though my heart and head conflict, being where I am helps me to appreciate the moments in life.  I am appreciating spending time with my family. I have had moments with them I will remember the rest of my life.

Christmas has taken on a new meaning for me. I still love the Christmas story. It will still be my favorite time of the year. This song has been running through my head everyday.

 

5 Days Til Christmas

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Five days before Christmas, one of the things I am most thankful for is prayer. I have the best prayer warriors in the world.  Prayer is a staple in my life. I talk to God everyday, but sometimes my need out weighs my ability to approach Him. When I can’t pray the things I need, it is great to have people in my corner.

When God shows His authority over my life, He also shows His compassion and provision. I am blessed.

Another thing I am grateful for is tradition. When my daughter was younger, I used to have a tradition where she and I would watch the Judy Garland Christmas Show during Christmas time. It was one of the few black and white shows she would watch with me.

Here is a good moment from the show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4-0oePGG88

8 Days Till Christmas

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Today’s present was great. I asked my mom what was the best Christmas present she ever received? One of my sisters was with me and liked the question. As my mother took a minute or two to think about it, my sister added “Was it a doll or a toy?”

My mother stopped thinking and said, “We didn’t get toys for Christmas.”

“You didn’t have a doll?” my sister asked.

“Only ones I made,” mom said. She went on to explain how she would put straw in a pop bottle and pretend it was a doll. My sister couldn’t wrap her mind around this.

For the next hour my mom told us a story she had told several times before, but this time it stuck. My mom’s family was so poor that they never celebrated Christmas the way most folks did. There was no tree or presents or idea of Santa Claus delivering goodies to everyone.

I asked my uncle, “What did y’all think of Santa Claus?”

He said, “Nothing, he wasn’t coming to our house.”

They would have a good meal and they were blessed to have that.

As a kid growing up, we had good Christmases (loved when I got my bike) and a few not so good Christmases. But we always had one. I love how God takes one thing and makes another.  He has taken her from no celebration with her first family to over celebration with her own children.

We laughed as we talked about my mom’s childhood and how hard it was.  I am amazed that she can find laughter in it.

There are amazing stories in your own family. Take time this holiday to chat with your older family members and hear them.

There are beautiful simple lives waiting to be explored.

13 Days Til Christmas

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I have told you about my crew, but they deserve another mention. The Wrong Way Crew got together to celebrate Christmas. It is one of the momumental moments of my life. We had a great time.  There is always laughter, food and shenanigans with this crew.

Karen

Like sisters do, mine had to interrupt my selfie. The evening was young and payback was getting ready to cash the check she wrote.  The crew celebrated with some good mexican food and present exchange.  We had a great table back in the corner so we could hear what each other had to say. After lots of laughter, we went for a walk and took some pictures.

Family

This is payback for sticking her fingers in my selfie. I invited myself into her picture. Cause that is what sisters do.

WWC Crew

We are a picture taking crew.  But we are really cute, so it is all good. I won’t share the photos with Elvis Elf or our club pose by the red tree. (Someday one of these women might run for office) But know that we had great conversation, excellent food and more fun than many people ever have in their entire life.

Family

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Today I am thankful for family. DNA doesn’t lie. It can prove if there is a blood relation, but it can’t tell you if someone is family. Only time can tell you that. I have spent decades researching my family history and have been connected to thousands of people who may be relatives.

I have found amazing treasures from this research. Some of those gems are a group of folk in Oklahoma who blessed us by coming to our family reunion one year. Through the miracle of Facebook and email we have managed to stay in contact with them.

We have celebrated some of our victories and wept over our heartbreaks. This week was a heartbreak as our cousin Barbara Allen was taken to heaven suddenly.

We always think we are going to have another day to reunion on earth. The real reunion is going to be in heaven when we are all back together again, never more to depart.

My prayer for my family is that not one of us is left behind. It is going to be the Real Family Reunion.

Family Tree Movie Update

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One of my goals for Family Tree was to make a movie you could watch over and over and laugh every time. I am almost there.

Not only are you going to want to see this when it opens, you will want to take a copy home with you. (smile)

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I can’t take the credit. The actors did a great job of telling the story. As I reviewed the footage, they had me laughing and I knew what was going to happen. This happens when you get a group of talented people and challenge them to take their skills to another level. They did that thang!
There are going to be moments in the movie where you just stop. You won’t be able to believe what they just did or said. It is going to be sooo fun.

I can’t ignore the larger force in this project. God brought all the right people together at the right time. Lately my prayer has been, “Lord, don’t let me get in your way.” Every time the situation seems impossible, He handles it. Sometimes He tells me yes and gives me the industries best. Sometimes He tells me His grace is sufficient. My goal is to stay in His will cause He has a plan.
I love what He has done so far.

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Another thing I started this weekend was Outtakes. I am compiling those into a presentation of its own. I promise to play these at the premiere. We spent a lot of time laughing and I will have to share. I want you to fall in love with cast. They have earned it.

Peace and Hair Grease
Karen
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