We all want good things to happen in our lives, but too often we want it now...not later. When it doesn't happen that way, we are tempted to ask, "When, God, when?" Most of us need to grow in the area of trusting God instead of focusing on the “when” question. I'm reminded of a song I dearly love that was written by the late great Rev. James McFall entitled "I Still Trust You Lord"... it says,

"I've seen the righteous man suffer pain
And it looked like the wicked would go free.
And in my frustration it just didn't seem right to me.
I asked you for sunshine, but you sent rain.
I cried for healing and I only got pain.
But I know your love will see me through,
'Cause Lord, I still trust you.

I still trust you Lord, I still trust you Lord.
That you're able to guide me through this dry barren land.
And when I don't know which way to turn or go,
I still trust you Lord, so let me hold to your hand."

Second verse goes on to say:

"I trust you because you've been so faithful to me
And you said in your word I'll never leave nor forsake thee.
Lord I'll go with you until the end
Your blood has cleansed me from all guilt and sin
Your promise I can hold on to
'Cause Lord I still trust you."

If you're missing joy and peace, you're not trusting God. If your mind feels worn out all the time, you're not trusting God. The tendency to want to know about everything that's going on can be detrimental to our Christian walk. Sometimes knowing everything can be uncomfortable and can even hurt you. There have been times when I was impatient, frustrated and disappointed because there were things I didn't know. God had to teach me to leave things alone and quit feeling that I needed to know everything. Now... I don't "want" to know every little thing. Many times it's best if I "don't" know some things. I've learned to trust the One who knows all things and accept the fact that some questions may never be answered. We prove that we trust God when we refuse to worry. So I'll leave you with a bit of advice: Don't be a worry wart! Just let God take over.

Sidebar:
Someone ran into Brother McFall in Walmart in Philadelphia, MS (town where he lived) and asked him what inspired him to write "I Still Trust You". He said that it was about a preacher friend of his who had gone through some severe trials. He had been treated very badly by some church folks, and shortly thereafter had been through the death of a child. The preacher came to visit Brother McFall and they went fishing. Brother McFall asked him how in the world he was coping with all of the sorrow he had been through. The preacher said "I Still Trust Him"... As soon as he could get to a phone, Brother McFall called his son, J.R. and said get a pen and some paper and write this down, and that's how the song was written.

It was 6 years ago February 15th (2004) when my faith was tried and tested. My husband and I had been out of town overnight and came back in on a Saturday (the 15th). We went to a 40th wedding anniversary celebration of my husband's uncle and wife in New Albany. Everything seemed fine until about mid-way of the party when my son complained of hurting in his right side. He was really out of control with the pain.

Under the Weather

I didn't want to let the day pass without posting something as I am making every effort to post daily, or at least 5 days a week. I do have a good thought I want to post, but I need a little more time to finalize it. Since I'm feeling a little under the weather today, I'm going to develop it further and will post it later.

So many of my friends are sick with the flu and the cold weather, rain and snow have not helped matters any. I have a "dry" cough and this occasional weighty feeling like a cinder block is on my chest. I'm running a little fever and have had chills since late yesterday afternoon. I got up at 3 a.m. and put on a thick bathrobe over my PJs as well as a pair of socks. I crawled back in bed with all that on, covered up with a sheet, comforter and quilt on top of that...still had chills. I have no runny nose or sore throat but my head has hurt since yesterday. After coming in to the office and doing a little research, I discovered the following:

COLD vs. FLU:
Fever is rare with a cold. Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100°F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the flu. (GREAT!!!)

A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold. A non-productive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough). (HELLO?)

Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week. Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the flu. (LOVELY!)

Chills are uncommon with a cold. 60% of people who have the flu experience chills. (THIS IS NOT LOOKING GOOD!)

Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days. The flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains. (JUST HIT ME SUNDAY ALL OF A SUDDEN).

A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold. A headache is very common with the flu, present in 80% of flu cases. (GOOD LORD - I HAD TO TAKE TYLENOL LAST NIGHT AND TODAY FOR BAD HEADACHE.)

Sore throat is commonly present with a cold. Sore throat is not commonly present with the flu. (I HAVE NOT HAD A SORE THROAT.)

Hmm...I don't remember ever having the flu. I've had bronchitis and walking pneumonia - but not the flu. My dad has just had a 2-week bout with it and lost 20 pounds in the process...was very weak and stayed in bed. Geesh...I'm starting to feel worse just thinking about it. Check the blog later to see if I'm still alive. I don't need this mess!

Oh When the Saints Go Marching In!

Who dat? Well, they did it. The New Orleans saints won their first Super Bowl - ever. No doubt this is one for the history books and I'm sure there is some major partying going on in the French Quarter tonight! They'll probably be partying for a month.

Brees threw for 288 yards and 2 touchdowns, including the game-winning strike to Jeremy Shockey (who by the way is a former teammate of Eli Manning when playing for the New York Giants), with 5:42 remaining the game, and the New Orleans Saints beat the Colts 31-17 to claim the team's first NFL championship at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, FL.

While I would have liked to see the Colts pull it off, my husband reminded me of something I have to agree with. As some of you know, I work at Ole Miss...I am a journalism major, and my husband is an Ole Miss alum also. He reminded me that while Eli followed in his dad's footsteps and came to Ole Miss to revive the Rebels' football program, Peyton was somewhat a traitor by going to the University of Tennessee. What could I say...he is right. Something in me felt sorry for Peyton when he threw those interceptions because I know he is a great quarterback. But apparently it wasn't meant for the Colts to win this one.

I was impressed that Drew Brees gave 'God' credit for the win, and it was touching to see him holding his baby boy on the field, watching all the streamers, confetti and balloons fall. While shedding tears of joy, Drew held his baby boy, talking to him and sharing the exciting record-breaking experience with him. It was a poignant moment. I thought to myself...after the blow of Hurricane Katrina on their city, this has to be a sweet come-back for the "who dat?" nation of New Orleans. Congratulations Saints! I tip my Rebel hat to you. You played an awesome season, played an awesome bowl game, and you deserve it!

Super Bowl XILV

The top "10 things" you need to know about Super Bowl XILV.

1. The cost of a 30-second commercial during this year's game is around $2.8million.

More than $200m will be spent on ads aired before, during and after the game.
2. Colts quarterback Peyton Manning was actually born in New Orleans! His dad Archie Manning was the Saints quarterback at the time.
3. The half-time show will be performed by The Who.
4. The winning team will get $83,000 per man and the losers $42,000.
5. The Colts have won five Super Bowls, while the Saints make their bow this year.
6. Saints defensive player Darren Sharper led the league with nine interceptions. Watch out for him, he wears number 42.
7. This is the 10th time the Super Bowl will be held in Miami and the fifth in the Sun Life Stadium ('89, '95, '99 and '07). This is the 15th time the Super Bowl will be held in the state of Florida.
8. The Colts go into the game with the league's lowest running attack - only the second time in history that it's happened. The first was the Arizona Cardinals last year.
9. This year's coin toss is a bit special. The crew of the Space Shuttle Atlantis took the coin into space before handing it over.
10. Kim Kardashian is the girlfriend of star Saints running back Reggie Bush.

What does a peacemaker look like? Have you ever seen one?

It has been said that peacemakers are people who breathe grace. They draw continually on the goodness and power of Jesus Christ, and then they bring his love, mercy, forgiveness, strength, and wisdom to the conflicts of daily life.

I remember when I was a very young girl at a slumber party one time in Pontotoc. There were probably 10 of us girls and we were definitely competitive back then. Several got in a bad fight, some pushing and fighting broke out and the host mother broke it up, called us all in to her living room, sat us down shoulder to shoulder and read the "blessed are the peacemakers" scripture and gave us a mini-sermon on getting along. What was so funny is she was so stressed and angry at that moment that when she read the scripture she accidently said, "blessed are the pee-makers"...and that was it - that was the ice-breaker...we all busted out laughing. Funny how that occurred 28 years ago, yet I remember it vividly as if it were yesterday.

Do you naturally "breathe grace?" I know I don't...not yet anyway, but it is what God calls us to do. Not all of us are called to teach a Bible study, sing in the choir, or work with youth, but all of us are called to "go and be reconciled" (Matt. 5:24) to our brothers and sisters, our friends and family, and the people in our churches and community. God calls us all to be "biblical peacemakers," to allow his redemptive, transforming love to spill over into our relationships.

Go spill some peace on some folks today! It might stain them for life. A friend and I were reminiscing about this and I know we've never forgotten that night.

I Love Lucy

This version of "I Love Lucy" is not a review of an old Ricky, Lucy, Fred and Ethel rerun. This is the story of a re-life Lucy who may be as spunky as Lucy Ricardo was, but she certainly doesn't get in as much trouble! There is a saying, "A dog is man's best friend because it wags its tail - and not its tongue." Well, I thank the Lord for my precious little "chihuaweenie" Lucy Lu-Lu...the little princess of the Jeter household.

Lucy's mother was a red miniature dachshund and her father was a small "white" chihuahua (still haven't figured how they hooked up), but Lucy is the sweetest, most loyal friend and gives unconditional love.

Our lives changed when we brought her home 6 years ago. She really has a lot of personality - she is so smart! She craves teriyaki beef jerky and Clift's homemade sausage balls, and when we sit down to eat...she thinks it's time for her to eat. When she's not harrassing us for a bite, or glaring up through the glasstop kitchen table with her begging little eyes...she'll just mosey over to her food station and eat whatever is there while we eat. She will take you down for some deer meat too! Insistent on standing on a rug instead of my kitchen tile to eat...she grabs the bite and runs into the dining room to leave all her crumbs on my new contemporary rug!

She's a snuggler...and that's just a chihuahua trait...they want to stay warm all the time. She likes to be completely covered up with a blanket on your chest or in your lap (I don't see how she breathes like that). My kids have even spoiled her by plugging up a heating pad for her to lay on. I'm telling you, this gal is "pampered." She has an ultra plush suede and silkened fur bed that's about 4 times bigger than her. She just gets lost in it - you have to roll a round to find her in it.

She has a toy that we call "the baby." I bought it at Walmart for 80 cents...looks sort of like the "hoops & yo-yo" characters on the singing Hallmark cards that wreak on your nerves. If you ask her, "Lucy, where's the baby? Bring me the baby," she will go nuts...she'll whimper and grunt and will go get her baby. We will say, "Lucy, now spank that baby. Spank it!" and she will take that squeeky toy in her mouth and literally slam her head back and forth, left to right knocking it to the ground..."spanking the baby." It's a brutal whipping and it is absolutely hilarious. The more you cheer her on to "spank the baby," the more she beats it. I've often said it's much cuter than any of the funniest animal videos on tv. It occurred to me that I need to submit a video of her spanking the baby. Some have won $10,000 on there just for having their bird chirp. Why...we could possibly win some money!

It's interesting to me how a dog will sense that you are down, when even family members don't. Of course I just had surgery and the day I came home from the hospital she was so excited to see us, but she soon figured out that she couldn't run and jump in my lap like she normally does. She quickly toned down and sort of had a creepy way about moving around me...trying to be careful not to hurt me. Her common reaction was to try to do something to cheer me up, even if that meant having to settle for lying at my feet rather than in my lap.

Lucy gives me (and my family) unconditional love...she is totally devoted to us. Once the trust is established, a dog will stick with you through thick and thin. They will share your joys and happiness, be there through your sorrow, always trying to give you love and never expecting a great deal in return. That's a true friend isn't it? I Do Love Lucy.

The Devil Wears Red Velvet

Some Facebook friends asked for the recipe for a cake my grandmother made, "The Devil Wears Red Velvet." I'm not sure if she is "able" to make it for the public, she's 86 yrs. old, but layer cakes are not difficult to make. I've provided the recipe below, (a death wish for a diabetic like me), but it is awesomely delicious!

Make this for your sweetie for Valentine's Day and they'll love you forever...or drop dead trying!!!

The recipe published in a local Mississippi newspaper. Whoever the chick is that came up with the recipe - she ought to be shot. It's sinful, but a genious creation for chocolate lovers. If you're prayed up and ready to meet your maker - this is the way to go!!!
________________________

**You will make 2 different cake batters because you alternate red velvet for 2 layers and devil's food for 2 layers (and very thick layers as you can see). You must use 9-in. rounds.

Red Velvet Cake ingredients:

1⁄2 cup shortening
1⁄2 cups sugar
3 eggs
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 1⁄2 ounces red food coloring
1 teaspoon salt
2 1⁄2 cups flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup sour cream

Devil’s Food Cake ingredients:

3⁄4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 1⁄3 cups granulated sugar, divided
1 1⁄4 cups milk, scalded
2 cups cake flour, sifted or stirred before measuring
1 1⁄4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2⁄3 cup shortening
3 eggs
1 1⁄4 teaspoons vanilla extract

Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing:

1 pound unsalted butter, softened
2 (8-oz.) packages cream cheese, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 pounds powdered sugar
1⁄2 cup cocoa

For the red velvet cake, cream shortening; beat in sugar gradually. Add eggs, one at a time; beat well after each addition. Make paste of cocoa and food coloring; add to creamed mixture. Add salt, flour and vanilla alternately with buttermilk and sour cream, beating well after each addition. Stir until thoroughly mixed. Bake in two 9-inch prepared cake pans for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

For the devil’s food cake, sift the cocoa with 1⁄3 cup sugar; pour in the milk gradually and stir until well blended. Set aside to cool. Sift together flour, remaining 1 cup sugar, soda, and salt. Add shortening and half of the cooled cocoa and milk mixture. Beat at medium speed of an electric hand-held mixer. Add eggs, vanilla, and remaining cocoa and milk mixture. Continue beating for about 2 minutes, scraping bowl with a spatula occasionally. Pour into two 9-inch prepared cake pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.

For the icing, mix butter and cream cheese until creamy. Mix in vanilla, and then gradually stir in the powdered sugar and cocoa.

To assemble, alternate and frost the Red Velvet and Devil’s Food cake layers to have a striped effect when cake is sliced. If desired, complete frosting by drizzling the cake with melted chocolate. You will never be the same after you eat this one!!!

Deep Thoughts

These thoughts (or quotes) crossed my path this morning and I wanted to archive and share them with my fellow bloggers:


"Choose you this day whom you will let ruin your day."
~ quote by good friend Anita Vance of Houston, MS

There is nothing worse that aggressive stupidity.
~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
~ Albert Einstein

A woman is like a tea bag. You never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water.
~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Optimists think the glass is half full. Pessimists think the glass is half empty. Realists know that someone will have to wash the glass.
~ posted by Selina Jeter Arwood, Maryville, TN (cousin by marriage)

Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it can be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.
~ Carl Sandburg

The male is a domestic animal, which if treated with firmness, can be trained to do most things.
~ Jilly Cooper

Jealousy is all the fun you think they had.
~ Erica Jong, Fear of Flying (1973)

An ignorant person is one who doesn't know what you have just found out.
~ Will Rogers

If someone betrays you once, it's their fault. If someone betrays you twice, it's your fault.
~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip.
~ Will Rogers

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.
~ John F. Kennedy

The Wheels of My Life Are Rolling Along

Today has been an unusual day. While I seem to be on the mend from recent lapband surgery and had a good post-op visit with my surgeon yesterday, I have been struggling with an infection of gum and tooth area and had to see a dentist this morning. We are certainly stimulating the "medical" economy because my husband had to see his doctor for treatment of diabetes and other issues at the same time. I got out a lot cheaper than he did as I didn't have to pay anything (I had a credit), but he had to meet a deductible and the cost was over $400. I 'bout died!

After my appointment, as I arrived on the university campus to work, I received a text message from my mother saying that my stepfather ended up having cancer removed from his bladder this morning (and yes, that was unexpected). Not even 2 minutes later, a text from my father came up saying he had been extremely sick with the flu for the past 10 days...had been bed-ridden, was very weak and that he had lost 20lbs. He sounded terrible and said he was going back to bed, couldn't sit up. Luckily my mother is not ill today, but she has health problems herself and had been really sick with the flu just a few weeks prior. I thought I was beyond this feeling, but at that moment, it hit me again that I'm getting old and falling apart and my parents and step-parents are getting older and falling apart -AT THE SAME TIME. I am an only child, so do you get the picture?

I also began thinking that all of our married life my husband and I have planned to raise our children, work, retire and move to a certain coastal area where we have longed to live and enjoy retirement and live out our remaining years together. Now that we have a daughter graduating and going off to college this year and a son not far behind her, we can actually see the light at the end of the tunnel. However, we can't forget our parents. About the time the kids get through college and we get ready to retire, we may have to take care of them..and there's 2 of us...and 6 of them. Perhaps we should think about building our own nursing home facility or building a multi-family compound, eh? (Hmm...I really don't think we can live with our parents again.)