Bouffant Blonde

Little Guy climbed into the truck's backseat and snapped his seat belt on. They were in a hurry. Miss Linda had called Mama and said she had some stuff for them. Miss Linda picks up items from other people's trash if she thinks Mama might like it. It was starting to cloud up and rain was likely. Little Guy and Mama were in a rush to get to Miss Linda's before the rain came down. Mama backed into Miss Linda's driveway. She was waiting for them. Mama was excited. Miss Linda had found wood doors, two drawers and a bunch of scrap wood. Mama will take all that trash and turn it into art and furniture. Little Guy helped Mama and Miss Linda load it into the back of the truck. After it was all loaded they went inside to visit. Miss Linda had made lemonade. Little Guy got his very own glass. He sat at the teddy bear table and sipped it while Mama and Miss Linda talked. And talked. They know a lot of people. They were outside saying goodbye when Miss Linda's neighbor ...

Monday, February 8, 2010 Little Guy spotted a new friend ambling across the pasture. Or, at least, he thought it might be a new friend. He hesitated. It also might be a varmint but he wasn't sure. Little Guy glanced around but he didn't see Sunshine. She was really good at weeding out who was a friend and who was a varmint. Little Guy decided that he was a big boy and he could check it out on his own. He started across the pasture. He placed a big smile on his face. It was easier to make friends when you smiled. He got close enough he could see the animal's smooth black coat. Wow! That white stripe sure was pretty. Just when Little Guy was about to introduce himself, Grandaddy bellowed out his name. Sometimes Little Guy can tell Grandaddy doesn't need him right that moment. This was not one of those times. He looked longingly at the animal. "Little Guy," Grandaddy yelled again. "Get away from that skunk!" Grandaddy sounded pretty excited so Little Gu...

How many times have you whined today? Give it up! We all complain numerous times each and every day. And usually about trivial things that really don't matter or that we simply can't change. We just don't like to admit that we are whiners. Think about it. It's June in Alabama. It's hot and humid. And sunny. I'm thankful that the rain has finally stopped but now in a two-day span of time the ground is so hard. I miss the cooler temperatures that the rain brought. But when it was raining and water was standing everywhere, I was first in line complaining that I wanted to see the sun. Or think about the traffic. That's a favorite whine topic. The stop lights never work to our satisfaction. If we're in a hurry, they're always red. When we're trying to delay our arrival, they're always green. And don't forget about that slowpoke going our way. You've heard the phrase "he's got nowhere to go and all day to get there." If the sl...

Are we too quick to judge those around us? Are christians especially quick to judge others? There is nothing like a special book study on lent to bring questions and discussions about uncomfortable topics out in front of us all. Churches are supposed to welcome all people, just as Jesus welcomed all people. He reached out to everyone, be they tax collectors or prostitutes. Do we do the same? Or are we afraid we'll get a little dirty if we reach out to someone who isn't like us? A church should be a safe haven for all sinners. And we are all sinners. Do our noses lift up, even as we extend a hand to a visitor who might not be dressed as we deem appropriate? Do our eyes harden and shift even as we smile and nod at a visitor of a different color? Do we offer a degrading comment and laugh if someone new to our church family questions practices that might challenge the rule of the minority? Do we expect all christians to do and believe and vote exactly as we do and reject them publ...

Have you ever known someone who always, but always, seemed to look like she stepped off the pages of a magazine? Yep, me too. I know a young woman like that. She can wear anything and make it look like she stepped off a fashion runway. Her hair and make-up are always perfect. Her clothes may be from Target or Ross but she looks like she shops on Fifth Ave. It's disgusting. If she wasn't so nice I probably wouldn't like her at all. But that's just it. She's wonderful. Sweet, outgoing, and totally not getting this fashion diva gift that she has. I'm someone who can pull myself together. If the lighting is just right, I can even look passable. Then I walk out the door. The dogs have to say goodbye. Did I mention all three dogs have long hair? Then, inevitably the wind kicks in and all that hair flies every which way. And, no, I don't use hairspray. I know I'm supposed to. This is the Deep South after all. But I refuse to tease and spray, tease and spray, ju...

Have you ever talked with someone and knew immediately that you'd met a friend? That happened to me recently. I am always amazed at how God works things out. He broadens us and enriches us when we least expect it. Adults can probably relate to this more than young folks. While we're all in school, it's so easy to make friends. Not only do we share classes -- and homework -- with people year after year, but we also share activities. Band, sports, art and so many other things bind us together. As adults, it isn't so easy. We may have "work" friends and "church" friends. We may even have friends through volunteer activities. But they tend to be segregated to specific parts of our lives and few ever enter the realm of really good, share your life totally, friends. Laurel Griffith, publisher of Wiregrass Christian Family magazine, recently interviewed me for her magazine. That's always a good thing. Struggling artists love free publicity. The chance ...

I love my dogs. Really I do. We have three and they bring me such great joy. And exasperation. Yeah. That's a good word for it. They have totally different personalities and are gifted in different areas. Isn't that what any parent says when something doesn't go quite right? Take this morning, for example. It was time to move the cows from the rye field. For those of you who aren't familiar with the country, during the winter we plant fields of rye to feed the cows. Of course, they also get hay, etc. This is extra. You don't want to leave them in the lush green field for too long. It's like leaving a kid in a candy store. They will eat until they get sick. It's very messy, if you know what I mean. Ladybug, the Australian Shepherd is the expert. She just looks at a cow and she heads toward the exit. No one wants to tangle with her. It's quite comical to watch a 2,000 lb. bull trying to get away from a 56 lb dog. She also knows exactly how to make them go...