02.16.06

Valentine’s Day Grace Note

Posted in Uncategorized on February 16th, 2006 at 4:34 pm by Dee O'Neil Andrews

by Dee Andrews In my first post of this year over at “Finding Direction” in Words, Pictures, Passages & Prayers, I said that my one word for this year would be “OPTIMISTIC.” I’ve done pretty well with that word so far (I think), although (and I don’t know if any of you noticed it or not) back on Tuesday morning of this week I was pretty down in the dumps and totally glum after my latest doctor’s appointment on Monday afternoon about my broken foot. But thanks to some wonderful, thoughtful, secret Valentine’s ladies of Tammany Oaks, whoever they are, my spirits picked up tremendously and were revived. The Valentine ladies left a gift bag full of Valentine’s Day goodies on my front door step Tuesday. I have no idea who they are and our minister, Tod, won’t tell me, either, even though I tried my best Wednesday morning on the phone with him to sneak certain tidbits of information out of him about who they are, etc. He laughed and refused to answer even any of my itsy bitsy questions about the whole deal saying that I forgot he knows all about us attorney types since he is married to an attorney (Candice, who is terrific). Thus he wouldn’t divulge a thing, figuring I’d soon have enough information to piece the whole thing together. Which is true, but still . . . I discovered the bag when I opened the front door about 2:30 p.m. to scoot out to get the mail. Here was this big gift bag sitting at the top of the temporary ramp Tom has put out there for me just inviting me to peek inside to see what on earth it was and to try to figure out who on earth it came from. I was totally and completely puzzled. As I opened gift after gift after gift (most were wrapped up inside the bigger bag), I found more and more great treasures, including a bright red leather photo album to carry around in a purse, perhaps, a little tin of red and pink tacks for a bulletin board, a red votive candle, pair of Valentine socks (and I’m wearing socks most days now with my foot), a CD of love songs, two small Valentine ornaments, a pink puppy - on and on. I was amazed and confused. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out who this was from or how it got on my front porch. It didn’t quite seem like the thing Tom would do. I kept digging until I had everything out on my lap, but still saw no card or anything. Then I checked the little tag on the bag. Nope. I twirled the bag around and then saw a small envelope taped to the side addressed to “Dee,” but I didn’t recognize the handwriting. Inside was a big heart. On the back it read “You are loved by Tammany Oaks Church of Christ Valentines ladies! Happy Valentine’s Day.”I was stunned. Someone went to all this trouble to go pick out and buy all the wonderful gifts, to wrap them all, to put them all in the gift bag and then to drive over to my house from Mandeville - some 25 miles, 30 minutes away - to drop it off on my doorstep. Secretly. For my Valentine’s Day. Because I’ve been “home alone” and shut in for so long. It had to have been someone who knew I was diabetic, too, because they didn’t include any candy in it, which was very thoughtful, indeed. Before I opened the front door, I admit it. I was sad and depressed. Now I was so overcome by these expressions of love and caring that I had tears in my eyes. These ladies, who all remain a secret to me, cared enough to do all of those things for me on Valentine’s Day, and they are my Grace Notes for this week. Big time.

02.14.06

Just in Case…

Posted in Uncategorized on February 14th, 2006 at 2:41 pm by Anthony Parker

by Anthony Parker This morning we discovered that the front tire on my older son’s bicycle tire was flat, so my four-year old son Jonathan rode with me as I drove Jeremy to school. On the way to school, Jonathan asked one of those out-of-the-blue questions that four-year olds are prone to ask. “Dad,” he said, “what does ‘just in case’ mean?” I explained, as best I could, that “just in case” refers about something one does because something else might happen. “I’m taking the umbrella today just in case it rains.” I don’t know what will happen, but I will be prepared just in case. Because of some events that occurred later in the day, it occurred to me that I am a “just in case” kind of guy. I like to be prepared for whatever might happen– just in case. I guess this applies particularly to money matters. I’m a bit of a cheap skate, but I always like to have some extra on hand just in case of an emergency. Today, Maureen and I went to the capital city of Lomé to have some work done on the car, and we thought we’d take advantage of the occasion to run a few errands around town and have a nice Valentine ’s Day lunch together. Well, the day didn’t turn out exactly as planned. You can read the details on Maureen’s post “An Unforgettable Valentine.” To make a long story short, I was pick-pocketed and came up a wallet, credit cards, driver’s license, and a pretty significant wad of cash short. I had taken along more cash than I needed just in case of an emergency. It turned out, that my preparations led to a greater loss than I would have otherwise suffered. Even so, I’d like to nominate the thieves that took my money as today’s Grace Note. As upsetting as the whole event was, I am thankful. It could have been much worse. We escaped from a potentially dangerous situation with our lives, health, and family intact. I couldn’t wait to get home to see my boys, to be together with my family, to have the things that are really important near to me. Yesterday, a dear friend and mentor of mine lost his adult son, coincidentally named Jonathan, in a tragic accident. Each time I’ve looked at my boys today, I’ve been reminded that they could easily be taken from me, or I from them. I’m thankful to the thieves for reminding me that, though I may have lost quite a bit of money, I have the loves of my life here with me, and that has made for a very happy Valentine’s Day. Jonathan’s question also reminded me that, though I cannot anticipate every just in case, I can prepare for them by keeping first things first. (Maureen made up for the lunch we missed today with delicious grilled barracuda and shrimp for dinner tonight. What a note of grace she is, too!)

02.08.06

Dee-lightful

Posted in Uncategorized on February 8th, 2006 at 1:28 pm by TCS

by Tommy Stewart

This past weekend I got to meet (to quote Nancy French) THE Dee Andrews.

I told Dee that she was better than her blog persona. That persona is one that we all love but it is in her words, “professional”. So in her home with her and Tom (who is extremely likeable) I had the privilege to see Dee without the layers of cyberspace. To be fair we have e-mailed and talked on the phone, so many of those layers were already removed. But it is always good to be present with someone.

She was smiling and waving out the kitchen window as we arrived and as funny and perky and lively as you would expect. She drives her scooter as dangerously as you have heard. And yes I have seen THE Windvane. I forgot to take a picture. UHHHH.

Dee is more than deserving of a post here. I know for me she has always been a source of encouragement. I see her encouraging others around the world with her comments. She’s our Barnabas.

This past weekend Dee blessed me more than she could know. It’s a funny thing, every time you go to try and be a blessing, you get blessed.

It’s a weekend I won’t forget.

02.07.06

Making A Difference Lasts Forever

Posted in Uncategorized on February 7th, 2006 at 10:38 am by Danny Sims

By Danny Sims
After The University of Texas upset USC in The Rose Bowl last month and won the national championship, Head Coach Mack Brown spoke to the team. He congratulated them and complimented the opponent, who had won 34 consecutive games. He spoke about hard work and the payoff now that the team had won it all. And then he said: “Finally, this is the most important thing I want you to hear tonight. Remember that we love you. Be proud of what you have accomplished, and enjoy this moment. Let this be a great thing in life, but don’t let it be the best thing that ever happens in your life. Go on from here, be great husbands and great dads, and make a difference.” I’m not a Longhorn. But that kind of focus, on those kind of values, makes me wish I were. Life is not about winning all the time. UT was undefeated this past season, but they will lose again someday. No win streak lasts forever. Just ask USC. But a life lived with the most important things at heart… That’s something that makes a difference for a very long time. Thanks Coach.