Saturday, May 13, 2017
Mother Like Mine
"She's the sky that holds the clouds. She's the lady of the house. Oh I've got the best and the worst of her in me." The Band Perry
My mama, I don't even know where to start, so I will just jump right on in here and say it. She definitely is the sky, the clouds and the lady of the house. I like to think I have the best of her because in my eyes there is no worst of her. She walks with authority but oh so gentle when one of us are in pain. Maybe we should ask the boys what kinda authority that broom has. LOL She loves telling the stories about getting the broom after them when they were younger. Now ya'll know she didn't hurt 'em, because she slapped the bristle part of it on their butts. But that's her story and she's sticking to it. What I got to say about that is they probably needed it. The little devils. I bet they're still scared of that broom and I know for a fact if mama thought they needed it, she'd wear 'em out with it. They might laugh about it if she did it now but they wouldn't talk back, and that's a fact I know to be true.
"I'd share her if I could, so the wars would be over, 'cause she'd raise us all as friends. And no one would ever wonder if somebody wanted them." Yep, another fine description of my mama. She tells us all the time we better not be "fussing." She tries to tell us that daddy don't like it, but it's really her that doesn't like it. If you know my mama you know she wants everyone to get along and be friends. She never meets a stranger so I guess that's where I get my people skills. (HaHa) Ya'll laughing now because you think I don't have any. Well I do when I want ya'll to witness them. My mama loves everybody and rarely do I hear her say anything about another person. She has seven kids and she makes us all feel like we're her only one. Well that's according to which one of us you ask. We all know baby girl is the favorite. Oh wait, that's daddy's favorite. So I guess that makes me mama's favorite. I mean, I am the oldest, so that should count for something.
"We all need her, but no one more than me." I'm probably the only hell my mama ever raised according to some but she's always been there for me. I've always been the rebel child, didn't like to follow the rules and kinda beat to my own drum. I've seen the disappointment in my mama when I would tell her something stupid I had done but she never stopped loving me. She's always been there for me even though she didn't like my choices and probably thought how stupid I was. She was there when I was a young widow with a 18 month old son, she was there when I lost a job and needed a place to stay, she was there when I broke both arms and an ankle but most importantly she was there when I needed words of comfort. Words that only a mama knows what to say. Not just any mama, but MY mama. My mama who makes everyone that visits feel like family. My mama that would want ya'll to come "sit a spell" and stay and eat. Yep, I can promise you there's food on the table if it's Sunday and if it's not Sunday she'll have something she can fix in a flash. Not a can of something like you would get at my house. It will be the real thing.
My lesson today? Gosh I don't have a clue, so I will just leave you with this. This post is about MY mama. MY mama that holds the clouds, the lady of OUR house and MY mama that wants us all to be friends. My prayer today is you feel the same way about YOUR mama and that some of these words of craziness makes you want to call your mama, or more importantly go see her. If she's not here with you on this Mother's Day, and you can't call her or visit, I pray you have "precious memories. " Precious memories in the stillness of the midnight that will take you back to your childhood, precious memories that will forever flood your soul.
Love to all...
Sweet Southern Sass
Monday, May 8, 2017
I Saw God Today
"His fingerprints are everywhere. I just look down and stop and stare, open my eyes and I swear...I Saw God Today." George Strait
This might be a long one but there is no doubt I saw God today. Every where I turned, his fingerprints were there. It started this morning when I went to church to see my niece baptized. It's always a blessing when someone is baptized but it really is a blessing when it's my own family. Sitting on that bench behind my nephew and his kids, the smile on his face as his wife was standing there in front of God and the whole church to be baptized, obviously I saw God today.
My mama didn't feel good today and didn't know if she would feel good enough to go to the birthday party, but she decided to go. My mama, the matriarch of our family, laughing, enjoying her family but most importantly when she wanted her picture made with my brother in law, only my brother in law I watched her laughing with him, being silly and it made me wonder what was going through her mind. I wondered if it was because she's been sick since Christmas, was it because she didn't feel good today, or was it because she was happy to be there with her family. I believe it was little bit of all the things above, but regardless of the reason, in that minute, my mama was laughing and felt good enough to be there. In that minute, I saw God Today!
"Got my face pushed up against the nursery glass, she's sleeping like a rock. My name on her wrist, wearing tiny pink socks. She's got my nose, she's got her mama's eyes." Five years ago today, my niece thought it was a false alarm that she was headed to the hospital. My great niece was only 24 weeks old, it couldn't be for real. People, it was for real and our little princess was born. A little peanut that weighed only 1 lb. 6 oz. she was so tiny my fist was bigger than her little body. 121 days in the NICU, we brought her home, "our bran new baby girl, she's a miracle." We saw God that day.
I've been to church, I've read the book. I know He's there, but I don't look near as often as I should. His fingerprints are everywhere. I just look down and stop and stare, open my eye and then I swear, I saw God Today! Today I went to church, we read the book and everywhere I looked, his fingerprints were everywhere. His fingerprints obviously the reason my niece was baptized today. His fingerprints clearly giving my mama the strength to go to the birthday party and feeling good enough to laugh and enjoy her family. His fingerprints glowing on our miracle baby girl, proof that on this day five years ago we saw God bring this baby girl to us way too early, keeping his healing hand on her tiny little body until she was strong enough for us to bring her home. That day was a glorious day, with welcome home signs, pictures and so much joy, I can't even describe it. One thing for sure my family saw God! We saw God that day and today I saw him again as we celebrated our family together for one special little girl. One little girl that brings us so much joy.
My lesson today? I just truly don't know today, but maybe I will just leave you with this one thought. If you don't think you saw God today, take a minute and look around you. Think about it and I promise, whether you recognize it or not, you saw God today!
Love to all,
Sweet Southern Sass
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Always Stay Humble & Kind
"Go to church 'cause your momma says to. Visit grandpa every chance that you can. It won't be a waste of time. Always stay humble and kind." Tim McGraw
Remember when we went to church 'cause momma "made" us? Well those days are long gone. I mean I am *** years old, and it's been a long time since momma came in my room, and I quote..."If you gonna rip and romp all night, you gonna get up and go to church." Let me just tell you, I didn't have to be told twice with that tone of voice. I got my little skinny butt up and went to church. I'm sure I didn't pay much attention because as I have posted before I sat on the last row of the church. I am so thankful my momma made me go to church and raised me to believe because now I don't have to be made to go, I go because I want too and because my week goes so much better when I get my spiritual healing on Sundays. Such blessings flood my soul when the choir sings and the preacher steps on my toes. Yes, you heard me. He steps on my toes on just about any given Sunday, but that's how I know God is speaking to me. That's how I know I'm not doing what I should be doing and God is letting me know about it.
Visit grandpa every chance that you can. How I wish I could visit my grandpa again. How I wish he would reach in those overall pockets and pull out a quarter, squirt us with the garden hose because we called him Grandpa, or see that little step he had walking through the house with a big ole smile. Lord how I miss all this but one day "I'm gonna walk with my grand daddy. And he'll match me step for step and I'll tell him how I missed him. Every minute since he left, then I'll hug his neck." - Brad Paisley
"Hold the door. Say please, say thank you." Don't take for granted the love this life gives you. When you get where you're goin' don't forget, turn back around, help the next one in line. Another how hard can this be? When you get where you're going in life, don't forget the people who helped you, the ones who supported you even when things weren't good, the ones who maybe just gave you a word of encouragement, the ones who gave you a hug just because. Stop a second, turn around and pay it forward. Help the next one in line, smile at a stranger or here's your chance...open the door for someone that might need a little kindness to make their day. So many times, we can be humble and kind and maybe make someone feel loved where they didn't feel it five minutes before.
Dear Lord, as I look around at those who share this life with me, help me to make time to spend with them - for encouragement, challenge and perhaps just plain conversation. Go ahead, sit a spell, take your shoes off and remember...always be humble and kind.
Love to all,
Sweet Southern Sass
Remember when we went to church 'cause momma "made" us? Well those days are long gone. I mean I am *** years old, and it's been a long time since momma came in my room, and I quote..."If you gonna rip and romp all night, you gonna get up and go to church." Let me just tell you, I didn't have to be told twice with that tone of voice. I got my little skinny butt up and went to church. I'm sure I didn't pay much attention because as I have posted before I sat on the last row of the church. I am so thankful my momma made me go to church and raised me to believe because now I don't have to be made to go, I go because I want too and because my week goes so much better when I get my spiritual healing on Sundays. Such blessings flood my soul when the choir sings and the preacher steps on my toes. Yes, you heard me. He steps on my toes on just about any given Sunday, but that's how I know God is speaking to me. That's how I know I'm not doing what I should be doing and God is letting me know about it.
Visit grandpa every chance that you can. How I wish I could visit my grandpa again. How I wish he would reach in those overall pockets and pull out a quarter, squirt us with the garden hose because we called him Grandpa, or see that little step he had walking through the house with a big ole smile. Lord how I miss all this but one day "I'm gonna walk with my grand daddy. And he'll match me step for step and I'll tell him how I missed him. Every minute since he left, then I'll hug his neck." - Brad Paisley
"Hold the door. Say please, say thank you." Don't take for granted the love this life gives you. When you get where you're goin' don't forget, turn back around, help the next one in line. Another how hard can this be? When you get where you're going in life, don't forget the people who helped you, the ones who supported you even when things weren't good, the ones who maybe just gave you a word of encouragement, the ones who gave you a hug just because. Stop a second, turn around and pay it forward. Help the next one in line, smile at a stranger or here's your chance...open the door for someone that might need a little kindness to make their day. So many times, we can be humble and kind and maybe make someone feel loved where they didn't feel it five minutes before.
Dear Lord, as I look around at those who share this life with me, help me to make time to spend with them - for encouragement, challenge and perhaps just plain conversation. Go ahead, sit a spell, take your shoes off and remember...always be humble and kind.
Love to all,
Sweet Southern Sass
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Take The Road Less Traveled
"Why do you keep on staring? That mirror, mirror, it ain't fair at all. Dress sizes can't define, don't let the world decide what's beautiful." Lauren Alaina
Well smack my head as they say, why is it that society has such an impact on beauty. Why is it that a size 2 is how most of the world thinks a young woman should look? Well hell's bells some of the most beautiful people I know are a size 2 plus 10 which makes a size 12. Who cares what size the label inside a dress says? I certainly don't because we all know the dryer shrinks our clothes anyway. LOL My opinion (and since this is my blog) it's what counts here at sweet southern sass, a dress size does NOT determine a person's beauty. For me a person's beauty comes from within, from their heart, their personality and most importantly how they treat others. So go ahead, tear out that label inside your dress, "trust your rebel heart, ride it into battle. Wear out your boots and kick up the gravel."
"You won't make yourself a name if you follow the rules. History gets made when you're acting a fool." Well Lord have mercy we all know I'm not a rule follower. Don't get me wrong I ain't breaking no laws that will send me to jail, 'cause orange ain't my color. But what I mean is if I can break in line and not get slapped up side the head, I will probably try it. If my cold passes at the race says I can't go in a certain area, I'm going to at least try it and if I get caught, apologize with my sweetest southern charm and politely leave with a smile. I mean we all know southern women are good at getting what they want. As Jill Conner Browne says..."Well behaved women never made history." So go ahead, march to the rhythm of a different drum. Put your hands up, show me that you're one of a kind. Put your hands up, let me hear your voice."
My lesson today is simple. If you don't know where you're going, it doesn't matter what road you take. "But be bold enough to live life on your terms, and never, ever apologize for it. Go ahead, take the road less traveled instead of the well-beaten path. Dance as though EVERYBODY is watching, march to the beat of your own drummer and stubbornly refuse to fit in." Mandy Hale, The Single Woman: Life, Love and a Dash of Sass.
Clairee from Steel Magnolias describes us rule breakers that beat to our own drum the very best...We're just too colorful for words. So get a move on, get a little dirt on your boots and take the road less traveled. Oh and pick a few flowers along the way.
Well smack my head as they say, why is it that society has such an impact on beauty. Why is it that a size 2 is how most of the world thinks a young woman should look? Well hell's bells some of the most beautiful people I know are a size 2 plus 10 which makes a size 12. Who cares what size the label inside a dress says? I certainly don't because we all know the dryer shrinks our clothes anyway. LOL My opinion (and since this is my blog) it's what counts here at sweet southern sass, a dress size does NOT determine a person's beauty. For me a person's beauty comes from within, from their heart, their personality and most importantly how they treat others. So go ahead, tear out that label inside your dress, "trust your rebel heart, ride it into battle. Wear out your boots and kick up the gravel."
"You won't make yourself a name if you follow the rules. History gets made when you're acting a fool." Well Lord have mercy we all know I'm not a rule follower. Don't get me wrong I ain't breaking no laws that will send me to jail, 'cause orange ain't my color. But what I mean is if I can break in line and not get slapped up side the head, I will probably try it. If my cold passes at the race says I can't go in a certain area, I'm going to at least try it and if I get caught, apologize with my sweetest southern charm and politely leave with a smile. I mean we all know southern women are good at getting what they want. As Jill Conner Browne says..."Well behaved women never made history." So go ahead, march to the rhythm of a different drum. Put your hands up, show me that you're one of a kind. Put your hands up, let me hear your voice."
My lesson today is simple. If you don't know where you're going, it doesn't matter what road you take. "But be bold enough to live life on your terms, and never, ever apologize for it. Go ahead, take the road less traveled instead of the well-beaten path. Dance as though EVERYBODY is watching, march to the beat of your own drummer and stubbornly refuse to fit in." Mandy Hale, The Single Woman: Life, Love and a Dash of Sass.
Clairee from Steel Magnolias describes us rule breakers that beat to our own drum the very best...We're just too colorful for words. So get a move on, get a little dirt on your boots and take the road less traveled. Oh and pick a few flowers along the way.
Love to all...
Sweet Southern Sass
Sweet Southern Sass
Thursday, April 13, 2017
A Simple Man
"Mama told me when I was young. Come sit beside me, my only son. And listen closely to what I have to say." Lynyrd Skynyrd
"Troubles will come and they will pass." Oh my how true is this. I've had my share of troubles, some because of my choices and some because that's just the way life goes. We all know some pain in life are unavoidable and some are just bound to happen. Maybe God gave me those troubles to see how I would handle them, but I like to think it was to make me stronger. We cannot control what happens to us, but we can control our attitude toward what happens to us. So the next time life gives you lemons, make orange juice and leave the world wondering how you did it.
"And don't forget son, there is someone up above." This truly is what my mama would say to me. I was raised to believe in God above and certainly have been blessed beyond measure because of the man above. I believe there is someone up above, someone up above that has for sure kept me save in his arms. You ask how I know that. I know because I've been a little crazy in my lifetime and know that because of the man above, I'm still here to tell about it. That is of course if I thought it necessary to tell. Right now I think I'll just keep it between me and the man up above. More importantly I know first hand the power from the man up above. The power that healed a love one, the power that saved a lost friend and the power of a miracle when my niece was born less than two pound and now she's six years old. That my friends can only be explained because of the man up above.
"Forget your lust for the rich man's gold. All that you need is in your soul." We don't need a rich man's gold. The simple things in life can be FREE and right in front of us. It might be a walk in the woods, a smile across the room, or in my case a wink across the room. It might be riding down the road with the windows rolled down, listening to the radio thinking the person singing should learn the words to their song. It might be me that doesn't know the words but oh well I'm living life in the fast lane, my hair blowing in the wind, loving the simple things. Sometimes we look in the wrong places for happiness, love and satisfaction. Sometimes we fail, but we must know in our soul that everything we ever need is out there. We just have to grab life by the horns and go for it.
My lesson today? Who knows, right? Since I'm not sure again the lesson, do what I would do...roll the windows down, take a ride down the dirt road, let your hair blow in the wind and be a simple kind of man. (woman) Be something you love and understand. Be a simple kind of man. (woman)
"Stay low, stay quiet, keep it simple, don't expect to much, and enjoy what you have." - Dean Koontz
Lynyrd Skynyrd couldn't be here today, so my nephew is helping me out. LOL
Love to all...
Sweet Southern Sass
Love to all...
Sweet Southern Sass
Sunday, April 9, 2017
I Hope You Dance
"I hope you never lose your sense of wonder. May you never take one single breath for granted. GOD forbid love ever leave you empty handed. I hope you feel small when you stand beside the ocean. Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens. Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance. And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance...I hope you dance." LeeAnn Womack
So this song was played at my son's wedding for the mother/son dance. Lord have mercy, help my soul I cried like a baby the entire song. I thought surely I could make it on that day, I mean after I all I had listen to a million songs to find the perfect one. The problem you ask? Well I couldn't ever listen to the whole song because I would start crying. Yes, yes I know. I knew it was going to happen so I just let the flood gates open and let the tears fall. Well he is my only child and yes he was an adult but letting go was harder than I thought. Dancing this song I could see him standing so small beside the ocean. So small it made me think I shouldn't have taken a single breath for granted, because I blinked and he was grown. "Don't blink, you just might miss your babies growing like mine did." Kenny Chesney
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance. Now this one might be the hardest one to relate too but not really if I stop a minute. When times are hard, you experience a tragedy or lose a love one , these are the times to give faith a fighting chance. I've had tough times, tragedy in my life, lost loved ones and love has left me empty handed. Yes, of course I ask why, but when I took the time to grab hold of the situation, there is only one answer and that's my faith. Faith in the higher power, way bigger than me, who will give me the peace and understanding of why things happen. Faith to understand things might not be exactly what I want, but I'm sure God knows what he's doing and he has a bigger plan for me and whatever his plans are it will be on his time, not mine.
My lesson today? If you get the choice to sit it out or dance. I want you to dance. Dance like no one is watching, dance it out like Dr. McDreamy and Meredith. Make you house full of dance, laughter and most importantly love. so now..."Shut up! Dance it out! Dancing makes you brave." Cristina Yang
Love to all!!
Sweet Southern Sass
So this song was played at my son's wedding for the mother/son dance. Lord have mercy, help my soul I cried like a baby the entire song. I thought surely I could make it on that day, I mean after I all I had listen to a million songs to find the perfect one. The problem you ask? Well I couldn't ever listen to the whole song because I would start crying. Yes, yes I know. I knew it was going to happen so I just let the flood gates open and let the tears fall. Well he is my only child and yes he was an adult but letting go was harder than I thought. Dancing this song I could see him standing so small beside the ocean. So small it made me think I shouldn't have taken a single breath for granted, because I blinked and he was grown. "Don't blink, you just might miss your babies growing like mine did." Kenny Chesney
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance. Now this one might be the hardest one to relate too but not really if I stop a minute. When times are hard, you experience a tragedy or lose a love one , these are the times to give faith a fighting chance. I've had tough times, tragedy in my life, lost loved ones and love has left me empty handed. Yes, of course I ask why, but when I took the time to grab hold of the situation, there is only one answer and that's my faith. Faith in the higher power, way bigger than me, who will give me the peace and understanding of why things happen. Faith to understand things might not be exactly what I want, but I'm sure God knows what he's doing and he has a bigger plan for me and whatever his plans are it will be on his time, not mine.
My lesson today? If you get the choice to sit it out or dance. I want you to dance. Dance like no one is watching, dance it out like Dr. McDreamy and Meredith. Make you house full of dance, laughter and most importantly love. so now..."Shut up! Dance it out! Dancing makes you brave." Cristina Yang
Sweet Southern Sass
Sunday, April 2, 2017
Me and Jesus
"Me and Jesus, got our own thing goin', me and Jesus, got it all worked out. Me and Jesus, got our own thing going', We don't need anybody to tell us what it's all about." Sundance Head
Being that today is Sunday, this song seems fitting. Some people think it's not necessary to go to church to be a Christian. This may be true for some and that's OK with me, but for ME I need church. I need the blessings from the songs sung, the sermon but more importantly the prayers. I love my church and the loving feeling I get as soon as I am greeted at the door.
I guess it's not necessary to be in church every Sunday but let me just tell you right now, growing up my mama took us EVERY Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night. I just knew when church time came we would be there. We might argue about it, but ya'll know mama knows best and yes ma'am, we went to church.
What my mama finds funny is growing up I sat on the last bench in the church. Now TODAY I sit on the fourth row almost front and center. Of course ya'll that know me, probably know sitting on that last row was so I could sit with all my friends, pass notes and probably talk. I thought sitting way back there mama being up front playing the piano wouldn't see what was going on. Well guess what, she did. I do believe she had eyes in the back of her head because on the way home, she would let us know she saw us passing those notes. LOL.
I'm not here to judge what "you and Jesus" have going on, but I'm here to tell you me and Jesus got our own thing going on and I wouldn't have it any other way. I can't imagine not knowing him as my personal Savior and I'm not afraid to blog about it. I'm sorry if you're offended but hopefully you will see the light before it's too late and get your own thing going with Jesus.
Lesson for today? It doesn't matter if you're on the last row of the church or the fourth row of the church or you're at home listening to the preacher on TV. What matters is your own relationship with Jesus. Not mine, not your neighbor or anyone else. Just you, yourself and Jesus.
Love to all and God Bless!
Sweet Southern Sass
Being that today is Sunday, this song seems fitting. Some people think it's not necessary to go to church to be a Christian. This may be true for some and that's OK with me, but for ME I need church. I need the blessings from the songs sung, the sermon but more importantly the prayers. I love my church and the loving feeling I get as soon as I am greeted at the door.
I guess it's not necessary to be in church every Sunday but let me just tell you right now, growing up my mama took us EVERY Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night. I just knew when church time came we would be there. We might argue about it, but ya'll know mama knows best and yes ma'am, we went to church.
What my mama finds funny is growing up I sat on the last bench in the church. Now TODAY I sit on the fourth row almost front and center. Of course ya'll that know me, probably know sitting on that last row was so I could sit with all my friends, pass notes and probably talk. I thought sitting way back there mama being up front playing the piano wouldn't see what was going on. Well guess what, she did. I do believe she had eyes in the back of her head because on the way home, she would let us know she saw us passing those notes. LOL.
I'm not here to judge what "you and Jesus" have going on, but I'm here to tell you me and Jesus got our own thing going on and I wouldn't have it any other way. I can't imagine not knowing him as my personal Savior and I'm not afraid to blog about it. I'm sorry if you're offended but hopefully you will see the light before it's too late and get your own thing going with Jesus.
Lesson for today? It doesn't matter if you're on the last row of the church or the fourth row of the church or you're at home listening to the preacher on TV. What matters is your own relationship with Jesus. Not mine, not your neighbor or anyone else. Just you, yourself and Jesus.
Sweet Southern Sass
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