• Mar. 30, 2008 - Farewell
I want to thank all of you for keeping up with me on this blog.
It's been good.
It's been encouraging to me.
And now it's time to be finished.
We are moving.
Overseas.
Where?
Can't tell you.
And the blog can't follow me there.
So sorry.
Those of you who need to know will know where to find me.
We are embarking on a VERY BIG ADVENTURE.
EXTREME HOMESCHOOL, I like to call it.
Pray for us.
And for the millions of lost people who need to know that God is real; God is love; and God is personal. |
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• Jan. 27, 2008 - intersection
when one life crosses another
we never know the lasting effect of that contact.
my eighth grade Sunday School teacher was a good example.
i never forgot her. she made a lasting impression.
her name is Cyd Mizzell.
my life is one of many she has touched.
please pray for her safety.
thank you. |
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• Jan. 10, 2008 - My name is Roy
Did you watch "Carter Country" back in the day?
Do you remember "Handle it, Roy!!"
That's me.
At my job.
My name is Roy.
Nothing I do, delegate, or farm out stays out.
It always comes back to me.
I have a boomerang job.
Maybe my name should be "Crocodile Dundee." |
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• Jan. 2, 2008 - Resolutions
I generally don't make them.
But this year I did...just a few.
And only to myself....
I already broke one today.
Someone brought homemade chocolate peanut clusters to work.
And homemade marshmallows..
Have you ever had a HOMEMADE marshmallow?
Oh my....
In a way, I'm GLAD I broke that resolution.
Now the pressure is off...
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• Dec. 29, 2007 - Christmas Letters
I read two Christmas letters today.
They were late because we moved and still have forwarded mail .
The families who mailed them are NEVER late -
with anything.
It was very impressive to read about their last year.
I know some people don't like reading Christmas letters.
I am not one of them.
Although today, I almost converted.
I started feeling sorry for myself. I mean these people have their acts together.
They are finishing doctorate degrees and building custom homes. Their children are dancing in large ballet productions and competing for college scholarships.
Their pets are pedigreed and they vacation in exotic ports or their own private mountain cabins.
They have words like "Manager" and "National": in their job titles.
Their wives are room mothers, den mothers, skinny mothers.
And all of their scrapbooks are up-to-date.
I started comparing. I know better. But I did it anyway.
Silly me.
I know that their children pick their noses in public, too.
And with that custom built house comes a custom size mortgage.
Who needs a pedigree when I have a labradoodle?
And I don't need a title, because God knows who I am.
He created me and then saved me, and I belong to Him.
Forever.
Forgive me Lord, for looking around me, behind me, and ahead of me...
when I should be looking above me.
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• Dec. 29, 2007 - Really Big Picture
The week of January 14th is really big. For us.
Some of you know why - others will just have to wait...
and hear about it later.
I can't say too much yet.
But I do ask that you pray for us.
For wisdom and discernment.
For good weather.
For safe travel.
For peace of mind.
For a oneness of spirit.
For answers to questions we asked way back in May, and some as old as 1996.
For a greater understanding of our future and purpose.
I think we are very close to seeing the Bigger Picture.
You see, for years we have only seen pieces and parts of that picture...
Knowing there was a Bigger Picture,
And trusting that God already knew the Bigger Picture.
Life has truly been like a puzzle...
One of those 3,000 piece puzzles...
that takes a lot of planning and thought to complete.
Finding all the edge pieces first, and then sorting the other pieces by color...
Tthen there is always that one solid puzzle piece.
It is usually sky blue, unremarkable in every way...
And it is always the last piece to fit.
But it does fit.
And all our pieces will fit, too.
I just know it.
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• Dec. 23, 2007 - Stay tuned
What a precious surprise it was to find my husband's contribution to this blog. He is such a sweetie. In fact, he is making muffins for breakfast right now, even as I write.
Writing has definitely been low on the priority list of late. I have quite a bit of catching up to do.
My mom's last chemo treatment was last week! What a journey for her...fifteen months of it. She has been such a trooper and inspiration to so many people through all of it. I am so happy for her.
She's pretty happy, too. She's been quite busy burning up the highway between here and Charlotte. Who would have imagined that a junior high romance would be rekindled? Stay tuned...
As for our household, we have merged it with my mother's household...dog, guinea pig and all. We moved in with her in November - to save some money and begin preparations for our next big journey.
Which will, indeed, be a BIG journey. I think we'll have some plans by the end of January, so...
Stay tuned, again.
Back to moving in with mom. It's been much easier than I thought. Of course she isn't home much. It was strange packing our entire life into a 10x20 storage unit. We kept out clothes, a few toys, and two bookcases of homeschool and theology books. Strangely enough, the only thing I miss is my recipe box. And since dear hubby has been doing all the cooking of late, it's no big deal.
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• Dec. 18, 2007 - Crystal Cowboy Boots?
“Do not adjust your TV set, we control transmission.” So said the narrator of the classic TV show “Outer Limits” in its intro just before taking you on some fantastic Twighlight Zone type of adventure involving space aliens or some other equally unbelievable tale. In a similar sense I have taken over this blog temporarily but what follows, while fantastic indeed, is the truth. I’ll return the blog to DixieLee forthwith, but please indulge me for a moment.
You see, I am ... Mr. Lee.
Over sixteen years ago I met the girl of my dreams. She was as nice as any girl-next-door, smart as any Rhodes scholar, and more stunning than the kind of sunset that makes you stop and ponder the greatness of its Creator. She was practically perfect in every way. Now after fifteen years of marriage she has only managed to improve if not perfect every quality that I originally found so attractive.
She is the example of a Godly woman to our daughters, a mother who knows sacrifice, yet graciously, steadily and selflessly fulfills her calling, and a wife who’s true beauty regularly reminds me to thank God for His providence.
Me… I have been a work in progress all along, but thanks to her consistent encouragement, support and unfailing love, there might be hope for me after all. In fact, I think we are on the verge of a great adventure together and there’s no one I’d rather have at my side. Together, I believe we can do anything.
According to the experts the appropriate gift for a fifteenth anniversary is crystal. I have searched high and low for a meaningful gift of crystal, but you see we are simply not stemware collecting types. Alas, the most appropriate gift seems to exist only in fairy tales, for if princesses really wear glass slippers then nothing short of that will do, unless of course there exists crystal cowboy boots.
DixieLee writes so eloquently and humorously about her family. I thought perhaps it was fitting for her to enjoy the spotlight on this occasion.
I love you honey, happy anniversary! Now don’t forget to change your password!
I now return you to your regular programming.
Mr. Lee |
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• Sep. 29, 2007 - Pet Peeve
Neighbors who don't clean up after their dogs REALLY annoy me.
It's irresponsible.
And unsanitary.
It smells bad.
And can ruin a pair of shoes.
And if you lived near my mother, she would call you down from across the courtyard.
Or better yet...
collect your doggy's daily deposits in a garbage bag
and ring your doorbell to return them to you -
Don't push me...
I learned from the best.
And I know where you live.
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• Sep. 15, 2007 - Soccer Mom
I joined the ranks today...
of all the soccer moms in the world
who drag folding chairs and gatorade
to the sidelines every Saturday.
It was fun...except I yelled too much.
Coaching from the sidelines.
My husband kept giving me funny looks.
He told me to let the coach do his job.
I didn't care. I yelled anyway.
Sarah actually played fullback pretty well.
Hannah ran around in circles a lot,
but she had a good time.
Yep, I'm a soccer mom...
A rookie maybe, but a soccer mom just the same...
Except I don't drive a mini-van.
Yet. |
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• Sep. 8, 2007 - Dog Bully
Buddy got in a fight today.
At the dog park.
Last week another dog tried to pick a fight with him - twice.
The owner was wise and left with her bully dog. Even she said her dog had picked on Buddy.
Not so today.
HE picked the fight.
Another owner threw water on him.
I pulled him off and took him on leash to the corner.
Made him sit...and stay.... and stay some more.
Then we tried off-leash again.
Two minutes later he was trying to finish the fight that I had interrupted.
WE were the ones that left the dog park today.
I felt badly about it.
I don't want to be the bad owner at the dog park whose dog likes to pick fights. I don't want folks to whisper behind my back at soccer games and Wal-mart saying, "Yes, her children are well-behaved, but her dog picks fights at the dog park."
What got in to him?
I don't know. He's a good dog.
And even at doggie day camp they have NEVER said he was aggressive or a bully. They send home a report card every day.
A Report Card....for a dog....please....
Maybe he thinks he's better than the other dogs.
Or maybe he was just being a real stinker.
Either way, he's got some 'splaining to do.
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• Sep. 3, 2007 - A little bit of my mother.
Friday at work we held a fundraiser of sorts.
It was denim day, but you had to donate to the fundraiser in order to wear the denim.
I was not to be outdone. I pulled out my best pair of Levi's and my red Lucchese goat-skin cowboy boots.
Yes, I said RED.
And they belong to me - not my mother.
People were leaving their offices and walking through the clinic to see my boots.
My manager said maybe I have a little bit of my mother in me after all.
Maybe I do. |
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• Aug. 15, 2007 - Is that REALLY your mother?
Yes, folks. That really is my mother.
This question has been posed to me
numerous times over my 40-plus years.
I'm used to it.
But you are so quiet...
I know..
And she is ...
I know.
She is funny, out-going, flashy and a barrel of laughs -
well-dressed, well-spoken and young for her age.
She meets no strangers and makes no enemies...
Okay, she only makes a few enemies.
Last Thursday, she came up to my office
so we could enjoy lunch together.
We have spent very little time together
since I started work full-time -
so it was a real treat.
I won't tell the entire story...
If you know her, you can piece it together.
Let's say the folks at the office
are still talking about her.
And those that were gone
want to know when THEY get to meet her.
Yes, folks, that really is my mother.
My biological mother.
And yes, I am SO quiet...
Someone had to be her straight man all these years. |
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• Aug. 11, 2007 - OCDD
OCDD - Obsessive Compulsive DONUT Disorder
I have this problem.
Really.
We are "regulars" at Day-lite Donuts.
Have been for three years.
The owners know us by name...
They know my kids, my dog, my granddad.
They ask about my mom and
remember the anniversary of my step-dad's death.
It stands to reason they would know my donut order.
It's always the same.
One chocolate glazed and one plain cake.
To go.
I eat the chocolate one first
and then the plain cake...
because it cleanses the palette.
Mike and Jan know
to put the plain cake
in the bag first -
even if I order them
the other way around.
This is important.
Because I always eat the chocolate one first.
ALWAYS.
Last week, I didn't go to Day-lite Donuts.
I went to Dunkin' Donuts instead.
Dunkin' is on the way to work.
Day-lite is not.
At Dunkin Donuts, I ordered
one old-fashioned plain cake
and one chocolate frosted.
To go.
I was careful to ask for the plain cake first.
It would be unreasonable
to expect Dunkin' Donuts to know
that I have OCDD.
And I am not an unreasonable person.
The counter person was not familiar
with OCDD.
She put the chocolate in first,
because it was closest to her at the time.
My pulse began to race
and I took a slow, deep breath.
Then I politely asked her to switch the donuts.
"Would you please put the cake donut on the bottom?"
My voice was barely a whisper.
She didn't hear me.
I couldn't bear to ask again.
I took the bag and added a coffee cake muffin to my order.
I don't have
Obsessive Compulsive Coffee Cake Disorder.
I ate the muffin on my drive to work.
I gave the donuts to the pregnant nurse at work.
She was thrilled I thought of her.
I will not go to Dunkin Donuts again,
unless I am eating in
when it doesn't matter where they put the chocolate donut.
That counter person just didn't know any better.
I bet she puts her mustard
on the cheese side of a sandwich
and her mayonnaise
on the meat side;
which everyone knows is totally backwards...
But I am NOT compulsive about that.
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• Aug. 8, 2007 - Tales from the Bark Side
I took my dog out last night around dusk.
It was sweltering hot, but some poor soul was stretching his hamstrings
to run up the hill (big, big hill).
From my view across the street (which was a rear view),
he was only legs and rear-end...
a very strange sight indeed.
It was evident to me, however, that a torso and body were attached.
Not so for Buddy, who went into attack mode...
growling and snarling and pulling.
and just generally doing all he could to protect me
from the alien presence that surely
intended great harm.
A few snaps of the leash and a firm "sit"
and he was back to his old self.
The fact that the runner stood up helped also.
"Nice dog there!" the man called across the street.
(I'm thinking, "Are you crazy? He was ready to gobble you up!")
"What kind of dog is he? He looks like a show dog."
Show dog...that's funny.
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• Aug. 2, 2007 - Top Ten Things in Sugardaddy's Truck
Sugardaddy came over today. 87 and still kicking. I have pictures of the girls peering into the trunk of his Grand Marquis several years ago...eyes filled with wonder at the treasures it held.
This time he drove the truck. His little white Ranger, with only 26,000 miles on it.
Can you guess what Top Ten things you might find in Sugardaddy's truck?
If you know him, I am sure you can think of a few!!
10. 12-pack of classic coke
-Because you never know if Janice is going to have them,
-They were on sale at the Piggly Wiggly last week anyway.
-The other 23 12-packs are in his storage room back home.
- Why so many? Because 12 + (11 times 12) = 144 , 144 = one case
and Sugardaddy always buys a case of EVERYTHING.
9. Cordless battery-powered electric broom that needs a new battery
- He was going to buy the battery down at New Bern,
but it was too expensive,
so he figures he'll get it at Sears up here,
and if it's too expensive here,
then he might just have to go to Fayetteville,
but he bought a new electric broom when this one stopped working,
so if you need it, he'll tell you where to get the new battery.
8. Bogue Sound Watermelons
- One for Janice
- One for Sarah
- One for Hannah
- One to share because they are the best watermelons on the planet.
7. One roll of Scott paper towels
- They will sop up just about anything.
- good for window cleaning, oil checking, nose-blowing, and mouth-wiping
6. Two rolls of Scott toilet tissue
- Because there are some things that Scott Paper Towels just aren't good for...
5. Gallon size zip-lock baggies
- great for things you may want to save...or throw out.
4. A bundle of ropes, in varying widths and lengths
3. A collection of country music, including but not limited to:
- Merle Haggard
- George Jones
- Conway Twitty
- and Charley Pride
2. Clean dress shirt and Sunday pants
- It's always best to be prepared for church, a funeral, or spending the night
And... the number one thing you will find in Sugardaddy's truck?
1. RUBBER BANDS
- around his ziplock bags, another around his wrist, and a whole wad of them in the change holder.
How well did you score?
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• Aug. 1, 2007 - My Day Off
I had a day off today - a whole day to myself.
And what did I do?
I went in to the office. ON MY DAY OFF!
But I had lots of loose strings hanging from yesterday,
and they were really affecting my ability
to enjoy my day off.
It wasn't so bad. I went to the satellite office under cover, and made the office staff vow to keep my whereabouts a secret.
I got three hours of work done in an hour and a half.
If I could only be that industrious with the housework.
Which, by the way, my dearest husband has been handling since I went to work.
And I haven't cooked a single meal since I went to work.
Not a single one.
He continues to hold this place together,
and I am so thankful -
for his humble spirit
and his servant's heart.
And if we eat rice every single night because he knows how to fix it, that's just fine with me.
Maybe God's trying to teach us something with all that rice...
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• Jun. 9, 2007 - The Way Out
I started a new job two weeks ago.
Me -
the stay-at-home, homeschooling,
neighbor-discipling, elderly relative caretaking,
mother-in-law lawnmowing,
plant flowers and watch the birdfeeder loving,
"thank you God for not making me work"
and "every mom should stay home with her kids" mom
has gone back to work.
I would not have circled this answer
on a multiple choice test.
But our thoughts are not His thoughts, and our ways are not His ways.
So...
I dusted off my nursing license,
got a haircut,
found a pair of pantyhose without a run,
donned my business suit
and hit the pavement.
But NOT before Tracy and I prayed and prayed...
and prayed some more.
We did not want this decision to be about us, our wants, our insecurities, or our selfishness. We wanted it to be about God and His miraculous provision.
I sent out 8 resurmes
and prayed that God would give me a way out.
Within 48 hours, I landed 5 job interviews
and prayed that God would give me a way out.
Within a week, I had four job offers and had cancelled the last interview,
and prayed that God would give me a way out.
I asked for a few extra days to make my decision
and prayed that God would give me a way out.
Finally, ten days into the process, I accepted a position with an ENT practice,
asked for a week before my start date
and prayed that God would give me a way out.
I have now been working full-time for two weeks.
Tracy has completely taken over homeschooling and managing the house. He's wonderful at it. I can't think of a single thing that has been overlooked or mishandled.
I love my job. I have met the most encouraging, helpful, supportive, and friendly people.
Not a day has gone by that I haven't thanked God for providing for my family with such a wonderful place to work. I look forward to work and I am not completely spent when I leave.
There was no way out.
But in the midst of such an unimaginable change in our lifestyle, there is peace, contentment, joy, and the assurance of knowing that we are in God's will.
Smack dab in the middle.
And that's a very good place to be.
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• May. 30, 2007 - My dog by Hannah
• May. 27, 2007 - The second biggest fish
 We have an annual fishing tournament at our church for the kids.
Everyone leaves with a prize or two...or three even.
There are trophies and hats and a Bass pro and hot dogs and it's a really great time.
Sarah was really hoping to take first place.
She took her fishing seriously.
Then six-year-old Caleb landed a 6.5 pound large-mouth bass.
It was only six inches shorter than he was tall.
As he struggled by us on the bank heading to the weigh station,
Sarah casually glanced at the competition.
She looked back at the water and said in a dry, deliberate voice,
" I guess I'm fishing for the second biggest fish in the pond now."
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