Had an absolutely wonderful day. Very productive day at work, great walk this evening, supper with my boys! The little one abandoned us and ate at the table with his friends. (3 beautiful young ladies!) You go, P-man!!! Walked for about an hour and then went back to watch the band practice. I am so proud of them. They are doing an outstanding job. Can't wait to see them tomorrow night in uniform doing their completed show. This will be the first home game in 2 weeks, so we will get to see them perform, instead of looking at their backs while they perform for the home side! They go to contest on 10/9, so they are in the process of perfecting their show. I am amazed at the progress that I have seen in just one week, and I thought they looked super last week. I sure hope that someone with a video camera films them at contest. I would love a dvd.

At work we are gearing up for the Carrollton pilgrimage next weekend. I am starting tomorrow, cooking up chicken, dicing it and freezing it to make it faster to make chicken salad next week. I am cooking up a bunch of turkeys, slicing them and measuring them out for sandwiches to save time. Going to put the cheese on them and freeze until we need them. Should save a lot of time. Will do the ham the same way. Betty is going back to Sam's tomorrow to finish getting what we need. We are going all disposable dinnerware for the weekend. Last year, we had to wash and rewash dishes to have enough to use, so we are getting smart! I guess last year we really didn't know what to expect, but hopefully we will be ready for the crowds that we are expecting! I guess ole Belinda will be working A LOT next weekend.

Re-read a great book this week; QBQ by John Miller. QBQ is the "question behind the question". What to really ask yourself to eliminate blame, procrastination and complaining. You should never ask, 'why', 'when', or 'who', but 'How' and 'What'? I read it before, but was falling back into the "victim mentality" so re-read it. Did you know that the only person that you can change, is you? I decided instead of taunting my enemy, I would be overly helpful. I would change me. I decided instead of asking, "when is _____ going to do ____________?" I would ask, What can Belinda do to help this situation? I'll probably have to read it again before long, but maybe I'm back on track. There is a great definition of "wisdom" in this book. Wisdom is What we learn, after we know it all. I love it! Did you know that procrastination is the friend of failure? Sometimes if we don't take care of the little things while they are still little, then they escalate into BIG things that maybe catastrophic. Great little book takes about an hour to read, and is an easy read.

Tomorrow is Friday! I am so excited! Home football game. The Tigers are 5-0 and are looking to be 6-0 after they face the Whippets of Kosciusko tomorrow night. I hope they will be 6-0 anyway. They are looking great this year. I am looking forward to seeing Patrick perform at halftime more than anything. It's a great day to be a Tiger! Well, must go to bed, big day tomorrow; lots to do and see. God is great and God is good! All the time.

What a beautiful morning that the Lord has blessed us with today! Patrick and Sidney are at Brotherhood breakfast this morning. Mr. Lazy butt wouldn't get up and go. Elizabeth came home last night after work. Allen Reed has been working nonstop getting his beans in, so she hasn't seen much of him in a while! Poor baby has been really sick this week and then had to take the Praxis II yesterday. I sure hope and pray that she did alright. She said it was 6 hours long! I read my sunday school lesson this week and it was really a great one. We are studying the Psalms of ascent and this week was Psalm 124. How beautiful is it that when God is for us, then what can our enemies do to us? Consider what a situation would have been like if God had not been in our lives. Awesome to think and chew on. Have a great day and remember Jesus loves you!

I believe that I have been to more weddings in the past 12 months that in the other 48 years of my life! Last September was Liz's best friend, Julie. Julie gets the award for the longest Baptist wedding in history and the best reception! Next was Chase and Ali, who are Jon's friends. He was one of the groomsmen in that wedding. Short and sweet! Didn't go to the reception. Jon said Chase spent the evening trying to hide beer from his granddaddy, so it wasn't very fun. Next came BJ and Meggie McKay. BJ was kind of like an adopted child that lived with us for a couple of years 10 years ago. Both boys were in the wedding. This was Patrick's first wedding to be in. It was pretty. Took place in the Emmanuel church in Winona. Very cute, formerly Episcopal church, but now mostly used for weddings. The Episcopalians have died out there, I guess. Reception at the Country club had the most food I had ever seen! Meggie's aunt did all the work and I just don't know how she did it-or where she stored it! They must have rented a refrigerated warehouse! The next one was Jessica Brewer and James Paul Bowlin's wedding in July. Jon also was in that one. He and James Paul had been friends since 4 year old kindergarten and they live in rock throwing distance from each other. Nice traditional wedding. Jon was paired with his beautiful girlfriend and it kinda brought a tear to my eye to see all the boys that I had known for so long all grown up and all DRESSED up! Nice reception, but nothing much legal for south beach, so I went home very hungry. You know there was not even a diet coke to be found? Yesterday we went to another wedding. Kaitlyn and Jonathan had been really good friends since fourth grade when he started to Winona Elementary. She was always such a sweet person, very genuine. Jon was not in this one, but we all went as a family and Kaitlyn was very pretty. I am trying to get used to all this country music played over a loudspeaker, but I really prefer live instruments at a wedding and traditional music. Church of Christ doesn't allow live instruments; don't really understand why, since the music played had some instruments in it! Didn't go to the reception. Decided to go eat supper instead. We rode to Inverness to eat at the Hometown restaurant. Mark was so funny. He came out to see us and told us that we didn't have to dress up just for him! We were a little overdressed for the Hometown, but it was fun nonetheless! We were able to enjoy outdoor dining last night. Up until now, it had been way to hot to try out Mark's new additions of a courtyard and screened porch. Jon was excited to show his sister his new truck which she liked! It was good to see her and she got to spend a good bit of time with us, since their crowd had not arrived yet. We even arrived home before nine, which is not usual for us even when we eat out locally on a Saturday night. We usually don't get started quite so early, though. I don't think we have any more weddings that we are obligated to attend for a while! I think that all of Jon's friends are married now! CJ and Adam won't be doing that any time in the near future, I don't believe. We don't know any of Liz's Cleveland friends and all of her Winona friends are married. Maybe Allen Reed will come around and ask Liz to marry him. Then we'll have another one! Three years of dating should be enough! it was for Sidney and me!

men of character cont.

I posted recently about my father-in-law and what a great guy he was. Well, I was so fortunate in life to have a wonderful father of my own. My dad was great; when I was little he could fix anything from broken barbie dolls to bicycles! It was later that I learned that he was really only human! I remember telling a friend that "My daddy is superman!" My dad was a little older than most of my friends' fathers. He was 34 when I was born and I was the oldest! My dad lost his own dad at the age of 9. He was murdered. I'm sure this affected Daddy very much, although he never talked about it. He was raised by a single mother and their home burned to the ground when he was a young teen. You know what though? He rose above it. He joined the Navy after high school graduation. After he was discharged from the service, he hitchhiked back and forth to Hinds Jr. College in Raymond. He then transferred to Ole miss and received his BBA. He went to work for Lawrence Printing for several years, retiring with them. He left for a short time during the fifties to open a service station in Cleveland, MS. My Daddy was a Christian and loved Jesus with all his heart. I still miss our discussions. If I ever had a question regarding morality or scripture, he was always there with an answer. If we missed him, he was usually in his study reading his Bible. If you asked him what denomination he was, he would tell you that he was a Christian who belonged to the Baptist church. He believed that the Baptist beliefs were the closest to the New Testament Teachings. He didn't quite hold to the tee totaling beliefs of the Baptists, though. He loved a cold beer! He taught 10 year old boys Sunday school for years. When asked to teach an adult class, he told them that nothing you teach a child is wasted, but an adult's heart is already hard and his mind is already made up. I learned after his death that one year for Christmas he bought Christmas presents for a relative who couldn't afford gifts for their children. He didn't want the kids to not have gifts at Christmas. He never told us this. I found out another time that a man came to our church in Greenwood looking for a little help. Seems this man worked in the printing industry and had a run of bad luck and was trying to get back home to chicago. Imagine, asking the church for help! Seems like a logical choice, but apparently not. The janitor, who knew the type man my daddy was, told the man to walk up the street to Lawrence Printing and talk to Robert Knox; he would help him. Daddy bought the man a bus ticket back to Chicago and fed him a meal before he left. He never told us this either. My daddy was a humble man who did things for other people just because it was the right thing to do. He never bragged about it, nor even mentioned it. I'm sure that there are other things that I never knew and may never know that he did for folks, but that's ok. He didn't do it for us. He did it for Jesus! He loved us and mama with all his heart; he provided for us and sent us all to college. He was so sweet. The last words I heard him say was, I love you and I don't know what I'd do without you. He died the next morning. I was devastated. It took me a good 9 months or so to get through church without crying. Every hymn reminded me of him. The worst time was when a soloist sang "The Holy City". Suzy Haynes sang this at Daddy's funeral because it was his favorite song. When I heard it again so soon, it just melted me.

The Holy City. S. Adams

"Last night I lay a sleeping, there came a dream so fair, I stood in old Jerusalem beside the temple there. I heard the children singing and ever as they sang, Me thought the voice of Angels from Heav'n in answer rang: Me thought the voice of angles from Heav'n in answer rang.
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Lift up your gates and sing, Hosanna, in the highest, Hosanna to your king.
and then me thought my dream was changed, streets no longer rang, Hush'd were the glad Hosannas the little children sang. the sun grew dark with mystery, the morn was cold and chill. As the shadow of a cross arose upon a lonely hill. As the shadow of a cross arose upon a lonely hill. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, hark! how the angels sing. Hosanna in the highest, Hosanna to your king.
And once again the scene was changed; new earth there seem'd to be. I saw the Holy City beside the tideless sea. The light of God was on it's streets, the gates were open wide, and all who would might enter and no one was denied. no need for moon or stars by night, or sun to shine by day. it was the new Jerusalem that would not pass away. it was the new Jerusalem that would not pass away. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, sing for the night is o'er! Hosanna in the highest, hosanna for evermore, hosanna in the highest, hosanna for evermore!

Goodbye my sweet Daddy. I love you and miss you still!

Happy birthday to Jon

Well, I blinked my eyes and Jonathan turned 21. I remember going to the dr. on Tuesday and he told me that if I was not in labor by Thursday to come to the hospital and he would induce. (he had plans for the weekend and didn't want for me to have to put up with his horrible partner.) Well, I did wake up in labor but he broke my water anyway around 10:00. Jonathan Sidney Morrison arrived at 3:37 pm, during Oprah. Of course, by that time I wasn't paying much attention, if any, to Oprah. At 8 pounds 10.7 ounces, Jonathan was the largest of my three babies, but he was so skinny and had such a narrow head that he was by far the easiest to deliver. He was 21 1/2 inches long and had a 3 inch foot. I fell in love immediately! He was so sweet and quiet. Hmmm. That didn't last long. Elizabeth told me, "Mama, I like my little brother; when am I going to get my little sister?" ha ha.

I can't believe that it has been 21 years! He can, of course! He has been waiting on this particular birthday for a while now. I told him that once you hit the 20's, the birthdays really start flying! I mean, I was just 21! I really was!!! I got an engagement ring on my 21st birthday! I remember it well! It can't be that I have fast-forwarded all the way to 49. Horrors. Next march will be 50. Half century. Golden age. AARP canes and walkers!

Oh well time stands still for no man. I am fondly remembering the birth of my sweet Jon.

Men of character

I was thinking this morning of what makes a man a man of good character. Is it Education? Is it money? Is is social status? I think not necessarily any of the above. I had a couple of men come to mind this morning as I was pondering what makes a man of noble character.

Sid's dad, Mr. John Taylor Morrison was one who came to mind. Was he an educated man? Nope. He dropped out of school before 8th grade to work on his father's farm. He was the youngest of 3 boys born July 20, 1920 to Albert Sidney and Mary Gertrude Powell Morrison. His mother died a few days after his birth due to complications of the birth. "Granddaddy" lived with his grandparents until he was about 6 years old and then came home to live with his father and older brothers. He was expected to get up and get the fire going in the morning and help with the chores before school. He told me one time that he remembered it being so hot that by the time it finally cooled off enough to go to sleep, it was time to get up. He joined the army when he was old enough and volunteered for a special mission. Anything to get him out of KP! What he didn't know is where they were going and what they were going to do. He was seasick from the time the boat hit the first swell in the pacific headed for Asia. He fought in the Pacific theater as one of Merrill's Mauraders in WWII. He met his bride at an army base in Georgia where she was working at the time. They were married April 4, 1947. After the war was over he came back and worked in various jobs, ending up working for what was at the time Mississippi Power and Light Company. When he retired, I believe he became busier than ever. He never failed to help someone who needed him. He grew enough vegetables in his garden to feed an army and shared with anyone who wanted them. He wired houses for people, including us, installed water heaters and helped his friends fix their equipment. He was a Christian and loved God more than anything. I believe this is the reason he was able to treat people the way that he did. This man would give you the shirt off his back. He never cared how he dressed, mostly wearing old faded MP&L uniforms until you could see through them. You would think that he was homeless by looking at him. He loved his family and especially his grand kids. Elizabeth was his pride and joy and he was one of the few people that she loved from birth! He is greatly missed. He died May 28, 2004, one year after Elizabeth graduated from high school. Was he rich? not by the world's standards, though he managed to earn a good living for his family. Was he educated? nope. Was he of high social status? Again by the world's standards, no. He probably would have been looked down upon in some circles. Was God pleased with him? I think so! I believe that Jesus looked at him as he entered Heaven and said "well done, good and faithful servant! When I was sick, you visited me; when I was hungry you gave me food and when I was in prison, you came to visit me. For what you have done to the least of these, my people, you have done to me." Sort of a gospel according to Belinda paraphrase, but fitting nonetheless!

We miss you, Granddaddy!

Happy Anniversary to us!

At 2:00 pm Saturday afternoon August 21, 1982, I became Mrs. John Sidney Morrison. Our Anniversary doesn't fall on a Saturday very often, but this year it did. I think it is kinda neat when it actually falls on the right day. Kinda like when my birthday falls on a Monday! That was the day I was born on many years ago. It's really hard to believe that I've been married for 28 years. It just doesn't seem like it. I guess if we can have a 25 year old daughter, then it's really possible! Time sure does fly when you're having fun. Most of the time it is fun. I won't lie and say it's always fun, but for the most part, yes, it is.
I love to remember back and see the little Indian guy at the holiday inn in Hattiesburg telling us, "you lucky, it got king size bed!""" I know my face was 40 shades of red! We stopped in Hattiesburg because we didn't want to drive all the way to Panama City beach on our wedding night. Unfortunately we didn't think about Camp Shelby and National Guard camp going on. All the hotels were full. We started to leave this Holiday inn after they told us that they were all full and a lady ran after us and told us that we could have their room. Something about not getting their military discount, so they were not staying. That's when the desk clerk made his announcement to the amusement of all the folks standing in the lobby! It was kinda embarrassing because I just knew all these people were looking at us and thinking, I know what they are up to tonight! Well, 28 years later we spent the night in our own bed with the sounds of gunfire going on in the den, with Patrick and Jeremiah playing modern warfare! I wonder if they were thinking like the folks in the lobby? "we know what you old folks are doing in there with the door shut! you are sleeping"! Because parents don't have sex! Nah, they were probably not thinking about us at all, too busy killing enemy soldiers! Probably too much information, huh? oh well! We're married, so we have the right! LOL!