The Big Love Hug

I think the world  can be divided into two types of people.   Those who hug and those who don’t hug.    I’m definitely in first category.   I really have had no say in the matter,  I’m almost certain it’s part of my genetics.   My family can hug in every way imaginable.   I thought I’d classify a few for you.

• Side Hug  -  Also known as the one arm hug.   This is a quick one arm squeeze around each other’s shoulders
• Big Love Hug – Full on Hug..There’s arms and hands and a big embrace.   If kids are involved there’s also a big opportunity for swinging around in a circle
• Kiss & Hug -  This is two arm hug that has a kiss at the end.
• Quickie Hug -  This is really quick almost no touching hug
• Double Hug -  Hug, release, Repeat
• Long Hug – Hug….keep hugging…keep hugging…now squeeze.   Mostly seen around grandmothers and great-aunts
• Group Hug – More than two people involved.  You get the idea

Since my family has always hugged we sometimes forget what it must be like non-huggers.    My sister-in-law, Brandy tells me it’s quite a traumatic experience.  Over the years she’s come to know it's just part of the family.  
I love her like a sister, and must say that I enjoy “making” her hug me.  It’s kind of a joke between us.   I’ll walk up and spread my arms out for a Big Love Hug.   SHE LOVES IT!   Well, at the very least she tolerates it.   So where do you fall….are you a hugger or a non-hugger?     Let me know!

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I Know Why I'm NOT a Size 6

There are some things about our quirky little personalities that takes a little time for people to discover.  I think I'm normally a pretty transparent person but tonight, I'm gonna give you one of those "special insights" for free.

Now, as you can tell from my last post I love laughter....and I'll admit that some of the comments that come out of mouth are to get a funny reaction.   This is NOT one of these things.    This revelation..and it IS a revalation that came to me a few years back. I think there comes a time in everyone's life when you just realize certain things about yourself.  Well, this one of those things.

I know, I mean I know why God didn't create me to be a size 6.   He knew that if I were size 6, I'd just have trouble with running around naked. (In case you're not southern, that's pronounced NA-KED).   I never have been a modest person, but if I had a size 6 body.....I couldn't handle it.  LOL.    I would be without enough clothes all the time!

So people out there in the real world...just know I couldn't handle it....and if some reason you see that I'm getting close to a size 6....be forwarned.  I can't control it!  I'll have to run around naked!  For all you size 6's out there....where do you get your self-control.  I need to know....

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Sweet, Sweet Sound (part 2)

Do you know the moment, the  moment that you experience this OVERWHELMING sensation of happiness.  I’m not sure the guys will get this one..but let’s say you’re shopping and you come across the perfect article of clothing.   I mean this shirt/dress/ pants/shoes/ whatever makes you look like a rock star….then you look at the price tag and it’s marked $80 with a red line, then $50 with a red line, then $25 with a red line.   You’ve just found the perfect piece of clothing for $11.    It’s a high….it’s actually pretty additive.   Well, that’s kind of how I feel about laughter. 

It’s a sweet, sweet sound.  To me it’s sound that invokes happiness, contentment, joy.   Now, I’m very big on laughter….I try my hardest to be funny.   Sometimes I succeed and sometimes I come off pretty geeky…but regardless, I try.  

I hope on this Valentine weekend, you are with loved ones..but more than that I hope you have laughter….even more than that I hope you find an $80 deal for $11 bucks.   Let me know if you do!
Enjoy the song!

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Blogs, Blogs Blogs

My cousin Amy attended the Blissdom Blog Conference in Nashville last week.   She came back with a ton of new ideas and links to some premier blogs.    Check 'em out....Enjoy! Our Journey..Together....: a ton of other blogs....

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Sweet Sweet Sound (part 1)

This is one of my favorite songs.  So I thought I’d write about some things that are Sweet, Sweet Sounds to me.

Do you hear something and it just makes you smile or maybe chuckle.   I think about all the cute things my nephews do.    Children have a way of getting to heart of the matter.   We eat Sunday dinner (it’s a southern thing) at my mom’s each week.   All the family comes together and we gather around the table.      It’s a time for the adults to catch up, make plans, and just generally talk.   We have a great time..but the kids..now they love grandmommy’s.     You can find them in the back bedroom playing with trains, planes, and automobiles.   The sounds that they make while playing are sweet, sweet sounds…..well most of the time they are.   Sometimes it’s more crying and less sweet, but you get the idea.

When it’s time to say goodbye, I always ask my nephews for a BIG hug…and I get one.  They hug with all they have in them….trying to squeeze in enough for the whole week.   I always say “ love ya, love ya”.   Alan will give me a “ love ya, love ya” …Ethan chooses to say “yummy, yummy in my tummy”.    It’s a sweet, sweet sound when I hear that.   It just makes me happy.


God enjoys the sweet, sweet sounds of our worship,  just as we enjoy  hearing the sweet, sweet sounds of children.    Oh Yeah….Enjoy the song

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Like What You Do Times Four

Question 1:  Do you like what you do?  HMMM  Yes, I like what I do.

Question 2:  Do you like what you do times four? Wow..yes..Today I like what I do times four. 

My title is usability manager..but as you all know a title doesn't really mean anyting.  So let me explain what I do.  I spend a lot of time talking to clients asking them how they get their job accomplished.   Today..it was exciting.  My favorite question is "Tell me how you get your ministry accomplished?"   It's exciting to see how everyday staff and volunteers are making a difference.   It makes me excited to be able to help them..so yes today I like what I do times four!  Not sure about tomorrow...but for today I'm good to go!

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To Wish You Were Someone Else Is To Waste The Person You Are!

Do you ever have Ahhaa   moments.   As you know, I’m a fly by the seat of my pants type of person, so ahhaa moments are part of everyday life for me.   My latest was this morning.  It wasn’t a huge revelation, but enough to change the pattern of my day.    As I was riding to work this morning, listening to 89.7 WMHK, one of the host read the quote of the day.   The quote was  “To wish you were someone else is to waste the person you are”   

I said the quote out loud a couple of times, and then my mind was just whirling.   This is something that at one point in my life, I truly struggled with.   I  worried about being different.   I wanted to be prettier, smarter, thinner.   I looked at my life and looked at the lives of my friends and really thought……what’s wrong with me.   Why isn’t my plan working out.  Why am I here and not at the place I think I should be.   For years, I truly prayed ….Lord ,what do I need to change so that you’ll give me this plan.    It took a long time to realize that I was being selfish.  Really selfish.  

Jeremiah 29:11 says " For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."   It’s easy in life (well in my life) to sometimes NOT put my faith in that hope and future.    Remember,  although our purpose is the same (glorify God), the plan for each of our lives is different.   Looking back, I was a child banging my fist and crying out to be just like everyone else.   I wanted to do things my way.   What I’ve learned is that we’re not cut from cookie cutters.   Our lives are suppose to be different.   We are not all alike….our paths take us in different directions.   If I had had my cookie cutter life, I’d never get the opportunities and blessings I have today.   So I celebrate me……well I celebrate how God can and will use me.   

Don’t waste the person you are….get comfortable in your skin…..roll around until your warm and fuzzy.  There is a plan for every moment, so let’s not waste any of them!

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